MY EXPERIENCES AS AN EXECUTIONER. [Illustration: James Berry] MY EXPERIENCES AS AN EXECUTIONER BY JAMES BERRY _Edited by H. Snowden Ward._ LONDON: PERCY LUND & CO MEMORIAL HALL, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C. COPYRIGHT IN UNITED STATES AND BRITISH ISLES. PRINTED BY [Publisher's mark] PERCY LUND AND CO., BRADFORD. Copyright in United States and British Isles. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION 7 CHAPTER I. THE EXECUTIONER AT HOME 11 CHAPTER II. HOW I BECAME AN EXECUTIONER 16 CHAPTER III. MY FIRST EXECUTION 23 CHAPTER IV. MY METHOD OF EXECUTION--CALCULATIONS AND APPARATUS 30 CHAPTER V. MY METHOD OF EXECUTION--THE PROCEEDINGS 45 CHAPTER VI. OTHER METHODS OF EXECUTION 50 CHAPTER VII. TWO TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES 59 CHAPTER VIII. HOW MURDERERS DIE 66 CHAPTER IX. FROM THE MURDERER'S POINT OF VIEW 95 CHAPTER X. ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT 106 CHAPTER XI. HANGING: FROM A BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW 117 CHAPTER XII. THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC 124 CHAPTER XIII. INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES 132 APPENDIX. THE TROUBLE WITH "ANSWERS" LIMITED 141 INTRODUCTION. The intention of both the author and the editor of this little book has been to set forth, as plainly and as simply as possible, certain facts and opinions with regard to what is undoubtedly a most important subject--the carrying out of the ultimate sentence of the law. While facts have not been in any way shirked or misrepresented, much that is horrible in detail has been suppressed; so that people who may be tempted to take up the book in search of ghastly descriptive writing, are warned at the outset that they will be disappointed. It is believed that a publication of Mr. Berry's experiences will correct many errors and misconceptions as to the way in which capital sentences are carried out in England; and that it will lead to a consideration of the whole subject, from a practical, rather than from a sentimental, point of view.