Complex sentence: The accused were forced to sit on the stool and it was lowered into the water, the fear of drowning often brought forth confession; however, at times the subject would refuse to confess and as such would eventually drown in the water.
Split into simpler sentences: The accused were forced to sit on the stool as it was lowered into the water; the fear of drowning often brought forth confession. However, at times the subject would refuse to confess and as such would eventually drown in the water.