Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-06-26
CHINESE JUSTICE.


CHINESE JUSTICE.
How Culprits are Dealt With by the
spiked Court'' at Shanghai-Scenes
at the Flogging OF Offenders. p
In that part of the native town of
Shanghai which lies beyond fhe city
walls, and is under foreign jurisdiction,
there is curious-shaped range of build
ings called the s'mixed court" Hero
eases affecting disputes between Euro
pNans and Cinnamon are tried, Man
DARN named Chen presiding, while
representative of the Consulate to which
the European whose case is being de-
cided belongs sits as assessor. The
''mixed court proper consists of a
single room, not unlike an English.
Magistrates court in London; but it is
only one of a series of chambers all
duly arranged for the promotion of vir-
tue and the encouragement of vice.
Some of these take the form of large
wooden cages, in which prisoners are
confined-others, again, are reception
rooms for Mr.. Chen. But the most i'm
portant place of all is the native hall of
justice where Chen sits in the potential
ity of his glory to try Chinese prisoners.
This HALLS covered in by 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
fourth, or front side, opens into large
yard facing the doors of the prison
cages. The seat of justice is vermllion
"a sort of throne, with table in front.
On this table rests simply an inkstand
and bronze imitation of human
hand, whereons repose the pens with
which Mr.. Chen signs his sentences.
Behind the chair are ranged large
number of vermilion-painted boards or
stands, these boards being covered with
hieroglyphics detailing the virtues of
the Mandarin That representative of
law occasionally gives more than ordi-
binary satisfaction to people who come
before him. They go away pleased,
and at once extol his goodness on a
verinilion board which they send him.
This board Mr.. Chen at once puts in
the rack behind his chair; it is O testi-
monial to his worth, it can be seen by
all who come before him, and IL can be
carried out in his procession whenever
he goes through the town in state. Said
an American friend who accompanied
me as he saw these: "These boards
must be very consoling to disappointed
suitors; they show that if justice is not
around just now It has been at some
time or other, anyhow"
Our introduction to Mr.. Chen found
us in the presence of 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
daylight Try prisoners he could, even
in the early morn; somebody said he had
once disposed of three hundred culprits
in single morning. But the carrying
out OF his sentences was q very different
thing, and, if we would see the arm Of
justice really at work, we must come q
little later. So we returned when even
ing 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 deserving of
many stripes-which he proposed to give
them. Then making signal, he led
the way into his reception hall to the
Judgment seat preceded by a gentleman
with tremendous gong, two gigantic
fellows with high red cone caps, two
men each armed with split .bambooe,
and two men each bearing cangues-
large square pieces of board with neck
hole in the center. Bang went the gong.
'.Ay!" cried out the lfctors. h .sAyf'
shouted the people who were gathered
in he hall; and thus went Mr.. Chen tc
execute justice. / now saw that on o
form near the prison doors sat a ragged
and miserable crew, apparently waiting
for something more or less dolefuf.
They alone Of all persons in the ward
shouted not. They had some shouting
to do later on, and perhaps were reserv.
ing their powers. One, in fact, very
shortly received good reason to shout.
"Chang Huenl' said the Magistrate.
''Chang Huenl'' echoed the lictors; and
forthwith the wretched owner Of the
name was seized by the pigtail and hur.
ried up to the vermilion table. Down
he went on his knees, but all to no pur.
pose. s'One hundred blows" CALCULATED
Mr.. Chen, looking at his judicial
81