Robert Evans was born in Carmarthen in 1816, as the son of a successful lawyer.  He later studied and qualified to become a doctor although he never actually practised medicine.  In fact he inherited sufficient money to be able to live comfortably without working.  In later life he adopted his mother’s maiden name of Anderson, although he was still widely known as "Evans the hangman".  He is the man on the right in the photo below.

It seems that like his mother, Robert was fascinated with executions and offered his services as an assistant to William Calcraft, the country’s chief executioner of the time.  He reportedly gave his fee to Calcraft for the privilege of assisting him. This he did on at least three occasions, at the hanging of Richard Spencer at Liverpool on the 8th of January 1873, the execution of serial poisoner Mary Ann Cotton at Durham on the 24th of March 1873 and at Calcraft’s last execution at Newgate, that of John Godwin in 1874.

Evans wrote a letter to the Home Secretary in September of 1883 which was later published in The Times. It read in part - “So long as it is the law of the land that criminals shall suffer death, I submit that the dread punishment should be carried into effect by respectable and skilful hands and should not, as has been too frequently the case of late, be entrusted to any ignorant or brutish person whom the love of gain and notoriety prompts to apply for the performance of the office.”

After Calcraft retired Evans, was able to act as principal executioner on seven occasions in England in 1874 and 1875, although he denied having applied to take over the position, for which William Marwood was selected by the Home Office.

His first job as principal was the hanging of 23 year old Thomas Corrigan at Liverpool on the 5th of January 1874 for the murder of his mother, Mary on Saturday the 1st of November 1873.  The execution was reportedly carried out efficiently although, given the short drop, Corrigan struggled for a few moments after the bolt was drawn.

He also carried out a treble hanging in the open courtyard of Gloucester prison on the 12th of January 1874, when 31 year old Mary Ann Barry and her common law husband, Edwin Bailey, were executed for the murder of his illegitimate child, together with Edward Butt who had shot his girlfriend.

Anderson suggested that the platform of the gallows be mounted over a pit to make it level with prison yard and this modification was made, a five foot deep pit being dug in the airing yard for the purpose.  The platform was enclosed by a four foot high black calico screen.  The hangings took place at eight o’clock in the morning and when the prisoners had been pinioned in their cells they were led out in a procession, headed by the chaplain.  Edward Butt and Edwin were wearing suits and Mary Anne a long dress with lilac prints. She was accompanied to the gallows by the matron of Gloucester Gaol, Miss Marshall, whilst Edwin was accompanied by the Governor, Captain H. K. Wilson.  The rest of the party comprised the deputy governor, the chaplain, the prison doctor and several warders.  The three condemned prisoners knelt on the platform and recited the Lords Prayer with the chaplain before submitting to the final preparations.  Mary Anne was placed between the men on the trap, their legs were tied and the white hoods placed over their heads, followed by the nooses.  The chaplain and the hangman shook hands with each prisoner and then Anderson withdrew the bolt releasing the trap doors and causing the prisoners to drop below the level of the calico screen. The two men died almost without a struggle but Mary Ann Barry, being of “spare build” suffered for up to three minutes and Anderson had to press down upon her shoulders to quicken her death.

Evans said that Mary Anne had whispered to him on the gallows that she had dreamt she would die like this.  Mary Anne Barry became the last woman to suffer death by the short drop method of hanging in Britain and the last woman to be executed at Gloucester Gaol.

Evans last English executions were those of 20 year old John M’Crave and 17 year old Michael Mullen, two members of Liverpool’s notorious “Cornermen gang” at Kirkdale Gaol on the 4th of January 1875, for the murders of brothers Robert and Samuel Morgan.  With them on the gallows was William Worthington who had murdered his wife.  McCrave, the gang ringleader, is said to have shown his true cowardice and became a gibbering wreck by the time of his hanging. Reportedly Mullen remained calm and indifferent throughout.

Evans’ last recorded execution was in Ireland, that of Joseph Poole, a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, at Richmond prison in Dublin on the 18th of December 1883.  Poole’s neck was reportedly broken by the drop and death was “instantaneous”.  Poole was convicted of the murder of John Kenny who was suspected of being an informer against the Fenians.  This makes Evans unique in having successfully transitioned from the short drop method of hanging to the long drop method.

Evans lived to 85, dying on the 26th of August 1901 and at the urging of his only daughter was buried with a traditional ceremony rather than being cremated which was his preference.

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