Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-02
THE WHIPPING POST
Various Comments on the Grand
Jury's Proposal.
JUDGE KIMBALL PAVORS IT
Lawyers Who Take Different Sides
Concerning the Result.
FOR WIFE B E A T E r S

corning the establishment of the whipping
post is the topic of conversation about the
Police Court just now. especially among
tie lawyers who practice there. These
le gal lights have seen as much Of the dark
side of life as any other class of persons,
with the exception Of members of the police
force and the judges of the police courts,
and they think they know as much about
the nature of the punishment which should
be inflicted as any others.
Among the lawyers most Of them ex-
pressed the opinion that the whipping post
should be established here, as, In their opin-
ion, 1t Is the only effective punishment that
can be melted out to certain classes of Of
tenders. On the other hand some of them
are of the opinion that the establishment of
this mode of punishment would be return
to a relic Of barbarism, which would prove
degrading to civilization.
Judge kimball has publicly announced
from the bench that he favors the whipping
pest for wife heaters. and in conversation
with a Star reporter this morning he said
he had discovered no reason why he should
change his mind on this question.
"WhilesI think the whipping post is the
proper punishment for wife beaters." said
the judge, Il think this mode of punish
ment should not apply to cases of theft.
There does not seem to be any punish
ment fit for wife beaters," added the judge,
other than the whipping post"
During the past few weeks, while hold
ing the United States branch of the court,
Judge kimball said he had heard a number
of cases in which husbands had i'll treated
their wives, and in almost every case the
evidence showed that the offender had COM
mt:ed similar offense before.
In conclusion, Judge Kimball said he
found that in almost every case of wife
beating the husband was addicted to the
use OF liquor, and was generally under the
influence of liquor at the time of the beat
ing.
Judge Miller did not care to be quoted
in the matter of establishing the whipping
post. but it Is generally understood that he
opposes 1t.
In Opposition.
Milton NJ. Holland a prominent member
Of the bar. said he was opposed to the
whipping post for more reasons than one.
He thought the establishment of this mode
of punishment would be a disgrace in this
enlightened age, for he realized that such
punishment could hardly be given impair
TALLY. While he thought the establishment
of the post would be so much OF a disgrace,
he recognized the fact that there is at
present no adequate means of Furnishing
the offender
The Jail and work house. he said, amount
to very little, so far as punishment is con-
cerned and. indeed. many of the prisoners
get better treatment at these places than
they get at home
He thought that there should be a prison
for these offenders, where they would really
have to perform some labor.
The jail, he thought, offers inducements
to many people to commit offenses,s for in
the prison they find n comfortable home,
and get better food that they get outside.
Race Question.
w. Calvin Chase. editor of the Bee, says
he opposes such a mode of punishment for
the reason that only colored people would
De whipped. If there was any certainty
that the punishment would be uniform he
would not have such decided objection to
II, but he thought this would not be the
case
Lawyer William C. Martin said he was
opposed to the establishment of the whip
ping post unless the punishment is to be
APPLIED uniformly. He recollected very
Well the experience of the state of Virginia
with the whipping post. and its establish
ment here, he feared, would only be a
repetition of that experience. 80 ID.
In that state, he said. the law was in
operation from 1878 until 1885, during
which time 10000 voters, %. per cent of
whom were colored, were DISTINGUISHED.
The law. he said. worked well until
white woman was whipped in Alexandria
for stealing piece of meat, and then the
first readjuster legislature repealed it,
A decision of the court of appeals in the
Meyers case, h thought. had the effect of
restoring these people to citizenship, but
there are thousands of such persons who
are not now permitted to vote.
Would Work.
II think very well of the decision" was
what Lawyer John A. Moss said when
questioned by The Star reporter. 1T is
the only thing that will subserve the ends
of justice and prevent a recurrence of
these offenses. A coward who will beat his
wife cares nothing for few days impris-
onment i'll Jail. He will simply so to jail
and come out and repeat the ofense. And
it is the same way with thieves. These
rascas who go around robbing hen houses
for instance, care nothing for few lays
in Jail, but give them nine and thirty, and
the chances are that they will let hen
houses alone afterwards"
Lawyer Jones. speaking on the subject
said he was in doubt about the best way
to punish offenders. He realized he said
that one but coward would assault
his wife, and the punishment for such an
offense cannot be too severe. But he
said, ''it is a question in my mind whether
not the establishment of the whipping
post would degrade civilization.
There is one thing certain he said
land that is that a more rigid mode of
discipline should be practiced at the Jail
and work house. These so-called prisons,
they now conducted, certainly have
no terror to pronounced criminals. and
there ought to be some better mode of pun
ishment, but what that should be l am not
prepared to say
Lawyer Hewlett says he favors the
whipping post Tor the punishment OF wife
heaters and many other offenders. These
offenders do not fear a sentence of impris-
onment in Jail or on the farm.
Put something on their backs that they
will feel" said the lawyer, land the next
time they will know better"
DESERVING Wives.
while l favor the whipping post for
wife beaters," said Lawyer Sillers II am
certain that it can never be established
here. Wife heaters, however, are not the
only persons who should be punished in
this manner I think men who desert tn cir
wives and children and leave them with
out any support deserve the severest pun
ishment that can be inflicted, and for them