The Corrections Museum Thailand's Prison History Bangkok, Thailand
The Corrections Museum is only open by appointment. From Monday through Saturday you can ring up the place and book a tour for the following day. It is one of the least visited 'spots' in Bangkok ... only because none of the tour books have found it. Production of the book by Arwee Directory The Box The Confession Hook Gun Execution Photos The Elephant ball The Finger Smash The Head Squeeze Brain Tease Sketches Beheading Death by Gun Restraints Bars Beheading Photos Jaw Work Sketches Fire Sketches Ear Poke sketch Whip Sketch Tower and Guns Administration Dinner Time Model Prison
The Box The Corrections Museum
The live prisoner was laid out in this coffin size box to give him a taste of claustrophobia. To make matters worse the box was allowed to rest outside under the hot afternoon Bangkok sun. Small air holes ensured that the prisoner did not die from lack of air. His hands were tied so that any small itches would remain bothersome.
Gun Execution Photos The Corrections Museum
These B/W photos show the 'backside' of an execution by gunfire. In all cases the prisoner is terribly dead.
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The Confession Hook The Corrections Museum
Prisoners who balked at voluntary confessions were given additional persuasion to talk with the help of the jaw hook. Bound and upright, the prisoner was forced to stand on his toes; a hook was placed under his chin. When his physical stamina faltered the hook would bite deeper and deeper into his jaw.
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The Elephant Ball The Corrections Museum
This clever device was not known in the West ... or, if it was known about, it was not used. Why? No elephants! The prisoner was put in this large rattan ball. The ball was liberally sprinkled inside with sharp nails. Then the fun began: an elephant was encouraged to kick the ball down the field.
The Head Squeeze The Corrections Museum
Quite simple but very painful: the prisoner's head was placed between two sticks and a tourniquet was employed to pinch the poor fellow's brain.
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The Finger Smash The Corrections Museum
Like with the head squeeze it took only a small amount of effort on the part of the torturer to make the prisoner scream. A supplementary tool (or tools) allowed the operator to peel back the prisoner's fingernails at the same time.
Brain Tease Sketches The Corrections Museum
This is an artist's impression of how it looked to the bystander to see someone's brain exposed to the elements (including a helping of hotlead).
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Beheading The Corrections Museum
Prior to the introduction of the firearm Thailand used beheading by sword to guarantee that the prisoner would no longer be up to any more mischief. After the 'head-man' had done his job one of his helpers would chop off the prisoner's feet so that the leg irons could be recycled. Thailand's best loved executioner came from China (he is pictured here). By the way, the condemned man was entitled to choose his final meal.
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Death by Gun The Corrections Museum
After the sword came the gun. This remained Thailand's preferred method of dispatch until it was replaced by lethal injection. Thailand's marksman was a loner and a pro. The prisoner was tied with his back to the gunner. A piece of tarp with a strategically placed bull's-eye target was placed between the gunner and his prey. The gun was set to whip out half a dozen rapid shots. The last of the photos shows the actual gun that was used. If you continue to view this book you'll find some B/W photos of a shot prisoner.
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Restraints The Corrections Museum
Sometimes the prisoner only had to be held still; the main theme was not to make him scream with agony ... rather it was to keep him in one place. Of course, many times a byproduct of the restraining device was discomfort. The picture with Golf in it illustrates how a couple of bamboo poles could easily be employed to keep the man from making a dash out the door or though a window. It also made dining a real chore ... not just for him but for his table mates as well.
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Bars The Corrections Museum
The prison was a British design. Built by the same firm that gave the English the Bow Street prison it has a nice feel to it...from a design point of view. Though political prisoners had private cells the remaining cells were packed with as many souls as could be squeezed into them. There were no lights, windows or 'facilities'. Golf had her own cell.
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Beheading Photos The Corrections Museum
After his head was cut off it was paraded about on a stick. Three of the less clear pictures show the actual beheading with the prisoners blood fountaining up from his still erect body. These are very old photos...probably taken with primitive cameras...perhaps the photographer was even under a bit of stress.
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Jaw Work Sketches The Corrections Museum
The mouth was a favorite object for Thai torturers.
Fire Sketches The Corrections Museum
Of course, fire was the last straw.
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Ear Poke Sketch The Corrections Museum
A poke in the ear was easily at hand.
Whip Sketch The Corrections Museum
Of course, the whip was always useful ... especially when supplemented with a blade.
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Tower and Guns The Corrections Museum
Of course no proper prison would be safe without a guard tower and a bunch of shotguns.
Administration The Corrections Museum
Let's not forget the cogs ... the bureaucracy ... without which none of this would have been possible. These Thai language typewriters worked hard and long turning out confessions, autopsy reports, inmate menus, public relations handouts, execution orders, etc. Without them the whole system would have slowed to a crawl.
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Dinner Time The Corrections Museum
Prison food! Maybe not the stuff served up where the Watergate burglars did their time. But, probably better than the flattened cockroaches that had 'to do' when the cells were overbooked and the prison kitchen was working to rule.
Model Prison The Corrections Museum
No, the original prison ... except for the museum buildings ... is no longer here. It has been moved to a location close to the airport. In it's place ... where there were once execution fields and cells ... there is now a park named after the current Queen. Though the movers did leave behind a model of the place.
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