The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-11-11
ABBEVILLE, S. G., WEDNESDAY, NO. III, 1871.
and Marking.

- .s
Branding Or burning some initial, numba
or other mark on the arm or body vas for.
nerly q punishment much adopted in Eng.
land. In many cises where the penalty. Of
death was pronounced ii was soommnted to.
branding through the influence ofthe pecu:
liar custom knowna as |" Benefit Of the eiergy.,.ts
Priests, in feudal days, de6ed the OWL power.
When they offended against the laws of the
land (Which they often did) the bishop Of
the diocese took the matter into his own
hands, and denied thefight OF the State to
interfere. This benefit of exemption was
conceded to the clergy because they were
clergy, and after some time it was conceded
also to such laynien as could read-a rare
accomplishment in those days. If layman
"caimed his clergy" on this ground, and if
it was admitted, he was simply burned or
branded in the hand and then let go-even
though he had committed some grave offence
against the laws Of his country. The differ
ence was this: that layman could only
claim benefit of clergy once, whereas priest
could do so again and again. There was
some little difference, too, in the mode of
branding; but it was always done by the
application of hot iron to the skin. In
some recent centuries, when branding was
the recognized punishment for long list of
offences, it was found that the fear of this
indiction was not strong enough as deter
rent from crime. A change was, therefore,
made; the offender, instead of being branded
on the hand, received the degrading markon
the most visible part of the left cheek, near
the nose. At length, about . century ago,
judges and magistrates were permitted, at
their discretion, to substitute fine or i'm
prisonment for branding, and society ac-
quiesced in the gradual abandonment of an
ordeal which was really life punishment,
seeing that the brand remained as scar.
Branding, so far as concerns the proper
meaning Of the word, is no longer recognized
by the English law; but it still exists under
the character of staining Or marking. An
iron instrument, having definite shape OF
the end, is used, not to harm the skin, but
to puncture it and something of chemical
nature-be it ink, saltpetre or gunpowder-
is rubbed into the punctures. The punish
ment is confined, we believe, to deserters from
the army. The Mutiny act is very distinct
on this matter :-"On the first and on every
subsequent conviction for desertion the court
martial, in addition to any ether punish
ment, may order the offender to be marked
on the left side, two inches below the armpit,
with the letter D, such letter not to be less
than an inch long, and to be marked upon the
skin with some ink or gunpowder, or other
preparation, so as to be visible and conspic-
uous, and not liable to be obiterated." The
law mercifully puts the brand whore ordinary
clothing efectually ccnceals it; but the ON
inous D is there, nevertheless, to be appealed 3
to as test Of identity in case of further in
fractions Of the law. Irrespective of any
ldeaof punishment, many soldiers and sailors
have taste for marking or tattooing, each
one selecting such q derice as may best please
him. The mark becomes a sort Of baptis-
NAL register, sign by which relations and
friends may identify him in case Of need.
This is usually done by prickins the skin with
q needle in as many spots as will form let
ter or other device, and Immediately rubbing
in gunpewder, finely pulverized the parts