Siam_Sam: Siam_Sam: . . .

I found this. But the “right” to being hanged with a new rope sounds apocryphal.

Well, since I agreed that it sounds like a folk etymology, I thought I’d try out Google Book, looking for the phrase. The oldest snippet I found was “… who might be proud of being hung with a new rope.” from The Month - Volume 27 1876 (I’d have had to pay money to see the whole page, so that didn’t happen).

Then I found a story that was printed in newspapers from one side of the country to the other from 1896 to 1903. It was an amusing story that got a lot of play.

WHY HANK WAS NOT HANGED

(Many newspapers changed the title, but this was the most common.)

WHEN Hank Taylor was put on trial at Strawberry Hill for killing Steve Brown, he pleaded guilty, and, in a little speech to the crowd, said :

“In course you’ll hang me. I expect it and shall be disappointed if you don’t. But I want it understood right now that I hev rights.”

“What be them rights, prisoner?” queried the Judge.

“Waal, I want to be hung with a new rope. I was brung up respectably, and I want to die that way. Then I want to wear a biled shirt. I was brung up to wear biled shirts, and I don’t want to disgrace the fam’ly. I want to be shaved, to have my hair combed and parted in the middle, and I insist on Zeke Cooper lendin’ me his new butes. That’s my rights, and I shall insist on 'em.”

“Prisoner, hain’t you just a little too partik’lar?” inquired the Judge. “Haint it puttin’ this ‘ere camp to a good deal of extra trouble for no real benefit? Whar are we goin’ to get a biled shirt, for instance?”

“I dunno, but we hev got to hev one. Do you s’pose I’m goin’ to bring up in the other world with this old red shirt on? They wouldn’t allow me to stake a claim or set up a shanty.”

“How are you goin’ to be shaved when we han’t got no razors in camp? We kin furnish you some grease and a comb, but thar can’t be no shavin’.”

“Got to be,” replied Hank. “I han’t goin’ over the divide lookin’ like a wolf with his winter fur on. And as fur grease, I want reg’lar bar’s ile. I am bound to look just as purty as I kin.”

“Zeke, will you lend him your butes?” asked the Judge.

"Naw. I could never feel easy in ‘em ag’in.’.’

“Then I don’t hang! Mind you, boys, I han’t denyin’ that I killed Steve, who everybody knows was a provokin, cantankerous cuss, and orter been killed long ago, and I han’t kickin’ as to what will follow, I’m jest stickin’ out fur my rights, S’posin’ any one o’ you was goin’ to arrive at the other world as a tenderfoot, wouldn’t you want to look fairly decent?”

“That’s so, that’s so,” mused the Judge. “In course it’ll be known that you cum from Strawberry Hill and in course we’ll hev a pride in fittin’ you out in decent shape. The prisoner will be removed while we hev a talk.”

We had a talk. We couldn’t get a white shirt, a new rope, and a razor anywhere within one hundred miles. And, as Hank had observed, Steve Brown was always saying mean things and provoking quarrels, and wasn’t much account. After discussing the pros and cons, it was decided to overlook the offence and let up on Hank, but after telling him our decision the Judge said :

“But don’t do it again, Hank. It are the opinyun of some of the boys that you were too darned particklar about the biled shirt, and of others, that you were right about wantin’ to make a decent appearance on the other shore, and so we decided to call it squar’. Next time, however, we’ll hang you with a mule rope and in yer old duds, and let ye run all the chances.”

For those who don’t speak pseudo western hick, biled=boiled and refered to a white dress shirt. I have no idea what butes are. Bar’s ile may or may not be bear grease.

I can make no claims, but I’m guessing that this story got around and that being proud to be hung (not hanged - the bad grammar would have been part of the story) with a new rope was something that only an amusing rustic would do. Saying someone was complaining about the new rope, rather than being proud of it, was implying that they were less rustic, but also less charming.

And if this is another false lead to the origin, well, at least it’s an amusing one.