Public flogging fell out of favour during the 20th century but 200 years ago it was a highly popular activity … for stealing a bag of nuts? As a form of corporal punishment, public flogging was only one of an abundance of options available to the state to inflict pain on its citizens.
‘An immense concourse (probably more than 5000 persons) assembled last Friday in the sheep-market and its approaches, to witness the whipping of Richard Taylor (or Sampson), a youth of about 18, convicted at our late assizes for stealing a sack of nuts from the shop of Mr. D. Flatters. After being paraded in a waggon round the neighbouring streets, attended by a procession of beadles, constables, and sheriff’s officers, the culprit was fastened to the lamp-post in the centre of the sheep-square and surrounded on all sides by the escort above mentioned. The punishment then commenced, under the inspection of one of the sheriffs and other city authorities, the executioner and culprit being both elevated in the waggon, in view of the immense multitude. The number of lashes ordered was one hundred, but the sheriff in attendance (Mr. Cappe) suggested its discontinuance after about 80 had been inflicted, which was accordingly done. To judge by the culprit’s cries, the punishment was sufficiently severe ; more so, probably, than he had expected, from his previous insolence and bravado : at the conclusion he put on his shirt, and was re-conveyed to prison for a term of 6 months with much seeming indifference, venting a few hearty curses and threats of “sarving out” upon the authors of his suffering. The whip used had nine lengths of whipcord, each having nine knots upon it, and though plentiful discolouration was produced, yet no blood was drawn.’
Stamford Mercury Archive, 28th March, 1828.