ABSTRACT

The Pillory and the Stocks THESE two forms of punishment represent variations of one principle: that of exposing the culprit to public degradation. Although, in many cases, confinement either on the pillory or in the stocks could not be said to involve torture, there was a possibility of the crowds inflicting severe injuries and humiliations upon anyone so imprisoned. Then,. too, the psychological aspect was one not to be overlooked. In addition, imprisonment on the pillory was usually only a part of the sentence. It was often preceded or followed by flogging. In other instances it involved mutilation (d. page 210).