656 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



to the two milder grades, the other two being reserved for men 

 accused of atrocious crimes. 



Then comes a minute and intricate code of procedure for those 

 very common and puzzling cases when the sufferer pleads guilty 

 under torture, but reasserts his innocence after it, declaring that 

 the pain irresistibly drove him to make a false confession to obtain 

 a brief respite. In such cases the judge is forbidden to " put him 

 to the question " anew till he has certified the conflicting statements 

 to a higher court, and received new orders to proceed. But the good 

 empress commands that "beyond three times shall no one be 

 tortured ; but he who endures it three times without confession, or 

 who has each time recanted his confession, shall be set at liberty, 

 because he is sufficiently cleansed from the accusations by the 

 martyrdom endured. And the martyr can not say that injus- 

 tice was done him, for the judge has the evidence to justify his 

 action/' etc. 



The four grades are then defined, the first being the thumb- 

 screw (polletrum, Daumstocke). Two separate forms are pictured 

 by life-size scale drawings ; one sort was legal in Austria and one 

 in Bohemia. It is a strong little vise, seven inches long, of two 

 flat iron bars connected by screw bolts. The thumbs are to be in- 

 serted to the first joint, and the inner surfaces are armed with 

 toothlike points. While the questions are asked one servant 

 helps hold the vise and turn the nuts with a wrench or key, while 

 another clasps the victim tight around the body to prevent con- 

 tortions. A third may or may not be employed to increase the 

 pain by hammering on the vise. 



The picture of this scene is very effectively drawn. The con- 

 flict of stubborn wills between the roaring victim and the iron- 

 hearted bailiffs is fearful to witness. The judge is in no hurry ; 

 he gives the wrench an additional turn now and then till the very 

 bones are crushed, and the clerk can triumphantly write down 

 the confession of guilt. 



The second grade, which is now seldom heard of, was the cord 

 (fidicula). Its exact size and use are fully pictured. The arms 

 of the accused are stretched forward with the palms together. A 

 strong rope, like sash-cord, is looped upon the wrist, then wound 

 tightly round both arms to the elbows, cutting deep into the flesh 

 and tending to break the elbow joints. This was regarded more 

 terrible than the thumb stocks. This was the Bohemian method ; 

 but another form was prescribed for Austria equally effective 

 and ingenious. 



The famous rack, which comprised the third grade, was of 

 great utility in the " discovery of the truth." It was called equu- 

 leus, or little horse, by the Austrian as well as the Roman jurists. 

 Four full-page engravings depict the exact form, size, mechani- 



