There's a story that in New Orleans in 1852, two men were set to be hanged for murder.

Jean-Adam and Antony Deliel had been convicted of the murder of a young woman named Mary,

who had been a slave of one of the city's prominent families.

The death had occurred as the result of a botched burglary.

Allegedly, the unfortunate Mary had discovered Adam and Deliel, breaking into her master's

home, and the men wasted no time killing the witness.

In court, multiple witnesses testified that they had heard the two men planning the

burglary and even discussing their willingness to kill any slaves who might discover them.

While justice had been swift in condemning the two men to death, Adam and Deliel consistently

maintained that they were innocent.

They argued that they had been hapless scapegoats who had been framed for someone else's

crime, but the pleas fell on deaf ears.

Well, mostly.

On July 11, 1852, the two men were dragged before a huge crowd to be publicly executed.

In some tellings, the crowd numbered over 6,000.

As they were led to the gallows, both men screamed of their innocence, but the die was cast.

Black hoods were placed over their heads, and a noose was fixed over each of their necks.

But just then, the crowd noticed something strange.

A previously sunny day suddenly clouded over, and a torrential rain started to fall.

A woman in the crowd was heard yelling, my god, it's like the crucifixion!

Undaunted, the hangman continued with the execution, and released the trap door that should

have sent the men to their deaths.

...