James Berry (hangman)
Encyclopedia
James Berry was an English executioner
from 1884 until 1891. Berry was born in Heckmondwike
in Yorkshire, where his father worked as a wool-stapler
. His most important contribution to the science of hanging was his refinement of the long drop method developed by William Marwood
, whom Berry knew quite well. His improvements were intended to diminish mental and physical suffering and some of them remained standard practice until the abolition of capital punishment for murder.
An insight into Berry's behaviour and methods can be read in the book My Experiences as an Executioner, in which he describes his methods and recalls the final moments of some of the people he executed.
's death in 1883 but was unsuccessful despite being shortlisted, until the short period of Bartholomew Binns
in office was over.
Berry was the first British hangman literate and communicative enough to be able to write freely about his work. He considered that the hangman was the last link in what he called the "chain of legal retribution".
During the execution of Robert Goodale on 30 November 1885 at Norwich
, the prisoner was given too long a drop so that the rope decapitated him.
Berry's time in office came to an end following interference in his judgement by the prison medical officer at Kirkdale
regarding the appropriate length of drop; Berry compromised but the condemned man John Conway
was nearly decapitated. In March 1892 Berry wrote his letter of resignation, probably without knowing that in October of the previous year the Home Office
had already decided that "the employment of Berry as Executioner should no longer be recommended to the High Sheriff
s".
Berry carried out 131 hangings in his seven years in office, including those of five women. James Berry also hanged William Bury
, a man suspected by some of being Jack the Ripper
. In his book My Experiences as an Executioner James Berry makes no mention of the Whitechapel murders for which there have always been multiple suspects. However, his belief that Bury and 'Jack the Ripper' were one and the same was published in his memoirs which appeared in Thomson's Weekly News of 12 February 1927.
. In his book The Hangman's Thoughts Above the Gallows (1905) he complains that "the law of capital punishment falls with terrible weight upon the hangman and that to allow a man to follow such an occupation is doing him a deadly wrong".
Smith Wigglesworth, the evangelist and preacher records his conversion to Christianity, in a sermon which was later published in Faith That Prevails (1938):
Berry died at Walnut Tree Farm in Bolton, East Riding of Yorkshire
, on 21 October 1913.
Executioner
A judicial executioner is a person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority, which was known in feudal terminology as high justice.-Scope and job:...
from 1884 until 1891. Berry was born in Heckmondwike
Heckmondwike
Heckmondwike is a small town in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, which is located geographically at the centre of West Yorkshire, England, south west of Leeds. Close to Cleckheaton and Liversedge, it is part of Cleckheckmondsedge, a name invented by J.B. Priestley to represent a West Riding...
in Yorkshire, where his father worked as a wool-stapler
Wool-stapler
A wool-stapler is a dealer in wool. The wool-stapler buys wool from the producer, sorts and grades it, and sells it on to manufacturers.The expression wool-stapler fell out of use during the 20th century, see the external link below...
. His most important contribution to the science of hanging was his refinement of the long drop method developed by William Marwood
William Marwood
William Marwood was a hangman for the British government. He developed the technique of hanging known as the "long drop".-Early life:Marwood was originally a cobbler, of Church Lane, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England.-Executioner:...
, whom Berry knew quite well. His improvements were intended to diminish mental and physical suffering and some of them remained standard practice until the abolition of capital punishment for murder.
An insight into Berry's behaviour and methods can be read in the book My Experiences as an Executioner, in which he describes his methods and recalls the final moments of some of the people he executed.
Early life
He served eight years with the Bradford Police Force, then tried himself as a boot salesman. Since he did not earn enough for the upkeep of his family, he applied for the post of executioner after William MarwoodWilliam Marwood
William Marwood was a hangman for the British government. He developed the technique of hanging known as the "long drop".-Early life:Marwood was originally a cobbler, of Church Lane, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England.-Executioner:...
's death in 1883 but was unsuccessful despite being shortlisted, until the short period of Bartholomew Binns
Bartholomew Binns
Bartholomew Binns was an English executioner from November 1883 to March 1884. He had previously assisted William Marwood at executions, and when Marwood was dismissed, he took over the position of Executioner for the City of London and Middlesex...
in office was over.
Berry was the first British hangman literate and communicative enough to be able to write freely about his work. He considered that the hangman was the last link in what he called the "chain of legal retribution".
Career incidents
He was the hangman who famously failed to hang John Babbacombe Lee – "The Man They Couldn't Hang" – in 1885. The trap door repeatedly failed to open and Lee's sentence was commuted.During the execution of Robert Goodale on 30 November 1885 at Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, the prisoner was given too long a drop so that the rope decapitated him.
Berry's time in office came to an end following interference in his judgement by the prison medical officer at Kirkdale
Kirkdale
Kirkdale is the name of several places in the United Kingdom:*Kirkdale, Merseyside, an area of Liverpool, England**Kirkdale **Kirkdale *Kirkdale, North Yorkshire, England...
regarding the appropriate length of drop; Berry compromised but the condemned man John Conway
John Conway
John Conway may refer to:* John Horton Conway, mathematician at Princeton University. Popularly known for Conway's Game of Life* John B. Conway, mathematician, functional analyst, George Washington University...
was nearly decapitated. In March 1892 Berry wrote his letter of resignation, probably without knowing that in October of the previous year the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
had already decided that "the employment of Berry as Executioner should no longer be recommended to the High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
s".
Berry carried out 131 hangings in his seven years in office, including those of five women. James Berry also hanged William Bury
William Henry Bury
William Henry Bury was executed in Dundee, Scotland, for the murder of his wife Ellen in 1889, shortly after the height of the Whitechapel murders in London that were attributed to the unidentified serial killer "Jack the Ripper". Bury's previous abode near Whitechapel, and certain similarities...
, a man suspected by some of being Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
. In his book My Experiences as an Executioner James Berry makes no mention of the Whitechapel murders for which there have always been multiple suspects. However, his belief that Bury and 'Jack the Ripper' were one and the same was published in his memoirs which appeared in Thomson's Weekly News of 12 February 1927.
Later life
Following his retirement, Berry toured as an evangelist and gave lectures on phrenologyPhrenology
Phrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
. In his book The Hangman's Thoughts Above the Gallows (1905) he complains that "the law of capital punishment falls with terrible weight upon the hangman and that to allow a man to follow such an occupation is doing him a deadly wrong".
Smith Wigglesworth, the evangelist and preacher records his conversion to Christianity, in a sermon which was later published in Faith That Prevails (1938):
Berry died at Walnut Tree Farm in Bolton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Bolton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Bolton is a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately to the east of the city of York and north west of the town of Pocklington.Together with Fangfoss it forms the civil parish of Fangfoss with Bolton....
, on 21 October 1913.
His writing
- The Hangman's Thoughts Above the Gallows (1905)
- My Experiences as an Executioner, London : P. Lund,
[ 1892] (via Internet Archive)
Further reading
- Atholl, Justin, Shadow of the Gallows, London, John Long, 1954.
- Atholl, Justin, The Reluctant Hangman, London, John Long, 1956.
- Bailey, Brian, Hangmen of England, London, W. H. Allen, 1989.
- Bleackley, Horace, The Hangmen of England, London, Chapman and Hall, 1929.
- Duff, Charles, A New Handbook on Hanging, London, Andrew Melrose, 1954.
- Evans, Stewart P., Executioner. The Chronicles of James Berry, Victorian Hangman, Sutton Publishing (2004), ISBN 0-7509-3407-7
- Fielding, Steve, The Hangman's Record, Vol. One, 1868-1899, Beckenham, Chancery House Press, 1994.
- Furniss, Harold, 'James Berry Constable, Bootmaker and Hangman' in Famous Crimes Past and Present, Vol. IV, no. 44, n.d. (c.1904).
- Goodman, Jonathan, and Bill Waddell, The Black Museum, London, Harrap, 1987.
- Laurence, John, A History of Capital Punishment, London, Sampson Low, Marston & Co., n.d.
- Potter, Harry, Hanging In Judgement, London, SCM Press, 1993.
- Scott, George Ryley, The History of Capital Punishment, London, Torchstream Books, 1950.
- Smith, Lieut Col Sir Henry, From Constable To Commissioner, London, Chatto & Windus, 1910.
- Tod, T. M., The Scots Black Kalendar, Perth, Monro & Scott, 1938.
- Young, Alex F., The Encyclopaedia of Scottish Executions, Orpington, Eric Dobby, 1998.