Cover of the book, "Jack McCall, Assassin"On this date, March 1, 1877, Jack McCall, the convicted murderer of Western legend Wild Bill Hickok, was hanged in Yankton, D.T.

Source: http://www.yankton.net/stories/091599/bus_jackmccall.html

At the gallows, McCall calmly mounted the platform with Fr. Daxacher, and while the prisoner knelt with the priest, his legs and arms were tied. When he rose, he kissed a proffered crucifix and the black hood was drawn over his head.

McCall asked the marshal for an additional moment of prayer, after which the noose was placed around his neck. "Draw it tighter, Marshal," the doomed man supposedly said. Then, at precisely 10 minutes after 10 a.m. , the trap was sprung. Faulk's story continued:

"Twelve minutes after the drop fell, Drs. D. F. Etter and J. M. Miller were admitted to the interior of the gallows and examined the body, pronouncing life extinct. McCall's head was inclined in a drooping position toward his breast, his hands were clenched and blue, in one of which was still grasped the crucifix.