The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-08-14
HEBREW PUNISHMENTS.
Stoning, Burning, Strangling and DecapF
tatiOn 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 a pell-mell casting of
stones at criminal; the burning had
nothing to do with the practice of the
Middle Ages, nor did tine 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. Invested 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 conclusion caused
death by dislocating the spinal cord.
The elevation was not to be so high as
to greatly disfgure the body. This was
a 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
execution, in accordance with Deuter-
onomy {. If the convict fell face
DOWN. ne was turned on his back
If he not quite dead, stone, so
heavy as u require two persons to carry
it, was taken to the top of the e1ninence
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 nee
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 well to mention, in this
connection, that previous to carrying
into effect a sentence of death, a death
draught, as it was called, was admins
tered TO the unfortunate victim. This
beverage was composed of myrrh and
frankincenSc Qebana) in cup of vine
gar or light wine. 1t produced kind
of stupefactiOn, a semi-consciouS condi-
ton of mind and body, rendering the
convict Indifferent to his fate and
scarcely sensible to pain. AS soon as
the culprit had partaken of the stupe-
flying draught the execution took place.
A criminal sentenced to death by
burning was executed in the following
manner. y 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 very soft cloth
wrapped around it. This was passed
once aroSnd the offenders neck. Two
Ken then came forward; each grasped
an end of the rope and pulled hard.
SuffocatiOn was immediate. AS the
condemned man felt the strain of the
cord and inSensibility supervened- the
lower jaw dropped Into the mouth
thus opened a 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 ignomini-
Gus and degrading death that any man
could suffer. 1t was the penalty in
cases of assassination and deliberate
murder 1t was incurred by those who
wilfully and wantonly slew Il man with
a stone or with an implement of stone
or iron 1t was likewise the punish
menI meted ont to all persons who re-
sided in town the inhabitants of which
had allowed themselves to be seduced
to idolatry and paganism.
Strangulation was the form of death
by sutfOcation. 1t was effected as in
burning. The culprit stood up to his
knees in loose earth. A SOFT cloth coz
tanning d cord was wound once round
his neck. The ends being pulled in OPP
pOsite directions life was soon extinct.
This mode of death was the punishment
of one who struck his father or mother;
of anyone stealing fellow Israelite;
of false prophet; of an elder or pro-
vincial judge who taught or acted con-
trary to the decision of the Great Synhe-
drin of Jerusalem: and of some other
crimes against public morals.
These four deaths, as above described,
were the only modes of execution in ac'
cOrdance with Hebrew law.-American
Notes and Queries