History: Texas switches from noose to ‘Old Sparkey’ Sat, 08/29/2020 - 12:00am With the modern and supposedly more humane electric chair due to replace the gallows at midnight, an overflow crowd packed ...PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today! Read more about History: Texas switches from noose to ‘Old Sparkey’