Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-23

Torture by Delaware Law In the 10Th
Century.

Century.
In the revolutionary changes of Time the good |
old fashions of burning offenders at the stake, Of
drawing and quartering, disembowellng, and other
rather severe punishments, have disappeared, 1t
being conceived, whether senslbly or otherwise,
that they were not consistent with Civilization
and Christianity. The old fortunes, too, such as
the rack, the breaking on the wheel, the thumb
screws, the boots, etc., have likewise been abol-
ished. Southern law and civilization, however,
infected with the faint Of the barbaric Institution
which was SO long the corner stone Of the civil,
social, and political structure of fifteen States,
chung with all Its strength to these disappearing
vestigcs of brutal times. In some states II Is still
a. part of penal enactment to brand in the hand.
In this State Of Delaware II is still part Of the
punishment for ielonies to publicly expose the
convict fastened In the pillory, and to publicly
lash him at the whipping-post.
THE SENTENCE.
Twice year the Court Of General Sessions and
Oyerand Terminer sits In each of the three conn
ties of Delaware The persons convicted of ielo-
MES are generally sentenced to be whipped and
pilloried. Saturday week, at New Castle, IL this
county, seren persons 'cere thus punished!
TIE PLACE OF PUNISHMENT
is the yard of the old jail On the occasion Of the
whipping the gates were thrown wide open that
all might enter who desired. A crowd, probably
fifteen in number assembled, of whom the major
lily were boys, from 10 to IA years, gathered thus
early in life to witness the Christian humanity OF
the law, and to gather high ideas pitts character
THE WHIPPING POST
is two stories high. The upper portion Is the pill
| lory. Eight feet from the ground, platform six
feet square, makes standing room for two persons.
Five feet above, two cross bars morticed into the
whipping post, are placed one atop the other
and in each the half ofa complete circle is hollow
ed out for the victims neck, and beside 1t one on
each side for his wrists. He stands upon the plat
form lays his neck and arms on the lower bar, the
upper one is brought down upon it and secu rely
wedged, and he stands fixed, his head bent for
ward, and the whole body strained in amost pain
full and unnatural position. For few moments
the culprit suffers little but in an hour the con-
straint becomes almost uncomfortable.
THE WHIPPING.
To undergo this portion Of the torture, the VIC
tim is stripped naked to the waist and his arms
which his face is turned.
THE ExEcuTIoSER
is the Sheriff Of the county. The unpleasant opcr-
alton becomes his duty by law and he Is Obliged
to perform it. The repugnance to such duty is
SO great that no deputy can be found willing to
injure his character and become successor to the
Jack Ketch fame of ancient days.
THE scoURGE
used at New Castle is a veritabe cat-o-nine-tai
the worst and most horrible whip that human in
gcnuity has devised. 1t has nine leather thongs,
each about quarter of an inch in diameter, and
tapering in its length of thirty inches 10 point
handle, two feet long, and an inch thick, serves
to swing the leather tongues high In air, and bring
them with terrible effect on the back of the bound
| prisoner.
were colored men, all but one. The offences were
generally larceny and HOUSEKEEPING. Two o.
these were whipped with sizty lashes-.ire hundred
and forty 5lors et1e nongs. ,se
THE WHITE CONVICT
was brought out, stripped. He was bound to TIT
post, securely. 1t was evident the Sheriff wa
using but little force with his terrible whip Thu
first blow barely made mark, but as the success
sive ones fell, red marks began to appear, liyit
lines of bruised and mangled flesh were drawn
the muscles rose in knotted cords, and the Who'll
OF the naked body showed livid purple color
Faint and staggering with even his mild treat
ment % the prisoner was covered with an oil
blanket, united, and led away. If this was tn
effect of twenty lashes, lightly laid on 1t may b
, supposed that
SIXTY BLOWS WE'RE TERRIBLE
The prisoner, Saunders, tremblcd vsibly hi
knees tottercd and he cast pleading and frigh
: encd look upon the preparations for his torture
We have seen men bear the sight of their gallow
a with more fortitude, for the fatal swing is but
instant of pain, and there is no lingering degrf
dation. In this case it WINS evident no such kind
favor welded the cat. Its nine thongs drew cac
e a lyd mark at the first blow and very soon larg
Il purple wels, ridges in the iesh began to appea
re cry of pain Involuntary wrung from Il
clenched lips of the sufferer, followed each las
I. and it was evident that every one grew more al
d more painful. The nerves twitchsd, the SKI
r. swelled, and though bruised, did not break,
to that the blood instead of running, gathered
he visible blotches beneath the surface. Thirty
Forty-Fifty-Fift times the mans bal
he has been struck with the nine scourges. FIT
III six-ffty-scyen- fifty-cght - ffty-nine - Siz
an The blanket is thrown over the torn bedy and
J. is led away.
- ANOTHER VICTIM
=" was an old rheumatic colored man, 60 or 20 ye
of age. He had plead guilty to the larceny
m some chickens, and urged ms his excuse that
was not able to work and had to steal or star
en- He tottered and trembled to the stake, but
Ike whipped with the prescribed twenty lash
or, Delaware, in the majesty of her grand legal $
ir. tenn took no cognizance Of his age, his infrmi
nd or his misfortune She had twenty of her SO
thirty of her little children, there to enjoy
,n- spectacle of his suffcrings and they could not
on robbed of their right. ..a
is THE EFFECT on THOSE PRESENT
EN- it is hard to describe. 1t was brutal exhibit
ax- that could not fail to find sympathetic rcspol
Ich in every rude and passionate nature. And WIN
lcr the bad passions were not strong and violent
re- fore il is certain this excited them. There v
ng little shuddering among the crowd. On the g
not trary we heard many EXPLANATIONS. as the
try FELL" Serves him right" "Give it to Iii
the Shcriff-gyc it to the sou of n b." &C., &c.
~ ONLY ONE VOICE
:, said in subducd tones, I" Is not this nice eli
'''' for the nineteenth century? ?"
~ But then IL was according 10 tar.
40 Tue MAY PARTY.-Thc May party of the cl
'en drcn of Grace Church Sunday School, in the
- stitute Hail. last evening, was one Of the m
IL" pleasant aifars of the kind we have ever had
30 no hall