The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-14 00:00:00

A STRANGE FISHERMAN.

[From the Sporting Magazine.]
It is a long while ago—that is, it appears so now, on

looking back in life, for it is more than thirty years since
I witnessed what I am going to relate. I was then a
medical student—a class, lam sorry to say, never thought

much good of—on a visit to a cousin, who had previ-
ously graduated at Guy's, passed the college of Surgeons,
and squeezed through the mill of professional proficiency,
had been turned out licensed to "kill or cure," and was en-

joying a junior partnership in a very old firm in a good old

country town. I forget exactly what month of the year
it was, but I know it was a bitter cold night, and we
were sitting together over a cozy fire, smoking the dreamy

pipe of speculation on our medical prospects, building
chirurgical castles out of the ashes of tobacco, and drink-
ing "very good ale indeed," a favourite beverage in those
less groggy times. Frank had been appointed surgeon to

the gaol, in the place of his father, who having filled the
office for many years to the entire satisfaction of a
Board—which is a thing almost unheard of, and cer-
tainly deserves to be recorded—retired full of honours in
favour of the rising son. The inauguration to his new

duties was singularly unpleasant and trying ; probably
the old gentleman or the Board, or both, had purposely so

arranged it ; but at the last assizes a prisoner had been
left for execution without hope of mercy, and the sicken-

ing final act of the tragedy was to take place the next
morning. Rare occurrence as this necessary evil was in
this good old town, and shocking as the very idea of it

always is to all right-minded people, yet this particular
carrying out of the extreme sentence of the law was not
so unpopular as usual, the wretched culprit hardly de-
serving the very little pity or sympathy expressed for

him. Still the horrors of the scene stared him in the

face, and the disgusting ordeal had to be gone through ;
by way, however, of lightening the melancholy and
distressing part of it—for no man can witness 'without
flinching a life taken by violence in cold blood—l had
promised to "assist" or support the young doctor; besides,
as he justly remarked, I might some day have the same
black job to attend to myself, and the sooner we both got
over it the better. Thus we sat conning over the affair,
and congratulatiug each other on the day's work being
done, and the chances of an early turn in, when an

ominous knock and ring announced a pressing case.
Immediately afterwards Captain H-, the much-re-

spected Governor of the gaol, stood before us.

" Well, doctor," he commenced, " I am sorry to disturb
you ; but I fear I must trouble you to come up with me,
and see what can be done for the condemned ; he has got
a most cruel toothache, and suffers such tortures that it
is really terrible to look at him. We have done all in our
power to give him ease, but without effect, and he cries
piteously and beseechingly for a night's rest, his last in
this world." Saying which, he dropped into the chair
placed for him, and undid his shawl comforter, "I sup-
pose," he continued, "that there is no possible danger in
taking it out ; .is there ? For I promised the poor devil
that I would come and see you, and bring you back with
me if there was not, which has somewhat composed him.
He has tried to pray, and reflect on his awful position,
but declares he cannot ; he is literally torn to pieces by
the agony. I don't know but what lam doing *rong in
interfering ; but there, 'be merciful,' as the text says."
At this the Captain looked decidedly relieved ; he had

done a kind action ; but anxious for the answer, staring
the doctor,Axecll7in the face.
Nov, Prink ivis one of the coolest men imaginable, and
remarkable fgr this deSirable quality throughout his hos-

pitable career ; quietly laying down his pipe, he slowly

replied, " Certainly, Captain ! I'll accompany you
at once. There's not likely to be any great difficulty, and
danger there is none ; but surely it is a very extraordi-
nary case. One would have supposed that mental agita-
tion and nervous excitement, such as his ought to be,
would have scarcely admitted of any bodily suffering. I
have never met with an instance like this before, and
should have doubted its supremacy had I only read of
it."

"Well," said the Governor, "you shall witness it to-
night, and let your young friend, who has visited us
more than once, prepare himself for a scene he will never
forget."
The doctor, without replying, walked thoughtfully
across the room, opened some drawers, and pocketed a
black leather roll of instruments. At this we all arose
and prepared tor the dismal act of charity, for such you
might call it, fortifying ourselves with an extra glass and
comfortable wrappers, as a north-easterly wind whistled
with keen determination dead against us. Descending the
steps into the street, my ear caught plainly enough—for,
of course, I kept a little in the rear—the words " terrify-
ing," " blasphemous," " could never have thought it,"
and such like ejaculations, until joining them, when turn-
ing the corner we proceeded in silence together across the
bleak open space, facing the gloomy and solemn prison.
This heavy mass heralded in oppressive silence its
awful purport ; indistinct in form, it stood, or rather leaned
against the grey background with threatening aspect,
throwing up its huge turrets and chimney high in air in
grotesque and horrid shadows, mingling them with the
ruins of a sombre ancient abbey, which almost adjoined
it, the whole giving you the idea of an assemblage of
giants in deep meditation over the fall of man. A shudder
ran through us, for Death was there in busy preparation
for the morning's sacrifice ; and as we approached the
awful tomb, the hum of voices, the grating of saws,
screeching of planes, and sharp fall of the hammer struck
through the heart, whilst the hurrying to and fro of
workmen, whose grim figures told black through the
flickering uncertain flare of torches, gave you the irre-
sistible impression of some diabolical festival ; it was the
raising the altar of vengeance now thirsting for blood.
I bowed, and passed beneath its hungry jaws.
We were received by the usual watch. Entering the
vestibule we turned a little to the right, and ascended a
flight of broad stone stairs, at the top of which a gallery
of the same cold hard material ran the whole extent of
the wing. At the extreme end of this was a widened
space, which led direct into the chapel, and in a corner
close by, apart from any link with humanity, was the
condemned cell, where now lay, for a few hours longer,
the miserable victim of the worst of brutal passions, and
the worst of demoralising toothaches. The dungeon was
not quite closed, and his groans were audible enough.
One of the warders immediately appeared at the entrance,
on hearing our approach, for our footsteps echoed through
the lofty and silent passages.
On first entering this sarcophagus of justice, I could per-
ceive nothing distinctly. A confusion of officials, a small
table beneath a heavily grated window, on it a lamp, or
lantern of dim pretensions, and the grey-haired chaplain
reading from an open Bible, gradually developed them-
selves. All stood in respectful silence, and uncovered.
On the bed, a low truckle ono, knelt the prisoner, his
head buried in the bolster, enveloped with flannels, and
almost entirely hid by his firmly pressing hands ; his
strong frame shook throughout with pain, and he lay
uttering in his agony alternate groans and oaths of the
bitterest and direst description. He cursed his Maker,
all creation, his parents, himself in particular, and
the kind clergyman, who, notwithstanding the fearful
scene, piously persisted in trying to reach his hardened
heart with spiritual comfort. Rising as if startled from
his sufferings, I was fairly frightened at the horrible
spectacle ho presented ; his face and eyes, swollen and
distorted with inflammation, looked a confused mass of
evil passions and dangerous vices ; his brawny limbs
were fast shrinking, and the effects of the crime and con-
finement had told, if not on his conscience, at least on his
frame and constitution. He evidently did not observe us.
Staggering forward, he tried to advance like one blind,
but was seized on the attempt by a trembling, and dropped
his arms powerless by his side, turning at the same time
so ghastly pale that I imagined he was in a fit. No one
moved ; the worthy chaplain still read on ; his devout
.tones and inspiring words appealing to the very stones,
and adding an awful effect. Thus he stood for about a
minute, like one transfixed, all eyes intently watching
him, and the warders preparing to guard against any acci-
dent or paroxysm of violence ; his breathing, which had
apparently stopped, slowly returned, and heaving a deep
sigh he piteously exclaimed, "Oh ! that head ! that
head ! that head !" and fell heavily into the arms of the
practised attendant.
Here let me explain that this wretched man was one
Joseph White, a harvest tramp or travelling labourer for
such occasions, who, whilst seeking employment from
farm to farm, had gono into a beer-shop on the road
between Wantago and some other town in Berkshire, in
the afternoon time of day, and called for a pot of beer.
Observing that the young landlady who served at the bar
was alone, he followed her round the counter to see if any
one was in the private room beyond ; there happening to
be no one, he retired to the tap-room, which was likewise
empty, and placing his reap-hook on the table, awaited
her coming. On her serving him with the beer, he arose
and closed the door and attempted his villanous purpose.
A struggle of the severest nature took place between
them, in which irritated at his failure and maddened
by brutal passion, in the heat of his frenzy he seized the
ready reap-hook, and at one blow completely decapitated
her.

The poor creature's head rolled on the table, whilst her
body for an instant stood firm and erect, and was abso-
lutely caught by her husband who at the moment entered,
but alas ! too late.
White remained perfectly horror-stricken and spell-
bound at the sight of the animated head, which in its
muscular convulsions continued to glare and frown on
him with the most revengeful expression. He even
imagined that it spoke, crying "Blood for blood." For
many hours afterwards he neither saw, spoke, nor heard ;
when he did he confessed everything, which greatly re-
lieved him ; but so haunted was be from time to time
during his imprioo.ument by visions of the head of hie

victim that it was feared he would become insane. At

the appearance of this dreadful sight he suffered a species

of catalepsy, and sank from the effects of it thoroughly
prostrate and helpless.
From one of these attacks, in more than its usual force,
he was then suffering. The reverend ordinary closed his
book, repeated a short prayer, and resting his head
upon his hand gazed with an expresssion of tender
compassion on the insensible prisoner. Slowly re
covering, he seemed at first unconscious of his position,
like one awakening from a dream ; but with returning

reason the exquisite tortures of the toothache again re-
sumed their power, and he groaned aloud, throwing him-
self on the floor. At this, the chaplain fearing a repeti-
tion of the language and violence so frequently exhibited,

prepared to leave him ; but the culprit clung to him in
the most pitiable manner, begging him to delay his going:
" he would behave better, he would indeed ; he was more

himself."

Here the doctor stepping forward and taking him by
the hand said, "Well, my man, how do you feel ?"
"Mad, doctor—mad ; my head and brain be a-fire," he
replied ; " but I bees grateful for your coming ; I wants
to sleep." Then addressing the clergyman in an humbled

voice he added : "I somehow feels happier since I seen
her head ; I don't think she'll come again. 'We shall
meet to-morrow,' she whispered, but she smiled and
looked forgiving. Oh ! it's very horrid ; I didn't mean to
do it neither ; it was the devil as did it."

Seizing the opportunity Frank gave a signal to the
governor and turnkeys, and placing the chair in the
middle of the cell said, " Come, sit down and let me see

; I cannot relieve you."
This he immediately acceded to, the officer at the same
ime approaching close behind him. Removing the ban-

dages and opening his mouth, the formidable enemy of
peace of body and mind was at once discernible ; so
quietly taking out his instruments and selecting the ap-
propriate one, he requested me to hold the light. As I
peered down the frightful chasm I perceived that the
mouth and gums were in a fearful state, completely lit up
by inflammation.
First carefully examining the rotten array of mastica-
tors, and making sure of his foe, Frank rapidly inserted
the forceps and prepared for action. Grasping firmly and
securely the refractory molar, he instantly gave it that
indescribable twist which produces the ever-dreaded
crushing, crashing, bone-smashing, and tearing sensation,
a prolongation of which it is calculated would be suffi-
cient to shake the foundation of the world, or shiver the
skull of an elephant.
At the first attempt the dental giant unseated in his
throne tottered and reeled, and although conquered was

not yet a captive. The unhappy criminal unable to with-
stand the tug of war struggled to rise ; the warders, how-
ever, by great exertion drew him back by his arms, and
held him in his seat ; whereupon howling to the best of
his power, for the instrument was still in his mouth, he
threw out his legs with such strength and precision that
I, who had unthinkingly come too near, received the full
strength of the kick in the lower part of the stomach, and
was sent rolling backwards, perfectly incapacitated, the
awkwardness of the fall and endeavours to save myself
breaking the lantern, and extinguishing its apology for a
light. Dependent on this sole luminary we were left- in
utter darkness ; the confusion, noise, and terror which
ensued are perfectly indescribable.
I soon discovered that I was not the only one down,
and from the tramplings and blows I suffered that the

prisoner was evidently showing fight, or that the autho-
rities in their excitement imagined so. In this dilemma
I suddenly felt myself in the vice-like grasp of some one
heavy, whom I retaliated on by seizing with all my might
a handful of his hair, doing all in my power to get up.
The wiorthy ordinary, who had fled for help, at this
crisis entered, accompanied by others with lights, when
to my extreme surprise I found myself lying underneath
the governor, whose face had been covered with blood
from a cut in my hand. Against the wall, calm and un-
dismayed, stood the doctor, holding in triumph high out
of reach the forceps with a triple-fanged tooth, whilst the
miserable condemned lay almost smothered and choked
by the weight and violence of the two turnkeys. Poor
unresisting wretch ! their exertions were thrown away on
him; he was far too subdued in spirit to have attempted
an escape, and certainly appeared, when liberated, by far
the most alarmed of the party.
Order was quickly restored, and the impropriety of the
scene hushed by the solemnity of the occasion, the hour,
and the strict discipline of the guard ; although nothing
could have been conceived more horrible than the appear-
ance of all, save the doctor and parson, in such a position
and under such circumstances; for when down and over-
powered the patient had in his endeavours to breathe
freely spit and spurted the blood from his torn gums over
the faces of his assailants, whilst the governor and myself
were equally besmeared from the wound in my hand. To
have looked in on us at the moment would have shaken a
man of the boldest courage. Scarcely a word was
spoken.
_ _ .

The operation proved marvellously successful in its
effects on the prisoner, entirely relieving him from all
pain, calming his nervous excitement, and lifting the veil
from his obscured mind. We left him as soon as possible ;
he was already an altered man, fully sensible of his posi-
tion, and open to the divine influence of religion ; and,
strange as it may appear, although sleep was the grand
object of his wishes, that night his last on earth, he never
etired to rest at all, but passed the greater part of it in
listening to prayers and singing hymns.
Descending to the vestibule we passed into the common
room, one dedicated especially to the use of the officers
of the prison; it was a well proportioned large sort of
dining, assembly room, or hall. There we found a roast-
ing fire, large boiler, oven, and every convenience and
comfort. The governor rather theatrically exclaimed, on
entering,
"A little water clears us of this deed."

In spite, however, of the shocking scone we had witnessed
above, we literally roared with laughter as we eyed each
other's gory countenances.
Whilst occupied with the bath his attention was
suddenly called to a new corner. He wore a white wide-
awake hat, a drab great-coat, and was muffled up above
the chin with a thick rough shawl-comforter, and had on
worsted gloves. Ho had evidently just come off a jour-
ney (there were uo railways in those days). By his side
lay a large carpet-bag of a very gay pattern, and on the
table a fishing-rod in its snpg canvass case. He was
engaged disburdening himself from his heavy upper
benjamin.
" Why, Jack," said Captain H—,
ain't you ?"
" Come by the mail, sir ; some delay with a kicker or
jibber, or someat o' that sort; loosed him and did the
stage with three."
During this colloquy the arrival's back was turned
towards us, and the governor taking the opportunity ex-
plained to me by signs who this very important personage
was ; placing his thumb and finger close to his ear he gave
them a sudden jerk upwards, making at the same time a
clicking noise with his tongue, by which I instantly com-
prehended his pantomimic description, and turning round
filled with curiosity I found myself face to face with the
hangman.
He was the very opposite then in appearance from what
any one would have pictured to himself, or have drawn in
a " sensation " article, a man of such a character, and
filling such an abominable calling. In height he was
about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches, of a clear, fair complexion, and
soft rather curly hair and whiskers, light eyebrows, blue
eyes expressive of good humour, but remarkably change-
able and unsettled ; straight thin nose, a mouth whose
thick lips denoted animal passions, and a round jovial
face ; in fact, not at all a bad-looking fellow, notwith-
standing that he was either slightly freckled or faintly
pitted by small-pox. In figure he was extremely broad-
shouldered, well-set up, quick and active in his move-
ments, and bold and familiar in his address. His tout
ensemble would have ranked him between a horse-coper
and a master-butcher in a small way ; you might have
put him down as either of these two.
A rummer of hot brandy-and water and a pipe being
set before him he soon made himself quite at home ; but
shortly approaching Captain he quietly asked him in
a low tone :
" What time it was settled for in the morning ?"
"Oh ! early," replied the governor. " Early—eight
o'clock. To-morrow is our market-day, and we want to
get it all over before ten."
" Well, I'm glad on it, sir," ho said, "for I hopes to get
a little fishing, if I can. I'm told there's plenty in these
parts, only it requires leave ; but French leave's better
than none," he added with a wink.
"If you wish to know anything about fishing,"
answered the governor, " you can't do better than ask my
young friend here," pointing to me, "for he has caught
some very fine ones lately, and will perhaps put you in
the way of it."
Here was an introduction of such an astounding nature
that I was completely taken aback. Not so he ; for he
directly availed himself of it, entering into the spirit of
the sport with great enthusiasm, describing various im-
provements in rods and tackle, and showing himself in
the favourable light of an experienced angler ; indeed he
put me up to a dodge I have never forgotten, namely,
" how to catch trout with a shrimp," a nice brown shrimp
cleanly picked, which when put on the hook with skill
and dropped gently down stream they will seldom or ever
refuse. It is perfectly correct, but almost amounts, in a
sporting sense, to murder.
In mentioning some very killing tackle, he brought up
his carpet-bag to show it ; the first thing, however, on
unlocking it, which presented itself to my anxious eyes,
was a tight coil of' new rope. I thought it a terrible bad
joke at the time—l was young ; he, however, I suppose
did not, but laughingly'said, "Not in that line," and threw
it into the corner of the room.
During this interesting tete-a-tete with my new ac-
quaintance, the doctor was apparently delivering a lecture
on his treasured trophy, the monster tooth. It was placed
in the middle of his palm, and exhibited for the inspec-
tion of wondering turnkeys and others, and no doubt he
was expatiating greatly on the powers of pain, the weak-
ness of the mind, and the uselessness of a nervous sys-
tem. How long he would have entertained his audience,
and remained in the long room, it is impossible to guess ;
but knowing his propensity, and seeing the state of things,
I quietly dieturbed him with the hint that we should be

"you are rather later

wanted in the morning, and we once more bent our wearY
dreary way across the bleak plain towards home. As it
might prove a satisfaction to some readers, I beg o inform
them that this extraordinary tooth, which had caused us
so much anxiety, and its original owner near his perdition,
is now in the Athenaeum, or Literary and Scientific In-
stitution of the town in question, labelled " The tooth of
Joseph White, extracted the night previous to his

execution."
It is not at all my intention to enter into the details of
the morning's horrors ; it would answer no good purpose ;
suffice it to say that we were at our post in time for the
pinioning, and to join in the procession to the gallows ;
but the whole ceremony is so revolting to human nature
that its continuance in its old form is a disgrace to the
country. The chief party concerned was undoubtedlY
the calmest, and I never saw a man face death so fear-
lessly, or with so little emotion, as Joseph White. He was
dressed in a clean white smock-frock, and wore around
his neck a new red-and-blue cotton handkerchief, loosely
tied, smart-looking and peculiar. On arriving at the foot
of the ladder which he had to ascend, Jack Ketch stepped
nimbly in front of him, undid the knot in a twinkling,
and whipped it into his own pocket.
Assuming the air of a philosopher, I looked perfectly
unaffected at what was passing close to me, as if " cee;
tom had made it a matter of easiness ;" but inwardly
preferred taking a survey of the spectators, and reading
a chapter from human nature, than studying the convul-
sions of a broken neck ; so I kept my eyes on the
multitude, and gave myself up to thoughts on the
gallows.
A public execution has one.unfailing effect : it brings to
the surface the scum of the earth, and, like a genial
shower in May, gives fresh life and, circulation to t
asthe
worms and grubs and reptiles of debased humanity.
your eyes along the crowd of upturned faces at the
moment that the miserable wretch who is about to suffer
puts his foot on the drop ; you will at once wonder and
exclaim, From whence sprang this demonical race ? can
they be of our own flesh and blood ? You are awe-
stricken, and shudder. Look again, and you will startle ;
for, strange to say, they are all terribly alike,
and the
resemblance to one another becomes monotonous and
painful : the same brutal savageness and hellish delight
pervade their bulldog, sodden, grim countenances, now
expressive of every bad passion, trained by a course of
appalling vice. There is not the slightest sign of soul
or sensibility in any one of them. On such a fête, pass
through the streets, and you are hustled and pushed
against by rough, devil-may-care men, and coarse, drag-
gle-tailed gin-drinking-women, with even babies at their
breasts ; their existence you know not of, and you cannot
bring yourself to believe in them, so new is the type to
dark
you ; they are the screech-owls and vampires of
rookeries and slums, and broad daylight displays them
in their nakedness, desperate and repulsive. You stand
shocked at their blasphemy, and thunder-struck at their
audacity. But the scene is not without its sport. Thssese,
evil spirits gamble for drink, or bet upon the " gamene'
of the culprit, and you turn away at last, more sick:
ened by this orgie of thieves, and cannibal dance round
the gibbet, than at the gurgling efforts for breath of the
strangled sacrifice to Justice.
eased
" Thank God, that is over !" said Frank, as we p
out of the temple of crime. It reminded me of Sheridan'S
" Thank God, that is settled !" when he signed a,
heedless of the day of judgment. However we were glad
enough to be free of our dismal duty.
it
After breakfast, in order to shake ourselves together,
was proposed to take a turn into the country, instead of.
making the "home circuit" of patients, as usual, which vias
of course agreed to, and a walk being a better remedy than
a drive we turned into the King's Meadows, and nThis
our course by the towing-path towards Sunning. .
delightful stroll is too well known to bear describing
is one of the most contemplative and picturesque imagin-
able, and we walked and talked, with Nature by our ode'
in her most soothing form, until we had washed "'-
horrors from the " tablets of our memory." As vr:
approached the bridge we observed a man on the opPoea
side of the river trolling ; it was a common occurrence?
scarcely worth mentioning, excepting that at the raoinent
of crossing the river we remarked that he had got
run."

" Come, Frank," said I, "let us see the sport." ,„
Entering the meadows, we cautiously approached 1`":"ci
Ho was dressed in a velveteen jacket, Scotch 1,1% e
trowsers, and leather gaiters, and wore around his ne,c
a large red-and-blue tie. He worked his fish with t"
skill of a practised hand. Nearer and nearer we advanced ;
he turned his head ; it was Jack ;Ketch, with the red-and-
blue comforter we had seen in the morning.
Southampton.

A. IL 33'