This drawing depicts Lancaster's second-to-last public execution: the execution of John Lechler on October 25th, 1822. While this document cannot explicitly tell us much, it does depict the cultural significance of the execution. In the drawing, one can see a line of spectators coming to watch the execution as well as a small militia. The execution is also clearly taking place outside of town in a field in which a fence can be seen. Referencing the Journal of the Lancaster Historical Society (1960), it is stated that the execution of John Lechler took place on "the Old Race Track Grounds -- now Franklin and Marshall College" (Teeters, 1960, p.123).

Below the drawing reads, "The Gallows had a trapdoor on the platform." As the drawing shows, John Lechler was executed, confirming that those executed at Gallows Hill were hung. This drawing also establishes that executions were done on constructed platforms where a noose hung by a crossbeam would be placed over the condemned's neck and then the floor would be removed from beneath them. In "Public Executions in Pennsylvania," Lewis Miller, the author of the drawing above, traveled from York County to see John Lechler's execution. He recalled the gallows as "a tremendous trapdoor on the platform. And when the sheriff gave the word, the trap door fell. Lechler was sitting on a chair upon the door. Oh! What a crowd of people to see a poor sinner of a creature hung at the gallows" (Teeters, 1960, p.93).

Without drawing on outside knowledge, there isn't a lot for a drawing not to tell. However, drawing on knowledge from other sources, I was able to find that 20,000 to 30,000 people attended John Lechler's execution which means the drawing grossly oversimplified the number of people in attendance (Teeters, 1960, p.110).