Executioner Not Impressed

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30634, 28 December 1964, Page 11

Executioner Not Impressed

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, December 27. Britain’s public hangman, who has executed more than 100 murderers, said today condemned men were not what they used to be. “I noticed it first with a fellow who was hanged in 1956,” said Mr Harry Allen, aged 54. "He was a very arrogant man. It was the same trend with all of them. “They were quite proud of what they’d done and were quite willing to do it again. “When 1 first started, they seemed very sorry for themselves and what they’d done. “Now that’s all finished — there aren’t any regrets at all.” Mr Allen, a pub owner in Lancashire, was speaking in a “Sunday Times” interview. His part-time job as official executioner is certain to vanish soon with Britain’s bill

to abolish capital punishment. The bill, now before the House of Commons, is expected to be passed in the new year. Asked how condemned men reacted on the gallows, Mr Allen said: “Quite a few are pretty boastful think they’re heroes, I suppose. The other prisoners help this by chanting and banging and kicking up a fuss. “It always surprised me a bit, but the man being hanged often goes through the whole thing a lot calmer than those doing the job. “One man said to me, 'Look at that cloud. I shall be a bloody sight luckier than you tomorrow. I shall be sitting on that.’ “They don’t all go as easy as that, but that’s the kind of thing. “I thought it was pretty cool.”