The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-26 00:00:00

AN EXECUTION IN CHINA.

870.

A remarkable account of an execution at Pekin is given.
in Le Soir :—" The place where capital punishment is in-
flicted is situated outside the walls of the Tartar town' in
the Chinese town. The mandarins were appointed for
nine o'clock ; I arrived at the hour named. There were
in the enclosure a number of inferior mandarins with
copper buttons, who, acting as police, struck with their
bamboos those who did not get quickly enough out of the way
of the high officials, or who tried to get into places forbid-
den to them. We waited a good hour at least, for the
Emperor's permission to execute the criminals had not yet
arrived. The condemned, twelve in number, were shut
up in a sort of hut made of mats, which hid them from
the curious gaze of the crowd. From time to time a song
or an imprecation was heard from this sort of cage, but
never a complaint or lament. At a little distance stood
another hut open in front, which the mandarins who
duty it was to preside at the execution were to occupy.
long table covered with are I. cloth was in the middle. Behind
this table there were three large arm-chairs ; in these the
three highest officials were to sit. The place of execution
was about sixty yards from this sort of tribunal, in the
direction diametrically opposite to the spot where the
criminals were confined in such a manner that these when
judges.
The to execution, must needs pass before their
The attendants were beginning to be impatient when
cries of " Lai leao" (it has arrived) were heard repeated
on all sides. The Emperor's permission had indeed come.
It was enclosed in a yellow box respectfully carried by a
mounted messenger, whose horse was led by a man on
foot. It was about half-pat ten. The Chinese police
chewed redoubled zeal, blows fell like hail, and made the
crowd give way on either side to allow the bearer
of the Imperial edict to pass. All the mandarins
took !their places under the species of dais which I have
mentioned • all eyes were turned towards the matted hut
from which the condemned were to come forth.. The blows
of the mandarins with copper buttons had made a lane
which wound among the crowd of heads. This lane began
at the place where the condemned were shut in, passed
before the mandarins, and ended at the place of execution.
All at once a shudder ran through the crowd. The first
of the condemned appeared. He was purled on by
three or four men ; his hands were tied behind his back.
The unhappy man was exceedingly pale ; his worn
face bore traces of the sufferings endured in one or
two years of imprisonment. A sort of placard was
fastened above his head on Which his name and his crime
were inscribed. He was led before the mandarins and
thrown on his knees. The president of the tribunal called
him by name, and said, " pu cheu" (yes or no).
The condemned replied, " Chen " (yes). His sentence
was then read to him, and the gaurds dragged
him to the spot where the executioner awaited
him. On the way there the upper part of his clothing
was torn off. Then a man passed a rope into
his mouth, brought it under the chin, made a knot,
brought the two ends back behind the head, crossing
them, passed them over the eyes, which were thus closed
then rolled the two ends round thi tail of hair so
that all the head was wrapped in cords. 'this
done he was again thrown on his knees ; a man seized him
by the shoulder and pulled him forcibly towards him;
another took the rope fastened to the head, and pulled
that vigorously; the executioner then advanced, armed
with a' sword about a yard long, with an excessively thick
and heavy blade. He held this weapon with both hands,
and at one blow separated the head from the body. The
assistants standing Lround cried out, "Chao tchi !" (the
head of the rebel); The dull reverberation of the sword
as it fell whistling through the air and the shout of the
assistants formed the most awful and indescribable com-
bination of sounds. After " Monsieur de Pain," the
most important part played at a Chinese execution is that
of the individual who pulls the head with a rope, for at
the moment when the sword falls he gives a violent shock
which greatly helps to separate the head from the body.
The execution over, an assistant took up the head, freed
it from the rope which surrounded it, and ran towards the
mandarins,, knelt on one knee, and, raising the head
cried out, Chao tchi tso " (the rebel's head is cut off).
Another culprit was then brought and executed by the
side of the first. Six were decapitated and six strangled.
Strangulation is considered less infamous than decapita-
tion, because, according to Chinese ideas, there is no future
life for those who do not arrive in the other world with
their heads on. While the execution was going on the
crowd was profoundly silent—not a cry was heard, still
less a lanah.

LEARNING LATE.—A. negro woman in Virginia,
71 years old, recently took it into her head to learn to
react write, and cipher ; so she entered a school, and ro-
gularly every day brought 10 cents., which she paid tothe
teacher. She got along very well until near the close of
the second week, when she " missed her lesson," and was
ignominiously kept in during recess, much to her chagrin
and greatly to her disappointment at not being permitted
to "play wid the rest of the children."—New York Times.
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE NEAR MENTONE;
A few days ago a gentleman, named Ward, said to be a
clergyman, precipitated himself from the Pont St. Louis,
near Mentone, into the gorge below, and was in-
stantaneously killed. The Gorge of St. Louis is an im-
mense chasm, which serves to mark the boundary between
France and Italy, and seems as if the hand of Nature herself
had violently separated the two countries. About 120 feet
from the bottom the Corniche-road crosses the narrowest
part of the ravine by a bridge of a single arch, one end
being guarded by French and the other by Italian soldiers.
Shortly before sunset the soldiers observed the deceased
taking off his coat ;and seating himself on the parapet of
the bridge facing the sea, but before they could reach the
spot he had thrown himself clown, and they saw him alight
apparently on his feet, and then roll over into the torrent
bed. They immediately descended the ravine, and found
life extinct. As the chasm and bridge are within Italian
territory the investigation devolved upon the Italian autho-
rities. It was held next day, the body not having been
removed from the place where it fell. It was discovered
that both legs were fractured, the spine injured, and the
neck broken, but the head showed no cut or contusion,
thereby bearing out the statement of the soldiers, that
the unfortunate gentleman fell on his feet. After the
usual tedious formalities had been complied with the
remains were given up by the Italian magistrate. The
deceased, who has 14t a widow and two or three chil-
dren, is said to have previously displayed symptoms of a
suicidal mania. i\ic ether CALM cuu be Mignd fox his
nnhannv death.

THIRD EDITION.

The Third Edition of The Sun of last Evening was pulilishod
iu time for delivery in town at 7.15 p.m.

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocK.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

time,

lIOUSE OF COMMONS—Tins DAY.
The speaker took the chair at one o'clock.
PEACE PRESERVATION (IRELAND) BILL.
On the amendments made in this bill being considered,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND moved the inser-
tion of a new clause in place of Clause 17, to provide for
the posting of special proclamations.
The clause was agreed to.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND then moved the
omission of Clause 27, in order that a new clause embracing
the amendments suggested by the Chief Secretary for
Ireland with respect to warning being given to the news-
paper proprietor before the provisions of the Act were put
in force against him, and also the posting and publishing
such warning in the Dublin Gazette.
Mr. BOUVERIE thought the clause, taken with the pro-
vision for the proper care being taken of the property
seized under the Act until any action with respect to
ownership was determined, was a great improvement on
the bill as it originally stood.
Mr. DOWNING moved an amendment to the new clause
that instead of posting the notice, a ten days' notice
should be served on the registered proprietor of any news-
pader in Ireland, and that such notice should be served
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he had no objection to
ample notice being given, hut he did not think the pre-
sent was the proper place for introducing the specified
time of ten days. That could be done in another part of
the bill. With respect to the "registered proprietor,"
there was no such person in Ireland, as the registering of
newspapers had been done away with in that country.
If he inserted the words "known house where the paper
was published," and extended the time of serving the
notice from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., he should have no objection
to the amendment.
The modification of the amendment as far as serving
the notice having been agreed to.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said, with respect to the num-
ber of days notice, he thought four days would be ample
notice.
Mr. CALLAN thought the four days' notice would not be
sufficient to weekly papers printed on Wednesdays. In
his opinion the notice ought at least to be seven days.
Mr. GLADSTONE was of opinion that the notice proposed
by the Solicitor-General was ample and liberal.
Mr. CANDLISH said he thought the difficulty might be
get over by the notice being made four days for a daily
and seven days for a weekly.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he should not object that
the notice should be seven days for a weekly and two
days for papers published at intervals of less than one
week.
Mr. MAGUIRE said that would act most unjustly upon
papers published three days a week and two days a
week.
Sir JOHN GRAY said he thought two days for a daily
paper was quite equal to four days for. a weekly.
It was ultimately agreed that the notice should be as
suggested by the Solicitor-General, viz., seven days for a
weekly and two for a daily paper.
Mr; WHALLEY moved that the duration of the Act, in
the 2nd clause, should be altered from the Ist of August
to the Ist of March, 1871.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE said the Government could not
accept the proposed alteration. It would be exceedingly
inconvenient to have the Act terminate in March. The
Parliament would be sitting in March and August, when
the. Government could be called to account if it was
thought desirable.
Mr. GLADSTONE objected to the time being altered as it
would perhaps involve much inconvenience in parliament
at the beginning of the session.
Sir JOHN C RELY thought August too late ; in his opinion
the Ist of June would be the best time.
The proposed amendment. however, was negatived
without a division.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL then moved an amendment to
Clause 29 to carry out the suggestion of the hon. member
for Dundalk for restoring to plaintiff his chattels in 41,e
event of an action being decided in his favour.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. BOUVERIE proposed to insert the words "and as
well after the passing of this Act, or within fourteen clays
of the date of the said warrant." The object was to pre-
vent old copies of newspapers seized being used to support
an indictment for sedition.
Dr. BALL contended that the use of former copies con
taming seditious articles in support of the particular
indictment was legitimate, as shewing the character and
tendency of the publication. But all these matters would
be left to the discretion of the judges in the control they
undoubtedfy exercised during the trial. He felt certain
they might rely on the discretion that would be used.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he was willing to accept a
portion of the amendment, viz., the words "after the
passing of the Act."
Mr. M`MAHoN contended that that was not enough.
After a short discussion, Mr. BOUVERIE said on the
principle that half a loaf was better than no bread, he
would accept the proposal of the Solicitor-General.
Mr. M`MAHON thought the Act ought not to be put
until there could be no doubt in the mind of any
honest man of the nature of the article writen. If the Act
was passed, put it into operation, but do not go ferreting
up all former articles written. Judge the person by the
one single act and no other,
Mr. SYNAN said the clause, as about to be framed, was,
in fact, altering the law of evidence to suit the Govern-
ment,
Mr. GLADSTONE thought it would be well to put the
words proposed into the clause.
Mr. LOCKE was of opinion that it would be best to omit
them.
The insertion of the words was then agreed to.
Mr. M`MATioN then moved the addition of the follow-
ing words to the last amendment :—" And within four-
teen days of the date of the said warrant." His object
was to prevent the property of a person who had pur-
chased a newspaperbeing made liable for the publications
of his predecessor.
Mr. SYNAN and Sir JOHN GRAY supported the amend-
ment, which was negatived after some remarks from the
SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND.
Mr. M`MAHoii proposed to omit from line 2 Clause
39, the words "or otherwise injured in his person." He
also proposed to omit from the same clause the words " or
injury" throughout. He contended that persons might go
to the grand jury and pretend to have been seriously in-
jured, and obtain heavy damages. He did not believe
that the Government had been called upon for an exten-
sion of the existing law.
Mr. DOWSE said it was no doubt a change, but the word
" inquiry " had been put into the clause in order to
strengthen it.
The amendment was negatived.
Mr. FORTESCUE explained how it was intended that the
grand jury should be put in motion with reference to the
granting of compensation to injured persons. He did not
think there was any danger of the grand jury pressing too
hardly npon the ratepayer,
In Clause 40, Mr. C. FORTESCUE moved an amendment,
the object of which was to secure the levying of compen-
sation in the same way in all respects as the grand jury
cess.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. FORTESCUE expressed his confidence that the gene-
ral feeling of the House was that the bill should now be
read a third time. The Government was anxious that the
Bill should become law, as soon as possible and if it were to
become law at all, the sooner the better. The Government
was ardently anxious that the Irish Land Bill should be
considered on Monday night, and as it would probably be
a long time in committee he hoped that under these cir-
cumstances the Peace Preservation Bill would be now
read a third time.
Mr. C. BENTINCK asked whether it was true that the
Government intended to have morning sittings on Tues-
day and Friday next.
Mr. FORTESCUE replied that all he could say was that
the Irish Land Bill would be taken first on Monday
night, and his right hon. friend, at the head of the
Government, would make a statement as to the future
conduct of business in the House. With regard to his
friends below the gangway, he did not wish it to be im-
plied that by their agreeing to let the bill be read a third
time, there was a unanimity of opinion.
Mr. G. H. MOORE said he did not agree with the hon.
member opposite, that the sooner the bill could be put in
operation the better. If there had been any means
or facilities by which he could have prevented the passing
of the bill, he would have availed himself of them ; but
whatever opposition he could give the measure out of the
house he would do it, He begged to enter his solemn pro-
test against the passing of the bill.
Sir J. GRAY said he should do all he could to prevent
the bill coming into operation by advising all whom he
knew to keep completely and entirely outside the opera-
tion of the bill, and to chew a proper respect for the law
of the land.
FORTESCUE then moved the suspension_ of....the

Bv,.auing 011ICrS Go allow or The our Doing reaa a

This having been done, the bill was accordingly read a
third time and passed.
CUSTOMS (ISLE OF MAN) BILL. •
This bill was read a third time and passed.
CHURCHWARDENS' ELIGIBILITY BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
The House then adjourned at twenty-five minutes past!
four.

S FORTING INTELLIGENOE-') HIS DAY.

ST. ALBANS MEETING.—Tins DAY
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
Will TTINGSTALL PLATE.

Atalanta
Goodfellow
Lightning 3

Six ran.
HEATH PLATE.

Ma esgwatha 1
Lady Alice
Silk 3

Nine ran.
STAND HANDICAP.

Frailty
Lady Alice.,

1

Three ran.

CITY BETTING.—Tots DAY.
CITY AND SUBURBAN.
3to 1 agst Sabinus (taken and offered)
6 to 1 agst Miss Dayrell (offered)
12 to 1 agst Claudius (offered)
100 to 8 agst Oxonian (taken and offerod)
100 to 7 agst Benbow (offered—take 100 to 6)
100 to 6 agst Gertrude (offered—take 20 to 1)
20 to 1 agst Lelia colt (taken and offered)
20 to 1 aget Douglas (offered —5OO to 20 taken)
25 to 1 agst Rosicrucian (taken and offered)
30 to 1 agst Border Knight (offered)
80 to 1 aget Geant des Batailles (taken)
30 to 1 agst Vagabond (taken)
40 to 1 aget Simplon (taken and offered)
50 to 1 agst Fairminster (taken)
1000 to 18 agst Chawbacon (taken)
1000 to 15 agst Syrian (taken)
1000 to 6 agst Atlas (taken)
CHESTER CUP.
100 to Bon the field (offered)
DERBY.
22 to 1 agst Macgregor (taken)
500 to 10 agst Alario (taken)

rADVERTISEMENT.i
A GENTLEMAN who has minutely examined all present
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edging off, and cannot fail to realize a profit of One Thou-
sand per cent. on the amount of capital laid out.
The Advertiser would impart the system to a limitPd
number, for a remuneration to be agreed upon, or he would
carry it out on the Course. in conjunction with another
gentleman for the sole benefit of both. In the first instance
address—Tun SYSTEM, Post-office, Wolverhampton.

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT RACE.
(THIS DAY.)

Notwithstanding the inau;picious state of the
weather both crews have been out this morning. As
it was expected that the heavy fall of snow would
prevent the practice and cause it to be &biped till the
afternoon there were no visitors present. At ten
o'clock the Cambridge gentlemen went on board
Mr. Bligh's steam yacht to be conveyed to Mort'ake,
whence to row down to Putney on the ebb. Their
boat was taken up by Asplin, their watetman, and
East, from Styles's. Mr. G. Morrison was in atten-
dance to coach them. The Oxford gentlemen
shortly after started for Mort'ake, and rowed their
boat up before they turned to come down on the
ebb. The Oxonians started from their fixed place
without delay, after turning, and came down at a
slashing pace, considering the weather, as the Labour
was exceedingly hard in Corney Reach through
the wind. The men were wet, and there
was a little water in their boat ; but they gallantly
rowed on, and finished at above forty strokes per
minute, admirably pulled. Cambridge had not
teturned when we left. If both crews go out again
this afternoon it will only be for a paddle.

PUTNEY, Half past 4.
The answer to numberle3s anxious inquirers at

the University boat-houses is that neither crew
will go out again this evening. We have al-
ready stated that the Oxford rowed over the
entire course this morning in gallant sf yle, and
we have only now to add something respecting tha
Cambridge. The lowness of their boat threw great
difficulties upon them in the rough water between
Barnes and Chiswick, as they every now and
then had a difficulty in freeing their oars.
Consequently they were slower at that point
of the work; but they rowed well, with
more length, and when they emerged from the
rough into the smooth water they travelled very
fast at 38 strokes per minute. They did not row the
entire distance, but finished at the boat. house. They
had to encounter very bad weather.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
THE EDUCATION BILL.

The storm of meetings orliMr. Forster's Bill seems
"to have subsided a little. The Nonconformists of
7-Birmingham have had another gathering ;
land the Calvinistic Methodists of North Wales
Lave just sent a memorial to Mr. Glad-
stone praying him to make the measure
'perfectly unsectarian. But the public now seems
disposed to wait the discussion in committee—a dis-
cussion for which, according to present appearances,
they will have to wait some time. The
'Beehive understands "that a Radical M.P.,
well-known for his straightforward and judicious
'advocacy of the interests of the working classes,
.intends to move an important amendment in the
:Education Bill in committee." At present the mea-
,sure proposes to mike the rate for the support of
schools part of the poor-rate; the amendment will
suggest that there be a distinct school rate.