The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-01-06
Marwood, The Hangman.

| After the execution of the Rotterdam
murderer recently Il reporter of the
| Sheffield Daily Telegraph interviewed
| Marwood, the eXecutioner. The report
| states:
cit was grand execution! Wood
never moved even finger" We're the
| first words uttered when he entered the
room where number of persons were
assembled; 81 gave him the long drop,
| nine feet four inches, and he died as
peacefully as Il lamb"
''What is your reason for having such
long drop" some one asked.
Lifting up his hands and raising his
eyes, he exclaimed, in dramatic tones,
cit is humane, and saves suffering; the
man dies instantly"
He had not seen Wood before he met
him in the cell few minutes before the
execution, but when he did see him he
was very unfavorably impressed with
his face. He thought him q cold
hearted, callous man, and was conf
dent of his guilt. In reply to ques-
ton respecting the rope, he called for
his bag. His visitors held their breath
while he slowly unfastened the leathern
straps which were round it, applied the
key to the lock, opened the bag, :-:id
DiouS hp oub llS CoutChtS, WLICIi ptoN td
to be two ropes and few piniOning-
straps. One rope, a thick one, meas
uring about three inches in circumfer-
ence, was the rope which he had used
around the neck the preceding morning
of the Aylesbury murderer, and with
which he had also executed Wood. The
other was a smaller rope, perhaps an
inch in circumference. 1t was curious
sight to behold Marwood contemplating
the ropes. He gazed upon them smil-
ingly, fondly handling them as tenderly
as mother would handle baby, Il
cOnnoiSseur piece of rare china, 4
young lady a bonnet of the latest fash
ion.
''This rope" said he, holding up the
thickest, sis the rope; it is made of the
finest Italian hemp; it is the rope of the
good old times.n Here he grew rather
eloquent and earnest, and with empha-
sis added, ''This rope is made specially
for me, and is supplied by the govern
ment. Look how beautiful and smooth
it is; feel it, it is q real beauty"
The visitors felt it, but failed to see
much beauty.
Don't be frightened of it, there are
no blood stains on ii" He said this be-
cause it was being very closely and crit
ically examined. Il never shed blood,
and never vet broke the skin of any of
my patients.
Speaking of his predecessors in the
execution line, he said their great fault
was that they did not study their pro-
fession scientifically. When he became
the public eXecutioner, hanging was
nothing but theory, little understood;
and he proceeded to explain the art of
successful and pleasant hanging. In
the old days of short drop Il man suf-
fered greatly, but since he inaugurated
the long drop death is instantaneous
and pleasant He has abolished vul-
gar suilocation and strangulation. He
now dislocatcs the neck, sewers the
spinal cord, and creates no pain. Death
is like flash of lightning.
Il like the reporters, he subsequent
ly remarked, land think the press
ought always to be admitted to eXecu-
tions. l am kept busy: 1 hang from
twenty to thirty every year. 1 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, l have n nice
garden at Horncastle to which | pay
some attention. When l have business
London way l go to church. Spurgeon
is my favorite preacher. l always go
to hear him-he is Il grand man."