THE RIVALS IN THE ROPE-WALK.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 45, 8 May 1862, Page 3

THE RIVALS IN THE ROPE-WALK.

Tito adjective tender is generally regarded us inapplicable to the person and profession of the Finisher of the Law, but tender the noun substantive, in the subjoined extract from a Glasgow newspaper, appears in connection with two gentlemen of that unpopular if useful calling ; “ Tin; Conukm.ved Convict I'ka/,kil--\o word lias vrt come from the Home Secretary as to the fate of Frazer, the man who was convicted at the last Circuit Court of the murder of 31‘Kenney, hy stabbing. In the meantime, the authorities, we believe, have hart two applications from persons anxious to carry into effect the sentence passed on him—lVm. Calcraft, of Loudon, and Thomas As kern, Jlalthy, Yorkshire. The former states that lie will perform tl ic duty at Ids usual fee of twenty guineas, exclusive of travelling and other expenses, including lirst-class railway faro; while Askern oilers to do it at about half the sum, and third-class railway fare. Askern, besides the recommendation of cheapness, seems to be a beotter educated man than Calcraft, and sends several respectable references.” Tile writer of the foregoing paragraph describes Calcraft and Askern as “anxious” to carry out the sentence passed on Frazer. What was the nature of their anxiety to hang that man? Ho they practise their profession con amove , and rejoice in executing malefactors ? are they accustomed to finish the law as it were with a will? Or is the object of their anxiety merely tho pecuniary consideration to be earned by putting a man to death ? •—are they anxious for a job simply as a pig-buteber is, with a solo view to the fee? The fee of a hangman is a sum which may bn regarded with reasonable anxiety. It exceeds llwt of a physician; is twenty times as great by the tariff of Calcraft, the regular practioner. Tim conduct of Askern in trying to undersell the old Jack Ketch by offering to take half his hire, and to accept third class rail-way fare, will no doubt be stigmatised, by hangmen in general, as unprofessional and undignified. By tho public, however, the recommendation of cheapness on the part of an executioner will be regarded as a very great one; for the principal argument in favour of capital punishment is that it is the cheapest way of disposing of a fellow who is good for nothing. In what consists tho alleged superioriti’ of Askern over Calcraft in education F Jack Ketch may be unable to read a line, but capable of putting one about a throat very cleverly for all that. V hat was the nature of Mr. Askern’s x-espectable references ? Perhaps they were testimonials of his moral and religious character, and civil and attentive deportment, obtained from clergymen and others, and certificates of his professional skill irom medical men. A docent well-behaved and adroit hangman, having the recommendation of cheapness, is certainly preferable to a brutal and clumsy one, even for country rate-payers. As tho office of Jack Ketch is, at the lowest rate one of considerable emolument, and education is now put forward as a qualification for it, perhaps it will soon hi rendered the prize of competitive examination as a department of the Civil Service. Readers who may sympathise with the “ anxiety of Messrs. Calcraft and Askern to throttle Frazer, will perhaps be sorry to learn that those artists were cruelly disappointed by the fact that the convict whom they desired for a victim, was provokingly reprieved.