“If Pa killed Ma who’d kill Pa – Marwood”
Early Life and Career
William Marwood was born at Goulceby, near Horncastle in Lincolnshire, and was a cobbler by trade who had, over the years, taken a great interest in the “art” of hanging and felt that it could be improved.
He introduced the “long drop” method of hanging to England, which had been developed by surgeons in Ireland. He realised that if the prisoner was to be given a drop of 6 to 10 feet, depending upon his weight and with the noose correctly positioned, death would be “nearly instantaneous” due to the neck being broken.
The long drop removed all the gruesome struggling and convulsing from the proceedings and was undoubtedly far less cruel to the prisoner, and far less trying to the governor and staff of the prison who, since the abolition of public hangings, had to witness the spectacle at close quarters.
First Execution
He had never hanged anyone or even assisted at an execution, but at the age of 54, persuaded the authorities at Lincoln Prison to let him carry out the hanging of William Frederick Horry on the 1st of April 1872. The execution went off without a hitch and impressed the governor of that prison.
Appointment as Official Hangman
When Calcraft retired, Marwood was duly appointed as official hangman by the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex in 1874 and received a retainer of £20.00 per annum plus £10.00 for each execution. Unlike Calcraft, he got no actual salary. He was still able to keep the condemned person’s clothes to sell and received travelling expenses.
His first execution at Newgate took place on the 29th of June 1874 when he hanged Frances Stewart for the murder of her grandson.
National and International Reach
The rail system was so advanced by this time that he could travel anywhere in the country with ease, thus making it possible for him to carry out most of the executions within England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.
He also carried out the last public hanging in the British Isles when he executed Joseph Le Brun at St. Helier on the island of Jersey on the 11th of August 1875. The 1868 Act requiring executions to be carried out in private in Britain had overlooked the Channel Islands.
Persona and Public Perception
Marwood strongly disliked the word “hangman” and never referred to himself as anything but the public executioner. He was something of a celebrity and had business cards printed with:
“William Marwood, Public Executioner, Horncastle, Lincolnshire”
The words “Marwood Crown Office” were displayed over the door of his shop. This was a small, one-storey building near to the village church, and in addition to his shoemaking tools, there were ropes hung from the roof with which he had carried out many of his executions.
He was very proud of them and was always prepared to talk about them and the famous criminals whom they had hanged. One had been used to hang Charles Peace, Dr. Lamson, Percy Lefroy, and Kate Webster.
Last Words and Reputation
Peace reportedly said to Marwood:
“Do your work quickly,”
to which Marwood replied:
“You shall not suffer pain from my hand.”
“God bless you!” replied Peace. “I hope to meet you all in Heaven!”
Marwood told reporters:
“I am doing God’s work,” he said, “according to the Divine command and the law of the British Crown. I do it simply as a matter of duty and as a Christian. I sleep as soundly as a child and am never disturbed by phantoms.”
Execution Record and Innovations
In his eleven years of service (1872–1883), Marwood hanged 179 people, including eight women. Twenty-six of these executions were carried out in Ireland, seven in Scotland, and one on Jersey. There were 14 double executions, three triples, and one quadruple (at Newgate). He worked without an assistant for most executions, though presumably warders would help out when needed.
Marwood also made improvements to the noose and pinioning straps and requested changes to the gallows—especially the removal of steps up to the platform. He found it far easier for all concerned to have the trapdoor level with the floor or ground.
Final Years and Death
His last execution was that of James Burton on the 6th of August 1883 at Durham prison. Burton’s pinioned arm caught up in the free rope hanging down his back and the poor man had to be hanged twice.
Less than four weeks later, on the 4th of September 1883, William Marwood died of “inflammation of the lungs.”
Notable Cases in Ireland
Marwood travelled to Ireland from time to time and had the job of executing Joe Brady and four other members of the “Invincibles” gang for the murders in Phoenix Park, Dublin, of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke, the Permanent Under Secretary for Ireland. These hangings took place on the 14th of May 1883 at Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin.
Assistants and Legacy
Marwood worked with George Incher on the occasions that needed an assistant (i.e. doubles) until 1881. After his sudden death, there were numerous applicants to succeed him, including several from women.
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