Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-07
KEmMLeR A PIONEER.
The various Methods Of Judicial Killing
So Far Known.


So Far Known.
The wretch who died in Auburn Prison
to-day was a pioneer. His death lnaugu-
rated new method of judicial killing.
Since history began men are known 10
have been killed. under the law. by thirty
FIVE metbods-that first employed to-day
being the last The list of offences which
were punishable by death has grown
smaller since the time of Moses. when
thirtv-three acts of crime and indiscretlOn
were capital offence. and the WAYS
Of melting out death have dimin-
ished until, IN substance, executions
at the present day are either by the gulilo-
tine-as in France, Bavaria. Hanover. Bel
GUM. and Saxony; by the garrote, "a IN
Spain: 10y decapitatiOn or hanging, as In
Russia: by stranguation or decapitation.
as in China bv beheading, rs IN Switzer-
land and Denmark: by shooting. a. IN the
ordinary eases of military-law and IN some
portions of Germany and South America:
bv decapitation, as in Prussia. and in
other countries, and particularly IN the
United States, universally by hanging.
that being the old commentary method OF
execution inherited by the colonies from
Great Britain.
Time was away back in the years when
human blood was held literally so cheap
that n murderer might buy back his life,
as in China. where dread of death was so
slight and life so worthless that there are re-
corded instances IL which substitutes were
bought by a bonus 70 their families To IN
dergo the penalty Of death instead OF the
murderer.
In England, down 10 1892, housebreak-
ing and horse-stealing were capital crimes,
and not until so late as 1861 was the gamut
of capital crime narrowed 90 two offences.
murder and treason. In Massachusetts. in
1850. seventeen offences were punished
with death 40 years later there were only
seven capital offences. OF which were only
four of the original seventeen and to-day
the old State stands with her fellows In the
list Of extreme sins.
In the time while Massachusetts, was
killing obstinate children and persons who
swore William Penn was founding tne
state Of PENNSYLVANIA. At that time the
earth knew Of 200 capital offences. hut
Penn cut down the list when making the
laws OF the now Keystone State 10 one
murder And here are the means employ
ed under the law since history began OF
killing State criminals. :,
1. Auio IA H. meaning "act of faith
used ut the public executions OF persons
condemned to death upon trial and SEN
tencc by the Spanish lnquisition. "a
designation rather than model
..
times South African tribes, particularly
the Hottentots, who had no written laws
only the laws of usgge-put their con
demued 10 death with clubs, the chief OF
the lraal or village striking the first blow
aud the populace ending the execution.
Greek slaves also were beaten to death.
B. BEHEADISG. DECArIrATIoN.-Ihe creeks
and Romans cut the heads oil their capital
offenders. John Baptist died thus. Earl
I.,L.uIa1 lac William fnp tDfl-
queror in 1915. was the first Englishman TO
die bv beheadlng, which was deemed the
most honorable way of receiving capital
punishment. The rebel lords OF l7l5 were
the last To die thus IN England. China
and Japan employed this method OF capi,
tai punishment. and do now. SWORDS ana
axes. as distinguished from the guiilotine,
were used in olden DAYS.
4. BLOWING FROM CAsSoN.-Death thus
came 10 criminals bound before the can
mons mouth. or thrust into the bore and
fired out a. part of the load. India.
Z. BouISG. The Bishop of Rochester, IN
1881, was poisoned bv his cook, John Roose;
and Roose was boiled TO death. Several
executions took place by boiling under
Henry VIII, water being usually the iiuid,
also melted lead and sulphur.
+. BGEAKING or THE WHtEL.-Germany
contrlved this mode of death away back IN
y.
a special form of beating TO death. lhe
prisoner was bound upon the periphery or
upon the crOss-bars or spokes OF wneel,
and arms and limbs were crushed by blows
of bludgeOns or iron rods, the yltals being
untouched. Thus death was slow. France
and England also used the wheel III the
sixteenth century.
Z. BUaNING.-Ihe fagots of death first
burned in the name of religion, though
-. Il .,,ta hara apfnlDVgn HafmRl
as Observation-Disclosures the Romans ana
Jews of ancient times. The old Brltons
punished heinous crimes by burning the
offenders in wicker baskets. This form OF
death was suffered in the colonial times OF
this country. Chinese Emperor Tcheon,
| instigated by his favorlte concubine,
adopted a brass cylinder upon when
| criminals were bound and roasted by hres
within the cylinder. Self H., Shah OF Per,
| STA, stretched victims upon a SAD, ooreu
nnumerable holes in their bodies. IN the
holes lighted tapers were inserted III huld
oil.
A Gallo and British method was to burn
criminals in cages of wicker-wOrk IN the
form of some well-known idol.
g. BURYING Barbarous tribes and
civilized countries have buried criminals
TO the hips, or 20 the neck and shoulders,
then they were beaten TO death or LETT TO
starve.
9. CRucJrrxIoS.-The exact origin of the
cross is in doubt. Semiramis IS credited
with its invention. Ii Is held, also, 10 nave
been a gradual growth among Dgrbaro9s
| tribes as a cruelty of war. Nearly all records
| say its use was very ancient ana very gene
raj among all communities but the jews
| Crucifyion was abolished for Christian
countries by the Emperor Constantine, and
at the present day its use IS conhned 10
the Mohamihedans. A punishment anaio-
| gOus TO crucifxion was once practleeu III
| the West India Islands. The offender was
suspended upon post by huge NOOK IN
serted under his shoulder or under his
breast-bone.
10. DEcIaArIoy. Visited upon military
offenders. notably mutineers. whole
regiment might be involved. and death to
all would have been slaughter. ne mas
sacre Of whole regiment might no. ye
wise on the eve of battle. Every tentn
man was chosen in mutinous troop lOr
death upon given occasion. None hne"
at the fatal discharge who was TO fali, thus
the entire troop was kept under terror OF
death until an entire command snoulu
have decimated.
IL. DIcBoroMY.-The operation OF cut
ting in two parts-bisectlng, tamiliar ~
Bible records, and also Baoyionian Gus
tom.
II. DrsuyNsyRMENT.- the body
forcibly asunder. as in the case OF laval
lac, who assasslnated Henry ~; IN loip'
Not so much "a distinct mode OF punish
ment as al atrocious accompaniment OF
death penalty. Drawing and quarterihg
was an adjunct.
Is. DROWNING. Syria, Greece, Rome. ana
Persia employed this method IN ioLinsr
"a WalQht flH DO0V
and then cast Il into deep water. The
Duke OF Clarence, who protested against
unjust acts OF his brother. Edward w., II
is said. was drowned in butt of Maimsey
vine.
II. EXPOSURE TO WILD BEASTS bible re;
cords tell Of this method, aud IN 0rientai
countries this form of death IS said not 70
be obsolete. Thirty years ago brush
prisoners were delivered TO o den OF ser