Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-03
MOVIE MEN HOLD UP
LASHING OF NEGRO
Delaware Authorities Shrink
From Having Whipping Post
Exploited on the Screen
VICTIM GETS A RESPITE
But Next Month, Governor Says, a
High Board Fence Will Balk
the Camera
Rya star Correspondent


DovER pcl. March 3.-Dover's whip
ming orgy did not come or as planned to-
day. t,lwood Jenkins, negro. was to nave
received ten lasheS across his bare BACK
for the crime Of stealing mandolin from
another negro, but the Governor granted
him a rcprieve until late in April
The idea Of the stay in sentence was not
mercy to tho negro. The reason was that
Delaware feared the effects of the adNer-
tiscmcnt he moving picture mon intended 10
give the whipping post.
4 crowd Of movng-pcture men got in
town last night. The news travelled fast
and sheriff Nansant notified Judge william
II Boyco He had the sheriff get IN COM
munication with Governor Townsend and
an exchange Of views between the three was
followed by an order from the Governor
"rclicying" the negro from the lashes until
April IS
sheriff Vansaut was very frank today in
saving that the whptlng was postponed
because the authorities did not think 1t
wise TO have pictures of the whipping SHOWN
everywhere outside OF the state.
Governor Townsend was hesitanl AZ tax
ing that attitude. first blaming the incle-
meui weather for the postponoment, nut
admitting when questioned that the moving
picture men were the real reason.
BOARD FENCE TO BACK CAMERA
They are to he circumvented the next
time bv "A ten-foot board fence, which VIII
he erected between now and April right
back OF the jail where the old whipping
most not used in twelve years StllI stands.
Judge Boyce refused to admit the real
reason ,or the postponement though he took
the initiative in having the postponement
made
when questioned at first he said the
bad weather was the reason Tor putting
off the lashing and when questioned fur
thcr told the interviewer to mind his own
business"
Governor Townsend got around the qlIes-
tion why Delaware should object to moving
pictures of the whipping If this sort OF
punishment has n good influence on crimi-
| nails hy saying that the movie men were
| objected TO because Delaware didn't want
| ANYBODY ITO make money out OF it
sheriff Nansant was asked to reconcile
| the belief in this form of punishment with
| the refusal to show it to the country at
| large and he said it was for Judge Boyce
| and the Governor to answer; that he was
| lust taking their orders.
| MIR Nansant, q very kindly man, said he
| felt no compunction about whipping man
! if it fell within his path of duty. He has
| never had the experience before, because
! Kent County has been sending all heI
prisoners to New Castle to he whipped IN
the last twelve years, and today they
were to get back to the old custom.
GOVERNOR EXPLAINS
The Governor gave his brlel interview
| between trains. lie had his talk will
| Judge Boyce over the telephone last nigh
| from his country place in Selbyvile. ant
| today stopped a minute at Dover on his
way to Washington TO attend the inaugura
| tion ceremonies. He talked much mor'
freely than did his aids in his office, wh'
were as tcsty as was Judge Boyce.
We saw you talking to the Sheriff 81
YOU needn't come around us, Anyhow, tn
weather is the reason" they said.
The Governor said they would put up
fence so high that the movie men neVe
would have a chance. sheriff Nansant sal
they never thought Of this before, am
that they had to postpone the whipping be
cause there was no legal way OF keeping
the moving picture men away from the ope
lot where the post stands.
Whatever relief reformers of priso
methods may feel At the failure of tn
whipping to take place that relief wa
| spelled disappointment among the hur
dreds down here who looked forward t
the kind Of free show you don't see ever
day" as one of them said.
They were gathered in spite of rail
hoping against hope, even after the pre-
nouncement that there would be no whiI
ping today had been made
| From a window loknG out at the crow
| were Judge Boyce and others who had CON
| to the Chancery Court, presumably to get
good place to witness the event; the viii
dow of the court fronts right on the !,
where the ten lashes were to be delivere
Meanwhile, the movie men have gor
back 20 photographing street parades ar
such like.