The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-08
WHIPPED AND PILLORIED.

WHIPPED AND PlLLORlED.
THE WHIPPING POST IN DELAwARE-THE
OF THE WOMEN To SEE THE
PUNISHMENT INFLICTED.
The correspondent of the Baltimore Amer
lean, writing from Wilmington, Delaware,
thus describes a strange signt: The first in
stsllment OF the semi-annual w~hippings in
this county took place at New Castle at noon
to-day. About 400 people crowded them
selves into the Jail yard, some of whom were
women, who seemingly enjoyed the
spectacle with equal delight with the
men. Others of the same sex mounted
the roof of the sheriff. dwelling, and
being warmly robed sat there laughing at
the sufferings of those who were fastened to
the post. The castigation was administered
by William III. Lamson, the new sheriff,
who was sworn in a week ago. He was
very partial in the exercise of his duty, ia
voring some and whipping others with
great severity. He disobeyed in many in
stances the injunction, well laid on" and
with determination written on his face
welded the cat with a swift and
sudden jerk in others. The offences
were all of a like nature, none being
punished for anything other than larceny,
and whatever disparity was intended by the
court was melted out by it in the terms of
imprisonment, and in other ways, so that
the sheriff should have been impartial in
carrying out that portion of the sentence
which the law imposed upon him. he chose
to act differently, however. and once more
exhibited the inequality of Delaware pecu-
liar mode of punishment. As a sort of pre-
lude to the whipping, three men were pill
loried, each for an hour, as a part of the pun
ishment for the day. They were John
Il. Dolan, Edward Sanders, and George
Gilbert, of all of whom we shall speak again
presently. Edward Johnson, awhile horse
thief, was the first victim of the lash, and
his back was REDEEMED under twenty blows
lightly laid on. He bore his punishment
quietly and with a subdued spirit, without
finching. He was then remanded to Jail tor
three years. William Gilbert took his
twenty lashes for the larceny of a horse with
greater indications of pain, the cat being
more heavily laid on. When released he
spraDg away from the post. saying, "How's
that for high, sheriff." He has two
years to serve in Jail. Joseph Stansbury
had stolen a watch, for which he got one
years imprisonment and twenty lashes
lightly laid on, which he received quietly.
He will wear a convict's Jacket for six
months after discharge. Henry III. Wilson,
for the larceny of chickens, was sentenced
to receive fifteen lashes, but sixteen were
administered, and the sheriff was in the act
of laying on the seventeenth, when he was
stopped by the warden. Wilson
wRTTHED CONSIDERABLY
under his punishment. A term of six
months awaits him, and a c~onvicts jacket
for six months afterward. Shadrach Trusty,
a colored lad, gave evidence of much suffer-
ing during the whipping, but w~alkedlsugh-
ingly away from the post after it was over.
III jumped and floundered about very much,
and several times pulled out mis- hands from
the hasps, which were too large to hold him
firmly to the post. Finally his hands were
wrapped, and he broke away no more. At
one time he kicked viciously at the sheriff,
and all his gyrations brought out tremen-
dous laughter and cheering from the crowd.
Besides his twenty lashes. he has yet six
months imprisonment to serve, and then a
convict's jacket to wear for a similar period.
Clayton Earle (colored(, 65 years ofage, paid
the penalty of an effort to steal corn in
twelve lashes, which were well laid on, and
under which he writhed greatly. His body
shook like an aspen. He was dismissed with
the convict's jacket. Clayton is the same
individual who brought suit against his ac-
cuser in the United States Court for an al
! legged attempt to control his vote by threats
and intimidatiOns. The case has not yet
been tried. The severest logging was WIS.,
tied upon Charles Brown, who had been
convicted of the larceny of clothing. Fol
some reason the sheriff spared not the cat,
but laid it on heavily, which Brown bore
without a murmur, and without any indi.
cations of pain. His back was much
ing covered with great red welts, but nc
blood was drawn. Blood did not appear
upon the backs OF any. Brown has entered
upon a years Imprisonment, and will after
!, ward wear a convict's jacket for six months
John T. Dolson, (white,) who had stolen
horse, was the last to receive his punish
ment. He was both young and handsome
and in his face exhibited the pain which hC
a was suffering, and elected much sympathy