The Colfax chronicle., 1891-10-17

stcnsAg. Burning. strangilng and Deesp pi'
tntIOn Described.


HEBREW PuNIShMENTS.
stonsng. Burning. strangiing and Decs pis
tntIOn Described.
In work on the Criminal Code of
the Jews" Mr.. Benny gives an interest
ing account of the various modes of
punishment under the Hebrew law of
capital offenses In accordance with
the Mosaic creed, four kinds of death
were inflicted, each corresponding with
the crime. Nothing can be more absurd
than the notions about some of these.
The stoning of the Bible and the Tai
mud were not pell-mell casting OF
stones at a criminal: the burning had
nothing to do with the practice of the
Middle Ages, nor did the strangling
bear any resemblance to the English
methods.
The stoning to death of the. Talmud
was as follows: The criminal was con-
Quoted to an elevated place, divested of
his attire If man, and then hurled to
the ground below. The height of the
eminence from which he was thrown
was always more than fifteen feet, the
higher, within certain limits, the better.
The violence Of the concussion caused
death by dislocating the spinal cord.
The elevation was not to be so high as
to greatly disfigure the body. This was
tender point with the Jews; man was
created in Gods image, and it was not
permitted to desecrate the temple
shaped by Heavens own hand. The
first of the witnesses who had testified
against the condemned man acted as
executioner, in accordance with Deutcr-
onomy xvii, Z. If the convict fell face
downward, he was turned on his back.
If he was not quite dead, stone, so
heavy as to require two persons to carry
it, was taken to the top of the eminence
whence he had been thrown; the second
of the witnesses then hurled the stone
so as to fall upon the culprit below.
This process, however, was seldom nec-
essary; the semi-stupefied condition of
the condemned, and the height from
which he was cast insuring, in the gen.
erality OF cases. instant death
1t may be we'll to mention, in this
connection, that previous to carrying
into effect q sentence of death, death
drauRht. as it was called, was adminis-
tered to the unfortunate victim. This
beverage was composed of myrrh and
frankincense Qebana) in cup of vinc-
gar or light wine. 1t produced kind
of stupefaction, semi-conscious condi-
ton OF mind aud body. rendering the
convict Indifferent to his fate and
scarcely sensible to pain. AS soon as
the culprit had partaken of the stupe-
tying draught the execution took place.
A criminal sentenced to death by
burning was executed in the following
manner. A shallow pit some two feet
deep was dug in the ground. In this
the culprit was placed, standing upright
Around his legs earth was shoveled and
battered firmly down until he was fixed
up to his knees in the soil. Movement
on the part of the condemned person
was of course impossible; but care was
taken that the limbs should not be pain
fully constrained A strong cord was
now brought, and a very soft cloth
wrapped around it. This was passed
once around the offenders neck. Two
men then came forward; each graspsd
an end of the rope and pulled hard
Sufocation was immediate. As the
condemned man felt the strain of the
cord, and insensibility supervened, the
lower jaw dropped. Into the moatk
thus opened lighted wick was quickly
thrown. This constituted the burning.
Decapitation was performed by the
Jews after the fashion of the surround
ing nations. 1t was considered the
most humiliating, the most ignomiDi-
ous and degrading death that any man
could suffer. 1t was the penalty 10
cases OF assassination and delibera.e
murder. 1t was incurred by those who
and wantonly slew man will;
: stone or with an implement of stone
DR. iron. 1t was likewise the punish
nent meted out to all persons who re-
sided in a town the inhabitants of which
lad allowed themselves to be seduccd
% idolatry and paganism.
Strangulation was the form of death
Dy suffocation. 1t was effected as in
burning. The culprit stood up to bis
<nees in loose earth. A soft cloth con-
aiming cord was wound once round |
lis neck. The ends being pulled in OBJ |
,osite directions, life was soon extinct
This mode of death was the punishment |
II one who struck his father or mother;
II anyone stealing fellow Israelite;
II false prophet; of an elder or pro-
'incial judge who taught or acted con-
rary to the decision of the Great Synhe-
lrin of Jerusalem; and of some other
rimes against public morals.
These four deaths, as above described.
we're the only modes of execution in &C.
ordance with Hebrew law.-Americau
Notes and Queries.
Travelling In the Early Days.
Hannibal Hamlin's first trip to Wash