Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-10-31
CHINESE JUSTICE.
How culprits are Dealt with by the
"M,xed Court" at Shanghai.


MIXED Court" at Shanghai.
In that part of the native town of
Shanghai which lies beyond the city walls,
and is under foreign Jurisdiction, there IS
a curious.shaped range of buildings called
the linked court" Here cases affecting
disputes between Europeans and China
men are tried, mandarin named Chen
presiding, while representative of the
Consulate to which the European whose
case is being decided belongs sits as as
SCISSOR. The mixed court proper con-
sists of single room, not unlike an Eng
lish magistrates court in London; but 1t
is only one of a series Of chambers all duly
arranged for the promotion of virtue and
the Encouragement of vice. Some OF these
take the form of large wooden cages, IN
which prisoners are contined-others,
again, are reception rooms for Mr.. Chen.
But the most important place of all is the
native hall of justice, where Chen sits in
the potentislity of his glory to try Chinese
prisoners. This hall is covered in by a
sort of tiled canopy, the gable ends of
which are turned up in approved Chinese
style. On three sides it is shut in by
walls; the front, or fourth side,
opens into large yard facing the
doors of the prison cages. Tne seat OF
Justice Is vermilion-a sort of throne, with
a table In front. On this table rests simply
an inkstand and bronze imitation of a
human hand, whereon repose the pens with
which Mr. Chen signs bis sentences. Be-
hind the chair are ranged a large number
of vermilion- painted boards or stands,
these boards being covered with hero
glyphics detailing the virtues of the man.
DARN. That representative of law occa.
sionally gives more than ordinary satisfac-
ton to people who come before him. They
90 away pleased, and at once extol his
goodness on vermilion board, which they
send him. This board Mr.. Chen at once
puts in the rack behind his chair it is a
testimonial to his worth, it can be seen by
all who come before him, and it can be car.
ried out il his procession whenever ne goes
through the town in state. Said an Amer
lean friend who accompanied me. as he saw
these These boards must be very con-
soling to disappointed suitors they show
that if Justice is not around just now. 1t
has been at some time or other, anyhow.
Our introduction to Mr.. Chen found US
in the presence of a little old man who
could speak nothing but Chinese. Chen
was polite, but firm on one point. He
could not execute justice, he said, by day
light Try prisoners he could, even IN
the early morn; somebody said he had
once disposed of three hundred culprits IN
a single morning. But the carrying out OF
his sentences was very different thing,
and, if we would see the arm of justice
really at work, we must come little
later. So we returned when evening had
set in and the candles were lighted. Then
Mr.. Chen felt he could begin. He almost
apologized for the paucity of criminals,
when at last he prepared to take his seat
But he limited that those he was about to
deal with might make up for many more,
for they were parlous rogues and deserv-
ing of many stripes-which he proposed to
give them. Then making signal, he led
the way from his reception hall to the
Judgment seat, preceded by gentleman
with tremendous gong. two gigantic fell
lows with high red cone caps, two men
each armed with split bamboos, and some
men bearing oangues-large square pieces
of board with neck-hole in the GEN.
ter. Bang went the gong. Gay "
cried out the lictors. "Ay !" shouted the
people who were gathered in the hall and
thus went Mr.. Chen to execute justice. l
now saw that on form near the prison
doors sat ragged and miserable crew, ap-
parently waiting for something more or
less doleful. They alone of all persons IN
the yard shouted not. They had some
shouting to do later on, and, perhaps,
were reserving their powers. One, IN fact,
very shortly received good reason to shout.
"Chang Huen !" said the magistrate.
"Chang Huen % echoed the lictors and
forthwith the wretched owner of the name
was seized by the pigtail and hurried up to
the vermilion table. Down he went on
his knees, but all to no purpose. "One
hundred blows" calculated Mr.. Chen,
looking at his judicial notes, and forthwith
the culprit was seized by the two men
along the stones in front of the table to
point where the madarin could get good
view of him, and then flung on his face,
his arms being twisted over his head by
one lictor, while he was Invested of por.
tion of his clothing. Chang Huen evi.
IDENTIFY understood what was to follow, and
he howled piteously. But bowling did not
save him, for 30 soon as the two lictors had
got lin into proper position and had knelt
on him, one of the men with bamboos
came up, and, squatting down on the
ground, began to strike him on the inner
part of the naked thighs, counting the
blows as they fell. At first sight, despite
Chang Huen's noise, thought the punish
ment was very light, but saw soon after
ward that the skin was already black, and
the first twenty-five strokes had left a
band of color quite six inches broad. Ex-
ecutioner No. now came up and laid on
another twenty five, then his comrade had
another turn, and lastly he finished his
fifty. 1t will perhaps be thought that the
injury thus inflicted would be severe. But
the skin was not broken, and l should say
that the bruises would heal in a week or
ten days at the most. Garroters in Eng
land, hogged as they are on the bony back
and shoulder blades, are apparently hurt
much more, though l was told that the
beating without breaking the skin was
much more painful than it looked. Chang
Huen, however, had very few to pity him;
he was evidently either very bad or
very impecunious man, for no sooner was
the beating over than he was roughly
seized once more by the pigtail and hauled
along over the yard TO tne prison Win
great rapidity, he screeching loudly all the
while.
Far more fortunate was the culprit who
followed him, and who, as he was thrown
down by the lictors put out two fingers
in such way that the executioners could
see them plainly. "What does that mean,
1 asked of the magistrates interpreter.
''He mean he give 81 if not spoilee too
much with bamboo" was the mysterious
reply. "But surely" said 1, "he cannot
bribe in 30 open way under the very
nose of the mandarin 2" "Yes, said the
interpreter, everybody know. More
better man givee ST." Hs was certainly
speaking the truth this gentleman, cul.
prit No. 2, got off lightly. His bruises
were very small, his pigtail was not
pulled. He made plenty of noise had
gone at any rate through the semblance
of severe punishment, and had
lost S2-which to him was no