HANGED AT WINCHESTER

Softcover. For decades the high walls of Winchester Prison have contained some of the country's most infamous criminals. Until hanging was abolished in the 1960s it was also the main centre of execution for those convicted of murder both in Hampshire and its neighbouring counties. Among the executions carried out here was that of soldier Abraham Goldenberg, hanged for the murder of a bank clerk; William Podmore, convicted in 1930 of killing a garage owner in Southampton; and two Polish refugees who murdered a have-a-go hero during a bungled bank robbery. In 1896 Winchester had been the site of the last triple execution in Britain, when a Teignmouth coachman, a Southampton labourer and an 18yr old rifleman based at Aldershot were hanged together for 3 unrelated crimes. Infamous executioners also played a part in the gaol's history: William Marwood, the pioneer of the 'long drop'; James and William Billington; Thomas and Albert Pierrepoint; and John Ellis, whose botched executions of Leo O'Donnell and Thomas Allaway led to a Home Office enquiry. Featuring 29 cases, fully illustrated with photographs, news cuttings, rare documents and drawings. Illus., Appendices and Index. 128pp. 8vo. size softcover. F. with no creasing to covers.