Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-12
A Chinese Execution ..- Capital
Punishment Among the CeIcs.

A correspondent of The Scotsman, writing
from Shanghae, on May 10, says The
event of yesterday was the execution Of a
native, by name A. King. This man muir
dcred, about two months ago, a naval Off
Ger, Mr.. John p. Dove. The deed was per-
petrated under peculiar circumstances, and
for nearly the time mentioned the assassin
was at large. He was captured very clev-
erly. Some Cantonese women whom he
had been robbing were determined to give
him up. They watched at the Soochow-
creek bridge (Which separates the English
from the American settlement), keeping
guard in turn. A policeman in plain
clothes was also with them. One Sunday
morning he was seen coming over the
bridge. The policeman rushed at him, and,
after desperate struggle, took him. The
rascal fired a revolver, but the shot missed
its mark. He was examined at the consul
late, and sent into the city, where, being
tortured to within an inch of his life, he
confessed his guilt and also gave up the
names of gang of thieves over whom he
presided. The tortures he underwent were
horrible. Among others, thin splints were
inserted under his finger nails, then covered
with liquid of some kind, which were set
fire to. You can fancy the agony the poor
wretch suffered. The Chinese authorities
having got all they could out of him, an
nounced to the English consul they were
ready to execute him. The announcement
made stir, and large numbers of foreigners
assembled at the South Gate yesterday
morning about o'clock. The hour was 10
A. NJ. At $3.50 crowds of foreigners came
rushing up, hot, eager, and anxious to see
the culprit. About 9:45 the tinkling of bells
announced the arrival of the procession
An official, with fox's tail in his hat, came
cantering up (the bells around his ponys
neck jingling like those celebrated in the
nursery rhyme of "Banbury Cross,"O and
beckoning to the police to follow we all fell
into couples; and coming out at side gate,
little lower down, waited for the prisoner
to appear. He was not long; half dozen
flag-bearers, four officials, some mandarins
in chairs, the eXecutioner, then the doomed
man in the middle of the municipal police,
and few other head people came up, and
every one falling into ORDER we started for
the parade ground. The ground being
cleared by the police, the prisoner was
brought up before the Judge. A few words
were said to him, which produced sort of
groan all round from the natives. As soon as
the mandarin had finished his speech, the
prisonerdr dropped on his knees. An assistant
to the headsman cameup seized his arms, and
kept them tight behind, putting his knee at
the same time on the small OF tue prisoner >
back. Another takes him by his tail, which
pulls the head forward The muscles Of
the neck being sufficiently distended, the
eXecutioner took his knife-sword with both
hands, and with one blow severed the head
from the body. The rapidity and skill with
which this was done was wonderful-in-
deed, so quickly was it done, that there was
not a single spot of blood on the weapon
The knife used is like bread knife in shape,
about three feet long, and very broad. The
one used OH this occasion looked as if it had
seen service; somewhat dark in color. The
natives behaved quietly, although they
shouted loudly when King was led on to
the ground. There were about 1000 peo-
pie on the ground. Hundreds came up af-
ter all was over to look at the body, which
was left on the spot where it fell. After the
execution acouple of boys came up with
hammers and knocked the chains off the
legs of the corpse. Soended this scene. The
ends of justice have been carried out, bur
what effect it will have on the native mind
cannot say. Executions are of such daily
occurrence that the native mind is perfectly
Gallons