CONTENTS

Title

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

One:

‘Thaal Nivver Feel It’

Two:

‘Worse than Helen’

Three:

‘He Never had a Dream in his Life’

Four:

Into the Mills

Five:

‘Poisoning He Goes’

Six:

‘A Copper Pot’

Seven:

‘Knock, Knock, Knock on the Floor’

Eight:

A Murder Charge Made for Two

Nine:

Boyhood Haunts

Ten:

In a Position of Trust

Eleven:

Scandal Quote

Twelve:

‘Nobody Believes Her’

Thirteen:

Too Many Lies

Fourteen:

‘I Wish I had Never Come’

Fifteen:

William’s Reign

Sixteen:

The End of the Billingtons

Nigel Preston Interview

Author’s Note

Appendix 1: Execution Ropes

Appendix 2: School for Hangmen

Appendix 3: Index of Executions

Bibliography

Plates

Copyright