Bad-check writers

The pillory and stocks were commonly found in the town squares of colonial America.

Public scorn was heaped on petty offenders and miscreants alike out of a belief in the positive effects of shame.

This form of public humiliation all but disappeared after the concept of cruel and unusual punishment was introduced.

Some newspaper readers complain that the daily police reports are an excessive form of embarrassment.

Recently, some Cape Girardeau businesses have taken writers of bad checks to task publicly by placing their names on signs outside the businesses.

Burrito-Ville's marquee displays the name of a woman who, according to the store manager, wrote three bad checks to Burrito-Ville.

Audio 1, a pawn shop, has been alternately displaying the names of three people the store claims wrote bad checks.

Both store managers said their actions were taken only after other attempts to collect their money failed.

Cape Girardeau County's prosecuting attorney, Morley Swingle, applauds businesses that publicly expose bad-check writers as long the information is accurate.

Some others think the approach is unprofessional.

Of course, only in Cape Girardeau, where customers still write personal checks for purchases large and small, would someone write checks to buy a burrito.