Star. — 1824-04-19 (London, England)

CRIMINAL JURISPRUDEACE IN CHINA.  In the 126th number of the Pekin Gazette, the Emperor's Ministers report that they have divided the list lof criminals, whose death-warrants require his sanction, into seven parts, and have taken the opinion of the Astronomical Board as to the proper days for his Majesty to affix his mark. This is done by drawing a curved line in red ink under the name of the person to be executed. The number of criminals included in the report was 479. His Majesty gave orders on the first day, that 76 were to be executed within 40 days; on the second, that 65 should suffer within the same period ; on the third, 8-1 within 18 days; on the fourth, 71. within 35 days; on the fifth, 73 within 12 days; on the sixth 82 from four to nine days; and on the seventh 25, condemned at Court within the same period. In this list are included only the lightest degree of capital offences, and, as in very atrocious crimes, unless doubt arises respecting the criminal, punishment is inflicted in a very summary manner, no criterion is afforded of the whole number of capital poi.i,hments within the year. Even in cases referred to the Emperor for his decision, the criminal is sometimes put to death before his order can be obtained.  Torture, in criminal proceedings, appears to be freely applied. In the latter end of 1822, his Majesty issued an official mandate, addressed to the whole empire, in which he declares, that within the space of a few months it has come to his knowledge that no less than seven ! witnesses have either been toi tured to death, or committed suicide consequence of the pain of torture.— Two of these were females. Ills Majesty, however, does not prohibit the question by torture, but desires it may I not be carried so far as to occasion death, and that pi isoners may be guarded more carefully, to prevent suicides. This mandate must not be so construed as to introduce undue lenity in the examination of witnesses. Ia cases of doubt, the Emperor sometimes orders the criminal to be re-tried. In an imperial mandate, in the 125th number of the Pekin Gazette, his ilajesty de• Glares, that " in viewing the list of capital offences, ►egulling his signature for the autumnal death-warrant, there is a case of murder in the province of • ;imbue, the evidence for which does not appear credible, and the Governor is therefore ordeied to subject the pa: ties to torture, and to try the criminal anew." The case is this—A villager had stolen some raiment from the landlord of whom he rented his cottage, and after weaiiiT it a considerable time, it was observed by the owner hanging out to dry, and clairme: a, his property; but on account of its having become the worse for wear, he demanded the value in money. Thus originated between the parties. The villager, as the case is stated to the Emperor, formed the diabolical resolution of killing his-own wife, and charging his landlord with ' the murder. In pursuance of this design, he caused her to accompany him to the borders of the landlord's grounds, to collect fuel, when, watching his opportunity, he slave her skull with his chopping-knife, and killed her on the spot. Now, the Emperor argues, that since it does not appear that he was previously on bad • terms with his wife, nor that she disclosed the theft, it is not credible that he killed his own wife to involve another man in the charge of murder. Ili, Imperial Majesty is anxious to repress litigation. In the Canton Gazette of the I 1 ih of October, 1822, it is officially announced, that appeals from the provinces have become so frequent of late, that the Empe• ror commands strict search to be made to disc4ver all law-suit-exciting blackguards,' who fatten on fends themselves have enkindled, and, when found, to punish them severely."