James Berry (hangman)
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James Berry (February 8, 1852 – 1913) was a British executioner from 1884 until 1892. Berry was born at Heckmondwike in Yorkshire.
He served eight years with the Bradford Police Force, then tried himself as a boot salesman. Since he did not earn enough for the upkeep of his family, he applied for the post of executioner after William Marwood's death (1883) but did not get the job, even after being shortlisted, until the short period of Bartholomew Binns in office was over.
Berry was the first British hangman literate and communicative enough to be able to write freely about his work and the last to be permitted to do so. He considered that the hangman was the last link in what he called the "chain of legal retribution". His most important contribution to the science of hanging was the amendment and the refinement of the "long-drop" theory developed by his close friend, William Marwood. His improvements were intended to diminish mental and physical suffering and remained standard practice until the abolition of capital punishment for murder.
He resigned from his position following interference in his judgement by the prison medical officer at Kirkdale regarding the appropriate length of drop; Berry compromised but the condemned man John Conway was nearly decapitated. An insight into his behaviour and methods can be read in the book "My Experiences as an Executioner" in which he describes his methods and recalls the final moments of some of the people he executed.
Berry carried out 131 hangings in his eight years in office, including those of 5 women. James Berry also hung William Bury, a man admitted to being Jack the Ripper. In his book My Experiences as an Executioner James Berry is convinced he was the one to put a final stop to the Whitechappel Murders although there have always been multiple suspects.
Following his retirement, Berry toured and gave lectures advocating the abolition of capital punishment.[citation needed]
