Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-05-15

reduces the bones to jelly. Women
convicted os indecent demeanor are
made to hold up their hands, while small
pieces Of wood are put between the fin
gers, and cords are fpassed round and
drawn tightly together, until the virtue
, of modesty is thoroughly appreciated,
Another refinement of Chinese cruelty
is that Of placing small quantity of
unslaoked lime inside a piece Of cotton
cloth, and using it by way of poultice
to the eyes.
81 u THE WOODEN COLLAR
is another severe penalty. 1t is termed
OF heavy pieces OF wood. closed together
and havifg a hole in the center, which
fits the neck of the offender, who, when
it is fastened to him, can neither see his
own feet nor put his hand to his mouth.
Its weight is from fifty to sixty. pounds
Some Of them weigh two hundred
pounds, load beneath which many an
unfortunate has expired Three months
is usually the period for which it is worn,
an officer of justice being detailed to see
that it is not put OF during that space
Of time. One would almost imagine
that the Southern planter had derived
some Of his inspirations from Celestial
sources The wooden collar is usually
the reward of gambling or breaches Of
the peace, though it is sometimes the
punishment of insolvent debtors. Male.
factors of gross type are exhibited
publicly, fastened to blocks Of wood by
chains, or Gagged like beasts. A prisoner
who endeayors to escape Is subjected to
hamestringing, and when the tendons
have been severed, cbuman, a species Of
mortar, is applied to the wound. Ban
ishment from his native province is the
penalty awarded to. Cbinaman who
strikes his elder brother or incurs debts
for gambling. II the sentence is one of
perpetual banishment, he goes to Tar
tary. AS he journeys, he carries mat
and palm leaf which are all the neces-
saries Of a Chinaman' house keeping, at
any rate while in exile.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,
is awarded for robbery with violence, for
wearing certain specified ornaments, as
well as for all acts of homicide, whether
intentional or accidental frauds on the
Government; the seduction of women,
whether married or single; the use of
abusive language to parents; plunderiug
the dead, or high treason. The method
is either by strangulation or
The first Is the most gen.
eral mode, the latter being reserved for
the most aggravated offenses. A Man
DARN who is deemed worthy of death is
not usually treated as d malefactor of
low degree The Emperor, if he has a
great respect for him, will send him
SILVER CORD,
a broad hint to play the unpleasant role
of Calcraft to himself which is always
accepted, and acted upon. 1t is a fact
worth mentioning that in olden times
an English nobleman was generally ex-
ecuted by the same silver crsyat. De-
capitation is performed in China in this
wise: The condemned is made to kneel,
with his hands pinioned together, and
his head is cleft by an officer standing
behind him, with two.handed sword.
Ordinary strangula.ion is effected by
extending the condemned on q cross,
and binding cords tightly around the
body, from the feet upwards until the
neck is reached, when a cord is passed
around it, and drawn tighter and tighter,
until death ensues. 1t may be mentioned
that the Emperor always consplts his
first law officers before signing the exc.
cution warrant. Furthermore, he deems
that part Of his reign the most fortunate
in which the least number of executions
take place.