Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-17
coREAN CRIMINALS.
Punishments in Vogue In the Land OF this
Morning Calm.

Corea, take up their abode, 1t may lie
of interest to know wha sort Of treat
ment these refugees would receive If
broug.. back 1t may first be noted
that Cotea has not been open long
enough to have imbibed sufficient mod
ern ideas Of justice to induce her to
abandon the ancient and b rbarous
treatment Of criminals common from
o den times in Asiatic countries. The
trial is still a course of fiogging, in
tended to induce the criminal to CON
Tess to the crime Of which he Is ac-
cused. 1t also allows of the almost un-
limited use Of ''spite wogk'' and tue re-
moval of offensive persons or the con-
iiscation OF property, and if man is
formal y accused, though there may be
nothing to prove his guilt he is still
sure Of long Imprisonment, and may
congratulate himself i. he ever escap es
alive.
For political criminals the general
routine is varied somewhat They are
sent to special prison. called Kuhn
Poh. presided over by an officer called
the Toh sub. This PRISON is located
in the center of the capital. on the
principal street. and its imposing en-
trance usually arrests the attention of
visitors.
All that is necessary for the securing
Of lodging in this far too hospitable
place is that some one. for reasons
known perhaps only to himself. should
accuse person to the magistrate of
being a traitor, or of contemplating
some traitorous act. The supposed
criminal is caught and brought under
guard to the Kuhn Poh, where he is
fed on bad rice and worse water. Soon
after his arrival he is treated to a
sound beating, to assist him in making
up his mind to confess. If he protests
his innocence and ignorance of the
crime of which he is accused he is then
treated to other and oft-repeated beat
ings upon the joints. This is kept up
it may be for years-with occasional
intermissions, caused by the illness of
the prisoner and the necessity for his
recovery in order that full and contin-
ned Justice " may be melted out.
Should this treatment last for so long
time as to exhaust the patience and
ingenuity of the officials, and should
no new evidence be brought up to sup
port the feeble charge. the man may
be banished to distant and barren
province, where, If famine, cold or
tigers have not devoured him, the royal
clemency may eventually find him and
return him, branded man, to his
family.
If. however, the man has been guilty,
or, as is often the case. if he should de-
eide that death We're preferable to a
continuation of his torture and confess
to his crime, he would soon be killed.
Ehe manner of killing is peculiar and
is especially obnoxious to the Catholic
Christians, who are abundant in this
country. An ordinary Roman cross is
set up on a huge cart drawn by oxen.
The man is tied to this with arms ex-
tended, and he is thus drawn through
the streets. A crier precedes the pro
cession, announcing the crime for
which the man is being punished. His
friends are allowed to follow and pro-
test his innocence and bewail his sad
fate, but as the punishment is usually
visited upon the family if the treason
has been glazing, the following OF
friends is apt to be rather small.
There are two places of execution al
the capital. One, seldom used, is in
the city, while the chief place is just
outside the west gate, on a hillside.
where the immense crowds upon the
city wall and other high places can get
7 good view of the interesting sight.
Whether the prisoner, in his exhausted
state, has succumbed to the torture OF
the cross or not, on arriving at the
place of execution he is placed face
downward, with his neck upon block.
when. by one stroke, if it is a good
one, the heavy sword sewers the head
from the body. The hands and feet
flc thtH CuV pIl' dllu llt Iuutlldlet
body is carried back into the city and
laid, chest downward. in one of the
streets. where it must lay for three
lays.
1t should be mentioned that the hui
name King is opposed to this practice,
which custom seems still to demand.
In case the accuser should be proved
IN imposter and to have accused tht
man falsely, the prisoner or his friend,
have the right to demand an eye from
h m. Their method of obtaining the
prgan is quite novel, and if well per
.ormed it is more expeditions than i,
he modern surgical method of eneucle,
alton. The cull r,t is made to stooT
over, and is then hit with the loaded
md of a flexible stick upon spot on
the back of the head, when the eye
protrudes sufficiently that it may b.
cut off If, however, the people who
wish the eye are not prompt in doing
the cutting operation, the prisoner may
quickly replace the eye and possess il
'ucl ealleI III ptdCe, an Vi men - SAN
10 have been done many times, but
unfortunately. has not been witnessed
Us yet. by foreigners, Cor. San Fran
cisco Chronicle.
A clergyman on a sultry after
noon paused in his sermon and SAID
Il saw an advertisement for five hun
bred sleepers for a railroad. l think
could supply fifty, and recommend
tben as poOd and sound n-,JeiI.iSl