The Washington times., 1922-03-11
To
[)OVRONC
HELD LIFE
IN THRALI
Thrilled to Evil Influence He
Could Not Control,
Youth Writes.

The Washington Times herewith
presents Exclusively John Me-
Henry's oUn story of his Wiid young
career, throwing neU light on the
strange tmputses that carried him
dstray from the paths of rectifude
and finally led him to Kill an auto
mobile accessories dealer and a de-
tective, for tohich crimes he Is con-
'den,ned to hang In the District jail
ne1t Friday. =
,AcHerfy's~redf name Is John
MeHsxrv Rice, the abbreviated form
hGvinG been adopted By scov Of dis
0Hise. Read the remarkable story
of this BOY of tpenty-four, Dko
feared neither God nor man, Uho
ionged to be up to deuiment, and
ioho. to sdve his soul, Just Natural
.ly couldn't do right 1T Is an err
trsmeiy hxman document.
By JOHN McHENRY RICE
Why was ] accursed? Why
was ! born unlike other boys?
Why did have an uncsntrollable
impulse to rob, to shoot, and do
other things that society is op-s
posed to?
have been given a week TO
prepare for my death-a horrible
death to some, but society has de-
manded that / die on the gallows
for a crime I committed. because
i took two lives.
Hard TO Prepare.
When a man faces death. such
a death as l have been sentenced
by the majesty of the law to
meet, 1t is rather hard to prepare
for. But the Lord, / have been
told by my spiritual advisers, is
good, and IL I die on the gallows
/ feel will be able to meet God
with sorrow in my heart for what
/ have done. ,E4
In moments of thought, have
asked myself: Why have you done
all these things? Why did you
shoot two men? Why did YOU
rob and steal? l cannot answer
these questions. Certainly there
must have been something wong
with me. Other boys don't do
the things that / did,
Trouble Of Own Making.
Maybe, say, went wrong, be.
came irresponsible. because I have
been an outcast, have not had the
affection of a loving mother and
father. II 80, II was trouble of my
own making. NY mother always
loved me. She always tried to have
me live straight. But just couldn't
go straight.
I have had plenty of time to
think. / have been condemned TO
die for nearly year. Ny execution
has been stayed several times. II
was not until month ago that I
realised the enormity of my crimes.
1t was not until then that realized
that society had to be appeased. So.
ciety said 1 must die. Society is
the law. IL
But / don't want TO die. 4 would
like to have another chance tu
make good. Even should I not be
executed on the gaIlows, I realize
would never again be free. But ]
have embraced the Catholic religion
and could make my repentance In
the years that 1 have to live.
Slave 70 Impulse.
Looking back TO my childhood, can
remember other boys and girls with
whom played. They did not turn
out like did. There never was any
need for my stealing or being bad. 1t
just came over me TO do the
strangest things. did not think
thew were stran nQe thing when \ did
them, but now as a lay on my cot in
my cell I realize 1 did the most alb
normal things.
While the things did were
wrong, had no control over myself.
Something Just told me to shoot out
street lights, 10 steal horses, TO
frighten people with revolvers, to
stick pins In school children.
There were so many things that ], 1,
did that when ] think II all over, !
feel that something was wrong with
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