The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-13
Chr Aerald and 0e,vs
WHIPPING POST "REMINISCENCES.
How q Man Took Punishment that He
Felt He Deserved, Then Reformed.

following interesting reminiscent story
in the last issue of his paper:
The Laurens cor espoudent of the
Charleston Sunday News furnishes
this interesting story of the past:
In the early if.i's Il young lawyer
just admitted to practice was employ
ed to defend white man charged
with stealing bushel Of oats from a
rich planter. The whipping post was
the punishment for such offenses and
there was no alternative penalty.
The proof was plain and the young
lawyers humble client was promptly
convicted. When the verdict was
announced the solicitor came to the
attorney and whispered: "B--, it
will never do for that white man to
be publicly whippsd."
"Well, what's to be done about
it?"
"Ill arrange it," the solicitor re-
piled. a brief consultation ensued
between the solicitor, the prosecut
ing witness, the Judge and the sheriff
Then the solicitor came back to the
lawyer "Explain to your client ,hs,
If he will break from the sheriff ana
never stop running till he crosses the
Savannah river and never cross back
again be will not he pursued Th.
State Will be satisfied if the mau
leaves the country. As the sheriff
takes him to jail from the court hons,
let him lag ben, a; The sheriff will
walk 80 feet in front Wheu the>
reach the corner Of tue alley leading
to the jail be must run and never
lock back. There will he mock
chase, rut ali your man need do is
to ruh.
III" Young lawvpr explained the
programme 10 the convict, who s,olid.
ly asseutel When the sheriff took
him away the lawyer went on, OF.
the court hGnse steps to see the fun
he sheriff, a. promised, walked
shead ot the prisour without look
ing back. They approached the 81
Icy corner. Ihe sheriff passed il
lhe convict reached it and with eyes
10 the fTont marched deliberately he
hind the sheriff in the jail. In du.
time be took lis threshlug and ve,r
home. He preferred il TO leavinp
Laurens county. 4 curious SEQUEL,
though, is that he did later 90 tohu
other State and here accumulated
good property and was a highly
respected citizen.
The editor of The Mountalneer,
who VAS then boy aud a residel,
OF Lanrens, remembers this incideu,
very distinctly, rs this WAS the ONLY
white man he ever saw punished a
the Whipping post, which in this in
stance was tree that stood on the
south side Of the court house and
shaded the sheritf's office Mr. o.
Wald Richardson was the sheriff, one
OF the kiudest hearted men that ever
lived IN Laurens,and like the 80 ,icitor
he did not want to SOC white mau
publicly whipped, much less to inflict
the punishment himself The bows
OF the village gathered around in
much awe at the proceeding, and the
sheriff applied the lash thirty nin,.
times to the back of the culprit, bu;
it was said at the time that he was
able to hit harder licks if the law
had reqnired it.
Our recollection ia that it was il,
the forenoon of bright, sunshiny
day, and when the law had been com
piled with Mr.. Richardson told tn,
young man that he was free to pc
where he pleased, and taking witt
him Il small bundle Of clothes he &c,
out for his home in the western oar,
OF Laurens. He was a strong, athle
TIC, handsome young man, and h.
walked away with firm step to hi.
humbve country home, where h,
tarried only long enough to bid good
bye to bis relatives and went immed,
ately across the Savannah, taking NJ
his abode in Hart county, Ga, whr,.
he prospered and was much RESPECTS,
by his neighbors.
Some years nfterwa rds wr hesr,
his name called at Anderson, wher,
wo were then living, and a promnon,
merchant gave us an introduction t,
MS we'll to DO Gust Omer from acroe,