Evening journal., 1905-03-17
PILLORY WILL
Be ABOLISHED
House Passes the Smith Bill
and the Governor Will
Sign 1t
LETTER From CHIEF JUSTICE
Special 10 Tho EvonIng Journal.

Special 10 the Evening Journal.
Dover. March i7.-Upon tho strength OF
written address from Chief Justice
Lore and a plea from Horace G. Knowles
OF wilmington. representing bench and
bar. the House yesterday afternoon pass
cd the bill Of Senator Smith abollshlng
tho pillory in this State. The only vote
IN the negative was cast by Mr.. Pretty
man.
As the measure has already passed the
Senate IL only needs the approval Of
Governor Lea to mako Il become a law,
and Il is assured that the Governor Will
sign it.
The chief Justice and Mr. Knowles
eamo into the fight just In time. as the
House had resolved 70 ignore the Senate
bill abollshins the ancient instrument Of
torture because tho authorities stlll
countonnnced the whipping-post.
Let us hold on 20 the whipping-post
and abolish tho plliory" said Chief JUS
tice Lore TO the House. ''rhe latter Is
antiquated and when imposed when the
mercury Is anywhere about zero, 1t Is
cruel"
RELIC FROM COLONIAL DAYS.
The plllory FIRST came into use as "A
means Of punishment in early colonial
days It's first form was that OF the stocks
In which the wrists and legs Of offend
ing men and women were pinioned, while
the public ieoringly beheld the benlghted
victims. In connection with the pillory
the ducking stool was another humiliat-
ing device FOR punishment or torture In
the days Of the pioneers.
They we're reIogatcd decades ago, how
over, but the plllory has been preserved
until the present successful assault has
been made upon II.
Tho letter which Chief Justice Lore
sent 20 Speaker William d. Dennoy. OF
the House. and which was primarily re-
sponsible for the passage OF the bill
reads:
CHIEF JUSTICES LETTER.
Dear sir: There is now before your
body a bill 10 abolish standing IN IN,
lpillory as a punishment for crime IN this
State. / am deeply impressed with tn,
lproprioty, indeed the necessity, for IN,
abolition OF this form OF punishment. II
is a relic OF the past that in tho older
time. when the criminal was pilloriod II
public and every passer-by had the righl
to joer him, pclt him with rotten cggl
land other missiles. seemed 60 correspond
with the then public sentiment.
Today Il is antiquated and when i'm
posed when the mercury IS anywherl
about zero. is cruel. besides IL Is oftei
unjust in practice. II the criminal be o
frail constitution, the pillory Is often re
United upon doctors certificate or upoi
other application; thus discriminating be
tween the same class OF criminals in IN
punishment. Tho court always impose
it with reluctance and frequently IN
jury recommends the prisoner to th
mercy Of tho coupt I'm order that Il ma
not be imposed. The public sentiment q
those who have given attention TO per
ology IS overwhelmingly against th
mode OF punishment i feel that Il Is IN
ono blot in our penal system.
We cannot do without whipping-pos
! Situated between great cities on the mort
and south. our narrow Peninsula woul
be overrun by the roughs from thes
great cities, wero Il not for the whole
! some fear they entertain for our whir
ping-nost, - my experience. tho pillor
does not play much part as dcterrer,
Lot us hold on 20 the whlpping-post. bu
abolish the pillory. and thus place ou
little State upon a just and reasonabl
? basis. Yours very respectfully,
Charles 3. Lore.
MR.. KNOWLES ADDRESS.
In advocating the abolition OF the pil
lory Mr.. Knowles said:
. Gentlemen OF the House. come herr
having been requested by the court I
speak with you upon the merits Of thl
o bill Our judges and members OF the ba
IS have a keen interest IN this matter. b,
n cause the law rcuuires that the t,ilior