Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-08-15
HEBREW DEATH PENALTIES.
Ancient Methods OF Stoning, Burning,
strangling and Decapitation.

In a 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
we're 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 a pell-mell cast
ing of stones at q 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 stouing to death Of the Talmud
was as follows: The criminal was con-
lucted 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 disfig-
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 xviii,
z. il the convict fell face downward
he was turned on his back. II ne was
not quite dead. stone, so heavy as to
require two persons to carry 1t, 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-stupefed con-
dition of the condemned, and the
height from which he was cast insur-
ing. in the generality Of cases, instant
death.
1t may be we'll to mention. in this
connection, that previous to carrying
lubU CuCCl u bOulCuCO Va 0Catut - OOoeh-
draught, as it was called. was admins
tered to the unfortunate victim. This
beverage was composed Of myrrh and
frankincense (ie6dnd) In q cup Of vim.
egar or light wine. 1t produced n
kind of stupefaction. semi-cOnscious
condition of mind and body, rendering
the convict Indifferent to his fate and
scarcely sensible to pain. As soon a.
the culprit had partaken Of the stupe-
flying draught the execution took place.
A criminal sentenced to death by
burning was executed 10 the following
manner: A shallow pit about two feet
deep was dug In the ground. In this
the culprit was placed, standing up
right Around his legs earth was
shOveled and battered firmly down un-
til he was fixed up to his knees Ia 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, aud a very soft cloth wrapped
sround Il. 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.