Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 177, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1915 — COST $17 TO HANG A MAN [ARTICLE]

COST $17 TO HANG A MAN

Old Warrants in Rush County, Indiana, Show Some Curious Statistics. Rushville, Ind. —The first record of warrants ever used by a treasurer of Rush county, covering the period from 1822 to 1841, was found in the treasurer’s office recently. The record showed that it cost the county only sl7 to hang Edward L. Swanson, the only man who ever paid the death penalty in Rush county. He was convicted of the murder of Elisha Clark, in April, 1829, and after a motion for a new trial failed, was hanged in May of the same year. The warrants issued show that $5 was allowed Beverly R. Ward for making & coffin for Swanson, $2 was allowed David Looney for digging the grave, and $lO was paid William L. Bupelt for “rope, cap, shroud and gallows for the execution of” Edward I. Swanson."