I was just listening to Rise above it by Afro Celt Sound System and I was reminded of a bit of the folklore in the NE of Scotland and the outlaw James Macpherson. He was sentenced to hang and the local sherrif ensured he was hanged by setting the town clock forward by 15 minutes so that a pardon for him got through too late.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Macpherson_(outlaw)

It's an early example in the modern era of authorities tampering with technology to get their way.