THE MAN IN THE MASK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1907, Page 13

THE MAN IN THE MASK.

A NINETEENTH-CENTURY MYSTERY RECALLED. The death of Mr Thomas Wakley. joint editor of the "Lancet,'" recalls a dramatic and almost tragic episode in the life of his father, the founder of the paper, and for many years prominently before the public as coroner for Middlesex. The circumstances arose out of the terrible sentence passed on the Cato-street conspirators, Thistle wood. Legs, Brunt, Davidson, and Tidd—a sentence which prescribed that after being hanged their heads should be cut off and held up to the crowd, the executioner shouting, "This is the head of a traitor." To carry out this sentence the Sheriffs of Londou were In a considerable difficulty. The ordinary hangman was not equal to the task, and it was doubtful whether anybody could be found to wield au axe far such a purpose. However, eventually the obstacle was overcome, and the enormous crowd gathered in front of the Old Bailey burst into roars of execration when a dressed In a sailor's jacket and trousers, and -with. a black silk hanclierehief tied over part of his face to serve as a mask, stepped forward. An axn was brought forward, but he refused to use ir. and. drawing out a large knife, he removed the heads in I succession, very skilfully and rapidly. It is doubtful whether public curiosity was not more excited by the man in the mask than by the consptratore. Who was he? j No one-knew. All that could be ascertained was that he had received twenty guineas for his dread office, and that from the skill he showed he must be a surgeon. MR THOMAS WASLET'S STRANGE EXPERIENCE. At that time Mr Thomas Wakley had just commenced to practise as a surgeon, and was living in Argyie-st., Regent-st. Immediately after the execution he received several anonymous letters containing vague threats; but, being a courageous man, he took little notice of them. About halfpast one In the morning of August 2S a man knocked at the surgeon's door. The servants were in bed. and the surgeon, being indisposed, was at that moment applying some leeches to his temples. Hastily bandaging his head, he opened the door, and the visitor, in a hurried manner, asked the doctor to go to a patient (whom he named) who was dangerously iIL The messenger said he had come a long distance, and would like something to drink. The doctor went into the cellar, and during his absence other men were admitted On his return the surgeon saw something rush towards him. and at the moment he receivpd a tremendous blow, which knocked him down. Almost at the. same moment he was stabbed He received other injuries, and while lying on the ground was I kicked sonseless. He remained thus for three-quarters of an hour, when he was aroused from his stupor by flames, immense volumes rushing down the saircase. The ruffians had set fire to the house. The surgeon, with difficulty, arose and crawled through a skylight into the adjoining house, where he was found The house was completely destroyed, and no clue was ever found to the perpetrators. At first Ir was thought Mr Wakley could not recover; but his strong constitution saved him. He was, however, not at the | end of his misfortunes, for the insurance I office refused to pay fhe insurance-money. I and he was forced to bring an action to j clear his character, for the insinuation was I that he had himself set fire to the house, j He won the day. and the truth of the' story of the tnurderons assault was proved; I but the mystery as to the cause of the ont- j rage was as great as ever. All that could be found ont wa3 that the young sur- I geon was .supposed to be the man in the , mask who had executed the Thistlewood gang. There was. of course, not the slightest foundation for such a statement, and a letter from the Sheriff of London put an end to the slander. THE SOLUTION OP THE UTSTEKI. It would not have been aife at the time ' to say who the man really was. as It would have cost him his life; but the j secret may now be divulged. The masked headsman was a man named Tom Parker ! the head dissecting-room porter at a school : of anatomy, known as Grainger's. This '. Tom Parker was a well-known "resurrectionist." and had a rough knowledge of anatomy. Indeed, maybe in a certain di- j rectiou he knew more than did the sur- I geons. for one one occasion he showed a i celebrated anatomist the secret of cutting off a head. The knife alone, said he! j wonld never do it: but there was a dodge I in wrenching through the ligaments by I twisting the head violently first to the right and then to the left, after all the i soft parts had been cut throusb. Two I cuts, one in front, one at the back, then" the wrench, and the deed was done. No wonder the excited mob thought mc masked headsman was a surgeon.