Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-06-28
PRESSING TO DEATH.

6oOo Niu tiIuOo, Wucu nIolCut
= "swung, that jurymen might dine,
the Judges in England not nnfrt
quently resorted TO what the law apt
ly termed fhe peins fort ct dye-
namely pressing to death" for re
fusiDg to plead. This system cor
tinued in vogue till 1922 when al
act was passed by which any on
refusing to plead should be deemed
guilty. the same as though by yer
dict of a jury. The pressing yard
at NeEgate, and perhaps at other
prlsOns, yet, We believe, retains its
name, albeit it is no longer used for
its original purpose. We have before
US a curious print representing a
criminal in the act Of being pressed
| to death. He is extended fiat on
his back, his arms and feet drawn
apart at full stretch, and secured to
Istaples in the floor; piece Of plank
is on his body, and on that number
of heavy weights.
There seem to have been two
kinds of criminals who formerly re.
! fused to plead guilty to their indict-
ments; the one, men of property, |
who, BY suffering death by pressure
instead of hanging, preserved their
landed estates to their children or
heirs, which would not have been the
case had they pleaded aud been found
guilty by the jury. The other class
we're ignorant, determined men, who
foolishly imagined that by obstinate
ly refusing to plead, they should
eventually escape the punishment
due to their offences. $50 T
When no argument could induce a
man to plead, the judgment ofthe law
was read over to him as he s.oed at
the bar. 1t was thus worded-
"That the prisoner shall be sent to Il
the prison whence he came, and put
into mean room, stepped from the L
light, and shall there be laid on the K
bare ground, without any litter, straw i
or other covering. = r
He shall lie upon his back, his head a
shall be covered, and bis feet be bare. v
One of bis arms shall be drawn With O
0 cord 10 one side of the room and It
the other arm to the other side of the a
room and bis legs shall be served inl
he like manner. Then there shall be
aid upon his body as much iron L
Or stone as he can bear, and more! J
And the first day after he shall have g
hree niorsels Of barley bread, without U
my drink; and the second day he shall o
% allowed to drink as much as he u
'an Mt three timos of the water that 1
5 next the prison door, except run g
hing water. without any bread; and o
ind this shall be bis diet till be dies; e.
ind be against whom this judgment c,
ibalfbe, foIfeits bis goods to the I
King" Isl
The last time that this punishment. g
YES inflicted, was, we believe, upon
hipmaster charged with piracy, who !.
o save his landed property to bis = =
amily, remained mute when called !.
'pon to plead. :. :.
In January,lS20,tBo highway men, y J.
lamed Spiggot and Phillips, refused !" =,
o plead unless the effects taken :
rom their persons when they were :, :,
pprehen9ed we're restored to them. :: ::
This was refused, and they, on their y y
art, adhered to their resolution.- :
'bereupon they were sentenced to be
ressed, to death: but when they were r.,
sken into the press room at Newgate, :;
phillips vas terrified, and begged to s.:
e taken back to plead. which as a =,
mercy he was permitted to do, al :
nough 10 strict law he could have :
cen, denied the request. His COM ~
auion, however, was pressed, and -
ere the amazing weishtof three of
undred and fifty pounds for the m
space of half an hour; but when an
dditional fifty pounds were added.
is fortitude gave way, and he also pc
egged TO be allowed to plead. The bo
videncs on the trial was conclusive. ey
nd the two men, both of whom were er
cry hardened robbers, were duly La:
ung at Tyburu. lie
s.-s,s--->-.-.-- we
A CHALLENGE FOR TrNsMrTHs.--TEo