EXECUTIONS IN BURMAH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3584, 26 March 1886, Page 4

EXECUTIONS IN BURMAH.

The Times' correspondent at Mandaley gives an account of an extraordinary act of inhumanity perpetrated by the British provost-marshal of the Burmah Expedition. It seems that on the 15th inst. fivo Dacoits were shot m two batches. A Bunnan, named Wooguet, who had beon arrested on suspicion of aiding tho Alompra pretender, wos believed to bo ablo to givo evidence incriminating certain of the Burmese Ministers ; but when questioned, denied that ho know anything. After tho Dacoits had been shot m Wooguet's presence, ho was informed that ho would be shot unless ho gave evidence. On his declining to do so, Wooguet waa placed against tho samo wall whero the Dacoits had been executed, and the firing parly under orders presented arms, and the words, "Ready!" "Present!" were given. The provost-inar-shol then walked up to Wooguet and said, " Unless you confess what you know you will be at once shot." Under fear of instant death, and with tho rifles presented at him, Wooguet made statements affecting two of tho Burmese Ministers, alleging that they were assisting the pretenders. Tliis testimony was written down by a police-oilicer m a pocket-book borrowed from the press correspondent who was prrsent. Tho provost-marshal, who is an ardont amateur photographer, is desirous of securing viows of tho persons executed at tho precise moment when they are struck by tho bullets. To secure this result, after the orders "ready," "present," havo been given to the Gring party, tho provost-marshal fixes his camera on the prisoners, who at times are kept waiting for somo minutes m that position. The otßeer commanding the firing-party is thon directed by tho provost-marshal to givo tho order to fire at tlio moment when ho exposes his plate. So far no satisfactory negative has been obtained, and the experiments are likely to be continued. Theso proceedings tako placo beforo a crowd of mixed nationalities. At first theso statements wero believed to bo unfounded, but the correspondent gives chapter and verse for all his accusations, and quotes witnesses whoso veracity is unimpeachable. Evon Mr Barnard, the chief commissioner, and Colonel Sladen became acquainted with the fact that tho provostmarshal attempted to extort ovidenco from prisoners by menaces of death. General Prendergast himself stigmatised tho proceedings a3 inhuman, and showed very proper indignation. A military inquiry into these scandals is now being held at Mandalay.