My First Execution.[A]
On the 21st March, 1884, I received a letter from the Magistrates'
Clerk, City Chambers, Edinburgh, appointing me to act as Executioner
on 31st March, 1884, at Calton Gaol; and that I was to provide all
necessary appliances for carrying out the same. I undertook the
duties; and on Thursday, March 27th, 1884, I departed from my home,
Bradford, and made my way to the Midland Station, and booked 3rd
class for Edinburgh, to carry out the execution of the Gorebridge
murderers. I arrived at Waverley Station 4-20 p.m., and I hired a cab
to drive me to the gaol. On arrival at the prison I was met at the
doors by a good-looking warder, dressed in ordinary prison garb, and
very courteous; and on entering the large portal gate, was asked my
name, and after entering it down in the prison book, time, etc., he
pulled a string, which rang the Governor's bell, and in a few moments
I was confronted with the Governor, a very nice gentleman, of military
appearance, and very good looking. After passing the usual conversation
of the day, and the weather, and what kind of journey I had up from
Bradford, he said after such a long journey I should require a good,
substantial tea; and as soon as I had washed, and combed my hair, the
tea was there, everything that could be desired. I sat down, and quite
enjoyed my first Scotch meal in Bonnie Scotland....
[An examination of himself and his apparatus by the Governor, and his
own inspection of the scaffold, are then described at length.]... I
returned to my room, and stayed in during the daytime. I spent the
Thursday night smoking and reading. At 10-0 o'clock p.m. I was escorted
to my bedroom, a round house at the back part of the gaol, about 40
yards from the back entrance, a snug little place, and was informed
that the last man who slept inside that room was Wm. Marwood, five
years previous to my visit. He was then there for the same purpose
as myself, but the culprit in his case was a poisoner. The chief
warder, whom I spoke to, seemed to touch upon the subject with great
reluctance, and said that he felt quite upset concerning the two
culprits, and that he hoped they would get a reprieve. I could see
in his countenance a deep expression of grief, which was making him
look no better for his occupation.... I sat me down on my bed after he
had gone, locked my door, and could hear the trains depart from the
station under the prison wall. I looked out of my window at the mail
taking its departure for the South.... I then knelt down and asked the
Almighty to help me in my most painful task, which I had undertaken to
carry out.... [The night was much disturbed by the persistent smoking
of the chimney.]... At 8-0 a.m. on the morning of the 28th, Friday,
my breakfast was brought into my room, consisting of toast, ham and
eggs, and coffee.... At 10-0 a.m. on Friday morning, 28th March, 1884,
I was introduced to the Magistrates and those responsible to see
the execution carried out. I exposed my ropes and straps for their
inspection, and, after a long and careful investigation of all points,
they retired, quite satisfied with their visit. After that we paid
another visit to the scaffold; the builders, not having finished the
contract, were making a final touch to the new-erected shed to keep the
execution private, and so that nobody outside could see. After testing
it with bags of cement, same weight as the prisoners, and calculating
the length of drop and its consequences, and other details, the
committee departed. After, I filled my time walking about the prison
grounds, and thinking of the poor men who were nearing their end, full
of life, and knowing the fatal hour, which made me quite ill to think
about. My meals did not seem to do me good, my appetite began to fall
off, nothing felt good to me, everything that I put into my mouth felt
like sand, and I felt as I wished I had never undertaken such an awful
calling. I regretted for a while, and then I thought the public would
only think I had not the pluck, and I would not allow my feelings to
overthrow me, so I never gave way to such thoughts again. At 1-0 p.m.
my dinner had arrived. I went up to my room, and sat down to pudding,
beef, and vegetables, Scotch broth, and Cochrane & Cantrell's ginger
ale. At that time I was a total abstainer; and I think it is the
safest side, since what I have seen brought on by its sad consequences
of taking too much alcoholic liquor.... After tea, I had a chat with
the warders coming off duty for the day. As they passed through the
wicket gate, one remarked, "He looks a nice fellow for a job like
that;" another says, "But he has a wicked eye," and he would be sure I
could do it.... I was left smoking in the lodge with the gate-keeper
and one (warder) who stayed behind to see what he could hear me say;
but I looked him over, and could see by the look of his face that I
was not to say much in his presence, as he was built that way.... I
was left alone with the gate-keeper, and he looked like a straight,
honest man, and he was like myself. He said, "I am glad you never began
to say anything in the presence of that man, as he would stop until
morning."... Saturday morning, 29th.... After breakfast, had another
interview with the Magistrates, and made the final arrangements. I
tested the scaffold in their presence, with the ropes I was going to
use on the Monday morning, with bags of cement, each bag being placed
in the same places as was marked for the criminals; Vickers, weighing
10 stones and over, 8 feet (drop); and Innes, 9 stones, 10 feet.
One bag represented one, and the other bag the other. I tested the
ropes by letting off the traps, and down went the bags, and I got my
calculations from that point, after seeing the ropes tested with the
weight of cement. They all looked quite satisfied with the results.
The rope was of Italian silk hemp, made specially for the work, 5/8
inch in thickness, and very pliable, running through a brass thimble,
which causes dislocation and a painless death if rightly adjusted....
After dining, I had the honour of having a drive in an open carriage
(provided by the Governor) for a couple of hours, ... which I enjoyed,
after being inside the prison gates since my arrival on Thursday.... I
gave my friend another night's visit at the lodge gate. We chatted on
different topics of the day, and spent a nice, jovial evening together,
smoking our weed; when a voice came to the door from a visitor from
the offices of the town, that a reprieve was refused, and the law was
to take its course, and I had a paper sent, with the words in full,
GOREBRIDGE MURDERERS, NO REPRIEVE, which made me feel as bad as the
condemned men for a time. But, what with the jolly gate-keeper, and
another of the warders, I drove it out of my mind for a while....
I retired to bed as usual at 10-0 p.m., after reciting my prayers,
and thinking only another night and I shall be back with my wife and
children. Saturday night I was very restless, and I did not feel so
much refreshed for my night's sleep, as I was thinking of the poor
creatures who was slumbering their hours away, in the prison cell, just
beyond where I was laid, thinking of the dreadful fate that awaited
them in such a short space of time. Two men, in full bloom, and had
to come to such an untimely end, leaving wives and large families.
One poor woman, I was informed, her mind was so affected that she was
removed to the asylum, she took it so to heart.... I retired to my
day-room at the front entrance, where I only partook very sparingly of
the nice and tempting ham and poached eggs put before me. I spent most
of the forenoon looking round inside the prison, while the prisoners
was at chapel, until dinner time. My dinner did not arrive until 4-0
o'clock, which is called late dinner, consisting of rice pudding, black
currants, chicken, vegetables, potatoes, bread, and the usual teetotal
beverages. I tried to make the best of it, but all that I could do was
to look at it, as my appetite was gone; but I managed to eat a little
before going to roost for the last night.... I retired at 10-0 on
Sunday, but only had cat naps all night, one eye shut and the other
open, thinking and fancying things that never will be, and which is
impossible. I was dressed and up at 5-0 a.m.; and felt more dead than
alive as I had such a responsible part to play in the programme for
the day. I fancied the ropes breaking; I fancied I was trembling, and
could not do it; I fancied I fell sick just at the last push. I was
nearly frantic in my mind, but I never let them know. 6-0 a.m. arrived.
I heard the sound of the keys, clattering of doors, sliding of bolts.
Breakfast had to be served earlier than usual. No prisoner allowed
out of his cell until all was over. The public had begun to assemble
on Calton Hill in groups. 7-0 a.m. arrived. I made my way to the
scaffold, made my arrangements secure, and cleared the scaffold shed,
the principal warder locking the door, not to be opened again until the
procession enters for the great event of the day.... At 7-45 the living
group wended their way to the prison, and into the doctor's room, ready
for the last scene of the drama. The prisoners were brought face to
face for the first time since their conviction. They kissed each other;
and the scene was a very painful one, to see mates going to meet their
end on the gallows. They were conducted to the room adjoining the
doctor's room, and were in prayer with the two ministers in attendance
after 8-5. I was called to do my duty. I was handed the warrant, which
was made out by the judge who condemned them to die. I then proceeded
to pinion the prisoners, previously shaking hands, bidding good-bye
to this world. Both men seemed to feel the position very much. The
procession was formed, headed by the High Bailiff, the Chaplain reading
the litany for the dead. Both the prisoners walked without assistance
to place of execution; they was at once placed under the beam on
the drop, where everything was done as quick as lightning, and both
culprits paid the highest penalty of the law.... The magistrates, and
doctors, and even the pressmen, admitted that the execution of the
two men had been carried out in an humane manner as possibly could
be, and that the poor fellows had not suffered the slightest pain in
going through the execution; doctors giving me a testimonial as to the
skilful way I had carried out the execution. 9-0 a.m., my breakfast
arrived; and I was so much affected by the sad sight I had witnessed,
that I had no appetite, but just merely drank a cup of coffee; but
eating was out of the question.
* * * * *
As this was my first execution, I was naturally anxious to have an
assurance from my employers that it had been satisfactorily carried
out. The magistrates, the governor, and the surgeons all signified
their satisfaction, in the following terms:--
City Chambers, Edinburgh,
_1st May, 1884._
We, the Magistrates who were charged with seeing the sentence of
death carried into effect, on the 31st March last, on Robert F.
Vickers and William Innes, in the Prison of Edinburgh, hereby
certify that James Berry, of Bradford, who acted as Executioner,
performed his duties in a thoroughly efficient manner; and that his
conduct during the time he was here was in every way satisfactory.
GEORGE ROBERTS, Magistrate.
THOMAS CLARK, Magistrate.
H.M. Prison, Edinburgh,
_31 March, 1884._
I hereby certify that Mr. James Berry, assisted by Mr. Richard
Chester, carried out a double Execution in this Prison on this
date, and that the whole of his arrangements were gone about in
a most satisfactory and skilful manner; and, further, that the
conduct of Messrs. Berry and Chester, during the four days that
they resided here, has been all that could be desired.
J. E. CHRISTIE,
Governor of H.M. Prison.
Edinburgh, _31st March, 1884_.
We hereby certify that we have this day witnessed the Execution of
Vickers and Innes, and examined their bodies. We are of opinion
that the Execution of these men was admirably managed; and that
the Executioner Berry and his Assistant conducted themselves in a
cool, business-like manner, to our entire satisfaction; death being
instantaneous.
JAMES A. SIDEY, M.D.,
Surgeon to H.M. Prison of Edinburgh.
HENRY D. LITTLEJOHN, M.D.,
Surgeon of Police.
I fear it seems like self-praise to publish these "testimonials,"
but my work is so often maligned in common conversation, that I feel
that it is a duty to give the opinions of a few of the men on the
spot, who are most competent to judge of the matter. I believe that
in every case where I have conducted an execution, the authorities
have been perfectly satisfied, and I could produce numerous letters
to that effect, but I will content myself with one, from the prison
where I have had the greatest number of executions. It is dated a few
years ago, but it would be endorsed now, and such testimony is very
gratifying to me.
Strangeways Prison,
_11th June, 1887_.
During the period Mr. James Berry has been public Executioner
he has always given satisfaction at this Prison in carrying out
Capital Sentences, and his conduct has been marked by firmness and
discretion.
J. H. PURTON, Jr.