Jacobus Cortlandt, Esq., one of his Majestys justices of the
peace for ye said City and County Informed the Kings justices
that a peace of Linnen Ticking was taken out of his Shop this
Morning. That he was informed a Negro Slave Named Joe was
seen to take the same whereupon the said Jacobus Van Cortlandt
Pursued the said, Joe and apprehended him and found the said
peice of ticking in his custody and had the said Negro Joe
penned in the cage, upon which the said Negro man being
brought before the said Justices said he did not take the said
ticking out of the Shop window but that a Boy gave itt to him,
but upon Examination of Sundry other Evidence itt Manifestly
Appeareth to the said Justices that the said Negro man Named
Joe, did steal the said piece of linnen ticking out of the
Shop Window of the said Jacobus Van Cortlandt and thereupon
doe order the punishment of the said Negro as follows vigt.
That the said Negro man Slave Named Joe shall be forthwith by
the Common whipper of the City or some of the Sheriffs
officers art the Cage be stripped Naked from the Middle
upwards and then and there shall be tyed to the tayle of a
Cart and being soe stripped and tyed shah be Drove Round the
City and Receive upon his naked body art the Corner of each
Street nine lashes until he return to the place from whence he
sett out and that he afterwards Stand Committed to the
Sheriffs custody till he pay his fees.
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Many changes are rung upon this device. There is said to have
been a case in which the defendant was convicted of murder in
the first degree and sentenced to be executed. It was one of
circumstantial evidence and the verdict was the result of