The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1880-11-26
An Tsferrier Wah the Celebrated
Erecufioaer Of Iondon.

I
viewed Marwood, the executioner.
The report states.
at was a grand execution Wood
never moved even a finger" were the
first words uttered when he entered
the room where a number Of persons
were assembled; 81 gave him the long
drop. nine feet four inches, aud he
died As peacefully a. a lamb.
What is your reason for having
such long drop" some one asked,
Lifting up hi, hands and raising his
eyes, he exclaimed in drsmatic tones:
ut is humane, and saves suffering;
the man dies Instantly"
lie had not seen Wood before he
met him in the cell few minutes be-
fore the execution, but when be did
see him he was very unfavorably i'm
pressed with his face. lie thought
him = cold-hearted, csllous man, and
was confident of his guilt. In reply
to a question respecting the rope, he
called for his bag. His visitors held
their breath while he slowly unfssten-
ed the leathern straps which were
around il, applied the key to the lock
opened the bag, and brought out its
contents, which proved to be two ropes
and a few pinioning.stra One rope
a thick one, measuring about three
inches IN circumference, was the rope
which he had used around the neck
the preceding morning of the Ayles
bury murderer. and with which he
had also executed Wood. The other
was a smaller rope, perhaps an inch
in circumference. II was curious
sight to behold Marwood contemplate
ing the ropes. He gszed upon them
smilingly. fondly handling them as
tenderly as a mother would handle a
baby. connoisseur piece Of rare
china, young lady bonnet Of the
latest fashion.
"rhis rope, said he holding up the
thickest. sis The rope; it is made of
the finest Italian hemp; it rs the rope Of
the good old times" Here he grew
rather eloquen, and earnest, ard with
emphasis added. "This rope is made
especially FIR me. and is supplied by
the Governor. Look how beautiful
and smooth il is; feel it, it is a real
beauty
The visitors felt it. but failed TO see
much beauty.
"Don't be frightened of 1t. there is
no blood stains ON it," He said this
because il was being very closely aud
critically examined. II never shed
blood, and never yet broke the skin of
my patients"
Speaking of his predecessors in the
execution line. he said their great fault
was that they did not study their pro.
iession scientifically. When he be-
came the public executioner hanging
was nothing but theory, little under
stood; aud he proceeded to explain
the art Of successful and pheasant"
hanging. 10 the old days of a short
drop man suffered greatly, but since
he inaugurated the long drop death is
instantaneous and pleasant" lie has
abolished vulgar suhocation and stran-
gulation. lie now dislocates the neck,
sewers the spinal cord. aud creates no
pain. Death comes like fash Of
lightning.
II like the reporters" he subse-
quently remarked, land think the
press ought always to be admitted to
executions. They represent the pub
lie, and the public should be informed
Of what occurs at exections. | am
kept busy. | hang from twenty to
thirty every year. am not paid by
salary nor by the Government. The
Sheriff pays me, and ! am paid very
we'll"
lie was asked what he did in his
leisure hours. "Well, have a nice
garden at Horncastle. to which | pay
some attention. When have bust
meas Londonway | 60 to church. Spur.
geon is NY iayorite preacher | al
ways go to hear him-he is u grand
man. Sometimes | 20 To hear DIR.
Parker at the City Temple, aud AT
other times 20 To hear Dean Stanley.
am no, a Wesleyan once was.
b.long to the whole Church, not Ia
any sect.
How liz Cor RIcH.-A good old
man. who is very rich now, was yer,