The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-28
JEWISH EXECUTIONS.
The Four Modes of Capital Punishment
Under the Code of Moses.

UAuer the CoCte OF EAOseSs
fThe general impression that hanging is a
barbarous method of shutting criminals of the
EARTH, said a local attorney to St. Louis Re-
public correspondent, "has caused the New
York legislature to create an enactment sub
shutting electricity for the rope. but glance
at punishments invented and practiced at the
beginning of the Christian era shows that
hanging is not so bad after all The rabbis
were the first among ancient legsts to render
the intiiction of the death penalty as painless
as possible. The manner in which the sentence
of the law i'll capital cases was carried into eff
feet was regulated by series of enactments
Every detail was proclaimed. The place of
execution was always beyond the limits of the
town, generally at some distance from the hall
where Judgment had been pronounced. There
were two reasons for this. First, that certain
interval of time should elapse between SEN
tence and execution, so as to permit the court
to examine any evidence that might yet be
forthcoming; and, secondly, that the sanhe-
drim should not witness the execution AS
soon as the punishment of death was deereed
the criminal was conducted from the court,
two elders, the witnesses, and the officers of
the tribunal accompanying him. In advance of
the cortege walked an attendant, proclaiming
aloud: so and so is to be executed for such
and such an otfense; so and so are the witness
SEES; the crime was committed at such place,
on such day, and at such an hour; if any per-
son can urge anything against the infiiction of
the punishment let him go to the sanhedrim,
now sitting, and state his arguments. Then
tho party proceeded through tie town.
Arrived within six yards of the place of
execution the sages who were with the cuprit
pressed him TO confess his crime They told
him that WhosOever makes confession IS priVi-
legged TO share in the clam haba-future exist
ence--since death was an expiration for all ini-
quities If he refused to acknowledge his guilt
he was asked to say May my death prove an
atonement for all my transgressions.' Hewas
then conducted to within four yards OF the
place where the sentence was to he carried into
effect. The death draught was here admins
tered. This beverage was composed Of myrrh
and frankincense, Qehana) in q cup of vinegar
or light wine. Ii produced in the convict
kind of stupefaction, q semi-conscious cOndi-
ton of mind and body, rendering him inditfer-
ent to his fate and scarcely sensible to pam.
| The drink was-in Jerusalem-provided by
women. who considered this one of the greatest
observation-disclosures deeds. In provincial
towns the local communal authorities were re-
! quired to furnish the criminal with the
! draught. AS soon as the eulprilt had drank of
! the Supplying draught the execution took
! place.
| "In accordance with the Mosaic code four
| kinds of death were inflicted, each appropriate
! to a distinct series of DEMONSTRATING, strang-
/ ling burning, and deeaptation. Nothing can
! be more absurd than the notions generally cur
! rent respecting the manner IN which these pun
/ ishments were carried out among the Jews.
! The stoning of the bible and of the Talmud,
/ was not. as vugarly supposed, pel-mel cast
! ing OF stones At Il criminal; INT UuIullS HuU
nothing whatever in common with the process
| of consuming by fire II living person as prac-
! ticed by the churchmen of middle ages. Nor
/ did the strangling bear any resemblance 10 the
/ English method of putting prisoners to death.
| This stoning to death of the Talmud was per-
! formed as follows: The criminal was conducted
/ to an elevated space, Invested OF his attire, If
n man. and then hurled to the ground below.
/ The height of the emnence from which he
was thrown was always more than fifteen feet
the higher, within certain limits, tie better.
/ 1t was not, however, to be so high as 10 smash
/ or greatly dishgure the body. This was a ten
/ der point with the Jews. Man was created in
Gods image, and it was not permitted to desc
/ crate the temple shaped by heaven S own hand.
I The first of the witnesses who had testified
against the condemned man acted as eXecu-
I toner. in accordance with Deut xviii, Z. If
the convict fell face downward he was turned
on his back. If he was not quite dead stone,
so heavy rs to require two persons t. carry it,
was taken 20 the top Of the emiuence whence
he had been thrown; the second of the wit
nesses then hurled the stone SO as 10 fall upon
the culprit below. The process, however, was
seldom necessary, the semi-stupeded condition
of the convict and the height from which he
was cast eusuring instant death. The bodies
of those condemned Tor blGSphemy or idolatry
were subsequently hung upon a galows until
dusk; in other cases Immediately after eXecu-
ton the corpse was Inferred Outside of every
town were two cemeteries for cr.minlls-one
for those sentenced 20 be stoned or burned, and
one for those decapitated or hanged. As soon
a. the flesh had disappeared the skeleton could
be removed 20 the family buryiug place. A
few days after an execution the friends and
relatives Of the dead mamie was uo longer
regarded as mn ufender-cs He'd upon all tile
Judges who had tfied hinl.tThis was a tacit &C
acknowledgement that the punishment had been
Justly awarded, and that those charged with
tho administration oi thc law were q yarded
with no rcyengeful feelings 10y the family and
connections Of tile unfortunate man.
"A criminal sentenced go death ly burning
was executed in tie following manner: A