The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-26
THE CRIME OF suTrEE.
Recent Case of Death on Funeral Pyre
 In Bengal.

From the Chicago News.
 British law has stamped out many and barbarous customs, and the crime of sut- tee, or widow burning, Is usually included among the number Occasionally, how eVer cases occur. An authenticated in- stance Is reported from Lehar. one of tha districts of Bengal chiefly noted for its indigo industry. Thirteen men were pros- ecuted on charges of culpable homicide or abetment of suicide. A realistic de- scripuon of the grewsome scene was fur iiisheo by the deputy magistrate. In com mltting the accused to the sessions court he said: Though the thirteen accusad committed for trial have been divided into distinct patches, the charges never tneiess are with reference to one and +ba same transaction. This was the immola ton or Hindoo widow on the funara, pyre or the deceased husband, or at it ls termed in the vernacular a casa of suttee, which may be described as ghastly offense against nature ayairst humanity and the law of the land 1Ia1 phy the onense Is extremely rare In oeeo, IL was hoped that this great hIot v. i.inuoo rites and ceremonies had been '. sc'uany ana permanently exterminated ,srS eieiore not little startling to be ,,,',a, p,esen'eo with instances of a re- siFai or the oarbarism of the dark agas
 There Is evidence to show tha. ees. '' Cnauorhi Missir, alias Chatturbbni NS,a SIT brahman of Sanchari viIlasa ha., ms uied october IS last arranpa,oan+
 were made for the cremation of bis ho,,, at the 'devi sthan' of that pIace o,, ta.s ,r .,.s ol small river. A place was cut .u .ne ground in the shape of a St Ar b,,ut eloss' ana the funeral pyre was nvrs tha u. me pody being laid on the pyre' the widow having bathed in the iiser ana adorned herself as for her nar- .iase' took her seat on the pyre and call. GU on her son. the accused .Juegar,,s,tt, nlissir. to do his duty as a deyout HrSaa ,ta .l Juggernath lighted some wheat stoo,s. anu anu having walked round the pyre tbraa sra s appieo, according to custom, the H u so the mouth of the deceased This ialied to Ignite the pyre, and if is sai5 ,nat ne and the four Brahmans accusedN balkishun Missir, Dwarka Missir pa., Charan Mfssir and Lacrman Towar,- -r-,. formed the humad, which consisted n, t... ourning or incense and the placing os isn'eo . ehips Of wood dipped in ghee 1but- 'erl under the pyre until 1t ignited
 ny this time vast crowd had as semoied. When the flames reached th, Wioow she Is said to have moved aho,,t 1, or writhed and finally stood up and turned toward the setting sun, but immedia ta1s, ien oaek on the pyre, apparently over come by the increasing flames s,,,ia cries or Sat Ramr Sita Ramp 'Sati Maj ki Jai! the beating of drums, the clans or cymbols and blowing of the sank os shell, she was burned to ashes with +ba corpse of her husband 'ne
 unanimous verdict of guilty was re. turned against the following. who rara sentenced to the various terms of imrr,se onment mentioned: Juggernath Mis.,s hve years rigorous Imprisonment. RaiL,, snun, three years; Dwarka, three weave. Ram Charan, one and a half years. Sor,a,. Choukidar. one year: Gunga and Diichaad Chamars nine months each The rect were found not guilty.