National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-09
A Sketch of Cnlcrart, The Engllsh nnngman,

The death of Calcaft, the English hangman,
brings out many incidents Of his past life.
Something less than fifty years ago the then
sheriil5 of the city of London found themselves
in tho unpleasant position of being left without
hangman to oilicate at Newgate through tue
Cashing of executions ut York and London.
Calcraft, young shoemaker of some twenty
five years of age, on the evening preceding the
execution, happened to call at Newgate with a
pair of boots that he had made for one of the
warders. Tho shoriffs dilemma was ut that
moment II fruitful source of discussion among
the prison officials, aud Calcraft at once volun.
tecred to undertake the job.
At this time the common hangman was tho
especial object of the excavations of the lower
orders of society, and the shcriiis were ther
sitting in Newgate ruelully discussing thu
immediate probability of their being them
selves compelled to do the culprits to dealt
on the following morning. The young shoe
makers voluntary offer was eagerly accepted
The next morning Calcraft launched into etei
nifty the two maleiactors. For period
close upon fifty years from that date amos
every criminal that was sacrificed on the shrin,
Of the offended majesty of the law met hi
death at the hands of Calcrait.
Calcraft's fees were $50 for each execution
besides travelling expenses when he went ava,
from London on business In addition t
this the clothes of the culprit, being part ant
parcel of the felon's estate forfeited to til,
Crown, reverted to the hangman as per
quisitcs. These cast off garments of criminal
were readily saleablo at high prices TO thu
proprietors Of wax.work exhibitions.
Calcraft established a course of etiquette t.
he observed in his intercourse with murderer
in which he persisted throughout his career
The governors of the jails and sheritls, will
whom, in the prosecution of his CHASTITY pro
fcssion, he came in contact, now and thel
would attempt to interfere with his arrange
monts; but CalcraGt always had his own way
as he met all their suggestions and opposition
with the stercotyped argument: "lf yol
don't like my way of doing business you cal
hang the man yourself" Cacraft used TO al
rive in country towns during the evening pre-
coeding execution, and never saw the culpri
until half an hour before the time set. Thcl
ho would introduce himself like this:
" Good morning; my name Is CaCIait. EO,
have got to be hanged in half an hour, and
have got to hang you. You arc not the frs
by hundreds that | have turned oil, and ifyOi
will take it quietly you will suffer no pail
and really won't know when you die If yoi
mean to be nasty you will find IL u rough jO
all the way through. Now, | want to know
whether you are going to behave yOursellW
In his domestic relations CalCratt was u dc
voted husband and an ahectionate father Tive
unmarried daughters who for the four year,
before his death, tended their bedridden
father, and servant comprised the hangmau's
household for the past twenty years. lie hay
ing been widOwCr about that length of time.
The house whore he died was his own prop
erty US well as several Of the adjacent houses.
On the scalIold Calcraft always appeared
dressed in u suit of the darkest Of blue serge,
and these habiliments were known rs his hang.
ing clothes. lie would put them on when
leaving his house to start for the scene OF the
execution and take them oil again on his re-
tuIn, aud never wore them ON any other occa-
sion. No one ever saw him outside his house
during the three DAYS Immediately succeed
ing au execution, and stolidly as lac cOmportcd
himself during the progress Of tho dread
scene, he invariably arrived home suffering
fIom extreme nervousness aud great mental
pIOstratiOn.
In addition TO the house property belonging
TO him in Poole street, Cacraft owned cOnsid.
cradle houses and lands at Phipps' Bridge II
mile and a half west of Mitchen, nine miles
from London, in the county of Surrey, and
altogether he had probably died worth about
800 600