Morris tribune., 1880-12-30
A THOUSAND SLICES.
Horrible Punishment of n MurdereSs

Horrible Punishment of Il MurdereSs in China.
The Pekin Gazette gives the following
account of the punishment of Chinese
woman who, in coilusion with her lover had
murdered her husband:
According to the Chinese penal code, a
wife killing her husband or either of his
parents, OF vice versa, the cling CHI pun
lshment is inflicted and the paramour has
his or her head cut off. The method of
executing the ling CHI is as
follows: The criminal is con-
veyed to the execution ground in a bas-
ket slung on a bamboo between two coolies.
Half stupefed by fear, and rendered almost
insensible to the fate about to be suffered
from the effects of samshoo which is given
to the victim in abundance, the procession
wends its way between throngs of Celestials.
The road is lined with sedan chairs convey
ing the officials, both high and low, to wit
ness the sight. Upon arrival at the place of
punishment, crowd of chattering Chinese
may be seen, some engaged smoking their
pipes, Others discussing their early bowl of
congee at the stall of the perambulating
venders of edibles. Not the least trace ofany
feeling of awe or compassion is exhibited
at the tragedy about to be enacted A stolid
Indifference marks the countenance of the
assemblage, ,and it is only when the cOrtege
files into position before the dais, whereon
he viceroy and the provincial judges have
AIKEN their :oats, that any observable emo
ton animavcc he crowd The criminal is
made to kneel, whilst subordinate officer
reads the edict of the viceroy. This sets
forth the crime and the penalty, and exhorts
the culprit to confess fully. All the
victim can do is to cry for mercy,
OF which quality there is apparently lack.
At given signal from the judge the two
executioners step forward and seize the un-
fortunate wretch. Divested of every particle
of clothing, he or she is bound hand and
foot to two upright pieces Of wood
in the form of ST. Andrews cross. The
minions of the law draw from their belts
two short, sharp knives. They are now
ish skill they commence to slit the skin and
flesh at the wrists. Proceeding up the
arms until the neck is reached, their atten-
ton is then directed to the lower limbs.
The ankles upward the fieshy part of the
legs and thighs right up to the chest are
under operation. The whole body is now
one quivering mass of stripes of skin and
| flesh, from which the blood is pouring in
streams, dyeing the ground and the execu-
| TONERS clothes a vivid red color. By this
time the vast crowd are on the tiptoe of
expectation, straining their bodies to get a
glimpse of the CORY figure, and eager to
watch the least sound of sigh or
groan. After the shrek of pain
which attends the first use of the
knife frequently nothing but low, agonizing
moans escaped the lips Whilst this lorri-
BILE scene is being enacted the peanut
hawkers, the beancurd and candy hucksters
play their trade, oblivious of the fact that g
human being is undergoing torture. With
head dropped on the breast, closed eyes and
face bearing an unutterable look of pair
aud agony, the victim now stands. The
judge, seemingly tired at the disgusting
sight, clasps his hands. The chief execu.
TONER at the signal, plunges his knife into
the breast, and with one hand tears ope1
the flesh, whilst with the other he pulls ths
quivering heart out by the roots, holding
| it up to view, and then dashes it to the
ground. Thus justice is vindicated.