Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-11-23
The Lively lash.

sHERIFF LAMBsoNs FIRST WELDING OF THE "cAT''
a PARTIAL DISTRIBUTION OF "DELAwARE Jus
TIoE"-THE WHIPPED AND now THEY BORE II.
Sheriff. Lambson,. by his whipping on Saturday
did not display that strict impartiality which
should govern the dispenser of justice. With
some he dwelt quite mercifully ; upon others he
visited the pangs OF severe castigation. Still
we are not going to sharply censure him for
this. IL was hls first performance of this pecu-
liar duty, and being such we recognize the nov
city Of his position, and are ready 10 impute his
partiaty to an effort to ascertain with what do
gree to apply the lash. We shall look, however,
foi moro just distribution in the future.
Eight persons were whipped altogether-one
II white horse thief name Dolson. With him the
sheriff dealt lightly; but he also mildly punished
some OF the colored conylcts, 80 that his favor
tism cannot be said to have sprung from race
prejudices 1t had its origin in some other source
not yet apparent.
The whipping was prefaced by the pilloryiug
Of three men as a part of their punishment.
These were John I. Dolson, (white) WHO was
put in alone at 10 o'clock and remained an hour,
and Edward Saunders and William Gilbert,
(coored) who occupied the stocks similar period
after Dolson was released. The first victim of
the cat" Edward johnson, was brought out at
u o'clock and received his 20 lashes, lightly laid
on, in subdued spirit, without 1linchmg. He
had been convicted of the larceny Of chickens.
William Gilbert was next fastened to the post
and whipped more severely, the 20th and last lash
being heavier than the rest Gilbert, however,
evidenced but little pain and when released
sprang away from the post saying 'How's that
Tor high, Sheriff y He w0s convicted of horse
stealing, and will now be imprisoned years.
Joseph Stansbury, who had stolen a watch
was lightly whipped with 90 lashes which he took
quietly. years imprisonment, and after that
conyicts jacket for months, are yet in store
Tor him.
Henry II. Wilson, chicken thief, wits senten-
ced to 10 lashes, but received 16, and tho sheriff
as in ha nj nj i'm ha tvln la
rtopped by the warden. Wilson writhed greatly.
lie now goes TO prison for months.
Shadrach Trusty, colored lad. furnished
much amusement for 400 spectators, some of
whom were women who were present, whose de-
light was manifested in loud and frequent
laughs which could be heard some distance
away. Trusty performed queer antics, jumping
about great deal and at one time kicked vi
consly at the sheriff. BY this conduct he dis
tlbuted the blows about on his body, thus light
enng his punishment, although he seemed to
suffer severely, but when released lie walked
away laughing. At the Sth and 1lth blows he
drew out his left hand from the hasp, which was
too large to hold it, aud the second time his
hand was wrapped At the next blow his right
hand pulled through, and this also being wrapped
he WAS held firmly Six months impris onment
and convcts jacket for a similar period are
still before him.
Clayton Earle, ST., 65 years old, convicted of
stealing corn suffered greatly and trembed un-
der his ~ lashes, which were well laid on, but
Hhlu nolnlnB. Ills Dack WAS mucn markell lie
was dismissed with a convict's jacket, which he
N will be required to wear for six months.
Charles Brown, clothes thief, was more Sc
yerely punished than any of the rest but stood
n it without murmur and apparently without
"A pain. His back was greatly Redeemed under the
Il 20 flashes which he received He has just entered
upon years Imprisonment.
John T. Dolson the only white man of the
lot, who WAS both young and handsome received
H ~ lashes for horse thievng with much pain
which he he exhibited by his face and elicitet
4 much sympathy. He walked very quietly ava,
to his three year term in the county Jail.
No blood was drawn but the backs OF som,
were covered with great red welts, while other
n were only slightly Redeemed The day was colo
and raw, and this made the lashing upon tht
3 bare back more painful.