The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-17
WHIPPING I'M VIRGINIA.
Exercise of the Worst Relic Of bar.
barism and Slavery.
Two Negroes Receive Twenty Stripes Each-Ho0
the Operation Was Performed stoical In
difference Of the Ofendsrs-An Ex-
Hangman Applies the Lash.
RICHMOND, Va, June Is, fs72.


to say beastiy and disgusting, spectacle this morn
Ing, In the yard OF the jail attached to Henrice
county Court House, the very heart OF this civil.
lied community. Two poor degraded negroes
subjected to the punishment OF the lash at the
whipping post for a small theft committed In the
county. The names OF the victims to this relic OF
medieval barbarity and torture were b. MOseIy
and Benjamin King both honored names among
the chivary OF old Virginia. They sentenced
yesterday by the Court presided over by Judg0
Minor, to receive twenty !ashes each on the bare
back, well laid on. The morning papers announced
that the whipping would take place at ten
O'Clock. Your correspondent never having wit
messed the operations OF that peculiar In
stitutlon, the whipping post. was hand at the
hour and requested permission to witness the re-
voting spectacle, which was granted without hest
taton. When reached the Court House found
the Judge there, surrounded by some half d0ze1
deputy sheris and court house oiterers, such
are always to be found In the vicinity OF every tenn
pie OF justice In the land, from Maine to Texas
Judge Minor is a very youthful and handsome man,
with an empty Sleeve having lost arm In the
"LOst Cause" He was
EXAMINING THE ScoURGE
which had been prepared for the OCCASION and dis
cussing its merits. 1t was simple strap OF heavy
harness leather about two feet long and two inches
wide. It was nailed unto q small pine handle This
the whip.
The Judge remarked, "Do you think It Will
hurt9'
"Well Judge, you can soon find out by trying It,"
replied OF the 0ungers. He smiled ut this sally
OF wit, but did not strip for the trial. Deputy
Sheriff Walsh, the same who oficiated when James
Jeter Phillips the wife murderer was hanged at
the same place three years ago, had been selected
to execute the sentence OF the law In this He
IN n IN n in IA hau WI Tn
cut few holes the end OF it, 1t would be great
deal more severe and draw blister at every blow"
But Walsh was too humane to add anything to tho
suirerings OF the poor wretcles. He didn't like the
job anyhow, and 1t was quite evident he felt the
degrading situation very acutey, but 1t was his
duty. The solemn hour ofeleven struck, and we LEFT
the court for the jail yard The Judge did not
accompany u.s. but he suggested to the Deputy that
he had best get through before the court opened,
or their cries might disturb the proceedings Il
was an unnecessary caution as the sequel proved.
They never whimpered. We entered by the same
passage through which, when last here, your
respondent Jeter Phillips led out to his death.
There only spectators 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 car
ried the strap, the instrument of torture, while
another mad two pairs Of handouts and third
stood by to count the blows. The door Of the cell,
al iron grating, was thrown open, and one OF the
negroes, 3AH
THE TALLEsT, WAS BROUGHT OUT.
He was clad in rags and horribly filthy. This waa
b. W. Mosely He is about twenty-five years Of age,
ana muscular. He had a dull and stupid counte-
nance, semidiotic in expression and looked around
obcdient to command, however, and although Il
was reported that nc had declared no
ws'e sh0n Deputy %p wa. % he took s
! up to the grated door and ordered him to put
his hands through between the bars. This was the
regular one in Chesterfield, the adjoining county.
Mosely put his hands through, and they were Sc
then said to him.
"JUsT SHUT YOUR EYES AND GRIN
and you'll not feel 1t at ALL
This deputy was kind-hearted man, and really
felt for the poor fellow; indeed they were all
full of sympathy, and did not at all relish the
beastly business The back was then barred from
the shoulders.
Ready said Walsh, as he brandished the
scourge. Count the blOws.r
And the first fell with terrible force on the bare
black loins turning them almost white. The poor
victim squirmed and wrthed and shrank, but only
moved his lips In piteous agony, as blow after
blow fell upon his bare back He counted them as
body about, and seemed to be the point of crying
out when the twentieth was recorded and the deputy
did he tremble in the least from first to last; but
he evidently suffered the most intense agony. He
was freed rom the grating and allowed to put on
his clothes. At#
OFFENDER NO. IS STRIPED.
There was only slight intcrmlssiOn in the per.
fOrmance when the curtain was rung up for the
next act. The other negro was brought out This
proved to be King. He 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 idotic in expression. He did
not speak a word, but put his hands between the
bars and allowed them to he fastened with the
handouts. His back was barred In the manner
before described and the operation began. The
little fellow bore 1t well, but his face was horribly
contorted, the twenty lashes being well laid on.
The little one was then cast loose looking very
sheepish, and made some remark, at which his COM
paniOn laughed, and the show being over Tor the
day, we left the jail yard.
This is the first of the kind in Richmond
since the revival Of the whipping post. Judge
Minor thinks it a humane way TO deal with small
Offenders, but others say IL is not only cruel and
barbarous, but disgusting, II not ridiculous. There
is something solemn and impressive about an exc
cuton either by hanging or shooting, but the whip
ping post has not one redeeming quality. The
Judge said IL was harvest time, and to them to
Jail would be to deprive the farmers OF their assist
ance in the field. 1t may become common here, but
it cannot fail to have abruaizing effect upon those
who witness it or those who n1ict the degrading
punishment. II is surprising that Virginia, which
boasts the Oldest and best civilization in the United
States should cling to this barbarous custom OF the
days OF slavery She to be fond OF her relics
no matter how repugnant they may be to Chris
faU,tx Iotu fnr