The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-08-01
SOME OLD FASHIONED STOCKS.

Millionaire Jay Gould Tells About Some
of Their Uses Near New York.
1t was not till 1896 or 1897 that a
church was erected in Harpersfeld. It
was built from contributions made by
the inhabitants, each one furnishing ma
terial of some kind such as hewn timber,
boards, shingles, ETC., being so very poor
money. The same year place was built
called stocks, and whipping post pre-
pared by Isaac Pierce for the purpose of
inficting punishment on any who had
been charged with crime and found
guilty of the same by jury. A good
deal of curiosity was exhibited, espe-
cially among the fair sex, to get a
glimpse of the ordeal, and after they
were completed Alexander Harper, who
was fond of an innocent joke, invited
his wife to accompany him and examine
the stocks, which were so arranged that
by placing the criminals foot in and
making it fast he could not escape. He
therefore requested his wife to put her
foot in, telling her that ''that fool of a
Pierce had made them, and they would
not hold any one."
She put in her foot and he let down the
block, locked the same fast and walked
off amid the hearty laugh of the specta-
tors and her own earnest entreaties, but
soon returned and released her. 1t was,
however, regarded as rich joke for
many years afterward. But one person
Oh ha hn
soon left the county. 1t may be remark
ed in this place that three whipping
posts were erected in Delaware county
at about the same period-the one al
ready mentioned, in Harpersfeld, one on
the place now owned by ex-Sherif
Thomas, but then in possession of Silas
Knapp, who kept a grocery there for
several years, and the other near Col.
Dimmick's in Middletown.
There was but one person whipped, as
have been able to learn, at either of the
last named whipping posts. This person
was one Turner, a carpenter by trade.
The charge which was brought against
him, and which he finally confessed, was
stealing some fifty pounds of flour be-
longing to Ezra Halt, from Squire Roses
mill. After sentence was passed he was
fastened in the stocks, which were con-
structed of heavy plank, followed out
above and below sufficiently to contain
mans legs when the planks were shut
together. They were secured by lock.
He was left in the stocks for day, fur
nishing good mark for the boys, who
l. Tha
next day he was taken out and fastened
to the whipping post, when the remainder
of his sentence, fifty lashes, was inflicted,
when he was allowed to leave the county,
which he was not long in doing.-Jay
Goulds History of Delaware County.
A Veteran Now a Tramp.
The queerest pair of tramps that Phil
adelphia people ever looked upon stood
at the corner of Ninth and Walnut streets
and begged aims from the passing throng.
Both men supported themselves on
crutches. One had only a stump of
leg, and the other mendicant's right limb
was minus the foot and ankle. Their
clothes were desperately shabby, and
they seemed SO utterly woe begone that
the Italian bootblack offered them a
dime, which was promptly accepted.
Little else money came their way until
the closing of the matinee at the Walnut
street theatre.
Presently there came along tall and
well dressed man, who put silver quar-
ter into the palm of the one whose leg
was closely shorn off. He had hardly
made the gift before he wheeled around
and looked the recipient of it squarely
in the face. II ought to know you, my
man." he said.
"And I know you, colonel" was the
answer.
"Were you not wounded at the battle
of Charles City Cross Roads,"
81 was shot there, but 1 fought it
through and got my serious wound I'M
der your command on the morning that
Gen. Lee surrendered"
To-day is the anniversary of the sur
render" said the colonel. He plunged
his hand into his pocket and drew out
pile of silver and some paper money.
Selecting from the lot So note, he
pressed it into the hand of the veteran,
who had turned mendicant, and wendell
his way up Walnut street.-Philadel-
phia Inquirer.