The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-22
HARDWOOD.
Appearance and Business of the Deceased
English Hangman.


Horncastle Eng Letter, Sept 6.
The death of MarwooG, the common hang
man, which took place yesterday from IN
Examination of the lungs accom- pauied by
jaundice terminated a somewhat remarka-
BILE career. He had held the Office for about
twelve years, his first engagement being at
Lincoln i'll 1871, and his last about a tort.
night ago in London. When he was APP
pointed to the post he was successful for
some time in keeping !he fact from the
knowledge of his neighbors, but when it be-
came known his presence in the little town
of Horncastle was not at all appreciated, and
he was continually hOoted and Kissed. This
practice gradually wore off and when not
engaged in his professional duties--or ION
circuit as he used to term 1.-THE was emf
ployed as a cobbler in a little shop close to
the parish church. He took much pride in
the manner in which he performed his exc
cutions, and was never weary of recountng
his experiences and of speaking of the great
improvement of the long drop over all other
systems previously adopted in this country
or elsewhere. He had amassed fair amount
OF property, having several cottages OF his
own, besides other investments-a marked
contrast to his former days, when he led
most penurious life. He had for some time
past contracted rather dissOlute habits which
aggravated his illness. and without doubt
FASTENED his death. He leaves a widow but
no son, the statements made from time to
Iilh0 IIldI hS was dCCOln pdHleu DN MS son
being incorrect
Marwood was a Observation-Disclosures old
man, of middle height, with broad, com,
pactly-set shoulders. He dressed n such
coat as a Lincolnshire farmer would
wear, with high black stock and low felt
hat, and looked the very personficatio of "A
good-hunored old countryman. His place
OF business was a little one-story building
close to Horncastle churchyard. Over the
door the words, "Marwood, Crown Office" in
large letters, showed that he was not ashamed
of his work, and a very short conversation
with him was sufficient to show that ne
looked upon himself as a benefactor of the
human race The little shop was filled with
implements of his work as a country cob
bier, but hanging from the roof there were
some curious coils of rope, concerning which
he was particularly proud. Somehow
or other he had obtained possession of a rope
used by Calcraft, with a clumsy slip-knot,
and he compared it with considerable self
assertion with the ropes hanging from his
ceiling, which were made to his order in gov
eminent workshops. Until he was execu-
TONER ne said, he had never seen an execu-
ton, but for many years he had thought over
the subject, and he objected to the way in
which Calcraft 'choked' his prisoners to
death. There were many attempts 20 get a
portrait OF Marwood, but ne always refused
An enterprising photographer offered him
ESQ one day for sitting, but he declined, his
explanation being that one of the things he
enjoyed was to go to a town by an earlier
train than that by which he was expected
and mix in the crowd that was awaiting his
arrival.