Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-10-20
TORTURES IN JAPAN.
METHODS OF EXTORTING CON
Passions FROM CRIMINALS.
n Dark Page in the History of the
Mikado's Kingdom cunning
Devices of the Japan
Csc Inquisitors.

Since the fall of the dual government
and restoration of the Mikado as re.
sponsib,c ru.er in 1868. Japan has so
completely entcrta.n ned the idea of pro-
grcsS, seeking the broad sunlight of
civilization that one must turn to any
dark or cruel page of her history with
a feeling of reluctance Until recently
one of the lingering relics of barbarsm
was the torture of persons arraignCd in
| the courts of justice. In 1878 it was
freely reported that torture was applied
| to some of the soldiers of the Takebashi
barracks, hut it may fairly DO under
stood that the mutinecrs Of Takcbashi
were the last to suffer the repulsive pun.
ishments; and the very decided expires.
| sion of opinion on the part of foreign
officials in Japan fastened the abolition
of the hateful practice at once and for
ever. But the purpose now in view is
! to glance at the old criminal law of
Japan, and to briefly describe some of
| the foIms of torture employed during eX
animation of prisoners to provoke them
! into confession of their crimCs.
The most extreme of revolt re- cruel.
ties were the various applications of the
| llIC lOl lllIt, DuJ IOl llIC SOlilC vi
them had the one advantage of more
speedily terminating his terrible suffer
ings The accused, with hands and feet
secured, wa; suspended head down
ward, in q cage made of green bamboo.
The cage was contr.vcd to slowly re
volyc, the culprt being exposed to the
fierce heat of a charcoal fire, which was
frequently replenished by the cXccu
| TONERS.
Oftentimes. happily for the wrctchcd
sufferer, the fumes of the charcoal pro
duccd sufrocation. Another fire torture
was tocompel the prisoner to stand upon
a heated grating or grid, beneath which
a fire was constantly kept burning. He
was unable to leave the small enclosure,
being quite surrounded by strong rail
ing. Lighted charcoal placed in the in
terror of IL metal funnel was another
| description of FIRE torture. The tube,
containing the lighted cha coal, was Sc
curely bound in the grasp of the rris-
oner, and he was forced by the atten-
/ dants to walk quickly ABOUT, expos ng
the broad end of tie tube to the wind,
thereby accclerating The heat and in
creasing his own sullcrings. Another
agonizing torture was prodGced by the
application of boiling oil to the body of
the victim, and it was torture applied
in so many ways that only sickening de
tails of devices to intensity human
suffering could picture, if that were pos
siblc, its extent and variety.
The sto"c torture was usuil lily the first
cruelty practiced upon risoner. lie
was forced to PROSTATE himself, face
downward, upon the apexes of five
triangular shaped books 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
slowly addcd-to increase the terrible
we ght-until he became unconscious or
! seniticd his intention TO confess.
The box torture was still more
atrocious continuance. Bound hand and
foot. the culprit was forced into Il strong
! box, ABOUT two feet square, having a
covering made to fit the inside, and
capable OF being lowered or la;scd at
will. Heavy weights were placed upon
il, and as these were increased in num-
bcr, depressing the lid, the poor wretch
within the box was slowly crushed to
death.
In using the water torture it was be
| l.evcd that the torment Of thirst would
induce a prisoner to coalcs' his guilt.
After several days subsistence on Il salt
diet, without rice and waite, the accused
was shlt in Il room where he could see
and hear the dropp II of water on all
sides. but out of his reich. The cravings
and sulTernos became fearful under the
agony, often approaching the bounds of
insanity
deprivation of sleep was effected by
placing the criminal upon led. or mat,
0 err which small stream of water was
continue ly flowing Atten lants were
in readiness, ard at the slightest indica-
ton of Slumbcr they woull rouse their
victim by ringin" bells, beating drums,
Or the application of fire to his body
The treatment rendered sleep impossible,
| he poor wrctch's mind became dis
ordered ulC G. the torture and ortcntime;
left him raving maniac.
The old style Of trail in Japan in
cludcd only about four pcrsons--thc
jud re- the secretary, the torturer and the
accused. The latter was taken into the
examination room securely bound, and
was forced 20 knccl during the invcsti
CATION of his case. If he persisted in re-
( naming mute, or appeared TO "quivCcatc
in his reply to the questions addressed
to him, the investigation whip was
used smartly an instrument capable o
inhicting great punishment, made OF
three long strips of bamboo cane.
sEould he continue stubborn mu h
heavier whip WAS applied, the to"tUrcr
repeating the blows until the prisoner
either yielded or lante under the terri
bic infection. But no fatal INF ricS were
permitted to be inflicted during these
prcIim nary investigations, and IL Judge
:ausing the application of torture to in
noccnt person.. or TO those of very al
vanccd or tender years, was him self Ii
qbIe to severe punishment
Such were some OF the inhuman meth
eds of torturing prisons in Japan prac-
t;ccd certainly within score of years
and lcSs-and not few of The death
sentences described, excepting the most
atrocious torturcs, the present writer has
actually witncsscd.-Macics'er Guar
linn.