The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-08

The JAIL WHIPPING CAsE-MAYoR's
COURT IN LIMBo-CHIEF OF POLICE,
WHIPPING MASTER, ETC.-William IL.
Bibbs, the negro who was committed to
Jail few days since to await further eX-
animation for breaking into the warehouse
Of Messrs. Harveys & Williams, appeared
before the Mayor yesterday morning to
complain against Jim Byrd, William Deb
rick, and Primus Dobson, for administer
ing nine and thirty lashes to him on his
bare back with strap.
Bibbs testified that on the morning he
was committed to Jail he was walking out
in the yard, when he was approached by
Primus Dobson, who asked him if he had
ever been in Jail before. Bibbs replied,
"No." Dobson said, "Well, den, de
Meyer (Mayor) wants to see you"
"Whar is he ?" said Bbbs. "Up in Cell
No. l." was the reply. Witness went to
the cell, where he was confronted by CHS
Honor" William DERRICK, "Mayor of the
city JAIL" who asked him if he knew the
rules Of his government. Bibbs replied
that he did not; whereupon "the Mayor"
told him his first duty was to pay his foot
ing Of fifty cents, or else get nine and thirty
lashes. Bibbs told him that he hadn't the
money then, but he would get it from his
wife, who would visit him during the eve
ming.
The Mayor" was about to release him,
when /" Chief of Police" Primus Dobson
spoke. up and said, "No, c. d
him, don't listen to no such talk as dat;
whip de d niger anyhow" Mine
and thirty" was the sentence; and
" Whipping Master" Jim Byrd was called
in, who administered the stripes with a
leather strap on his bare back. To use
Bibbs's expression, "they drapped his
breeches, pulled up his shirt, aud gin him
de wuss whippin' he ever had in his life. ,
Dobson said that BibbS was drunk,
and could not remember anything at all
about what was done. He had been whip
ped that way Hheu he went to Jail, "und
all de boys had had to 60 thoo de lubs."
Jim Byrd said he had to perform his
duty, and whip de man, or else catch it
himself.
"Hs Honor" DERRICK had nothing else
to say. He was in Jail awaiting eXaluiua-
tion for playing the "strap game," aud he
thought it was rather hard to interfere
with him in trying to play another and
more stylish and moral game Of 'strap."
Isaac Goode, fellow prisoner Of Bibbs's,
testified that he had been arragued before
the y" Mayor" but had been released on
account Of sickness.
The Mayor told these officials that in
addition to the charges on which they
were awaiting trial he would add that. of
"vioent assault" in stripping bare pri-
soner's back and administering lashes. He
had ordered the jailor to keep strict
watch over the yards in future, aud when
ever anything Of this kind went on again,
to put the Mayor" and all his satellites
in irons. s
Bibbs and Goode were admitted to bail
for their appearance before the Hustirgs
Court to answer the charges against them,
as it would not be safe to remand them
along with their prosecutors.
This kind of usurped and pretended 60
vernment has existed for some time in the
city Jail, and so complete despotism has
been established that it seems almost i'm
possible toremedy it. The prisoners, white
and colored, are all in separate yards, en-
closed by very high walls, and the jailor
being separated from them during the day
cannot see what is going on. His attention
is seldom attracted by noise, as sufii
cheney of that is kept up during the entire
day by the prisoners, who are like parcel
of children. It is seldom that new pri.
soner has the boldness to tell of his being
whipped or robbed, for fear of more ter
rible punishment from the other prisoners
Last year a case similar to this was be.
fore the Mayor, and the same interior
government was disclosed by three ne
groes, who had been stripped and whipped
in the same way. The Mayor had to lie
the prisoners complaining to him go, fol
fear of subsequent violence.
4 If the present legislators Of the State
were not so ticklish on the subject 0
whipping, very effectual mode of sup
pressing these abuses could be arrived q
by prescribing dose of lashes for the per
I petrators Of this system of petty despot
ism. ,s 3a