The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-11

all other execution routine. the native
military figures corspicuousiy.
On the morning Of an execution may
be seen approaching the ground = osna
Of soidiery. surrounding ,d nLinue' I p
chained hand TO foot with length enough
off cable oniv to permit walking. ihhie,
diattly on their arrival tnopSahus 49,, %
morbic spectators gather aioOnn. ne
e0ldiery maintains the coruon Hlois e'o ~
lv now for the chains and shackles are
removed and the prisOItTs nave more
freedom. They sit. stand. or lie on the
earth conversiDg with those VINO come
near. ,,,
They are now awaiting the decision
OF his Majesty who tina; morning mas
passed upon the list Of sentences.
remember in strolling amons tneIh.
and at the same time feeling ashamed 10
md myself imbibng the uniNersai III
difference OF the mob. 49,, J., -,
The scene of death in Picking IS eall-
ed The Vegetable Market tiae.. oi1 as.e
are three tents-one TOT ,ne ~ 1919
one for the officers deputtd 10 attclu.
and a third called the sword tent TOT usc
OF the executioner and his instruments.
A touch Of mercy not in keeping WIN
the other barbaric metnous nas, san, =,
where naught of the execution prepare
tions can be heard by the CRIMINALS
awaiting. T., t..rodi,ar,.
The office OF executioner Is hereditaIy'
In Picking there must be now SOM sr.t -,
teen active officers Of TINS type- l"es
are not looked upon with abhOIIenrse &c
i'm Western countries, but are mercy !y,o re-
garded as following an oillciai' - baIf
honorable vocation. Ihey - Eead
a tael or gold dollar for ear. ne"u' o,a
Al the house OF their CHIEF, IN sepa-
rate building. are kept the SWORDS. hEe
in number and more tAan :" years III
use. lar IN scabhards
on q small tabIs i'm front Of which Is
caIdron for cleaning purposes neg a" g
referred to famiiiariy as MT NJ oHe'
Mr.. No. TWO" &c. - ,a., he
Mr.. No one IS sald 10 ndEe .i,o eon-
teeth, lie. 10 lie clipped from tuG Sitn
slant cruncnipy through bone, anu WIZ WIZ
Mir No. Two" is rarely used NV 80,
SIS Nos Three ana fOuI De'''7 '''''
frequently taken out. Nth broad
The SWORDS are clumsy, WIN "a 20
blades and thick edges. guards OF Dtdis5
ana wooden handles. at the ehdS Oh ~ ny.
are brass death heads. Inc NC.i"' IN
accompanied by two wardeIs 70 ln Ir,o ia
cial tent where his Identity IS proved
and the fatal order Chan" (beheah) Is
given. He is dragged away 10 Whvte ene
executioncr awaits him in yellow, Dioou.
stained apron. \ sort OF heduStdlI - ~
on MIN He ~ forced 10 MS Arce sS,,, III
attendant grisps ms queue ana hcauatdIl'
ana nv nuiling stretches the neck some
The executioner takes the sword from
his assistant. With one dow the he"u u
severed =, 49,.
Strange 10 say. the scene Of death Is not
itself pecpled by the supersutlous |H t.,
men with the ghosts OF the siam. oot
passengers at night fear only ihe sdE"es
dogs assembled in troops on me neIu vi
blood These scavengers OF the enlpllt
are permitted to roam al VIII III VSbn
town or country at all hours OF me uay
or night once each year sal tt ''.'CN 80
offered by the neighborinG shopkeePeis ~
tho cpfrffc n these diSnOuOTcu utdN'
The Ling Chih" or 'sllcllS pl ~,
finishes this dreadful enumeration Inc
victim IS stretched t. cross OK "9p~
OF three upright poles resting on me
ground. With a sharp knife the EXECUTION
slowly cuts, at the discretion OF inc
Judge, from eight to eighty slices OF 'ieSh
from the n ickest part OF the Wte'-h
body. When the commanded huHDtr -
made the heart is pierced, AMI. death en-
suing, the limbs are separated from 'he
body and divided. $500.
The final OF these Odous scenes am one
which often greets the loufIst IN hprlL
China - the exposition Of the heads over
the city gates or In boxes OF .idtewofk by
the roadside. They are placed there as
"a warning To all malefactors.
The repriVCd. On their return 10 the pr
son. lGceive from their " ,rd"rs and com
rades formal concentrations. and have
then another year Of what would seem
10 uc welcome hardshps before they
again have t. undergo the horrors OF
srspense at TIE Vegetable Market
Place" Three times reprived. their sen
fences are suspended life Is spared, ana
Punishment follows.