CALCRAFTS SUCCESSOR.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 65, 24 November 1875, Page 3

CALCRAFTS SUCCESSOR.

A correspondent of the Ncwacfitlo Chronicle, who travelled in a third-class carriage with the hangman Murwood a ■ few days ago, thus describes the man ; In general appearance Marwood was not unlike a decent working man, just passing the primo of life. So far as I could gather, Marwood, up to within the last four or live years, led an uneventful life. He carried on the business of master shoemaker in 1 lorncusllc, and employed several workmen. He was a well-known local character, and was, in his way, respected. It was when the old man (meaning Calcraft) began to decline that the idea of becoming a hangman entered Ins mind. “He felt hj, could do it,” and immediately applioe himself to the study of the hungind frame, in order that he might, by the introduction of improved methods, work off” condemned criminals with despatch and dexterity. Two or three jobs came in Ids way, and, acquitting himself satisfactorily, he became an officer of the Crown. For long it was not discovered in Horneasilc that he had entered upon a fresh avocation. Even his wife was kept in ignorance as to what his business could be when called away on her Majesty’s service. In answer to her inquiries, ho 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 nolmdy would believe that the retiring William Marwood, master shoemaker, Church Lane, Horncastle, could have been equal to the hanging of his follows. Bat (this to me aside), “I am always there when I am wanted ; manly, firm, honorable, !” Of course, ho was in favour of capital punishment; the law, person, and property must be respected, and it was with strong feelings on these points that ho bad taken up his present “ profession.” Pay was nothing though ho had no cause of complaint iu that respect. It had been his endeavor—and he thought he had succeeded—to put those who came under hir, attention out of pain as quickly as possible. On one occasion, a murderer, who was hardened to the last, asked to ho “ snapped off quickly,” and ho was snapped off quickly thewords scarcely going out of the culprit’s mouth when life was extinct. Indeed, ho had brought Ids system to a state of perfection ; ho defied any improvements to he made upon it. There was Heap, the quack doctor at Liverpool, who had caused the death of a young woman ; and Hall, of Bristol, who had cut Ids wife’s throat—his “working off in the case of these two men might bo classed amongst the most expeditions and satisfactory of his executions. They were both heavy men, and each fell without a muscle quivering. The best Manilla hemp, he said, formed the rope he used, and in one. end of it lie had inserted an iron ring, so that tho noose ought slip freely when the body foil His solo object was despatch, and it was Ida aim to snap the spina! cord. By the improved system which he had introduced, all, from tho pinioning to the final “ cast off,” could be accomplished in less than three minutes. Ho never spoke to the condemned, nor did he ever shake hands with them unless they wished, because ho considered shaking hands brought on weakness. Ho did everything “ manly, straight, and firm ;no stir about it,” It was a good “ fall,” he considered, when the noose was drawn so tight that the neck was compressed three or four inches. Death was then instantaneous.