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James Corbitt
James Corbitt
James Corbitt
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James Henry "Tish" Corbitt (20 October 1913 – 28 November 1950)[1][2][3] was an English murderer hanged at Strangeways Prison in Manchester by Albert Pierrepoint.[4]

Biography

[edit]

Corbitt was born in Oldham. At the time of the murder of his mistress, Eliza Woods, he was a frequent customer in Pierrepoint’s pub "Help The Poor Struggler" (on Manchester Road, in the Hollinwood area of Oldham), sang with him round the piano and called him "Tosh" while Pierrepoint called him "Tish" (Tish and Tosh were, at that time, common nicknames used between people who were passing acquaintances but who did not know each other's names; they were also the names of two popular fictional comic characters).[5] Corbitt knew about the official sideline of his publican.

At the time of the murder, Corbitt was separated from his wife and his 11-year-old son, and had a mistress, Ms. Woods. In August 1950, he throttled Woods in a hotel room in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. Her body was found the next morning with the word 'whore' written on her forehead. Corbitt pleaded guilty but insane. At his trial at Liverpool Assizes, the Crown argued the crime was premeditated and cited diary entries detailing Corbitt's plans to kill Woods.[6] He was convicted and sentenced to death by Mr Justice Lynskey.

In his memoirs (Executioner: Pierrepoint), Pierrepoint wrote about his feelings when returning to the pub after Corbitt's execution: "I thought if any man had a deterrent to murder poised before him, it was this troubadour whom I called Tish. He was not only aware of the rope, he had the man who handled it beside him singing a duet. The deterrent did not work."[7]

Pierrepoint goes on to relate Corbitt's final moments:

At twenty seconds to nine the next morning I went into the death cell. He seemed under a great strain, but I did not see stark fear in his eyes, only a more childlike worry. He was anxious to be remembered, and to be accepted. "Hallo, Tosh," he said, not very confidently. "Hallo Tish," I said. "How are you?" I was not effusive, just gave the casual warmth of my nightly greeting from behind the bar.

Pierrepoint goes on to describe how Corbitt smiled and relaxed after this greeting. After strapping Corbitt's arms, Pierrepoint said "Come on Tish, old chap", at which Corbitt went to the gallows "...lightly...I would say that he ran."

The role of Corbitt is played by Eddie Marsan in the 2005 film Pierrepoint, which reproduced the scene.[8]

In 2006, Corbitt's son stated his father "probably deserved the hangman's noose", as he had been contemplating murdering Woods for a year.[9]

References

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James Corbitt

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James Henry Corbitt (20 October 1913 – 28 November 1950), known as "Tish", was an English man executed by hanging for the of his mistress. Corbitt strangled 36-year-old Eliza Wood in a jealous rage at the pub in on 20 August 1950, leading to his conviction and death sentence at . The case drew attention due to Corbitt's prior friendship with his executioner, Chief Hangman , a fellow resident; the two men, nicknamed "Tish and Tosh", regularly socialized at Pierrepoint's , Help the Poor Struggler, where they performed duets including on the very evening of the killing. Corbitt was hanged by Pierrepoint at Strangeways Prison on 28 November 1950, an execution Pierrepoint later described in his as emotionally challenging yet justified, noting Corbitt's guilt and the absence of remorse. His son, James Corbitt Jr., publicly affirmed in later years that the sentence was deserved, emphasizing the brutality of the crime over the irony of the personal tie.

Early Life and Background

Birth and Family Origins

James Henry Corbitt was born on 20 October 1913 in , , , a textile-manufacturing hub in the industrial northwest known for its cotton mills and dense working-class population. His birth was registered in the Oldham district, reflecting local family roots in the region's proletarian communities. Corbitt's parents were Edmund Corbitt, born 4 August 1879 in and died in 1947, and Charlotte Ayres; the latter's maiden name appears in official General Register Office records for his birth. Little additional documentation survives on his immediate ancestry, though the Corbitt surname traces to modest laboring stock in Lancashire's mill towns, consistent with the socioeconomic milieu of early 20th-century .

Early Career and Pre-War Life

James Henry Corbitt spent his early adulthood in the industrial northwest of during the interwar years, a period marked by economic challenges in regions like and , where employment often centered on textiles, , and related trades. Specific details of his occupation remain undocumented in primary historical records, with available accounts providing no explicit mention of his professional activities prior to the Second World War. By the late , Corbitt had established a family, including a son born around that time who later reflected on his father's life and crimes. His later reputation for possessing a fine singing voice suggests possible early involvement in local social or musical pursuits, though this is not confirmed for the pre-war era.

Association with Albert Pierrepoint

Development of Friendship

James Henry Corbitt and 's friendship formed in the mid-1940s through Pierrepoint's role as of the "Help the Poor Struggler" on Manchester Road in Hollinwood, , a position he assumed in after leaving his previous employment. As a local baker residing in nearby , Corbitt quickly became a frequent patron of the establishment, drawn by its community atmosphere and Pierrepoint's affable demeanor behind the bar. The relationship deepened via regular social interactions, particularly their shared interest in music. On Saturday nights, Corbitt and Pierrepoint would perform duets together in the pub, entertaining other customers with songs such as "," leveraging Pierrepoint's trained voice and Corbitt's compatible . This collaborative singing fostered a sense of camaraderie, leading Pierrepoint to affectionately nickname Corbitt "Tish" and Corbitt to respond by Pierrepoint "Tosh." Their association remained lighthearted and localized to the setting until 1950, when Corbitt murdered his mistress Eliza Wood by strangulation following a domestic dispute. Pierrepoint later described the execution he performed on Corbitt at Strangeways Prison on November 28, 1950, as his most emotionally taxing, underscoring the personal toll of their prior friendship in his 1974 autobiography Executioner: Pierrepoint.

Nicknames and Social Interactions

James Corbitt was known to by the nickname Tish, a moniker derived from their social exchanges at Pierrepoint's , while Corbitt reciprocated by calling Pierrepoint Tosh. These nicknames reflected the jovial rapport between the two men, who interacted frequently as and patron. Their social interactions centered around Pierrepoint's establishment, the Help the Poor Struggler in , which he managed after . Corbitt was a regular customer, often joining Pierrepoint for Saturday night gatherings where they performed duets around , fostering a sense of camaraderie despite Pierrepoint's secret role as an . This friendship persisted until Corbitt's arrest, with Pierrepoint later using the nickname "Tish" during the execution on November 28, 1950, at Strangeways Prison to calm his former associate in the final moments.

Personal Life and Relationships

Romantic Involvement with Eliza Wood

James Henry Corbitt, then estranged from his wife and living apart from his son, pursued a romantic liaison with Eliza Wood, a 36-year-old woman residing on Knott Street in . Wood, referred to in reports as Corbitt's girlfriend or mistress, became the object of his affections amid his social life as a regular at the Help the Poor Struggler pub in Hollinwood, owned by executioner . The relationship, ongoing by mid-1950, exhibited signs of possessiveness, with Corbitt displaying jealousy over Wood's interactions with other men.

Lifestyle and Character Traits

Corbitt maintained a typical working-class routine in the region, centered around social pursuits in local public houses. He was a frequent visitor to the Help the Poor Struggler in , where he participated in evening entertainments alongside patrons and the landlord, . Their interactions highlighted Corbitt's sociable disposition; the pair regularly performed musical duets, such as "," at during Saturday nights, fostering a bond marked by mutual nicknames—"Tish" for Corbitt and "Tosh" for Pierrepoint. Pierrepoint later reflected on Corbitt's affable and unassuming nature in his autobiography, describing him as a "troubadour" whose familiarity with the executioner should have served as a stark warning against violence, yet underscoring an apparent underestimation of underlying impulsivity.

The Murder

Precipitating Events

At the time of the murder, James Corbitt was separated from his wife and estranged from their 11-year-old son, while maintaining an extramarital romantic relationship with Eliza Woods, who functioned as his mistress. In August 1950, Corbitt and Woods checked into a hotel room together in , . An argument broke out between them during their stay, fueled by Corbitt's suspicions of Woods' affections toward another man. This jealousy intensified into a physical confrontation in which Corbitt throttled Woods, leading directly to her death by strangulation.

Details of the Crime

On the evening of August 19, 1950, James Corbitt, aged 37, visited the Help the Poor Struggler pub in Hollinwood, , where he drank heavily and performed a duet of "" with the pub's landlord and his friend, . After leaving the pub, Corbitt traveled to and entered Room 7 at the Prince of Wales Hotel, where his 36-year-old lover, Eliza Wood—a resident of Knott Street, —was staying. The couple, who had been in an extramarital affair while Corbitt was separated from his wife and son, argued intensely due to Corbitt's jealousy over Wood's suspected interest in another man. In a rage, Corbitt manually strangled Wood to death, using his hands to compress her neck until she succumbed. Wood's body was discovered the next morning, , August 20, 1950, in the , showing signs of manual strangulation including bruising and ligature marks consistent with prolonged compression. Corbitt, who had fled the scene but returned briefly, was arrested shortly thereafter in on charges of wilful . The crime was characterized by authorities as premeditated in element due to Corbitt's prior suspicions, though primarily impulsive amid intoxication and emotional provocation.

Arrest and Charges

James Henry Corbitt, a 37-year-old toolmaker, was arrested by police on 20 August 1950, hours after strangling his 36-year-old mistress, Eliza Wood, during an argument in Room 7 of the Prince of Wales Hotel in . Wood's body was discovered later that evening by hotel staff, showing signs of manual strangulation, and Corbitt, who had fled the scene briefly, was apprehended nearby after witnesses reported his presence and agitated state. On 21 August 1950, Corbitt appeared before magistrates at , where he was formally charged with the wilful of Wood under section 2 of the Homicide Act (then applicable under precedents for charges). He offered no plea at the hearing and was remanded in custody for one week pending further investigation, during which forensic examination confirmed asphyxiation as the cause of death with no evidence of . The charge reflected the prosecution's intent to prove , given Corbitt's admission to police of acting in jealousy over Wood's attentions to another man.

Trial and Verdict

Corbitt was charged with the wilful of Wood following a coroner's that determined her death by strangulation rather than accidental choking. He first appeared before magistrates at on , 1950, where he was remanded in custody for a week. The case proceeded to the , where Corbitt, aged 37 and a toolmaker by trade, stood trial for the capital offence committed on August 20, 1950, in Room 7 of the Prince of Wales Hotel in . The prosecution relied on forensic evidence, including neck bruising and petechial hemorrhaging consistent with manual strangulation during an altercation fueled by jealousy over Wood's interactions with other men. Corbitt maintained his innocence, claiming Wood had choked on a tablet taken for a and that he had attempted to dislodge it, inadvertently causing her injuries. Medical testimony refuted this, affirming asphyxiation by compression as the . The , described as straightforward, lasted only a few days in mid-November 1950, reflecting the clear evidentiary case against him. The jury returned a guilty verdict for murder after brief deliberation, leading to the mandatory death sentence imposed under the Homicide Act 1957's predecessor framework, though the offence predated that legislation. Corbitt showed no remorse during sentencing and lodged an appeal, which was rejected by the Court of Criminal Appeal. In dismissing the appeal, Corbitt privately conceded his guilt to prison staff, stating he had acted in a momentary loss of control. No reprieve was granted by the Home Secretary, paving the way for his execution on November 28, 1950.

Execution and Aftermath

Sentencing and Preparation

On November 6, 1950, at the Liverpool Assizes, James Henry Corbitt was convicted of the of Eliza Wood and sentenced to , the mandatory penalty under prevailing for such offenses. The trial judge, following the jury's verdict, pronounced the sentence without recommendation for , adhering to standard procedure where no existed in capital cases. Corbitt was transferred to the condemned cell at (Strangeways), the designated facility for his execution, where he remained under constant supervision for the ensuing three weeks. During this period, routine protocols included daily visits from the prison chaplain, limited family access, and the opportunity for petitions to the for reprieve; none succeeded in Corbitt's case, reflecting the high threshold for clemency absent extenuating circumstances like or new evidence. Chief Executioner , assigned to the hanging, received formal notice shortly after sentencing and reported acute personal distress, stating he felt physically ill and could not eat upon realizing he would execute a longtime acquaintance from his . visited Corbitt in the cell days before the execution, where the two engaged in a half-hour reminiscing about shared performances as "Tish and Tosh," with Corbitt displaying composure, noting Pierrepoint's , and expressing mild over the assignment while deeming it unavoidable. As part of standard preparations, Pierrepoint inspected and tested apparatus at Strangeways, calibrating the drop length—typically 4 to 6 feet based on the prisoner's and physique—to ensure instantaneous via spinal severance, a hallmark of the British long-drop method refined since the . Corbitt weighed approximately 168 pounds at the time, influencing the precise rope length and knot placement used on November 28.

The Hanging by Pierrepoint

On 28 November 1950, James Corbitt was executed by hanging at Strangeways Prison in , with serving as the chief executioner. Pierrepoint, who had developed a personal friendship with Corbitt through regular interactions at his pub, the Help the Poor Struggler in Hollinwood, , found the task exceptionally burdensome; the two men, known to each other as "Tish" (Corbitt) and "Tosh" (Pierrepoint), had performed musical duets together, including renditions of "." Entering the condemned cell shortly before 9:00 a.m., Pierrepoint was recognized by Corbitt solely from the sound of his footsteps; Corbitt greeted him calmly with "Hello, Tosh," acknowledging the inevitability of the moment. The execution followed Pierrepoint's established protocol for efficiency and minimization of suffering: Corbitt's arms were pinioned behind his back, a hood was placed over his head, and he was led the short distance to in the adjacent chamber, where the was adjusted and the released, resulting in death by within seconds of the cell door opening. In his 1974 autobiography Executioner: Pierrepoint, the hangman described this as the most difficult execution of his career, citing their prior camaraderie as a factor that intensified the emotional strain; he later opined that the experience contributed to his growing skepticism regarding capital punishment's deterrent value, asserting that "all the men and women [he] ha faced at that final moment convince [him] that in what [he] ha done [he] ha not prevented a single murder." Corbitt's body was buried within the prison grounds, as was standard for executed prisoners under British law at the time.

References

  1. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109716329/james_henry-corbitt
  2. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Corbitt-506
  3. https://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/corbitt-james.htm
  4. https://www.executedtoday.com/2008/11/28/1950-james-corbitt-albert-pierrepoint/
  5. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1515209/My-father-deserved-to-be-hanged-by-Pierrepoint.html
  6. https://www.names.org/n/corbitt/about
  7. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pub-landlord-who-killed-over-30946121
  8. https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/The-Last-Fateful-Meeting-of-Tish-and-Tosh
  9. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/nostalgia/pub-landlord-killed-400-people-27713817
  10. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/capital-punishment-in-britain-the-hangmans-story-473138.html
  11. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/inside-mind-pub-landlord-who-16462462
  12. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/pub-landlord-sideline-executioner-14265752
  13. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/oldham-drinkers-were-hanging-on-alberts-1022548
  14. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/100-people-executed-strangeways-prison-15653159
  15. https://allthatsinteresting.com/albert-pierrepoint
  16. https://www.facebook.com/100066853656113/posts/james-henry-corbitt-of-tish-and-tosh-fame37-year-old-corbitt-was-convicted-of-st/892193453019102/
  17. https://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/13622/bus-driver-licensee-%25E2%2580%2594-and-hangmen
  18. https://crimesandcuriosities.tumblr.com/post/138053941793/pictured-above-is-the-lifeless-body-of-eliza-wood
  19. https://www.tumblr.com/crimesandcuriosities/616995267202416640/crimesandcuriosities-pictured-above-are-12-of
  20. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1950-01-01/1950-12-31?basicsearch=murder&somesearch=murder&retrievecountrycounts=false&newspapertitle=belfast%252Btelegraph
  21. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1950-08-01/1950-08-31?basicsearch=James%20Henry%20Corbitt
  22. https://www.facebook.com/groups/AshtonUnderLyne.People/posts/3558265574403029/
  23. https://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2009/01/12/120109_hanged_manchester_feature.shtml
  24. https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/foi-oct2006.pdf
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