The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-26
DECAPITATED.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION or
CHINESE MURDERER'S END
Behcatlcd With Po,np aud Ccrcmd
-Butchery Made Public Spec.
tacle and Witnessed by
Many Europeans.
TYHE papers brought to

T7HE papers brought to
= Francisco by the lost steamer
from China contain graphic
description Of native exc.
cut1on at Kowloon which was attended
by all the Europeans within a days
journey. The victim, Lai Nit, had
murdered Chinese detective, and his
punishment, with all its barbaric re-
pulsivcncss, was made as conspicuous'y
public as possible rs an example to
evildoers. Extensive arrangements
were made for the carrying out of the
execution. Flags were flying from
the battlements Of the old fort and
from three war junks lying near tho
pier, and large numbers of Chinese
were gathered upon the beach.
About 3.15 p. m. war junk was
sighted around the point and salute
was fired from the fort. This was the
signal for the final arrangements for
tho reception of the Chinese officials.
A salute of three guns from the fort
was replied to by the Nh ntaa junk,
and then the junks alongside the pier
opened fire. Other salutes from the
fort were followed by loud beating of
gongs and salutes from the junks.
The soldiers now cleared square on
the beach close to q table at which
were placed three chairs. The first to
arrive from the junk were the Namtau
court officials, who arranged the table
for the reception of the Mandarin.
The wooden cage containing the pris-
oner was taken up out OF tho hold Of
the junk and carried along the pier
by coolies, and then set down in front
of the Mandarin's table. The prisoner
was rather roughly pulled out OF the
cage and forced down upon his
launches. He scowled fiercely on oil
around him, muttering irnprecations
upon his guards. One Of the officials
stuck long bamboo to which was at
tached long envelope bearing Chin
csc characters, down the back of his
clothes.
All this time the crowd had been
jostling and pushing round the pris-
orer, and the miserable specimens of
coolie soldiers were ordered to clear
the way to tho execution ground. Al
ter several unsuccessful attempts had
been made to clear q passage, the SOL
diers brandishing rattans eventually
cleared sufficient space to allow of the
passage OF the prisoner and his guard.
The executioner-a tail muscular
Chinese-followed behind carrying his
sheathed knife.
AT the execution ground tho pris-
oner was ordered to kneel down on his
knees. He was shackled with old
rusty irons, his hands being tied
behind his back. His queue was
wound around his head and his jacket
was pulled down from his neck, which
was quite bare. The executioner with
drew the knife-a weapon about five
feet long-from the sheath and set the
prisoner in position, signifying to him
to point his head forward, and en-
phasizing his instructions by kicking
the prisoner lightly in the chest. The
executioner then pulled away the
envelope from the prisoners neck.
Punctually at 4. 40 o'clock the exc.
cutioner swung down his blade aud in
one stroke tho head was severed from
the body, just as Lai Nit was cursing
the delay. The head was thrown face
upward and the eyes were staring
wide open. The soldiery Immediately
on tho fall of the knife fired off a
running volIey. The executioner
lifted the head and placed it at the top
of the lifeless trunk and then cut the
strings which secured the shackles
around the arms and legs. Among the
large crowd Of Europeans who wit
messed the execution was one woman.
The head of the deceased was hung up
in cage which was lying on the beach.
The body will probably be allowed to
remain on the bench some time.