FULTON COUNTY NEWS": Published Every Thursday. B. W. Peck, Editor. McCONNELLSBURG, PA. Thursday, June 14, 1900. Published Weekly. 1.00 per Annum in Advance. AIIVKKTUUNU HATKM. Por nmre of linos S time $ SO. Vr mjunre enc'h Milwemmnt ttiMertton .... fi. All uilvcrllsnmnitM lUMerteri for Ion thuu three months oeitred by the Hqunre. 3 iiiiei (liiuw. I yr. Ontvfourlh ouluiiin K.(K1. Ji I NK finp-hnlf cmlumn .. 4o.ti. rm.io. One Column Il'.l'i, M.ui. 7li.. i..iiiiuk iiini-i LtTti mr irm mull 91 I'rofrHKlouul CunN oue yeiir VVOUU) LIKE COUNTRY LIFE. (A youth of a Fulton county city pines for the country In earnestness sub lime. I would free from the city's rules and laws, From its fashions and forms cut loose; And go whore the strawberry throws on the straw,' And the ' gooseberry grows on the goose. Where the catnip tree Is climbed by the cat, As she clutches for her prey The guileless and unsuspecting rat, On the rattan bush, at lay. I will catch at ease the saffron cow And the cowlet in their gloe, As they leap in joy, from bough to bough, On the top of the cowslip tree. Fll list while the partridge drums his drum, And the woodchuck chucks his wood, And the dog devours his dogwood plum In the primitive solitude. O let mo drink from the moss-grown pump, Thut was hewn from the pumpkin tree. Kat mush and milk from a rural stump From folly and fashion free New gathered mush, from the mush room vine, And milk from the milk weed, sweet, With pine apples from the pine, From their cool and fragrant retreat. Then to the whitewashed dairy Fll turn, Where the dairy-maid hastening hies, Her ruddy aud golden-red butter to churn Froin the milk of her butterlles. I'll rise at morn with the earliest bird, To the fragrant farmyard pass, And watch, while the farmer turns his herd Of grass-hoppers out to grass. Who the "Hoxcrs" Arc. Editorially the Philadelphia Times says: Such confusion as exists as to precisely who and what the Chinese "Boxers" are is probably due to the rapidity and frequency with which the native secret societies of China change their names when they desire to continue their organiza tion and purposes free from the surveillance of the government. When at last an edict of suppres sion is issued the society simply takes a new title aud goes on as if nothing had happened. The society of Boxers is sup posed to number eleven millions of men. It was originally a sort of law and order league.organizod for protection against tho bandits with which tho province of Shan Tung was infested. Its name was then Ta Tao Hwei, which means "The Society of the Great Sword." It is a law and order league gone wrong. As this society bo came more powerful many dis honest and designing persons en tered it, and in numerous cases directed its efforts against per sonal enemies whom they repre sented to bo bandits and lawless jiersous. Some of these victims looking for help from the perse cution of the Great Sword soci ety, turned to the Christian mis sionaries, especially, H is said, the German Catholics. They pro fessed conversion aud tho mis sionaries sought to protect them. A series of outrages on Chris tians followed until, in last Octo ber, the Christian nations forced the government to send a force against tho Great Swords. There was a battle, followed by the re povt of the governor of the Shang Tung that the so-called rebels were honest country folk. Then the Groat Sword society disapxearod, by edict, and in its place sprang ready-made the "Universal Society of Boxers," with the old organization and purposes and with the added idea of lighting all foreign influence missionary or otherwise and of having the government help it. The operations of tho society and the outrages committed by it have since continued, and have constantly become liolder. THE RAYS HILL CRIME. V , "v- An Account of the McBurney Murder, Perpetrated Over Half a Century Ago, and the Trial and Exe cution of James Rice. i THE ONLY EXECUTION IN BEDFORD COUNTY. Other hIiih only speak, munlur hIuIrUs out. Tho element of wnter moisten the earth. llut blood HloB upwards unci bedews the heav ens." On the morning of August 2", 18-1 L, two little girls by the name of Bussard were walking along the turnpike near their home on Hays Hill, having boon sent on an errand. They were moving from one side of the road to the other in a tentative way, as children do, picking up a llower or a leaf here, or someobject that attracted their attention there, until, coming to a steep embankment along the road, one of them reached over to get some birch. Looking down the sight that met her gaze caus ed the blood to rush madly through her veins, as in this secluded spot it was calculated to make the stoutest heart quail. Lying be neath her, partly hidden by the fol iage of the undergrowth, was the bloody and lifeless body of a man, his face turned heavenward as if in mute appeal to Uim that hu man justice be done on earth for the expiation of this brutal act. The murdered man proved to be James McBurney, a drover, who had been cruelly stricken down by his traveling companion, James llice. The little girls have now become women well up in years, but the horrible sight of that Au gust morning has never passed from their memories nor never will. The one that made the ghastly tind is now Mrs. Wesley Fisher, of Graceville, Bedford county, and her sister is Mrs. Nathan Welch, of Rays Hill. It is sad that a scene so peaceful and sylvan should be marred by such a foul murder. A telegraph pole standing near the spot is marked with a rude outline of a coflin, to indicate, like tho cross in old En glish times, that here occurred a violent death. Ever since the murder a similar mark in the close vicinity has kept in remem brance the fatal spot. William C. Logan, the District Attorney referred to below was the younger brother of the late Mr. Thomas Logan of this place. Prom Bedford he removed to St. Louis where he continued the practice of law, and acquired a large plantation in Missouri, stocked with slaves, through marriage. He gave the slaves their freedom and lost a greater part of his wealth through the re bellion. He returned to McCou nellsburg in the early '(ids, aud resumed tho practice of law, and afterwards removed to Philadel phia, where he died about seven teen years ago. The following accounts of the tragedy is taken from Bedford Gazettes of different dates: Rice was born in Cumberland township, Greene county, Pa., September 10, 1813, and was only L'H years old at the time he com mitted the murder. He had sev en brothers and ono sister, all of whom were living at that time as well as his parents though not ono of them attended tho trial or took any interest iu his behalf. Ho ran away from home when he was L'2 aud went to Ohio. On July "3, 1841, he secured employ ment at Coshocton, Ohio, with Benjamin Ricket, a stock dealer. McBurney at that time was work ing for Ricket. lie was two or three years younger than Rice, asked him if lie had anything to They were both big, muscular j 8iiy why sentence of death should fellows and were almost exactly Uot bo passed upon him, to which tho same height six feet, two i, replied that he never killed a inches. A few days after Rice's man in his life, aud that the wit appearance on tho scene, Ricket j ncssos had sworu to lies." Judge started with a drove of cattle for j Thomson then sentenced the Lancaster, Pa., Rico and McBur- j prisoner to be hanged. Tho gov ney accompanying him. They i ,.nior named Juno 17 as tho date reached Lancaster ou tho I'L'nd of j ft. execution, but a strong senti August, and after the .cattle lntmt in favor of the prisoner were sold the youug men were paid olf and discharged. They then started olf for home. They wero last seen together on the pike several miles east of where the lino uow separates Bedford and Fulton counties. This was about an hour before sundown on August 25. Rice carried a club in his hand and a pair of saddle bags over oue shoulder, while the upper part of his face was con cealed by a handkerchief. That night McBurney was killed on Bays Hill, about sixteen miles I oast of Bedford. The dub ear- ried by Uiee was found King by i,.dV. it was covered wiih blood, and there was hair on it that corresponded in color with I McBurney's hair, Bice traveled all night. No oik; saw him until daylight i:oxt morning. At Mrs. Defibaugh's tavern, now "The Willows," three miles east of Bedford, Samuel West, who was traveling on horseback, overtook him, and the two traveled togeth er westward. West stopped iu Bedford to trausact some busi ness. He rode up the "front street, "while llice took tho "back street" and passed through tho town without a pause, lie was finally arrested near Counellsvillo in Fayette county, and was then brought to Bedford for trial. The trial of James llice was be gun ou Wednesday morning, Jan uary L'O, 1H42, aud the verdict was rendered on Saturday night,Jau uary The commonwealth was represented by District Attorney William 0. Logan and C. II. J. Pigmau, a young Somerset law yer, while the attorneys for tho prisoner were John A. Blodgett, one of the ablest members of the I Bedford bar, and John II. Edie, of Somerset, Judge Ihoinsou presided. On both sides the le gal battle was fought with great earnestness. Blodgett was then iu his prime, aud his plea for the friendless prisoner was one of the ablest addresses ever deliver ed before a jury iu this county. The evidence was purely circum stantial. The blood-stained club was of course a very strong link iu tho claim. Several of McBur ney s possessions were found on Rice's person, even to articles of clothing, while Rice had more money than Ricket paid him iu wages. A bill on a state bank of Indiana was identified by Ricket as oue of tho bills that lie had paid to McBurney. Ou the part of the defence it was claimed that Rice aud Mc Burney were warm friends and that they never had a quarrel. Their possessions were mingled on this journey. When they reached Rays Hill McBurney was so tired from walking that, he in sisted upon waiting for a stage. Rice said he would continue the journey on foot and would join his companion when the stage overtook him. He had used tho club for carrying his "budget," but found it unsuitable for the purpose and threw it away when he Darted with McBurney. Ho claimed to have come into posses sion ot the surplus cash by win ninir it at cards from some meu they fell in with near Harris burg. As to Rieket's identifica tion of the Indiana bill, the de fense held that it was simply a mistake. ' The commonwealth showed that stage after stage had passed Rice but that ho had made uo inquiry for McBurney. Tho charge of the court was favorable to the prisoner. After deliber ating for two hours the jury ren dered a verdict of guilty. Ou the following Monday morn ing a motion tor a new trial was made. "After the argument closed," says tho Gazette of Feb ruary 4, "Judge Thomson inti mated in a very feeling, pathetic and touching manner that the motion could not bo granted. All appeared to manifest the most in tense interest iu every word that fell from the lips of his honor .Never did wo witness a scene so awfully solemn. Tears gushed from tho eyes of nearly all pros out, aud every muscle in the frame of tho unfortunate Rice was iu deep agitation. He, too, at last wept bitterly. Tho judge haviug been aroused, ho after ward granted a reprieve. Peti tions for a pardon received hun dreds of signatures in Bedford, i Green, Fayette and Washington counties, while tho members of the legislature from Greou, Fay ette and Washington interceded personally with Governor Porter. The governor, however, declined to interfere, and decreed that tho execution should take place Sep tember 2. From Tho Gazette of September !, 1843, we copy the report of the liual For l.h ree or four days prov ions to his execution Rico was attend ed by three; or four ministers of Ihe gospvl, who administered to him in "heavenly things." As the day for his execution ap proached ho appeared to be some what more " softened, and fre quently said that he bore no ill will or hatred towards auy man on earth; that ho had prayed for those who had used all their ex ertious to secure his conviction, and that, if he had injured any one, he humbly prayed their for giveness. At about a quarter be fore 11 o'clock he was dressed iu the habiliments of death. Dur ing the time the sheriff aud his deputy were dressing him the most excruciating groans escaped his lips, and he sobbed and cried bitterly from the time his grave clothes wore put ou him until he was taken upon the scaffold. Be appeared to be horror-stricken with the sight of his shroud and clung to the sheriff as though he thought he had it iu his power to mitigate the sentence of the law. t ten minutes after 12 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 aud deputy aud walked in an humble :uul contrite manner to the foot of the gallows, crying most pit- eously during the whole time. In ascending the scaffold ho stumbled ou the first step, as if a weakness or faintness had seiz ed him, but, with the support of the sheriff he regained himself and reached the platform with a tolerably firm step aud seated himself on a chair. The Rev. Mr. Allen, of Cumberland, and Rev. Mr. Lee, of Bedford, who were invited by the sheriff to attoud this wretched man iuhis last mo ments, then ascended the scaffold also. Sheriff Keller and the un fortunate iiice occupied the oue side, and the ministers the other, facing each other all the time, Rico reclining his head upo;i the shoulder of the sheriff. The Rev. Lee then arose, aud iu a solemn md 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 trauquil ized, 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, or like the troubliugs of the waters of the mighty deep. Rev. Loo then offered up a prayer to the throne of grace, wheu the pris oner cast his eyes to heaven, his lips moving as if lxs was seeking that mercy from God which was denied him by men. They then arose from their knees, aud the Rev. Lee read a portion of tho word of God from the 4th chapter of Genesis, upon which he found ed some well-timed and soul-stirring remarks. While Mr. Lee was Rpeuking, Rice cast his eyes alternately upon the speaker aud towards heaveu, his lips moving as if ho was holding communion with his God. Rev. Allen then gave out and sang the hymn commencing "And am I born to die?" after which ho based some beautiful and appropriate remarks upon the words, "Prepare to meet thy God." Rice listened attentively and appeared to be in dee) medi tation. Mr. Allen, in the course of his powerful aud eloquent re marks, said that if a man was guilty of an hundred sins and con fessed and repented of ninety nine, but refused to confess and repent of the hundredth, for that oue sin ho would bo condemned to take up his abode iu the re gions of eternal misery and be forever kept from tho presence of his God. At this moineut ev ery muscle in the prisoner was violently agitated,, a most uu eartldy groan escaped him, he turned to the sheriff as if ho in tended to say solnethiug, aud his countence assumed tho appear ance of ono who was already eu during the pains and tortures of hell. After Mr. Allen had con cluded lie offered up a prayer to the throne of mercy, iu which tho prisoner took part, when Messrs. Allen and Leo arose from their knees, took him by the hand, told him to place all his reliance upon God, aud descended from the scaffold. Here tho prisoner com menced sobbing and crying most lo'.iowmg icene: pifeoiisly, and exhibited strong symptoms of terror. The -!i r i!T then assisted him to his feet, placed tho rope around Ids neck and drew the cap over hi.-i face, after which he took the prisoner's hand, and, in a solemn, impres sive and distinct manner, asked him whether he was "guilty or not guilty," to .which he replied in a trembling aud faltering man ner, "I am innocent indeed I am, sheriff." The sheriff, after receiving this reply, immediately descended from the gallows and cut the rope by which tho plat form was suspended and ho was swus.g off at precisely forty min utes nfter one o'clock, lit- ap peared to die easy, liis hands were clenched aud trembled vio lently for one moment, then his legs trembled for thirty seconds arid a general convulsion passed rapidly over his entire frame, when his immortal spirit took its flight iuto the presence of its God. Iu thirteen minutes he was pronounced dead by Physicians Barclay and Getty, aud iu twenty-six minutes from the time he was hanged his body was placed in the coflin and takeu to that "bourne from whence uo traveler returns." llice was a very large, stout built man, being six feet, two and a half inches high, and, instead of pining away after receiving his sentence, he improved iu appear ance and increased iu weight.and ate his meals with a good appe tite uutil the morning of the exe cution, when he refused to lake any nourishment whatever, al though the sheriff offered to get him anything at all that he might desire. During his confinement he never made any attempt to break jail, although he frequently begged the family of the sheriff, iu the most imploring manner, to let him out. None of his friends or relatives were present to offer him any consolation iu his last hours, although it is said that a brother of his was recognized on the jail wall during the time of his execution, but did not want to make himself known. During the time of his. execu tion, and for several hours pre vious, the walls of tho jail yard and the roofs of the jail and sur rounding houses were crowded with people who had come from all sections of the county to wit ness the execution. The utmost decorum, however, was preserv ed during the whole time. A sympathetic feeling appeared to pervade the bosoms of all for the prisouor but there was uo remedy he had to forfeit his life to satisfy the awful penalty of violating both the laws of God and his country. Immediately after his execution the crowd dis persed, aud our town assumed its usual quiet. Objection to Wire Nails. Strange to say tho industry of making cut nails from iron and steel is having a great revival. The introduction of. steel wire nails made great inroads upon the cut nail business, but now the lat ter shops are adding new niachin cry and enlarging their facilities The increased demand is caused by the fact that shingles that have been fasteued on "earn roofs for the past ten years with wire nails are blowing off and farmers are greatly exercised over tin matter. The shingles fastened with the old cut nail remained on the roof uutil the shiugles rotted, where as with tho steel wire nail, the shingle blows off' after ten years. The main trouble with the steel wire nail, says Tho Evening Post, is that it cannot stand tho weath er as the wrought iron nail does, This is partly caused by the ai id used iu annealing the wire before it is drawn which cannot be thor oughly cleansed off. 'The Wutor vliet Arsenal experiments show that the cut nails have proved to bo 5(1 per cent, more adhesive when driven into wood than wire nails, but the bright and cheaper wire nails soon succeeded in mak ing a great difference iu the cut nail trade. The carpenter can drive wire nails too handily to re turn to the cut nails unless speci fications actually require it, and the demands for cut nails are coming largely from agricultural sections. A big steel wire com bine has had a special nail made with extraordinary largo head and galvanized nil over. These are guaranteed to outlast any nail in existence. will purify your blood and brine; 5lfCrTM! the bloom of health back into your J 14 1 jJVljJCiril rhrplc. Karh hnttln rntitniri a mmmmm A quart. QUART BOTTLE Painful and Rupri-nfd Mfnin, Irrf(rularlty, Lenforrln, VMt St.n I tinn nl the L'tt-nis, rlnnire ol life In matron or maid, nil find relief. ki 'hi'!?. ' ' JOHNSTON'S SAUSAI'ARIIXA. It It real panacea for haHrVe V ' side, IntllKMtlnn, palpitation of tho heart, cold handd nnd feet, nervniunr.V il'JV liiiliciilftt- we.iknesn, t)carinr-down painy, backache, letj-u-he, Irregular artian f IiT! shortness of breuth, abnormal discharges with painful menstruxllun, m-iM! , ewviiuiK ui ici'i, aorenesa oi me. nrea3ia, neuralgia, uierine displacement i I ymntoin which make tho average woinan'a life to miserable. Va hi.. '. kV 'l health Information. Yo want lt-lti free. Llvcrettca for Liver III. The Foment Little Liver Pills, i" For Sale tit Trout's Di'titf Store. OOOCOOOOOOOOO OOOOOO000Q O S.A.NESBIT, Agrici4ltt-iril Implements! This is my Seventeenth Year iu this business vi farmers of Fulton county; and being a fanner m ys.-li well acquainted with tho wants of fanners. I am sti ing the celebrated Champion Mowers and Binders! cidedly the best machine ou tho market to day. Grain Drills Spangler's Low Down, aud the CJreeucas lie Force Feed. Syracuse Plows, Notice these prices: No. L'0, aud No. TiOl !).r! cash. No. !10, 11.00. Q Spring Harrows -!jll .")0 to 1 7. ")0. 0 iky Rakos from 17.00 toL'4.oo. O Sfcfing Machines s?i:.oo to i5. V Hay Tories Complete for sii.ro. X Leather Team Nets from 1.50 to s:.."i). Butfy Nets, !?1.7." to !?l 7:. Cood Live Stock, drain, Hay, Lumber, tVc, c.,ta exchange. I am not spending time and money canvnssiii!' tlic jjj and if you waut anything iu my line call and sec me will save you money. S. A. NKS!; ooooooooooooo ooooococo Mis Own Wbite Folks. One of the old-time southern negroes went to Boston to make his fortune. After a week of walking up and down he found himself penniless aud no work in sight. Then he went from house to house. "Ef you i lease, suh," he be gan, when his ring at the front door was answered, "can't you give a po' cullud man work tor do, or sumpin tor eat?" Aud the polite answer invari ably was, "No, iniste very sorry but have nothing for you." Every one who answered his ring addressed him as "Mr., "but shut their doors a nd heartsagainst him. Fiually he rang the boll at a bi'ownstone front. A gentleman appeared aud tho old man began: "Boss, I is starvin'. Can't you gimme some vittles?" "You darned black kinky-headed rascal!" exclaimed the gentle man, "how dare you ring the bell at my f rout door?" Go round the buck-yard way to the kitchen, and tho cook '11 give you something you black - " But just there the old man fell ou his knees, exclaiming: "Thank do Lawd, I foun' my ow n white folks at las'! Thank de Lawd, I foun'em-I i'ouu'em!" lauta Constitution. ' Ex-Goveruor Fimllay, a native of Mercersbiirg, and who was one of its most prominent native citizens, was memorialized iu a tine portrait presented by Crier Uii'sh, of York, Fa,, during the commencement exercises at Mer cersburg College. Hon. W. Hush Cillan made the address present iii;;' tho same. (Morions News Comes from Dr. D. B. Curgile, of Washita, I. T. Ho writes: "Electric Bitters has cured Mrs. Brewer of scrofula, which had caused her great sulTering for years. Terrible sores would break out on her head and face, and the best doctors could give no help; but now her health is ex cellent." Electric, Bitters is tho best blood purifier known. It's tin." supreme remedy for eczema, tetter, salt rheum, ulcers, boils and running sores. It stimulates liver, kidneys and bowels, expels poisons, helps digestion, builds up the strength. Only TjO cents. Sold by W. S. Dickson, Druggist. Guaranteed. a r ... vvora nN Suffering wome No one but yourselves im ou sutlerf It isn't nero" nt fc - 1 1 "liL' M . 111 he!uth". ose your 1 t 1 "C.lUtv. . ui one is speedily UJ. j loss of the other. lWt ffllJ nnd "worn out " t .. Ic.c M the bottom of all younbj1 OKA I I K IN McCONNf3I-LSI3UWC:, l. Machine Oil ;;r to -lo cents. Maryland Phosphate-mmpi in the market-even guaranteed liiu'li i 7") tons sold to wir fanners last yeur. Iron Safes-from si'o to sj Repairs t'oi'Cilivci'iniilSvi Flows: Osborne, V Champion, Woods, eye, and other imu-1 Fencing Wire, UorseCoibis M. to y-2, liimW T Lawn Mowers, Furl : TlllO t'OKN'KI Isaac and Klisvort1 shott, two of our InMi ers, spout Friday in lh burg, and returned h tiuo new corn plow. Ml'S.'Alinie .h llott :: Miss Abbie Melloit. ill'' some time visiting . Franklin county. Walter Shaw, of .Mm spent Saturday evnii,1 sister, Miss Daisy, a! . Mr. Houston .lolinst cersburg, found I'oiu' i cattle dead, lying uiul what is known ns tlic held. They vveresiipi' killed by lightning, as a terrible storm pas Valley, ou Tluii'sdity just a few hours hemiv ston reached tlm phico. Miss Blanch Uoucki- soine time at hei' place. Service at the Kcl'"i'n was largely attended i gunist was missed. A Kansas Tat A Pennsylvania niim through Kansas m''1 a great many tall wrn thought he would h'l them ina letter liome. how he did it. "M' streets are pnved, tl' corn being used fort'"!' while the cobs are hl and used for wr 1 husk, when taken off ' ,,iwl inalu'S a for the childreu to M sounds queer t man tell tho driver to ',l en grains of horse f'" Jackson's livery sti were not for soft, ilT T Ann't see lldW tl'.V harvest tho f"1'11- lis '! would grow up i ', as a Mhodist ilw"-" However, when th " heavy their weight 1 stalk down in U' -'n"' ntoemm of ninety -in" briiiLLS the ear near '""'; ground to be cliWu ax.". Tho Supremo Court Commonweaitu jn-oposedniiienth')''11 stitution tinn Governor.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers