The Heroic story of Antonio Mancini - Albert Pierrepoint’s first job as No. 1.

 The Heroic story of Antonio Mancini - Albert Pierrepoint’s first job as No. 1.

39 year old Antonio “Babe” Mancini was an Italian immigrant and was a known gangster as well as being the manager of the Palm Beach club at 37 Wardour Street in London’s Soho district.  Above the club was a billiards hall.

There was a strong rivalry and turf war between the Italian and Jewish gangs in Soho leading to regular fights.  On the evening of Thursday the 1st of May 1941, a fight broke out in the billiards room and Mancini went upstairs to investigate, armed with a knife.

  As he entered, he heard a familiar voice say “Here’s Babe, let’s get him!”  Mancini was then confronted by Edward Fletcher, a member of the Hoxton Gang, whom he had previously banned from the club and 36 year old Henry “Hubby” Distleman. 

 Fletcher attempted to hit Mancini with a chair but Mancini stabbed him in the wrist.  Distleman was not so lucky and was stabbed through the heart, the knife entering under his armpit. His final words were “I’m stabbed. Babe’s done it”.

Mancini was charged with murder and came to trial at the Old Bailey on the 4th of July 1941 before Mr. Justice McNaghten.  He claimed that the killing was manslaughter, as it was in self defence.  

Eye witnesses, of which there were many, described to the court Mancini’s level of violence and rage.  The jury reached a guilty verdict on the basis of the level of force being far in excess of what might be reasonable for self defence.

Mancini’s first appeal was before the Lord Chief Justice, and Justices Hawke and Hilberry on the 20th of August but they felt that the case should be heard before five judges, rather than three.  

He therefore had a further appeal before five judges, the original three being joined by Justices Humphreys and Tucker, on the 3rd of September and it was dismissed.  

The Attorney General was concerned about the outcome of these appeals and so Mancini was given his fiat (leave) to take his case to the House of Lords, on the basis of provocation and self defense, as it was contended that Distleman came at him with a penknife in his hand and the words “Here’s Babe, let’s get him!” had been spoken.  Viscount Simon, the Lord Chancellor, announced that the Lords had failed to find any error in law which would justify setting aside the conviction. 

This would be the longest time a prisoner had been kept in the condemned cell in the 20th century.  This case was only the second since the Court of Appeal was set up in 1907, that was referred to the House of Lords.

He was duly hanged at Pentonville at 8.00 a.m. on Friday the 31st of October 1941.  As Albert was about to hood him, he uttered his last word “Cheerio.”  Albert was assisted by Steve Wade. Mancini was 5’ 9 1/2” tall and weighed 168 lbs.  He was given a drop of 6’ 9” causing fracture/dislocation of the 3rd and 4th cervical vertebrae.