The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-09
WHIPPED BY LAW
WHAT IT WAS IN DELAWARE IN THE
OlDEN TIME.
In Those Days 1t Had Q Record and Rep
interchangeable OGenders Could
Not Escape It-Instsnces Related BY an
Old Tinac Native.

acknowledgements Oeenders Could
Not Escape It-Instsnces Related BY an
Old Tine Native.
"It is really too bad, the discredit that
has fallen on the whipping post" said an
old time native OF Delaware. There was
q time when it had u record and a reputa-
ton; when people of quality were recog-
nized By IL, and i5 stood not only rs the
stern and unbcndirg dispenser of justice
by the aid of the man who handled the
! Lash. but gave distinction 70 that man as
tie purveyor CT punishment to many of
his fellow citizens who otherwise, owing
to wide difference in station, he never
could have hoped TO meet without taking
off his hat and standing aside until they
had passed by. This may seem strange
to any one who never lived in Delaware
! in the good cid days and when folks wers
folks, but I remember when some OF the
Blue Hens most respectable chickens were
put in the pen known as the pillory and
made TO e1piate their offenses against law
and morality by forced embrace Of the
whipping post. These offenses were worth
while. They were, If not the outcome OF
genius. at least the result OF talent that
the common mold Of transeressors could
not be capable Of. Then the whipping
post was an adjunct Of justice that it was
pleasant TO contemplate.
See what the whipping post used TO
be: / remember having seen men who,
after being whipped, were by law COM
PEELED to wear the letter 4 FELONY over the
backs of their coats as long as they re-
manned within the boundaries Of the state.
In the old time, when Delaware was
more rigid in her righteousness than she
is today, it was held by those who made
and those who administered the laws
that dishonesty was much more heinouS
when engaged in by those placed by social
position above want and amid respectable
surroundings than when INDUCED in ny
those tempted by necessity and evil coin.
partnership. Consequently when prom
inent citizen was caught stealing or forg
ing bis punishment was made heavier and
more severe than that meted out 10 rcgues
OF either of the classes CONTEMPORARY
known as poor whites or free niggers-
Toward tho close of the last century
an eminent and well beloved gent leman
Of Kent county, public benefactor dis
tinguishad for piety, fell from his high es-
tate. He was magistrate and noted for
wisdom and excellence of judgment. On
one occasion there were brought before
him in his official capacity some counter
feters who had been arrested for passing
ba6 money, a large amount Of which was
found ON their persons. The magistrate,
as was his duty, took possession of the
counterfeit stuff to destroy 1t, as was the
law. The rogues were committed for trial
and were subsequently pilloried and whip
ped. Years afterward the neighborhood
was flooded with bogus money. Where it
came from was long puzzle to the au-
thorities who had undertaken to trace is
origin, but when its source was ct last
discovered the discovery fell like thun-
derbolt on the community. The response
bility for the prevalence Of the counterfeit
money was traced to the very magistrate
who had committed the culprits for coun
terfeiting some years before. The dis
covery was made that, instead OF destroy
ing the large amount Of spurious money
be had confiscated for that ostensiblc pur
pose, he had kept 1t, and biding his tini1
had himself put &c in circulation in the
county for his financial benefit. But he
was so popular and well beloved by his
fellow citizens that every effort was made
to deliver him from the consequences OF
his otfcnse, but without avail. he was
whipped most severely in the jaiIyard at
Dover, and the officer who inflicted the
punishment was so apprehensive that lie
might be accused by some one of PARTIAL
~ for rich and respected criminal thai
he cut so deeply into this mans flesh With
his lash that the blood ran off the end OF
1t and down over his own hands, while
the back of the offender was a sight that
filed every orlooker with horror.
1t is almost within this generation
that conspicuous and very able p0liti
clan, citizen of Wilmington, ran for
congress in his district and came within
less than half dozen votes of being elect
ed. lie spent in his canvass more money
chan he could afford. In order 10 tide
over the temporary embarrassment &c
which this expenditure had brought him
he forged the Endorsements of near rela
tive Of his, who was a leading Whining
ton doctor, to q note and had the note
discounted at one of the local banks, in
tending to take it up before it came to
maturity and thus escape the consequences
of his act. Unfortunately for him, the
teller of the bank knew that this man and
the relative whose name was on the note
as its indorser had not been on speaking
terms for a long time, and he wondered
much at the reconciliation this indorse-
ment indicated had taken place between
the two men. and meeting the doctor one
day his curiosity got the better Of him,
and be acccsted him.
Doctor said he Il am glad to see
that you and John nave made up your
quarrel Your Endorsement OF his note
will help him ont
MY Endorsement said the doctor. L
have not Endorsed for him nor made up
with him.
THE bank teller reported this at the
bank, and the maker OF the note was
charged with forgery. His relative, the
doctor, eagerly and willingly came for
ward and assured the bank that be would
make the Endorsement good. so that t:.s
unfortunate forger might not b. exposed
and prosecuted, bat political enemies Of
the man vera among the directors Of the
bank. and they insisted That the Law
should take is course. The calpirt was
arrested, tried and convicted and sentenc-
ed to he publicly whipped. The sentence I
would have Icrn carried ont bar for the
fact that the vile Of the citizen had been &
q scboolmate and an intimate friend Of
the wife OF the then governor % Delaware !
She went t. her end appealed 10 her 70 /
use her influence with the governor 70 +!
pardon her husband, and the wife appeal /
moved tho governor, WHO Fardoned the I
man AID saved hln from thu disgrace c. 1
the whipping ~ ''--Ner Io-- Sun
Always az the head % Tire procession /
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