The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-06
Torture That Causes Exquisite
Agony But Leaves No Scars

Seoul. Sept. Cover at Namsan.
the South Mountain upon whose sides
are located the headquarters of the
governor general of Korea, there are
two small buildings. one frame. the
other brick. These are e the head
quarters of the gendarmerie. The
prisoner under suspicion is at first put
in a solitary cell in the frame build
ing, on scant rations. Here in the
supply of cold, since the building is
unheated and exposed to the winds.
Most Of the prisoners in the conspir-
acy case were arrested last autumn
and during the winter months.
Opposite. in the brick building. is
what is described as the torture cham
Der. Here the examinations-at least
the important stage of the examination
are conducted.
h police examiners are japanese.
There is a japanese physician pres
ent.
The examinations generally take
place at night. The most common tor
ture is that of hanging up by the
thumbs.
AS this is described, the prisoner up
on being brought into the torture
chamber is stripped naked. His left
arm is passed behind his back, palm
and fingers upward. resting on his
right shoulder blade. His right arm
is put up, his hand extended palm
outward and fingers down over his
right shoulder blade. A very strong
string is fastened around the left
thumb. over which there is generally
a case of some kind to keep the
string from cutting the flesh. In the
same manner the right thumb is tied
to the same string, after which the
two thumbs are drawn closely togeth-
err.
Pulled up by Thumbs.
To this string holding the thumbs
there is fastened a rope that extends
through a pulley in the ceiling, over
through another pulley on the side
wall and then down to a hook on the
side of the wall.
The examiner thus ties up a pris-
oner as is desired, goes to the rope and
jerks it through the pulleys, and up
the victim goes.
This leaves the prisoner suspended
his tiptoes barely above the floor, but
not resting on it, every muscle OF his
body on racking strain.
He is then beaten on back, stom.
ach, other organs. and on his sides un.
der the arms, the instrument used be.
ing a sort of frayed rattan switch. Thu
switching does not always bring blood
upon a tough skin. but 1t is described
as acutely painful. Every blow seem,
to cut deep into the flesh.
Some who have experienced THU
method Of judicial suasion have sale
the wall that they were kept hanging
more than an hour before they becam,
unconscious under the agony.
At times the examiners would ash
them to confess. II there was n,
answer a lighted cigarette was touch,
ed to h flesh to see II the prisoner
was still conscious.
If unconscious the rope was un,
loosed. the prisoner dropped. and colo
water was thrown on him until he wal
brought to. This portion of the exer
cises was conducted by the physician
Il was killed and brought back tt
life three times" declared one of tn,
prisoners in open court, graphical,
describing the Impressions made up
on him by this method of procedure
Alibis Not Permitted.
While in the midst Of this tortur,
long statements are written cut which
are said to be the mans ''confession.'
The next day these statements are reat
to him and his assent demanded.
you said yesterday" the examiner
declares: The prisoner pronounce
them false-things that he could never
have dreamed Of. He gives testimon!
to prove his statements. such AZ he hat
been Ill at the time or away from tn,
place.
No alibis are permitted. The exam
liner hits him over the ears. Men hav,
said they are unable to hear for weeks
Or he is kicked In the pit Of the stom
ach and carried out unconscious. Per
haps he is In hte physician's hands FOL
a week. He is brought back, and told
that several others have been killed
and that he is to have the same fat,