New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-06-27
Whipping in Virginia.
Exercise OF the Worst Relic O, barbarian
and slavery.
tcorr, spsnlenee of the New York Herald J

RICHMOND, VA, June Is, 1872.
Your correspondent witnessed most br,i-
tai, not to say beastly and disgusting. spec
tacle this morning in the yard of the Jail at
tached to Henrieo county Court House. in
the very heart Of this civilized community.
Two poor, degraded negroes were subjected
to the punishment of the lash at the whip
ping-post for a small theft committed in the
county. The names of the victims to this
relic OF medieval barbarity and torture were
Is. Mosely and Benjamin King, both honored
names among the chivalry OF old Virginia
They were sentenced yesterday by the Court
presided over by Judge Minor, to receive
twenty lashes each ON the bare back. and
well lald on. The morning papers announced
that the whipping would take place at ten
O'Clock. Your correspondent never having
witnessed the operations Of that peculiar in
stitution, the whipping-post, was on hand at
the hour, and requested permission to witness
the revolving spectacle, which was granted
without hesitation. When | reached the
Court House | found the Judge there, sur
rounded by some half dozen Deputy Sherins
and Court House loaiers, such as are always
to be found in the vicinity of every temple of
justice in the land, from Maine to Texas.
Judge Minor is very youthful and handsome
man, with an empty sleeve, having lost an
arm i'll the Lost Cause He was
EXAMINING THE sCOURGE
which had been prepared for the occasion.
and discussing its merits. 1t was a simple
strap OF heavy harness leather, about two
feet long and two inches wide. TWAS nailed
unto small pine handle This was the
whip.
The Judge remarked, "Do you think it will
hurt ?"
well, Judge, you can soon find out by
trying it," replied one of the loungers. lie
smiled at this sally of wit, but did not strip
for the trial. Deputy Sheriff Walsh, the
same who oificiated when James Jeter Phil
lips, the wife murderer was hanged at the
same place three years ago, had been Sc
lected to execute the sentence of the law in
this case. He said on taking the strap in his
hand, IF were to cut few holes in the end
OF 1t 1t would be great deal more severe, and
draw blister at every blow" But Walsh
was too humane TO add anything To the suffer-
lngs OF the poor wretches. He Gidn' t like the
job anyhow, and it was quite evident he felt
the degrading situation very acutcly, but it
was his duty.
The solemn hour of eleven struck, and we
left the court room for the Jail yard. The
Judge did not accompany us, but he sug-
gested to the Deputy that he had best get
through before the Court opened, as their
cries might disturb the proceedings. 1t was
an unnecessary caution, as the sequel proved.
They never whimpered. We entered by the
same passage through which, when last here,
your correspondent saw Jeter Phillips led out
to his death. There were only SIX specta-
tors in all, and they were members of the
press and officers OF the Court. The outer
iron gate was unlocked, and we entered the
inner enclosure of the Jail. Deputy Walsh
carried the strap, the instrument of torture,
While another had two pairs of handouts, and
a third stood by to count the blows. The
door OF the cell, an iron grating, was thrown
open, and one of the negroes,
THE TALLEsT, WAS BROUGHT OUT.
He was clad in rags and horribly filthy.
This was b. W. MOsely. He is about twenty
live years OF age, over six feet in height,
powerfully built, and strong and muscular.
He had dull and stupid countenance, SEMI
idlotic i'll expression, and looked around with
an air of stolid Indifference. He was per-
fectly Obedent to command, however, and,
although it was reported that he had declared
no white man should whip him, he offered no
resistance. Deputy Walsh took him up to
the grated door and ordered him to put his
hands through between the bars. This was
the whipping-post--the substitute rather.
They have regular one in Chesterfield, the
adjoining county. Mosely put his hands
through, and they were secured by pair of
handouts. One of the deputies then said
to him
Just SHUT YOUR EYES AND GRIN
and you'll not feel it at ALL"
This deputy was a kind-hearted man, and
really felt for the poor fellow. Indeed, they
were all full of sympathy, and did not ut all
relish the beastly business. The back was
then barred from the shoulders.
Ready" said Walsh, as he brandished
the scourge. Count the blows"
And the first fell with terrible force on the
bare black loins, turning them almost white
The poor victim squirmed and writhcd and
shrank, but only moved his lips in pteous
agony as blow after blow fell upon his bare
back. He counted them as fast as they came,
as he writhed and curled his body about,
and seemed to be on the point of crying out
when the twentieth was recorded, and the
deputy desisted. He had not whimpered,
however, nor did he tremble in the least,
from first to last; but he evidently suffered
the most intense agony. He was freed from
the grating and allowed to put on his clothes.
OFFENDER NO. Is STRIPPED.
There was only a slight ntermissi0n in the
performance when the curtain was rung up
for the next act. The other negro was
brought out. This proved to be King. lie
was quite dwarf in stature, and apparently
less than five feet high, and about twenty-five
years of age, compactly built, stout, and with
very thick, heavy African lips. His counte-
nance seemed equally idiotic in expression.
He did not speak a word, but put his hands
between the bars and allowed them to be
fastened with handouts. His back was barred
in the manner before described, and the ope-
ration began. The little fellow bore it well,
but his face was horribly cOntorted, the
twenty lashes being well laid on. The little
one was then cast loose, looking very sheep
ish, and made some remark, at which his
companion laughed, and, the show being
over for the day, we left the Jail yard.
This is the first case of the kind in Rich
mOnd since the revival of the whipping-post.
Judge Minor thinks it humane way to deal
with small offenders, but others say it is not
only cruel and barbarous but disgusting, il
not ridiculous. There is something solemn
and impressive about an execution either by
hanging or shooting, but the whpping-post
has not one redeeming quality. The judge
said it was harvest time, and to send them to
Jail would be to deprive the farmers of their
assistance in the field. 1t may become COM
mon here, but it cannot fail to have II brutal
izing effect upon those who witness it or those
who inflict the degrading punishment. 1t is
surprising that Virginia, which boasts the old
est and best civilization in the United States,
should cling to this barbarous custom of the
days of slavery. She seems to be fond of her
relics. no matter how renIonant they NAV he