Detroit News, March 23, 1931. Tabloids were deeply preoccupied with outing wife beaters and gloating over their comeuppances (“comesuppance”?). On this count at least, the “lower” standards of tabloid journalism served a valuable social function. But I’m a bit surprised to see the lash and post in service as late as 1931. Apparently it hadn’t yet been deemed cruel and unusual. I must look into that.
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