John Billington (hangman)
Encyclopedia
John Billington was an English executioner
. He was on the Home Office
list from 1901 to 1905.
, was a hangman from 1884 to 1901, and his two older brothers, Thomas
and William
, were also hangmen.
In early 1902, at the age of 21, John attended an execution training course at Newgate Prison
. His brother William was England's primary executioner by that time, and the two became partners. Their first hanging together was on 18 March. John was the assistant hangman in 10 of William's jobs in 1902. He helped perform the last hanging at Newgate and the first hanging at Pentonville
.
Billington continued as an assistant through most of 1903. However, with his experience, he soon rose up in the ranks. On 2 December 1903, he carried out his first hanging as a chief executioner in Manchester
, with John Ellis
as his assistant. Twenty-nine executions took place in England and Ireland in 1903; the Billington brothers participated in 27 of them, including 15 as a two-man team.
John Billington worked both as his brother's assistant and as a chief executioner for the next two years. On three separate occasions, they carried out executions in different cities on the same day. The last of these was on 17 August 1904, when John hanged John Kay at Armley Prison
, and William hanged Samuel Holden at Winson Green Prison
.
Besides Ellis, John Billington also frequently worked with Henry Pierrepoint
. In his career, Billington carried out a total of 26 hangings as an assistant and 16 as a chief executioner. He worked as a hairdresser
when not performing executions.
In August 1905, Billington received a job to hang Thomas Tattersall
in Leeds
. While preparing the scaffold
, he fell through the open trapdoor and cracked his ribs. He died about two months later due to those injuries; the official cause of death was pleurisy
.
Billington was 25 years old at the time. He was survived by his wife and one child.
Executioner
A judicial executioner is a person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority, which was known in feudal terminology as high justice.-Scope and job:...
. He was on the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
list from 1901 to 1905.
Career
Billington came from a family of hangmen. His father, JamesJames Billington (hangman)
James Billington was a hangman for the British government from 1884 until 1901.Born in Preston, in 1859 he moved with his family to Farnworth, northwest of Manchester. After leaving school he worked in a cotton mill for a time, but by the early 1880s he had become a Sunday school teacher and was...
, was a hangman from 1884 to 1901, and his two older brothers, Thomas
Thomas Billington (hangman)
Thomas Billington was an English executioner from 1897 to 1901 and was one of four family members who worked as hangmen for England.-Biography:...
and William
William Billington
William Billington was an English executioner. He was on the Home Office list from 1902 to 1905 and had participated in hangings starting in 1899.-Career:...
, were also hangmen.
In early 1902, at the age of 21, John attended an execution training course at Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
. His brother William was England's primary executioner by that time, and the two became partners. Their first hanging together was on 18 March. John was the assistant hangman in 10 of William's jobs in 1902. He helped perform the last hanging at Newgate and the first hanging at Pentonville
Pentonville (HM Prison)
HM Prison Pentonville is a Category B/C men's prison, operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service. Pentonville Prison is not actually within Pentonville itself, but is located further north, on the Caledonian Road in the Barnsbury area of the London Borough of Islington, in inner-North London,...
.
Billington continued as an assistant through most of 1903. However, with his experience, he soon rose up in the ranks. On 2 December 1903, he carried out his first hanging as a chief executioner in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, with John Ellis
John Ellis (executioner)
John Ellis was a Rochdale hairdresser and newsagent who served as one of the United Kingdom's executioners for 23 years, from 1901 to 1924....
as his assistant. Twenty-nine executions took place in England and Ireland in 1903; the Billington brothers participated in 27 of them, including 15 as a two-man team.
John Billington worked both as his brother's assistant and as a chief executioner for the next two years. On three separate occasions, they carried out executions in different cities on the same day. The last of these was on 17 August 1904, when John hanged John Kay at Armley Prison
Leeds (HM Prison)
HM Prison Leeds is a Category B men's prison, in the Armley area of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England, which opened in 1847. Leeds Prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service, and is still known locally as Armley Gaol , the historical name for the prison.-History:Construction of Leeds Prison ...
, and William hanged Samuel Holden at Winson Green Prison
Birmingham (HM Prison)
HM Prison Birmingham is a Category B/C men's prison, located in the Winson Green area of Birmingham, England. The prison was formally operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service...
.
Besides Ellis, John Billington also frequently worked with Henry Pierrepoint
Henry Pierrepoint
Henry Albert Pierrepoint was one of the United Kingdom's executioners from 1901 until 1910. He was the father of Albert and brother of Thomas....
. In his career, Billington carried out a total of 26 hangings as an assistant and 16 as a chief executioner. He worked as a hairdresser
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
when not performing executions.
In August 1905, Billington received a job to hang Thomas Tattersall
Thomas Tattersall
Thomas Tattersall was an English plasterer who was convicted of murdering his wife.Tattersall, from Wakefield, was a notorious drunk. He would often threaten his wife, Rebecca, and the police had once put their house under surveillance because of this. On 3 July 1905, Tattersall cut Rebecca's...
in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. While preparing the scaffold
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes, although it can be from other materials...
, he fell through the open trapdoor and cracked his ribs. He died about two months later due to those injuries; the official cause of death was pleurisy
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
.
Billington was 25 years old at the time. He was survived by his wife and one child.