A CHAT WITH MARWOOD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3774, 20 August 1883, Page 4

A CHAT WITH MARWOOD.

Marwood recently "officiated" at a double execution at Glasgow, and in an article about tho dread functionary a local paper had tho following:—His description has frequently been gh en. It may therefore bo stated that he is a stout, strongly built, wiry man, about sft. Gin. high, GO years of age, Avith small blue, dull eyes, an intelligent forehead, a blvthe countenance, but with not a tooth in his head, stumps remaining Avhere tho teeth should have been. He was dressed in a dark-brown suit, sports a blue felt hat, and wears a ring on the small finger of his left hand. Ho was exceedingly communicative, and does not hesitate to speak of his terrible calling. Ono cannot convoiso Avith him five minutes Avithout being impressed Avith the fact that ho is a man of great nerve, and is uo more affected at the prospect of carrying out tho capital sentence than any other man Avould be at that of Avriting a letter. Ho is not by any means ashamed of his profession, and AA'hen interrogated on the subject declares that ho is tho servant of the Almighty, just as much as a judge or the minister of religion. He never thought Avhen he Avas a young man and a shoemaker that ho Avould over beeomo as ho delights to call himself, "the executioner for Great Britain anil Ireland." Ho does not admit any rival in his profession, declaring that ho and he alone is the Government executioner. He brought Avith him ropes, one of Avhicli he used in tho execution of Joe Brady and Dan Curloy. These, he says, are supplied by the Homo Office, and aro used for numerous executions. They are made of the best Italian hemp, and the noose is formed of a brass ring through Avhich the rope passes. Ho claims to be tho first to produce by means of the long drop instantaneous death. He despises the clumsy modes adopted by his predecessor, Calcraft, and will havo nothing to do AA'ith a stool on the platform of the gibbet, but prefers a bare platform. The culprits are not furnished by him Avith a Avhito handkerchief as the "signal Avlicn they aro ready, but ho dniAvs the bolt immediately after the convicts are properly placed and secured under the beam. He likes to talk of his Irish experiences, and professes to have great hostility to James Caroy, avlio, he thinks, if ever a man did, deserved to be hung. AVhen asked if he had any difficulty Avith Joe Brady, he said— "No; for the very good reason that I brought AA'hat tamed that famous criminal —namely, a good rope." AVhen Manvood journeyed through Ireland in the course of his professional career he Avas escorted by four detectives armed Avith revolvers, and felt quite comfortable and secure in that country Avith such an escort. The Government wished that he should be protected in a similar manner in England, but he rejected such protection altogether, as he declares there is no one iv England or Scotland avlio ■wishes to injure AVilliam Manvood. Ho consequently Avhen travelling in both countries is alone. Ho has had some curious experiences, hoAvever. The last time ho aviis in Edinburgh to execute a Frenchman, he Avalked through the streets of that city unrecognised; but after tho execution, he had not gone one hundred yards Avhen he aviis folloAved by a large croAvd, and had to take refuge in a publichouse. He docs not propose at this time, hoAvever, to sco about GlasgoAV, but to return home in the course of tho day. As already mentioned, he is exceedingly communicative, and in this Avay is totally unlike his predecessor, Calcraft, Avho Avould never converse on the subject of executions, but avus a singularly reticent and uncommunicative man, both on that and other subjects. The lato Mr AVest AVatsou, City Chamberlain, who had in his official capacity to correspond Avith bolh of these mon, stated that they shoAved their difference of character in their correspondence, in a most marked manner. If any one had found in tlie street a letter Avrittcn by Calcraft on tho subject, of a professional engagement, no man Avould, from the correspondence, haA'c concluded it had reference to an execution ; Avhereas Manvood, both iv speaking aud writing, uses very direct language. Finally, Marwood stated that he lias improved the system of private executions in such a Avay that his successor will find his task much easier than he did AA'hen he entered upon his lugubrious duties.