CALCRAFT'S: SUCCESSOR.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2251, 26 October 1875, Page 2

CALCRAFT'S: SUCCESSOR.

A correspondent . of the Newcastle Chronicle,' who; travelled in & third-class | carriage with the .hangman Marwood a few days ago, : thus describes the man :— In general appearance Marwood was not unlike a decent working man, just passing the prime of life. So far as I could gather, Marwood; up to 'within' t£e last four or five years^ led an ttneventful life. He carried on the business of master shoemaker : in florncastlei and employed several workmen. He was. a well-known local character, and was, in his way, re- ; spected. It was > when the old man (meaning Calcraft) began ;T tb decline 5 that the idea of becoming a hangman entered his pihdv ."He felt' r he could do it," and immediately; applied himself to the study of the hanging frame, in order that he might, by cthe introduction of improved methods, "work...off" condemned criminals iwitk despatch and dexterity. Two or three job 3 came in his way, and, acquitting Himself 'satisfactorily,' he became an officer of the. Crown." For long it .was. not discovered ; in . Horncastle that he had entered upon: &.- fresh avocation. Even ihis wife was kept ia ignorance as to what his business could be when called away on her Majesty's service. In answer to her inquiries, he would say, "I'm going on a little law business, my dear," and would tell her when to expect his return. When the truth did come out, npbody.would believe that the retiring William Marwood, master ' shoemaker, Church Lane, Horncastle, could have been-' equal to the hanging of his fellows. But (tbisito me aside), "I .am always there when lam wanted ;.-manly, : firing honorable !" ,Qf^\. course,, he was in favor of capital punisn^ ment.; the law, person, .. and .propertjr must be respected, and it was with strong • feelings on these points that he had taken up his present " profession. " ; Pay .; was nothing, though he had no cause of complaint in that respect. It had been his endeavor— and he thought he had suc-ceeded-rrto put those who came under his attention put 5 of pain as quickly as; ppssible.! On one occasionj a4nuraeier, ;! who was "hardened to the last; tB be ■- "snapped; off quickly,'^ rand' "he; was snapped off quickly, the 'words .scarcely going outof the culprit's mouth! when life was extinct. Indeed, he had brought his .system tp. a .state of perfection ; he defied 'any improvements to be made upon it. ; vThere jgaa Heap, the quack doctor at Liverpool, who had caused the death of a young woman ; and Hall, at Bristol, who had cut his wife's throat — his " working off" in the case of these two men might be classed amongst; the most expeditious and satisfactory of his 3xecutions. They were both heavy men, md each fell without a muscle quivering. Che best Manilla hemp, he said, formed ;he rope he used, and in one end of it he lad inserted an iron ring, so that the noose night slip freely when -the body fell! His ole object was despatch, and it was always Lis aim to snap the spinal cord. Bytheimiroved system which he had introduced, all, com the pinioning tp the final " castoff," ould be accomplished in less than hree minutes. He never spoke to he condemned, nor did he ever shake lands with them unless they wished, beause he considered shak ing hands brought n weakness. He did everything "manly, traight, and firm i; no stir about if." It 'as a good "fall," he considered, when le noose , was drawfn;;so tight that the eck was compressed three or four inches. >eatk was then instantaneous.