Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-10-22
BRANDING AND NIGEING.


Branding or burning some initial, nun
Der, or other mark, on the arm or BODY
was formerly a punishment much adopt
"a in England. In many cases, where 'he
PENALTY of death WIS pronounced, ~ Wa
committed TO branding, through tne IN
lueuce of the peculiar custom SnoWn -
"hcne6t Of the clergy Priests, IN leu
al days dcaed the civil power. W NJ"
ihev offended against the laws OF t'e
land. Nv hich they often did, the hlShoE
NJ the diocese took the matter INTO ms
own hands. and denied the right oil The
.fate 10 interfere. This benefit OF eNcmP
.ion was conceded 20 the clergy because
they were CLERGY; and after some tine,
waS conceded also 10 such laymen a.
could r,ad-a rare Accomplishment IN
those DAYS II q hyman Claimed ht>
,iercy" on this grOSnd. and II 70 was All
United, he was simply burned OF oiSh"
"a in the hand, and then let Eo-eVer
though he had committed some grave ol-
tense against the laws OF his country
The difference was this: that n iaymaL
could only claim benefit OF Clergy once,
whereas a priest could DO So agaln ant
araiu There was some little difference,
100 IN TIE LlNAE III NAtAfNNaANN4- ttNAN - w.
always done by The application of hot
iron TO the skin. In some recent eenta
ries. when branding Was the rcOSnlzcc
punishment for a long list OF otfcu>cs, II
was found that the fear OF this iniiicnor
was not strong enough IS deterrent from
crime. 4 change was therefore rlaCe
the offender. instead of being branded on
The hand. received TIE DEGRADING marx
on the most visible part OF the len cheek
near The nose At length, about century
ago, Judges anu magistrates were permit
Il. al their discretion, 10 substitute
,.he or Imprisonment for branding. AMI
society acquieSccd in the gradual ahanU
onment of an ordeal which Was really
iiie-punShmcui. seeing that tlc brand
remained as a scar.
Branding. SO far IS concerns TIC proper
meaning of the word, is no longer rccoS
nized by the English law; but Il stlii eA'
lists under the character o. %liHi'g oil
marking An iron instrument, having
definite shape 40 the end, Is used, not 10
harm the skin, but 10 puucture IL; ana
something OF chemical notuTe-9e ~
Ink, saltpetre. or GCnpOwder-iS rubbed
into the punc;Ures. The punishment %
confined, We believe, 10 CcSegierS IRON
the army. The Mutiny Act Is very l
iinct on this Efatter: "On tAc first aAi
on every subsequent conviction Tor &c
sertion, the coGTi-martial, in an acdliitn
10 any other punishment Tay order The
offender 10 be marked on Tie .tlt side,
two inches below Tie aimPit, with The
letter ID. such letter not tO - less taan
an inch lon-. and 30 DE marked upon the
skin with some ib6 or CuupoNCtr, %!
other preparation. 50 rs 20 oe visible anu
conspicuous, suu not iiau,r % he oout
Grated The isV theoretically puts the
brand where ordinary clothing vi.cctuai-
" C0DUclIs IL bu. Tie OMNIBUS ID Is
taere, nevertheless, 90 be appealed 20 a>
test O. identity 40 case %. further mirdc'
lions OF Che lass. lsl>>p' ,iso ot any idea
Of punishment. mauy sailors and soldier,
have q taste Tor marking or tatiooiuS,
each one selecting such device as may
best please him. he marx becomes
sort o. bapl>mal register, a sign by
which relations and friends may identify
linn in case of need. THIS Is usually tCne
by picking the skin with a needle, "a a.
many spots as viii form letter brother
device, anG Immediately rubbing IN gun
powder finely pulycrized the part Is
held near the lire. and heat does the rest.
One description states that the powder
actually eNp.ooeS, aud drives an luGrli-
DE marx iu,O cJCu pUDcJure; but Le this
A. il NAV, some stain OrOtAe- QUlvcrez-
sent or liquid, enters the guEctCrcS, am
csmSinS permanent.