The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-06
Death or Msrwo0d. the EngIish Exc
cutionor-Hfs Character.

A telegram from London announces The
death Of William Marwood, the Queens
executI0ner.
William Marwood was born near Horn
castle, England. and resided there all his
life. lie was fifty.eigbt years OF age, stood
five feet seven inches high, and weighed
1850 pounds. He was a man OF powerful
frame, and came under the designation OF
"wIry F." in build. With iron-gray hair,
benevolent countenance. and pleasing man.
ner. he was by no means the type of man
the popular idea would mould OF an exc
eutioner. Well but plainly dressed In gar
nents Of country fashion, with ample col
lar and the oid-style neck-stock OF our
fathers, he looked more hike lay
preacher than anything else. He was, in
fact. a deyout member OF the Methodist
Church, and was regarded by his fellow
towpsmen in Horncastle as q most estima-
BILE and worthy citizen. His account of
how he became an executioner Is interest
ing. lie bad all his life been careful stu
dent Of anatomy, and when he heard OF
Calcraft's intended retirement It was, as the
Puritans used to say, "borne In upon his
mind" that, under Providence, he could
accomplish work OF public usefulness by
conducting executions in scientific mln-
mcr, with minimum OF suffering to the
unfortunate criminal. Marwood was man
OF religious mind, who believed that he was
doing his duty to both God and man. He
did his utmost to divest executions OF
odlous features. In Calcraft's time the
rope used was only two or three feet long,
and when Calcraft had drawn the fatal bolt
he used to descend the scafIold, and, seiz-
ing the victims legs, swing on by them
until death was certain fact This seems
incredible. and yet it is true. Narwood's
rope was always eight or nine feet long,
and he asserted that by his process death
was instantaneous. Marwood appeared to
have studied every process of decapitation
and hanging with a view to arriving at
that which is least painful, and he affirmed
that by his system the victim suffered far
less agony than by the guilotine, the axe.
or the 'short rope" In support of these
views lie furnished abundant anatomical
and other reasons, and satisfied the Gov
ernment Medical Department thereon.
Marwood's services were called into re-
QUESTION in over one hundred cases during
the twelve years that he was her Majesty's
executioner. In the beginning OF the pre-
sent century there were ten times as many
murderers, and hundreds OF other persons
convicted OF minor crimes, hanged an !
nually. Considering the vast increase in |
the population during the nineteenth GEN. |
tury, the statistics OF capital punishment
furnish a remarkable proof that pessimist
jeremiads about the increasing wickedncss
OF the world are opposed to facts.
Mr.. Marwood, following the example ex-
tensiyely set HIM by his fellow-country-
men. visited this country In the spring of
1880. Among other places visited by him
was the Tombs Prison, New York. He
was conducted through the prison, and
given Gn opportunity to make critical in |
spection OF its most distinguished inmates, |
many OF whom he closely scrutinized from |
professional standpoint. He held brief |
conversation with Chastine Cox and Pietro |
BaIbo, the convicted murdcrers under !
sentence OF death. He manifested a |
particular interest in the gallows and
Its contrivances, whose details he ex-
amined and pronounced semi-barbarous.
explaining to the satisfaction Of all con-
cerned that the American prevailing mode
OF execution provided needless suffering
for the victim. The galiows Of Old Eng
land, like most Of her other institutions,
he pronounced an infinitely superior article
to any that could be seen elsewhere. He
had no opportunity OF yet witnessing the
performances OF Judge Lynch's executive
officers. but he had no doubt they lacked
that elegance and perfection to which hang
ing has been brought in his native land.
One of the latest things reported OF Mar
wood was his delivery Of an address on
1.-The Times" in Sheffield, Of which the
Daiiy Telegraph Of that place gave the fol-
lowing report: "The Bible Is a great
BOOK he said" the greatest of all
books--it Is the book OF England's great
ness.o He then went on for few mo-
ments to exhort his audience to lead
Cody and Christian life, but his equa-
nhnity was upset by person IN
the gallery calling out, in Iugubri-
Gus tones: "Let us pray!" which was
followed by laughter. England" he
continued, sis u Bible country, the Queen
is Bible Queen, and the people are
Bible people. Parents should teach their
children the Bible, and they should do all
they could to relieve suffering humanity.
The wheel Of time is constantly casting
people of into eternity" $50 is the
rope" shouted out wag in the body of
the hall, and this created rosrs OF laugh
ter. The speaker continued, taking no
heed OF the interruption. to say they were
all being east OFF; they were all drop
ping" away. This caused much laughter
again. - This life," said he, ais great
struggle" tAyoice, so Is summat else,"
and laughter.] Marwood said he intended
TO speak on different subject, but under
the circumstances he had changed his mind,
and would not take that cline Loud
laughter.] A reference to the state OF Ire
land followed, but the audience became
noisy. and after several attempts to pro-
coed Marwood bowed and retired.