Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-09-12
TWO REFORMS IN CHINA.
Darbarous Punishments and Use of
Torture in Court Are
Abolished.

The state department at Washington
lately received notice of two important
reforms made by the Chinese govern
ment
The reforms were the result of the la
bors of a commission on the revision
of the criminal code, of which Whiting
fang, former Chinese minister to the
United States, was the head. The frs
edict abolishes cruel forms of punish
ment, and the second ends the use Of
torture in the courts.
After pointing out the fact that the
present system of administering justice
Is not in harmony with the original in
tention of the imperial house, the first
edict reads:
Nov that the laws are being revised.
we decree that henceforth the SevereSt
form Of punishment for capital offenses
shall be immediate decapitation. The
three forms of punishment known as
dismemberment, exposure of the heal
and beheading the corpse are hereby
abolished forever. The sentences of dis
memberment and exposure of the head,
provided for in the present laws, are
hereby changed to immediate decapita-
ton. Crimes to be punished by imme-
date decapitation shall be punished by
immediate strangling; those punished
by immediate strangling shall receive
sentence OF strangling after the autumn
assize provided the investigation at the
autumn assize shall show the facts to be
IN tati
after the autumn assize are changed to
strangulation after the autumn assize
and criminals sentenced to Strangua-
tfon after the autumn assize are still
to be allowed an investigation at the said
assize. and to have sentence carried out
or committed as the facts shall show AS
to the provisions for the punishment OF
accessories In crime, while punishment
Is still to be inflicted, according to the
circumstances of the case, such persons
are entirely relieved from the penalty
OF branding, which is hereby abolished
I'm addition to the foregoing, we COM
mand the aforesaid vice president (Wu-
Ting-fang) and those associated with
him to consider carefully what further
changes and excisions may be neces-
sary."
The second edict is entitled, Imperial
Edict Abolishing Torture in the Courts
OF Law" After showing the prevaiiins
use OF torture to secure evidence. and
decrying its evils. the edict says:
Now, since we have approved the
regulations submitted in the memorial
above mentioned, let them be published
abroad, and let all observe them. We
repeat the announcement and warning
that our desire is to show compassion
upon all who are imprisoned that JUS
t!ce shall be shown and the sentiments
or the people satisfied. Let all the vice.
roys and governors concerned issue
strict orders to their subordinates con-
scientiously to exert themselves to carry
this edict into effect and from time to
time make careful investigation. Should
any be found who, while outwardly OBJ
serving, are secretly disobeying the
edict, treading the old path Of malprac-
tice. let them be at once impeached.
There must be no shielding Of them nor
any attempt to save their faces. Let
each be dilfgent, and give earnest atten-
tion to the settlement of litigation, and
so fulfill the purpose Of the throne to
have compassion upon the lowly and to
Tighten their punishments. Let this
|edict be published for the information
Of all"