Pierrepoint - The Last Hangman

[Mysteryman]

Also, Lizard, if you had paid attention, you would have realised that Pierrepoint's position as executioner was not "a full time job". How could it have been? There were not enough executions and the fee paid for each wouldn't have covered a week's average wage.

Pierrepoint's full time job was running a pub called Help the Poor Struggler on Manchester Rd Oldham.

[Ace]

Mysteryman wrote:
>
> Pierrepoint's full time job was running a pub called Help the
> Poor Struggler on Manchester Rd Oldham.


That was his first pub MysteryMan, he went on to run several. His first occupation was a grocer that he was for quite a long time.
Running a pub was something that his name relied upon to be busy. By all accounts, he was a gentleman......unlike that cunt Syd Dernley (sometime assistant) who seemed to enjoy the job a little too much for Alberts liking. Have you read his book as well?

[steve56]

so what IF IT IS,NOBBY wrote:

> Ace has obviously got hold of a pirated Timecoded copy, which
> he should not really be shouting about?
>
> I do agree though the film is excellent and spall plays the
> role brilliantly!!!
>
> Cheers
>
>

[Lizard]

Your so easy to wind up MM.........if you had read my post correctly, I said...

" which Peirrpoint had, as he was appointed by the government,"

So my point was correctumundo!, now are ya still flying Ryanair cattle class?

[Mysteryman]

Ace,

I know, I've read the book!

As for Syd dernley, I haven't read his book but this interview gives a preety good guide to the man's thinking:

www.simon-jones.org.uk/articles/syd_der ... _part1.htm - 18k

[Mysteryman]

The full qoute was:

"I think 'the last hangman' refers to the full time job, which Peirrpoint had, as he was appointed by the government, or can you tell us of other 'full time' executioners "

There was no full time job of executioner in the UK in the 20th century. There was a panel of executioners and assistants to enable the Home Office to quickly replace anyone resigning or not up to the job, to cover for sickness or to cope with any executions to take place on the same day after double hangings in the same place ceased - thus the simultaneous hangings at Walton and Strangeways in 1964 for the same crime.

Pierrepoint was the Home Office's regular first choice but other executioners were used during his time and were offered jobs ahead of Pierrepoint to "keep their hand in":

Harry Kirk from Huntingdon.
Period on Home Office List - 1941-1950.
Harry Kirk had worked as an assistant to Stanley Cross, Tom and Albert Pierrepoint on 35 occasions. He had a very short career as a hangman. When he executed Norman Goldenthorpe at Norwich on the 22nd of November 1950 for the murder of 66 year old Emma Howe at Yarmouth, This was apparently due to the hood becoming stuck in the eyelet of the noose. This was thus Kirk's first and last hanging as principal.

Stephen Wade from Doncaster.
Period on Home Office List - 1941-1955.
Steve Wade also worked as an assistant to both Tom and Albert Pierrepoint on 18 occasions and carried out 29 executions in his own right, including two after Albert Pierrepoint?s last, those of Corbett Roberts at Birmingham on the 2nd of August 1955 and Ernest Harding at Birmingham on the 9th of August 1955. His last job, assisted by Robert Leslie Stewart, was the execution of Alec Wilkinson on the 12th of August 1955 at Armley jail. Steve resigned due to failing health in late 1955 and died in December of the following year, aged 59.

Harry Bertrum Allen from Manchester 1911-1992.
Period on Home Office List - 1941-1964.
After Albert Pierrepoint?s resignation, Steve Wade and Harry Allen took over as joint No. 1. However, executions were becoming fewer and fewer in the run up to and as a result of the Homicide Act of 1957 (There were none at all in 1956). Allen performed 29 executions (21 in England and Wales) and assisted at 44 others. He also worked in Cyprus on a number of occasions.
John Vickers became the first man to die for a murder committed under the provisions of the new Homicide Act of 1957 when he was hanged by Harry Allen at Durham on the 23rd of July 1957.
Allen hanged George Riley on the 9th of February 1961 at Shrewsbury Prison for the murder of his neighbour, Adeline Mary Smith.
Perhaps his most controversial case was that of James Hanratty, who was convicted of the A6 murder and hanged at Bedford prison on the 4th of April 1962. There have been serious doubts raised over Hanratty's guilt and attempts to win him a pardon continue to this day. In 2002, Hanratty's family had their appeal turned down after DNA evidence showed conclusively that Hanratty was guilty.
Allen's last job was the hanging of Gwynne Owen Evans at Strangeways Prison at 8.00 a.m. on the 13th of August 1964, whilst his accomplice, Peter Anthony Allen, was suffering the same fate at Walton. (See below) Allen and Evans were the last men to suffer the death penalty in Britain.

Robert Leslie Stewart from Chadderton Lancashire 1918-1988.
Period on Home Office List - 1950-1964.
Robert Leslie Stewart was born in Edinburgh and assisted Albert Pierrepoint and Steve Wade in 20 executions between 1952 and 1959 before becoming a principal himself, in 1958, when he officiated at the execution of Vivian Frederick Teed at Swansea on the 6th of May. He was to hang a further 5 men before abolition and was on the final list of executioners issued by the Home Office in February 1964.
His first recorded job as an assistant (to Albert Pierrepoint) was at the hanging of Alfred Bradley at Strangeways Prison, Manchester on the 15th of January 1952.
Stewart shared the distinction of carrying out one of the two last hangings in Britain when he executed Peter Anthony Allen at Walton prison, Liverpool, at 8.00 a.m. on the 13th of August 1964 for his part in the murder of John Alan West, a 53 year old laundryman who was killed during the course of a robbery carried out by Allen and Evans. Stewart also carried out the last hanging at Glasgow?s Barlinnie Prison, that of 19 year old Anthony Joseph Miller on the 22nd of December 1960. Miller had been convicted of the robbery murder of John Cremin in a GlasgowPark.

So, Lizard, there were other executioners, all appointed by the government, as you would have it and all in other work as, by 1956, the fee for a hanging had risen to the princely sum of 10 guineas (around 30% more than the average wage at the time) plus 3rd class return rail fare.

[DavidS]

The detailed information you have provided MM in this entry is excellent. Well done!

[Mysteryman]

Thanks,

I'm pleased it is appreciated

[steve56]

i believe its french!