Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-05-24
ToRTuRlNc A PRISONER.
Horrible Scene In Chinese Court u
Justice-Terrfble Tortures.


Horrible Scene In Chinese Court -
Justice-Terrfb1e Tortures.
was just in time to see tho torturing
in its most aggravated form. The victim
was an old thief and every effort was be-
ing made to compel him to confess his
last crime. A long bench had been
placed upon the floor. Thrown upon his
back upon this bench, the wretch had
been tied to it by thin, stout cords, knot
ted at one end around his thumbs and
toes, and the other end to hooks behind.
The bench had then been placed upright
upon one end, so that the only means of
sustaining human weight of 100 pounds
were the slight, sharp cords that cut
right down To the bones OF the thumbs
and toes. The legs and feet were bent
hack 30 that the knees were terribly
cramped and the ankles almost dislo-
Gated. The shoulders were bent back by
q pressure that threatened to pull the
bones Of the arms from their sockets.
The joints Of the thumbs seemed no
longer Of any use. A stout, villainous
looking subordinate was laying with oil
his might long split bamboo stick across
the naked thighs Of the unfortunate ac-
cused, who writhed and groancd under
the added punishment. Red welts rose
from every blow, while great drops Of
perspiration stood out upon tho brow Of
the poor sugerer.
The magistrate ut length motioned the
whipper 10 stop. Tho examination re-
commenced. and renewed Efforts were
made 10 compel the accused 20 confess n
crime, which, perhaps, he had never
committed. The examination and the
torturing had been going on for an hour
and half. In the case Of this particu-
lar person 1t had been only repetition
Of what had taken place several times
before. But he had borne il bravely and
had not yet given In. II no held out
long enough no might be released; per-
haps he might be ordered of to execu-
ton, but IL he confessed he was certain
TO lose his head. II was impossible for
mo 10 await the end of the SO called ex-
animation.
hurried out, but as went my atten-
ton was called to several peculiar instIu-
ments; one a piece Of curiously shaped
but heavy wood, with which, while a
criminal was tied up by his thumbs and
toes, he was beaten upon the ankles until
INC HHklo uuHfS were DIuhtHs uuotiicI, u
lenthcr strap fitted 10 piece OF wood,
with which he might he beaten across
the face until his jaw should DO broken
and his teeth knocked out, or loosened 80
that they would drop out; the terrible
bastinado, with which, stretched upon
the floor, he might be beaten upon the
soles Of his feet. Only couple Of days
before my own visit 10 this Canton court
of justice, five prisoners, tied up by
thumbs and toes, had been tortured and
beaten until they had tainted, and all five
thus insensible were still hanging in the
open court room. while The examination
of q sixth conscious wretch was being
conducted. In the hallway, when
went out, Were other poor criminals
awaiting their turn. All were heavily
shackled. Three with joints dislocated
and ankles broken were seated in bas-
kots, in which they had been carried
from their cells, and in which they
would soon be carried into the court
room TO be strung UP MS they had been
time and time again before. They were
scarcely conscious. All in heaps, they
seemed, thrown into the baskets, with
their legs and arms dangling out, their
heads bowed down upon their breasts
Canton Cor. Chicago Tribune.