This was written up in my local newspaper last year, but I don't know where I could find a link. (My local paper isn't on line). It was a very interesting story.
Angel Lust?
Last Wisconsin execution:
http://www.wisbar.org/wislawmag/archive/history/pt04sb.html
Actually, I read that only one execution was ever carried out in Wisconsin, and as you said it was a hanging with many "picnic observers". The hanging did not go well, and the horror of the sight convinced the State to outlaw it. This was in the 1800's.
This was written up in my local newspaper last year, but I don't know where I could find a link. (My local paper isn't on line). It was a very interesting story.
Now I am going on childhood memories of my grandfather's story here but it seems as if there was a hanging in Durand, WI years ago which included members of the James gang but that may have been a lynching also. Like I said, my memory is pretty vague about this.