Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-24

Delaware clings To the whipping-post
As nm effective instrument for the pun
ishment af crime with pertinacity that
many OF her citizens hold to be worthy
Of less brutal Institution. At inter-
sais spasmodlc movements for its aboii-
ton arise. but none has yet made any
decided impression upon the public juds-
ment that the lash is not only appro-
pirate IN providing punishment that
n,~ III. crime" but is effective as
deterrent and az protecnon against
hlgh-e grad, burglars of other states VINO
otherwise might find In this state a
fruitful neld for their operations. me
latest movement of this character was
made about thirty years ago, since
which time the sentiment against the
nust and pillory has been voiced only
occasionally, except as &c the piliory.
which was abolished by law dozen
years or more ago.
The most significant argument
against the severe form Of corporal
pnnishment was contained in some fig
ures taken from the records by the
warden of the New Castle County
Workhousc. several years ago. which
showed that of sei post victims during
the previous thirteen years. - had been
whipped the second time, Is the third
time. tho fourth time and the nth
tflr. This showing was regarded as
almost denolishing the claim OF the
advocates of corporal punishment that
the terrors of the lash were such that
ol those who once felt It's sting few
dares 10 incur the risk OF inviting it a
second time. For those who claimed FOR
the post this dcterring influence. there
was consolation only In the fact that
the other 3SS culprits included in the
wardcn's compilation We're satisfied with
one application of the lash. and also
comprised a large proportion 81 the
number of cases cited.
Ia support of the contention that the
dreaded pillory--since put out of nse by
lAN--and whipping post protected the
State from the dcpredauons " skilled
criminals from other States. il is argued
that the criminal records contain few
instances OF serious hurglapies IN Del
aware In November, 1873, the city of
Wilmington was visited by four Of the
most notorious hank burglars In the
country--"Jimmy" Hope. big Frank
carter, Edward Iawler and Francis
flurlhuyt. They made a daring attempt
upon the National Bank of Delaware
gagged and bound IN cashier as he
AM at supper with his family in the
residence portion 81 the bank. secured
the keys. and held IN terrified subiec-
tion al the other members Of the house
held except one young woman. who
managed 20 fee into the street and give
an alarm which frustrated the plans
~ the robbers and led 10 their arrest
Ipon conviction. each Of these four bold
burglars was sentenced to stand one
hour in the pillory. -eceive 40 lashes
and be imprisoned 10 years. The i'm
prisonment they cared nothing for, as
they knew the county jail could not
hold them iong--nor did II. as they
escaped in a few months--but they
dreaded not only thr physical suffering
bat the isnominy Of the pillorx and
post. Gentlemen burglars were these,
and they admitted 60 their counsel their
TEAR that the deeredat.p OF the Hog
giug would cause them 70 irrevocably
lose caste among their fellows. They
were prepares 20 offer large induce
mcnts for immunity from the corporal
infection. but all their Efforts were in
vain, and their public punishment WAS g
roiahls incident in the administrat tior
~ Justice IN Delaware. But no hanh
burglar has since attemptes 10 ply his
vocation IN that state.