1862 , Victor Hugo , Les Miserables, He had been seen to arrive by the way of the boulevard Gassendi and roam about the streets in the gloaming. A gallows-bird with a terrible face.
1903 , Stephen Crane & Robert Barr, The O'Ruddy, "And you would be a highwayman, would you, gallows-bird—" began the Countess.
1926 , Stanley Hart Cauffman , The Ghost of Gallows Hill , Well, I see no reason why every gallows-bird in the district should wear out the King's gaol before his time; so you can wait until you're ready to hang, and I'll promise you'll have the same cell as the late dear departed.
1989 , John B. Sanford , A Walk in the Fire , Small wonder, then, that at this juncture my mind should be drawn to you, but be assured, sir, that I hold you to be more than a mere gallows-bird, more than my fellow following four years behind.
