The Olden Time Series, Vol. 5: Some Strange and Curious Punishments: Gleanings Chiefly from Old Newspapers of Boston and Salem, MassachusettsBrooks, Henry M. (Henry Mason)
History
The Olden Time Series, Vol. 5: Some Strange and Curious Punishments: Gleanings Chiefly from Old Newspapers of Boston and Salem, Massachusetts
Brooks, Henry M. (Henry Mason)
New England -- Social life and customs; Punishment
"In the midst of these signs, the mode of punishment was
sometimes rather ludicrous than severe. In the town of Arlington
lived a doctor who openly professed himself a partizan of
New-York, and was accustomed to speak disrespectfully of the
Convention and Committees, espousing the cause of the New-York
Claimants, and advising people to purchase lands under their
title. He was admonished by his neighbors, and made to understand
that this tone of conversation was not acceptable, and was
requested to change it, or at least to show his prudence by
remaining silent. Far from operating any reform--these hints only
stirred up the ire of the courageous doctor, who forthwith armed
himself with pistols and other weapons of defence, proclaiming
his sentiments more boldly than ever, setting opposition at
defiance, and threatening to try the full effects of his personal
powers and implements of warfare on any man who should have the
temerity to approach him with an unfriendly design. Such a boast
was likely to call up the martial spirits of his opponents, who
accordingly came upon the doctor at an unguarded moment and
obliged him to surrender at discretion. He was then transferred
to the Green Mountain Tavern, in Bennington, where he was
arraigned before the Committee, who, not satisfied with his
defence, sentenced him to a novel punishment, which they ordered
to be put in immediate execution.
"Before the door of this tavern, which served the double purpose
of a court-house and an inn, stood a sign-post twenty-five feet
high, the top of which was adorned with the skin of a Catamount,
stuffed to the size of life, with its head turned towards
New-York, and its jaws distended, showing large naked teeth, and
grinning terror to all who should approach from that quarter. It
was the judgment of the court that the contumacious doctor should
be tied in a chair and drawn up by a rope to the Catamount, where
he was to remain suspended two hours--which punishment was
inflicted in the presence of a numerous assemblage of people,
much to their satisfaction and merriment. The doctor was then let
down and permitted to depart to his own house."
_Salem Observer_, April 12, 1834.
-------------------------
From the "Essex Register," Feb. 19, 1820.
Burning of a Negro in Georgia.
From the Augusta (Geo.) Chronicle, Feb. 1.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account