XLVIII.

THE SELF-PUNISHED MURDERER.

Mr. Li took his doctor’s degree late in life.[274] On the 28th of the 9th moon of the 4th year of K‘ang Hsi,[275] he killed his wife. The neighbours reported the murder to the officials, and the high authorities instructed the district magistrate to investigate the case. At this juncture Mr. Li was standing at the door of his residence; and snatching a butcher’s knife from a stall hard by, he rushed into the Ch‘êng-huang[276] temple, where, mounting the theatrical stage,[277] he threw himself on his knees, and spoke as follows:--“The spirit here will punish me. I am not to be prosecuted by evil men who, from party motives, confuse right and wrong. The spirit moves me to cut off an ear.” Thereupon he cut off his left ear and threw it down from the stage. He then said the spirit was going to fine him a hand for cheating people out of their money; and he forthwith chopped off his left hand. Lastly, he cried out that he was to be punished severely for all his many crimes; and immediately cut his own throat. The Viceroy subsequently received the Imperial permission to deprive him of his rank[278] and bring him to trial; but he was then being punished by a higher power in the realms of darkness below. See the _Peking Gazette_.[279]

FOOTNOTES:

[274] There is no limit as to age in the competitive examinations of China. The _San-tzŭ-Ching_ records the case of a man who graduated at the mature age of eighty-two.

[275] In 1665, that is between fourteen and fifteen years previous to the completion of the _Liao Chai_.

[276] See No. I., note 36.

[277] Religion and the drama work hand in hand in China.

[278] Always the first step in the prosecution of a graduate. In this case, the accused was also an official.

[279] Of what date, our author does not say, or it would be curious to try and hunt up the official record of this case as it appeared in the government organ of the day. The unfortunate man was in all probability insane.