Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-07

r1es before the reign of Henry VIII, when
the loss of the right hand was made the
penalty for certain minor offenses.
Branding, an ancient custom, was discon-
tinued in the reign of George Ill, and was
f1rally abolished in 1929 In the reign of
Edward VI the famous vagabond statute
was passed, authorizing the branding of
tramps and vagabonds with a ~" Run
away slaves were branded with the letter
81 brawlers with the letter f. meaning
fraymakers; blasphemers with the letter
b. malefactors with the letter M and
so on down through the list
1t can easily be seen from the above that
long hair and wigs had their uses in CO.
lonial days, when ear cropping and similar
punishments by mutilation were in vogue.
Some romantic old tales of life on the road
tell of carefully hidden deformities, of mys-
FERROUS gauntleted strangers, whose hands
bore, beneath their fashionable coverings,
the livid brands of past villanfes and
crimes. Life may have been dull and
cramped in some ways in those bygone
days, but there were certainly some dra-
matte compensations. There was no tell
ing when the wandering breeze might lift
the lock of hair from a friend or lovers
cheek and give glimpse of CHASTITY hole
instead of an ear, or display a livid letter
on the forehead. His shoulder, under his
costly lace collar, might be branded with
the mark of shame or his back, beneath
his velvet doublet, might be striped and
scared with the fierce lashes of the CATO
nine tails.
The Gibbet and the Gallows Tree.
The time is not far distant in the past
when the gibbet and the gAllows were COM
mon and familiar objects through all of
England. In the old road books prepared
for the guidance of travellers in those days
the gallows is frequently referred to as a
landmark, and with as much sangfroid as
a writer in these times would mention a
sign post or wayside spring. In Ogilby's
'Itinirarum Anglive,'' published between
1878 and III, there are many casual ref
erences to this grewsome instrument of
death.
Michael Barrett, the author of the Fenian
explosion at Clerkenwell, who was hanged
at Newgate, May. 26, 1868, was the last
person to be publicly executed in England.
Hanging in chains, one of the forms OF
public hanging, was abolished by statute
in 1884. Hanging, drawing and quartering
was begun in 1241 in England, when Will
lam Marise, a famous pirate, was subjected
to the penalty, and was discontinued about
1900. In 1920, however, criminal after
having been hanged was beheaded, and his
head shown on pike
Fatal Pressing.
One of the most barbarous and cruel of
the punishments of old was the "peine
forte e. dure,'' or pressing to death. This
method of punishment was Communication
from the old fashion of starving to death
a prisoner who would not plead At that
time the alternative of pressing to death
was conSidere ed to be decidedly in line
with the dictates of humanity and mercy
as the victim was much sooner released
from his sufferings. The manner of this
punishment, as shown by the old law on
the subject, was as follows: THAT the
prisoner shall be remanded to the place
from whence he came and put in some low
dark room, and there laid on his back
without any manner of covering, except
cloth around his middle, and that as
many weights shall be laid upon him as
he can bear, and more, and that he shall
nave no more suStenance than of the worst
bread and water, and that he shall not
eat on the same day on which he drinks,
nor drink on the same day on which hs
eats. and he shall SO continue until he
die"
AT later day this method of punish
ment was slightly altered so as to make
It even more diverting for the victim.
Under the new form, in addition to being
laid on the floor of his cell naked. the
prisoners legs and arms were pulled to-
ward the four corners of the cell by stout
cords at the same time the weights we're
placed upon him. One man who was gull
ty, but who refused to plead was SUBJ
jected to this punishment by his friends.
If he had pleaded and been convicted his
estates would have reverted to the crown
If he died under the pressing treatment
he could will his estates to whom he chose.
In the case in point the prisoners relatives
saw to it that he reserved the right to
make his will.
By Fire and Water.
The penalty Of death by drowning Is a
custom of antiquity. records OF this form