The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-12-16
HARDWOOD THE HANGMAN.
An Interview With the Celebrated Execute
err Of London.

An Interview With the Celebrated Execution.
err Of London.
After the execution of the Rotterdam
murderer recently, u reporter interviewed
Marwood, the executiOner. The report says:
1T was u grand execution! Wood never
moved even finger" We're the first words
uttered when he entered the room where u
number OF persons were assembled: Il
gave him the long drop, nine feet four in
ches, and he died rs peacefully as Il lamb"
"What is your reason for having such q
long drop?" some one asked.
Lifting up his hands and raising his eyes,
he exclaimed in dramatic tones: 1T IN hu-
name, and saves suffering; the man dies in
SANITY"
He had not seen Wood before he met him
in the cell few minutes before the execu-
ton, but when he did see him he was very
unfavombly impressed with his face. He
thought him cold hearted, callous man,
and was confident Of his guilt. In reply to
question respecting the rope, he called for
while he slowly unfastened the leathen
straps which were around it, applied the
key to the lock, opened the bag, and brought
out its contents, which proved to be two
ropes and few pinioning straps. One rope,
thick one, measuring about three inches
in circumference, was the rope which he
had used around the neck, the preceding
morning, of the Alvesbury murderer and
with which he had also executed Wood.
The other was smaller rope, perhaps an
inch in circumference. 1t was curious
sight to behold Marwood contemplating the
ropes. He glzed upon them smilingly.
fondly handling them rs tender az a mother
would handle baby, a connOiseur piece
of rare china, q young lady bonnet of the
atest fashion.
"This rope" said he, holding up the
thickest, lis the rope; it is made Of the
finest Italian hemp; it is the rope of the
good old times" Here he grew rather elo-
quent and earnest, and with emphasis,
added: "This rope is made specially for me,
and it is supplied by the Government.
Look how beautiful and smooth it is; feel
it; it's real beauty"
The visitor felt it, but failed to see much
beauty.
Don't be frightened of it; there are no
blood stains on it," He said this because
it was being very closely and critically ex-
yet broke the skin of my patients
Speaking of his predecessors in the exc
.cution line, he said their great fault was that
they id not study their profession scien-
tifically. When he became the public exc
cutioner, hanging was nothing but Il theory,
little understood, and he proceeded to ex-
plain the art of successful and pleasant
hanging. In the old days Of a short drop a
man suffered greatly, but since he inaugur-
ated the long drop, death is instantaneous
ana pleasant" He has abolished vulgar
suffocation and strangulation. He now dis
locates the neck, sewers the spinal cord, and
creates no pain. Death is like flash of
lightning.
81 like the reporters" he subsequently
remarked, land think the press ought al
ways to be admitted to executions. They
represent the public, and the public should
| be informed Of what occurs at executions.
! am kept busy. I hang from twenty to
thirty every year. l am not paid by salary
nor by the Government. The Sheriff pays
me, and am paid very WE'LL"
He was asked what he did in his leisure
hours: well, ! have a nice garden al
Horncastle, to which pay some attention.
| When l have business London way 60 u
church. Sturgeon is my favorite preacher.
always go to hear him-he is grand man
Sometimes 60 to hear DR.. Parker Mt the
City Temple and ut other times l go and
hear Dean Stanley. am not a Wesleyan
i once was. Ibelong to the whole Church.
| not to any sect"