June 22
ENGLAND:
Hangman's box used by Bradford-born executioner is focal point of new
exhibition
A hangman's box, used by Bradford-born executioner Albert Pierrepoint, is the
focal point of the latest exhibition at the Bradford Police Museum.
The box, which contains the executioner's paraphernalia including rope, noose,
restraints and cap, is thought to have been used in the hangings of serial
killer John Christie and Derek Bentley, who was hanged for the murder of a
police officer but pardoned 45 years after his death.
It is believed to be the only one in existence and is now taking pride of place
at the museum's summer exhibition, 'Shadow of the Noose, the story of
Bradford's Hangmen.' The exhibition features the stories of famous hangmen,
including the Pierrepoint family and former Bradford police officer James
Berry.
The box was kept at Wandsworth Prison from the 1950s and its contents were used
by Albert Pierrepoint, and other hangmen, until the abolition of the death
penalty in the 1960s. The box would be moved from prison to prison and the
procedures for carrying out executions were strictly laid down.
The exhibit has been loaned to the police museum by the Galleries of Justice
Museum in Nottingham which houses the prison service's historical collection.
Museum director Martin Baines said: "One of our volunteers, Allan Cox, came
across the box while researching the history of Bradford's famous hangmen in
the Galleries of Justice Museum. Due to the link with Albert Pierrepoint and
our special 'Shadow of the Noose' exhibition, they very kindly agreed to lend
us the box and its contents for our temporary display.
"We are delighted and privileged to be able to exhibit such a significant and
important item and we hope the people of Bradford will take the opportunity to
come and see it."
The museum is open for general admission every Friday, between 11am and 3pm,
and every Saturday between noon and 4pm.
The museum is located in Bradford City Hall and provides a unique insight into
the history of policing, criminal justice, civic enforcement and the
development of crime and punishment in Bradford from the early 19th century
onwards.
It is situated on the site of the original 19th century police station in City
Hall which was operational between 1874 and 1974. The museum gallery covers the
history of policing from the inception of the Bradford Borough Police force in
1848 up to the present day.
Visits to the museum include guided tours of the original Victorian cells and
court built in 1873 which formed part of the original police station.
Visitors can stand in the police cell that the famous escapologist Harry
Houdini escaped from, and climb the dock steps Victorian courtroom.
Victorian police truncheons, uniforms, swords, weapons, memorabilia, crime
scene exhibits and unique photographs covering 150 years of policing in the
city are on display.
(source: Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
TAIWAN:
Stabbing-spree victims plead for death penalty for murderer
As debate over whether to preserve or abolish the death penalty heats up,
victims of a 2014 knife attack were seen at the Taipei High Court yesterday,
begging the judge to sentence Cheng Chieh to death.
In May 2014, Cheng bought a 30-centimeter-long knife and randomly slashed
passengers on the Taipei Metro as the train drove from Longshan Temple Station
to Jiangzicui Station. He took 4 lives and injured 22 others, shocking society
with his cruelty during and after the killings.
The public were not only terrified, but also enraged. While many insisted that
Cheng should "get what he deserves as soon as possible," the majority of people
began to discuss what had caused a college student to commit such a heinous
crime.
His parents, classmates and teachers all had fingers pointed at them to take
blame for Cheng's possible mental illness. A consensus was never reached,
however, the public become extremely attentive to the debate over capital
punishment.
On March 6 of this year, the New Taipei City District Court handed Cheng 4
death sentences after he was found guilty of 4 counts of murder; Cheng was
further convicted of 22 counts of attempted murder for which he was sentenced
to a total of 144 years imprisonment.
(source: China Post)
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