The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-06-14
following report of the final
scene:

For three or four days previous |
to his execution Rice was attend |
cd by three or four ministers Of
the gospel, who administered to
him in "heayenly things" AS
the day for his execution ap-
preached he appeared to be some
what more softened, and fire.
quently said that he bore no i'll
will or hatred towards any man
on earth; that he had prayed for
those who had used all their eX
ertions to secure his conviction,
and that, if he had injured any
one, he humbly prayed their for
giveness. At abouta a quarter be-
fore II o'clock he was dressed in
the habiliments of death Dur
ing the time the sheriff and his
deputy were dressing him the
mosteXcruciating grOans escaped
his lips, and he sobbed and cried
bitterly from the time his grave
clothes were put ON him until he
was taken upon the scatfold. He
appeared to be horror stricken
with the sight of his shroud and
clung to the sheriff as though he
thought he had it in his power to
mitigate the sentence of the law.
At ten minutes after II Sheriff
| Keller informed him that his time
had come and that he must repair
TO the Scaffold. He arose, with
the assistance of the sheriff and
deputy and walked in an humb BILE
and cOntrite manner to the foot
of the gallows, crying most pit
eously during the whole time.
In ascending the scatfold he
stumbled on the first step, as if
Il weakness or faintness had seiz-
cd him, but, with the support of
the sheriff he regained himself
and reached the platform with a
tolerably firm step and seated
himself on a chair. The Rev. Mr.
Allen, of Cumberland, and Rev.
Mr.. Lee, of Bedford, who were
invited by the sheriff to attend
this wretched man in his last mo-
ments, then ascended the scaffold
also. Sheriff Keller and the un-
fortunate Rice occupied the one
side, and the ministers the other,
facing each other all the time,
Rice reclining his head upon the
shoulder of the sheriff. The Rev.
Lee then arose, and in a solemn
and impressive manner gave out
the words of the hymn, "Vain
man on foolish pleasures bent,
during the singing of the first
part of which the prisoner ap.
peared to be somewhat tranquil
lied, but when the Stanza "Down
to Hell he went" was sung, his
whole frame appeared to be agi'
tated as if with agony and pain OF
the excruciating character, on
like the troublings of the waters
of the mighty deep. Rev. Lee
then offered up prayer to the
throne of grace, when the pris
oner cast his eyes to heaven, his
lips moving as if he was seeking
that mercy from God which was
denied him by men. They ther
arose from their knees, and the
Rev. Lee read a portion of the
word of God from the 4th chapter
of Genesis, upon which he found
ed some well timed and soul-stir
ring remarks. While Mr.. Lee
was speaking, Rice cast his eyes
alternately upon the speaker ant
towards heaven, his lips moving
as if he was holding communion
with his God.
. Rev. Allen then gave out ant
, sang the hymn commencing
"And am [ born to die?"- after
which he based some beautiful
and appropriate remarks upon
the words, prepare to meet thy
, God" " Rice listened attentively
and appeared to be in deep medi
tation. Mr.. Allen, in the course
, of his powerful and eloquent re
, marks, said that if a man wat
guilty of an hundred sins and con
} fessed and repented of ninety
} nine, but refused to confess ant
repent of the hundredth, for tina
/ one sin he would be condemned