The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-06-04
EaDaNese Criminal Laws.
The Torture System - Public Erecu.
hons-A Death By Fire.
FCorrespon dence Of N. Y Tribune.

[CorrespOn dence Of N. Y aTri5une.]
YOKOHAMA, March 2s - The penal
laws of Japan are remarkably severe
and the list of crimes which are pun
ishable by death are very large. A
complicated system of espionage exists
for every branch of government and
every grade of society, rendering it ex-
tremely difficult for a criminal to escape
detection. Once in the hands of the po-
lice there is little chance of his escape
because of the many checks to bear upon
those having the case in charge. A SEN
tence and its execution are not so
prompt as has been generally supposed.
A primary examination is made by the
police court, and if the case is one de-
manding further action the offender is
placed in confinement, there being no
provision for a release on bail. Many
of the lower classes who reach the Jail
never obtain trial, the tardy action of
the authorities and cruelty of the jailers
deciding the cases by causing their
deaths.
The forms and obligations of an oath
are not recognized here as in Christian
communities. Of the modes of arriving
at truthful testimony, there are two quite
peculiar and worthy of note: =
l. By making the witness seal his
written testimony with drop of blood
taken from under the forefnger nail.
2. By subjecting the giver of false
testimony to the same punishment which
his evidence brought upon another.
The testimony most relied upon, how
ever, is that obtained from the criminal
himself fo- his own conviction or acquit-
tai. This, of course, is rarely voluntary,
and tortures of different kinds are resort
ed to. The most common is that of
placing the accused on his knees across
searp-edged sticks. Heavy stones are
then piled upon the thighs, so as to
cause the sticks to press into the flesh,
producing the most excruciating pain.
The bamboo is also freely used.
Under this system there is little doubt
that many an innocent man has confess
ed to the commission of crimes of which
he has been entirely innocent, rather
than suffer further torture. Petty Of
fences are punished by beating with the
bamboo, by Imprisonment, and trans
portation to work in the mines. On
being discharged ring is printed
around the arms in India ink. If, on
being arrested at any time, two or three
are found to exist, the offence is pun
ished by death, no matter hew insignif-
cant the offence. The most common
form of execution is by decapitation, and
a theft of any amount exceeding ten dol
lars is thus punished. For fratricide or
the murder Of a master, and crimes of
an aggravated character, the culprit is
crucified and transfxed by spears, one
on each side. Arson is punished by
burning at the stake, or rather on a
cross.
The ground of execution is usually
near some thoroughfare, or on an ele-
waited piece of ground, so as to make as
public as possible the punishment. A
criminal, on being taken from prison on
the day of execution, is placed, bound,
upon horse, and made to pass through
the chief street of the town, Before
him march in procession some wretchcd
coolies, bearing bits of board, on which
is written the offence of the criminal,
his sentence, and the time and place of
execution. By his side stride along the
officers of the prison police, while the
rear is brought up by a crowd of men
and halt-grown boys. Even children
may be seen trudging along in the train
to the place of death, where they gaze
on terrible scene with few signs of
compassion.
Passing near the execution ground
one day on returning from a ride in the
country, your correspondent witnessed
an exhibition of Japanese justice The
prisoners who had been making the
usual tour of the town, was just ap-
preaching the foot of the hill, surround
ed by the usual crowd. A more dis
tressed looking object I have never seen.
He was unWashed. unshaven, and sickly
from long confinement and the many
hardships in the prison.
As the procession commenced ascend
ing the hill,. We observed him swaying
to and fro on his seat, and ready to fall
to the ground but for the support afford
ed him on either side by the guard. We
at first thought this unsteadiness of the
poor fellow was due to weakness and ex-
haustion. It proved to be partial stupe.
faction, caused by some drugged liquor,
which was placed te his lips every few
moments by one Of the attendants. Lit
tie balls of rice rolled in fish skin were
put in his mouth by another attendant.
which he ate with apparent relish, while
in the intervals of this last repast he
gazed about on the jostling crowd with
q stupid indifference, clearly showing
that he had but faint realization of his
approaching doom. The crime for which
he was condemned was arson, and con-
sequently his execution was to be burn.
ing. On being lifted, or rather let fall
from his horee, ON arriving at the ap-
pointed spot, he had to be carried to the
foot Of the cross to which he was 10 be
fixed.
The fastening was effected by straw
ropes instead Of nails, dampened clay
being plastered around them to prevent
their being burned off before life was
extinct This being accomplished, the
cross was set upright, and the fuel, con-
sisting Of bundles of straw, piled up
about him till he was no longer visible,
Torches were now quickly applied at
several points at once, and the flames
Ieaped in an instant to the top, envel-
f. ~