In 1921 in the town of Gonzalez, Texas, Albert Howard was hanged. Throughout the many weeks he spent in jail, both during his trial and after, he proclaimed his innocence.

In the stark confines of his cell, he had a small window through which he could see the courthouse clock as it counted down the remaining hours of his life. By the time he was to be hanged, he was insane with fear and all the while proclaiming his innocence. Rather than yelling at the authorities about who would hang him, his anger was directed toward the clock. Therefore, as he was hauled off to his destiny, he was heard screaming at the clock, swearing that it would never again tell another man when he was to die.

The clock has been broken ever since. Many attempts have been made to repair it, but the four separate faces show four different times, none of which are correct.