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MARWOOD (WILLIAM) Autograph letter signed ('Wm Marwood'), to the Governor of Norwich Castle ('De...
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Description
MARWOOD (WILLIAM) Autograph letter signed ('Wm Marwood'), to the Governor of Norwich Castle ('Dear Sir'), advising him of the date and time of his arrival at Norwich '...for the Execution of the Prisoner... by the express train from London...', and asking '...Please let some won [sic] meet me at the Stashion in Plain Dress I shall have an umbrella in my hand and a Carpit Bagg...', oval ink stamp of William Marwood, Executioner, one page, dust-staining and marks, creased and torn at folds, edges frayed, old repairs, laid down on cardboard and linen, oblong 4to (165 x 207mm.), Horncastle, Lincolnshire, 13 November 1877 Footnotes: 'MEET ME AT THE STASHION IN PLAIN DRESS': MARWOOD, THE INFAMOUS PUBLIC HANGMAN, ARRIVES BY FAST TRAIN FOR AN EXECUTION AT NORWICH. Marwood made this train journey to Norwich for the execution of Henry March, of Wymondham, Norfolk, who had been convicted on two counts of murder and was executed on 20 November 1877 at Norwich Castle Prison. March had worked as a blacksmith for smallholder Thomas Mays for some thirty years but was told by Mays that his services were no longer required. A servant girl witnessed March and another worker, Henry Bidwell (or Bridewell in some sources), arguing in the smithy, during which altercation, March hit Bidwell with an iron bar several times about the head. When Thomas Mays went out to investigate, he was also fatally attacked by March. William Marwood (1818-1883) of Horncastle, Lincolnshire, held the post of the British public hangman for nine years, during which time he executed 176 people including the burglar and murderer Charles Peace (who famously wondered on the morning of his execution whether 'Marwood would cure this cough of mine'), Kate Webster, a servant who hacked her mistress to death, and five members of the Irish National Invincibles gang who murdered Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke in Dublin. He became somewhat of a celebrity, inspiring the doggerel 'If Pa killed Ma who'd kill Pa – Marwood', and is credited with finessing the 'long drop' technique of hanging, considered a more humane method of execution. After his death his wife sold his clothes to Madame Tussauds. A facsimile of the Police News edition of 'The Life and Career of Marwood the Executioner' is included in the lot. Provenance: Purchased by the present owner from Crowes Antiquarian Bookshop in Norwich in the early 1960's. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing
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MARWOOD (WILLIAM) Autograph letter signed ('Wm Marwood'), to the Governor of Norwich Castle ('Dear Sir'), advising him of the date and time of his arrival at Norwich '...for the Execution of the Prisoner... by the express train from London...', and asking '...Please let some won [sic] meet me at the Stashion in Plain Dress I shall have an umbrella in my hand and a Carpit Bagg...', oval ink stamp of William Marwood, Executioner, one page, dust-staining and marks, creased and torn at folds, edges frayed, old repairs, laid down on cardboard and linen, oblong 4to (165 x 207mm.), Horncastle, Lincolnshire, 13 November 1877 Footnotes: 'MEET ME AT THE STASHION IN PLAIN DRESS': MARWOOD, THE INFAMOUS PUBLIC HANGMAN, ARRIVES BY FAST TRAIN FOR AN EXECUTION AT NORWICH. Marwood made this train journey to Norwich for the execution of Henry March, of Wymondham, Norfolk, who had been convicted on two counts of murder and was executed on 20 November 1877 at Norwich Castle Prison. March had worked as a blacksmith for smallholder Thomas Mays for some thirty years but was told by Mays that his services were no longer required. A servant girl witnessed March and another worker, Henry Bidwell (or Bridewell in some sources), arguing in the smithy, during which altercation, March hit Bidwell with an iron bar several times about the head. When Thomas Mays went out to investigate, he was also fatally attacked by March. William Marwood (1818-1883) of Horncastle, Lincolnshire, held the post of the British public hangman for nine years, during which time he executed 176 people including the burglar and murderer Charles Peace (who famously wondered on the morning of his execution whether 'Marwood would cure this cough of mine'), Kate Webster, a servant who hacked her mistress to death, and five members of the Irish National Invincibles gang who murdered Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke in Dublin. He became somewhat of a celebrity, inspiring the doggerel 'If Pa killed Ma who'd kill Pa – Marwood', and is credited with finessing the 'long drop' technique of hanging, considered a more humane method of execution. After his death his wife sold his clothes to Madame Tussauds. A facsimile of the Police News edition of 'The Life and Career of Marwood the Executioner' is included in the lot. Provenance: Purchased by the present owner from Crowes Antiquarian Bookshop in Norwich in the early 1960's. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing
Books, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs
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Montpelier St Knightsbridge
London
United Kingdom
SW7 1HH
United Kingdom
...
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