Thomas Henry Scott
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Scott was an English executioner
from 1889 to 1901. He was from Huddersfield
in Yorkshire
. A ropemaker by trade, he acted as executioner on seventeen occasions. He was on the Home Office
list of approved executioners from 1892 to 1895.
Scott was an assistant hangman to James Berry
as far back as 1889. However, starting in January 1892, he worked as an assistant hangman to James Billington
, who was the chief executioner of Great Britain and Ireland.
Scott was scheduled to assist Billington in a hanging
on 17 December 1895 at Walton Prison
. On the night before the hanging, he reported to the prison at 9:00 and then picked up a prostitute. They had sex "for about an hour and a half." Later, Scott realised that he had been robbed
and reported the incident to the police. His wallet and glasses were later recovered when the prostitute showed up at the police station. However, when the Home Office was informed of Scott's deeds, they immediately removed him from the Home Office list. Billington performed the execution alone.
No longer welcome in England, Scott moved to Ireland and was the chief executioner there until 1901. In January 1899, he carried out three executions in a five-day stretch; he was assisted by Bartholomew Binns
each time.
Scott carried out just one hanging in all of 1900 and then two in January 1901. He lost his job in Ireland when the authorities learned about his activities in England. The last hanging he performed was that of John Toole, at Mountjoy Gaol
, on 7 March 1901.
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:...
from 1889 to 1901. He was from Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. A ropemaker by trade, he acted as executioner on seventeen occasions. 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 of approved executioners from 1892 to 1895.
Scott was an assistant hangman to James Berry
James Berry (hangman)
James Berry was an English executioner from 1884 until 1891. Berry was born in Heckmondwike in Yorkshire, where his father worked as a wool-stapler. His most important contribution to the science of hanging was his refinement of the long drop method developed by William Marwood, whom Berry knew...
as far back as 1889. However, starting in January 1892, he worked as an assistant hangman to James Billington
James 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...
, who was the chief executioner of Great Britain and Ireland.
Scott was scheduled to assist Billington in a hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
on 17 December 1895 at Walton Prison
Liverpool (HM Prison)
HM Prison Liverpool is a categoryB/C local men's prison, located in the Walton area of Liverpool in England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
. On the night before the hanging, he reported to the prison at 9:00 and then picked up a prostitute. They had sex "for about an hour and a half." Later, Scott realised that he had been robbed
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and reported the incident to the police. His wallet and glasses were later recovered when the prostitute showed up at the police station. However, when the Home Office was informed of Scott's deeds, they immediately removed him from the Home Office list. Billington performed the execution alone.
No longer welcome in England, Scott moved to Ireland and was the chief executioner there until 1901. In January 1899, he carried out three executions in a five-day stretch; he was assisted by Bartholomew Binns
Bartholomew Binns
Bartholomew Binns was an English executioner from November 1883 to March 1884. He had previously assisted William Marwood at executions, and when Marwood was dismissed, he took over the position of Executioner for the City of London and Middlesex...
each time.
Scott carried out just one hanging in all of 1900 and then two in January 1901. He lost his job in Ireland when the authorities learned about his activities in England. The last hanging he performed was that of John Toole, at Mountjoy Gaol
Mountjoy Prison
Mountjoy Prison , founded as Mountjoy Gaol, nicknamed The Joy, is a medium security prison located in Phibsboro in the centre of Dublin, Ireland. It has the largest prison population in Ireland.The current prison governor is Mr...
, on 7 March 1901.