The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-10-02

In his admirable work on the middle
ages, M. Paul Lacroix mentions several
modes OF execution the cruelty OF
which makes us shudder. The con-
demned were subjected to unheard-ot
tortures, depending upon the caprice OF
the magistrates and the executioners.
For example, they placed boiiing-hot
eggs under their Victims arms, at
tached burning wax-candles to tn cir
hands, ran thorns and sharp hsh-bones
into the fesh, etc.
y
One can easily comprehend, in the
presence of suoh refined cruelty, that
hanging should sometimes be consid-
cred yeritable favor. 1t was real
mercy, in fact, to be put to death quick
ly, without first being compelled to suf-
ier the tortures Invented by the dis
eased timaginations OF the official
butchers. This explains, in a measure
at least, an engraving Of l490, which
represents hanging accompanied BY
music. A. murderer, sentenced to die
by the cord, obtained permission, it
would seem, to be accompanied to the
place Of execution by one ot his.friends !,
who played the bag-pipe, not only OH tn e
way thither, but even OH lhe gall0ws It,
self. The condemned man eXpiated his
crime, therefore, to the joyous sounds Of
his tavorite instrument, thanking his
stars, no doubt, that he got of 10
cheaply.
Indeed, he might have been con-
demned, in common with so many OH.
ers. to be put to death by some Of the
barbarous modes OF execution then
praoticed-the slrappado. for example,
which was one Of the more revolving.
The accused, halt nude, and his hands
tied behind him with a small cord, WHICH
the men, one at each end, drew as
tightly as their strength would admit.
Another and somewhat larger cord was
tied under the victims arm, while the
other end was passed up over a gr0oyed
wheel and then down to- a windlass. Al
the feet OF the subject weight OF two
hundred and fifty pounds was attached.
At his command, the magistrates
aids turned the windlass, raising the
victim up to the ceiling of the room, then
they let MIN tall, loot or SO at q time,
until he reached the flour. Each shock,
which generally resulted In dislpcating
the arm, of course, added TO the Wretch's
agony.
This terrible torture was practiced for
a long time at Orleans, France. What
made it still more horrible than it per-
udpb OsucA WloC WOuAu A&VO auVOh w % tUnC
fact that, not only these who had been
tried and iound guilty, but the accused
also, were subjected to 1t. 1t was
called the question extraordinairt. Bin.
gular mode OF interr0gating people Ger.
tainlyl 1t was the duty Of the mag.
istrate, before whom tine case had been
brought, to be present at the savage
ceremony, and listen TO the confession
the unfortunate, innocent or guilty, was
compelled to make. When the clerk
had taken every thing down, the &C
cused, more dead than alive, was un.
bound. The prelude was now terminal
ed, and it only remained, II the subject
was already condemned, to end his
agony, which was usually done by de
capitation; but, as we have intimated
Lhe condition of the subject, after having
been subjected to the tortures of tht
strappado, was SUCH that death was &
boon.
The physical suffering We have de
scribed was not always the only suffer
ing the accused was compelled to er
[duTe. In a manual Tor the use OF The
magistrates of those times, written b.
one Damhoudere, they are strongly ad
vised, when the torture is to be applied
to several persons. to begin with tn ost
who are more likely to confess. Ii 1
a father and son, for example, were t
be subjected to. the torture, the manua
recommenls the torturing Of the sol
first; for, says. the writer, e'the fathel
will fees for the son more keenly thar
for himse elf."--Appleton's Journal.