I was surprised to learn that
written invitations for neck-tie parties were not all that uncommon. When
nineteenth century hangings went from being public spectacles to private
affairs, the burden of inviting law enforcement officers, jurors and other
public figures to the proceedings was the sheriff's responsibility. What better
way to spread the word than sending out printed cards?
These invitations were valued and
any community leader not on the receiving end was insulted. For the most part,
respectful fonts and paper were employed for the macabre task. Though most
invitations were hand-written, a surprising number were engraved.
Some
went over the line in poor taste, but none as much as the invitation sent by
Sheriff Wattron of Navajo County who had the task of announcing the hanging of
one George Smiley for murder. Here's the actual invitation:
Not only did the lawman use paper
with a bright gold border, his tacky choice of words stirred a controversy that
reached the White House. Somehow the invitation got into the hands of a
journalist and newspapers across the country and abroad printed the story.
President McKinley was so incensed by what he read he issued Smiley a thirty
day stay of execution.
The Governor of Arizona addressed
the issue by writing the following:
"The Sheriff of
Navajo County, whose duty it is to execute the condemned and bring about the
just expiation of an awful crime, has seen fit to publicly advertise and issue
cards of invitation to the execution of the condemned, in unseemly and flippant
language, and in terms which have brought reproach upon the good name of this
Territory."
Bending under the pressure Sheriff
Wattron rewrote the invitation and was careful to include respectful black
border. However, he showed his displeasure by mailing the invitations too late
for the governor and other critics to attend.
The second invitation was a vast
improvement over the first, but somehow you get the feeling that it was written
under protest.
"With feelings
of profound sorrow and regret, I hereby invite you to attend and witness the
private, decent and humane execution of a human being; name, George Smiley,
crime, murder."
The sheriff ended the invitation by
urging guests to "deport yourself in a respectful manner."
So
now you know why nobody laughed when Smiley died.
~~~~~~~~
"5 Stars!"
"A truly entertaining must read"
"A thrilling escapade"
"A creative plot and delightful characters"
"Good clean fun western romance"
"Thumbs up for mystery western"
"Wild west guns and grins"
"Fantastic"
