IN CHAINS FOR LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18250, 17 November 1922, Page 9

IN CHAINS FOR LIFE.

FILLIPINO PRISONERS.

CRIMES OF SPECIAL HORROR.

WHAT *' CHAINS " REALLY MEAN.

What appeared upon the surface to be an instance of perpetuation in modern days of an inhuman and even barbarous form of punishment was mentioned in a cable message from Washington this week, namely, the confirmation by the United States Supreme Court of rigorous sentences passed by the High Court of the Philippines condemning 11 members of the Philippines constabulary to death and 66 to imprisonment in chains for life. Naturally such severe sentences have given rise to some comment, as seeming survivals of the methods of the uncivilised ages of a distant past. Reference, however, to Mr. K. do G. MacVitty, American Consul, throws some light upon the circumstances of the crimes, and mitigates the apparent horror of the punishments. Practically Mutiny and Rebellion. Mr. McVitty states that the trials of the prisoners arose out of an emeute between the. Filipino police and the constabulary of the territory, who appear to be a body organised somewhat similarly to the armed constabulary who were enrolled in New Zealand at the close of the Maori War, and who were a military force distinct from the civil police. Originally, this Philippine constabulary unit was officered by Americans, but, in accordance with the United States principle of local self-government, when they became a permanent organisation, the Filipinos were promoted to the higher ranks, until finally the complete staff consisted of native officers. The trouble between the two forces arose upon a minor matter, but ultimately became a serious vendetta, practically amounting to mutiny ,and rebellion on the part of the constabulary, in which ambushes of the civil police and peculiarly horrible murders were a conspicuous feature. The offenders were first tried by the Filipino Court of first instance, which passed the severe sentences. Then' they appealed to the High Court of the terri- i tory, which confirmed the decision of the Lower Court. An important point to be noted is that both these Courts are pre- \'. sided over by high legal dignitaries ol ', the Filipino race. Next, the cases were , carried on appeal to the Supreme Court . of the United States, the highest legal authority in the American Common- j wealth, and this body> as the cable mes- ; sage states, has also ratified the judgments of the two colonial Courts, so that ; the sentences are now to be put into execution. , Sentences Reviewed by Two Courts. As to the severity of the punishments, Mr. MacVitty points out that, to understand what they mean, one requires to have lived in the Oriental atmosphere. Detention in chains, however, does not carry with it the implication of imprisonment in dark dungeons, with heavy irons Vipon the limbs, such as the reading of novels relating to the dark ages brings to the imagination. As a matter of fact, the chains employed upon criminals in the Philippines are merely light steel I chains, attached to the ankles, strong enough and short enough to prevent an escape from custody, but not sufficiently heavy to impede the wearer's movements. Moreover, the prisoners are by no means confined in cells, but are employed in prison at various trades, chiefly the manufacture of furniture. The gaol at Manila is ■ considered to be one of the model prisons of the world, and the sentences are quite in harmony with the penitentiary methods of the Far- East'.