Alexander Armstrong English (he used the pseudonym Arthur Ellis; 1864/1865 – 21 July 1938) was a British national who was the official hangman of Canada between 1912 and 1935.
English's career as Canada's professional hangman ended in ignominy following the botched execution of Tommasina Teolis, 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.
[2] 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.
[5][6] English's career is referenced in the novella The Hangman by Canadian crime writer (and two-time Arthur Ellis Award winner) Louise Penny.