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Calcraft was the longest serving executioner of all and was noted for his "short drops" causing most of his victims to strangle to death. It is not known precisely how many executions he carried out but it is estimated at between four hundred and four hundred and fifty, including those of at least 35 women, making him the most prolific British executioner. He was assisted by Thomas Cheshire in many of these. He officiated at the last public hangings in Britain - those of Francis Kidder (the last woman) at Maidstone on 2nd April 1868 for the drowning of her step daughter and Michael Barrett - a Fenian (what we would now call an I R A terrorist) for the Clerkenwell prison explosion which killed 12 people and injured over 100, outside Newgate prison on 26th May 1868.
And you wouldn't have believed it looking at him (I guess). calcraft
Calcraft was the official hangman at Newgate and also carried out floggings inside that prison. He received 1 guinea (�1.05) a week retainer and a further guinea for each hanging at Newgate and half a crown (12.5p) for a flogging. His earnings were greatly enhanced by executions at other prisons where he could charge higher fees, typically �10 - �15. He also earned extra money by selling the clothes and personal effects of the condemned to people such as Madame Tussaud, and by selling the bodies to the doctors for dissection.
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