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Watched an interview, from "You Tube's" home page, of the one of six executioners in SA.
He could have been talking about his job as a bricklayer as to him it is just a job!
He was trained by his father and his own son will follow him into "the job".
Sometimes he will do six in one day.
He also does a very good "hand job" and a "foot job" too, just to mix things up a bit.
There was a link to show him in action but I'll pass on that please!
He could have been talking about his job as a bricklayer as to him it is just a job!
He was trained by his father and his own son will follow him into "the job".
Sometimes he will do six in one day.
He also does a very good "hand job" and a "foot job" too, just to mix things up a bit.
There was a link to show him in action but I'll pass on that please!
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Pierrepoint`s book is worth a read. He had a similar outlook to the job which was passed down to him.
Yes, I think he dispatched over 100 including the controversial one, being Derek Bentley.
Albert Pierrepoint (30 March 1905 – 10 July 1992) was a long-serving hangman in England. He executed at least 400 people, including William Joyce ("Lord Haw-Haw"), and John Amery, whom he considered the bravest man he had ever hanged. He executed many people who had been convicted of war crimes.
Pierrepoint was often dubbed the Official Executioner, despite there being no such job or title. In England, executions were the responsibility of the local sheriff; however, instead of officiating themselves, sheriffs used to delegate the job to a person of suitable character who was employed and paid only when required. Pierrepoint continued to work for years in a grocery near Bradford after qualifying as an Assistant Executioner in 1932 and a Chief Executioner in 1941, in the steps of his father and uncle.
Following his retirement in 1956, the Home Office acknowledged Pierrepoint as the most efficient executioner in British history. He subsequently became a publican in Lancashire and wrote his memoirs, in which he sensationally concluded that capital punishment was not a deterrent.
There is no official tally of his hangings, which some have estimated at more than 600; the most commonly accepted figure is 435.
Pierrepoint was often dubbed the Official Executioner, despite there being no such job or title. In England, executions were the responsibility of the local sheriff; however, instead of officiating themselves, sheriffs used to delegate the job to a person of suitable character who was employed and paid only when required. Pierrepoint continued to work for years in a grocery near Bradford after qualifying as an Assistant Executioner in 1932 and a Chief Executioner in 1941, in the steps of his father and uncle.
Following his retirement in 1956, the Home Office acknowledged Pierrepoint as the most efficient executioner in British history. He subsequently became a publican in Lancashire and wrote his memoirs, in which he sensationally concluded that capital punishment was not a deterrent.
There is no official tally of his hangings, which some have estimated at more than 600; the most commonly accepted figure is 435.
I didn't, mac, but I DID know the Black Panther. I was very pally with a lad who lived next door.
His daughter fancied me. I was about 25, she'd be 14 or so. This was years after I knew Neilsen originally through my mate.
Were you a taxi driver, Kenny? 
Couldn't resist it, sorry!
Couldn't resist it, sorry!
Didn`t know that Neilson came from Bradford kenny. Did Sutcliffe not come from that neck of the woods too?
Peter Manuel reputedly ran the last few steps to the gallows.
My parents were friends with Isabelle Cooke's (one of his victims) Aunt and Uncle so we took a more than usual interest in the case.
My parents were friends with Isabelle Cooke's (one of his victims) Aunt and Uncle so we took a more than usual interest in the case.
Seconding tmm ,Pierrepoints book well worth reading.
Remember reading about Neilson.
Apparently, when he was nicked, if the police hadn't protected him, the crowd would have probably ended up topping him.
Apparently, when he was nicked, if the police hadn't protected him, the crowd would have probably ended up topping him.
"He executed many people who had been convicted of war crimes".
Many politicians, lawyers and buisnessmen are fortunate that this situation did not exist over the last 30 years.
Many politicians, lawyers and buisnessmen are fortunate that this situation did not exist over the last 30 years.
Very good, naydam.
Sutcliffe was indeed also from Bradford. A place called Heaton where my sister used to live.
No idea where Pierrepoint tippled, but he was born in Layton, Bradford where my mum used to live.
Sutcliffe was indeed also from Bradford. A place called Heaton where my sister used to live.
No idea where Pierrepoint tippled, but he was born in Layton, Bradford where my mum used to live.
Albert Pierrepoint hung one of the regulars at his local did he not?
Yes, I think he dispatched over 100 including the controversial one, being Derek Bentley.
And Timothy Evans.
And Timothy Evans.
macAlways prided himself on doing a good job Pierrepoint, he ensured their death was quick and clean
He actually stopped during the Nuremburg war trials, they ran out of coffins
He said I don't care how bad they are, I am not hanging anyone unless there is a coffin, this has to be done properly
or not all
He got his coffins
I think hangings were quite fast. The door would open next to the condemned cell, they would be rushed to the trap,
hooded, hands tied...trap opened, they were gone.
hooded, hands tied...trap opened, they were gone.
Here we go, i thought that he hung one of the regulars in his pub. this is the story.
James Henry Corbitt (c. 1913 – 28 November 1950) was an English murderer hanged at Strangeways Prison in Manchester by Albert Pierrepoint.
Corbitt knew his hangman even before he committed the crime. At the time of the murder, he was a frequent customer in Pierrepoint’s pub "Help The Poor Struggler" (on Manchester Road, in the Hollinwood area of Oldham), sang with him round the piano and called him "Tosh" while Pierrepoint called him "Tish" (Tish and Tosh were, at that time, common nicknames used between people who were passing acquaintances but who did not know each other's names).[1] Corbitt knew about the official sideline of his publican. At the time of the murder, Corbitt was separated from his wife and his 11-year-old son, and had a mistress, Eliza Woods. In a fit of jealousy, he throttled Woods in a hotel room in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire.
In his memoirs ("Executioner: Pierrepoint"), Pierrepoint wrote about his feelings when returning to the pub after Corbitt’s execution: "I thought if any man had a deterrent to murder poised before him, it was this troubadour whom I called Tish. He was not only aware of the rope, he had the man who handled it beside him singing a duet. The deterrent did not work."[2]
Pierrepoint goes on to relate Corbitt's final moments:
At twenty seconds to nine the next morning I went into the death cell. He seemed under a great strain, but I did not see stark fear in his eyes, only a more childlike worry. He was anxious to be remembered, and to be accepted.
Hallo, Tosh, he said, not very confidently. Hallo Tish, I said. How are you? I was not effusive, just gave the casual warmth of my nightly greeting from behind the bar.
Pierrepoint goes on to describe how Corbitt smiled and relaxed after this greeting. After strapping Corbitt's arms, Pierrepoint says "Come on Tish, old chap", at which Corbitt goes to the gallows "...lightly...I would say that he ran."
James Henry Corbitt (c. 1913 – 28 November 1950) was an English murderer hanged at Strangeways Prison in Manchester by Albert Pierrepoint.
Corbitt knew his hangman even before he committed the crime. At the time of the murder, he was a frequent customer in Pierrepoint’s pub "Help The Poor Struggler" (on Manchester Road, in the Hollinwood area of Oldham), sang with him round the piano and called him "Tosh" while Pierrepoint called him "Tish" (Tish and Tosh were, at that time, common nicknames used between people who were passing acquaintances but who did not know each other's names).[1] Corbitt knew about the official sideline of his publican. At the time of the murder, Corbitt was separated from his wife and his 11-year-old son, and had a mistress, Eliza Woods. In a fit of jealousy, he throttled Woods in a hotel room in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire.
In his memoirs ("Executioner: Pierrepoint"), Pierrepoint wrote about his feelings when returning to the pub after Corbitt’s execution: "I thought if any man had a deterrent to murder poised before him, it was this troubadour whom I called Tish. He was not only aware of the rope, he had the man who handled it beside him singing a duet. The deterrent did not work."[2]
Pierrepoint goes on to relate Corbitt's final moments:
At twenty seconds to nine the next morning I went into the death cell. He seemed under a great strain, but I did not see stark fear in his eyes, only a more childlike worry. He was anxious to be remembered, and to be accepted.
Hallo, Tosh, he said, not very confidently. Hallo Tish, I said. How are you? I was not effusive, just gave the casual warmth of my nightly greeting from behind the bar.
Pierrepoint goes on to describe how Corbitt smiled and relaxed after this greeting. After strapping Corbitt's arms, Pierrepoint says "Come on Tish, old chap", at which Corbitt goes to the gallows "...lightly...I would say that he ran."
That must have been his hardest hanging Angel...glad he managed it well
Very well portrayed in the drama a few years ago with Timothy Spall as Pierrepoint.
I think hangings were quite fast. The door would open next to the condemned cell, they would be rushed to the trap,
hooded, hands tied...trap opened, they were gone.
if they had done the calcs correctly..... occasionally they got it wrong and they were left dangling!
hooded, hands tied...trap opened, they were gone.
if they had done the calcs correctly..... occasionally they got it wrong and they were left dangling!
Pierrepoint - The Last Hangman
Can watch it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFTG3wtKSxw
Can watch it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFTG3wtKSxw
Timothy Spall is a brilliant actor and seems a genuinely nice, down to earth guy as well
Just realised James Corden is in it as Pierrepoints assistant executioner.
lets hope Pierreppoints executes the wrong one in the dark then ....that said Cordon would probably fall through the box, the fat coont.
Pierrepont did a reasonable job doing an unpleasant task judged in a reasonably honest society. More than could be said about the ISIS thugs in Syria. They deserve Pierrepont's attention for me.
Emden • March 22, 2015 10:12 PM GMT
I think hangings were quite fast. The door would open next to the condemned cell, they would be rushed to the trap,
hooded, hands tied...trap opened, they were gone.
if they had done the calcs correctly..... occasionally they got it wrong and they were left dangling!
That was why one would hope for someone who did the job properly
The other extreme is the person gets decapitated completely
I do not know if Pierrepoint made any mistakes?
I think hangings were quite fast. The door would open next to the condemned cell, they would be rushed to the trap,
hooded, hands tied...trap opened, they were gone.
if they had done the calcs correctly..... occasionally they got it wrong and they were left dangling!
That was why one would hope for someone who did the job properly
The other extreme is the person gets decapitated completely
I do not know if Pierrepoint made any mistakes?
Everything was over in seconds. He was very efficient. I could never have done the job tbh. Don`t get me wrong, I could easily dispose of some these evil f****** no problem, but the thing is I can`t even tie my laces properly.
If they bring back hanging and appoint you as public hangman mightymac
I shall be careful not to murder anyone.
I shall be careful not to murder anyone.
Albert Pierrepoint suffered from great a breakdown of guilt, especially after he executed his pal from the pub.
It would not surprise me Angel
He was only carrying out the sentence of the law..and he always ensured it was done properly,
no unnecessary suffering.
But executing all those people, including a pal, he must have had doubts about what he was doing.
No blame attached to him of course, if he had not done it somebody else would have
He was only carrying out the sentence of the law..and he always ensured it was done properly,
no unnecessary suffering.
But executing all those people, including a pal, he must have had doubts about what he was doing.
No blame attached to him of course, if he had not done it somebody else would have
Very true but he beganto compare his actions to to theirs. For many of them it was a crime of passion, they killed during a jealous rage but Albert realised he was killing for the money.
in which he sensationally concluded that capital punishment was not a deterrent.
I doubt if any ever came back for a second dose.
I doubt if any ever came back for a second dose.
There are several recorded instances of revival in this country during the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the most famous is that of John Smith, hanged at Tyburn on Christmas Eve 1705. Having been turned off the back of the cart, he dangled for 15 minutes until the crowd began to shout "reprieve," whereupon he was cut down and taken to a nearby house where he soon recovered.
He was asked what it had felt like to be hanged and this is what he told his rescuers:
"When I was turned off I was, for some time, sensible of very great pain occasioned by the weight of my body and felt my spirits in strange commotion, violently pressing upwards. Having forced their way to my head I saw a great blaze or glaring light that seemed to go out of my eyes in a flash and then I lost all sense of pain. After I was cut down, I began to come to myself and the blood and spirits forcing themselves into their former channels put me by a prickling or shooting into such intolerable pain that I could have wished those hanged who had cut me down."
Sixteen year old William Duell was hanged, along with four others, at Tyburn on the 24th of November 1740. He had been convicted of raping and murdering Sarah Griffin and was therefore to be anatomised after execution. He was taken to Surgeon’s Hall, where it was noticed that he was showing signs of life. He was revived and returned to Newgate later that day. The authorities decided to reprieve him and his sentence was commuted to transportation. There are several other instances where people, including at least two women, survived their hanging.
He was asked what it had felt like to be hanged and this is what he told his rescuers:
"When I was turned off I was, for some time, sensible of very great pain occasioned by the weight of my body and felt my spirits in strange commotion, violently pressing upwards. Having forced their way to my head I saw a great blaze or glaring light that seemed to go out of my eyes in a flash and then I lost all sense of pain. After I was cut down, I began to come to myself and the blood and spirits forcing themselves into their former channels put me by a prickling or shooting into such intolerable pain that I could have wished those hanged who had cut me down."
Sixteen year old William Duell was hanged, along with four others, at Tyburn on the 24th of November 1740. He had been convicted of raping and murdering Sarah Griffin and was therefore to be anatomised after execution. He was taken to Surgeon’s Hall, where it was noticed that he was showing signs of life. He was revived and returned to Newgate later that day. The authorities decided to reprieve him and his sentence was commuted to transportation. There are several other instances where people, including at least two women, survived their hanging.
Crippen once claimed on this forum to be a Christian, i think he would be more compatible with Islam.
You would have thought that Dr Crippen would be against hanging 
Angel Gabrial
Albert Pierrepoint suffered from great a breakdown of guilt, especially after he executed his pal from the pub.
Surprised it took so long. TMM he must have been mentally unbalanced to have been able to carry out so many executions.
Albert Pierrepoint suffered from great a breakdown of guilt, especially after he executed his pal from the pub.
Surprised it took so long. TMM he must have been mentally unbalanced to have been able to carry out so many executions.
Aka
His father was also a hangman, so when Albert`s application was accepted his mother was not happy. She asked him why he wanted to do it, his reply "Aye it`s in me blood"
Following his fathers footsteps, so i guess that purpose kept him cold from emotion but only for so long.
His father was also a hangman, so when Albert`s application was accepted his mother was not happy. She asked him why he wanted to do it, his reply "Aye it`s in me blood"
Following his fathers footsteps, so i guess that purpose kept him cold from emotion but only for so long.
Very good Mac.
John Ellis was the executioner who did Crippen and this is interesting but disturbing regarding the execution of Edith Thompson.
The ordeal of executing Edith Thompson in 1923 had a profound effect on Ellis. Thompson had collapsed in terror at the prospect of her hanging and, unconscious, had to be supported on the gallows by four prison warders.[1] Various accounts report, "that guards had to tie her to a small wooden chair before drawing the noose around her neck", and that "she was hanged in a bosun's chair".[2]
When the gallows trapdoor opened and Thompson fell, the sudden impact of the noose caused her to suffer a massive vaginal haemorrhage. The large amount of blood spilled, combined with the fact that Thompson had gained weight during her imprisonment even while resisting food, led to conjecture that she might have been pregnant, although no post-mortem examination was made. All women hanged in Britain after Thompson were required to wear special knickers made of canvas as a precaution against the problems encountered with Thompson.[3]
Traumatised by the Thompson execution, Ellis took to drinking heavily, and attempted suicide the following year by shooting himself in the jaw. Suicide was at that time a criminal offence, and Ellis was charged and bound over for 12 months at Rochdale Magistrates Court. Eight years later, in September 1932, after another bout of heavy drinking, Ellis succeeded in his suicide attempt, cutting his throat with a razor.[
John Ellis was the executioner who did Crippen and this is interesting but disturbing regarding the execution of Edith Thompson.
The ordeal of executing Edith Thompson in 1923 had a profound effect on Ellis. Thompson had collapsed in terror at the prospect of her hanging and, unconscious, had to be supported on the gallows by four prison warders.[1] Various accounts report, "that guards had to tie her to a small wooden chair before drawing the noose around her neck", and that "she was hanged in a bosun's chair".[2]
When the gallows trapdoor opened and Thompson fell, the sudden impact of the noose caused her to suffer a massive vaginal haemorrhage. The large amount of blood spilled, combined with the fact that Thompson had gained weight during her imprisonment even while resisting food, led to conjecture that she might have been pregnant, although no post-mortem examination was made. All women hanged in Britain after Thompson were required to wear special knickers made of canvas as a precaution against the problems encountered with Thompson.[3]
Traumatised by the Thompson execution, Ellis took to drinking heavily, and attempted suicide the following year by shooting himself in the jaw. Suicide was at that time a criminal offence, and Ellis was charged and bound over for 12 months at Rochdale Magistrates Court. Eight years later, in September 1932, after another bout of heavy drinking, Ellis succeeded in his suicide attempt, cutting his throat with a razor.[
I just can't fathom out how any individual could do the job.
Hundreds, jesus a normal human being I doubt could do that many.
Surely after only a few you would be sickened. I just can't fathom it out.
Hundreds, jesus a normal human being I doubt could do that many.
Surely after only a few you would be sickened. I just can't fathom it out.
I think one would have to be mentally unbalanced to do the job. Psychiatrists claimed after WWII that many of the Nazi concentration camp guards would probably have been sadists and killers in normal life and that the circumstances of the Third Reich gave them opportunity to live out their psychotic tendencies with the backing of the state.
Is that fair Mac
I do not think Pierrepoint was a sadist or killer, his father and uncle were also public hangmen, he may have seen it
as maintaining a family tradition or duty?
But yes he must have had a certain mind set to do what he did, it is not a thing everyone could do.
I would not compare him to concentration camp guards, some of these were as you say, in fact they were encouraged to do it.
I do not think Pierrepoint was a sadist or killer, his father and uncle were also public hangmen, he may have seen it
as maintaining a family tradition or duty?
But yes he must have had a certain mind set to do what he did, it is not a thing everyone could do.
I would not compare him to concentration camp guards, some of these were as you say, in fact they were encouraged to do it.
ebulGery
Is that fair Mac
I do not think Pierrepoint was a sadist or killer, his father and uncle were also public hangmen, he may have seen it
as maintaining a family tradition or duty?
That might explain him taking the position in the first place but how could you sleep at night knowing that you had killed someone albeit legally.
Now that might not kick in immediately but ffs to be able to do hundreds well that's beyond my comprehension and like mac I think he must have been mentally unstable as must all such executioners be.
Is that fair Mac
I do not think Pierrepoint was a sadist or killer, his father and uncle were also public hangmen, he may have seen it
as maintaining a family tradition or duty?
That might explain him taking the position in the first place but how could you sleep at night knowing that you had killed someone albeit legally.
Now that might not kick in immediately but ffs to be able to do hundreds well that's beyond my comprehension and like mac I think he must have been mentally unstable as must all such executioners be.
He also kept the diary which would have been an everyday reminder. Yet he also knew that the condemned would be better off in his hands than any other hangman. He was a master of his trade, apparently.
One must remember the Law killed these people, he only carried out what the Law decreed
Him not doing it would not have saved anyone..somebody else would have hanged them
But I do not think many people could have done this job....would have been too hard to live with
I do not know if that made him mentally unstable or not..he was always very controlled, I doubt he took pleasure in killing people
To him it was just a job, you could say this must require an extremely cold personality.
Him not doing it would not have saved anyone..somebody else would have hanged them
But I do not think many people could have done this job....would have been too hard to live with
I do not know if that made him mentally unstable or not..he was always very controlled, I doubt he took pleasure in killing people
To him it was just a job, you could say this must require an extremely cold personality.
His wife did not know he was public hangman when she married him
She must have been worried he was seeing other women when he kept disappearing now and again
I suppose she was relived to hear he was not, 'it's all right my love, I was not cheating on you, I hang people ok'
She must have been worried he was seeing other women when he kept disappearing now and again
I suppose she was relived to hear he was not, 'it's all right my love, I was not cheating on you, I hang people ok'
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