The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-12-26
EARLY EXECUTIONS.
Burning Criminals at the Stake, and How 1t
Was Done-The First and Last Cases Of
Burning on Record.

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pitying admiration for Joan of Arc if
that inspired heroine had been simply
hanged instead of burnt by the ''God-
DAMS" as, according to her historians
she was won't to call the despised
English. There is something in the
very phrase burnt at the stake"
which fills one with horror, and the
thought that any woman would brave
such death seems almost Incredible.
1.-THE Maid of Orleans" has doubtless
been in the minds of many persons all
over the civilized world of late, as well
as in that of every Frenchman, on ac-
count of the monument recently erect
ed in her honor in her beloved patrie.
But, although it seems absolutely bar
barous to make such a suggestion if
the old records are to be credited, this
burning was by no means the agon-
izing death it is generally supposed to
have been. Indeed, in England it was
looked upon as an easy death, and
women were even burnt for the same
crimes for which men were hung, as be-
ing the more humane manner of putting
to death. But, and here lies the whole
secret, these same old records showed
that the condemned were invariably
strangled to death, or at least into
state of perfect Inconsistencies. before
the flames were allowed to touch them,
80 that in reality it was simply the
dead body that was devoured by the
angry flames.
In proof of this case is mentioned
in an old English book where the exc
cutioner was severely blamed because,
his hands becoming scorched, he failed
to pull the rope fastened around the
neck of the condemned hard enough
10 kill her until after the flames had
reached her and caused great agony,
in spite of the efforts of those about her.
Quite a detailed account is given of
the execution of woman named Flea
nor Elsom in the ''Lincoln Date
Book" who was condemned to death
for the murder of her husband and or
dered to be burned at the stake. 1t
reads as follows: ''She was clothed in
q cloth made like "a shift, saturated
with tar, and her limbs were also
smeared with the same infiammable
substance, while a tarred bonnet had
been placed on her head. She was
brought out of prison barefooted, and,
sledge to the place near the gallows-
Upon arrival some time was passed in
prayer, after which the executioner
placed her on tar barrel, height of
three feet, against the stake. A rope
ran through pulley in the stake and
was placed around her neck, she her.
self fixed it with her hands" She was
probably quite dead before the fire
reached her, as the executioner pulled
upon the rope several times while tho
irons were being fixed. The body was
seen amid the flames for nearly half
an hour, though, through the dryness
of the wood and the quantity of tar,
the fire was exceedingly fierce.
Burning at the stake was, not so
very long ago, used as punishment
for heretics of both sexes, or of any
person accused of witchcraft This
mode of execution was kept up all dur
ing the middle ages, the first case on
record being man named Alban, who
was burned in the year 304 A. ID.
Many persons were put to death for
coming, which was, up to late date,
regarded as an offense meriting death,
the latest case on record of burning at
the stake for this crime being that of a
woman named Christian Murphy, alias
Bowman, who was burned on March
l8. 1889.
No. 81 of The Quarterly Rericw men,
tions the case of a man who was
hanged for coming, while young girl
IA years old came very near being |
burned as an accomplice, as on her
person. hidden beneath her corset, |
were found a number of whitewashed |
counters, which she had placed there
at her masters bidding. She was
tried and judged guilty of treason, and
was to have been burnt Immediately !
after the hanging OF the man, and, in /
deed, the fagots were already piled
when Lord Weymouth happened to
ride by and mercifully intorfered.
The New SnBolk Garland in the year
1868 speaks of the case of one Margaret
who was burnt for the
murder of her husband, the crime be-
ng designated as ''petty treason"
The actual murderer was man
named Richard Binge, who was the
psiamour, but she was held
is an accomgl.ce, and while the man
vas hanged, she was burnt.
i nt iu>l tuSc pl burning Opposite
Newgate was in 1856, when woman
vas hanged on low scaffold, and after.
ife was extinct the fire was lighted be-
ow her and the body was burned to
lshes.
George III. put a stop to this barbar-
'us method of execution. and provided
hat after June 8, 1890, women should
70 hanged rs well as men.
Still more dreadful than burning at
he stake was the horrible idea of boil
ng people to death, which was at one
ime the legal punishment for the
rime of poisoning, the law putting it
nto effect being passed by Henry VII.
n 1881. One of the few cases record
d was that of a cook in the diocese of $
he bishop of Rochester, named Rich 8
I'd Roose. 1his man had put poison {
A food, causing the death of two per- 9
ons and the serious illness of others, O
nd the sentence was passed on him I
nat he should be boiled to death with I
ut any benefit of the clergy, which
leant without any mitigation of the t,
,ntence such as was commonly ac- o.