Who is Arthur Ellis?

Arthur Ellis was the pseudonym of Arthur B. English, an Englishman and cousin of England's official hangman, John Ellis.  English served as a hangman in South Africa before getting the job in Canada in 1913.  His successors adopted his pseudonym and Arthur Ellis continued to be Canada's hangman until capital punishment was stopped in 1962 and finally abolished in 1976.

Crime Writers of Canada presents annual awards for best crime writing, both fiction and non-fiction.  The awards are named after Arthur Ellis.