Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-07-20
The mont.

BY British merchant, residing in =. Petersburg
The brutal punishment OF the knoui beng exclu-
sively confined 10 Russia, my curiosity was natural y
excited to witness it, more especially as very few in
deed Of my countrymen have had opportunity of
doing SO. To crafty this morbid longing after the
horrible applied to every friend who thought had
the slightest chance of assisting me- but being ac-
quainted with no connected with the criminal
courts, feared that all my efforts would be in vain
and that though were TO reside in Russia till the end
Of my days, should be bafed in my purpose of be-
holding public execution.
Late one evening when nearly desparng of sue
cess received note from an acquaintance, inform
ing me that criminal was TO be knouted OF the fol-
lowing morning at seven clock. lie mentioned
his name, which al present forget, bat II then re-
called TO my mind the circumstances of the case,
which had heard related few days before; and
they of atrocious nature 10 render it
impossible for even the most sympathsing heart 10
have the slightest sympathy with the parricide
for such he really was. His father re-
spectacle lradesman, occupying shop in the
Gosuno Door; man, from all could learn, remark
able for sobrety and industry. His son entirely
the reverse, being idle, dlssipated and worthless
One day. having received some well merited rebukc
from his father, he seized knife and III the presence
of the whole family, plunged it into The body of the
old man. who died upon the spot. He was immedI-
ately dsarmed, and, after wonderfully expeditous
trial for Russia sentenced 10 the knout. The blows
adjudged for infection amounted 10 hundred anc
one-thls number beng considered equivalent sen
tence of death. direct sentence OF death is by The
crimes.
The following morning accompanied by the friend
from whom received the nnation | repaired, be-
tween six and seven o'clock, TO the place of punish
ment, which is in field whore a horse market is
held on the banks of Ligasa Canal, rather more
than mile from the Admiralty The neghborhood
Of the place exhibited so few of the appearances OF
approaching exc uton that at fret we thought we
had beec mislnformed, lu, on entering the field, the
stake planted IN It's centre, garrison battalion draw
up on one side, and some scores OF people louneng
about, showed that our information had been correct
From beng so early on the ground we had a good
opportunity of examining the preparations for the ex-
ecuton they were simple enough. strong fiat
stake, and few mats, laid on the ground formed the
whole that were visible. The stake was nearly five
feet high, planted very firmly IN the ground, and so
ping asout eight or inches off the perpendicular
In thickness about four inches but its breadth
very unequal being fully two feet al the top and
taperng gradually downwards 10 the earth, where il
was not above eight inches. On the top il was hol-
lowed ont into three semi crces-ihe central one be-
ing appropriated for the neck and the others for
the arms of the criminal. Near TO the ground the
stake was penetrated by hole OF some two or three
inches diameter for the reception of n cord where
with u bind the malefactors ances The mats were
spread out side of the stake for the purpose ms
Imagined, of making the footing of the exccutioner
as hrm as possible
Exactly at seven o'clock hustle among the mill
tary attracted our attention, and looking round
we saw the criminal approach ny on foot, guarded by
four dsmounted gendarmes with naked sabres ac-
by two execntIoners, each bearing under his arm
bundle, which we afterwards found kneut thongs
The battalion now formed a hollow sqWare, three
deep, the police, executloner and criminal being in
the centre.
Even at this moment when the prisoner was natu.
rally the ch ef object of interest my attention was
strongly arrested by the appearance Of the principal
cxecu'ioner SO much 80, indeed that had the curos
ny 10 inquire afterwards into his history. His name
4 rccollect Alright, was Kozlod; nc originally be-
tonged 10 the higher class but for cruelues commit,
ted upon his peasants, which, believe in some ca
SEES extended even q the commission of murder ne
was degrased and sentenced TO the knout. Ffom
fhs he saved himself by volunteering 10 his present
situation. He was, think, without exception tho
coarsest specimen Of humanity that ever hcheld-
tbs age seemed to be about fifty, his stature was
greatly beyond average and IN spite Of stoop, must
by some inches have exceeded some six feet while
hrs shoulders were lmnoderaely broad his body
large without corpuency, and his limbs bulky and
s,neuc' proiusion OF dark coored hairs, or rath.
cr onses, envclopcd his head his complexion was of
a herce mahogany inge, while his huge uncouih
snapeless features wore expression I'm which il
was impossible 10 say whether ferocity or siuptdity
most predomnatcd. The assistant of this male Cor
kon-ms ogre IN the form Of man-was about twen-
Ntwo years Of age and the reverse in every rcspec,
ci ms pnncpnl: cannot describe him better than
oy saying that he formei one Of the most favorable
spS'1ns "a = Young Russian peasant ! ever met
Win. re nad besn originally a position in the ser
vice OF the Grand Duke Michael; bu, being in ! roh
berry OF his mperal hehne sscs baog,ra IL Lo L;s
cniei 40 save himself rom the knout volunteered 10
the ga eexecrabe service. Both these mon are en,
constantly IN prison, and only brought ont whom
Their revolving task - 10 be performed Nv inform
act mentioned al che same time that KuzloH seemed
sunk ~ misery and despondence except when h. ma.
mayed to procure the means of intoxcalion and hen
hebecomes absolutely furious.
must now describe the criminal. lie was appa
senuy ABOUT twenty five years OF age very full built
vct OF low stature with countenauce Of that stold
osscnpuon which dehes all the science Of the phy-
1gnom,st Though near him. and anxious 10
.Ced " ms features the workings OF the mind with
W could trace neither remorse fcroci ty, nor fear
"a seemeo perfectly calous to his situation, and
sen.ence was being read he deliberately took
-. e., ~, anu prepared himself with perfect cool
ssss Ior ns punishment. Having thrown aside his
csian and shrt, and having on but nj, ,rouser. and
,p e 'ep,oscnso we stake with firm step, end
done the fonct'onsres threw OFT their coats, and COT
ready Their INSTRUMENTS Of torture. The knou, con.
ss.s o. handle about Q foot long with : n;aca or
twisted hide Of the same length. To tss Ma 4. ~
Acned by loop pieee Of thong prepared 10 al