Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-09-18

The death penalty of capital punish
ment by decapitation was inflicted on
robber and murderer mt Bankok Aug.
80 at o'clock in the morning, on the
execution grounds near Wat Mat Ka
San at Sapatoom, says the Kangkok
Times. The criminal was Siamese,
who while attempting a burglary at
Muang Rah Yong murdered a China
man named Chin Chee in 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 a detachment of soldiers
under the command of Il 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-
INO, OIt-INo, oilC-lNDs L hlS Souiitih9
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 a
fair specimen of his class, as far as
strength and power were concerned,
and apparently about 30 years of age.
Although Il few partially healed scars
We're visible on his back, from which
it may be judged that he had UNDER
gone corporal punishment to some ex-
teut, 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 eXecutioners staff, to the num-
Der of fully sixteen weapons of various
makes, and one special weapon adorn-
ed as TO its handle with a 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 eXecutioner-in-c chief, 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 red
sash, all the staff doing likewise. The
criminal was then placed in 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 "A
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 orifices OF
the prisoner We're 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
then, with stately tread, came from
the altar behind the prisoner, and,
while solemn hush fell on all around.
he drew nearer and nearer the doomed
man.
5 The executioner himself is about the
= medium size, perhaps some so years OF
, age, but quick and active in move
ment, with face which rather betok
ems benevolence and deep religious
, feeling than aught else, A look of de
= termination and stern sense of duty
, was on his face as he approached the
criminal, and before the latter coult
possibly be aware, with a single SWEEP
of his sword in his right hand he sever
ed the spinal column and the whole
, neck with the exception of a small por
ton of skin under the chin, which he
afterward cut with his sword. The
head of the criminal was exposed then
for short time on pole, while the
irons were being removed from the
legs of the body by cutting off the
heels with the special weapon spoken
of previously 1t lacked two minutes
to $50 in the morning when the fatal
stroke was given, and at S:35 the body
had been doubled in the grave, the
head thrown in and covered with earth,
and traces of the recent event removed.
For rapidity of execution painlessness,
solemnity, decorum, and all the re-
quirements of justice, it is very evil
dent that Siam is indefinitely ahead of
most eastern nations, if not of western
ones (and even that is open to serious
question: in its methods of intlicting