Crushing




The method of executing through crushing known as Peine forte et dure, had its origins in the replacement of trial by ordeal by trial by jury after 1215 and was a corruption of prison forte et dure, a term of "hard and severe imprisonment" imposed on those who refused to put themselves "on the country," or the jury. The method was a simple one- put as much weight and more on a person for as long as possible with no food or drink until they give out. A significant case of being condemned crushing towards to highwaymen(road-robbers) who would not commit to a court or a plead. The two "robbers" were resistant until put under the order of crushing sentenced by a judge;



That the Prisoner shall be sent to the Prison from whence he came, and put into a mean House, stopped from Light, and there shall be laid upon the bare Ground with out any Litter, Straw or other Covering, and without any Garment about him, saving something to cover his Privy Members and that he shall lie upon his Back, and his Head shall be covered, and his Feet bare, and that one of his Arms shall be drawn with a Cord to one side of the House, and the other Arm to the other side, and that his Legs shall be used in the same manner, and that upon his Body shall be laid so much Iron and Stone as he can bear, and more, and that the first Day after he shall have three Morsels of Barley Bread, without any Drink, and the second Day he shall drink so much as he can three times of the Water which is next the Prison Door, saving running Water, without any Bread: and this shall be his Diet until he die...



Near the procedure one of the men promised to plead while the other continued. After 400 pounds of pressure the other men gave in and went to plead "not guilty". Both men were hanged...



The only American to be killed under crushing, and illegally at that, was Giles Corey during the Salem Witch trials. When after spending time in jail with his wife he didn't wish to plead in court saying he would not wish to be judged by God or his Country. In that the judge motioned him to be killed by crushing.