Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-05-25
SATURDAYS WHIPPING.
Groves and Robinson at the PllIory
and Post.
anovEs PROTESTS ms INNocENcR, but ROBIN.
SON VIRTUES AND oRoANs-A LARGE

GROVES pnoTE nfs INNOCENCE, But ROBIN
SON wRITnEs AND oRoANs-A LARGE
ATTENDANCE.
At New Castle Saturday morning, the usual
crowd assembled to witness the infection of the
pillory aud lash spon three men, John Groves
aud Lewis Robinson (Charles Herring, white,
and James Nelson, colored. which completed the
list OF those sentenced TO receive corporea pun
ishment at this term of Court.
Lewis Robinson, the child assaulter, whose
henous crime is still fresh In the minds of the
community, was brought out TO the pilory at
ten o'clock. He looked pale and haggard, and
wore very frightened expression of counte
nance. lie is evidently man of failing health,
and OF weak, cowardly nature. His hours
confinement in the stocks greatly exhausted him
and he could scarcely move when released.
The neck and wrists of James Nelson, a col
ored man was next placed in the poke James
offence was an attempt to kill q colored rival,
named Sam1 Gould. at whose hands he had pre-
viously received sound thrashing. by shooting
him with pistol. He bore his punishment in
the pillory with smiles and indifference, and II
O'Clock, was returned TO his CELL where under
the terms of his sentence he will rsman five
years.
THE WHIPPING.
The punishment at the post commenced at
2.15, John Groves being the first candidate, and
Ii ever thief deseI ved a whipping, John is
that one. His offence was breaking open q
car ON the T.. w. & II. r. X. and taken there
from quantity or articles belonging to IL.
| Brnghurst, Jr He ~ a hardened old wretch,
and II Is confidently reported of him that In al
dtion to his own crimes he b. taught the bus
iness OF petty larceny to hundreds OF youths,
whose stolen wares he would purch' 30 and DIS
pose OF at bis junk shop in TBS city. More
than mar the depredations committed by the
"Forty Thieves" were instigated bv him and
only last week his nephew, Thos. DAVIS, wrs
whipped for following the teachings his old
rePro6ate ofan uncle had so faithfully instiled
into MS youthful mind John received twenty
ashes, right smartly I'D on, which q very
Tough hide, and n strong will enabled bin ia
pear without giving the slightest indication OF
OF p'n. When the infiictiOn W over, he
pulled on his coat and turning to the crowd,
exclaimed, with the most unbushing efrontery
"Gentlemen, ,lyou have just seen an innocent
man whipped" He wrs then taken back tC
his cell, where he will stay for six months.
Lewis Robinson W then brought out. His
b? was unkempt, his face distorted, and hI,
eyes distended with fright, his cowardly ma
ture displaying itself on every feature. Re
} membeiiDg the Nervousness of theprisoneri
crime the Sheriff did bis duty well, aud laid oil
, the lash with proper force. At each strok
hobnson groaned, writhed and swung hun
sell around, occasionally exclaiming, "Fo
Gods sake Sheriff, don't hit so hard" Whe
the thirty lashes were administered his bac
!, was well marked, but tho skin wsa unbrokeu
D He wfs taken back to his cell to be imprisone
for five yeas.
: This ended operations for the day, and til
, crowd dispersed The whole affair was con
, dccted quiety, with due regard to decoruu
a and no disorder prevailed.