Toronto's First Hanging

A hanging that did not go according to plan

In October 1798, before Toronto was even called Toronto, it was called York, the first hanging in the community’s history would occur.

A tailor named John Sullivan, along with his friend Michael Flannery, got drunk at a tavern but soon found themselves without any money.

So, they they faked a banknote worth three shillings and attempted to use that to buy some more whiskey for themselves.

It didn’t take long for the crime to be discovered and while Flannery escaped to the United States, Sullivan was caught and put in jail. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to death.

Yes death, for faking a banknote.

Harsh.

Even though he was sentenced to hang, the community didn’t have a hangman. There would be no official hangman for another century in Toronto.

So, a man named McKnight was hired. He was a fellow inmate in the jail but he wanted to be paid $100. That is about $1,400 in 2023 funds. He also wanted to be pardoned for his own crime.

The judge agreed.

What the judge didn’t know was that McKnight had no idea what he was doing.

Twice he failed to tighten the noose properly and twice Sullivan fell to the ground and was brought back up to the scaffolding.

Apparently, Sullivan’s last words on the third try were:

“McKnight, I hope to goodness you’ve got all the rope all right this time.”

He did, and Sullivan was put to death on the third try.