The Fateful Failed Hanging of Anne Greene

The year was 1650 and Anne Green was a 22-year-old maidservant who had been found guilty of infanticide. Anne was found guilty not for her crime but for her class, as the father of the foetus was the son of her employer who was hellbent on seeing her quickly and ruthlessly removed from history.

Despite her claims, and the claims of many others in regard to her innocence, she was sentenced to hang at Oxford Castle. Anne bravely faced her fate and for over 30 minutes did she hang. She was taunted and friends tried to expediate her death by pulling on her legs, some using all their weight swinging from her lifeless body, until the executioner was so concerned that the rope might break he put an end to it.

When all were satisfied that Anne was indeed dead, a musket butt was rammed into her chest for good measure. Anne’s body was taken down, placed in a simple coffin and sent for delivery to the anatomy table. However when she arrived and the anatomists, Thomas Willis and William Petty, opened the coffin she showed signs of life. All thoughts of an anatomy lesson were quickly dismissed, and attention was focused on reviving Anne. Through measures and interventions, they worked to revive her and she quickly regained consciousness. Within a month she was restored to health.

Hanging is one of the oldest methods of execution. Methods and equipment have changed and developed over time; death associated with early hanging occurred secondary to a slow gravitational strangulation. Modern hanging is more effective and associated with a rapid compression of the neck resulting in fracturing of the upper cervical spine vertebra. Self-inflicted hanging can be plagued by unfortunate incidents, and some fortunate survivals. It is these survivals that are often nursed on Neurosurgical units.

This manuscript follows Anne Greene’s story, her failed hanging and resuscitation in the anatomy room. The history of hanging and changes in methods is also explored. The literature has also been explored for self-inflicted hanging and the impact on and role of neuroscience nurses when caring for survivors.