The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-12-22
LOST THEIR EARS.
Malevolent Mutilation of Medi-
avail MalefaCtors.
Removing Auricular Append.
ages on the High Pillory

has always been mark of disgrace. In
one of the statutes OF Edward vi. the
penalty affixed for its violation is the
loss of an ear and perpetual infamy.
In those days the celluloid ear had
not been invented and the loss of one
Of these members was q public bat, 90 of
shame for life.
Following the retributive law OF
Moses, probably the punishment origi-
mated in the ecclesiastical courts. 1t is
first mentioned in the trials of offences
against the Church and some of the ear
less clericals were noted men.
The sentence to the pillory frequent.
" had the additional punishment of the
loss of one or both ears added. Daniel
Fooe or Foe, later in life known as
Daniel Defoe, wrote pamphlet called
1.-THE Shortest Way with the Dissenters"
and lost hi, ears. Pope, in his "Dunciad,"
speaks of the author of Robinson
Crusoe:' ''Earless on high stood un-
abashed Defoe."
He was placed in the pillory three
times. That instrument being on
raised platform, explains the line. In
Defoe's case, however, as in many
others, his punishment was rather a
martyrdom and lifted him in the es-
TEEN of those who believed as he did.
DR.. Bastwick, who published more
pamphlets than pills. concluded one of
his essays with: From plague, pesti-
lence and famine, from bishops, priests
and deacons, good Lord deliver u.s."
This was so serious an aff.ont that the
doctor was sentenced to the pillory ana
to lose both his ears
The execution Of his sentence was a
sort Of public fete. His friends gathered
before the pillory and shouted words Of
encouragement His wife climbed upon
the pillory and kissed him. When his
ears were cut of "she put them in a
clean handkerchief and carried them
home. The celebrated Prynne suffered
similar punishment.
The names Of lesser criminals have es-
capped the permanent records, but Black
stone mentions number of early Eng
lish Parliamentary enactments making
the loss of an ear penalty in law.
Fighting in a church or churchyard
by acts passed during the fifth and sixth
years of the reign of Edward VI
meant the loss OF both ears. If the pris-
oner had no ears-which implies that
there were habitual criminals $50 years
aco-he was to be branded with the let
ter F in the cheek.
In the second and third years Of the
same monarch, combin atoms among the
victualers and artifcers to raise the price
Of provisions or the rate of labor for
the third offence were punished by the
pi,lory and the loss of an ear. The
statute not only extended to the COM
binations to raise wages, but to rcgu-
late tho quantity of work or to lessen
the hours of labor.
In this degenerate age the coal
barons' association, the gas trusts and
other combines, if these laws were en-
forced would give the public execu-
toner active employment.
In later years the loss Of an ear or Z
part Of one has also reaa regarded as
implying discrace. The ear is not easily
lost Any accident that destroys the
ear usually destroys the person wearing
it.
Oae Of the favorite ways Of nutilat-
ing an enemy in rough and-tumblc
fight is to bite off his car. IL disrcrU-
table b.aw,s and in low resorts brute
Instinct makes ear mutilation tit re-
yenge for almost any wrong.
Jack Sad,, the noto.iou; desperate,
in q fit Of rage il sail 10 have GU oil
the cars OF a man he had murdered. lIo
kept them in his pocket and boastfu..y
exhibited thcm when il drunken and
DANGEROUS state.
When he ,aw on the poker table =
stake he wartcd particularly JACK
played the cars. FinGinc them on the
table they beat four aces or a straight
flush for Jack had pistol in each hand
the next instant. lie always took the
pot OF the play.