The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-02

above the ground are some iron
pieces or hangers that fasten over
the wrists of the subject to hold him
fast while being whipped. In the iail
he is prepared for the ordeal bv being
stripped to the waist. He is then led
out to the post which he hugs by
having his wrists fastened under the
hangers" In this position he is
whipped. Personally, | have seer
other objects | had much rather hug"
than the whipping post"
The "pillory" consists Of a six foot
bar lin two longitudinal sections) thai
passes through the upper part of the
whipping-post. about five feet above
the ground. Each half of the bar has
three openings on it; hence two men
can be i'm the pillOry at once Each
half of the bar holds the wrists ana
the neck of a subject. When thus
placed in position, he is held rigid"
and he presents a groteSque figure
The whipping post and pillory is in the
Jail yard. and so located that several
hundred persons can view any specta-
Gle.
/ witnessed the use of both the
whipping post and the pillory. Three
persons were whipped, each was given
ten lashes with a "raw-hide." The
work was so quickly and 50 quietly
tually being done at all.
Two were compelled to stand i'm the
pillory for an hour They did not
seem actually TO suffer much at all,
the humiliation" is really the punish
'ment In former times the spectators
were allowed TO 'rotten egg" the ones
in the pillory; but Of late that is not
permitted at all. The sheriff presides
at all these spectacles In the whip
nj. ba rff 1a xtyI,fI q
the warden counts the strokes.
The best feature of the whipping
post is that all who have been whip
ped are DISTINGUISHED hence the State
rules out much OF the criminal vote.
AS most of the ones whipped or pill
loried" are negroes, / would urge that
the "whippingpost' be legalized in
the "old" South, as the best means OF
DISTINGUISHING the negro vote, for the
whipping-p for Chicken stealing
alone would disfranchise about half of
the negro vote the very first year.
OF course the post" or the "pillory"
does not take the place of imprison-
ment, but is supplementary thereunto.
There is really nothing at all revolt
ing in the whipping post" as / saw
it at Dover. though / presume the fell
low whipped" would not regard it in
the same manner.
Most criminals Keep clear OF Dela-
ware. as they dread the ignominy OF
the post" hence Delaware has few
criminals, and has never yet had to
build a State prison.
The usual crimes and punishments
for the post" are: Arson, 60 lashes:
burglary, 20 to 40. highway robbery
So horse stealing, 20; buying stolen
goods. knowingly 20; larceny, 8 to
20; wife beating, at discretion. The
pillory is used for. burglary. highway
robbery. assault with intent to Kill and
other felonies.
Taking it all together. l regard the
use of the whipping post" and of the
"pillory" with extreme favor and am
surprised that more States do not
adopt its proper use. Petty criminals
dread physical pain but do not dread
being put i'm Jail and fed during the
chill of winter In all my travels in
Delaware. / have not seen a single
tramp or vagrant; and ] attribute I'll
to their fear of the whipping post.
This alone, would commend its use.