Page:The Negro a menace to American civilization.djvu/250

226 were witnesses of the punishment of the prisoners were unable to remain throughout the ordeal. Those who witnessed the lashing of the prisoners admitted that it was the severest form of punishment inflicted in the United States, and that it has so far been shown to be the most effective. There was no mercy shown any man who was tied to the post, al- though in the case of three of the men the lashes were heavier than in the cases of the others. Two notorious criminals received forty lashes each for highway robbery. One, for an attack upon a white woman, received thirty lashes ; one, for larceny, re- ceived twenty lashes, and ten, for larceny, received ten lashes each. Heaviest Whip for Him Although Henry Pitts was only sentenced to receive thirty lashes, his was probably the heaviest punish- ment inflicted. Accused of an attack upon a white woman, he was whipped by the heaviest, brawniest jailer in the place, a man who made every cut of the whip raised a wale across the negroe's back which was followed by blood. The man was almost cut into rib- bons by the " cat," and was nearly insensible when taken from the post. After his whipping he was placed in the pillory and kept there from 1 until 2 o'clock in the afternoon, with William Dorsey, who had received ten lashes for lar- ceny. When taken from the pillory, neither man could walk, and they were barely able to stand. Particularly severe was the punishment of Thomas, alias " Whiskers " Mullin, convicted of highway rob- bery. It was not his first offence, and he was treated as an habitual criminal. Forty times the lash sang across his back bringing the blood at each cut, but the man at the post took his punishment without a mur- mur. Albert Spencer, who was convicted with Mullin, of highway robbery, also received forty lashes, but did not bear his punishment as did his companion. While