Flagellation in France from a medical and historical standpoint.

Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Flagellation in France from a medical and historical standpoint. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    53/190 (page 35)
    Thirdly, the fact of the persons who committed these indignities being of low condition, renders the crime more deserving of punishment. The subordination that exists between a person of condition, or of lower rank, and a base person, gives greater atrocity to the insult; this subordination, which concerns public interest, having been violated, the crime partakes of the character of publicity. The Marchioness, who had chosen men of that stamp, to make the insult more sensible, had to undergo all the penalty of the crime considered from this point of view, because she was the author of this infamous enterprise. Fourthly, the law grants particular protection to the fair sex, on account of its weakness, of the delicacy of its honour, which may be attacked, and of which it may be deprived by violence. Its only protection is the punish- ment imposed upon violence and brutality. This punish- ment must be severe, because women have, so to say, as many enemies to their honour, as there are men in the world : they have in their hearts a baneful principle, which in spite of them excites ardent desire to rob them of their treasure. Public interest requires therefore, that they should have cause to dread the penalties which repress these assaults. Public propriety, which is transgressed, and under the protection of which women must be able to walk abroad in safety, is another motive to make this a public crime. We terminate this famous and very interesting case with a copy of the verdict couched in the curious style of the time. tribes 5S Zt^lB 5I15)(3/IlS]£ff5^ ZlbnZ XUBS (55l^Bm. Whereas the Court having examined the criminal suit it had instituted, at the request of the King's Procureur General, applicant