The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-12-18

ton or the answers given by the de-
PENDANTS. (The prisoners spoke in
Korean, their replies being translated
in Japanese for the judge.) Egg. Kill
Hyung said: 81 was repeatedly beat
en- and forced to answer as did"
Choi Tux Koon said: "My wrist was
broken. Three times l was tortured
till l lost consciousness
vi Chat Yoon 16 years old said ::
81 could not stand the beating and
confessed"
Hwan Chang HUE said: 81 was
afraid l would be killed as l saw one
man killed before my eyes,"
All these statements and many
more by other prisoners were not in
terpreted to the judge. When de-
Tending attorney called attention to
various mistranslations as putting the
word cold" for torture, the judges
reply was: "No notice need be taken
of that
2. By the attitude of the judge.
This attitude was shown by his
laughter at some stories of torture
that did reach him; his use of abusive
terms as liar pastor" his heartless
ridicule of an old and crippled man
who broke into tears under the judges
treatment and his harsh denials of
opportunity to explain or make clear
the testimony given.
When e.heard the reading of the
decree one could readily discern in
the voice and bearing of the court
nothing but the spirit of unreasoning
vengeance.
3. The intimidation of the prison
ers in court.
This was manifest not only by the
contemptuous manner of the judge and
Interpreter, but also by the presence
on the platform of the police exami-
ners by whom the prisoners testified
they had been tortured, and of Gen
Akashi, chief of the military force,
who standing back of the judge with
hand on sword and threatening mien
glowered upon the prisoners.
4. The refusal of evidence in re
buttal.
Not only did the Judge refuse to
call witnesses requested by defend
ants, but some on trial were given no
opportunity to make such request. The
American missionaries wanted to be
put on the stand. But, after sarcas-
tically bandying their names about as
plotters OF assassination, the judge alb
solutely refused to allow them hear
ing before the court.
The methods of torture, as heard
from those who have experienced
them, are of several varieties. The
"swating processes" were usually at
night. The most common form is
that of hanging up by the thumbs. The
prisoner is stripped naked, and his
arms passed behind his back. To a
cord fastening the thumbs is attached
the rope that extends through pulleys
in the ceiling and wall, then down to
hook at the side of the room. The
"eXaminer" thus ties the victim and
pulls the rope. Up the prisoner goes
till the tips of his toes barely touch
the floor. A sort of frayed rattan
switch is used upon all parts of the
body. Some have said that, accord
ing to the clock on the wall, they were
suspended over an hour before they |
lost consciousness from the agony. A
lighted cigarette was touched to the |
flesh by the examiner to see If the |
prisoner was still conscious. If insen-
sible, the rope was loosened and the |
naked man dropped into cold water to
restore feeling. The Japanese official
kicked his victim in the pit of the
stomach until they are carried out
unconscious. Presently they were
brought back and told that several had
been killed (Which is true) and that
they will have the same fate If they
refuse to confess. The dead body OF
one of their fellow sufferers was ex-
hibited before them. Some men were
hung up by their toes, others had put
into their mouths bit which was
drawn tight and fastened to the back
of the head. Many other forms of
sweating were used
When the prisoner was put in his