A GRIM COINCIDENCE,

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17985, 2 April 1930, Page 7

A GRIM COINCIDENCE,

“1 HAD TO DO MY DUTY.” Crossing one night from Holyhead to Dublin, the chief steward of the boat joined some of the passengers in the smoking-room, and started reminiscing, as he had been on the North Wall boats since boyhood (writes Arthur Lambton in “Links with Famour Criminals” in the London Magazine). He had many strange stories to tell, but, interesting as some of them w-ere, this one stood alone: — “One very stormy night very few passengers crossed, and there were only two who did not retire to their cabins. These two, both men, remained at the bar, drinking and telling anecdotes during the whole passage. One man was short, and the other was a big Irish-American on his way to County Meath. 'The usual vows of eternal friendship were sworn by both men as they parted at North Wall, and wishes expressed for a speedy reunion. Now' the short man was no other than Marwood, the public executioner, and I was aw>are of his identity, for Marwood travelled more than once ‘on business’ to the Bmereld Isle. Less than a year later it so happened that Marwood crossed to Ireland again, and on the return journey he got into conversation with me at the bar, and told me that he had been over in pursuit of his calling, and from one thing and another we got on to storms and bad passages, and I asked him if lie remembered crossing with an IrishAmcrican on a dreadful night less than a year before. Marwood stared at me, and then took my breath away by saying: ‘Why, I’ve just hanged him. Since then he’s committed a murder, and I’ve, had to do my duty. Small world, isn’t it?’”