It also wasn’t as lethal as it’s depicted in film. They didn’t always heat up the tar to a boiling point. Sometimes it was more room temperature. This meant the person was in a more pain and discomfort while a lynch mob beat them. It’s still going to cause injuries, make it hard to breath, and get in your eyes, mouth, and ears.

It’s the difference between pouring gasoline on someone and burning them to death vs. putting out a cigarette in their eyes. One version will kill you. The other won’t, but it’s still incredibly cruel and painful.