Morbid Fact Du Jour For February 5, 2011
Today’s Dreadfully Lacerated Yet Truly Morbid Fact!
Throughout the 18th century, floggings could be ordered for quite trivial offenses: one soldier at Gilbraltar, sentenced for being dirty on parade, was beaten so severely that he died a few days later. A court martial had the power to order as many as 1000 lashes, and sentences of 500 to 800 were common. This form of punishment continued into the 19th century, as was reported by Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine in 1833:
A soldier of the First Regiment of Grenadier Guards, of which the Duke of Wellington is Colonel, having been convicted of insubordination, intoxication on duty, and of refusal to deliver up his arms when ordered by his officer, was sentenced to receive 500 lashes. After receiving 200 lashes, the surgeon of the regiment interfered, and put a stop to the brutal punishment, in consequence of the life of the soldier being in danger. The soldier was then removed to the military hospital in a hackney coach, his back being dreadfully lacerated. As a sort of refinement in cruelty, and to increase the severity of a punishment which could not be inflicted to the full extent without depriving the unfortunate culprit of his life, a fresh hand was procured at every 20 lashes.
Culled from: The History Of Torture
