MY EXPERIENCES
AS AN EXECUTIONER
By
JAMES BERRY
First published in 1892
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CHAPTER XIII
INCIDENTS A ND ANECDOTES
APPENDIX
THE TROUBLE WITH ANSW ERS LIMITED
ON ANNE GREEN,
HER EXECUTION
By John Mainard
Sure Death abhorres the colour, all have seene
that Death is blacke, and therefore loves no Greene:
A happy colour, in what Prdicament
Will the Logicians put this Accident?
Shee had her Neck-verse; 'tis a currant signe
Shee could not read, her verse was but a Line.
Againe, upon this deed to set a crowne;
Sh'ad been cut up, if not so soon cut downe.
Read this thou youthfull, Read, and be afraid.
Shee's a maid twice, and yet is not dis-maid.
O Paradoxe! if truth in thee can lye
No wonder if the maid could live and dye.
INTRODUCTION
THE intention of both the author and the editor of this little book has been to set forth, as plainly and as simply as possible, certain facts and opinions with regard to what is undoubtedly a most important subjectthe carrying out of the ultimate sentence of the law. While facts have not been in any way shirked or misrepresented, much that is horrible in detail has been suppressed; so that people who may be tempted to take up the book in search of ghastly descriptive writing, are warned at the outset that they will be d isappointed.
It is believed that a publication of Mr. Berrys experiences will correct many errors and misconceptions as to the way in which capital sentences are carried out in England; and that it will lead to a consideration of the whole subject, from a practical, rather than from a sentimental, po int of view.
The management, and, if possible, the regeneration of the criminal classes, is one of the most serious tasks that civilisation has to face; and those who undertake such a task require all the light that can possibly be thrown upon the subject. The public executioner has many and special opportunities of studying the criminal classes, and of knowing their attitude and feelings with regard to that capital punishment which civilisation regards as its strongest weapon in the war against crime. When, as in the case of Mr. Berry, several years experience in various police forces can be added to his experience as an executioner, the man who has had these exceptional opportunities of studying criminals and crime, must necessarily have gathered much information and formed opinions that are worthy o f attention.
Therefore, this book has a higher aim than the mere recording of the circumstances and incidents of the most painful business in which a man can engage. The recording is necessary, for without the facts before them, readers could not form their own opinions; but it is hoped that the facts will be read with more than mere curiosity, that the readers will be led to take a personal interest in the weak and erring brethren who form the criminal classes, the canker-worm of our so cial system.
An explanation of how this book was written may not be out of place. The statements are entirely those of the author, though in many cases the words are those of the editor, whose task consisted of re-arranging and very greatly condensing the mass of matter placed in his hands by Mr. Berry. The narrative and descriptive portion of the work is taken from a series of note-books and a news-cuttings book kept by Mr. Berry; who includes the most minute particulars in his diaries. One chapterMy First Executionis word for word as written in the diary, with the exception that a few whole pages of descriptive detail are omitted, and indicated by points (thus... ) The chapter On Capital Punishment, and portions of other chapters, were not written out at length by Mr. Berry, but were supplied in the form of full notes, and the principal portions dictated. In every case, however, the opinions are those of the author, with whom the editor is by no means in entire persona l agreement.
MY EXPERIENCES
AS AN EXECUTIONER
CHAPTER I
THE EXECUTIONER AT HOME
BY H. SNOWDEN WARD
JAMES Berry, though regarded by some people as a monster, and by others as a curiosity, is very much like any other working-man when one comes to know him. He is neither a paragon of perfection, nor an embodiment of all vicethough different classes of people have at times placed him under both these descriptions. His character is a curious studya mixture of very strong and very weak traits, such as is seldom found in one person. And although one of his weak points is his Yorkshire open-hearted frankness, which he tries to control as much as possible, the man who has only been with him a few days has not by any means got to the depths of his character. His wife has said to me more than once:I have lived with him for nineteen years, but I dont thoroughly know him yet, and one can quite understand it, as his character is so many-sided and in some respects contradictory. This partly accounts for the varying and contradictory views of his personality which have been published in diffe rent papers.
His strongest point is his tender-heartedness. Perhaps this may be doubted, but I state the fact from ample knowledge. Mr. Berrys occupation was not by any means taken up from a love of the ghastly, or any pleasure in the work. Even in his business as executioner his soft-heartedness has shown itself, for though it has never caused him to flinch on the scaffold, it has led him to study most carefully the science of his subject, and to take great pains to make dea th painless.
