Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-08
The Cn,.o,-Nine-TniIs.

Some OF the English papers have lately been
discussing the punishment of the "cat," inflicted
there for robbery with violence. The instru.
ment used is the "cat-o'-nine-tails," consisting
of pine hard knotted cords attached TO a short
handle, and is substantially the same as was
employed in our navy when flogging was per-
mitted. brutal ruffiau, who had knocked
down gentleman in the street and wounded
him shockingly about the head and face with
blows and kicks lately suffered this penalty,
and the published report of an eye witness of
his punishment elected from various journals
arguments for and against this method of deal
ing with that class of criminals. One pro.
nounced the culprit's lacerated back a shocking
and inhuman sight, and declared that nothing
could justify the infiction of punishment
so brutalzing to the officer admins
tering it and to the spectators, as well
as 10 the criminal himself 70 which
another responds that no doubt the manged,
livid flesh of the punished ruffian was an un.
pleasant spectacle, but hardly so painful and
revolving as the battered and bleeding face of
his victim. 1t seems TO be agreed that the class
of wretches who commit such crimes dread the
cat, but are Indifferent to a sentence of impris-
onment, and this is the strong argument in its
favor. On the other side it is urged with much
force that as some spark of manliness and self.
respect must linger in the character of the most
degraded being, any punishment which tends
10 crush out This and reduce the man still
nearer to the level of brute, thus making his
reform more hopeless, is a wrong both against
him and against society
The British trough" seems to be, if all nc.
counts are true, more ferocious and cruel ami
NAL than the corresponding type of ruf1an in
the great cities of this country, and when one
reads the reports which may be found in anv
London paper of his shocking brutalities it is
impossible not to recognize a certain fitness in
marking by a distinctive penalty the general
adherence of his savage crimes. If it could be
proved that the dread of the cat actually de-
TERED the rough from the indulgence of his
brutal passions, and that, in consequence. the
class of crimes, of which we are speaking, had
become perceptibly less common, the cat might
be held 10 have proved its usefulness,
il not its necessity, but at any rate, the physi-
cal suffering which it causes ought not TO be
an argument against its use. That is less than
the rutfan is at any time ready to nhct without
proVoeation, and with fierce pleasure in the
misery of his victim, and the humanitarans
can show no good reason why society should
not protect itself at The expense of a little, or
even great deal, Of bodily anguish suffered by
one who has so richly deserved it, But if such
punishments do not afford any security against
crimes of this kind, and at the same time make
MN who suffers them a more malignant and
hopeless ruffian than before, their infiction can
not be justified.
One writer, recognizing the fact that this is a |
humane as well as a scientific age, suggests an
eXpedent which he thinks combines all the adj |
Vaniages Of the cat, with none of its demoraz. |
ing influences. He offers the galyanic battery
as a substitute, for the reasons that it has no |
degrading associations to debase the criminal
SIN further; ii would be less demoralizng 10
'he officer who administers the punishment; It
would not shock spectators with the sight Of |
blood and wounds, and the pain would be no less |
severe yet would leave no physical injury.
a gu'anic current may be sent through the |
Doly, lhis writer says, strong enough TO simu-
,"'' tne breaking Of bones or the touch of n hot
"Ou' ye' Tue person undergoing the punishment
0ou'u DC liberated in a moment with rnne oe
tlo'e marks OF savage treatment which ara 20
hhochlng 10 the humanitarian who hos 49,,
is't ine "ili ol the garroter tighten around his
llfoat' or nsd all form aud comeliness Tram.
plei out Of his face by the heavy nailed shoe 81
some ferocious rufian.