Executioner

James Berry was an ex-policeman who was Britain's hangman from 1884-92, throughout the period of the Whitechapel murders. Stewart Evans here takes the reader on a fascinating journey into the world of Victorian crime and punishment. Berry was a man of mystery. He took a genuine interest in his 'victims' and the crimes they had committed. As an amateur criminologist he built his own black museum and kept scrapbooks relating to his activities. He was also something of a showman, and not averse to publicity, whose press coverage caused the government acute embarrassment. was often too upset before and after one of his 200 executions to be able to speak. One of his most famous (non) jobs was the strange case of John Lee ('The man they could not hang'). When Berry pulled the lever on the gallows nothing happened. After three attempts, Lee was reprieved. There were also a few horrific incidents on the gallows and his job evidently had its effect on him as, in retirement, Berry became so depressed that he took steps to commit suicide.