Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 10, 2006 22:29:39 GMT -5
Harrison County denies use of jail for 'hanging'----Corydon historical
group wanted to re-enact the 1816 execution of a woman
Harrison County leaders have rejected a request to use the former county
jail to stage a re-enactment of a hanging that took place nearly 200 years
ago.
The rejection came as a surprise to Corydon Capitol State Historic Site
staff members.
"We were just assuming it was going to be OK," said cultural administrator
Bec Riley.
Staff members said they will have to find somewhere else for the
re-enactment, which would feature a dummy being hanged as part of a local
history tour.
The staff planned to display an original whipping post -- used to conduct
public floggings -- in front of the former jail.
Staff members wanted to position two actors on a staircase and landing at
the back of the jail. A dummy would then be pushed off the landing to
re-create the 1816 execution of Mary Burgher, a local woman convicted of
killing her baby.
The Harrison County Commissioners said using the former county jail for
the event may not have been appropriate.
"We've got these things in our history, but I don't think (they) should be
promoted or celebrated," said Commissioner J.R. Eckart.
Nancy Snyder, a senior interpreter at the historic site, said Burgher was
convicted of suffocating her baby by stuffing leaves and rags in the
child's mouth.
"She had said the devil made her do it, so there was a question of her
sanity," Snyder said.
The tour, called "Corydon's Unsavory Past," will be held Oct. 13-14.
(source: Associated Press)
group wanted to re-enact the 1816 execution of a woman
Harrison County leaders have rejected a request to use the former county
jail to stage a re-enactment of a hanging that took place nearly 200 years
ago.
The rejection came as a surprise to Corydon Capitol State Historic Site
staff members.
"We were just assuming it was going to be OK," said cultural administrator
Bec Riley.
Staff members said they will have to find somewhere else for the
re-enactment, which would feature a dummy being hanged as part of a local
history tour.
The staff planned to display an original whipping post -- used to conduct
public floggings -- in front of the former jail.
Staff members wanted to position two actors on a staircase and landing at
the back of the jail. A dummy would then be pushed off the landing to
re-create the 1816 execution of Mary Burgher, a local woman convicted of
killing her baby.
The Harrison County Commissioners said using the former county jail for
the event may not have been appropriate.
"We've got these things in our history, but I don't think (they) should be
promoted or celebrated," said Commissioner J.R. Eckart.
Nancy Snyder, a senior interpreter at the historic site, said Burgher was
convicted of suffocating her baby by stuffing leaves and rags in the
child's mouth.
"She had said the devil made her do it, so there was a question of her
sanity," Snyder said.
The tour, called "Corydon's Unsavory Past," will be held Oct. 13-14.
(source: Associated Press)