Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-31
TRIAL BY ORDEAL.
The Farce Called Justice That
Siam Used to Play.


civilized Europe do not include trial by
ordeal, but in the east It is stilI rec
ognized means Of proving an accused
persons innocence or guilt. In a coun-
try ike Slam. now so closely IN touch
with western influences, the ordeal by
fire was practiced a generation ago
This is the Oldest form OF ordeal in .
Slam. 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 filed .
with layers Of redhOt coal to a depth OF .
ten inches. The plaintiff. or sccuser,
walked over one fiery path and the de. /.
PENDANT over the other In order to
prevent the parties from unduly hur-
rying over their tasks RODS were placed
across their shoulders, and certain Of
the officials leaned heavily on these
one al the end Of each rod. In reality
they partly defeated their own ends,
for the great pressure Of the horny
soles Of fee; unused TO boots some what
quenched the fire beneath them. When
the walk was completed the soles Of
the feet were examined in order TO de-
tect any burns or blisters. This exam
ination was repeated every day for IF
teen days, and at the end Of that time
the man who showed no signs OF being
hurt IN any way was sdjudged the
winner. During the course Of the trial
the judges sat IN a specially erected
and gayiy decorated pavilion, where
they Toasted royalty the expense OF
which had TO be betrayed Jointly by
the persons engaged in the lawsuit.
II happened more than once that the
fire failed TO make any impression on
the feet OF the competitors In such
cases they were both compelled 10 un-
dergo another trial by means Of the
water ordeal. II both parties got
singed, then they were both held TO be
guilty OF something or other. and so
they were both punished with heavy
fines
The water ordeal is n kind OF diving
competition. The BpcN chosen was eli
ther some part OF the nearest river or
else a large, deep pond. The law In
sisted that the spot must be one where
the water was clear and cool and free
from leeches and mud. In the case OF
"A river there was 20 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
take hold Of on immersion. These
poles were placed about ten feet apart
Before the actual trial took place
cockhEht was held, in which the two
birds were supposed TO represent the
two ntigHntA, and the result Of this
preliminary conflict was held 20 be
OminOus OF the results that would at
tend the serious trial
This was never omitted, because the
spectators. who were assembled in
hundreds 20 watch the event. always
treated Il as u kind Of holiday and
Rambled largely as to the issue OF the
day; hence the cockfght was sort
of guide 20 them In their speculstions.
The two persons next addressed them
selves TO the water deities and asked
for their protection and help. each he
seeching them TO help him only and
each promising gittS ana oherlngS
should be be successful.
Then they stepped into the water
until II reached up 20 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 We're considered 10 possess
protective charm against all adverse
influences Finally each one had
strong rope fastened tightly round the
waist by means OF which he could be
hauled out OF the water. because when
both men were possessed OF great
breathing capacity Il sometimes hap
pcncd that after prolonged immersion
tho competitors We're too much ex-
huuStcd 10 get themselves out OF the
water
when MI was ready n horizontal pole
WINS placed across the shoulders of
each ucrsuu. and ar n given signal
nom n metal gong the two poles were
simultaneously depressed by the on
0cia's. and so the Two heads were
thrust under water. The divers grip
pol their wood-n stakes and grimly
he'd their heads aader the surface OF