The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-01-04
A sIAMEse EXECUTION.
Full Details Of the Traeical Ceremony by
m Eyewitness.

80 at 8 o'clock in the morning, on the
execution grounds near Wat Mat Ka
San at Sapatoom, says the KangkoA
Times. The criminal was a Siamese,
who while attempting burglary al
Muang Rah Yong murdered China.
man named Chin Chez in a somewhat
brutal manner by means of blud.
geon.
Shortly after o'clock in the morn
ing representatives of the four special
departments of the government began
to put in an appearance on the ground.
These were followed at intervals by
members of the staff of executioners,
with attendants. Shortly afterward
two large boats belonging to the war
department, manned by sailors and
containing detachment of soldiers
under the command of q Siamese cap
tain OF infantry, arrived with the pris-
oner. The arrival of these boats was
heralded by the sound of hand-gong,
struck significantly at intervals BY the
person who held it, precisely as six
bells is struck on shipboard, as-one-
two, one-two, one-two. This sounding
OF the gong was continued regularly
during the preparations for the execu-
ton, and was a particularly solemn
feature of the proceedings. The DOOM
ed man was attended by the officers of
Borispah Jail, and secured by means of
chairs, his head, however. being fixed
in portable stocks about five feet long,
borne on his shoulders, his hands being
put through between the long bars
forming the stocks, and there secured
at the wrists by means of small wooden
stocks. On being helped out of the
boat the criminal was seated on the
grass, in full view of all. He was
fair specimen of his class, as far as
strength and power were concerned,
and apparently about so years of age.
Although few partially healed scars
were visible on his back. from which
it may be judged that he had under
gone corporal punishment to some ex-
tent, the criminal showed no traces of
suffering or hardship, and had certain
ly been far from starved during his de-
tention in the Jail. He was stolid and
seemingly Indifferent as regards the
preparations going on, and with his
future grave in full sight, after signify
ing his desire for food, ate very hearty
meal of rice, fish. and fruit, which was
provided for him. On one occasion he
actually laughed.
Meanwhile the temporary altar was
being made the repository of the swords
OF the executioner's staff, to the num-
ber of fully sixteen weapons of various
makes, and one special weapon adorn-
ed as to its handle with carved head,
and the purpose of which will appear
hereafter. The swords proper were
placed on the super-altar, all in order,
the special weapon, short, thick,
sharp cleaver, on the lower altar. The
whole altar was then crowded with
offerings in the shape of cooked
(boiled) pigs heads, fowls. plantains,
lines, cocoanuts, custard, apples,
cakes, chutney, Spices samshu, and
other articles, what could not be placed
on the altar being arranged ON the
ground on palm leaves before it.
The northumberland, who was
distinguished from the others by his
white gold-fringed drawers under his
panony, the others wearing red ones,
then arrayed himself in his red vest
and bound his forehead with a red
sash, all the staff doing likewise. The
criminal was then placed in a central
position, seated on the palm leaves, the
stock and neck chains removed, and |
his elbows secured to short bamboo |
post placed in the ground behind him,
which, by the by, had also been under
the altar during the preparatory cere-
monies there. The executioner then |
talked with the criminal, apparently |
asking forgiveness, as the prisoner
nodded and spoke assent to what had
been said. The special attendant, act
ing somewhat in the capacity of
priest, with the executioner. marked
out line which was easily recogniza~
BILE on the neck of the prisoner, and
continued to talk in an apparently con-
solatory strain while the ear ori6ces of
The prisoner were quietly closed with
clay. The religious ceremonies were
still kept on, burning tapers and joss
sticks being placed in the hands of the
prisoner and then set up in the ground
before him. The minister of the law
hen, with stately tread, came from
he altar behind the prisoner, and,
while solemn hush fell on all around.
ne drew nearer and nearer the doomed
nan.
The executioner himself is about the
Medium size, perhaps some so years of
lge, but quick and active in move
nent, with face which rather betok-
ms benevolence and deep religious
ceiling than aught else, A look of de-
and stern sense of duty
vas on his face as he approached the
and before the latter could
possibly be aware, with single sweep
# his sword in his right hand he sever
ID the spinal column and the whole
leck with the exception of a small por-
ion of skin under the chin, which he
lfterward cut with his sword. The
lead of the criminal was exposed then
or short time on a pole, while the
rons were being removed from the
egs of the body by cutting off the
eels with the special weapon spoken
f previously. 1t lacked two minutes
o $50 in the morning when the fatal
troke was given, and at 1886 the body
ad been doubled in the grave, the
lead thrown in and covered with earth.
nd traces of the recent event removed.
or rapidity of execution, painlessness,
decorum, and all the re-
uirements of justice, it is very evil /,
ent that Siam is indefinitely ahead OF
1ost eastern nations. if not Of western
mes (and even that is open to serious
uestion) in it's methods of inflicting :
nd carrying out sentence OF caplta1
!
Absintlae and Green Mint. .
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