<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</SPAN><br/> <span class="smaller">My First Execution.<SPAN name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1"></SPAN><SPAN href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</SPAN></span></h2>
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<p class="afterdrop"><span class="fstwd"><span class="hidden">O</span>n</span> 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....</p>
<p>[An examination of himself and his apparatus by
the Governor, and his own inspection of the scaffold,
are then described at length.]... I returned<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</SPAN></span>
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<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</SPAN></span>
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<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</SPAN></span>
specially for the work, ⅝ 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, <span class="smcap">Gorebridge
Murderers, No Reprieve</span>, 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....<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</SPAN></span>
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<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<hr class="tb" />
<p>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:—</p>
<blockquote>
<div class="right">
<p class="ilb center">City Chambers, Edinburgh,<br/>
<i>1st May, 1884.</i></p>
</div>
<p>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.</p>
<div class="right"><p class="ilb left"><span class="smcap">George Roberts</span>, Magistrate.<br/>
<span class="smcap">Thomas Clark</span>, Magistrate.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="p2">
<div class="right">
<p class="ilb center">H.M. Prison, Edinburgh,<br/>
<i>31 March, 1884.</i></p>
</div>
<p>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.</p>
<div class="right"><p class="ilb center"><span class="smcap">J. E. Christie</span>,
Governor of H.M. Prison.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</SPAN></span></p>
<blockquote class="p2">
<p class="right">
Edinburgh, <i>31st March, 1884</i>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<div class="right"><div class="ilb left"><p><span class="smcap">James A. Sidey</span>, M.D.,<br/>
Surgeon to H.M. Prison of Edinburgh.</p>
<p><span class="smcap">Henry D. Littlejohn</span>, M.D.,<br/>
Surgeon of Police.</p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>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.</p>
<blockquote>
<div class="right"><p class="ilb center">
Strangeways Prison,<br/>
<i>11th June, 1887</i>.</p>
</div>
<p>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.</p>
<p class="right"><span class="smcap">J. H. Purton</span>, Jr.</p>
</blockquote>
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<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</SPAN></span></p>
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