An attempt was made to arrange the room with the same splendour as exists in the court rooms of Japan'and every detail of the whole proceedings was given as careful attention as though the accused had been one of their own nobles. The idea was to impress the Chinese with the importance and the solemnity: of that power which: holds a life in balance, and that there were other and better methods of determining. guilt. than' that of the torture block. A platform covered with rich fabrics ran from side'to side, on this was placed a.second and smaller platform entirely -hidden by a Jarge drapery of purple embroidered silk. Above it all, extending from side to side, was a beautiful rich embroidered blue silk cane-pi 'T-bles were likewise covered with rich embroideries. On the platform sat the president of the court and five judges. interpreters, and a secretary. The prisoner, a boy of 18 years, was the first case to. be tried.: He was brought in by the police and upon reaching the stand fell cringing to the floor imploring for mercy. He was kindly hidden to stand and did so Saring e rest of the trial. The care as stated by the prosecution was that upon arrival of Japanese officers at a certain village which was rebelling the young man accused, cut off from other retreating natives, was caught attempting to escape, and upon entering the house from which had so hurriedly absented himself a ug Chinese spear similar to those used by the rebels was found. (The instrument then referred to was. placed before the prisoner.) The examination, which occupied the first-day's session, was devoted entirely to cross-examination of. the
rom the kindly way in which the enquiries risener, who, as the tri progressed and were presented, gained confidence and answered freely and in a manner which appeared to me to be frank and honest. I must say I-was favourably im with the young. lad and was greatly pleasured at his acquittal and. release. The case following also resulted in acquittal. That an idea of the usual judgments may be obtained I may say that up to the 9th of September but one received the death sentence, one imprisonment for eleven years, two for.nine years, and the others were acquitted.
'tHE cover's LeNtEeNcy.
It must-be remembered that these are not cases previously unexamined, and when the number of accusations are noted and the few that eventually are allowed to reach the court, it appears as. though it. was the intention to look upon their errors leniently and give them every benefit of the doubt. Nearly 3,000 accusations were made as a whole; this nutaber after investigation was cut down to 417, and of these, after preli-minery examination, but 67, reached the higher court. Every attempt is made to obtain evidence, but it is a very difficult task and one requiring much time, and 7 presume most +f the previous acquittals have been the result of insufficient evidence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.