Smith & Collier Jug

Stock No: 000062

Height: 10.5 Inches / 26.7 cm

Reference: Unrecorded

A jug showing the story of Smith and Collier.

William Collier was found guilty in 1866 of the murder of Thomas Smith, after the gamekeeper caught him poaching on land at Whiston Eaves, Staffordshire. Collier was sentenced to death by hanging on the 7th August 1866. Each hanging usually used a new rope, to ensure it was not frayed, stretched or weakened. In Collier’s case, the hangman decided to use an old rope for reasons unknown. As the lever was pulled the rope slipped off the gallows, leaving Collier dazed but conscious. A new rope was fetched and the terrible sequence repeated, this time hanging Collier successfully. It was the last public execution at Stafford Gaol.