The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-28
LIFE FOR LIFE.
Richard III. shuek Dies on the
GallOWs.

On the morning OF the Goth Of July,
1875, Nelson Parrish, farmer, aged
sixty-fve years and residing in Clay
Lick Bottom, nine miles from OHenton,
KY, went 10 his barn in company with |
his son-in-law, Richard ii. Snuck. Par
rish was never seen alive after that. |
shuck in an hour or so after ACCOMPANY
ing Parrish to the barn returned to the |
house, and in reply to an inquiry as to |
the whereabouts of Parrish said that he |
would not be home at noon, as he had |
gone to Henry County.
That night Murgau's school house |
close by was burned to the ground.
Suspicious were aroused that the mis-
sing man had met a tragic fate, aud the
ruins of the burned building were eX-
amined, when human bones, skull
crushed in at the back, the teeth in the
head being peculiarly broken off, the
same as Parrish's were known to be,
and an iron-handled pocket-kniie which
was identified as Parrish's, were found.
The conclusion reached was that he had
been murdered, and then burned In the
seuool-house. Shuck was regarded as
the criminal, was arres ed, tried at
the October term OF the Oven County
Court, found guilty of murder and SEN
fenced to death.
He persistently claimed TO be innocent'
and endeavored to fast ten the crime on
some of his rela tions. His story was not
believed, ami the day of execution was
set. Yesterday be was hanged. An audi
encs OF early four thousand persons wit
messed the terrible ceremony. The ieel-
ing OF the populace against The prisoner
III ~
Hearn thought 1T necessary to summon
fold, to prevent the prisoner from being
lynched.
About / O'Clock Shuck was led upon
the seaffold by Sheriff Thomas Gray and
Rev, q. Nj. Humpnries. His step was
rapid and.vigorOus, his bearing devoid
of emotion. John James was called to
1 the scaffold at the prisoners request;
tue men held whispered consultation
1 for a few minutes when James said,
snow, Dick, as you are man on the
edge OF the grave, tell me the truth"
He answered "Bob Goodrich killed him
and put him in a sink. am man and
| am telling the truth"
James had son who was murdered
about three years ago, and The circum.
stances Of tue deed were never known
I |
| Goodrich bad killed him for the purpose
OF robbing hIm, aud that $14 and pistol
were the extent Of the haul, and thai
The body had been buried in a certain
sink located near OHenton. The re
mains were found at the place stated
but whether Goodrich or Shuck himself
did the act will probably never b,
known.
BY this time heavy rain tell, and tht
execution was delayed Tor some time
AT last prayer was offered, the deatl
warrant having been read, to which thu
,.oomed man listened Without the leas
perceptlble tremor.
The black cap was adjusted, his arm
pinIonev, and the rope adjusted roun,
his neck; just before the trap wa
sprung ne cried out in piteous tones
: .GenLlemeD. l ain an innucent man
uou'L hang me, please doh't." In a fev
seconds .er The last word had been Ut
Tered, AT nine minutes of O'Clock, tn
scatfOld did its work, and R.cnar
snuck was dead. His body III due tim
was taken DOWN and given 10 his age
o parents. The murderer was tWentj
. seven years OF age, although he looke
much younger.
enucA's story, which is not believe
: by those VINO are conVersant Win a.
the circumstances, is as follows:
parrish and we're always friendly
We were at The house that morning, AN
!, We had some lalk about MIN selling III
. his crop. He owed me some money, an
we had settlem mt. He paid me partl
& IN money, and gave me the Johnson dul
uill. L didn't tell Johnson that ha
L come to collect the due-Olll tor Parrisl
II l remember exactly how he sat dow
It and Iouked, ana how he held the pape
8 in his hand when he offered it to me.
e went up stairs and got some apples, an
y when l came down he was standing
e tue door brushing his coat. He Salu
l. was going over TO Henry County TO sc
DIR. Long on some business. That Wa
4 The last l saw of him. Parrish neys
q had the counterfeit bill they found Q
y me. John Visor told me, The day "
u were at the burned scnool-hUuse, no
% Parrish WAS killed. l gave Visor N
pistol, because he said / mad better n
a nave ii on me, If was arrested, as
WIS against the law to carry thel
Parrish left his house tor Tue rive
i, To go to Henry, passed through b
10 own patch anu a neck OF woous al
into GoodricEs patch, and some of the
's Joined him, and they went down to
spring near by aud saw Goodrich al
t. Parrish; got TO quarreling about Ia
rish whipping Goodrlcn's sister, h
n. wife. Sam. Goodrich went off iowa
d his house; Visor didn't know wheth
he had the pistol then or not; came ba
oi and shot Parrish while he was sitti
W looking down toward the ground; tn
then dragged him to the school .hous
ID Sam. Goodrich, Joe Goodrich. b
"a Goodrich ohu Visor and Jack Simo
were there when it was done. l did
g. tell this, because l thought for sure
w would be- let go as soon as l WAS TIL
in and that would be the end of it. Wa
would drag man over fence
when there is a gate right close by TO
's- through? did not ten Johnston tba
ae had bought Parrish out. l said
" pected 10 buy MIN out, or had abe
as bought him out. Parrish and did !
QuIte come W d bargain"
oS A pretty idea is the srial torpedo.
L. h,f fam rod h in