A section of the Corrections Museum in Bangkok shows the history of capital punishment and its various forms throughout time. Until 1934, the prevailing method for executing the death sentence was beheading by sword.

Before the beheading would take place, the executioner asked for forgiveness, whilst the convict is blindfolded and tied with the shoulders onto the beam of a T-shaped wooden cross using several strands of sai sin.

The hands are either tied together with sai sin or held in a phranommeua -gesture, often holding one or more lotus flowers (fig.). One or more executioners would make a ceremonial dance in front of the convict and then one of them would strike from the back.

After the execution was carried out an executioner would examine the body.  The execution in this picture was apparently public as the photo shows it was witnessed by a crowd of people.