River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-11-11
TO BE CONTINUED.
Harhnrir Puniah 1T.

The punishmentS tt % witnessed
even to this day IN the East are also
most peculiar, and TO European minds
vindictive in the extreme. The bas-
tinado is dispensed on the soles Of the
bare feet, but il is not often carried so
far as to cause death. The sticks used
in Turkey are usually heavy slaves, an
other countries thin rattan canes end
ing in fine tapering point. From the
fact that the lower classes in the East
60 about everywhere Dare-footed, their
feet become, as it were. case-hardened.
As many as 1000 sticks have been
broken over the feet of a criminal, and
that would mean upwards of 5000
blows. Imprisonment is reserved for
burglars, and manning is carried out
ordinarily only on professional thieves.
The method of inflicting this punish
ment is generally by cutting off the
joint of finger for the first offense.
and hand for the second. Sometimes
a man will be famed by taking away
part of the main tendon of the leg.
Binding is scarcely ever resOrted to,
but occasionally the ears are cut off,
the criminal in this. as in other eases,
being taken through a large crowd of
gazers in the bazaar to the place of eX-
ecution. The punishment of death is
inflicted in most cases by simply cut
ting the throat of the prisoner much in
the way that butcher slaughters
sheep.
In England there have been several
very curious methods of punishment.
Quartering and manning the body was
common in the earlier days OF British
history. The pillory was also used for
the exposure and ridicule of offenders.
At times, too. ''the cell of little ease
was occupied 10y some offender. This
cell was constructed on the principle
that no comfort should be given TO the
person imprisoned; there was neither
sufficient room for standing, lying. nor
even sitting comfortably.
But Of all the kinds of punishment
that of boiling to death was surely the
most vindictive and atrOciOus. 1t was
made capital punishment in England
by Statute %, Henry VIII. 1881. One
Ruse. cook in the service of the
Bishop of Rochester, had poisoned
some soup, which caused the death Of
several persons. aud it wass to guard
against such heinOus actions that the
punishment was enacted. This death
penalty was not long in force. being
repealed during the next reign by
Edward vi.
Burning was the usual punishment
melted out to those changing their
doctrinal faith. This method dates
back to the first dawnings of English
civilization. for our Druidical ancestors
used to sacrifice to their gods by burn
ing all the condemned criminals.
Beheading with the AK. maiden or
guillotine, long held sway in Great
Britain; indeed, up to the year 1747,
when Lord Lovat was the last to suffer
this kind of death. This method was
afterwards followed by the more
humane plan of strangling, which how
ever. like the former kinds, was done
openly. All are aware that secrecy is
now the great thing aimed in such kind
of punishment, a result. or more part c.
ularly a change, brought about by
the advancing march of modern civil
cation.
Witchcraft was very common 400
or 500 wears ago in Great Britain.
ANY person taken and accused of hav-
ing occult dealings with "the realm of
spirits was punished by drowning,
which by the way. is said to be the
pleasantest death imaginable.
The French had also some curious
punishments. Prisoners were chained
to galleys which they were forced to
row day and night. Hardly any cessa-
ton of toll was allowed and the poor
wretches held out simply to escape the
drivers lash. To enumerate all the
methods is not our intention; suffice
| that we should mention the strsngest
of them all-viz; wearing the iron mask
/ for life Into this mask the person 5
head was placed once and for all, moth
/ ing was seen of his features save his
ewes and mouth; death alone relieved
4 the lanCuishing victim.