Pierrepoint by Steven Fielding Page A

the murder of Albert and Emma Watson, the owners of a small farm near Basildon.
    There had been a quarrel over access to a well and when the brothers felt hard done by, after losing the argument, they called at the Watson’s farm, where they shot them both dead and stole money and jewellery. The younger brother was acquitted at the trial and Richard Buckman alone faced the hangman.
    The final execution of the year took Harry and John Ellis back to Derby Gaol, almost a year to the day since they werelast there. The culprit this time was a distinguished former soldier and Harry later commented that the execution was one of the most affecting of the hundred or so that he had carried out.
    Walter Marsh had served 17 years in the army and had fought in several notable battles in the Boer War, before leaving the army in 1903. Along with his wife, he took over the running of a public house in Sheffield, but when this failed they moved to another in Chesterfield. When this too failed Marsh began work as a rent collector. By this time his marriage was in trouble and in June his wife attempted to take out a summons against him for cruelty. After a series of quarrels and separations he snapped, and savagely cut her throat as she slept.
    Found guilty after a deliberation of just 20 minutes, Marsh refused to allow a petition for his reprieve, claiming he feared imprisonment more than he feared death. The scaffold had been erected in the coach house at the gaol and in the past this had necessitated a long walk across the prison yard to reach it. It was decided this time to move the prisoner on the morning of the execution to a cell next door to the scaffold so the last walk along the snow-covered ground would not be a long one.
    Harry noted a very penitent and restless prisoner when he observed him shortly after his arrival at the gaol. Next morning he was brought down from his cell in the hospital wing and placed in the newly prepared cell. As the hangmen made their way from their quarters to the scaffold, Harry peered out of the small gatekeeper’s window they passed en route. He noticed a crowd of people stretching back from the prison gates as far as he could see.
    Marsh was crying softly as they entered the cell and he got to his feet slowly and feebly as they secured his wrists behind his back. His crying, which had gone on all through the night,continued as he stepped onto the drop. Harry believed it was shame at his position and not fear that caused the tears to fall.
    Christmas festivities in the Pierrepoint household had, as in previous years, been put on hold when work called, but having left Derby promptly, Harry arrived home shortly after lunchtime. The experience of hanging the distressed and shamed soldier had played heavily on his mind and he was looking forward to a cup of tea and a relaxing hour by the warmth of the fire and the company of his young children. No sooner had he entered the house, however, than he heard shouts coming from outside. His wife, who was standing by the window, shouted, ‘Harry, come look at this’ as a partially naked man went tearing down the street. Harry went out into the street and found a gang of nine or ten young men laughing and pointing as the man, naked except for a shirt, ran past again.
    ‘Why the Dickens don’t you stop him?’ Harry asked, only to be met with howls of laughter and pointing fingers as the man made his way back down the other side of the street. Harry set off after him and got within thirty yards when the man doubled back and headed straight for him. Preparing himself, Harry stood in his path and, seeing his route blocked, the man turned and jumped a wall. Harry was able to grab him and save him a long fall over the other side to an almost certain death or severe injury.
    Moments later attendants from a nearby asylum came into view and gathered up the escapee whom Harry had brought under control. He was annoyed when the attendants simply collected the man and,