CHINESE "CRUEL STOOL"

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 12 October 1917, Page 1

CHINESE "CRUEL STOOL"

WORSE THAN THE THIRD DEGREE

The correspondent of the * North China Daily News' at Hingl, in >Sonth-wes-t Rueichow, sends an appalling story of the torture of a prisoner who was a minor accomplice i« a crime in which it was desired to obtain evidence against another prisoner. The torture began by (icating the mail's band on a vooden block in which a hollowhad been cut to receive it. One hand was very soon scattered to piece!-. Then the victim was, lashed to the " cruel stool" twisted and contorted into various t-hapr -• vrith. the bones against the knotty part « : the stool's and corners. A piece tf firewood was c-ronght, and the Magistrate Himself is said to have beaten the.prisoner fcjll there was- no flesh on his shoulder

blade, after which, by way of a cltange. he broke a rib with a savage blow. That performed, he is said to have removed foul square inches of lle-h from one thigh by blows with the saine piece of wood. When the prisoner pleaded to be shot outright, the Magistrate replied: "Shooting is toe mercifull'll kill you by inches.'' The was than untied" and the Magistrate called for a brick and a 12oz ham mer. The prisoners ankle was then p.aced on the brick, and the ankle bones - mashed with the hammer. At this point the victim s courage broke down, and h< l.'ive the desired-evidence.