Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-07-30
FOUL mTJmDER.
Theft, Robbery ana nurGlury-Mur-
der Of am Ola COlOred Man Of RlenT
don TOVTnnhlD i

der OF an OLD COkorod MAN OF hAem-
don Township.
A foul and deliberate murder was perpe-
trated in Blendon township, in this coun-
ty, on Thursday evening, July 20. The
following are the circumstances connected
with this atrocious deed as they have been
detailed to us:
The name of the victim Is Philip Rice,
an old colored man of about seventy years
Of age, who resided in the vicinity Of Blen-
don Corners. He had lived in that neigh
borhood some fifteen years, and was uni
versally known as 'Old Phil" He was an
inoffensive man and generally respected
At the time of the fatal occurrence, he was
residing on some leased land near the
Corners, and, as he was bachelor, lived
by himself in a hut or cabin on the prem
ises. -.., . 81.
Late one night In May last after the old
man Rice had gone to bed, his cabin, the
entrance door of which he was in the habit
of leaving unfastened, was entered by two
or three men, who took seats by the fire
which was burning dimly in the hearth.
BY the filekering light the old man was
not able to see who his visitors were,
whether acquaintance or strangers. But
as they talked familiarly with him, and
seemed to know something about his busi-
ness and affairs, he took them to be young
men belonging in the neighborhood.
AfCer little time spent in conversation,
Rice vontured to inquire Of his visitors
whittier they we're going and what they
wanted. They said they were going a
fishing, and as they expected to cook some
of their fish, they wanted to get some salt.
The fire, by this time, had burned about out
and it was quite dark in the room. Rice
proposed that they should step out of doors
and get some wood to make better light.
This they declined to do, and Rice told
them where they could find the salt. After
fumbling about for some time and making
considerable noise, they found the salt, as
they said, and left the cabin. The same
night horse was stolen belonging to Will
liam L. Taylor, of that vicinity.
The next morning, Rice, on rising, found
his pocket book was gone, with all the mon
cy he had. BE informed his neighbors of
his loss, who cautioned him to be on his
guard and to fasten his door at night. But
he thought that precautlon unnecessary, as
he had little or nothing worth stealing
After time, feeling the need Of some ready
money, and knowing of no means to raise
1t, save by selling a number of hogs that
he had on his premises, he sold the swine,
paid off some debts he had contracted, and
had small amount of money left. tN
This happened, we believe, in the latter
part of June. About this time, his cabin
was entered the second time late at night
by three men, one of whom approached
his bed, and holding huge knife at his
throat, demanded his money, al the same
time, threatening thatif he said word
about their being there, they would cer-
tainly kill him. He gave up all the money
he had, and they went away. About the
same time second horse was stolen from
the neighborhood. But both the horses
have since been recovered. a.
Rice Immediately informed his neighbors
of this second robbery, and said he thought
he would know the men, or some OF them,
if he should see them again. The former
cautions for him to be on his guard, were
repeated; but he appeared to think that, as
the thieves had now stripped him of all the
money he had, or was likely to have, they
would not trouble him any more, notwith-
standing their threats. But on last Thurs
day evening, about dark, as he was putting
up his horses in the stable, having been out
with his team, he was shot by some mis-
creant from place of concealment. The
ball penetrated through the breast and
came out at his back. He uttered scream
and instantly fell.
Persons who live near, hearing the re-
port of the gun or pistol and the old mans
scream, fastened to the spot and found
him dead. No trace of the murderer could
be found, though search was Immediately
instituted and the neighboring woods and
fields secured. An inquest was held over
the body of the murdered man, but no inn
portant facts other than those we have stat
ed, were elected. is generally thought
the outlaws who committed the thefts and
robberies in that neighborhood, apparently
connected with the murder of this old col
ored man. have their haunts not far from
the scene oftheir villainous exploits. There
is, we understand, some probability that
they may be ferreted out and brought to
iustice, lG t-'.nt .iifi i.I It'd -