Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-02-07

tiyeH Lodge. Gray and Maull and CLERK
Hynson floor managers.
Elk Representative John Pilling of New.
ark ia drafting bill sin.ilRr to that
pushed by Mr.. Ma6ill two years $40,
abolishing the levy court aud subgtitnt-
ing therefor board OF three county com.
nissioners Under similar system, it
is stated, the collection Of taxes for the
whole Of Oeoil county, Nd, Is effected at
IN expense Of only 81 600 per year.
The Republican members held CON.
ference tonight, devoted chiefly to the
consideration Of temperance legislation.
Both high license aud local option were
discussod, but az there WAS not full
attendance of the msm bera from Sussex,
II was deemed best 60 dsfor decision upon
any definite course Of action until another
occasion. The reoharteSing of Delaware
College was also considered, and IL was
developed that some members are not yet
clear that the college can be Teoharsersd
without carrying with 1t claim to
the continuation OF the agricultural
| appropriation of "a $50. Eotwithstand-
ing That 1t seems quiSe clear that the
ohsrt"r OF tho college ia one thing and
the etEtate making 1t the beneficiary Of
this appropriation another entirely indie
pendent affair, yet no less an authority
than N d. Smithers, E'q, is cited a.
entertaining the opinion that the renewal
OF the charter might render 1t difficult for
the State TO divert this appropriation
elsewhere. We're the members clear that
this would not be the case there would be
no objection TO the passage OF the pend
ing bill.
Down, Feb. .-Representativ Lodge
cave notice this morning OF bill TO re-
nit the penalty OF whipping snd pillory,
where women are the offenders. This
penalty, as applied TO lsrcenes was abro.
gated many years, but 1t still attaches to
Gounterteitipg, horse stealing, burglary,
poisoning, setting on fire and highway
robbery, and tbs penalty OF pillory only
for psrjury, subordination Of perjury,
forgery and receiving stolen goods.
Senator Richardson gave notioe of
bill requiring FIRE insurance companies to
pay the full face OF the policy where
property has been destroyed without
criminal fault of thu owner.
Representative Lodge gave notice Of
bill TO incorporate the Wilmington In
proSement Company, with William Candy,
Edward Il. Bellah. Mark NJ. Cieaver, ].
Ernest Smith and Edward FL. Gayley, in
oorporstors, capital stock limited to
100000.
DoyEB, Feb 5.-Some readers OF
the GAZETTE will remember that lat the
November term of the New CASTLE county
courts, woman who had been convicted
OF incendiarism was discharged from Gus.
tody, after having been Kept 10 prison for
soma months technically awaiting SEN
tanae that was never pronounced. It was
! developed that asnteuSe Ind bsen with
hold because, under the statute, it would
have been obligatory on the court to have
sent the of ander to the whipping post.
| 1t is news even to members of ths bar
that there are crimes fer which women
are still liable to the post and the pillory
in this State and that the punishment OF
stripes has been abrogased for females IN
larceny cases only; but this ia the sols
exception noted ia the code (page 774.)
Among these oriinss, punishable by lashes,
are counterfeitiDg, DEMONSTRATING, bur.
glary, setting on fire, manning by lying
in wait and poisoning; and, punishable
by pillory only, psyjary or subornation OF
perjnry, forgery, receiving stolen goods,
assault with intent to kill, continuation,
witchcraft, fortune telling and dealing
with spirits.
Obviously GONE Of these Grimes are m
likely to be perpstrated by women and
with all Of them whipping and the pillory
have been dead letter for many yeara
so far as female offenders have baen CON-
cerned. The Last white woman WIS
legally whipped in Delaware, for larceny,
about 1886. In that yeGr Cornelius Oom-
eggs was elected governor. His daughter,
the late MRS. Sallie Ann Ridgely OF
Dover, the sister of Chief Justice
Comegys, importuned her father to exer-
else mis- prerogstive TO remit the penalty
OF whipping in the casa of white women
end was instrumental in sbrogsting the
penalty in larceny cases Colored
women were, however, sent to the
post for theft mp to 1870. In
March Of that year the fifteenth amend
mont to the Federal constitution was pro-
mulgated. at the shortly succeeding
term of the Kent county court, two COL
ored women were convicted of larceny.
When they were brought up for sentence
their counsel, Beniah Watson, Esq,
called the attention of Chief Justice
Gilpin to tho operation of that amend
ment as forbidding discrimination on
account CT reos or color. The chief
justice acknowledged the force OF the
objection and suspended sentence and OF
the next session OF The General Assembly
the word white" in its application TO
female thieves, was atFiokan from the
statute.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The constitutional convention bill that
has been prepared for and will be offered
in aud passed through the House by the
Republican members, will arrive here to-
morrow, and on to. morrow evening thsre
will be large delegation Of convention
men here to give it good send-od.
A DELAWARE BATTERY.
Under the title OF bill to amend chap.
ter Is, Revised Code, Senator Donahoe
has given notice of a bill to organize
battery of artillery. Said battery Is to
have four guns, one captain, first liea-
tenant, a second lieutenant, junior first
and second lieutenants, an orderly aud
four sergeants, eight corporals, four
guidon corporals and 4S privates.
ovxRszER DOWNS HEARD FROM.
Mr.. Biggs received and sent to the
clerks desk to.dsy the following letter
ALMsuousE, Feb. An, 1sS9--Mr. W. P.
Bi9gs DEAR Sra: My attention Las been
called to q letter from DR.. Harrison TO Gov.
Begs, which you presented TO the Llglsla.
ture on the 29,h nit. desire (hrough you
to the Lagislature) to positively deny tbs (
statement inadn In the iotter as to the treat. |
ment OF the insane In rha almshouss of |
Kenr county. l wish and hersby invite |
COMMITTEES OF your honorable body TO visit .
Che said institution go as TO see for thHm.
selves as to the truth or falsity 81 the stats-
ments made by DR. d. A Harrison. very