East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-06-08

Because Charles McGinty of Port
land. blackened the eyes of his 100
pound wife, he bears the distinction
of being the first man to be whipped
under Oregon's new whipping post
law. The story of the whipping, as
told by the Oregon Daily Journal,
may set a wholesome example before
others so inclined, and is reprinted in
full as follows:
Charles McGinty is the first wife
beater in Oregon to be whipped under
the law passed by the last legislature
providing that punishment for Wife
beaters. Judge Sears of the state CIR
cult court yesterday morning sentenc-
ed McGinty to receive 90 lashes across
his bare back. The whipping was ad-
ministered by Jailer Grafton in the
corridor of the county Jail yesterday
afternoon. says the Journal.
When McGinty was taken from his
cell and marched to the improvised
whipping post in the Jail corridor a
great crowd of county officials stood
about.
Jailer Grafton, with the aid of two
deputy sheriffs removed McGinty's
shirt and raised McGinty's hands high
above his head and fastened them
with handouts to a cell door. AS
sistant County Physician C. C. McCor-
mack examined McGinty and pro-
nounced him in fit condition to un-
dergo the punishment.
The Whipping.
Jailer Grafton took his post behind
and slightly to one side of the prisoner
and grasped the handle of a whip
made of four braided leather thongs.
With a preliminary swish of the
whip the jailer swung back. Then the
lashes spreading like a fan descended
on the shoulders of the victim who
shrank, groaned a little and then
squared his shoulders with a resolute
shake of his head.
Again the four fangs OF the quirt
descended, and this time four long,
red welts showed on the white skin,
a third and the welts grew more angry
and as the fourth and fifth strokes
fell the tortured skin began to ooze
blood and the writhing man pulled
at the steel manacles and clanked
them in desperation against the iron
door.
Counting the Strokes.
The doctor stood beside McGinty
watching for the first trace of real in
jury, and as the whip wnistled its
notes of pain Sheriff Word counted,
zone, two, three" in rythm with the
falling blows.
Jailer Grafton had no pleasure in
his work; it was the most unpleasant
task be had ever performed, but be-
fore he took out the whip and barred
his arm for the work he announced
that he wanted to make the whipping
an object lesson, and did not desire
t. have to perform the task for Me
Ginty again. he performed his task
in the same spirit and not a blow was
a weak one: not once did he falter
Possibly some memory of the little
frail woman who had nearly tainted
when telling the judge of her hus-
bands brutality in court that morning
may have steeled his arm.
Yet no lack of consideration was
shown the culprit and the merely
curious were not admitted. The whiI
fell with good honest force, but it was
not drawn back over the flesh tC
leave a wound.
When the last stroke had beer
given McGinty's hands were unlocked
from the manacles that bound hin
and with slight assistance he was abl,
to walk to the receiving room of tn,
jail whence he later emerged, the Law
having done with him.
Story of the Beating.
The McGinty case attracted consid
erable attention while on trial in tn
lower courts, and when the defendan
entered plea of guilty before Circui
Judge Sears this morning the room
was crowded with witnesses. Prio
to the sentence Mrs. McGinty, a frai
little woman, weighing less than 10
pounds, had, in a voice scarcely abov
whisper, told her pitiful story to tn
judge. The story was short:
II wouldn't give him money that
had earned and he blackened my ey
and bruised my body"
Had he ever struck you before :?
queried Judge Sears.
Several times" And this conclu !
ed her story