Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-01-17
Fr,m the Lafayette Journal, Jan. la.
Execution of Rice, Driskill, and
Etockino

Abram hice, timothy Drlsklll, and DaVld
NJ. Stocking, yesterday underwent the ex-
treme penalty of the law, by suffering death
on the g%allows: Rice and Driskill for the
murder of Cephas Farenbaugh on the oath Of
May, 1855, and Stocking for the murder of
John Rose, on the 9Th of January, 1856.
We were admitted into the Jail about IL
O'Clock in the morning in company with Rev.
Mr.. Crawford of the Wesley Chapel, Nj. E.
Church Rev. Mr.. Culinary of the First Pres
byterian Church; Father Clark, the Catholic
priest, and one or two Others. We found the
unfortunate men in good health, and appa-
rently cheerful spirits. They had slept but
little the night previous, but exhibited no
excitement or nervousness whatever. Dris-
kill had just taken leave of his father and
mother, and some other relatives, and al
though we were told that he shed tears
during the interview, there was no trace of
emotion left on his face, but he appeared as
unconcerned as the most Indifferent specta-
tor in the room.
The c~lergymen at once addressed them
selves to their ministerial duties. Rice, in
response to the inquiries of Rev. Mr.. Craw-
ford, said that he felt no dread upon his
mind; that he had never wronged any man,
and was therefore not afraid to die. He
thought that God would punish men accord
ing to their actions in life. He did not know
whether he would 60 to Heaven or not, but
his hopes were good. Mr.. G. endeavored, in
the most solemn manner, to impress him with
the terrible condition he was in the awful
certainty of Punishment from the presence of
God if he died u~nrepentant; and feelingly
exhorted him to employ the few remaining
moments allotted to him in life in making
his peace with his Maker, citingfhim to-the
example of the thief on the Cross, in assur-
ance, that repentance even at the last mo-
ment, weuld not be unavailing. Rice repli-
ed that his mind was firm; he had never
wronged any one, and no should suffer death
like a man.
Stocking acknowledged himself to be a
wicked man that he could rot boast of the
consultations of religion, and would die a sim
ner. He declared, however, that he was in
nocent of the crime for which he was to suffer,
and he regarded hat as a sufficient Offset in
the sight Of God, against the sins of which
he was actually guilty. He subsequently adj
mitted that he had no hope of Heaven, and
on mention being made of his mother and
wife, said that they were good women, and
that he never expected to meet them here
after.
We were unable to hear anything that
passed between Father Clark and Driskill.
Messrs. Crawford and Culinary, after some
further conversation with Rice and Stocking,
the hopeless nature of which seemed COM
pleteiy to overwhelm them, retired from the
Jail.
In conversation with Others, Stocking re-
peatedly reiterated his declaration of inno-
T. cence of the murder of Rose. He knew
nothing of il until after it was done. All
that he did know he had already commune
Gated to the Sheriff, who had requested hiaa
not to repeat it to others. He had never COM
mitted a murder; and since he had lived in
Lafayette he had never been concerned in
crime of any kind. His business as a liquor
seller made him cognizant, however, of a
great many crimes he had frequently heard
them planned and discussed at his establish
ment; money and other stolen property had
been divided in his back room but he had
never participated in anything of the sort.
The guilty knowledge was the worst that
could be said against him. He hal not had
a fair trial. His conviction was the result of
a conspiracy on the part of the friends of
Clark and Longley, by which they were ena-
bled to purchase for them a Communication of
punishment for the murder Of Fahrenbaugh,
from hanging, to imprisonment in the peni-
ten.iary. He strongly reflected upon the
management of his case, accusing his counsel
of either gross Incompetence or a wiful dis
regard of his INTERESTS He then branched off
into a rambling harangue Of some minutes
length upon the condition of our country,
ard the undying love he bore for il, etc. He
adverted among other things, to the INSULT
cheney of our navy in case a war should
break out, cvincing in his remarks. consider
able ~shrewdness and inssiligenes-IHe men,
toned that he had been at sea that he was
engaged for two and a half years "privateer-
ing' under the Columbian Gag, during the
time Of Bolivar. He had been in a number
of engagements and his body bore evidence
Of numerous wounds. He was also, he said,
engaged in the Canadian rebellion, and was
at the Battle of Short Hill.
George and Charles Rose, sons of John
Rose deceased, came in about 1 O'Clock and
vainly endeavored TO induce him to divulge
what he knew in regard TO the death OF their
father. He solemnly asseverated his own
innocence Of the murder, but admitted that
he knew who did do it; beyond that he
would say nothing. The younger Rose
betrayed considerable excitement, and APP
peared to control his feelings with mnch diff
ficulty. rH ..
Rice had much to say. de detailed all the
particulars OF the Farenbangh tragedy, aver
ing that he was entirely ignorant of the in
vention OF the Others to commit q robbery, or
that he would never have accompanied them.
As he had repeated the substance of these
particulars upon the scaffold, we reserve
them for that portion of our narrative Dris-
kills time was principally occupied with
the priest, and we heard but little from
him. ~ -
At IL O'Clock they were asked il they
were ready for dinner Rice replied "Yes,
l aiu hungry" Driskill said that he want
ed 'agood old dinner, as it was the last;'' he
didn't swami to die hungry He remarked
to Rice "We'll get supper some where else,
Abe" The dinners were brought in, and
dispatched with great heartiness.
After dinner each OF them in turn, washed
and dressed himself for the final moment
They could not have made their toilet with
more deliberation and GOODNESS, if they had
been going to a frolic. Driskill. when wash
ing, remarked through the window, near
which he was standing, to some one outside,
that he was getting a good ready" In
putting On his shirt, Rice discovered that
there was a button missing. Driskill told
him to sew one on Rice replied that he
hadn't time. Driskill ~nonchalently reioined
that there was an hour yet" He compli-
mented Rice with looking I'D starchy u
Rice, as he finished, observed Well, gen.
tlemen, there never was a willingcr soul to
die than / am." Stocking said nothing, but
conducted himself Gas he did throughout)
with dignity and firmness. He was dressed
in a blue frock cloth coat, black cloth pants,
black satin vest, boots and hat, presenting a
very respectable appearance. When he was
done, and his arms had been pinioned, he sat
down on a bench, and picked up a newspa-
per which he composedly read until the pre-
partitions of the Others were Completed
Rice was dressed in two pairs of drawers, the
outward pair being wooden knit, and fitting
close, and shoes; he wore neither coat nor
vest. Driskiil wore nothing but shirt, pants
and socks.
Before they were led out to the scaffold,
they passed around the cells and bid adieu
A. IL