Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-10-05
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Pnhlisher and pronrietor.
An Accomplished English Hang.
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Calcraft, the hangman in England for
many years, has become superanuated,
and has retired with a pension He was
curiously reticent man, and the re-
porters and others who tried to inter-
view him never succeeded in getting
anything out of him. He had habit,
however, Of always whispering in the ear
Of his victim just before the supreme mo-
ment, and various gloomy stories went
about as to what this last message was.
Some people said it was curse: Down,
down to hell, and say sent you therel"
Others pretended that Calcraft always
whispered, Stand 6rm Good news for
youl Your pardon has come, and you
will hear the sheriff read it in a mo-
mentl" Others, still, said that Calcraft
was a spiritualist, and thathis whispered
farewell message was an injunction to
the victim to visit him that night and
bring him news from the other world.
Another Of his habits was always to
shake hards%th the condemned person
at the moment of whispering in his ear;
but it was observed that his nerves were
never strong after the execution OF Mar.
garet Walter at Newgate, an unhappy
women who was hung for the murder of
some infants consigned to her care. She
seized his hand with so much force that
it was with the utmost difficulty that he
disengaged himself, and as he hastened
to pull the bolt his face was observed to
be iearluly pale Calcraft's successor
isa man named Marwood; and corra-
spondent who travelled with him in q
third-class car few days ago thus de-
scrihes the man:
Marwood carried with him in black
oilskin wrapper fastened by leathern
strap articles which | afterward discov-
cred to be the implements Of his calling.
Sentence of death on several criminals
had been carried out that morning and
Marwood was not unlike decent work
ingman, just passing the prime of life.
His shoulders are broad; his chest deep;
his back straight and hard his arms are
hong and sinewy; his hand bony aud
powerful, and set upon thick muscular
wrists; aud his legs slightly bowed at
the calves and at the thighs, gave add.
tional power to the whole frame. A
casual glance at his countensnce would
rather give the idea that he was of a
simple, mild, disposition; but more
careful examination discoveries in il
little of pity and much OF quiet self.
approval. We had been running few
minutes when | engaged him in conver.
sation, which was carried on with diff.
Guilty amid the din of the mail train.
Sometimes, so loud was the noise, he
1placed his ears close to my lips to hear
the observations | had to offer. These
we're generally applied to himself rather
than to the horrid details Of any partic.
ular execution in which he had taken
part So far as could gather, Mar
wood, up to within the last four or five
years. led an unenviable life. He car
ried on the business Of master shoemaker
in Horncasile and employed severa
workmen. He was q Well-known loca
character and was in his way respected
| 1t was when the old man (meaning Cal
craft began to decline that the idea o
becoming hangman entered his mind.
He felt be could do il" and immedi
ately applied himself TO the study Of the
hanging frame in order that he might
by the introduction OF improved meth
DDS, work off condemned criminals
with dispatch and dexterity Two OF
three jobs came in this way, and acquit
ting himself satisfactorily, he became
an officer of the crown. For long it was
not discovered in Horneastle that he haC
entered upon fresh avocation. Ever
his wife was kept in ignorance as tC
what bis business could be when called
away on her majesty service. In answer
to her inquiries be would say, I'm going
on little law business, my dear, anC
would tell her when to expect his return
When the truth did come out nobody
would believe the retiring William Mar,
wood, master shoemaker, Churchlare
Horncastle could have been equal t
the hanging Of bis fellows. But (this tC
me aside) II am always there when
am wanted; manly, firm, honorable 7
OF course he was in favor OF capita
punishment; the law, person and prop
erty must be respected and it was will
strong feelings on these points that b,
had taken up his present profession.
Pay was nothing, though be had nj
cause of complaint in that respect. |
) had been his endeavor- he though
he had succeeded 30 put those whI
!. came under his attentions out Of pain a
. quick as possible. On one occasion
murderer, who was hardened to the last
! asked to be snapped of quickly" ant
be was snapped of quickly, the word
! scarcely getting out of the culprit'
mouth when life was extinct. Indeed
he had brought his system to a state 0
perfectioui he de6ed any improvement
: TO be made upon it, There was Hear
the duack doctor at Liverpool, who ha,
caused the death Of a young woman
= and Hill, at Bristol, who had cut hi
, wife's throat-his working off in th
: case OF these two men might be classe