The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-07-08
THE CONDEMNED MURDERER

urice Pretends 10 be Reconcited,
Hut 10 is Evident He Would Like
TO Stay.
Edward Brice, the doomed murderer of
Peter Washington, was found Ia his cell by a
CRITIC reporter today studiously reading his
Bible. His face wore resigned look, and he
enid he did not expect TO escape the eevorest
penalty Of the law next Friday morning, and
never had any hope OF q Communication Of sen.
tence from the flrst.
TIT all seems like spite work In my case"
"Iaye you no confidence in the effort to be
made to-day In your behalf2' asked tho re-
Ne said no was perfectly ignorant OF any Of
fort, and didn't have interest or curiosity
enough TO Inquire the nature OF 1t.
"Thls is q delegation composed OF members
OF the bar going TO walt on the Attorney. Gen.
eral in your interest,"" said the scribe.
III won't do me any good" he said, and
como here and tell me that am going to have
my sentence committed just to keep my spir-
its up; but pay no attention to It. rhoros
one thing I'm thankful for, they can kill the
body but they can't hurt the soui," and he put
his hands into his pants pockets and walked
up and down his narrow cell with his head
bent forward In n thoughtful mood.
When the fatal encounter was referred to
be said that story was worn threadbare and
everybody knew how II occurred, and Il made
him Tired to tell II any moro. He finally said.
however, that he had tho knife 10 scare wash
ington, but he closed in on him (Brucs) too
quick and got him down, and he cut at Wash
said he, " would have stabbed him In the
heart or stomach. haven't got any hard feel
,ngs against any OF them, though forgive
them all, even the witnesses who got up there
Ho said ho forgave tho District Attorney, be-
cause ho was also pre1udlced, and his case
was railroaded through In one day.
"And when that Jury came in and said
guilty as indicted 1t was an everlasting and
ungodly lie. II there was no prejudice 10 my
case how was IL that another colored man
could do Ave times as much as did and get
of ecot.free There is timo coming, thank
the good Lord, whom every man Will get q fair
been rich, too, II would have been different,
and would not BIO here to-day"
In answer TO an inquiry as to whether he
was prepared to die, no said no was prepared
as well as he could prepare himself person
ally, and he was not afraid to die. He showed
great degree OF resignation, and did not even
express desire to escape hanging.
at has been the custom here for men who
are about to be hung TO say they are going TO
glory and would not change places with any
other mortal here below" suggested the re-
porter.
swell, am not saying anything like that, +"
was the answer.
avoided talking about his case as much as
possible, because he wants TO keep cool and
not become excited.
There 10 n great deal OF sympathy for Brice,
becauee no had always been before the homi.
eide: a respectable man, and there were nit
igating circumstances in his case. Tho Jail
authorities, from the warden down, all express
the wish that his sentence may DO committed
No preparations have been made for the ex-
ecutioD, and there was nothing unusual at the
jail this morning TO indicate an execution.
Warden Crocker received the order OF execu.
ton and death sentence from the Criminal
Court yesterday afternoon.
General Crocker states that the execution
will be as private "a It Is possible to have 1t
and no one will BIO let In except those required
by the statute, and the jury will BIO composed
ofnewspaper reporters.
The Case of Brice, the Murderer.
The committee OF lawyers expected to wal
upon the Attorney. General In behalf OF tn,
convicted murderer, Brice, did not appear NJ
TO o'clock this afternoon. The Attorney.
General 10 understood to regard Brices crime
as deliberate one, and to be opposed to {
mitigation OF tho sentence.