Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-16
WHIPPING POST AND PILLORY.
Sentences Imposed by the Old District
Court.

Sentences Imposed by the Old District
Court.
CURIOUS RECORDS IN THE OLD BOOKS At THE
CITY HALL-MES WHO WERE HANGED FOR BUR
aLARY-sINaULAR POWERS POSSESSED BIZ THE
JUDGES.
The old books at the courthouse. wherein
the proceedings Of the old Circuit Court are re-
corded, show some curious facts relating to the
punishments inflicted in the early part Of the
century. 1t has already been noticed in The
STAR that from 1901 to 1905 it was not uncom-
mon to sentence ito be publicly whipped" with
stripes as high as nine-and-thirty. In several
instances there was added to the sentence the
words and burnt in the Drawn of the thumb
OF the left hand" In the third book for 1903
9 and 10 no sentences to burning appear, but
the stripes sentences are common. The court,
then composed Of three judges, sat for Wash
ington county and Alexandria county, the lat
ter not having been coded to Virginia at the
time. 1t transacted criminal, law. and equity
business, usually taking up the criminal bust
ness In the early part of each term. 1t also ap-
pointed the road supervisors, keepers of ferries,
&C., licensed ordenaries, and heard petitions
for freedom.
From the volume at hand it does not appear
that Imprisonment was the favorite mode of
punishment. for there are very few sentences
for time. The whipping post doubtless was
considered more effective in the prevention of
crime. In one instance a negro named Nathan
was sentenced to death for burglary. Record
Is made also of the infection Of punishment by
the pillory.
At the June term of the Criminal Court in
lSOS, the grand jury was in session but five
days and the petit jurors seventeen. The musty
old record shows on one of the first pages that
two billiard tables were licensed previously.
At this term Peggy Mclaughlin Administrative
OF Charles, had four cases against different de-
tried.
SINGULAR RECORD.
Under the date of June Is is the record of the
trial of the United States against Theophelus
Rounds, alias OFF. Rounds, with the verdict not
guilty. After the names of the witnesses. Jno.
OFT. ThOs. Hughes. VIM. Rounds. Tracy Turner,
Milly Turner, and Lloyd Turner, the following
record explains the verdict: r....0
William Rounds, otherwise called William
Rowen, otherwise called Willie Round. other
wise called VIM. Turner, beng sworn on behalf
OF the United States to testify the truth. the
whole truth and nothing but the truth in a GER
tain cause or prosecution depending in this
court in the name of the United States against
one Theophilus Rounds. otherwise called OFF
Round, who stood indicted for stealing 46
pieces Of bacon, the property of one Thomas
Hughes, made oath III open court in due form
OF law that he knew nothing concern
ing the said bacon, or any other
John OFT, justice of the peace Of the
county of Washington, as stated in the follow
ing certificate of the said justice: Will Rowen
confesses that Monday morning, when he came
home from Lloyd Turner's mothers, his
mother gave him two Hams. and told him to go
and hide them in the woods that he was
going up the Bottom he met with two stacks of
Hams and MiddlIngs; that he hid those he car
rled some distance above the stacks, and hid
them among leaves; that one ham had a splin-
ter through it, and the other piece
of rope to carry with. Afterwards he
returned home and told his father that
he had the two hams, and had found
parcel of hams and middlings piled together.
His father asked whereabOut; he told him and
said the dogs were growing and fighting about
it. When his mother returned from market
she told him that his father had brought the
meat from Mr.. Hughes on Sunday, 18th, in
cart and had hid it in the woods. When said
William went out again he went with the boys
and show him the meat. On Monday evening
his father went out to the hams and
upon his return said to his wife he must
take the meat from that place to-mor-
row night, the dogs had done a
great deal of damage to it; that his father went
out the next mig hit again to the west, and when
he returned it was very late at night. Monday
morn the family had fried bacon for breakfast
That Wednesday night his father and mother
went out with the cart and heard them talk
about carrying it down in the city near the
theater in a small white house-wherein a yell
low man lives by the name OF Joe. The house
adjoins a brick house on the other side and
that what he had thus testified before the said
justice was false and was not true, whereby
it appears to the court here as well
by confession of the said VIM. Rounds in open
court as by testimony of the said Jno. OFT upon
oath that there is probable ground to believe
hot hah aa ffa1 u 80 thara
ordered that the said Vim. Rounds be taken
into custody of the marshal of the District of
Columbia and that he stand committed or until
he find good security in the sum of $50 for his
appearance at the next court to answer for the
offense, or until he shall be otherwise dis
charged by due course of law"
There is no record of the disposition Of the
perjury case. but in the jailors account there
is a charge for the board of said Vim. Rounds
for fourteen days at 20 cents per day.
OTHER ODD CASES.
June "a is an entry of an affidavit Of Robert
McCann, to the effect that Rose West, "a yell
low woman" had created great disturbance
and noise, used profane language and refused
to obey the officers. The court ordered her
into custody, and she served three days. as APP
pears by the jailor's account
The December term was the next convened
December 26. and there were about the same
number OF cases. Among the sentences was
one OF hne OF ~ cents. Negro Sally was SEN
fenced to 20 stripes and Nancy Swami, tried in
two cases, was sentenced in one to a fine of
81 and 80 stripes and m the other to fine of
IS and the same number of stripes. January
II Negro Nathan was convicted of burglary
and sentenced to be hanged March 15 and
Burkett Riggs, convicted of murder. was sen-
fenced to death. Nathan was subsequently,
pardoned by the President. Some of the SEN
fences this term were as low as stripe and
81, and in case victim was fined after trial 20
cents.
At the June term 1909. there were but few
post one to fifteen and the other to twenty
lashes.
At the January term. 1910. several sentences,
including stripes were imposed, and on the 18th
one David Collins was convicted of being the
father of an illegitimate child. and, failing to
give security in $50, he was committed to the
marshal,s custody, but gave security the fol-
lowing day.
PRISONER WITHOUT AN ALLOWANCE.
Under date of January 81 is an entry show
ing that the marshal admits holding VIM. Will
son under a capias and satisfaciendum at Alex
andra, and the court ordered habeas corpus
scented setting forth his imprisonment that pro-
vision had not been made for his support or Sc
curity given therefor. and the marshal refused
to give him the allowance fixed by law. &c
The court refused to grant the relief and the
records were silent as to how long he remained
in custody.
At the June term 1910 the grand jury sat
eight days and the petit jurors twenty-eight
DAYS. There tWeuty-tOur cases tried in