The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-04-25
TRIAL BY ORDEAL,
The Farce Called Justice That
Siam Used to Play.
TESTS OF FIRE AND WATER.
Ths Accused and the Aoeuser Each
! Had to Face tho Same Kind Of Music,
and Whichever Way tho Case Was
Decided the Judges Were Winners.


and Whichever Way tho Case Was
Decided the Judges were Winners.
The modern methods OF justice in
,elvilized Europe do not include trial by
jprdeal, but In the east It is still a rec
lognlzed means OF proving an accused
persons innocence or guilt. In a coun-
tTy like Slam, now 30 closely in touch
with western Influences, the ordeal by
@re was practlced a generation ago.
This is the oldest form of ordeal in
&iam, as in any country. When pre-
pairing for the ceremony two trenches
were dug side by side. They were
each about ten feet long, two feet wide
and two feet deep. These were filled
with layers Of redhot coal to a depth Of
zen inches. The plaintiff, or accuser,
walked over one fiery path end the de-
fendant over the other. In order to
prevent the parties from unduly hur-
xying over their tasks rods were placed
across their shoulders, and certain of
Che officials leaned heavily on these,
one at the end Of each rod. In reality
they partly defeated their own ends.
Cor the great pressure of the horny
poles Of feet unused to boots somewhat
Quenched the fire beneath them. When
the walk was completed the soles of
the feet were examined in order to de-
eect any burns or blsters. This exam
NATION was repeated every day for fif-
teen days, and at the end of that time
The man who showed no signs Of being
hurt In any way was adjudged the
winner. During the course of the trial
xhe judges sat In specially erected
and gayly decorated pavilion, where
they Toasted royalty. the expense OF
which had to be betrayed Jointly by
Che persons engaged In the lawsuit.
1t happened more than once that the
ure failed TO make any impression on
the feet OF the competitors. In such
cases they were both compelled to un-
dergo another trial by means OF the
water ordeal. If both parties got
einged, then they were both held to be
guilty of something or other. and SO
Nhey We're both punished with heavy
Dnea.
! The water ordeal is kind of diving
competition. The spot chosen was ell
ther some part of the nearest river or
else large. deep pond The law in
eisted that the spot must be one where
the water was clear and cool and free
from leecbes and mud. In the case
"a river there was TO be no strong cur
rent The preliminary preparations
were simple and consisted In driving
two tough poles into the bed of the
pond or river for the competitors to
Rake hold OF on immersion. These
poles were placed about ten feet apart.
before the actual trial took place
cockhght was held. In which the two
birds were supposed TO represent the
two litignnts. and che result OF this
preliminary conflict was hold to be
ominous of the results that would at
tend the serious trial.
This was never omitted, because the
spectators. who were assembled in
hundreds TO watch the event, always
itreated II ns kind OF holiday and
gambied largely ns TO the iusue OF the
day; hence the cockflght was sort
OF guide TO them I'm their speculations.
The two persons next addressed them
selves 20 the water deities and asked
xor their protection and he,p. each be-
seeching them to help him only and
each promising gifts aud offerings
ahould he he successful.
Then they stepped into the water
until 1t reached up 10 their necks.
: They were hampered by heavy collars
similar 10 those sometimes worn by
Chinese prisoners. Round their wrists
they wore bracelets OF unspun thread,
which had been blessed by the priests
and which were considered to possess
a protective charm against all adverse
influences. Finally each one had n
strong rope fastened tightly round the
swaist by means of which he could be
hauled out of the water. because when
both men were possessed OF great
breathing capacity II sometimes hap
pened that nftcr prolonged immersion
the competitors were too much ex-
AsuRted 10 get themselves out OF the
water.
When all was ready horizontal pole
was placed across the shoulders OF
each person. and at given signal
&rom metal gong the two poles were
simultaneously depressed by the OH.
cials. and 80 the two heads were
Rhrust under water. The divers grip.
ped their wooden stakes and grimly
heid their heads under the surface OF
che river until one or both found them
weives In danger of immediate SUMO
EatioD. The man who remained under
khe water the longer OF the two won
Ahe day. The trial was subject TO a
Nsme limit
In certain cases diving by proxy was
allowed. and then n general search was
Enade for able and willing substitutes.
phere II a story extant. says Ernest
Houng I'm the London Taller. OF how
n Persian trader quarreled with a
Burmese about some commercial fraud.
uhe Burmese engaged ns his represen-
tative the champion diver OF the dis.
Rrfct. but the Persian outwitted him
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