Executioner: The Chronicles of a Victorian Hangman

by Stewart P. Evans

James Berry, a dour and somewhat pious ex-policeman who hailed from Yorkshire, was Britain's hangman from 1884 to 1892 and was responsible for carrying out 200 executions. As an amateur criminologist he built his own black museum and kept scrapbooks relating to his activities. He was also something of a showman, and not averse to publicity, whose press coverage caused the government acute embarrassment. Capable of cold, even callous detachment, Berry's sensitivity meant that he was often too upset before and after one of his 200 executions to be able to speak.There were also a few horrific incidents on the gallows and his job evidently had its effect on him as, in retirement, Berry became so depressed that he took steps to commit suicide. In this biography, Stewart Evans here takes the reader on a fascinating journey into the world of Victorian crime and punishment. Evans is a leading crime historian, widely considered one of the Victorian era. His previous books include Jack the Ripper, Letters From Hell and Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel Murders. He lives in Cambridgeshire.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, History

Paperback

First published August 25, 2005

Reviews

[Edward Fenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this most unusual book. Evans certainly did his homework - the book is, quite literally, thick with detail. The subject matter is morbid, to be sure, yet fascinating and written in an engaging if somewhat clinical manner. Killer after killer made their way to James Barry's noose. Mr. Berry himself is portrayed fairly, I believe. He's not a monster, nor is he a saint. He was a jobber, a journeyman, with a most peculiar trade. Evans relates Berry's career chronologically and is quite thorough in his coverage through retirement. Berry's personal life is a bit on the thin side by comparison but telling nonetheless. If you are interested in the technical details of the process of execution by hanging (and its results), Evans provides plenty here as well. Lots of photos and sketches but nothing that would shock or disturb. It's definitely a curiosity in non-fiction and worth indulging if you enjoy criminology, biography, history, or life and times in Victorian Britain.