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James InglisUK resident executed in 1951 for murder
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of James Ingles
James Ingles was a British resident who was executed in 1951 for the murder of Alice Morgan, a 50-year-old prostitute. His execution became one of the scenes depicted in the 2006 film "Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman" and is believed to have influenced the execution scene in the series "Pennies from Heaven" starring Bob Hoskins. The Hangman's Tale, a memoir by Albert Pierrepoint, also mentions James Ingles.
The Murder and Trial
James Ingles was accused of murdering Alice Morgan on February 1, 1951. It was speculated that Ingles and Morgan had a dispute over payment, which escalated into a fight, leading Ingles to strangle her. At the trial, Ingles eventually confessed to the crime but tried to convince the court of his insanity in order to avoid being held accountable. However, the court did not believe his claim, and on April 20, 1951, James Ingles was sentenced to be hanged.
The Execution
James Ingles was held in Strangeways Prison while awaiting his execution. He did not attempt to challenge the court's decision, so three weeks later, on May 8, 1951, he was hanged according to the existing legislation. That morning, Albert Pierrepoint, one of Britain's most famous executioners, and his assistant Syd Dernley led Ingles from his cell to the gallows that had been built nearby. In just 7 seconds, between Ingles leaving his cell and the trapdoor opening beneath him, he was hanged. Dernley later stated that the condemned man practically ran towards his death, following the advice given to him by one of the guards to "try to finish it quickly and without fuss."
Legacy
For some time, James Ingles' execution was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest hanging. However, when the project's founder, Norris McQuirter, left the book, it underwent significant revisions to adopt a more populist and "softer" format. The story of Ingles was deemed unsuitable for the new format, and it was removed. Nevertheless, to this day, his execution still holds the title of the fastest hanging in both British and world history.
