Romance of a Hangman.

Hastings Standard, Issue 229, 25 January 1897, Page 4

Romance of a Hangman.

Mysterious disappearance seems to be the inevitable fate of nearly every hangman, the latest to fade silently away being the official hangman of Victoria (says the Sydney -Bulletin). The man's history is a remarkable one. He is the son of a wealthy English manufacturer, and received an excellent education. In 'BO he reached Melbourne under engagement to a big wino and spirit iirm as head traveller at a salary of £SOO per year, but after a couple of years of the work he decided to strike out "on his own " and bought a suburban hotel. This he kept with fair success until 'BS, when he sold out and returned to England. There he received a sum of £SOOO from his father for the purpose of starting in business, but an 18 months' jaunt over Europe and the States was more to his liking, and when he arrived in Melbourne he had scarcely a penny to bless himself with. Half-a-dozen temporary warders being required at Peutridge Prison, he put in an application and was appointed, and it was while in that capacity that he became acquainted with Jones,thehangman, who suicided rather than hang Mrs Ivnorr. There seemed to be some magnetic sympathy between the men from the first, for they " pal'd up" immediately, and off duty were seldom seen apart. The budding hangman soon got transferred to the police force. In 'BB he left the force " for more lucrative employment," says the records; but this, whatever it was, doesn't seem to have lasted long, for in a few months he is found taking his first lesson in hangtnanship at Ballarat Gaol, when he acted as Jones' assistant. He then migrated to Sydney, where he earned an honest living doing a " bit of flogging "at the various gaols. But the work was laborious; he was ambitious. So when Jones cut his throat two days before the date of Mrs Knorr's hanging, his chum deferred weeping over his old friend until he had penned and posted an application for the vacant billet. This letter was successful, and starting south by the next train, he arrived in Melbourne in good time, and the job which even Jones, the slayer of twenty men, had shrunk from performing, was taken in band by his delicately-nurtured and highlyeducated friend. A little romance forms a pretty sequel to the story. 'Within a month after the demise of the esteemed Jones, the new hangman led to the altar a blushing bride—the widow of his predecessor.