New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-10
FAVORING THE LASH.
Er.BRIpGE T. GERRY TO PUSH BILL FOR
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

APPLAUDED BY THE DEPARTMENT or hE'''i'
OF THE ACADEMY or MEDICINE-DRs. CUR
RIER AND WAY STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF
THE PI.AN-cERTAIN CRIMES MEN,
TONED TO BE PUNISHED
IN THIS WAY.
The section public health OF the Acauem! Oh
Madeleine held a meeting last nignt IN the rooms OF
the Academy the principal feature Deihs the presc"-
ration Of paper by Dr. Andrew f. Currier on
..,.orror,l Punishment for Certain Forms OF
Crime" and the discussion in when Elorese l.
Gerry took the principal part. II was SHOWN ny
Mr. Gerry's argument that nc has prepared Dbl
which will he submitted - the Legislature 10 pun
ism certain felones by the addition OF corporal pun
ishment TO the ALREADY provided punishment "'.
the statute. The meeting was SHINY a''c"',
fact to which the chairman. Dr. Roosevelt oa'e'
attention. but there was much applause ana 'hose
present were in undouDtel sympathy WI" '
ject.
DIR Currler advocated the infection OF corpora
punishment principally wifebeaters lie Ieau
OF numerous in the newspapers III ""''
men had beaten their wives. ana In soi"e case'
their mothers and sisters. Cases OF this descr'p-
ton he said. also frequently came under the Cd
servation OF the physcian The Police Justices
were In the habit of allowing political considera-
lions to weigh In Furnishing offenders OF THIS SORT
and thus many Of them even escaped the PUNISH
ment provided by law. "Scoundrcls OF THIS sort'
said the speaker care nothing for Il fine or
short term the Island the only thing Is 10 give
them pain OF which the towards are afraid The
only objection to the iniliction o. corporal punish
ment seems to be that II Is SAID 10 be degrading
and barbarous But it IS impossible TO degrade
person who has sunk low as to strike de-
fenceess woman. 1t is not more degrading than
the so-calcd glove contests that wc hear OF night
~ I'm many OF the fashionable ciu5s. The infection
OF the punishment should be surrounded by proper
safeguards prevent its abuse. and there shouid
be no sensational reports in the newspapers the
person who infcts the punishment and the at
tendant physician alone being allowed to be pres
emit" ,,,, ,s-,,o
tory was read. which showed from reports that
there were certain inmates that could only be Kept
from committing crimes through the lhnlction vi
corporal punishment, and that there had been NOR
nrhtIng hv double I'm the institution during inc
period when corporal punishment was not used
than there now that this mode OF punishment
There was considerable applause when Mr. Gerry Gerry
began 10 read his paper. He said that medical
men often disagreed. but when they agreed they
or He said the bill he proposed to introduce, and
which would pass. would bring about needed re-
the classes OF feony against which the bill! was
directed were highway robbery. where a person
struck another causing injury: felonious assauit
with weapon assault on children ana oner SIM, M,
lar crimes Tho present laws ne said were n 81
were. IN the majority OF instances committed by
There Is nothing tnsSe iTutcS rear
said and the Court of Appeals OF Mary and had
decided that the lnhction OF corporal punishment
Is not cruel. Its lcton was also advocated by
the Bar Association in 1886
Mr. Gerry said the bill at present contemplated
only the lnflction Of corporal punishment In the
class Of felony cases such as he had named, and
this was done so TO run counter 70 the same
opposition that the bi. had me, In the Legislature
I'm 1855 There could be no destruction OF sef-re-
spect In men who had been guilty OF crimes agains,
children: they had already sunk beneath the leve.
OF the brute Mr. Gerry asked the cooperation O.
the physicians ard then read the proposed BILL,
Code Section II. which provided that felonies not
otherwise provided for shoud he punishable with
not less than years imprisonment and hne
Of 81 OO or both. and the amendment was TO add
10 the punishment already provided for In the
section that any person who inflicted pain or
suffering on another should In addition be punished
by the infiction OF fogglng on the back with
whip or other suitable instrument. not more tnan
forty ashes to he inflicted. and that the punish
ment bc inflicted by keeper or warden OF the
prison which the criminal is sent. physician
duly authorized TO be present and no other persons
The act designed TO go into effect Immediately
on 10 passage.
The discussion after Mr. Gerry's remarks became
general the speakers only differing In the method
OF application Of the punishment