Milford chronicle., 1920-11-26
WHIPPING-POST THE
BEST PUNISHMENT
ITS EFFICIENCY is PRAISED AND ITS
INTRODUCTION In THE STATE OF
MISSOURI RECOMMENDED
BY FORMER DELAWAREAN
HON. ELMER N. POWELL ADVOCATES
EMPLOYMENT OF CORPORAL PUN
ISHMENT FOR CERTAIN CRIME.

That the whipping post is deemed
one of the most effective means for
the punishment of criminals and the
checking of crime. was argued by a
former Delawarean. Hon. Elmer n
Powell, prominent member of the
bar of Kansas City, Mo, in an ad-
dress before the Kansas City Bar As
sociation in that city a few days ago.
in advocacy of the employment of
corporal punishment for certain
crimes in Missouri
The press of Kansas City gave wide
publication to the address of Mr..
Powell and his recommendation was
indorsed by the Bar Association.
Citing the fact that crime has in
creased out of all proportion to the
increase in population of the country.
and suggesting the whipping post as
perhaps a most extreme method of
punishment, but one necessary to
clean up Kansas City, Mr.. Powell in
support of his contention as to the
efficacy of the whipping post, said:
Crime has increased out of all
proportion to our population. Treat
ment OF crime as a disease, the inter
mediate sentence with its parole. the
employment of prisons as moral hos
pitals," fighting crime with science
and other remedies offered by eminent
criminologists may serve a future
generation, but, practically consider
ed, l am one of those who with every
respect for our learned criminologists
cannot subscribe to all these theor-
les as crime deterrents TO this gener-
alton.
THE present time is clean up time
in Kansas City and time TO be up
and doing. What We are most con-
cerned about in this city is an effec-
tive remedy that will check the fur
ther operations of the criminal ele-
ment here, to place a check upon the
terrible tragedies We are suffering.
Kansas City ranks third in a Grim
inal way with other cities of the Unit
ed States, despite the fact that it
ranks nineteenth in population. Would
not the whip of justice administered
to criminals in public prevent crime in
Missouri? Figures compiled by justice (
of the United States are astounding
as to the condition in this city and .
it is time for very extreme preventa- [
tive measures.
''The State of Delaware has demon
strated by its adoption and admins
tration of the whipping-post law for
legal punishment that it is better to
stand alone for that which is right
than TO stand with the multitude for
that which is wrong in penal institu-
tons. Delaware is without the type
of scientific criminal found in other
States of the Union.
"Delaware's policy, as shown by its
legal record of giving TO the accused
a speedy trial. as well as punish
ment that is just but quick, sure and
lasting, has saved that State from the
shame of mobs and the abomination
Of mob law.
Il would submit that, in view of q
Delaware's splendid history, the lash I
If criticism should be supplanted a
With words of approval and admiration |
or the courage of the proud people /
If that state in holding up the whip
)ing post as a penal institution in c
he face of pitiless criticism. c
"Of more than one dozen letters o
rom noted criminolOgists and judges S
which l have received from different Il
'arts of the country, only one, the ?
7arden Of the State prison of Kansas. !!
pposes the use of the whipping post u
or the correction of criminals. o
The record of crime in Delaware L
royes cOnclusively that the State has ;,
cen justified in the continued en- =
Drcement of the statute providing for u
he whipping post" a
Mr.. Powell is a native of Farming
IN, Delaware, later coming to Dover.
here he attended the Wilmington
onference Academy. graduating
rom that institution and later from OF
dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. He C
'cated in Kansas City several years di
go, where he took up the practice NJ
law. He has served a term in the fe
issouri Legislature has been at the bl
cad of the Bar Association of that pc
ty and is one of its most prominent tr
.torneys. He is a brother of Judge ca
alter A Powell, 0f Dover, vino for ia
any years was also a practicing at an
rney in Kansas City and later be- II
me one of the State judges of Miss ia
lri l.