John Ellis (executioner)
Encyclopedia
John Ellis was a Rochdale
hairdresser and newsagent who served as one of the United Kingdom's executioner
s for 23 years, from 1901 to 1924.
Born in the Balderstone
district of Rochdale on 4 October 1874, he first worked in a series of jobs as a casual labourer in and around Manchester
before getting a job at a spinning mill
in Bury
. After another stint in a factory he decided to follow his father's trade by becoming a barber
and hairdresser
in Rochdale, where he subsequently also opened a newsagent
's shop, which he ran with his wife and children.
At the age of 22 he applied to the Home Office
to become a hangman and was invited to attend training at Newgate Prison
. He first participated in an execution in Newcastle
in December 1901, as assistant to Chief Executioner James Billington
, who also lived in Rochdale at that time.
Ellis served as Chief Executioner from 1907 and was involved in a total of 203 executions. Among the executions he performed were those of Dr Crippen
in 1910, Frederick Seddon
in 1912, Sir Roger Casement in 1916, Major Armstrong
in 1922, and of Edith Thompson
in 1923. He took the responsibility of his position very seriously and hoped to "despatch" the condemned person with as little fuss and pain to the individual concerned as possible.
Insight into his behaviour, way of thinking and the methods he employed can be read in the book Diary of a Hangman in which he describes his methods and recalls the final moments of some of those he executed.
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. When the gallows trapdoor opened and Thompson fell, the sudden impact of the noose caused her to suffer a massive 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 to prevent a recurrence of the massive bleeding suffered by Thompson.
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.
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
hairdresser and newsagent who served as one of the United Kingdom's executioner
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:...
s for 23 years, from 1901 to 1924.
Born in the Balderstone
Balderstone, Greater Manchester
Balderstone is a district and an electoral ward of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale in the county of Greater Manchester, England. According to the 2001 census the ward had a population of 9,699.-Education:-Religion:...
district of Rochdale on 4 October 1874, he first worked in a series of jobs as a casual labourer in and around Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
before getting a job at a spinning mill
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
in Bury
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
. After another stint in a factory he decided to follow his father's trade by becoming a barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
and hairdresser
Hairdresser
Hairdresser is a term referring to anyone whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person's image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques...
in Rochdale, where he subsequently also opened a newsagent
Newsagent
A newsagent's shop , newsagency or newsstand is a business that sells newspapers, magazines, cigarettes, snacks and often items of local interest. In Britain and Australia, these businesses are termed newsagents...
's shop, which he ran with his wife and children.
At the age of 22 he applied to 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,...
to become a hangman and was invited to attend training at Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
. He first participated in an execution in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
in December 1901, as assistant to Chief Executioner James Billington
James Billington (hangman)
James Billington was a hangman for the British government from 1884 until 1901.Born in Preston, in 1859 he moved with his family to Farnworth, northwest of Manchester. After leaving school he worked in a cotton mill for a time, but by the early 1880s he had become a Sunday school teacher and was...
, who also lived in Rochdale at that time.
Ellis served as Chief Executioner from 1907 and was involved in a total of 203 executions. Among the executions he performed were those of Dr Crippen
Hawley Harvey Crippen
Hawley Harvey Crippen , usually known as Dr. Crippen, was an American homeopathic physician hanged in Pentonville Prison, London, on November 23, 1910, for the murder of his wife, Cora Henrietta Crippen...
in 1910, Frederick Seddon
Frederick Seddon
Frederick Henry Seddon was a British poisoner who was hanged in 1912 for murdering Eliza Mary Barrow.-Background:...
in 1912, Sir Roger Casement in 1916, Major Armstrong
Herbert Rowse Armstrong
Herbert Rowse Armstrong TD. MA. was an English solicitor and convicted murderer, the only solicitor in the history of the United Kingdom to have been hanged for murder...
in 1922, and of Edith Thompson
Edith Thompson and Frederick Bywaters
Edith Jessie Thompson and Frederick Edward Francis Bywaters were a British couple who were executed for the murder of Thompson’s husband Percy...
in 1923. He took the responsibility of his position very seriously and hoped to "despatch" the condemned person with as little fuss and pain to the individual concerned as possible.
Insight into his behaviour, way of thinking and the methods he employed can be read in the book Diary of a Hangman in which he describes his methods and recalls the final moments of some of those he executed.
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. When the gallows trapdoor opened and Thompson fell, the sudden impact of the noose caused her to suffer a massive 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 to prevent a recurrence of the massive bleeding suffered by Thompson.
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
Suicide Act 1961
The Suicide Act 1961 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It decriminalised the act of suicide so that those who failed in the attempt would no longer be prosecuted....
, 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.
External links
- Rochdale Folk: John Ellis
- Diary of a Hangman by John Ellis 1996 ISBN 9781874358114
- The Rochdale hangman and his victims Jack Doughty 1998 ISBN 9781900734141