Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-11
1mprovised Whipping Post Used at
Rosslyn, Va.
ORDERED BY JUSTICE SMITH
The First Public Punishment Of the
Kind for Many Years.
THE PRISONERS OFFENsE

There was a legal whipping last evening
at ~ o'clock at Rossyn, at which John
Bushard, nineteen-year-old Washington
colored youth, was the victim. By the d.
rection of Justice Louis F. Smith a sem
tence of fifteen lashes across his bare back
was carried out, and at the end of the
operation the prisoner was SO badly used
up that his next appearance in the Vir-
g1nia village will probably be long way
off. The methods of administering justice
were undoubtedly too much for him.
Bushard was arrested about 9:45 o'clock
by Constable ]. w. Gaines and his deputy,
John Hailstout. The two were patroling
the village when they heard screams COM
ing from the direction of the lower Falls
Church road. Investigating the matter
they came across Bushard apparently en-
deavoring to assault a girl. The couple
We're perhaps fifty yards from the buildings
of the Consumers Brewing Company and
about 100 yards from the roadside.
With the appearance of the officers
Bushard endeavOred to escape, and before
he knew 1t he ran squarely into the arms
of the deputy, who held on to him. The
girl was caught by Constable Gaines, and
proved to be a mere child, the same race
as Bushard, and only thirteen years of age:
The girl tainted soon after the arrival OF
the officials, but was soon reSusc1tated ana
taken to the Office of Constable Gaines, on
Chadwick avenue.
Justice Smith, who lives near by, was
brought to the office, and speedy trial
given to the man. He was charged at f1rSt
with attempted criminal assault, but
from the evidence given by the prisoner
this charge could not be made out Bushard
stated that both the girl and himself lived
on F street between Sd and Az streets
southwest and had visited Rosslyn, coming
over to the Aqueduct bridge by the car
lines. The girl was questioned as TO hel
presence when found by the officers, and
she claimed that the man carried her there.
The Sentence.
boy, how much money have you got?'
asked Justice Smith
"Only 20 cents, SIR was the reply, In a
somewhat frightened tone.
people like you come over to Rosslyn,
said the justice, land commit acts which
give this village a bad name the other side
to this practice, if there is any way pos
sible 1t will not do much good to send
you to jail, and L think the best thing
is to give you lesson that you will re-
member all of your life. l am not only
going to give it to you, but the girl also,
and hereafter l advise you to keep away
from this part of Virginia You ought to
have fifty lashes but instead l will impose
a sentence of only fifteen lashes across
your bare back, while the girl will get ten"
The sentence of the court being pronounc-
ed, there was no time lost in putting 1t
ment was in the small room in which the
court had been held. After adjournment
Constable Gaines secured chair, an ordi-
nary wooden bottom kitchen chair, which
was minus back. The prisoner was order
ed to lie across this on his stomach, and
willingly complied. His pantaloons and
clothes were removed.
One of the deputies held the mans head
and another caught hold of his feet and
held him firmly in position. To keep the
man from rolling off the chair Constable
Gaines planted his foot on the back of the
PROSTATE form, and in this position the
victim was unable to even squrm.
The instrument used was not exactly
whip, but answered its purpose very well.
1t was the handle of blackjack, which
was fully thirteen inches long and tied at
the end was a tassel The handle of the
jack was made of some sort of rubber a
blow from which stung as much the
crack of a blacksnake whip. The consta-
BILE held the knob end of the weapon, which
afforded a fine hold
Given in Earnest.
Constable Gaines is a powerfully built
man, and weighs over 200 pounds. AS he
expressed it, he is no baby when it comes
to a test of strength, and he says he put
all his power into the blows. There was
no intermiSsion between the laSheS, and
one followed the other in rapid success
sion. The sentence of the court was fifteen
lashes. More than this number might have
been given but it is certain that the total
not less
The prisoner unable to squirm and cs-
cape the punishment, did the next thing
possible. He used his lungs to good effect,
and his cries could have been heard for
nearly half a mile away according to the
statement of an eyewitness. When the
trial was in progress there was only a linn
tied audience, but when the sentence was
Being carried into effect the screams and
hoWls of pain from the victim We're sufii-
Gent to draw a large crowd.
No blood was drawn, but there were
bruises and welts all over the anatomy of
Bushard. The sentence on the girl was
not carried into effect The justice ordered
that she be given several raps across the
hands with the blackjack, but even this
was not given. sound lecture was i'm
posed instead, after which she was per-
mitted to go at liberty. When told to so
ana stay away from Rossyn she lost no
time in making steps toward the Aqueduct
bridge.
1t is said that under the laws of Virginia
ishment of public whipping where the
prisoner is a minor and without means to
pay the fine. This is the first public whip
ping in Rosslyn since some time prior to
the civil war. 1t is understood that at the
next meeting of the state legislature a bill
will be introduced providing for the estab-
lishment of public whipping posts
There We're several other cases yesterday
in Rossyn which were disposed of. There
were. a total of six arrests made during the
day, five of which were for drunk and dis
orderly Four of these We're fined 81 and
costs by Justice Smith, the total fine being
s.. 80, in default of which the prisoners We're
committed to the county Jail. The fifth man
was arrested on the same charge and fined
a similar sum, but because of remarks
made during the trial was held to be in
contempt Of court and an additional fine
of s. was placed against him.
THE COURTS