Robert Baxter (executioner)
Encyclopedia
Robert Orridge Baxter was an English executioner
from Hertfordshire
. His career lasted from 1915 to 1935, during which he carried out 44 hanging
s and assisted at 53 others.
, on 15 July 1915. He assisted both Pierrepoint and John Ellis
sporadically over the next few years. On 12 August 1924, he participated in his first job as chief executioner when he hanged Frenchman Jean-Pierre Vaquier
. He would, for the next decade, be the second-most active executioner in England, behind only Pierrepoint. They each received jobs on a regional basis, and Baxter was responsible for nearly every execution carried out in London
. He carried out 24 consecutive hangings at Pentonville Prison
. He and Pierrepoint soon became rivals, and they then started writing to under-sheriffs to request specific jobs, even though that was not allowed. They were both eventually reprimanded for doing this.
Baxter was generally regarded as a good executioner. He was once described as a "very quiet and efficient man [who] goes about his work quickly and silently." However, he had one minor flaw. On 11 December 1928, he carried out the execution of murderer Trevor Edwards at Swansea Prison
. Working at his customary quick pace, Baxter failed to notice that his new assistant, Alfred Allen
, had not cleared the trapdoor after strapping the prisoner's legs. When Baxter pulled the lever, Allen fell into the pit along with Edwards. Baxter blamed Allen for the mishap, but in the ensuing investigation, it was discovered that Baxter was completely blind in his left eye. He was absolved of any blame, however, and kept his job.
Baxter's reactions became increasingly slower in the mid-1930s. He carried out his last hanging on 30 October 1935 before finally being removed from the official Home Office
list. He died in 1961, at the age of 83.
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 Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. His career lasted from 1915 to 1935, during which he carried out 44 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...
s and assisted at 53 others.
Career
Baxter worked at his first hanging, as an assistant to Thomas PierrepointThomas Pierrepoint
Thomas William Pierrepoint was one of the United Kingdom's executioners from 1906 until 1946. He was the brother of Henry and uncle of Albert....
, on 15 July 1915. He assisted both Pierrepoint and 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....
sporadically over the next few years. On 12 August 1924, he participated in his first job as chief executioner when he hanged Frenchman Jean-Pierre Vaquier
Jean-Pierre Vaquier
Jean-Pierre Vaquier was a French inventor and murderer.He was tried for the murder of Alfred George Poynter Jones, landlord of the Blue Anchor pub in Byfleet, the husband of his mistress Mabel Jones, by poisoning him with strychnine.Vaquier had met Mabel Jones early in 1924 in Biarritz where she...
. He would, for the next decade, be the second-most active executioner in England, behind only Pierrepoint. They each received jobs on a regional basis, and Baxter was responsible for nearly every execution carried out in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He carried out 24 consecutive hangings at Pentonville Prison
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,...
. He and Pierrepoint soon became rivals, and they then started writing to under-sheriffs to request specific jobs, even though that was not allowed. They were both eventually reprimanded for doing this.
Baxter was generally regarded as a good executioner. He was once described as a "very quiet and efficient man [who] goes about his work quickly and silently." However, he had one minor flaw. On 11 December 1928, he carried out the execution of murderer Trevor Edwards at Swansea Prison
Swansea (HM Prison)
HM Prison Swansea is a Category B/C men's prison, located in the Sandfields area of Swansea, Wales. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service, and is colloquially known as 'Cox's farm', after a former governor.-History:...
. Working at his customary quick pace, Baxter failed to notice that his new assistant, Alfred Allen
Alfred Allen (executioner)
Alfred Allen was an English executioner from Wolverhampton. His career lasted from 1928 to 1937, during which he carried out 3 hangings as a chief executioner and assisted at 14 others....
, had not cleared the trapdoor after strapping the prisoner's legs. When Baxter pulled the lever, Allen fell into the pit along with Edwards. Baxter blamed Allen for the mishap, but in the ensuing investigation, it was discovered that Baxter was completely blind in his left eye. He was absolved of any blame, however, and kept his job.
Baxter's reactions became increasingly slower in the mid-1930s. He carried out his last hanging on 30 October 1935 before finally being removed from the official 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. He died in 1961, at the age of 83.