Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-10
PiLLORY AND POST
Chief Dolan's Address at
Chiefs National Convention.
AN INTERESTING PAPER REAL

HEAD OF THE WILMINGTON PO-
LICE DEPARTMENT - ADvAN-
TAGEs OF THE WHIPPING-POST
SET FORTH IN FORCIBLE TERMS.
Chie7 on Police John +. Dolan this
morning reada paper before the Ma
zion Convention OF Police Chiefs, i'm ses-
sion at Chattanooga Tenn, On Della
ware Pest and Pillory."
The address was carefully prepareds
and the announcement OF its reading
cheated considerable interest among
the Delaware delegates present The
following is the text of the address:
THE WHIPPING-POST AND PILLORY
OF DELAWARE.
"Mr President, and Members Of the Ma
tional Association Of Chiefs Of Police
Of the United States and Canada.
Gentlemen: AS we are here assem-
bled to confer as to the best method of
lessening crime establishing good order
In society, insuring public safety, and re-
forming criminals, we should by an inter
change of views be able to formulate
that much to be desired plan.
"Nealry all sections Of our country are
/
enacted DAVIS relating to the punishment
of crimes, they differ hut little, as they
all inhict Imprisonment and labor as the
proper method to deal with criminals
whose crimes may be less than murder
Of the first degree, excepting the State
of Delaware, which administers corporal
punishment IN addition to imprisonment
for certain felonies, viz: Burglary, arson,
attempted rape and larceny. This mode
OF punishment existed during colonial
times, and has been wisely continued
during our statehood.
wilmington. the metropolis of the
state, which have the honor
to represent, contains about 75,00C
inhabitants. or nearly two-thirds the
population Of the county, and about one
fourth THE number in the state, and ac-
cording to statistics. we have less per
cemtage Of crime Of felonlous character
than any other state in THE Union. and
it Is greatly owing to the salutary ef-
fects produced by that much criticised
instrument, the whipplng-post.
Although it does not entirely prevent
the commission of those acts Of lawless
ness for which 1t is administered Dc re-
duces fl to a minimum. There never ina,
been but one attempt at bank burglar,
in cur state. and fortunately that proved
unsuccessful. as the perpetrators were
unprecedented, arrested. convicted an,
sentenced to ten years imprisonment
forty lashes and one hour in the pillory
and fine of 5000 each.
'The term of Imprisonment for whicl
they were sentenced did not trouh
them IN the loast, but that portion of tn
sentence subjccting them TO the post am
. pulory struck them with terror, so nue.
so that they offered $4,000 TO have tina
portion OF their sentence RENTED, bu
they had TO submit and take the punish
ment They afterwards made their escap
by brealang jail, and have given tn
state a wide berth since that time.
i, Situated as we are. between two larg
Z. cities. Philadelphia and Baltimore % an
p miles distance respectively, and with
In three hours of New York city, W
p would be am easy prey for the crlmna
r Glasses OF those cities, were It not 20
o this particular institution. for which the
e all have a most wholesome dread, in fac
n thieves passing through our state. al
though having committed no Grim
within our borders, are in terror unit
Y beyond our boundaries, the very atmo.
=. phere being unpleasant and uncongeni'
to them
I'VE have no penitentiary in our stat
but movement is now in progress
q erect workhouse, the funds for ths
j. purpose having been appropriated by tn
3 late Assembly. and IL remains to be see
r whether it will be an Improvement G
We our present system, which consists Of
county jail only. in which on an averaS
,r about 100 prisoners are confined II
20 major part Of whom are being held (,
ID non-payment of fines and costs. an
2 short term prisoners committed for mi
demeanous, the long term and life pri
N oners being about 40 per cent.
ID "1nstead Of giving a prisoner convictG
Of larceny two, three or six years in
II prisonment. as is done IN other state
" and keeping him at the public eXpens
we give him not less than FIVE or mo-
% than forty lashes (gradlng tho punisl
~ ment) and a short term In prison, ar
D. then turn him loose at the expirado
&c and the occurrence is rare indeed wh'
he comes under the lash THE second tim
He either gives up his habit or ell
leaves the state.
I'm many instances the criminals ha'
"a reformed, and engaged in honest pursul
IA and become law-abiding citizens. l oou
x mention a number Of these.
Il Long terms of imprisonment as pu
,y ishment do NOT TO my mind less,
3 crime or tend ITO reform inc Grimm
or when corporal punishment IS not /
as cltded I'm the sentence, the fear OF ser
p President Fyya OF ehe Police Cor
50 mission, this informing received a h
ter from Chief Dclan stating that
had arrived safe amid was WE'LL I'll
ie chlUf expected TO remain until Satu
day. but owing to the Bavarian bre'
cry robbery he is rather expected hon
tomorrow night.
20 HEp -TvTTvTfrAVYIV .I,TT I'm