Lot No: 8168

William Marwood, (1820-1883), public executioner, his ''card'' bearing inkstamp ''Wm Marwood Executioner, Church Lane, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England.'' and with manuscript beneath ''Given to C.H.S.P by W. Marwood in 1880''. Born at Horncastle, Lincolnshire, in 1820, Marwood was by trade a cobbler, but turned his attention early to the subject of executions. He developed the more humane ''long drop'' technique of hanging, ensuring that the prisoners' neck was broken instantly at the end of the drop, undoubtedly kinder than the slow death by strangulation caused by the ''short drop'' method, which was particularly distressing to prison governors and staff required to witness executions at close distance following the abolition of public executions in 1868. In his nine years as a hangman, Marwood executed 178 people, among the more celebrated criminals whom he put to death were Charles Peace, Percy Lefroy Mapleton, Dr. Lamson, and Kate Webster. Card approx 5.5 x 8cm

Sale Price: £600.00