William Duell was convicted of being an accessory to rape and hanged in Tyburn, England on Nov. 24, 1740. His body swayed for 20 minutes before it was cut down and taken to a medical training college for dissection. As it lay on the board, it was noticed that it was breathing. Duell was still alive. They treated him and by the next day he was fully recovered. He had no memory of the hanging. So what to do with the criminal now that his sentenced hanging was complete? He was given penal exile and shipped to Boston. They believe he died there about 1805.