Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/151

DELAWARE .COUNTY. 127 judge his case, — ^having, during tlieir captivity, tasted a little of his ability to distress and tantalize unnecessarily, and remem- bering liis deeds, which he had confessed boastingly on the the mountains of Genesee — hastened there, and surrounded the house where he was. Two. or three of the number, who- were as greatly indebted to his philanthrophy as need be^ knocked at the door and were bidden to come in, when the redoubtable gentleman arose, respectfully inquiring after their health, and extending his hand : the compliment was returned by a hearty and determined clench of his shoulders, by which he_had the opportunity of making progress, without the aid of hydraulic or locomotive power, as far as to a very ominous staddle, which stood not far olf, in a beautiful grove of hickory. There were ten persons in number, who composed this jury, and although it lacked two of the legal quantum, they under- stood the case equally well, nevertheless ; and as five of them happened to be left-handed, and five who could swing the riglit honorable arm full as adroitly, were an assortment of kind and character. Beacraft was stripped of the habiliments that covered a skin which shrouded a heart in which dwelt a spirit as bad as the devil's worst, and tied to this smooth staddle — as fair a one as grew in the forest. Ten fine excoriators (gads) were taken from the generous redundancy of the axe-handle tree (hickory,) and given to each of those riglit and left-handed gentlemen, who after binding the culprit to save him the trouble of running away from said staddle, began, after divid- ing themselves in due form, so that a circle was formed quite around him, to do as the spirit of the occasion might lead their minds. Fifty lashes were declared by them a suitable expiation, to be placed upon the bare back, and in such a manner as strength and the exigency of the case most rigorously demanded. Now, in the hour of judgment, a ten-fold appa-