Bulletproof
February 23, 1885, 6 hours 58 minutes. Priest in prison at Exeter, England, judge and senior warden enters the cell was sentenced to death by John Lee. to wake him up. Should first do their job priest. Today, the first sentence in his life. He, of course, fears - and anyone can understand it perfectly.

Yesterday in prison gallows erected directly in front of his chapel, and each blow hammer literally pierced him from head to toe. For forty years, incurring spiritual service in Sussex, he had a good practice, and all its sensitive nature now protesting against the thought that he should take part in this "play." But it is his work: to be there when someone dies. Be there when he dies, John Lee. To be with him and to pray for the salvation of his soul.

Much to the surprise of the priest, who was convicted of three encounters included a wide grin:

- Oh, it's you last? What has struck me time? Well, gentlemen, start! The priest asks him if he would like first of all to confess.

- But why? We will definitely see you soon again! Four men go into the yard to the gallows, where Mr. Berry, "torturers master", connects the convict hands behind his back. The priest begins muttering prayers, rises a few steps and takes place that it is intended by the law.

- Do you want something to say? - Asks a judge convicted. John Lee is a firm voice answers: - No, nothing.

All the following happens very quickly: the executioner threw white hooded criminal, strengthened his neck rope and signaled assistant. The priest closed his eyes and muttered prayers just a little louder. Assistant pulled the cord clips - but not convicted under the hatch failed! For a few seconds there was silence. The executioner pulled himself together first and gave another sign assistant. John Lee was released from the rope and a hood. He was pale, but - yes, it's almost amusing scene.

- Hey, it's me again! - And he says the pastor, who is standing next to him on shaky knees: - I told you that we will see you again! On the platform gallows little space. Priest and convicted asked to come down. We need to check the mechanism. The executioner and his assistant are taken for debugging. But it works - latch moves, as she expected, and the door with a thud falls down. Mr. Berry, executioner, apologized - I'm really sorry ... but we have to do it one more time.

- So I do! Do your job! - John Lee says quite casually. It again don white hood and neck snapped rope. The priest closed his eyes and muttered prayers again. Signs to the executioner. His assistant pulls the cord. Latch moves, and the hatch is stuck again and can not be opened!

But enough! Judge drills executioner angry look. Latch retracted again, a rope and a hood to charge. - Pull the convicted person in the camera! While officers are John Lee, the priest returned to his chapel and prayed to the Lord to forgive an accident, twice suffered a mortal fear.

Meanwhile executioner working feverishly. Mechanism once again verified. Everything works perfectly: the latch is pulled out, and the door swings down. Mr. Berry even he gets in the door, grabs the rope with both hands and commands: Come on! We pull the cord! Hatch opens and executioner for a few seconds hangs on a rope. Then he jumps to the floor doshaty:

- Everything works perfectly. You saw for yourself.

- Bury - said the judge. - Then again! Again John Lee leaves on death row. And it seems that it all uneasy. The unfortunate priest returns to penalty was enforced on the entire form. He tries to argue that under the circumstances ... taking into account the signs ... when double Heaven is his will ... to cancel penalty!

But the judge steady and requires that all occupied intended for them. Divine right is worthy of respect, but Irish law requires its own. John Lee killed, and he must die!

Hearing about the extraordinary circumstances of this so technically difficult penalty already spread through the prison like a spark. All prisoners gathered at barred windows and look at the man who is ready for a third time to ascend the gallows. Hangman, confessor and sentenced - each resumed final destination.

Before Mr. Berry throws down John Lee Hood, he says to him:

- I'm sorry, man, but now it happens in reality.

- You think so? - Says the convict, and then runs down his face wide grin. Well, now everything goes as it should, thinks to himself, and executioner, with mixed feelings again throws a hood over his head, strengthens the rope around his neck, the node checks and retreats two steps. The third time, the priest in the corner starts to say the necessary prayers and closes his eyes. Dead silence.

Then heard a voice he sings the old English song - a muffled voice, but calm and powerful: John Lee, he's singing from under the hood! Dazed and helpless executioner looks at the judge. This he sees for the first time. But is humanly possible for something like that? ... But the judge has already impatiently: - What do you expect, Mr. Berry? Why not sign to heaven? The judge nodded vigorously, and the executioner strong team. The assistant pulls the cord can hear the latch slides - and again the door is not lost! Cry of joy spread throughout the prison. Inmates rampage. In a rage, the judge picks wig and tramples it underfoot.

- Take the convict in his cell ... and send me the idiot carpenter who built the gallows!

Accompanied by cries of joy of their comrades on the conclusion, John Lee leaves prison yard as bullfighters arena, on all sides he was greeted welcome, and he calmly walks to his cell. The priest turns to the judge, but he interrupts:

- Take care of your affairs, and ns climb to where you are not the place! Carpenter named Frank Ross. He, too, of a prisoner who was sentenced to death at first, but then replaced the sentence to life imprisonment. With an air of innocence, he stands before the judge. - You built this damn?

To deny it is useless. Indeed, two weeks ago, he received an order to build a gallows with the administration of the platform in the classic drawings.

- And why is this thing now is not working, I ask? Frank Ross shrugs. He does not know ... no idea ... maybe because of the rain and the cold of the night tree swollen ... - So podteshi tree in the hatch! To the delight of all prisoners who stuck to their windows, the judge checks the operation of the mechanism. Twice he personally stands on the place of the convicted, as it did before him, Mr. Berry. And twice the latch opens, twice he hangs on a rope, for which is held with both hands. Everything works great!

- Well, who would tell! All right. We have to complete this through! Under the wild cries of the prisoners, John Lee is the fourth time under the gallows. For the fourth time

- Already shaky hands - Mr. Berry jumped on the hood and it strengthens the rope, the fourth time the priest closes his eyes and prays to God to miracle happened once. Again silence hangs over the prison yard.

As the executioner all shakes, the judge himself signs to mate. The fourth time he pulls on the string - to the fourth time the door is not thrown open! - My mother, but can not be! There rises an incredible noise - all prisoners break out screaming with delight. Mertvennobledny, with drooping head, the judge left the prison yard. The priest goes to his knees and thanked God for saving the life of John Lee.

And he again went to his cell. A couple of days later at the session of the lower house of parliament, the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. A twenty-two years, John Lee amnestied and released to freedom. He even manages to get married and died in 1043 of natural causes. Already on his deathbed, he reveals his secrets.

Of course, no miracle in his recovery was not, and had only one sleight of hand of Frank Ross, carpenter: just below the place where, during the penalty should be a priest, he broke off the same plane, which moves all on a single centimeter, when somebody it became - one centimeter, but just falling into place to lock the door. After all, with all the checks priest went out of his seat on the dais, and the gallows was not on that same board. The mechanism worked properly. But every time you try to hold penalty board did its job. The priest, so to speak, was sentenced to at the right place.

That was the last time the English justice system allowed prisoners built the gallows.