The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-10-07
"GATCHING."
Most Agonizing Torture Ever Con-
ceived by Man.
Innocent Persons Buried Alive in
Fresh Plaster.

American lawmakers, judges and
chief executives might learn many
things by studying the methods in
vogue in Persia. For instance, they
might learn how not to execute Grim
inals, and they might study the all
vantage, or lack of it, of executing
an innocent man as warning to the
guilty.
Five men we're recently buried alive
in plaster Of Paris in the province of
Shiraz. Persia, as warning to high
way robbers who had been committing
depredations on the road between Bu-
shire and Isiahnn. Shortly after the
murder of the Shah n succession of
robberies occurred, and it was esti-
mated that property worth half mil
lion changed hands within week.
Almost every day travellers were
stopped, robbed even of their clothes
and then beaten with sticks.
Ii. II. II. Ruhkn- ed Dowleh, Gov
ernor of Shiraz, concluded that steps
must be taken to stop the robberies.
He could not catch them, but he al
ready had five men in prison for re-
fusing to pay taxes He concluded to
execute the FIVE innocent tax-dodgers
in order to frighten. the guilty high
waymen.
One of the most horrible modes of
execution in vogue in Persia is known
as Catching" A hole is dug in the
ground to depth of three or four
feet. A hollow pillar is erected above
this. The victim is then placed in the
hole and plaster of Paris poured in
around him and water added.
This mortar, known rs Catch, soon
hardens, swells and obstructs the cir
culation of the blood. The suffering
of the victim is awful-words cannot
picture it. Death does not afford a
welcome relief for hours and each
minute the agony grows more in
tense.
A correspondent of the London
Graphic witnessed the execution. Not
knowing the fate in store for them the
men walked to the place of execution
without fear, surrounded by howl
ing mob. The mob was kept back
from the torture place by a Gordon OF
soldiers.
"They were taken into high-walled
garden, guard being placed at the
entrance, writes the correspondent,
"and in short time the first to be exe'
cuted was brought out. Round his neck
was a steel collar with n chain, which
his guard held tightly in his hand.
Some one offered him pitcher oi
water, from which he eagerly drank,
and then, not knowing to what awful
death he was doomed, he walked calm
ly and without word to his well. II
took nearly an hour to fill the well
with Catch, during all which time
the sticks of the soldiers were in ust
to keep the crowd from pressing toe
close and hampering the movements
of those employed with the Catch.
"When the Catch became solid ant
tightened on the poor prisoner, hi
yells were frightlul to listen to, ,and a
they were carried over the walled gar
den, those waiting their turn realized
that the death to which they were
doomed, 40 far from being the pain
less one they had hoped for, was in
stead of terrible nature. When
three days later, / passed along tn,
road, found capitals had been adde'
to the pillars, covering the heads o
the poor men, who had thus horribly
been done to death.
The correspondent says that tn
Govcrnorship of state is held by tn
man who makes the largest present t
the Shah. As the Governor collect
the taxes and must force the amour
of this present from the people a
we'll as a substantial sum for himself
the condition of the people is pitiable
Unless they struggle to raise tn
amounts demanded they are liable I
be thrown into prison or they may b
executed at the pleasure of the Coy
ernor who has bought this Office.