No More Torture

An important notification Las been issuivï by the Prime Minister of Japan which will have the effect of abolishing torture in criminal proceedings. By the oíd law no criminal could be punished without flrst haviug confessed the criix e imputed to him, and the confession in obstinate caaes had to be extorted by torture, with the inevitable result that persons falsely accused often confessed to crimes of which they wero innocent. The notification rather adroitly evades the fact that the use of torture has been one of the instruuients in criminal procedure, by proclaiming that " verdicts in criminal cuses shall be given on the evidence adduced." The Northern Star, published at Shohomish City, Wyoming, has this : " Will Mrs. Sinclair and our chiof accept the thanks of tliis office? Mm. Sinclair for a lot of very line cherriüs of the Princess Ami variety, aiiJ our eilief ior hifi absence. ''