Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-04-19
THE WHIPPING POST.
A shocking Spectacle at Hamilton,
: Canada.

n phoN-B MAX.
A correspondent writing from Hamil-
ton. Canada, gives the following account
of the hogging of two boys in the court
house of that city on Thursday last; 8
The sentence of the court upon the
two bows. John Collins and Sylvester
Glue alias Canal, convicted of indecent
assault, was carried out at the court
house at three o'clock this afternoon in
the presence of the sheriff, Jail surgeon,
taller, representatives of the press, and
some few officials of the Jail. At three
o clock the boys we're brought out OF
their cells, half dead with fright at the
terrible punishment which awaited them,
and both crying bitterly. The surgeon
made an examination as to the condl-
ton of the two boys, and pronounced
them as in fit state to receive the SEN
teuce of the law. They were then es-
corted to the wood-shed on the west side
of the courthouse, where a rack had
been previously arranged.
This Sylvester Cline, alias Sylvester
Canal, was first strapped, after having
been stripped to the waist. de stood
with his face to the rack, hands and feet
extended toward either side, and sup
ported in front by his clothes, to prevent
too severe friction to that part of his
chest which would otherwise come in
contact with the rough rack. On his
left hand side stood the party selected ia
administer the whipping, having in his
hand savage-looking affair, in the shape
of huge cat, the handle of which was
Of oak about foot in length, to which
was attached nine stout leathern thongs.
The larger boy, John Collins, was so
placed that he could obtain full view
of the punishment to which he was
shortly to submit. Everything being in
readiness, the signal for the commence
ment of the hagellatiOn was givec by the
sheriff, and, barring his arm to the elbow,
the whipper began his work. sri
Twenty lashes, according to the SEN
tence Of the magistrates, were to be adj
mhistered to both lads Swinging the
"eat" in dexterous manner over his
head. the lashes descended with light
ning-like rapidity upon the bare back of
the terrified lad, cutting through the
flesh and covering the body with blood
and gore. Another blow descended, fol-
lowed with more gashes and blisters and
more blood, and then another and an
other, until the hearts of the spectators
turned sick at the horrible spectacle.
During this terrible ordeal the boy rent
the cir with his screams, and imploring
cries Of "0h, my motherp Doctor ioh,
doetorT and "Oh, you are killing me
you are killing mel The lashes were
counted by the sheriff as they were
given, and at the conclusion Of the
whipping the boy was released, and the
latter boy, JOHN Collins, was stripped
and strapped TO the frame for the pur-
pose Of taking his turn at the lash.
This boy, If anything took it harder
than the little fellow. He writhed fear
fully under each successive stroke, utter
ing all sorts Of terrible imprecations
upon the head Of the wielder of the lash,
and beseeching him to wait minute.
The effect Of the lashes was as apparent
in this case as in the other, and when at
the conclusion Of the punishment he
was released, his back was scanned and
gashed as if by the knife Of savage,
while huge welts or blisters we're visible
on various parts Of the back, shoulders
and sides. As soon as the whipping
ceased, his crying changed 10 moaning.
The boys were then ordered to their cells,
and the attending surgeon ordered o
cooling lotion 10 be Immediately applied.
They will be dismissed from custody as
soon as they are in fitcondition. This
is the first case Of lashing under the new
law in this city, and we entertain no
doubt that the effect viii be most whole
some as q future preventive Of juvenile
crime here.