The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-03
WHIPPING POSTS.
Return to the Old Method of
Punishment.
Is Strongly Advocated by Some
Eminent Jurists
FOR WIFE BEATERS.
Judge Ong of Cleveland and
Judge Tuley
Of Chicago Are Among Its Ear
nest Supporters.
FOR WIFE BEATERS

Cleveland, Feb. 3.-Judge Ong, who has
been hearing divorce cases, declared in
an interview today in favor of the whip
ping post for cruel husbands He said:
when a woman comes into court and
appeals to me for relief, when she is do
ing all she can to support herself and
children, has a good character and a mis-
cradle creature in the shape of a hus-
band, would give such a woman relief
by divorce and order an injunction if
there We're not word on the subject in a
single statute of Ohio. I believe in es-
tablishing the whipping post for all such
cowardly creatures as these husbands.
The great trouble is, first, the saloon;
then, back of it, are the wholesaler and
the brewer. The last two pose in the
community as respectable. when, in truth
and in fact, their wealth and their COM
forts are just so much taken from poor
women and children through their drunk
en- husbands
Chicago, Feb. 3-The great prominence
given the Radcliffe case in New York has
aroused a sentiment in favor of punish
ing wife beaters at the public post in the
minds of many. test of the feeling in
Chicago has been made with the result
that if Judge Murray F. Tuley. Judge
Oliver H. Horton, Rev. William NJ. Law
renee and Police Justice W. T. Hall had
their way, Wife-beaters would be tied to
a post and soundIy whipped.
This would be done in full view of a
contemptuous populace. It would be
where fathers and mothers could point
out to their children the miserable Gull
prit, writing and grooming as the salt
was rubbed into his bleeding wounds, and
say, as did the Puritans of old:
''See, my child; that is what happens
to a man who beats his wife"
Judge Murray F. Tuley said: 81 have
supreme contempt for a man who will
beat his wife. 1t is the most brutal form
of crime. The wife is completely at the
mercy of her husband. If he beats her,
I think he should be taken out and pub
icly whipped. The punishment is too
dangerous to be placed within the power
of justices, however. I think wife-beating
should be made misdemeanor, to be
tried by jury in court of record. Then,
if convicted, the offender should be sens
fenced to the whipping post. I was in
New Mexico for some time when men
were sentenced to stripes for all kinds
of offenses, including burglary, thieving,
etc My experience there makes me think
it would be unwise to put the whipping
post into general use, as it would have
a bad effect. But I think it is the only
adequate punishment for that one Of
Tense"
Judge Oliver H. Horton-If a man is so
brutal as to physically beat his wife no
punishment can reach him except the
whipping post. I do not favor all dis
putes between man and wife being settled
by the whip but when man goes out
and deliberately gets drunk and comes
home and beats his wife for the sake
of beating her, he ought to be tied to
post and publicly whipped.
DR.. William NJ Lawrence-I believe In
whipping as a punishment, not only for
vyife-beatine but for other offenses, par
ticularly the polite crimes. The remedy
must be of such a character as to make
the crime disgraceful. If we had whip
ping. I would make it public, where ko-
daks could be Ieveled at the man being
punished. We are gradually approaching
a period of revolution, there is so much
crime. The public sympathy is with GRIM
mails Most of them have political pulls
and can escape justice. This must be
stopped. The whipping post is one method
to stop it.
Justice w. T. Hall believe in 1t hearth
". There are numbers of cases coming
before me every day which merit it.
When a man beats his wife and drives her
out with child at 1 o'clock in the morn
ing he ought to be whipped When
son. angered at some trifie, strikes and /
kicks his mother, he deserves a thrashing.
AZ If is now these offenders are fined.
Perhaps they pay their fine, and perhaps
thew go to the bridewell, bring their po- |
lttfcal influence to bear, and get pardoned
ont They should be given dose of
their own medicine.