Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-12-02
TERRIFIED BY AN OATH.
Chinese Murderer Confesses when tfs
Formula of His Country Is Employed.

Without doubt the most dramatic
scene at the trial of criminal cause
in many years was witnessed by the
| Judge, lawyers and a few court of
flcials in Judge Tuthill's court re-
Gently The result of the proceed
ings will also set valuable precedent
in the trials of similar causes through
out the country. The case under con-
sideration was that of Jun Jack Lin,
the Chinaman who last winter MUIR
dered his cousin in a basement lauu-
dry in Chicago Chinatown.
When Judge Tuthill called the case
ATTORNEY Sampson stepped up to the
Judges desk and asked leave to enter
a plea of guiltyin behalf Of his client
This action was the first OF the series
or surprises that followed. The court
desired to hear the prisoners own
statement and Sam MoY. the Chinese
interpreter was called, The prisoner
was placed on the witness stand and
the regular oath of court was adj
ministered through the interpreter.
Mr.. Pierson began questioning him
and to the surprise of even his own
attorney the Cninaman entered
prompt and emphatic denials OF guilt
or completely in the murder. He
even attempted to tell where he was
when the murderer entered the base
ment laundry and hacked his cousin
to pieces with Ratchet but said he
did not see the murderer come in or
leave the place
The court as we'll as the attorneys
on both sides were nonplused and
consultation followed. 1t had been
stated before that the murderer was
insane, but all agreed that his utter
ances at this time were perfectly
rational States Attorney Pierson
said:
"My belief is that the prisoner does
not understand the obligation he is
under to tell the truth in this case.
lie is evidently not conscious of the
nature of our court methods The
giving of false oath in his native
country is punished with death by
torture, and as a result criminals
rarely give false testimony there. [
suggest that the interpreter, being
sworn court officer and the prisoner
being under oath, shall administer
the regular oath Of the Chinese court
and that the prisoner then make his
statement.
The suggestion met the ready APP
proval of the court and the attorney
for the prisoner, and the interpreter
proceeded in the most solemn and
impressive manner to administer the
regular oath of the Chinese courts.
The new method of procedure took
the prisoner by surprise. He straight
ened up in his chair and ga2ed out OF
the windows and into ali corners of
the room. He moved uneasily in his
seat, and several times started up as
il to leave the witness stand
AS the interpreter proceeded the
cOuntenance of the prisoner grew
livid and his eyes started and stared
wildly. He twisted and turned in
his chair as if suffering intense agony
and the working of his features
showed plainly the intense mental
strain to which he was being sub
jectcd. The court and the lawyers
at once recognized that the keynote
had been struck and that the prisoner
would certainly acknowledge his
guilt Deathly fear was portrayed in
every feature of the prisoners face,
as the interpreter concluded. In
giving assent to the Obligations OF
the oath the prisoner attempted to
move his hands and arms, but under
the terrible nervous strain almost
fell out of the witness chair.
Judge Tuthill turned to the pris-
oner then and in a most impressive
tone warned him to tell the truth
The words were hardly out of the
Judges mouth before the prisoner
looked around helplessly and said.
Eyes, me killee him, true. Killee
him with Ratchet"
Then follows a complete story of
the crime. When the murderer con-
cluded Judge Tuthill sentenced him
to the penitentiarY for life. The in
terpretor told him that he would not
be hung and look that might have
been taken for one Of satisfaction
passed over his CHASTITY countenance.
He was then led out Of the court
room and taken back TO the county
Jail.
Il believe no power on earth would
have made that Chinaman confess
but fife administration of the Chi
nese OATH, said Attorney Person.
"TGey hold IL In superstitious awe,
and no wonder They never execute
a murderer in China until he does
confess. If the evidence is salts
factory and the prisoner refuses to
confess, they put him TO the torture,
and in many instances the prisoner
dies a death more horrible than that
inflicted by the headsman before he
Will acknowledge guilt My belief is
that when the Chinese oath was adj
ministered TO the prisoner he thought
he was going TO lie tortured the same
as If he were on trial in his own
country and knowing the evidence
against him was strong, he made con-
fesson In fear Of torture"