The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-10-29
HEBREW DEATH PENALTIES.
Ancient Methods of StOning, Burnin 6
Strangling and Decapitation.

In work on the Criminal Code of
the Jews" Mr.. Benny gives an inter-
esting 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 Talmud were not pell-mell cast
ing of stones at criminal; the burn
ing had nothing to do with the prac-
tice 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, 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 con-
cussion caused death by dislocating
the spinal chord. The elevation was
not to be so high as to greatly distig-
ure 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 Deuteronomy xvii,
z. If the convict fell face downward
be 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 sec
ond of the witnesses then hurled the
stone so as to fall upon the culprit be-
low. This process, however, was sell
dom necessary; the semi-stupefied con-
dition of the condemned, and the
height from which he was cast insur-
ing in the generality of eases, instant
death.
1t may be we'll to mention, in this
connection, that previous to carrying
into effect sentence of death, death
draught, as it was called, was admins
tered to the unfortunate victim. This
beverage was composed of myrrh and
frankincense (lebana) in cup of vim
egar or light wine. 1t produced a
kind of stupefaction. semi-conscious
condition 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: A shallow pit about two feet
deep was dug in the ground. Ia this
right. Around his legs earth was
shoveled and battered firmly down un-
til he was fixed up to his knees in the
soil. Movement on the part of the
condemned person was of course inn
possible; but care was taken that the
limbs should not be painfully con-
strained. A strong cord was now
brought, and very soft cloth wrapped
around it. This was passed once
around the offenders neck. Two men
then came forward; each grasped an
end of the rope and pulled hard. Suf-
location was immediate. AS the con-
demned man felt the strain of the cord,
and insensibility supervened, the lower
jaw dropped. Into the mouth 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. II was considered the
most humiliating, the most ignomin-
ious 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 willfully and wantonly slew
man with a stone or with an imple-
ment of stone or iron. 1t was likewise
the punishment melted out to all per-
sons who resided in a town the inhab-