Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-10-22
The English Hangman.


A Paris Journalist claims to have inter.
viewed "M. Marwood," ;" the English hang.
man and the successor Of Calcran. "Cal-
craft" he says, twas gentleman.
Short in stature, scanty In vestments, his
figure humble as beaten dog, NJ Mar
wood has the air of badly-paid solicitors
clerk He has an enticing expression, and
he always appears benign, kind and easy
going. Like Calcraft, he dresses himself
In garments made by the most fashionable
talors of London his clothes are black,
and, being too large, give him a melan.
choly air. From an inVariable obsequi-
business toward Sherifs, journalists,
priests, and, in short, all those who have
business with him, he changes his tone to-
ward the condemned. lie draws himself
up, the pupils of his little gray eyes seem
illumed as by a flame, he swaggers and
regards the condemned with an imposing
air which seems TO say: Yes, 1t is j, nj.
Marwood. You see that l am not fat;
very well, with this excellent rope, of
which hold one end while | place the
other round the neck Of a man, just dis.
patch this man whose life is forfeited. II
Is who have the honor and the talent TO
do this. /, Mr.. Marwood, Esqh How
ever, ho shows the greatest humanity and
the greatest celebrity during executions,
and il is very curious to see him at those
moments. This little, miserable man is
so terrible at his work that he becomes
positively frightful. The thing done, the
Sbsequious solicitors clerk reappears, but
the obsequiousness is mingled with
haughtiness. NJ. Marwood willingly ex-
plains to journalists his manner of pro
Ccdure, and he becomes very Cadaverous
when he makes his compliments. Here
are some details of his conversation:
"Is it long, NJ. Marwood, since you
entertained the idea of succeeding Cal
craftP
I" Always, sir; but was not in that
line of business; / was in commerce. But
| never missed an execution. / have
spent whole nights in seeing them. / have
even been discharged from three situations
because / was obliged to play truant for
two days in order not to lose an execution.
During this time studied
60 What did you studyP
&c studied the procedure of Calcraft,
and | said to myself that he hanged with
q rope too short l remarked that his
cause they did not receive sufficient
shock. Then his ropes were so thin that
they almost decapitated the patient (D. 1t
was as bad as using the guillotine.'
49, They say that you do not agree with
the guillotine, NJ. Marwood?
go Certainly not; and it does not agree
with me. We have right to kill man,
but we have no right to separate him in
two. Besides, it is of no consequence
that the guillotine works better. 1t is a
mechanical affair, and to do the thing
properly is a work of art. tell you, then,
that one day l discussed my theories with
NJ. Calcraft.'
" And what did NJ. Calcraft say9'
"' He first ordered me out of the door
in contempt. However, after he had re-
fectcd-fOr he was an intelligent man,
though somewhat Obstinate" You are
the man of the future, Marwood," he said
to me, with melancholy air. " You will
be the chief of the new school! But IL
am too old to renounce the traditions of
my life. My old hands only know how to
hang proper ely with rope short and thinm
After that day he frequently asked me to
assist him. Some time since succeeded
him.
And how much money do you make
year:'
" Four or five hundred pounds sterling,
according to whether business is slack or
heavy. We are otherwise very happy
40 You have familyg
Here the voice of NJ. Marwood became
churlish.
90 l must ask you, sir, not to speak of
Mistress Marwood. An Englishman
would not have put so indiscreet a ques-
tion.'
He finished, however, in softer tones,
and when our special was taking leave Of
him he presented him with a hanging
rope"