There is an old Hotel/Pub in Marble Arch, London, which used to have a gallows adjacent to it. Prisoners were taken to the gallows after a fair trial, of course, to be hung.
The horse drawn dray, carting the prisoner, was accompanied by an armed guard, who would stop the dray outside the pub and ask the prisoner if he would like “ONE LAST DRINK”.
If he said YES, it was referred to as “ONE FOR THE ROAD”.
If he declined, that prisoner was “ON THE WAGON”.
