Date:  Mon, 12 Jun 1995 18:15:31 -0500

From:  Daniel S Goodman <dsg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MAROON.TC.UMN.EDU>

Subject: ? hangman = Mr. Ellis (fwd)



---------- Forwarded message ----------

Date: Thu 8 Jun 95 11:30:46-CST

From:DARNOLD[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CHARLY.PUBLIB.SASKATOON.SK.CA

To: stumpers-list[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CRF.CUIS.EDU

Subject: ? hangman = Mr. Ellis



We've had the following question referred to us:



"Why do we refer to the hangman as `Mr. Ellis'?"



I don't know the origin of this (Canadian, British, American, or other), and

it doesn't sound familiar to me at all. We've checked a number of

dictionaries (word/phrase origin, slang) and a few books on capital

punishment (most are on loan at the moment), but no luck so far. Any

ideas?



Dawn Arnold

Saskatoon Public Library

darnold[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]charly.publib.saskatoon.sk.ca



(patron needs answer by the end of the day)