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Article THE SEGEEt SOOIEfM ← Page 8 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Segeet Sooiefm
have been the sign . From this time the candidate was one of the number ctf the initiated , and M the association ; The duty of the initiated was to go through the country to serve citations and to trace out and denounce evil-doers ; or if they caught them in the fact , to execute instantaneous justice upon them . They also had to assist at the proceedings of the tribunal , when assembled to execute justice upon malefactors . For this purpose , at least seven
assessors ( some say fourteen ) , besides th £ count , were required to be present , all belonging to county or district in which the tribunal was held ; those belonging to other counties might be present , but they could not act as assessors ; of these , there were frequently some hundreds present .
Having now described the nature and form of the court , we will give a brief account of their proceedings when & i 3 s 6 mbled . The door being closed , and the court declared open , the judge could not rise until the whole of the business was concluded , nor surrender his place to any but his superior in rank , should one happen to be present . The assessor who accused took an ^ oath that the delinquent was guilty of
the crime laid to his charge , and the name of the accused was forthwith written down in a book , called the " book of blood j" if any other person than the assessor were the accuser he vra ^ holding the writ of accusation folded up in his hands , together with a green cross and a pairof white gloves . The assessors were accustomed
to touch those whom they called to judgment lightly with a rod , or to whisper these mysterious words , "As good bread is eaten elsewhere as this . " Should four assessors together surprise a person in the commission of any flagrant crime , they were empowered to try him and hang him on the spot .
Six weeks and three days were allowed for the appearance of the accused , and the writ of accusation was given to two assessors , who declared upon their oath that they would make the citation at the stated time , and inform the court when they should have effected it . Should the person who was summoned conceal himself , letters were
written to those among whom he was concealed , signifying that he was to surrender himself at a stated place and time . All the initiated , of whatever degree , could at all times pass freely , either on horse or foot , at any time , through any part of the country , in the execution of their duties or otherwise— -for daring was the man who
would presume to molest or injure them , as certain death was his inevitable lot . A dreadful penalty , by the way , awaited any member of the Vehm who should betray his trust and reveal the secrets of the society ; he was to be seized , a bandage bound over his eyes , his
hands tied behind his back , and a halter put about his neck ; he vvas then to be thrown upon his belly , his tongue to be pulled out behind through the nape of Ms neck , and he was then to be hanged seven feet higher than any other felon . It is , however , doubtful whether there was ever any occasion for carrying this penalty into effect , as
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Segeet Sooiefm
have been the sign . From this time the candidate was one of the number ctf the initiated , and M the association ; The duty of the initiated was to go through the country to serve citations and to trace out and denounce evil-doers ; or if they caught them in the fact , to execute instantaneous justice upon them . They also had to assist at the proceedings of the tribunal , when assembled to execute justice upon malefactors . For this purpose , at least seven
assessors ( some say fourteen ) , besides th £ count , were required to be present , all belonging to county or district in which the tribunal was held ; those belonging to other counties might be present , but they could not act as assessors ; of these , there were frequently some hundreds present .
Having now described the nature and form of the court , we will give a brief account of their proceedings when & i 3 s 6 mbled . The door being closed , and the court declared open , the judge could not rise until the whole of the business was concluded , nor surrender his place to any but his superior in rank , should one happen to be present . The assessor who accused took an ^ oath that the delinquent was guilty of
the crime laid to his charge , and the name of the accused was forthwith written down in a book , called the " book of blood j" if any other person than the assessor were the accuser he vra ^ holding the writ of accusation folded up in his hands , together with a green cross and a pairof white gloves . The assessors were accustomed
to touch those whom they called to judgment lightly with a rod , or to whisper these mysterious words , "As good bread is eaten elsewhere as this . " Should four assessors together surprise a person in the commission of any flagrant crime , they were empowered to try him and hang him on the spot .
Six weeks and three days were allowed for the appearance of the accused , and the writ of accusation was given to two assessors , who declared upon their oath that they would make the citation at the stated time , and inform the court when they should have effected it . Should the person who was summoned conceal himself , letters were
written to those among whom he was concealed , signifying that he was to surrender himself at a stated place and time . All the initiated , of whatever degree , could at all times pass freely , either on horse or foot , at any time , through any part of the country , in the execution of their duties or otherwise— -for daring was the man who
would presume to molest or injure them , as certain death was his inevitable lot . A dreadful penalty , by the way , awaited any member of the Vehm who should betray his trust and reveal the secrets of the society ; he was to be seized , a bandage bound over his eyes , his
hands tied behind his back , and a halter put about his neck ; he vvas then to be thrown upon his belly , his tongue to be pulled out behind through the nape of Ms neck , and he was then to be hanged seven feet higher than any other felon . It is , however , doubtful whether there was ever any occasion for carrying this penalty into effect , as