Contrary to popular belief, English did not begin his role as the assistant to
John Radclive, a 20-year veteran of Canadian hangings. The only official method of
capital punishment in Canada since the fall of
New France was
hanging. In his capacity as official executioner, English adopted the surname of the famous English executioner,
John Ellis, as a pseudonym.
Career demise English's career as Canada's professional hangman ended two years after the botched execution of Tommasina Teolis-Saro, who had been convicted of hiring two hit men to kill her husband, at
Bordeaux Prison in
Montreal on 28 March 1935. The
long drop method of hanging was used, where the condemned would be executed by the weight of their body snapping their neck after they fell through the gallows' trap door. However, English used a miscalculation for Teolis-Saro's weight, which resulted in her dropping too far and being decapitated. This shocking event led to a public outcry but it did not end English's career right away. Although since 1 January 1870, all executions in Canada were conducted in private, members of the public could still attend upon invitation from the prison or provincial authorities. This was ended following the beheading of Teolis. He was buried at the
Mount Royal Cemetery. ==Legacy==