The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-03-30
ABYSSINIAN JUSTICE.
A QUEER MURDER TRIAL IN KING
MENELEK'S COURT.

An1s AuieE. VINO CLAIMS Descent from
solo1n on and tho Queen Of Sheba. Mas
an Odd System of Jurisprudence-E1-
:raordinary Detective Methods in Vogue
According to the legends the
Queen Of Sheba was the first soyer.
eign Of Ethiopia. When she came
back from Jerusalem, after making
the acquaintance Of Solomon, she not
only brought back him who was Men
elek J, but also several books of
magic. To-day We still find traces OF
these royal presents in Abyssinia.
We Lave Menelek II. the descendant
of this Solomonian dynasty, and
also some ancient Hebrew cere-
monies and practices in sorcery which
| have found their wav into Ethiopian
Jurisdiction. In order to get clues in
difficult cases the Abyssinjans resort
to extraordinary methods. In detect
ing criminals the; employ e young
/ boy whom they put into certain con-
i EDITION Of somnambulism. They call
/ him the liebacha
The liebachs is made to sleep at The
scene Of the crime. Early in the
morning the seaiice begins. During
| the night be is supposed to have be-
come Thoroughly impregnated with the
! fluids which the criminal left in the
astral atmosphere; consequently, he
has a clue which he follows as ore
might follow footsteps upon the sand.
| But before he starts out he must drink
fasting the magic dranght." This
| beverage, like those employed by the
sorcerers OF the middle ages, is COM
|posed OF vegetable and animal ingredi-
ents. tits said that at daybreak they
add three drops Of the blood Of e male
child.
When the iiebacha has taken this
strange morning cocktail he becomes
extra luci(l. He sets out on his jour
ney, followed by an anxious crowd
watching al his movements. Some
time ago tie correspondent OF the
Paris Figaro had the privilege Of see
ing liebacha started on the scent Of
au assassin who had murdered the
Abyssinian carrier Of the French mails.
The young somnambulist at first ran
to the camp Of the merchants. There
he entered hut aud rested The
crowd understood that the criminal
had stopped there, aud, as matter
Of fact, the woman of the house, on
being interrogated, replied that man
the day before took shelter there, but
left at sunrise, forgetting his gun.
The gun was examined and recognized
as the one that belonged TO the caS-
lrier. Evidently the scent was good. H.
and fss see asessshs rose ran along rapidly
they found that the eassassin had asked !
for a drink and had just left. The /!
liebacha set out in pursuit, but the
horsemen, anxious to seize the assas-
sin and get the prize offered by Meme
lex, dashed at gallop along the road
and soon brought back the fugitive.
Doubtless they knew where to find :
him without the aid Of the liebacha.
Els real function is TO intimidate the .
evil-minded.
\ few days aft@rward the members
Of the French co!ony oJ Adds .3beba
were invited by Meneiek 20 be present
at the trial. It was . spectacle never
TO be forgotten. 1t is III the open alr
that Manelek holds his criminal court.
nnder tie perpetually blue sky OF
.SbyssiDis. On the steps Of All
immense banquet hall the emperor :
was sauatted Oriental fashion. At ;
his lett was tie French COLONY; at his
right. seated on steps covered with
carpets. was the Affa-Negus. OF
Mouth Of the King" as he is called,
the chief justice OF the empire. Be-
low him were the judges with their
white turbans, aud all around, form
ing semicircIe on each side OF the
tribunal, were the spectators With
their white togas bordered with red
they looked like ancient Roman sene.
tors: and if it hadn't been for the
color OF their faces one might imagine
that the scene was presented on the
banks of the Tihsr. There was tie
sa1n5 splendid sky and the distant
hills made tie illusion almost COM
plete. The criminal was brought for
ward. According TO the Abyssirian
custom he was chained to two freemen.
This is precautio1 against any chance
of escape or suicide. 1t is also hoped
that his two guards by chatting with
him may induce him to confess his
| crime.
The prisoner was q Gttle,; lame
man. He advanced into the vacant
spot in front Of the Negus. He knew
| the fate that awaited him, but lie ap-
peared to be perfectly calm aud looked
placidly into the face Of him who was
about to Judge him.
"Hearen save youH' cried an Abys-
sinian.
| Keep your prayer for YOURSELF"
replied the prisoner. Il don't want
it,
ssYou have committed murder
| said the emperor. s*Why did you do
| it?''
! "To rob-" was the reply.
"Did your crime have any other
motive in vlew?' ..,
"No. I am beggar: The courier
had thaIers and wanted them
"Well, you shall be punished"
| said the emperor. E'Have you any
thing to ask"
sYour clemency would give you
immortal renown," pleaded the mur-
derer. ''If you pardon me You will
! be like the good God"
Then the emperor turned toward
/ the crowd aud consulted the notabili-