Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-03
THE WHIPPING POST.

1t is not generally known, perhaps that
the whipping post is still an institution
in Delaware. How it has managed to
survive to this day is difficult to UNDER
stand, but not long ago some misguided
persons started an agitation in favor of
having a whipping post established, in
regretted, inaslnuch as it has directed
general attention to the Maryland irsti--
tuition, with the result that not only has
any extension of the barba"ous practice
been made impossible. but the people of
Delaware are clamoring for the abolition
of the law. -u ~n Il,
A dispatch from Wilmington, to the
New York World, describing a whipping
that took place there a few days g is
worth reproducing. because, while sem
s%ationalism is conspicuously absent, the
picture that it presents is enough to give
a correct idea of the institution. This ac-
count says:
Two boys, accused of a petty theft,
were whipped at the post in Newcastle
today. The barbarous exhibition has
again aroused public sentiment against
the old law of public chastisement.
Talk of making an effort for the abol-f
ishment of the antique punishment las
begun, and an effort in that direction
will be made. An act of the Legislature
will be necessary. g
Shortly before noon a motley crowd
gathered in the old Jail yard to see the
W hippings and the pilloring of prisoners.
The air was biting cold, and Patrick Nc
Cue, and James O'Brien, who had been
convicted of burglary, stood and shiv-
cred in the pillory. though kind hearted
Sheriff Taylor covered them with blan-
kets.
The crowd which had assembled and is
used to seeing culprits flogged were not
prepared for the sight of the logging Of
the two lads. Had not Sheriff Taylor
been a kind hearted man the exhibition
would nave been much worse, for the
law says that the lashes shall be we'll
laid on, and it is doubtful if the sheriff
did lay them on as well as the law re-
Quires.
John Anker and William Bradley We're
the boys whipped. They had broken into
a freight car n stolen a small quantity
OF perfumery. Recently they were tried
before the crmina court here and con-
victed.
Anker came first to the post to be
strung up and dashed. RE saws he is not
yet Is years old, and the $50 people who
were present believed it. There We're
tears in some eyes as the light little fell
low was triced up, with his back barred
for the punishment he was to receive.
Every muscle in his body quivered
with the cold and with fear, and he kept
his face turned from the crowd with
shame. Chief Warden Charles Bowers
counted the lashes. and the GROVE no.
ticed that the kind hearted sheriff was
laying them on lightly.
Every mark of the cat-o'nine-tails,
however, showed upon his tender back,
and had the sheriff aid on the lashes as
is the usual custom the boys back would
have been covered with blood. Back to
his cell, with his face down. went the
youngster when his punishment was
completed.
William Bradley, his eighteen-year-old
companion, came next. He is slightly
larger thar Anker. but his youth APP
pealed to all who We're there. Again the
sheriff laid on the lashes lightly, but the
stripes showed on his bare back. Likt
his companion. he went Back to the jail
with his head down.
William Smith, an old offender and ex
, convict. who was with them wheE the
crime was committed. then took 10 lashes
each of which brought the blood to thu
surface.
Men in the crowd about the pillo-y de
nounced the law. While the boys were
whipped. 1T is a disgrace to the state.
' --:l 800 ODD 7 fr ~, - -N - Sn
ciared another. criminal experts de
clare that the disgrace of a public whip
ping will ruin both of the lads. and tina
{ they will certainly be forced into a lif
OF crime by it.