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-huang276 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 rank278 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