The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-01-08
A Tragical Love Story from Siam.

Inc offlclal beheadlng OF Pra Peccha,
prominent dignitary of Siam, as an
nounced yesterday in a dispatch from
Singapore, says the New York Times, is
very singular proceeding and the
causes leading to it are so remarkable
as to be worthy of mention. The cir
cumstances, as narrated in private let
ters from Bangkok, are substantially
these: Thomas G.. Knox, until recently
British Political Agent and Consul Cen
eral, stationed at the capital, had re-
sided there for many years in an official
capacity, having married, soon after
going to Indo China, a native woman.
who bore him two children, both
daughters. They were educated in
England. One Of them is represented
as particularly bright and attractive, and
after returning to her own country she
was greatly admired and had many
suitors. Some months ago the young
woman, who had probably reached the
age Of twenty Or thereabout, astonished
or enraged her father by eloping with
Pra Peccha, and coming back fast mar
ried according to Thai law and Buddhist
form, Consul Knox who had intended
her for the British matrimonial market
was SO incensed at her husband that
he formerly complained to the native
government of Peccha's connubial mis-
demeanor, which, in his wrath, he is
said to have pronounced violation of
international law, heinous political
| crime, deadly affront to John Bull, as
represented in his proper person, and
direct assault ON the British constitution.
Hyperbolical and absurd as such as
sumption was, it is not unfrequently
the method adopted by British officers
abroad when dealing with people whom
they are pleased to consider but half
civilized. The Siamese Government
seemed to regard Peccha's offense as Sc
riously as the British Consul had done.
1t ordered the new husbands imme-
diate arrest and trial on the gravest
charges, high treason, we believe, being
one of them; and, in due time, he was,
to the amazement and horror of his
father-in-law and his bride, condemned
to death. This was much more than
the British Consul had bargained for.
Notwithstanding his wrath, he did not
capital punishment, and he swore by
Ills COUStldT seal duu Inc oSCdDIlSQGO
church that the sentence should not
be carried out. The Government,
however, continued firm as to its
decision, whereupon Knox threatened it
with the vengeance of his nation, de-
claring that he would order up the Brit
ish gunboats lying near the mouth of
the Meinam River, and cause the bonn
bardment of Bangkok unless the sem
tence was revoked. The menace was,
as may be supposed, idle, intended
merely to intimidate the King and his
cabinet. But they would not be intimi-
dated, and soon after Knox was recalled
by his Government. This is the way
the story is told by the English and
Americans in Siam, but it is not at all
likely that Pra Peccha has been behead
ed simply for his elopement He must
have been found guilty of more mo-
mentous offenses to justify such extreme
measures. Still, as Siam is an absolute
monarchy, the Government can do what
it likes without accountability to its SUBJ
jects. The whole thing, as reported
here, is most extraordinary, and but for
its tragic termination, would read like
the libretto of an opera bouffe. If a
man can be officially beheaded for mar
rying pretty girl in Siam, matrimony,
especially under romantic aspects, will
scarcely be regarded there with encour
aging favor.