Category: Random Stuff (Misc.)

The Man Who Couldn’t Be Hanged

A Remarkable Tale of Survival from Victorian England

Victorian-era hanging illustration
An illustration of a Victorian-era execution

John Lee of Babbacombe, Devon, cheated the hangman’s noose three times in 1885. Sentenced to death for the murder of his employer, Lee survived because on each occasion the trap-door on the gallows failed to open, even though the mechanism was tested before and after and found to be in perfect working order.

The authorities knew when they were beaten and Lee’s sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

Historical Context

Capital Punishment in Victorian England

Public executions were commonplace in 19th century England. The death penalty was used for a range of crimes including murder, attempted murder, and even some non-violent offenses. Hanging was the primary method of execution during this period.

The “Long Drop” Method

By 1885, hangings used the “long drop” technique, introduced to make death quicker and more humane. This method required precise calculations of the condemned person’s weight to ensure sufficient force to cause instant death while preventing decapitation.

Remarkable Elements of Lee’s Case

1

Triple Failure

The trap door mechanism failed not once, but three separate times. After each failure, the executioner and prison staff tested the mechanism immediately afterward, finding it in perfect working order.

2

Merciful Authorities

Victorian justice was not known for its mercy, yet officials recognized the extraordinary nature of the situation and commuted Lee’s sentence to life imprisonment rather than attempting a fourth execution.

3

Later Life

John Lee was eventually released from prison in 1907, after serving 22 years. He became known as “The Man They Could Not Hang” and his case remains one of the most mysterious in British legal history.

A Mysterious Legacy

Was it mechanical failure, divine intervention, or something else entirely? The case of John Lee continues to intrigue historians and remains one of the most unusual incidents in the history of capital punishment.

This historical anecdote has been documented in numerous sources including “Famous Trials” by John Ellis (1989) and “The Man They Could Not Hang” by Mike Holgate (2005).

What Do You Think?

Do you believe John Lee’s survival was mere coincidence, or something more? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The White Elephant

How an ancient Siamese royal tradition evolved into a modern metaphor for unwanted gifts

White Elephant

A white elephant: once a royal gift that came with an impossible burden

A “White Elephant” dates back to the ancient kings of Siam, who wanted to punish courtiers without actually appearing to do so. Their ploy was to give the offender a rare albino elephant, knowing that it was an offer which dare not be refused. The poor man was therefore left with something he didn’t want and couldn’t afford to keep.

This fascinating origin story illustrates how language preserves historical practices in metaphor, even as their literal meaning fades from memory. Today, the term “white elephant” has become a common expression for any burdensome possession that costs more to maintain than it’s worth — yet we rarely consider the cunning royal strategy that gave birth to the phrase.

Let’s explore how this deceptively cruel gift-giving practice from ancient Siam evolved into a modern idiom and even a popular holiday gift exchange tradition.

The Royal Origins: A Gift That Was Actually a Punishment

In ancient Siam (modern-day Thailand), white or albino elephants were considered sacred and extremely rare. They were associated with royal power and prosperity, making them highly prized possessions of kings. When a white elephant was discovered in the kingdom, it automatically became property of the king due to its divine status.

What made the gift of a white elephant so deviously clever as a punishment was its layered nature:

  • Impossible to refuse: Because the elephant was considered sacred and came directly from the king, refusing it would be both a religious offense and an insult to royal authority
  • Extremely expensive to maintain: These elephants required special food, housing, and caretakers
  • Could not be used for work: Unlike regular elephants, the sacred white elephants couldn’t be put to practical use in logging or transportation
  • Could not be given away or killed: Their sacred status meant they had to be properly maintained for their entire lives

The brilliance of this punishment lay in its appearance as an honor. The king maintained the façade of bestowing a great gift while simultaneously imposing a tremendous financial burden. The recipient would often be bankrupted by the maintenance costs, yet could never complain about receiving such a “blessing.”

This practice represents one of history’s most elegant examples of passive-aggressive gift-giving, delivering retribution without ever appearing to be punitive. The king maintained plausible deniability while effectively ruining his courtier’s finances and position.

Modern Usage: Beyond Royal Punishment

Today, the term “white elephant” has expanded beyond its royal origins to encompass various situations and objects that share similar characteristics with the original punishment:

Unwanted Possessions

Items that are difficult to dispose of, have little practical value, yet are too valuable to throw away

Property Development

Buildings or projects that cost more to maintain than they generate in revenue

Business Assets

Departments, subsidiaries, or product lines that drain resources while providing little benefit

Government Projects

Expensive public works with high maintenance costs that serve limited practical purpose

One of the most famous modern examples is the “white elephant gift exchange” (also known as Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa), a popular holiday party game where participants bring intentionally unusual, impractical, or humorous gifts. This lighthearted tradition playfully references the original concept, though with significantly less financial ruin for participants.

What’s particularly interesting about the modern white elephant gift exchange is how it transforms a punishment into entertainment. The original practice was designed to cause distress, while today’s version creates laughter and community — though the core concept of “gifts nobody really wants” remains intact.

Notable “White Elephants” in Modern Times

Throughout history and into modern times, the term “white elephant” has been applied to numerous large-scale projects and properties that became financial burdens to their owners:

Olympic Venues

Many Olympic facilities become white elephants after the games conclude. The Bird’s Nest stadium from the 2008 Beijing Olympics costs millions annually to maintain while sitting mostly unused. Similarly, several venues from the 2016 Rio Olympics fell into disrepair shortly after the event.

Infrastructure Projects

The Ciudad Real Central Airport in Spain, built at a cost of €1.1 billion in 2009, saw almost no commercial flights and was closed by 2012, eventually selling for just €56.2 million. Similarly, the “Bridge to Nowhere” projects in various countries represent infrastructure investments with minimal practical use.

Corporate Acquisitions

Business history is filled with acquisitions that became financial burdens, such as Microsoft’s purchase of Nokia’s phone business for $7.2 billion in 2013, which was written down by $7.6 billion just two years later. These corporate white elephants drain resources while providing little strategic value.

What unites these modern white elephants with their historical counterpart is the combination of high maintenance costs, limited practical value, and difficulty in disposing of them. While they might have seemed prestigious or necessary when initiated, they ultimately became burdens that their owners struggled to maintain.

White Elephants in Asian Culture: From Punishment to Blessing

Interestingly, while Western cultures primarily use “white elephant” to describe burdensome possessions, white elephants have a much more positive connotation in many Asian cultures, particularly in Buddhist traditions:

  • Thailand (former Siam): White elephants remain deeply revered and associated with royal power. The Thai royal flag featured a white elephant, and these rare animals are still considered national treasures.
  • Buddhism: White elephants are connected to the birth of Buddha, as legend tells that Buddha’s mother dreamed of a white elephant before his conception.
  • Myanmar: White elephants are considered harbingers of good fortune and prosperity.
  • Laos: The ancient kingdom was known as the “Land of a Million Elephants,” with white elephants holding special status.

This cultural contrast creates an interesting dichotomy: the same symbol represents both blessing and burden depending on cultural context. What was once used as a clever form of punishment in Siamese court politics was simultaneously considered divine and auspicious in broader Southeast Asian culture.

The dual nature of white elephants — simultaneously sacred and burdensome — makes them particularly fascinating as cultural symbols. They represent the fine line between blessing and curse, between honor and punishment, that exists in many aspects of life.

From Royal Courts to Modern Language

The evolution of “white elephant” from an ancient royal punishment to a common English idiom illustrates how language preserves cultural practices long after their original context has disappeared. Few people using the term today realize they’re referencing a clever punishment device from the courts of Siam.

This linguistic journey also reminds us to consider the gifts we give and receive. Are we sometimes, intentionally or unintentionally, giving “white elephants” to others? Do some of our possessions serve more as burdens than blessings? Perhaps the next time you’re struggling with an expensive car repair, a high-maintenance vacation property, or even a well-intentioned but impractical gift, you can appreciate the connection to those unfortunate Siamese courtiers of centuries past.

Join the Conversation

Have you ever received a “white elephant” gift — something that was more burden than blessing? Or participated in a white elephant gift exchange? Share your experiences in the comments below!

I’m In Love With Mr Clean Magic Erasers

I haven’t blogged about this yet, but I was cleaning the house today and had to break out the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to get some crayon off of one of Tyler’s chairs where he colors. Barbara, you were right, they are great at taking crayon off of the plastic chairs.  Any way, I took the chair into the kitchen and saw the kitchen sink, which has always been a little on the brown side even though it is supposed to be white.  I did a few quick wipes and instantly the surrounding water turned brown.  I scrubbed with it some more, and the more I scrubbed, the more white the sink got.  My old house had tile floors in the main entryway and all the way back to the kitchen.  The magic erasers are great at cleaning the grout between the tile.  I’ve also used the erasers on the shower floor, and they work wonders there as well.  So hopefully you don’t just take my word for it, go out and pick some up today!  After all, they don’t call him Mr. Clean for nothing!