In the Royal Navy the punishment prescribed for most serious crimes was flogging. This was administered by the Bosun's Mate using a whip called a cat o' nine tails. The "cat" was kept in a leather or ...

SENTENCED TO A PUBLIC FLOGGING.; Maryland Wife Beater to be Lashed with a Cat-o'-nine-tails. Aug. 19, 1896 The New York Times Archives See the article in its original context from August 19, 1896 ...