The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-11-18
TERRIFIED BY AN OATH.

l eStuc III tIc tIldl VI d CIituiudl cause
in many years was witnessed by the
Judge, lawyers and a few court OF.
ficials in Judge Tuthills 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 basement laun-
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 guilty in 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. HS
even attempted to tell where he wat
when the murderer entered the basei
ment laundry and hacked his cousin
TO pieces with hatchet 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 a
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 unde. stand the obligation he is
under TO tell the truth in this case
He 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 a
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 ap-
proval OF the cout 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 gazed 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 il 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. ln
giving assent to the obligations o.
the oath the prisoner attempted tC
move his hands and arms, but under
| the terrible nervous strain almost
fell out Of the witness chair.
Judge Tuthill turned 20 the pris
Oner then and in most impressive
| tone warned him to tell the truth.
| The words were hardly out Of the
| Judges mouth before the prisonel
looked around helplessly and said:
"Yes, me killee him, true. Killet
him with hatchet."
Then follows complete story o
the crime. When the murderer con
cluded Judge Tuthill sentenced hin
to the penitentiary for life. The in
terpretor told him that he would moi
be hung and look that might have
! been taken for one of satisfaction
passed over his ghastly countenance.
| He was then led out Of the court
room and taken back TO the COUNTY
Jail.
Il believe no power on earth woulC
have made that Chinaman confes,
| but the administration OF the Chi
nese OATH said Attorney Pierson
IT. ey hold it I'm Superstitious awe
and no wonder. They never execut,
murderer in China until he doe
IconfesS II the evidence is salts
| factory and the prisoner refuses I,
confess, they put him to the torture
and in many instances the prisone
dies a death more horrible than tina
inflicted by the headsman before h,
will acknowledge guilt My belief i
that when the Chinese oath was ad
ministered to the prisoner he though
he was going to he tortured the same
as if he were on trial in his own
country and knowing the evidence
against him was strong, he made con.
| fession in fear Ct torture"
stopping Rain by Explosions.
1t is singular in these days when