Hanged For A Bet

There are not wanting instances of persons who have hanged themselves, r suffered themselves to be hanged, rom motives of curiosity or amusement. A remarkable oase of this latter descrip,ion formed the subject some years ago of one of those many curious investigaions which have taken place from time ;o time at Bow street. On April 15, 1812, two men were charged before the Magistrates under ;he following curious cireumstances: A constable who was passing along Hamp stead road on the previous evening obserred a stout man six feet high hanging by his neck from a lamp-post at;ached to a wall, having been tied up and "turned off" just before by a short man. The officer rushed to the spot, anti, when he arrived there, the handïerchief by which the tall man was suspended gave way, and he feil to the round. His eyes were protruding from ;heir sockets, and he was nearly 'gone;" sut, on recovering himself sufficiently to stagger on his legs, Jie inimediately struck the officer so violent a blow on ;he nose as nearly to knock him down. Both men wero with diffieulty secured, when they explained that the tall man who was being hanged was simply payinp; " a debt of honor." The two had been " tossing " in the afternoon, first for money, then for clothes; the tall man, having won the other's jacket, trousers and shoes, they agreed to toss up which should hang the other. The short man won the toes, and forthwith proceeded to hang the tall man on the lamp-post. The tall man urged that had he won the toss he woulc1 in like manner have assuredly hanged the short man; but the Magistrates, expressing their horror and disgust at the whole story, sentenced both prisoners to find bail for their good behavior. Not having bail they were comimitted to Bridewell.- Pall Mali Gazette.