Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1874 — Fighting With the Feet. [ARTICLE]

Fighting With the Feet.

In the northern counties of England, and especially in Lancashire, kicking is a favorite mode of lighting, and, as the poorer classes in lhat region wear„ wooden clogs, these contests sometimes result fatally. The custom 4 s one against which strenuous measures have been adopted by the authorities, but with little result* The matter is to be b rough by petition. Flogging is regarded as the only possible effective punishment, and Parliament will be requested to confer upon magisrates t he power of condemning to the lash

for the otlense. A police magistrate at Oldham, Lancashire, says on the sublet: ■ _ • " “ “ ‘ “ Th« practice of violently assaulting parties in the streets at night by severe kicking has been so common of late in this locality that I veuture to remark that in all cases of extremely violent assault the law' would have to be rigidly enforced, and if ihyvere found to be insufficient additional power would have to be sought from Parliament to order heavier punishment. My experience teaches me that the moral feelings of the perpetrators of these "crimes are so thoroughly barbarous and oblivious to everything that is kind, moral and just, their habits of life so thoroughly degraded, their homes such sinks of iniquity , t hat si tuple iinprisonmen t is no punishment to them. They do nat feel, it to be-a degradation, and tlie only way to reacli their feelings is to mete out to these ruffians as much corporeal punishment as they mete to their victims. You are aware that the lash had a salutary, effect upon garroters. The conduct of these kickers is equally vicious and dangerous, and public opinion is strongly in favor of iis being applied as a means of punishment for crimes of this description.”