Litchfield enquirer., 1868-12-03
THE WHIPPING POST.

HE WHlPFING HOSI.
 SCENES OF THE WHIPPING POST AND PInLoRY
 IN NDEnAwARE-oLD MEN AND Boys l
 PUBLdczY WHIPPED.
 ss@ srsEsss sr4ess ----7-a sstas e...s ..
 A correspondent of the Phiidslphis Eve ming Bulletin writes to that paper long and graphic description of the public whip ping of seven persons at New Castle, Del on Saturday last. From this account we make the following extracts: This is Saint Pilllory's day in New Castle County. and it is being celebrated with appropriate rites. Saint Pillory takes the place here of the goddess of Justice. He is not blind folded, and he holds no nicely balanced scales in his hand. He yields 8 scourge. and his eyes are wide open. All deyout Delawareans believe in him swear by him, aad rely on him as their protector and de- feuder. Twice year in each of the three county towns of the State, Delawar- law li- rects orgies to be held in his honor, anl Sc. lects vicsltns whose blood is to be shed as an offering t., nim I wiA tell you of his shrine and describe the sael4ties, There were seven persons whipped here to day, and the ancient instrument of torture trem- bled again, as it has done for half centu- ", in the terrible embrace of victims. It It is curious old relic of a se,ni-civiliza- tion. that is forgotten everywhere else bnt bere, 1t consists of & sturdy post 8 foot square. Three feet from the ground 1t pierces small platform; and five feet above this there is cross-plece which, contains, in each of its arms hole for the neck and two holes for the wrists of the miserable wretch who is to suffer its tor ture, The upper half of the arm lifts to ad- init the victims and then closes sufficiently tight upon him to impede the circulation of the blood It is fastened down with 8 wooden wedge-shaped key, shot into the centre post. The whole machine looks like gigantic cross with platform half way down its length. It Is black with age covered with patches of green mould and m oss, and shrunken anu split until the gram of the wood protrudes in ridges. It IS as worm eaten and decayed as the will lainous code which sustains it; it's insight ly disgusting presence is a worthy type of the conservatism which makes these peo- pie as laggard in the march of humanity and progress. There are three of these pill lories in the State; in New Castle, George town and Dover. They stretch along down the Peninsula like tide-posts, marking the shoal waters of barbarism amid the vel tering fathomless sea of surrounding civill- Zation.
 "-- THE VICTIMS
 The ponderous gates of the jail-yard swung open. at 10 o'clock precisely, and ad- mitted crowd of men and children. By ac- tual count there were l25 little girls and boys present, some of them not more than or years of age. This was the saddest sight of all. Upon the walls were Sheriff proc lamations headed with these words: 'God Ae tfAysf fhe staRgp neddd@g nedd d@q5 GaM M salvation more than any other in the Un. ion that l know of The entertainment began by the introduction of William Jones to the audience. MT. Jones had stolen store goods worth $3S, and he was sentenc- ed to return that amount of money; stand in the pillory for one hour; be whipped with twenty lashes; be imprisoned for six months; and wear a convict's drsss for six months after his release. The first thing in order was the pillory. William ascen- ded the long ladder, rather sadly, and the jailer, having placed his neck and hands in the holes, fastened the top bar upon them, and came to the ground. The crinl- lnal was taller than the stock, and he Was compelled to bend down just enough tp make his position intensely painful. A keen ! wind swept in from the broad expanse of the river, and compelled the spectators to | blow warmth upon their fingers. MT. Jones had his circulation stopped, but he could not blow upon his hands. The Jagged, spiintered edge of the wooden col lar rasped his neck until it tore the skin and whenever he attempted to move . Is nead to make bis position more easy the bar would catch the upper part of his jaw bone, and give him exquisite torture. ''Jailor, isn't that pretty severe?'
 "Weli, yes, it's very uncomfortable po- sitiou, and then his fingers and face get numb. you see."
 ! A few years ago, the crowd usel to hoot tt the plllory-hugged man, and pelt him with mud and filth. When the fathers of l these children were boys they saved up all the cats that died, and the eggs which were spoiled Ill the town for the purpose of ''sin dlcatlpg the outraged majesty of the law upon criminals who stood in this very pliiory; and the poor wretches were often dlstigured for life, in one hour. It is d l triumph for decency that this infamous question of the discomfort or comfort of the sufferer. While Jones stood in durance to-day the jailor busted himself preparing for the fogging. This is done beneath l the platform Of the pillory. The prisoner stands close to the post. and has his arms haudcuffed above his head. The iaior ex- perimented upon the eager boys with the handcuffs, in order to ascertain if the vic- tins could slip their hands through them readily. sThe m .nacles We're too high, so an ampty soap box was placed at the foot of the post tor the prisoners to stand on. By this time the man in the piliory began to show symptoms of faintness. The iailor. a tender hearted fellow-merciful even in executing merciless laws-ascended the laIder, and began to comfort the poor wretch, whose hands were l1yid with cold. and whose face was purple At the first stroke of the clock ln the church steepIe. the Jailor quickly lifted the bar, helped the man down the ladder, and supported hlm while he staggered to his cell.
 He had flashing to bear yet.
 THE WHIPPING.
 The Sheriff came out with the 'scat'' in ms hand. This venerable weapon consists of stout handle about two feet long, with nine lashes of somewhat greater length. The thongs are made of thick leather twls- ' A~I | | Ntk,,.r