The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-03
TORTURED TO DEATH
Horrible and Cruel Punishment Is
Inflicted Upon Shen CHEN, a
Chinese Reformer.
Dowager Empress Inaugurates Re.
dictionary Policy eformers APP
peal to Civilized Nations.

Picking, Aug. 3.-Shen Chen. a jour
nalist of Picking, has been executed. Ac-@
cording to the official report of the exc
cution, Chen was beheaded, but it is
now known that this report was false
and that the condemned man was beaten
to death in accordance with special in
structlons issued by the dowager empress,
who desired to make an example of the
Journalist with which to terrify other re-
formers.
The incident is declared to be the most
horrible that has occurred in China since
the massacre in 1900. The killing oc-
CURED in the courtyard of the yamen Of
the board of punishment. The victim
was beaten with bamboo rods for two
hours, from 4 to o'clock in the after
noon, the flesh on his back. arms and legs
being torn to ribbons. After life had APP
parently become extinct the eXecutloners,
fearing that Chen had merely tainted and
might revive twisted rope tightly
around his neck and left the body in this
condition until morning.
Returns to Barbarsm.
China is witnessing return to the con-
ditions which followed the coup d'etat
of 1898 Political discussions among the
Chinese, which increased during the i'm
perial courts recent policy Of friendli-
ness toward foreigners, has suddenly
stopped The plan of the doyager en-
press to terrfy the reformers by the ex-
ecution Of Shen Chen, which occurred
last Friday, has been successful. All the
liberal Chinese, particularly those who
have been associated with the reformers,
are in the greatest fear of arrest, and it
is difficult to find a.Chinaman who is will
ing to mention politics or fridays trag-
edy, altho the latter is almost the only
topic Of conversation among trusted
friends. The officials are particularly
dumb The affair is disappointing to the
foreigners who had hoped that the en-
press dowager's association with the
ladies of the legations would have civil
ling influence. -'
Appeal to Civilization.
In connection with the recent arrest a.
Shanghai of seven editors on charges o.
sedition and the probable decision Of the
ministers on the question of turning the
editors over to Chinese jurisdiction, E
representative Of the former has sent the
following letter to the Associated Press:
I'VE earnestly hope that the authorize:
of the civilized nations will give a tmel!
warning to this government, which seem:
to be preparing a bastile for the true
lovers of China.
1T will be discouraging to progressive
Cinnamon if the seven refOrmers unde
arrest at Shanghai should be turned owe
to the Chinese government and beheaded
Their writings are, of course, offensiv
and seditious, yet they would be punishe,
as tho they had spoken In a like name
against the American or British govern
ments, which exist for the welfare of tn
people. But the government of this Ian
has become so corrupt and has prove
such curse to the people that reformer
deserve the sympathy of all enlightene
men who can perceive in what miser
able state these men are kept
The letter concludes: us there an
hope for China except in revolution Q
rebelliOn?' ~.