In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the life and executions of Henry Pierrepoint. Henry begins his era as chief executioner, but not without experiencing his first brush with a family member of the recently executed, and on the same day, a pub brawl. We look at the first use of fingerprints in the UK for a murder charge with the case of the Stratton brothers and their terrible crimes against a husband and wife. We delve into the case leading to the execution of Edgar Edwards, who killed a family (for their home and belongs) and buried their dismembered bodies in a house he rented for that purpose. He was only caught because he tried to repeat the act. Henry also travels to Ireland to hang Joseph Fee who killed a man to prevent having to payback a debt, before leaving the body under manure at his business address, or was he framed?

In his personal life, Henry relocates and starts a new business and his son Albert is born. We will discuss Albert's life as an executioner in a later episode.

Scottish phrase of the week: ye've got a face lit a melted welly'

Sources:

trial transcript

t19030209-262 | The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

t19050502-415 | The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

Web

Northern Ireland Executions 1900-1961 – Capital Punishment UK

26 Dec 1904 - THE CLONES MURDER. - Trove

Stratton Brothers: First Murder Case Solved by Fingerprints

The Stratton Brothers – The UK’s First Murder Case Solved by a Fingerprint – Capital Punishment UK

'Mask murder' brothers hanged for slaughter of pensioners during a botched robbery were the first convicted of murder using finger print evidence - The Mirror

nationalarchives.gov.uk/state-secrets/crime-and-punishment/crim-1985/

Books

Pierrepoint: A Family of Executioners,--(Steve Fielding)

The Executioner's Bible,--(Steve Fielding)

Executioner: Pierrepoint,--(Albert Pierrepoint)

The Hangman's tale,--(Syd Dernley and David Newman)