The Last Hanging at the Old City Jail

In 1911, the Old City Jail in Charleston saw its final execution—a grotesque spectacle that left an indelible mark on the city. Daniel Nealy Duncan was led to the gallows, a Black man sentenced for a crime many believed he did not commit. His hanging was not swift; instead, it dragged on agonizingly, as a crowd gathered, climbing onto rooftops to witness the prolonged and gruesome scene. The horrific nature of the execution, which shocked the city, ensured it would be the last ever at the jail. We know that Mr. Duncan hanged, choking, for at least six minutes, but some claim the duration was much longer.

Daniel Duncan’s case was rife with racial prejudice, a hasty trial, and scant evidence. Convicted for the murder of a man mamed Max Lubelsky, his fate was sealed in a time when the South's justice system often used Blacks as scapegoats. In Duncan’s case, the evidence was circumstantial at best.

On the day of his execution, Charleston’s citizens turned out in droves, eager to witness what would become one of the most infamous spectacles in the city’s history. As the noose was placed around Duncan’s neck, the sense of unease in the crowd grew. This was no ordinary execution—what followed was a gruesome and drawn-out death.

Duncan’s hanging did not go smoothly. His death was slow, painful, and prolonged. Witnesses watched in horror as minutes ticked by, and Duncan’s body writhed at the end of the rope. The methodical cruelty of the scene left many shocked, turning the execution into public outrage. So terrible was the killing that it sparked immediate conversations about the archaic methods of Colonial Law.

This haunting event became the final hanging ever performed at the jail, marking an end to a chapter of public executions that had long been a cornerstone in Charleston. Today, the Old City Jail, with its long history of incarcerating both the guilty and the innocent, remains a fixture of Charleston’s haunted lore.

If you’d like to learn more about the morbid history of Charleston, consider booking a ghost tour at www.ghosttourcharleston.com !!! These tours offer a unique opportunity to explore the city's most haunted locations and hear the chilling stories that continue to shape Charleston's identity.