What is "public executioner"

Usage examples of "public executioner".

Perhaps just then a pale, soul- harrowing phantom passed before his mind, and a glance at the past showed him the beautiful and unfortunate mother [Footnote: Ann Boleyn] of Elizabeth, whom he had sentenced to a cruel death at the hands of the public executioner, and whose last word nevertheless was a blessing and a message of love for him.

William Marwood--unlike his celebrated victim, he has his place in the Dictionary of National Biography--is perhaps the most remarkable of these persons who have held at different times the office of public executioner.

In his mind there was no doubt at all that, if he were caught, in a few hours' time he would find himself being strangled by the public executioner—.

And, as always, he will end his lecture by becoming a public executioner.

The ranger finally tracked him to the cave where he laired, and if he succeeds where so many other brave men have failed, the public executioner at Rader is due for a strenuous afternoon.

He was the public executioner appointed by M to represent the community.

At home, he was the public executioner, a man whose appearance at a person's door signaled the end of everything.

Death at the hands of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's bodyguards or the public executioner: likely.