Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-02-08

k1m1E 4 1o3d n hollow tonA1b ~thlo
= ~ Iin But Il was, and I havs lived
~ 1ouR. deoolate years since / hunted
my un6le1s murderer to the death
Ydnkee Hlade
Japaness TEXTURES.
The most extreme Of revolving cru
elites psrpetrsted upon the Japanese
prisoners until very recently were tho
various applications of the Are torture;
but for the victim. some OF them had
the ono advantage Of more speedily
terminating his terrible ~sufferingA The
accused, with hands and feet secured,
was suspended, head downward, in q
cage made Of green bamboo. The cage
was contrived to slowly revolve, the
culprit being exposed to the fierce heat
Of . charcoal fire, which was frequently
replenished BY the executioners.
Oftentimes, happily for the wretched
sufferer, the fumes Of charcoal pro-
duced suffocation. Another fire tor
tnre was to compel the prisoner to
stand upon . heated grating or grid,
beneath which . fire vas constantly
kept burning. He was unable to leave
the small enclosure, being quite sur
rounded by q strong railing. Lighted
charcoal placed in the interior Of q
metal funnel was another description
of fire torture. The tube containing
the lighted charcoal was securely bound
in the grasp Of the prisoner, and he
was forced by the attendants to walk
quickly about, exposing the broad end
Of the tube to the wind, thereby accel-
Grating the heat and increasing his own
sufferingz. Another agonizing torture
was produced by the application Of boil
ing oil TO the body Of the victim, and it
was q torture applied in SO many ways
that only sickening details Of hellish
devices to intensity human suffering
could picture, il that were possible. its
extent and variety.
The stone torture was usually the first
cruelty practiced upon a prisoner. He
was forced to PROSTATE himself, face
downward, upon the apexes Of five
trangular-shaped blocks Of hard wood,
the front OF his legs being exposed to
the sharp edges While securely held
in this position heavy stones were placed
on the victims thighs, and others were
o4OWAy 0AuQu-tO HUI VAk0 CkAAOlO
weight--until he became unconscious
or signifed his intention to confess.
The box torture was a still more afro
cious continuance. Bound hand and
foot, the culprit was forced into . strong
box, about two feet square, having q
covering made to fit the inside, and ca
pable OF being lowered or raised ct will.
Heavy weights were placed upon it, and
rs these we're increased in number. de-
pressing the lid, the poor wretch within
the box was slowly crushed to death.
In using the water torture it was be-
liSved that the torment of thirst would
induce . prisoner to confess his guilt.
After several days subsistence on q salt
diet, without rice and water, the &C.
cused was shut in o room where he
could see and hear tho dropping water
on all sides, but out of his reach. The
cravings and sufferings became fearful
under the agony, often approaching
the bounds Of insanity.
Deprivation Of sleep was effected by
placing the criminal upon . bed, or
mat, over which q small stream OF
water was continually flowing. At
tsndants were in readiness, and ct the
slightest indication Of slumber they
would rouse their victim by ringing
bells, beating drums. or the application
Of fire to his body. The treatment en-
dered sleep impossible; the poor
wretch's mind became disordered under
the torture and oftentimes left him q
raving maniac.
The old style of trial in Japan in
cluded only about four persons, the
Judge, the secretary, the torturer, and
the, accused. The latter was taken
into the examination room securely
bound, and was forced to kneel during
the investigation of his case. If he
persisted in remaining mute or APP
peared to ~equivocste in his reply to the
questions addressed to him the "in.
vestigation whip" was used smartly-
an instrument capable OF inAicting
great punishment, made of three
long stripes of bamboo cane.
Should he continue stubborn o much
heavier whip was applied, the torturer
repeating the blows until the prisoner
either yielded or tainted under the ter.
rible infection. But no fatal injuries
were permitted to be inflicted during
these preliminary Investigations, and a
Judge causing the application of tor.
ture to innocent persons, or to those Of
very advanced or tender years, OF to
pregnant females, wa himself liable to
severe punishment
Such we're some of the inhuman
methods Of torturing prisoners in Japan,
practiced, certainly, within q score o.
years-and less-and not q few of the
death sentences described, excepting
the most atrocious tortures, the pres.
emit writer has actually Witnessed
Manchester Courier.