The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-18
THE WHIPPING POST.
Authorities Who Have Watched the
Effect of Lashes Testify TO Results.

Professional burglars and crooks do not
operate in Delaware 10 any extent for the
reason that they have a wholesome fear
Of Delaware justice. which is msted out
10 them In the shape OF the whipping post
and piilcry.
After each semi-annuai session OF court
subjects are placed before these weapons
az punishment, and while half the coun-
try holds up It's hands in horror the other
half looks on such punishment as proper
for a certain class OF criminals.
The state or Maryland has during the
last year adopted the whipping post a
punishment for wife-beaters. and several
other states nad previously legalized 1t for
the same purpose
Some years ago a noted crook called
Big Frank Mccoy and pal named
Jimmy Hope were caught In the act Of
robblng a bank In Wilmington and part
OF their sentence was the whipping post
and pillory. They had always dreaded
this sort Of punishment. and when the
time for their punishment drew near it
was reported that number of the friends
Of these crooks were going 20 break into
the jail yard at Newcastle hold up the
sheriff, and rescue Mccoy and Hope. Tbs
report caused an attendance estimated al
900 people on the day OF the whipping
but no attempt vas made 10 rescue them.
Nine months later they both escaped. and
when Mccoy was recaptured he made a
big fight TO keep from coming back 10
Delaware. He said be could stand i'm
prisonment for any length OF time, but
that whipping he received in Newcastle
caused him to forsake burglary for the
resi- OF his life. The whipping also dis
franchises a mar FOR the rest Of his life
and this fact adds greatly 10 its import
anCe as a punishment for crime
a number Of years ago Robert @. Inger-
soil was booked TO deliver lecture in
Dover on this relic OF barbarism," as he
called ii. bat then Chief Justice Sauls-
bury, who regarded Ingersolls utterances
a. biasph*my. threatened TO arrest and
smprison the lecturer, ana ne declined 10
Keep his appointment. saying he was I'M
willing 10 undergo the poioriety OF arrest
During the legislative session or 1897 a
bill was prepared by a Republican MEM
nt' OF the senate Tor abol!shing the whip
Ping post altogether, bur Il failed 10 pass
Punishment by whipping il inflicted in
Delaware Tor many cases OF felony but is
not provided as a penalty for wife-beat
ing some or the principal causes for
which the sentence is whipping In addi-
t!on 10 other penalties are: Murder in
me second degree, sixty lashes; admins
t'ring poison with mUrderous intent. sixty:
attempt AZ rape. thirty: KIDNAPPING thir-
ty-nne. highway robbery. forty: arson.
twenty 10 sixty, h0usebreakinr horse
stealing, receiving stolen goods, etc. TWEEN
y. Exception is made IN The case of fe
mates convicted Of larceny. For nettv
larceny and minor offences the sentence
IS sometimes az low as four IN ten lasheS
criminal court has recently adjourned
IN all three counties Of this state and
each OF the whipping posts had several
subjects Tor treatment 10 iashes on tha
haFe h"ck The whipping takes place In
iae Jail yard ana IS inflicted by the shorty
~ ms deputy. There is usually crowd
mostly OF bows aud negroes. MANY az
whom come from considerable distance