234 SPORTS AND ANECDOTES. 



who was the gaoler and the executioner's assistant, 

 proceeded at once to divest the culprit of his coat 

 and waistcoat, indeed he took them off himself. He 

 then untied his neckcloth and unbuttoned his shirt- 

 collar, and with a large pair of scissors cut his shirt 

 down the back and laid it over his shoulders. He 

 then cut his hair quite close at the back of his neck 

 to about half way up the back of his head. Having 

 done this he led him up to the white chair, upon 

 which he sat down. He then passed a cord round 

 his body and the back of the chair, and his hands 

 were tied in front of him by the cord being passed 

 round his wrists with the fingers pointing upwards 

 and the palms of his hands together as if in a 

 praying attitude. Whilst this was going on the 

 headsman took off his coat and waistcoat and, laying 

 them on the ground, turned up his shirt-sleeves above 

 the elbows. He then took the sword out of the 

 green baize case and stood with the point of it on 

 the ground and his hands resting on the top of the 

 handle. The sword was a double-handed one, almost 

 round at the point, and was what might be called 

 double-edged, the blade being tapered off at the back 

 though not made sharp as in front. It was quite 

 straight, about two feet and a half in the blade and 



