The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-14
WHIPPING POST DISCUSSED.
fcontInucd from First Page.)

since the former year over a million dot
lars has been spent annually to enhghten
and educate these people. and sull the
number OF inmates In the penitentiary
has increased 100 per cent and the
amount OF criminal expenses has IN
creased 100 per cent.
mo. IT Is said that where the number
OF criminals and the amount OF criminal
expenses have Increased the population
must have increased too. Let US see
how that IS During ten years the white
population in the penltentiary has IN
creased 2 per cent. and the colored pop
ulation IS per cent During the ten years
from 1850 TO 1890. according 10 the United
States census the colored population has
increased 1.i2 per cent. and the white
population 1921 per cent. making total
OF 1864 per cent. while the number Of
criminals has nearly doubled in the same
time.
THE FINANCIAL EMRROGLIO.
"1hc whipping post law has: been sane
TONED by good Christian and able men.
SO n'uch that they never d.d repeal T..
We came 10 this General Assembly two
years ago and tried in every poas ible way
TO lessen the criminal expenses Of tho
state. What do we find now? The State
last year in its finances went behind :2) %
ON: withdrawing the fact that tho
criminal expenses Ly legislation had been
cut down nearly sc eco From the iidu-
Ciary fund IN additional revenue Of $40
OOO was secured on fees. Which w will
rot nave this year and Notwithstanding
this helpful assistance We we're still '2O.-
OC0 in the hole
In 1902 we mus. have in addition the
sum Of $4,000 annually 10 meet the adj
ditiOnal interest on the State bonds.
Where are YOU going 10 get this money.
II the State is running behind at the rate
Of $4,000 year? You can save the sum
Of 10000 annually I'm the criminal ex-
penses Of the State by passing the bill in
troduced by me and you will not have to
eNpend tho sum Of $4,000 for the enl1rg-
ing Of the penitentiary. because the in
PRODUCTION OF the whipping post will re-
duce crime in this State. The best citi-
zens OF Richmond have asked me to pass
this bill
"Two years ago. when 7 introduced a
similar bill i'm this House. the gentlemen
who then represented the county Of
Louisa on this floor (Mr. Walel stated
that he had been among those who voted
to repeal the old whipping post law. Yes
and he was showed under for sixteen
years and whcr, is nc to-day2
I'VE have i'm Richmond about 225 crimi-
mails in Jail. costing the State $4,000 an
nually. We also give $50 90 per year 10
tn, refCrmatory school at Laurel and
about $4,000 per year are spent for the
support Of the prisoners in the Henrico
county jail and perhaps $500 for the
maintenance of the inmates OF the Jail
OF Manchester. making in all about $50 =
O0o annually for TIE support Of the Grim
inals in the ials in this section OF
the state. You lei them out to-
day and they will go right back to-mor-
row
There is one man I'm jail in this city.
who has been there for four years and
six months on communicative convictions
OF petit larceny and his maintenance
costs the State about 500. lie Is 81 rat
that ne can hardly walk. The present
law is an absolute failure and only en-
cOurages crime.
4 PREMIUM or THEFT.
I'm Henrico county a few years ago
a man stole SIG and kept tho money. He
was convicted OF petit .arceny and sent
TO jail for thirty days. At The expiration
Of his term ne was given new salt Of
clothes. worth s.. so that he really was
SZi the better on for con hitting larceny.
In Westmoreland county, my former
home I only know OF two cases. where
ping post law was IN operation. one
was a cOlored man. who some eighteen
years ago had stolen corn from another
colored nan. He has since then behaved
himself and is now we'll respected. The
other one was white boy who had
helped himself To some money from n
drawer III store. He was whipped ana
is now a good citizen even better one
than any Other member OF his family.
1T is said the applying OF stripes de-
grades people. But gentleu en-, the fact
is. that a thief has degraded himself by
his action before you whip him
Mr.. Murphy then referred TO letter
which he had received from Delaware
where the whipping post is In existence
and also 10 a letter which had been sent
him by a lawyer OF the State Of New
York who IS a member Of the Legisla-
ture Of that state. and who desires 10
obtain a copy Of Mr.. Murphy bill with
view Of introducing IT in the Legislature
of that State.
In concluding his argument Mr. Muir
ply said he felt convinced that his BILL
if 1t became a law. would drive away that
class Of people who would be affected by
its provisions and they would. by being
driven from place TO place. ultimately
give up crime and become better men.
MR.. PARKER'S VIEWS.
Mr. ]. c. Parker OF Southampton.
stated that he was heartily in favor OF
the bill II am opposed said Mr..
Parker. ITO the modern fad Of sympathy
for criminals. The object of all punish
Inent is TO prevent crime and not 10 heap
vengeance upon prisoners. II. however.
the argument is good that corporal pun
ishment is cruel. then % bill should be
introduced i'm the General Assembly pre-
venting capital punishment
The speaker was here interrupted by
Mr. r. w Berrey of Stafford. who in
formed him that such bill had been IN
troduced. Mr.. Parker desired TO know
how much support such a bin would re-
ceive on the part of the Legislature and
he felt confident that the patron OF the
bill did not expect much support.
Dr. W. ID. Quesenberry, Of Caroline.
stated that hanging had been selected a
capital punishment because 10 was
thought to be the least cruel
mode OF punishment The late
Professor John b. Minor also
had been in favor Of such measure in
order 10 protect the people from petit
thieves. 4 man was not di-graced By the
whipping but by the stealing
Mr.. w. F. Reddy. Of this city. desired
20 know whether. If this bill provided for
cruel and inhuman punishment. IL would
not bring disgrace on the State.
Yes, sir" replied Nj. Parker. but the
constitution OF the United States gives
protection against that. CORPORAL nun
tll ont IL. OF I.as .