CHINA Chinese Tribunal Interrogation of Prisoner - Antique Print

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Steel Engraving from1858! --- another quality print from Martin2001 --- Examination of a Prisoner Artist: n/a; Engraver: n/a Publisher: The London Printing and Publishing Company 150+ years old art print ... in excellent condition ... reverse side is blank ! Size: Overall dimensions of the print incl. blank margins: 7 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches. 1 inch = 2,54 cm. Condition: Excellent condition . Printed on heavier wove paper. Light age toning.Green color 'border' around the print in the photo is a contrasting background on which the print was photographed, it is not part of the print. From the original description: THE Chinese are not, as a nation, distinguished by the commission of flagrant crimes, or gross and daring violations of the laws. Still there are many offenders amongst them; and against some offences the laws are very strict, and the punishments awarded for their commission are extremely severe. The mandarins are the magistrates, and preside in the courts of justice. These courts are all furnished with a drum, which is beaten by those who demand justice, to the great astonishment of Europeans. There does not appear to be any fixed periods for the courts to sit, and many cases are heard by the magistrates as soon as the offender is apprehended. The forms of justice are few and simple. When the police apprehend a Chinaman for any offence, he is taken before a magistrate, who is seated at a table (as in the engraving). The prisoner is made to kneel in front of what forms the tribunal of justice—his captor on one side, and another policeman, with the instrument of punishment, on the other. The magistrate has his clerk ; but in no case is there either jury or pleading. He hears the witnesses, and passes sentence; intimating the number of blows to be given (if flogging is awarded), by throwing on the ground some of the reeds which are seen in two small boxes at the corner of the table. If it be an offence punishable by the bamboo, bastinado, or cangue, that punishment is immediately inflicted ; if it be more serious, and death or banishment is the sentence, the offender is sent to prison, or to the place of execution. Persons charged with offences are seldom acquitted : when there are no witnesses, the torture of the rack, etc., is frequently administered till the accused criminates himself. The prisoners condemned to death at Canton are executed without the gate, on the south side of the city, near the river. "When brought to the fatal spot," says a writer on Chinese punishments, " they kneel with their faces towards the emperor's court, and bending forward in the attitude of submission and reverence, suddenly expire beneath the bloody sword of the executioner." On this site, it is averred that Yeh, the emperors late commissioner at Canton, who was taken prisoner when that city was captured, and sent to Calcutta, had 70,000 Chinese put to death, some under circumstances of the most horrible cruelty, the description of which makes the blood run cold to read it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martin2001 Satisfaction Guaranteed Policy ! Any print purchased from us may be returned for any reason for a full refund including all postage. Shipping: Worldwide. We gladly combine multiple purchases into one package. Terminology: "Inch to cm" conversion table: Our other listings on eBay: Notes: --- findchinalpp findfareast findcourt read more

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