The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-03-25
The Fate of Pra Pre- Cha.

Your readers will all have have heard
of the Siamese Ambassador on specia,
duty to the Court Of st. James, who
has recently been so feted not only in
England, but who was also received in
private audience by the Emperor of
Germany. This high functionary has
lately returned to his native land, bring
ing with him the assurance to his gov
eminent that England will not support
the views of the Consular Agent as to
their dealings with what might be called
their political offenders, and what has
been the the result: Of this deplorable
success Of the Chinese mission the fol
lowing lines will shcw. This unfortu-
nate nobleman, Pra Pre-cha, who, ever
since he returned from his wedding tour
OF eight days duration, has been kept
in custody in company with the worst
galerians that ever country like Siam
can produce, chained with the heaviest
chains on neck, arms and feet, has now
finally, after eight months of immeasur-
able sufferinss, had sentence passed on
him, which is that he receive 100 lashes
with the rattan and then be decapitated.
The unhappy victim of Siamese fam
lily rivalry-once in the possession
of his monarchs most intimate con-
tidencc-has during all the time of his
trial been deprived of all means of de
Tending himself against the dreadful &C
cusation got up by his adversaries,
through threatened and paid witnesses,
all intercourse with his own family be-
ing strictly forbidden. Sentence having
been passed-aud though chained as
formerly described-he was further put
in an iron cage strong enough to resist
the force of any wild beast, brought on
board small gunboat, lying in readi-
ness, and in the middle of the night
down they went along the silent Menam
past his own house, where, unconscious
of what was happening, his young wife
was, perhaps, teaching her little baby
to pray for his unfortunate father from
whom they had so long been separated,
and whom they would now never see
again. The news has just come from
Pechim that he died like man. For
the Siamese law it suffices for any one
to be relation of a person convicted to
be deprived of all rank, rights and pos
sessions without trial or anything, and
this can perhaps explain to civilized
minds why the unfortunate members of
the late Pra Pre-cbas family, his aged
father and three brothers, are now i'm
prisoned, chained and treated like muir
derers and pluLderors; that their wives
with their innocent children have been
made slaves to pound the rice Of those,
who in bringing their husbands and
fathers to a fall will have the enjoyment
of their possessions. And in short
time there will, in all likelihood, be no
one left Of once hourishing family.
whom every European in the place bias
known and loved as one of the most ad-
vanccd and obliging among the Siamese
noblemen.. 1t is rumored that the 81
amese ambassador will return again to
Europe some day IN the Spring to in
vest Her Majesty with the most exalted
order of the white elephant. will
keep you informed of his departure for
that purpose
The Straits Times gives some further
particulars of the affair The Singapore
paper says:
"Mrs. Pre-cha, nee Miss Knox,
daughter of Mr.. Knox, lately British
Consul General for Siam, who is now
at home, arrived here on Dec. lst, on
her way to England by the Ban Yong
Seng from BANGKOK. The unfortunate
lady tells doleful tale. Shortly after
the return of Phya Bashakarawongsee,
who was sent as envoy to England
mostly in reference to the relations ex
listing between the Siamese government
and Mr.. Knox arising out of Miss
Knox's marriage-the King of Siam or
dered that Pre-cha, Miss Knoxs hus-
band, should he 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 to
beat a hasty retreat from Bangkok to
save her own child and two children of
Prccha's by another wife, who are now
here with her We have always depre-
Gated the conduct Of Mr. Knox in order
ing gunboat to Bangkok with the OBJ
ject of intimidating the Siamese because
of a personal quarrel but we must now