The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-07-08
Marwood, The Hangman.

After the execution Of the Rotterdam
murderer recently a reporter of the
Sheffield Daily Telegraph interviewed
Marwood, the executioner. The report
Gtates:
''lt was a grand execution! Wood
never moved even a finger" were the
first words uttered when he entered the
room where q number Of persons were
assembled; Il gave him the long drop,
nine feet four inches, and he died as
peacefully as a lamb.'I
what is your reason for having such
a long Drop" some one asked.
Lifting up his hands and raising his
eyes. he exclaimed. in dramatic tones,
at is humane. and sayes suffering; the
man dies instantly"
He had not seen Wood before he met
him in the cell n few minutes before the
execution, but when he did see him be
was very ~unfavorably impressed with
his face. He thought him a cold
hearted, callous man. and was conf
dent of his guilt. In reply to a 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, and
brought out its contents, which proved
to be two ropes and q few ~pinioning-
straps. One rope. a thick one,m 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 . smaller rope, perhaps an
inch in circumference. It was . curious
sight to behold Marwood contemplating
the ropes. He gazed upon them smif-
ingly. fondly handling them as tenderly
rs q mother would handle a baby, u
connoisseur a piece Of rare china, a
young lady a bonnet Of the latest fash
lon.
This rope" said he. holding up the
thickest, sis the rope; II Is made Of the
finest Italian hemp; it Is the rope of the
good old times" 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
1t Is; feel 1t, it is a real beauty"
The visitors felt it, but failed to see
much beauty.
Don't DO frightened of it, there are
no blood stains on It." He said this be-
cause 1t was being very closely and crit
ically examined. II never shed blood,
and never yet 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
tho public cxecutioner. hanging was
nothing but q theory, little understood;
and he proceeded TO explain the art Of
successful and pleasant" hanging. In
the old days Of q short drop o man suf-
fered greatly, but since he inaugurated
the long drop death Is instantaneous
and pleasant" He has abolished vul-
gar s~utiocation and strsngulaton. He
now dislocates the neck, sewers the
spinal cord, and creates no pain. Death
Is like . fash Of lightning.
"Iliks the reporters" he subsequent
ly remarked, land think the press
ought always to be admitted to execu-
tons. am kept busy. l 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
He was asked what he did in his
leisure hours. well, / have O nice
garden at Horncastle to which ] pay
some attention. When I have business
London way / 60 to church. Sturgeon
Is my favorite preacher. ! always 60
10 hear him-he Is . grand man."