Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-10-09


THAT BARREL FLOGGING
Immediately after the state police
arrived on that fateful Sunday eve
ming they subdued the crowd, locked
them all in and locked Gypsy Bob,
Perry and the known third member,
a young foolish upstart who thought
himself a hero in following the foot
steps of older but misguided crimi-
nails were placed in solitary confine-
ment in the "bull-pen" where they
were continually watched. The Of
ficials in charge decreed that they
should be logged. and the next
morning the barrel was placed in
operation. Fifty lashes each were
administered that day with Bob and
Roberts pleading for mercy. Perry,
cool and calm as was his makeup,
took his without a whimper The
way that man underwent punish
ment became the talk of the officials
and the wonderment of all. Know
ing that they We're to receive the
same punishment each day for an in
definite period Gypsy Bob tried to
ssOhihil lHdl Ills Ctll
by butting his head against the iron
rivets. He succeeded only in inflict-
ing serious pain and the loss of
much blood to himself. He did
manage to evade the lashes for
few days hut in the end he received
ten additional ones, the others re-
ceiving one hundred and fifty lashes
while he received one hundred and
sixty. Perry maintained his degree
of GOODNESS throughout and the only
audible sound he evoked was
threat to kill an additional official
for every ash that was administered
L A SPECTACULAR ROLE
Just before the Warden's death,
Bill. of whom we have referred be-
fore, played another spectacular role,
one that would appear strange even
in sensational novel by famous
Hctionist. The day Of the riot Gyp-
sy Bob kept calling for the gun that
apparently was supposed to be in
the prison. Some thought that such
threat was merely gusto but the
officials including the Warden felt
that there really was gun in the
prison and some of the hard-boiled
guys who resented the wholesale
slaughter that was pulled off but
would have readily participated
In jail-delivery were in sympathy
with the Wardens dying REQUEST TO
have the gun turned In. In this
connection Bill became intermedi-
s-y. not because he would intention
Billy or otherwise turn against his
pals but because he could best use
his head in an emergency. Without
making any admission whatever he
was called to the bedside Of the
Warden and talked terms. He was
willing to aid in having the |gun
turned in provided no one was pun
ished therefor but on the contrary
that some one should receive "con-
sideration" for so doing Back and
forth he went to the Warden and
the boys who were in the know of
the gun. Concession by concession
he gained until an absolute promise
was made, supposed to be backed
with the word Of the Governor, that
the man that turned in the gun
would receive his freedom especial
ly after Bill had promised that mel
Their he or any of his crowd would
be the one to turn the gun in but
on the contrary some inmate whom
no objections could be made for
clemency shown him. A World War
veteran was chosen, who was Grip
pied, but had ten years to serve. The
proposition was explained to him
and one noon the gun was unearth-
ed, taken to pieces and planted on
the World-War veteran in sections
with instructions for him to walk in
the deputy's office and to whoever
he found there pass the gun, piece
by piece to him. Little did any one
think when this cripple struggled in
to the deputy's office where a state
police official was seated. The Grip
pie sat down opposite him with but
n desk intervening He asked the
official IL he knew why ne was there
and when he replied in the affirma-
tive he pulled the gun out piece by
niece and passed 1t under the desk
Thus the gun was turned in before
the Warden died. and my confidence
in the Warden was such that IL he
had lived ] know the Door cripple
would be q free man today as 1t
transpired however the poor fellow
was only transferred to another
prison where he remains TODAY while
the state police official moved up
the ladder of fame and won for him
self a few additional stripes and
much additional money and prestige.
PERHAPS the one who today feels the
most humility and sadness over the
affair is Bill himself and to the per-
son that double-crossed him I would
not offer much solace should Bill get