Free Once a Jolly Hangman by Alan Shadrake Page A

souls in this humble expression of our undying gratitude for all you have done for us. You were everything to us in our hour of need - friend, adviser, confidant, father, and our unfailing source of strength and inspiration. You were our beacon that guided us to the Haven of Jesus Christ. You taught us to have unquestioning faith in God's Word, and to pray to him on humbly bended knees to ask for his forgiveness for all the sins and transgressions that we have committed against His Commandments. During these long agonising months of mental torture, of waiting, of hoping, of seeing each hope crumble away till now when we stand at the very brink of death, at the very edge of eternity, you, dear Rev., have given so much of yourself to us in selfless devotion to receive in return - absolutely nothing! Nothing but the knowledge that you are serving God to the best of your ability and satisfaction that you derive there-from. It is through you that we now look death in the face with courage and equanimity, for we doubt not God's promise of forgiveness for past iniquities by the simple act of belief and acceptance. We know that in three and a half hours' time when we pass from this Earth to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be waiting with open arms to lead us to our new home in the house of our Father. If only every man in this world were like you, dear Rev. what a better place it would be. There would be no wars, no murders, no coveting, no sins, no prisons, just peace and tranquillity everywhere. It is with heavy heart that we must now bid thee farewell, but we know that we will meet again one day ... in a better place, a better place, a better time, a better day. With our dying breath we once again affirm to you our undying gratitude ... gratitude that will transcend even Death itself. Fare thee well, our dear Rev. Yours, in Christ.
    No one knows who actually composed this letter and it is not unusual for people in such a dire situation to suddenly find Jesus after a lifetime of sinning. But the ordeal was not over for all those who helped send the 18 convicted killers to their deaths or put the others behind bars for many years. It was feared that the prosecution team and Judge Buttrose himself would now be targeted by the secret societies to get revenge. Buttrose was guarded round the clock until he was repatriated to Britain. Francis T. Seow, Senior Crown Counsel and his assistant K.S. Rajah, Director of Public Prosecutions, were also given police protection until it was deemed that any possible threat to their lives no longer existed, Darshan Singh told me. But he said he was never given any protection himself! Perhaps it was because they thought he was safe working in Changi Prison surrounded by armed fellow officers. But perhaps that could have been the most dangerous place for Darshan Singh to be at that time.
     
    6
    Gallows Humour
     
     
    If chief executioners like Darshan Singh have a macabre sense of humour it should surprise no one. Making jokes in the face of nightmarish situations is a part of human nature, an inborn defence mechanism, psychologists will tell you. The hangman's lot, in particular, cannot be a happy one. Unless, of course, he is heartless, sadistic and really enjoys what he does. Even if they have such perverted natures - as perverted perhaps as some of those they execute - it must be a heavy burden to bear, despite their outward show of bravado and self- righteousness. Although he would not admit it, Darshan Singh's burden must be particularly heavy - he has hanged nigh on 1,000 men and women in his 50-year career as Singapore's chief executioner.
    To understand the weight of this burden, it is important to know what happens before and after anyone is hanged. Darshan Singh himself has a special way of helping some of the death row inmates he has known come to terms with their fate. He always talks quietly and explains the process as kindly as possible. He promises they will feel no pain, that