Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-10-19
A Siamese Execution.

A Siamese named Al Ione, VINO
murdered his wife because she had
forsaken him for lover, was executed
by decapitation, the method bearing
a close resemblance TO the Chinese,
and the spectators showing the same
eager and unsympathetic interest In
the proceedings and the same haste
in quitting the scene OF blood the mo-
ment the victoms head was Topped
of.
Al Yone was young Sismese who
lived near Phraptoom with his wife.
About four months ago she suddenly
decamped with a handsomer msn.
The husband tracked the pair like a
blood hound. never leaving their trail
till he ran them down in n house
where they were hiding. The lover
escaped, but the woman was over
hauled Is she was flying aud was hor'
riGly sIashed with sharp knife. no
less than eighteen wounds being made
bv the naddened husband. He was
caught red-handed and convicted.
He never showed any fear when
sentenced, but ne refused TO soc his
mother because he said the sight OF
her grief would unnerve him.
The execution was set for nine in
the morning As early as five o'clock
the prisoner was led out, heavily
manacled He formed the central
figure in an imposing procession OF
officials OF all the state departments
dressed in their richest robes. The
whole party took boats aud went up
the river to tho execution ground.
The condemned man was among the
coolest in the crowd, chewing betrl
and apparently enjoying the early
morning boat ride.
On the grounds temporary altar
had been erected, and before this the
seven superbly built executioners,
with drawn swords, made offerings OF
boars' heads, fowls, rice, etc, and
lighted large tapers. Then the swords
were anoiuted The condemned
meanwhile remained OH the funeral
barge, where Buddhist priests gave
him the last rites. He smoked and
chatted after the ceremony, and new
er showed any sign OF weakness.
At last he was brought out in front
OF the altar and placed on freshly-cut
plautain leaves The eXecutioners
asked his pardon for killing him after
they had wound red sashes about their
bodies and placed red handkerchiefS
about their heads. 4 snow-white
cloth was wound around the con
demned mans loins, his ears were
stopped with clay, so that he should
not hear the headsmau'. footsteps as
he came behind him. His neck chain
and handouts were removed and his
elbows were secured TO a bamboo post
while he was forced 10 a sitting po'
sitiou. Then white line was marked
on his neck as guide to the swords
man.
The executioner, lusty young
Samson, now approached from be
hind, advancin. with many fancy
steps and moving his sword like the
baton OF bandmaster His six as
sociates formed an attentive group
and watched every movement. For a
moment the large sword cleaned in
the air. Then it descended exactly
upon the white line. The man fell
slightly TO the one side, the head
dropped but hung by q bit OF skin,
and the mans life blood leaped forth
upon the sand. One Of the attendant
executioners severed the head com
pletely, and another neatly placed 1t
on pole and exposed it to crowd
OF Siamese and Chinese that filed the
inclosure. Then the body was hur-
ried to the unmarked grave near at
hand, aud before five minutes all the
large crowd had vanished and only
the grisly head and the blood stained
sand remained to mark the tragedy.