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ship had to be away in the village on some official business of importance, hence the execution could not take place. His Excellency, considering that Sz being only one of a party who were engaged in the plot, feared that if his execution were delayed, some unexpected disturbance might arise. He, therefore, on the 18th (9th November), directed in writing Mr. Tsin, the District Magistrate of Pun U, to proceed with the Colonel, the Military officers, and with a force of soldiers and lictors at their command, to take Sz out of prison, bind him according to the rules laid down for that purpose, first ascertaining that there could be no mistake about the identity of his person, and, on the clock striking nine, take him to the place of execution, which was situated to the south of the City.
To provide for the possibility of the prisoner being rescued by his old associates, instructions were given by the authorities to the soldiers and lictors to be on their guard, and the executioners were also instructed to walk by the sides of the prisoner, and at the least indication of disturbance, to behead him on the road. As it was, however, no sign of commotion was visible anywhere; all was quiet on the way to the execution ground. When at last the latter place was reached, Sz cried aloud, "I have still many things in my mind that I wish to speak." But before he could finish his words, his head was separated and rolled on the ground. The head was next put in a wooden cage by the lictors and brought back to Hung Mun Lau to be exhibited to public view. Sung is still at large, but a strict and close search...