The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-08-25
ERBTBAeEBTIs ESIgHT TOWNSHIP
The Victim Dead and the Accused
COafesses his Guilt.

Knight Township, died yesterday
morning about two o'clock, without
recovering consciousness.
A coroner's jury was empannelled,
to hold an inquest on the body, in the
course of which a messenger was sent
to have the Sheriff bring the accused
boy, Rice. before them, and in obedi-
ence to their demand, Sheriff Miller
placed him in buggy, and was driv-
ing toward the scene of the tragedy,
when he took occasion to say to the boy
that he was about to face the corpse
of Miss Carson and the jury, and if
he was guilty it would be as we'll to
confess it at once.
With but very little hesitation he
admitted his guilt. giving the follow
ing account of the occurrence. part
of which seems highly improbable:
About half past eight 1 was work
! ing In the field, cutting briers, when
/ came upon some bushes that were
between me and the briers, and L
went to the house to get an axe and q
bucket of water. got them, and was
going back, when | met the girl, and
said: Where have you been, Miss
Carrie and she answered, None of
YOUR business, you black - /
then walked off about ten steps, and
she followed me, and kicked me, when
I struck her with the poll of the axe. "
This statement, which relates that
the girl made use of a filthy epithet.
no one who knows the family will be-
lieYe, as they are very respectable, re-
6ned people, and we'll known in the
county.
Further investigation goes to show
that the negro had pursued her for
a couple of hundred feet, their tracks
being perceptible in the earth for
about that distance.
After the blow was struck the vii.
hin put on his shoes, hid his axe, and
went to work as if nothing had hap
pened, and, when some hours after
ward the poor victim was found, he,
on hearing the screams of the women,
came to where she lay. asked what
was the matter, assisted in carrying
her into the house, and mounting a
horse came to the city for her brother
and a doctor.
When he met her brother in the
city, he told him that Carrie was very
sick and needed a doctor at once, and
started to return, but stopped in the
woods some distance before reaching
the house. When asked why he did
not return at once, ne answered that
his horse was tired.
He exhibits but little emotion, and
is said to have shown none on the ex-
animation, although it is asserted he
trembled violently when telling her
brother that she was i'll.
A post morton examination made by
Drs. DeBruler and Ruark, showed
that the skull was broken, apparently
by blow from sharp instrument.
Sheriff Miller, fearing that violence
would be attempted if he brought the
negro into the presence of the neigh
bors and friends Of his victim, and
acting on the side of law and order,
returned him to Jail without bringing
him before the jury. and after locking
him in cell returned to the house of
Mr.. Carson, ard informed the jury of
the confession.
The murderer is an ordinary look
ing colored boy of nearly full negro
blood, about five feet two inches high,
medium stout build, not at all bad
looking. nor yet in any way promis-
ing looking. He says his name is
George Washington. but that having
belonged to Mr.. Rice. of Dycusburg.
KY, on Cumberland River. he goes by
the name of George Rice. He will be
sixteen years old in September, and
has lived in Dycusburg all his life.
until about two months since, when
he came to this city, and almost i'm
mediately went to work for Mr..
Carson.
In regard to the alleged attempt to
extort confession from him in the
jail, he says that the prisoners began
to fool" with him. put a handker-
chief around his neck, and pretended
that they wanted to hang him. laugh
ing and carrying on while they did
so. The prisoners deny that any pis-