The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-23
sIAMESE VENGEANCE.
Execution Of n Former Fav0rite
who Had Married an English
woman.

Execution OF a Former FavOrite
who Had Married an English
woman.
| The following letter is from Bangkok
correspondent of the Hong Kong Daily
Press, and dated Nov. 18th:
| Your readers will all have heard of
the Siamese Ambassador on special duty
to the Court of St. James, who has re-
Gently been so much feted, not only in
England, but who has also been received
in private audience by His Majesty, the
Emperor of Germany.
This high functionary has lately re-
turned to his native land, bringing with
him the assurance to his Government
that England will not support the views
of the Consular Agent as to their deal
ings with what might be called their po-
litical offenders, and what has been the
result of this deplorable success of the
Siamese Mission, the following lines will
show:
This unfortunate noblenan, Pra Pre-
Precha, who, ever since he returned from
his wedding tour of eight days tour of
eight days duration, has been kept in
custody, in company with the worst gal
eriens that ever a country like Siam can
produce, chained with the heaviest chains
on neck, arms and feet, has now, finally,
after eight months immeasurable suf-
ferings, had sentence passed on him,
which is that he receive one hundred
lashes with the rattan and then be de-
capitated. This unhappy victim Of
Siamese family rivalry-once in the pos
session of his monarch's most intimate
confdence-has during all the time of his
trial been deprived of all means of de-
Tending himself against the dreadful ac-
cusation got up by his adversaries through
threatened and paid witnesses, all inter-
course with whomsoever it may be, in
cluding his own family, being strictly
forbidden.
Sentence having been passed-and
though chained as formerly described
he was further put in an iron cage strong
enough to resist the efforts of any wild
beast, brought On board small gunboat
lying in readiness, and in the middle Of
the night down they went along the
silent Meuan, past his own house, where,
unconscious of what was happening, his
young wife was, perhaps, teaching her
little babe to pray for his unfortunate
father, from whom they had 50 long been
separated, and whom they would now
never see again. The news has just come
back from Pechim that he died like a
man.
l should like to rest my pen here, but
alasl my story is not yet at an end. For
the Siamese law it is sufficient for any
one to be relation of person convicted
to be deprived of all rank, rights and
possessions, without trial or anything,
and this only can perhaps explain to a
civilized mind why the unfortunate
members of the late Pra Pre-cha's fam
lily, his aged father and three brothers,
are now imprisoned, chained and
treated like murdererers and plumber
ers; that their wives, with their in
nocent children, have been made
slaves to pound the rice of those
who, in bringing their husbands and
fathers to fall, will have the enjoyment
of their possessions. And in short time
there will, in all likelihood, be no one
left Of once fourishing family, whom
every European in the place has known
and loved as one of the most advanced
and obliging among the Siamese noble
men. 1t is rumored that the Siamese
ambassador will return again to Europe
some day in the spring to invest Her
Majesty with the Most Exalted Order
of the White Elephant. I will keep you
informed of his departure for that pur-
pose."
The Straits Times gives some further
particulars of the affair. The Singapore
paper says
MRS. re-cha, nee Miss Knox, daugh.
ter of Mr.. Knox, lately British Consul
General for Siam, who is now at home,
, arrived here on December 1st, on her way
to England, by the Ban Yong Seng, from
Bangkok. The unfortunate lady tells a
doleful tale. Shortly after the return Of
Phya Bashakarawengsee, who was sent
as Envoy to England-mostly in ref.
erence to the relations exist.
ing between the Siamese Gov.
ernment and Mr.. Knox, arising out Of
: Miss Knox's marriage--the King Of
Siam ordered that Pre-cha, Miss Knox's
husband, should be beheaded, which was
done. Pre-cha, it will be remembered
was fogged in the first instance, and has
been detained in prison for months past
, Many members of his family have also
/ been arrested, and Mrs. Pre-cha had te
, beat hasty retreat from Bangkok tc
E save her own child and two children ol
E Mr.. Pre-cha by another wife, who are
: now here with her. We have always de
: preciated the conduct Of Mr.. Knox ir
ordering gun-boat to Bangkok with the
. object Of intimidating the Siamese be
r cause Of personal quarrel; but we mus
now say that this last act Of vengeance
' by the Siamese is barbarous, and will es
Q TRANCE from the King, ex-Regent ant
: their Government the sympathies O
, their most. sincere we'll wishers an(
s friends"
I'm the Golden Prime of Art.