Evening journal., 1913-11-15
SATURDAY. NOV. Is. 1918.
THE MHIPPING OF CRIMINALs.


7>HE attack made by Representative Evans, of Mon
tana, upon the Delaware whipping post and
he prompt rebuff he has received from United States
Attorney-General McReynolds have aroused nation
vide interest in that penal instrument that has
sted in what is now this state since 1866 only
the that within the last decade the pillory has
been abolished here IA Difference adverse local
hment it, too might have been joined with the whip
ping post the resolution offered by the well-mean-
ing but misguided Montana statesman. AS II was he
found himself in a position where he compelled
to conhne his attack to the whipping OF convicts
Everybody in Delaware knows that the whipping
post has existed for a long time, punitive
aud deterrent agent Thousands of Delawareans have
seen il used. in New Castle. the Greenbank Work
house. in Dover and in Georgetown for the punish
ment OF criminals. Il is common knowledge that in
the rural sections of the State the negroes speak of
a man who has been whipped as one who 'has Rugged
Red Hammer owing to the fact that the whipping
post was painted red and the criminal compelled
to hug it when he being whipped II is doubted
however that many Delawareans of mature years
know the history Of the whipping post in It's local
application Perhaps not one in 1000 Of the younger
generation knows anything about it,
II tho chronicles Of Diedrch Knickerbocker be
rect the whipping post not used in the territory
aow composing Delaware until 1856. History informs
that in that year Jan Risugh Governor Of New
-SWfden went for visit TO the Dutch Fort Casimir.
II was situated the present site Of New Castle
Van Ponenberg tho commander OF the fort He
did everything he could do honor 10 the Governor
Of New Sweden He had The garrison called out. Il
passed in review before the Governor Then, im-
press upon the mind OF the distinguished Swede the
strict discipline maintained in the fort three pris-
oners we're taken out and hogged IN his presence
That was followed by dinner IN honor OF the Swed-
ish Governor and the members OF his suite.
In 1917 Christopher BilIop. who commanded at New
Castle had Francis Jackson put in the stocks. His
onense was engaging in disturbance in the fort In
Sussex county the first recorded sentence Of whip
ping imposed on April Q. 1888 AZ that time a
tasen keeper sentenced to be whipped. He OBJ
taiued suspension OF year and four months, and
there is record to show that he was whipped
On April g, 1873 Agnita Hendricks a woman of dis
solute habits, sentenced be whipped publicly
with twenty-seven lashs and to pay all Of her
trial Seemingly she the first woman to be whipped
publicly in this territory The punishment did not
cure her Of her waywardness and in 1850 she was
whipped with thirty-one lashes and banishment fol-
lowed the whipping.
When Francis Lovelace Governor he SEN
fenced Long Finn" Konigsmarke to be whipped mer-
cessy and TO suffer the added stigma of having the
letter 'R" branded upon his breast His onense was
being rebel aud denying the authority Of the Gov
Subsequently Long Finn" was sold and sent
slave TO Barbados other instances of whipping
Also found what records remain OF those carly
days. 1t inflicted, however, at the pleasure Of
he colonial officials.
counties Of New Castle, Kent and Sussex and the
Province of Pennsylvania met William Keith was
Governor That Assembly passed an act in which
murder and certain other crimes we're made punish
able by death. Larceny and several other ohenses
we're ito be punished the same as provided by the
laws Of England" The onenses thus enumerated
we're at that time punished by whipping in the mother
sountry. Hence, in 1717 punishment by whipping was
Introduced legally into Delaware. The pilory stocks
and crapping also introduced at the same time,
and those punishments also were inflicted. negro
convicted OF felonious assault in 1889. He was
sentenced to stand in the pillory four hours with
both nailed to the pillory Before he was taken
down, both his cut of close to the head
prisoner whipped compelled thereafter TO wear
red flannel letter T" inch wide and four inches
long sewed to the arm or between the shoulders
OF his outer coat convicts jacket 10 be worn for
from three TO six months after being released from
JAIL subsequently substituted for the letter Al
though that provision remained on the statute hooks
nnui comparatively recent date it had become a
dead letter long before it repealed by the Leg
isature
Sarah Ann Morris, a negress, convicted of larcanv
was whipped with twenty ashes on her bare back
well laid on" December 49, 1929 She was sold as
servant TO the highest bidder to remain in servi-
tude for reasonable time. The money derived from
her sale to be used make restitution 10 Wi.
liam Stephens, the she had robbed, and also IF
pay the costs Harry File bought her for FIFTY
CENTS In those days justices OF the peace had tn.
power to nnict corporal punishment Here in WI
Ito constable whip the prisoners. The implemen