Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-09-05
THE WHIPPING POST.
About its Use I'm the Early History of
Cineiluaai.

Cincihnati.
The first punishment for crime, in
fiicted under the FORMS of law in the
Miami settlement, was in the latter part
of 1880, when Patrick Grimes was
whipped for theft, at Fort Washington,
or Losantiville.
For self protection the pioneers had
organized a temporary form of civil
government. The little To- VILLAGE under
the fort was thus for the first time sub
jec;ed 10 police regulations. William
Mcmillan Was selected as Judge, and
John Ludlow, brother to 1srael, was
appointed Sheriff'-the first Sheriff OF
the Miami couLtry. Grimes was tried
and convicted with astonishing CELEBRITY.
and Ludlow administered f)rty STR pes
save one with great alacrity.
While at Marietta, july, l7SS, Govern
or st. C!aIr had issJcd proclamations as
TO "acts respecting crimes and punish.
ments," which were intended to govern
| the territory. These laws were tue
resalt of his mental training in the school
of the soldier. We real in them o.
stripes, the pillory, the whipping post,
| &.
In August, 1892, when st. Clair had
his headq lartcrs al Fort Washington, he
issued proclamation authorizing the
erection in each county of court house
and "a strong and ST fiji ,ient jail or prison
for the reception AMI confinement o.
debtors end criminals; well secured by
timbers, iron bars, crates, bolts and ock>
and also a pillorv, whipping post and 81
many stocks as may he convenient fol
the punishment OF offenders"
In pursuance of this act these "eall.
inst utions" were located upon the DOrll
half of the square now bounded by Fifth
Main, Walnut and Fourth church ale!
being the south boundary. The jii
stood where NJ. & J. KOch's tailor es
tabli.hmt mt is located, fronting on Wal
nut and extending back to the groun
: now coveted bv the rear of B. CLvagna'
store, known as the italian warehouse.
This Jail was once used by Mr.. Csvagn
as part of his residence, he purcha il
the building ard the ground on his Fit
street front in 1880, where he has sine
conducted his business. the only build
ing that has survived The manv extrao
dirary changes that have taken plat
around if. In this oil Jail building PETE
Cavagna, his fathers well known partDe
y was born in 1885. A year or SO aftc
Y wards the old Jail was torn down to civ
Place to the present store buildings.
The Court house stood upon the ca
end of the square, and back of II wei
: the whipping post, pillory, gallows, &c.
h Saws Charles Cist-"As a gallOws stoo
p. there in 795 the presumption isthatit ts
h been frequently 'nade use o.. aithouS
IS there is littlt pioneer lore on the sublet
s But in those DAYS the Gallows, the pi
lory and the whipping post were appen
ages al society,""
c ONLY one pioneer survives who sa
II the whipping post and the riIlory
practical use--Jnseph Coppin. He r
: members particularly mn'atto a slav
e'onging to general James Tavlor, WI
Was whipped, AID one noted charact
of that day conf el in the pillory.
Jonah Martin related seeing Sher
Alrcu Goforth il flict thlr'y-niDe strip
on woman convicted of setting fire to
haystack.
Samuel S,ett witnessed the simil
puri-hment Of another woman, guilty
theft. bv the bands of Levi Mclean, Il
DEPUTY Jailer and Sheriff at 'he time.
1t must rot be Inferred. however, tn
The infiicion was as severe as 1t appeatt
TO be. q forth was a man CT Gle
humanity, ard even Mclean, slthou.
Ja'ler, pound keeper, butcher and Gu
stable, PLAYED on The fiddle and taug
sing ng school.
TIE whipping post was abolished
1915 BY act of the State legislature.
\ In our re searches we fail TO find :
instance where q man was whipped !
j wife beating. We're the pioneers n
guilty of that chivLlrous act? or we're Il
pioneer wives so strong that they we
: able t. care for themselves in that ]
: gard?
In that elrly day two women, at lea
were thus punIshed-the ore for SETH
fire to stack of hay, and the other I
the theft of a Leg of r1utlon for Il
&c support of hungry children.
n In this enlightened year Is such
punishment too GebasiDg for lrusDal
e VIII comes home drunk aid heats !
- wife, whoever he may be. and whatev
ar may be the provocation?