Garrotte
The garrotte was the standard method of execution used in Spain
for civilians up until 1977 having been
introduced during the reign of Ferdinand II (1814-1833) to replace
the crude form of hanging previously used.
Garrotting would appear to have developed from the early Chinese
form of execution known as the bow-string.
The criminal was tied to an upright post with two holes bored in
it through which the ends of a cord from a long
bow were passed and pulled tight round the neck by the executioner
until the condemned strangled.
Later the prisoner was seated on a shorter post with his back to
the main post and a rope loop was placed
round his neck and around the post. The executioner twisted a stick
inserted in the loop to tighten the rope and
cause death.
In both cases a slow death by strangulation was inevitable. As
in most countries a more humane method was
sought and various improvements to the garrotte were made.
The next form of garrotte comprised a strong wooden chair into
which the prisoner was strapped at the wrists,
arms, waist and legs .At the back of the chair was a substantial
post to which was affixed a heavy screw
operated by a handle or a weighted lever and connected to a brass
collar. A second brass collar was also
attached to the post immediately above the first. The two collars
were hinged and were opened to admit the
prisoners neck. When all preparations were complete the executioner
turned the screw so forcing one collar
outwards whilst the other remained stationary thus, if correctly
adjusted, dislocating the prisoner's neck and
causing immediate unconsciousness followed by death, although death
in fact was often due to strangulation.
To try to ensure that the prisoner did not strangle a small star
shaped blade was added to the screw
mechanism that was supposed to enter the criminal’s neck as the
screw was turned and sever the spinal
column immediately.
An execution by garrotting of a robber named Jose de Roxas in the
early 1800’s was witnessed and described
by Richard Ford:
The condemned man mounted the platform and was seated on a short
post with his back to a strong upright
post. The executioner fastened the iron collar round his neck and
when all was ready took the lever in both
hands. At the pre arranged signal he turned the lever so drawing
the collar tight whilst his assistant threw a
black cloth over Roxas’s face.
A convulsive pressure of the hands and a heaving of the chest were
the only visible signs of the passing of the
robber’s spirit. After a pause of a few seconds the executioner
peeped behind the cloth and after giving another
turn to the screw removed the cloth.
The dead man was slightly convulsed, the mouth open and the eye
balls were turned into their sockets.
This description is very similar to those of executions by carried
out hanging at the same period, in most cases
the prisoner lost consciousness quite quickly and was dead after
a few minutes.
Garrotting, even in its’ later forms, could never guarrantee an
instant loss of consciousness and was never
considered to be as quick or humane as hanging. It was last used
in Spain in the early 1970’s.
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