Later that morning, Harry left the prison without attracting any attention and with a little time to wait for his train back south he stopped off into a hotel close to the station. He ordered a drink and stood at the bar. A short time later a man entered and spoke loudly to some friends sat in the corner.
‘Do you know, I have just been talking to Pierrepoint the executioner who hanged the nigger this morning!’
Immediately the company became all attentive.
‘What was he like?’ one asked.
‘A big strapping fellow, just the man for the job.’ He described what Harry had been wearing and ended by saying, ‘And he was carrying a leather bag in which he keeps the rope for hanging people!’