The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-11-03
PUNISH THE CRIMINAL PUBLICLY
MIR. Muldrow Draws Parallel Between
Past and Present-Day Punish
ment.
Dear Old Herald

Dear Old Herald
In this present Chaotic age in which
We are living tbs beyond the ken Of
man to reach any conclusions as to
what the future holds in store for
this country and it's millions of peo-
pies. Two great political powers at
variance with each other, the conten-
ton between capital and labor, the
boil weevil which possibly may come
to the cotton planters as blessing.
! But how 20 check the terrible inroa6s
that crime in all of its form is spread
ing over the land. 1t seems almost a
hopeless effort TO arraign a criminal
before the courts expecting justice TO
be meted out to him. The scales of
justice when money, sharp lawyer
and tender-hearted jury is on one
side and justice on the other, the re-
suit is easily imagined. In the old days
even UP to the Confederate war,
courts and jurors were not so scrup-
ulous as to the manner in which
criminals should be dealt with. These
old timers believed that the only way
TO lessen crime was 10 give the people
object lessons, showing them the end
that awaits evil-doers. When a mur-
derer was to be put TO death it was
great public event. A gallows was
erected on some convenient spot and
when the hour for hanging arrived
The sheriff and his prisoner came
upon the scene. the latter dressed in
white shroud, sitting on his coffin.
Assisted by the sheriff and his deputy
to mount the gallCws steps, his hands
and feet tied, the rope placed around
his neck and in n few moments he
was suspended between heaven and
earth-justice was satisfied Il great
object lesson for the silent spectators
that crowded around the place of eX-
ecution. This startling object lesson
has been taken away from the people.
Merely electrocuting a murderer pri-
VGtely between four wall disturbs the
public very little and the opportunity
of giving the people wholesome OBJ
jcct lesson is lost. When any person
was convicted of manslaughter the
CID timers meted out justice TO him in
way that gave the public an object
lesson that stayed with them. The
convicted man was taken to the pub
lie square at the county seat by the
sheriff. The culprits right hand fas-
tened in an immovable position, the
sheriff armed with a branding iron
with the letter "M'' attached, this
heated red hot iron was thrust on the
palm of his hand and held there burn
ing deep into the flesh until after he
had repeated the words, God Save
the State" three times. Another valu
able and soul-inspiring object lesson
taken from the people.
And again these old timers had
sand in their craw, knew how to make
laws and enforce them. Thieves of all
descriptions had hard road to trav-
el. These famous old law-ab:ding
citizens had whipping posts il the
county in front of the court house,
ard every convicted thief was tied to
this post and the sheriff gave him
forty lashes (save one) on his or her
back. Another great protection 20
hen coops and other valuables blotted
out. A shining object lesson eXchang-
cd for a chain gang. When these old
laws were in operation crime was not
rampant as it is today and mobs ex
ecuting justice on account of courts
and jurors failing to do so were un-
known in these days.
And in the christian world object
lessons in the way of exclusion from
the church the saints that prefer card
parties to prayer meetings, or any
other misconduct not consistent with
The vows taken upon themselves to
do. But alas. the precepts set before
the saints Of today by the devout cid
timers seems to have gone into obli-
WON. The idea of excluding members
not living as church member should
is simply looked upon as preposter-
Gus. Just as long as they pay their
assessment they are safe within the
folds of the church. Not only object
lessons are needed. but of far greater
Importance, danger signals are need
ed TO be hung out.
ELIHU MULDROW.
Fair Bluff, N. C. Oct. 27, 1921.