Arthur B. English
Encyclopedia
Arthur Bartholomew English was a British
man who became Canada
's hangman
in 1912, when he was officially offered the job. Prior to this he had been an assistant to John Radclive, a veteran of twenty years of hangings. English served in this capacity until 1935. He probably used the pseudonym
of Arthur Ellis after the famous English executioner, John Ellis
: there is no truth in the story that John Ellis was his uncle, as John Ellis only had one brother, James Preston who was born in 1887, and therefore would have been only 25 when Arthur Ellis started his career. It is estimated that English carried out some 300 hangings over his career. Several of his successors adopted the same pseudonym.
Arthur English's career as Canada's hangman ended following the March 28, 1935 execution of Thomasina Sarao in Montreal
. An incorrect weight for Sarao was given to English and the resulting miscalculations meant that the condemned was accidentally beheaded. It was following this event that the public was banned from attending executions in Canada.
The Crime Writers of Canada
present annual literary awards – the Arthur Ellis Awards
– named for this pseudonym. In 2009 Arthur Ellis is featured prominently in the documenatary Hangman's Graveyard
. The film follows an archaeological investigation into a forgotten cemetery at Toronto's old Don Jail
. Ellis hanged two of the individuals featured in the film.
He died in poverty in Montreal in July, 1938.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
man who became Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's hangman
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
in 1912, when he was officially offered the job. Prior to this he had been an assistant to John Radclive, a veteran of twenty years of hangings. English served in this capacity until 1935. He probably used the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Arthur Ellis after the famous English executioner, John Ellis
John Ellis (executioner)
John Ellis was a Rochdale hairdresser and newsagent who served as one of the United Kingdom's executioners for 23 years, from 1901 to 1924....
: there is no truth in the story that John Ellis was his uncle, as John Ellis only had one brother, James Preston who was born in 1887, and therefore would have been only 25 when Arthur Ellis started his career. It is estimated that English carried out some 300 hangings over his career. Several of his successors adopted the same pseudonym.
Arthur English's career as Canada's hangman ended following the March 28, 1935 execution of Thomasina Sarao in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. An incorrect weight for Sarao was given to English and the resulting miscalculations meant that the condemned was accidentally beheaded. It was following this event that the public was banned from attending executions in Canada.
The Crime Writers of Canada
Crime Writers of Canada
Crime Writers of Canada is a national organization for Canadian crime writers, founded by Howard Engel.-Arthur Ellis Awards:Its annual awards are the Arthur Ellis Awards. The award statue itself is wooden model of a hanging man. The arms and legs move when the statue's string is pulled.The award is...
present annual literary awards – the Arthur Ellis Awards
Arthur Ellis Awards
The Arthur Ellis Awards are a group of Canadian literary awards, presented annually by the Crime Writers of Canada for the best Canadian crime and mystery writing....
– named for this pseudonym. In 2009 Arthur Ellis is featured prominently in the documenatary Hangman's Graveyard
Hangman's Graveyard
Hangman's Graveyard is a Gemini nominated and award winning Canadian documentary which was originally broadcast in Canada on History Television on December 6, 2009. A work-in-progress screening of the film was presented at the Ontario Archaeological Society’s 36th annual symposium and as the...
. The film follows an archaeological investigation into a forgotten cemetery at Toronto's old Don Jail
Don Jail
The Toronto Jail is a provincial jail for remanded offenders in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Riverdale neighbourhood on Gerrard Street East near its intersection with Broadview Avenue. It gets its nickname from the nearby Don River...
. Ellis hanged two of the individuals featured in the film.
He died in poverty in Montreal in July, 1938.