My Experiences as an Executioner

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of life's great tragedy for the doomed man, so I enter the cell punctually at three minutes to eight. In order that my action in hanging a man may be legal, it is necessary that I should have what is known as an "authority to hang," which is drawn up and signed by the Sheriff, and handed to me a fe

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d County of --, do hereby authorise you to hang A-- B--, who n

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in three, and e

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ity to

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ve watched through the convict's last nights on earth are also present. At my appearance the convict takes leave of

ne, a procession is formed, ge

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f the sentence, in order that I may feel sure that I am not hanging an innocent person. In most cases they have done so, either in the cell, or at the last moment on the scaffold. Of course, the confidences reposed in me at

convict under the beam, pinion the legs just below the knees, with a strap similar to the one used for the elbows, adjust the rope, pull the bolt and the trap falls. Death is instantaneous, but the body is left hanging for an hour, and is then lowered into

of press representatives has been very rigidly curtailed, and in some cases admission has been absolutely refused. It seems to me that the admittance of a large number of spectators, and the absolute refusal to admit any, are alike mistakes. I speak in this matter as a man whose own work comes under the criticism of the press, and although so far as I am personally concerned, I am perfectly satisfied if I can satisfy the Governor or High Sheriff, I know that there is a large section of the public that thinks the exclusion of the reporters must mean that there is something going on which there is a desire to hush up. I am a servant of the public, as also are the sheriffs, th

out is announced to the public by a notice fixed to the door of the prison. The for

Y OF

CHARLES SMI

nishment Amendm

at judgement of death has been executed; and of the

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f of the Cou

May,

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Death was this day, in our presence, executed on Charles

May, One thousand eight

ort, Under-Sheri

n, Governor o

, Chaplain o

hief Warder o

, Sheriff'

in, Reporter,

, Reporter, Ox

arner, Reporte

sbury,

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his day examined the body of Charles Smith, on whom judgement of death was this day executed i

May, One thousand eight

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of the