HC Deb 06 April 1877 vol 233 cc699-700
MR. FORSYTH

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will consider the expediency of making the appointment of a public executioner, or public executioners, dependent on the Home Office and not on the discretion of High Sheriffs, so as to render less likely the repetition of such a painful scene as occurred lately at Leeds when the rope broke and the culprit was twice hanged?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

I need hardly, I am quite sure, say how deeply shocked I was to hear of what occurred at the late execution at Leeds. I immediately communicated with the local authorities, and requested that a full report should be made to me as to the circumstances of the case, but that report I have not yet received. There is no doubt, however, I shall have it in a short time. With respect to the Question of my hon. and learned Friend, the House is aware that the duty of seeing that an execution is duly carried out is cast upon the High Sheriff of the county, and that he is responsible for its being properly and as humanely done as possible. I do not think it would be wise to take away part of that responsibility from the High Sheriff, who is presumably at the place, and to put it upon the shoulders of the Home Secretary, who cannot possibly be there. At the same time, I am quite of opinion that every possible precaution should be adopted to secure that no untoward event should on any such occasion happen; and therefore I am quite prepared to take steps to provide that such assistance shall be given to the High Sheriff on all future occasions as to material and otherwise as I hope will effectually prevent the recurrence of such a lamentable circumstance as that referred to. I may, perhaps, be allowed to say, in reply to the Question which the hon. and learned Gentleman opposite (Mr. Serjeant Simon) has placed on the Paper, that as far as the information I have been able to obtain is concerned, I believe that death by execution, as carried out under the present form, is as speedy and as painless as under any that could be devised. I am not therefore at the present moment prepared to suggest to the House of Commons any alteration of the existing system.