| Show BRANDING CRIMINALS from the point of view taken by civilized nations the people of the orient have some decidedly unique punishments for the criminal class it may be that in some cases these mot act more vigorously as a deter rent upon individuals who hadean have a n inclination to disregard law than do our methods yet for humanity human itys Is sake the practice of barbarities cannot be comment commended led even as against the most incorrigible the chinese board of punishments having under ite jurisdiction the district of has decided to try a new method with robbers who are taken in that section for several years past the rivers of have been in tested footed with organized zed bands of thieves who have excellent opportunities for hiding biding in the wild region along the streams tre ame and who maintain themselves by a system of piracy they mingle among people in the towns and upon a signal which brings concerted action perpetrate a series of thefts and retire to their places of concealment in their practice they also make passengers on river steamers victims of systematic robbery long liong terms of imprisonment have not been sufficient to break up this business so the board has concluded to to try elme by a rule just promulgated those who actually engage to in the robberies and others wh aid them by or otherwise are subjected to a punishment by which their identity will be ever afterwards established for the first offense the crl ninal is to be branded on the right cheek cht ek with the characters tor for thief and for the second on cioth the new dew order roee goes into effect against thieves cauwet on board ves selsa any of the chinese ports by this means ff flender enders may be known at a glance by the police and the public AS the average chinaman has a superstitious ho horror of facial disfigurement and through the it or the penalty people will be warned against convicted thieves it la Is ex petted that the new punishment will be effective am aa an aid in breaking up the robber bands |
