Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-11-20
JUSTICE IN CHINA.
How It is Administered in
the Land OF the Pigtails.
Cruel Torture Of a Prisoner By the
Order Of a Mandarin in C4n.on.

A Canton letter to the San Fraucisc /
Exantaer describes a horrifying court
scene. The writer SAYS:
As | entered the court room two stall
wart ja.lcrs were roughly bringing in
prisoner accused Of the crime Of piracy.
Around the neck Of the prisoner was an
iron collar, to which an iron chain was at
tached. One Of the jailers was dragging
the prisoner along by the cham, and the
other was aiding him by pushing and
kicking. The accused was taken before
the mandar desk, made to PROSTATE
himself on the floor, and the trial COM
menced. The accusation charging the
prlsoner with piracy was read, and then
the mandarin asked him throu h the in
terpreters to confess the charge. This
the prisoner refused to do, claiming that
he was innocent. This seemed to anger
the mandarin, and he instructed the
Hctors to strike the prisoner with their
leather thongs. This they did, striking
him a number of times on the face with a
leather strap two inches wide and foot
in length. This failing to bring the deF
sired answer, the mandarin then ordered
the jallers to prepare torture. An in
strument Of torture, resembling COM
mon bench was then brought in and
placed in position on end. From the
upper legs of the bench dangled four
stout cords, and near the top of the
plank, forming the seat, was cloth
band about two inches in width, and
attached to winch at the back of the
board. The prisoner viewed these pre-
parations with a dogged and sulen look.
The lietors then seized the prisoner and
forced lin to kneel with his back against
this frame, and quickly fastened a cord
20 each Of the large toes of the foot, and,
bending back the arms, fastened the
other two cords to his thumbs. The
cords were now tightened until the pris-
oner's knees were raised clear of the
floor. The band was then placed around
the forehead and tightened with a few
turns of the winch. The position OF the
body naturally threw the weight forward
and made the pressure on the forehead
fearful
AS the cords and bands tightened and
the weight of the body was thrown on
them, the victim began to show evidence
of extreme pain. His breath came heavy
and labored, and deep groan OCCASION
ally escaped his lips. In this position he
hung for q couple of minutes, and was
then again asked by the mandarin if he
was guilty Of the charge of piracy. He
refused to confess. The penpiration was
starting out all over his body, the cords
were beginning to cut into the flesh, and
the muscles were becoming knotted. The
mandarin gave an impatient order to the
lctors, and the winch was given a couple
of turns Tightening the bands around the
forehead until the prisoners eyes seemed
to start from their sockets and the flesh
on each side Of the band was puffed and
discolored. Again he was asked to con
fess and again refused. Another turn Of
the winch was ordered The eyes Of the
suffering man had now rolled back until
only the whites were visible; the mus
cles of his face began to twitch and knot,
and froth was collecting around his lips
His groans and writings were horrible.
1t seemed as if human senses could
stand no more 4 few more turns
Of the winch and the band would
crush in the skull The muscles ot
the arms and legs stood out rigid
and knotted from the weight OF the
body. Once mo.c he was asked to con.
fess. This time he hesitstcl and then
shrcked out that he would confess anv-
thing they desired il they would bu
take him from this horrible rack. Til,
mandarin, therefore. ordered the nctor
to release him from the rack This thc1
did much IN the same manner as 4 steve
e dore handles sacks Of grain. They IN
5 tied the cords and looseaei the band
; allowing the prisoner % fail in a heaI
c on the floor. TIE tortured mans fac
: had lost the semblaace o. human be
I inc, Distorted }'v The pain and acon,
. endured, with 81 caring eyes an
e open mouth, i presented = grIan.n NJ
e unnatura1, hideous aspe,: Tie arm
G and limbs were rj-ij and .ranpei. q
muscular power seeming - have le.
them, and the preparation was rollia.