INMONROE-L Archives

From: "Randi Richardson" <>
Subject: Godsey Whitecapped by Women
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2005 10:46:45 -0500

The following article is most unusual because it describes women as
whitecappers. Nancy, is a member of the INMONROE list, but this came to me
indicating that she was not a subscriber. Perhaps it was sent from a
computer other than the one from which she was subscribed. At any rate, I
am re-positing the article in case it didn't get to the list.

Randi


Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Telephone, Tuesday, November 3, 1908,
clipping file, Monroe County Historical Society.


> White Capped.
> Clinton Godsey a Victim
> It's in Morgan County
>
> Marion Godsay (sic) and his son Clinton lived in Bloomington until
recently, therefore the following account of the whitecapping of the boy, in
yesterday's Martinsville Reporter, is of interest here:
>
> "Clinton Godsey, of Baker township, was given a severe whipping last
Sunday night by some fifteen or more women. They met him in the highway,
took him into a strip of timber nearby and administered the punishment they
seemed to think he deserved, warned him to brace up, go to work and
otherwise suit his conduct more to their liking. The matter seems to be
common knowledge in the vicinity of Union Church in Baker Township, yet no
one seems to divulge the names of the participants. The neighbors seem to
be in sympathy with the punishment administered and are not in an
inquisitive mood as to who administered it. The stories that run through
the neighborhood are that Godsey, who is a son of Marion Godsey, has
mistreated his parents frequently and his treatment of them has made it
necessary for the neighbors to fall in to protect the old folks. One story
is that he choked his father on one occasion and threatened him if he should
give the alarm. Another is that he cursed his mother and threatened to
throw her in the well unless she would give him money. The story of the
neighbors also runs that he attended church at Union last Sunday night; that
a young lady was present whose company he coveted but whose parents forbade
him keeping company with her; that he followed the family on their way home,
almost to Turkey Track, throwing clods at them and tantalizing them in many
ways almost unbearable. It was after this incident that the whipping was
administered. Godsey has shown his wounds to citizens of the vicinity and
has been to Paragon since the whipping, and through his own statements the
matter has become public. The victim of the whipping is only 20 years old.
The alleged purpose of his efforts to force his parents to give money on
demand is to buy intoxicants."
>

>
> Nancy Cragen Crossley
>

This thread:

• Godsey Whitecapped by Women by "Randi Richardson" <>