In the late Tang dynasty, a tomb robbery took place in a certain place. As the case remained unsolved for a long time, the local authorities came under considerable pressure. Eventually, they apprehended a ‘suspect’ and subjected him to brutal torture to extract a confession. Unable to endure the torment, the ‘suspect’ ultimately confessed under duress, even naming several ‘accomplices’. In a desperate attempt to spare him further suffering, his family went so far as to sell off their possessions to forge the stolen goods from the tomb and handed them over to the authorities. The authorities closed the case hastily, sentencing these men to death.
On the day of the execution, a man suddenly rushed out from the crowd of onlookers, shouting: ‘You must not wrongfully execute the innocent! I am the grave robber!’ He then produced the genuine stolen goods from the tomb as evidence.
The authorities were deeply shocked upon discovering the truth and punished those who had committed the torture. All those who had been wrongly accused were acquitted. As for the grave robber, although he committed the crime, he surrendered to save the lives of innocent people. Not only was he spared execution, but he was recruited by the authorities and rewarded for his voluntary confession to save the lives of the innocent.
Origin: Tai Ping Guang Ji
#36 盗墓贼
唐朝末年,有一个地方发生了盗墓案，由于长时间破不了案，地方官府面临很大的压力。后来，官府抓到了一个“嫌疑犯”，对他严刑逼供，这个实在熬不住，最终含冤招供，还被迫供出了几个“同伙”。他的家人为了让他能免受折磨早点解脱，甚至变卖家产伪造了墓中的赃物上交。官府就此草草结案，判定这几人死罪。
行刑那天,围观的人群中突然冲出一个男子，大喊：“不能错杀无辜！盗墓的人是我！“ 这个真正的盗墓贼当场拿出了真正的墓中赃物作为证据。
官府查明真相后大为震惊，将滥施酷刑的狱吏治罪。被冤枉的人全部无罪释放，而这位有义气的盗墓贼，虽然犯法，但因主动自首且救了无辜者的命，不仅未被处死，反而被官府破格录用、给予奖赏。
出自《太平广记》