Year: 1870




ed On the Cross. ai5


[Yokohsms Corresp. New YORK Tribune.l


The penal laws of Japan are remark
ably severe, and the list of crimes
which are punished by death is very
large. A complicated system of es.
pionage exists for every branch Of gov
ernment, and every grade OF society,
rendering it extremely difficult for a
criminal to escape detection. Once in
the hands of the police, there is little
chance of his escape by means of bri-
berry, because of the many checks
brought to bear upon those having the
case in charge. A sentence aud its ex-
ecution are not so prompt as has been
generally supposed. A primary ex-
animation is made by police court,
and if the case is one demanding fur
ther action, the offender is placed in
confinement, there being no provision
for a release on bail. Many of the
lower classes who reach the Jail never
obtain trial, the tardy action of the
authorities and cruelty of the jailors
deciding their cases by causing their
deaths. 1e


The forms and obligations Of an oath
are not recognized here as in Christian
communities. OF the modes of arriv-
ing at truthful testimony there are two
quite peculiar and worthy of note:
First, by making the witness seal his
written testimony with drop of blood
taken from under the finger nail; Sec
ond, by subjecting the giver of false
testimony to the same punishment
which his evidence brought upon an
other. The testimony most relied up
on, however, is that obtained from the
criminal himself for his own conviction
or acquittal. This, of course, is rarely
voluntary, and tortures of different
kinds are resorted to- The most COM
mon is that of placing the accused on
his knees across sharp edged sticks.
Heavy stones are then piled upon the
thighs SO as to cause the sticks to press
into the flesh, producing the most ex-
cruciating pain. The bamboo is also
freely used. FT 3al gHia-a ~.
Under this system there is little doubt
that many an innocentman has confess
ed to the commission of crimes of which
he has been entirely innocent, rather
than suffer further torture. Petty Of
fenses are punished by beating with the
bamboo, by Imprisonment, and trans
portation to work in mines On being
discharged airing is printed around the
arms in India ink. If, on being arrest
ed at any time, two OF three rings ara
found to exist, the offense is punished
by death, no matter how insignificant
the offense. The most common form
of execution is by decapitation, and a
theft of any amount exceeding $40 is
thus punished. For fratricide or the
murder of master, and crimes of an
aggravated character, the culprit is
crucifed and transfxed by spears, one
on each side. Arson is punished by
burning at the stake, or rather on a
cross. The ground of execution is usu-
ally near some thoroughfare, or on an
elevated piece of ground, so as to make
as public as possible the punishment.
A criminal, on being taken from pris-
on on the day of execution, is placed
bound on horse and made to pass
through the chief street of the town.
Before him, in procession, march some
wretched coolies bearing bits of board,
on which is written the ofense of the
criminal, his sentence, and the time OF
and place of execution. By his side
stride along the officers of the prison
police, while the rear is brought up by
noisy crowd of men and half-grown
boys. Even little children may be seen
trudging along in the train to the
place of death, where they gaze upon a
terrible scene with few signs of COM
passion. zoo 1' I'D .


Passing near the execution ground
one day on returning from ride in the
country your correspondent witnessed
an exhibition of Japanese Justice. The
prisoner, who had been making the
usual tour of the town, was Just ap.
preaching the foot of the hill, sur.
rounded by the usual crowd. A more
distressed-looking object have never
seen. He was an unwashed, unshaven
and sickly from long confinement and
the many hardships in the prison.


AS the procession commenced as
cending the hill we observed him sway.
ing to and fro on his seat, and ready tc
fall to the ground but for the suppor
afforded him on either side by th,
guard. We at first thought this un
steadiness of the poor fellow was due Il
weakness and exhaustion. 1t proved
to be partial stupefaction caused By
some drugged liquor, which wa
placed to his lips every few moments
By one of the attendants. Little BALL
Of rice rolled in 6sh-skin were put il
his mouth by another attendant, which
he ate with an apparent relish, while il
the intervals of this last repast n
gazed about on the jostling crowd witt
E stupid indifference, clearly showing
that he had but a faint realization o
his approaching doom. The crime 70


which he was condemned was arson
and consequently his execution was +
j be by burning. On being lifted, o
rather letfall, from his horse, on arriy


ing atthe appointed spot, he had to b
: carried 10 the foot of the crossto Hhic
! he was to be fixed. The fastening Wa
effected by straw ropes instead of nail'


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