New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-15
QUOTES THE BIBLE IN
DEFENCE OF THE LASH
Delaware Representative In
dignant at Attack Upon His
States Whipping Post.
INSISTS THE LAW IS RIGHT
Incidentally Points Out That
New York Criminals Who
Have Felt the Sting Keep
Out of Delaware.
From The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Nov 14.-Quoting the
Bible freely, Representative Brockson
defended in the House to-day the sur
vival of the whipping post in Delaware.
The Delaware member was Indignant
because Representative Evans, of Mon
tana. recently asked the House TO pro-
test and demand an Injunction against
the lashing of two convicts, scheduled
for tomorrow.
Il have but little patience with any
man who permits his sympathy to run
with a felon so far as to forget the
rights of lawabiding citizens of the
state" asserted M Brockson. The
State Of Delaware. being satisfied of the
Justice of her laws, is willing to de-
monstrate the principle. if need be. that
IL is better to stand alone for that which
is right than to stand with the multi
tude for that which is wrong
After denouncing the attempt of Mr..
Evans to have the federal government
interfere with the Delaware whipping
post Mr.. Brockson argued that "all
through the Bible We are taught that
corporal punishment does have good
effect" and quoted from Exodus Eye
for eve, tooth for tooth, hand for hand
etc.
Thou shalt beat him with the rod
and thou shalt deliver his soul from
hell" For whom the Lord loveth he
chastcneth and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth" were other Biblical
quotations employed by Mr.. Brockson In
his defence of corporal punishment for
certain classes of criminals.
Not After Criminals Approval.
No state undertakes to in1ict penal
ties that will be approved by the crimi-
nal" continued Mr.. Brockson. 1T has
been well said NO rogue e'er felt the
halter draw with keen appreciation or
the law The practice of making mar
tyrs of criminals is a curse OF modern
society"
While contending that the whipping
post is an excellent crime deterrent
Mr. Brockson was interrupted by Rep
| resentative Smith, of New York. who
said:
Il understand six men are awaiting
the lash in Delaware now. II that is
true in little state like Delaware. II
doesn't seem the whippings are prevent
ing crime up that way. How many
would be awaiting the LASH in big
slater"
What state are you from" asked
Mr.. Brockson.
New York" proudly answered MI
Smith.
We'll, we whipped four dude burg
lars from New York a few years ago.
and they've not been back 10 Delaware
retorted Mr.. Brockson. Burglars bank
robbers and criminals OF that class give
our state a wide berth
The Evans resolution recited the In
Fiction OF twenty lashes on each of two
negro convicts at the Newcastle County
workhouse last week. the Montana mem
Der declaring that twenty more lashes
were to be given to them tomorrow
adding. THE court divided the imposi-
| ton Of the number OF lashes for fear or
causing the death Of the victims
Never Killed by the Lash.
Mr.. Brockson declared this statement
false. The court. he said, did not fear
tho death Of the convicts. but had "di-
vided" the punishment because Of the
youth of the defendants.
I'VE have no instance of death or near
death by corporal punishment" eX-
| claimed Mr.. Brockson. Those two fell
| ons are convicted Of HOUSEKEEPING. one
of them went TO the room where n
Young white woman was asleep. She
awakened and ran from the room, fright
ened almost into hysteria- One OF the
! housebreakers struck the home owner
| over the head with a brick. The court
sentenced che convict to thirteen years
| Imprisonment and forty lashes The
other got eleven years and forty lashes
| have no sympathy for those who would
intercede for criminals Of this type"
The resolution of Mr.. Fans which
aroused Mr. Brockson charged that the
Delaware whipping post lis a relic Of
medieval barbarism and is not general
ly practised in civilized countries" The
lashing Of convcts, Mr.. Evans asserted,
| also constituted "cruel and unusual pun
ishment,' forbidden by the Constitution.
Mr.. Brockson contendeu that the fed
eral government has no Jurisdiction
over Delaware's penal laws and that the
cruel and unusual punishment" prohi-
bition applied to national legislation and
not TO state practices.
WlNDMULLER HAD $500, 1000