In March 1922, 20-year-old Bennie Swim shocked rural New Brunswick by murdering his cousin and former lover, Olive Swim Trenholm, and her husband, Harvey Trenholm, after Olive married Harvey despite Bennie’s expectations of marriage. The crime was driven by jealousy and betrayal: Bennie allegedly bought a revolver, confronted the couple at their home, shot Harvey, tried to persuade Olive to leave her husband, then fatally shot her when she refused. Arrested with a self-inflicted wound, he confessed to the murders. Swim was quickly found guilty in a short trial and, after the jury declined to recommend mercy, was sentenced to death. His execution on October 6, 1922, became infamous not just for the murders but for being a botched hanging: the first attempt failed to break his neck, and after being cut down, he was hanged a second time to complete the sentence. The gruesome execution ignited public outrage and sparked heated debate in New Brunswick over the humanity and fairness of capital punishment.