National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1874-02-06
Branding and Marking.

Branding or burning some initial
number, or other mark. on the arm OF
body, was formerly punishment muof
adopted in England. In many cases
where the penalty Of death was pro
nounced, 1t was commuted TO branding,
through the influence of the peculisi
custom known as "benefit Of clergy. y
Priests, in feudal days, defied the civil
power. When they offended against
the laws of the land, (Which they often
did, the bishop Of the disocese took
the matter into his own hands, and
denied the right Of the state to inter-
fere. This benefit Of examination was
conceded to the clergy because they
were clergy and after some time, It
was conceded also to such laymen as
could read-a rare accomplishment in
those days. If layman "claimel his
clergy" on this ground, and it was ad-
mitted, he was simply burned or brand
ed in the hand, and then let go-even
though he had committed some grave
offense against the laws of his country.
The difference was this that layman
could only claim benefit of clergy once,
whereas a priest could do 80 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
countries, when branding was the re-
cognized punishment for long list of
ofenses, it was found that the fear of
this infliction was not strong enough to
act deterrent from crime. A change
was therefore made; the offender, in
stead of being branded on the hand, re-
ceived the degrading mark on the most
visible part of the cheek, near the nose.
At length, about a century ago, judges
and magistrates were permitted, at their
discretion, to substitute fine or i'm
prisonment for branding and society
acquiesced in the gradual abandonment
of an ordeal which was in reality life
punishment, seeing that the brand re.
mained as scar. -.. .i
Branding, SO far as concerns the
proper meaning of the word, is no long
er recognized by the English law; but
it still exists under the character of
staining or marking. An iron instru-
ment, having definite shape at the
end, is used, not to harm the skin, but to
puncture it; and something of chemi-
cal nature-be it ink, saltpetre, or gun
powder-is rubbed into the punctures.
The punishment 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
other punishment, may order the often,
inches below the arm.pit, with the let.
ter 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 conspicuous, and not liable to be
The law mercifully puts
the brand where ordinary clothing ef-
fectually conceals it; but the ominous
D is there, nevertheless, to be appealed
to as test of identity in case Of fur
ther infraction of the law. Irrespective |
of any idea OF punishment, many sail
ors and soldiers havea taste for mark |
ing or tattooing, each one selecting such |
device as may best please him. The |
mark becomes sort of baptismal reg.
lister, sign by which relations and |
need. This is usually done by pricking
The skin with needle, in as many spots
IS will form letter or other device,
and immediately rubbing in gunpowder
finely pulverized the part is held near
The fire, and heat does the rest. One
description states that the powder &C.
tually explodes, and drives an indeli-
Die mark into each puncture but be
his as it may, some stain or other, pull
or liquid. enters the pune
;ures, and remains permanent.-Chans-
1erS' Journal.