Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-05-19
JudgeAsks
Return
Whipping
Brooklyn Jurist Says
Infliction of Physical
Pain Is Surest Cure
for Crime

New York, May 19.- Lay the
lash upon the felon's back!
Administer sharp physical pain
and thereby purge the criminal OF
his desire for evil deeds and pro-
teet innocent citizenry against his
depredations!
A cure for crime--so old tnat
its new--suggested by Lewis L.
Fawcett. of the supreme court OF
Brooklyn! y
The remedy--novel enough IN
these days-would bring back the
old institution of the whipping
most. the cat-o-nine-tails and per-
haps the stocks.
astone walls do not a prison
make, observed an old poet, and
likewise has Judge Fawcett re-
peated the familiar line in con-
nection with his radical recon-
mendation.
And let it be known here that
Judge Fawcett has been widely
extolled for his clemency, and Oft
en- called the man who wears his
heart upon his lapel" Hence the
atartllng aspect OF his cure for
crime.
Long prison terms do not deter
or prevent crime, declares the JUS
tice. who, several days ago, after
passing sentence upon man con-
yicted of holdup, announced him
self In favor OF the whipping post,
combined with shorter period OF
punishment in jail.
II would recommend the use OF
the lash upon certain types of
criminals" the Judge said today.
.For robbery, burglary, blackhand
and white slave crimes; let the
sheriff lash or hire huskies to
whip these especially grave off
tenders"
The personal opinions of the
Judge upon crime and punishment
are not prompted by lack Of sym
pathy for transgressors, or belief
that vengeance constitutes justice.
Nor does he go to the senti-
mental extreme Of saying that to
sentence a felon to a whipping
would pain the court more than 1t
would the criminal.
Belief that nowadays we do not
properly punish crime or try tc
prevent II, has prompted Justice
# Fawcett to advocate publicity tht
return TO the lash as a means oi
promoting protection for normal
peaceful people.
"The criminals state of mind,
said the judge. lis quite that o
the child caught at the jam jar
II he is taken early. enough anC
given a punishment he won't for
get. He is apt to stay away frop
the jar. II not, he will become
holder and more complacent ovel
his crimes.
Men go to Sing Sing and com,
cut time after time with feeling
not that they have paid for crime
but that they have merely obtain
ed asylum for while.
bed and board at the expens
OF the taxpayers form the only risl
that confronts the holdup man o
white SLAYER in the pursuit of hi
career.
III he is caught he goes bac'
again, relieved OF the strain Q
work enjoys the comparativel
pleasant existence in our modes.
penitentiary and suffers no pun
ishment.
''The number of old offender
that crops up continually prove
prisons don't reform. Then ther
is something wrong in the metho
OF punishment
Instead of giving a fourth Of
fender life'-always his fate
would recommend six months |
Jail with lashing every thirt
days. the first strokes to fall pr,
Vious to Incarceration.
"Let him be stripped TO Il
waist and given ten welts with Il
lash. His skin may be broken,
let It be washed with a salt wat,
solution to prevent infection.
"He will suffer more or lie
agony. The wounds will heal
twenty-five days, normally, and !
will be free from pain about u
time he is ready for his next whil
ping.
AT the end of his six month
Imprisonment, when he gets q
last lashing, he win leave jail
pain. II he wishes to continue
wrongdoer he will very like