MR. KENYON&c.) (Denbigh,asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the accounts in the public journals of the recent execution at Oxford, and to the evidence of Berry, the hangman, before the Coroner, that 33 under the present system of executions revolting accidents are occasionally unavoidable; and, whether, in the interests of public decency, he will introduce some measure to regulate the methods and procedure of executions?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to this matter, which has been fully inquired into. Whatever method be adopted of inflicting capital punishment by hanging there is a liability to accidents. Upon the whole, the accidents that may occur in the system followed at Oxford are less objectionable and revolting than those to which a system involving a shorter drop is liable. I should be unable to suggest a measure which would make these deplorable accidents impossible. I am glad to state that they are not frequent.