The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1892-04-28
BURNED TO DEATH.
a Savage Punishment Revived In the
Province of Yunnan, China

a Savage Punishment Revived In the
Province of Yunnan. China.
The Governor Of Yunnan states that
In some Of the country districts of that
province the villagers have horrible
custom OF burning 20 death any man
caught stealing corn or fruits in the
fields They at the same time compel
the mans relatives TO sign a document
giving their consent TO what is done,
and then make them light the fire with
their own hands, so as TO deter them
from lodging a complaint afterward.
Sometimes the horrible penalty is
exacted for the breaking OF a single
branch or stalk, or even false accusa-
tions are made and men put to death
out OF spite. This terrible practice,
which seems incredible when heard,
came into Use during the time OF the
Yunnan rebellion, and the constant ef-
forts OF the authorities have not
succeeded in extirpating il since.
Last autumn case OF the
kind occurred in the Chluching
prefecture. One evening a man named
Peng Choa-Sheng was going down TO
watch his own field. His path led him
along the side OF a patch Of maize be-
longing to another man. As he passed
he pulled of head OF corn. The owner
saw him and shouted out, upon which
he dropped the corn and fed. The
owner went and told his landlord. upon
which the latter proposed that the pill
ferer should be burned.
The two men having agreed, next
morning they laid the matter before an
assembly OF the villagers. As the mat
ter was SO trifling some advised that il
should be let drop, but their opinion
was not listened TO. On the following
day the two men seized their victim
and bound him. The poor mans moth
er came with all her relatives and
begged for mercy. She offered to make
atOnement by FORGETTING the whole OF
her property to the community. but all
she could say was of no avail. The
men refused TO give way, and ordered
her 10 give her consent to the
murder in writing. threatening
her that otherwise they would put
her TO death also. Overcome by fear
she asked a stranger. a travelling doc
tor who can not be identified. TO write
the required paper for her They then
piled up a heap Of brushwood in an
empty place outside the village and
the next day at noon carried the man
out and laid him bOusd upon it. The
woman was compelled 10 set fire 10 the
faggots, and her son was burned TO
death. Afterward, as soon as she
could, she stole away to the town and
gave information TO the authorities.
The two men were Immediately ar.
rested. One OF them, the landlord.
died in prison, but the other was sent
TO the provincial capital for trial.
The memorialist finds that In the
fifteenth year OF CHEN Lung, IA. ID.
1850, at the request Of the Governor OF
Szechuen, 1t was decreed that in the
case of any person being burned TO
death by body Of men. the principal
should be executed by the
lingering process and the participants
in the crime be beheaded. The land
lord, who in this case was the princi-
pal. has already died. His fellow-of-
fender was condemned to immediate
decapitation, and the sentence has
been carried into effect without delay.
Picking Official Gazette.