The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy

by Regina Jeffers

  Jack Ketch

  Jack Ketch was an infamous English executioner employed by King Charles II. He became famous because of his enthusiasm for performing his duties. Ketch was often mentioned in broadsheet accounts circulated throughout England. He executed the death sentences of William Russell and of James Scott, the first Duke of Monmouth. Ketch’s notoriety rose because of his barbarous ways and his sometimes-botched executions. The name “Jack Ketch” became a term for those who performed the duties of a hangman at Newgate and other prisons.

  About the Author

  REGINA JEFFERS, an English teacher for thirty-nine years, considers herself a Jane Austen enthusiast. She is the author of several novels, including The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy, Christmas at Pemberley, The Phantom of Pemberley, Darcy’s Passions, Darcy’s Temptation, and Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion. A Time Warner Star Teacher and Martha Holden Jennings Scholar, Jeffers often serves as a consultant in language arts and media literacy. Currently living outside Charlotte, North Carolina, she spends her time with her writing.