Offl VOLUM1- 8 MCONNULLSKUUtt, 1A., OCTOLU-U 25, .JU(i. Only -Execution In County. Discussion of The Murder of James McBurney and The Subsequent HANGING OF JAMES RICE. August US, 1811, (.licuiilstuiiliul Kvidcucc Placed Him on the tiullons to 1'ay I lie Penal ty ot His Awful Crime. On August 2.1, IS-J1, James Ric.i murdered James McBurney on Kay's Hill. Rice was twenty-tluei years old when In; committed tin murder, lie run away from homo when he was twenty-two and went to Ohio. On July 22, ISA 1, he se cured employment ut Coshocton, ().,with Benjamin Ricket, a stock- dealer. McBurney ut that time was working for Ricket. lie was two or three years younger tlmu Rice. A few days after Rice's ap pearance on the scene Ricket start td with 11 drove of cuttle for Lan faster, Itiee and Mcliurney accom panying him. The' reached Lan custer on August 25, uud alter the cattle were sold the young men were paid oil' und discharged. Tiiey then started for home. They were lust seen together on the pike several miles east of where the lino now seperutcs Bedford and Fulton counties. This was about un hour before sundown on August 25. i!icc carried a club in his hand and a pair of saddlebags over one shoulder, while the upper part of his face was concealed by a litnid-l.e-rchief. That night McBurney whs killed on Hay's JIi I, about six l:en miles east of Bedford. The club carried by Rice was found ly i'ig by the body. It was covered with blood, and. there was hair on it that corresponded in color witii MeBurney's hair. Rice traveled all night. No one saw him until daylight the next morning. At Mrs. l)elibaugh's tavern, now 'The Willows." Samuel Went, who was traveling on horseback, over took hi ut and the two traveled to gether westward. West stopped in Hud ford to transact some busi ness, lie rode up the front street while Rice took the back street and passed through the town with out a pause, lie was finally ar rested near Connellsville and was brought to Hedford for trial. The trial was begun Wednesday morning, January 20, 1S42, and the verdict was rendered Satur day night, January 2!. The Com mon wealth was represented by District Attorney William C. Lo gan and C. II. J. l'igman, a young Snnerset lawyer, while the attor neys for the prisoner were John A. Hlodgett, one of the ablest members of the Hedford bur, and John R. Edie of Somerset, Judge Thompson presiding. On both sides the legal battle was fought with great earnestness. Hlodgett was then in his prime and his plea for the friendless prisoner was one of the ablest ever delivered before a jury in this county. None of the prisoner's family took uuy interest in his behalf or attended the trial. The evidence was purely circum stantial. T,he blood-stained club was of course a very strong link in the chain. Several of MeBurney's possessions were found on Rice's person, even to articles of cloth ing, while Rico had more money than Ricket paid him in wages. A bill on a State bank of Indiana was identified by Ricket as one of the bills that he had paid to McBur noy. On the part of the defense it was claimed that Rico and McBurney wore warm friends and that they never had a ipiarrel. .Their pos sessions wore mingled on this jour ney. When they reuchod Ray's Hill McBurney was so tired from walking that he insisted upon wait ing for a stage. Rice said ho would continue the journey on foot and would join his companion when the stage overtook him. He had "d the club for carrying his "budiret," but found it unsuitable ' for the purpose and threw it away when he parted with McBurney. Ho claimed to have come into pos session of the surplus cash by win ning it at cards from some men they fell in with at llarrisburg. As to Ricket's identification of the Indiana bill, the deft- use held that it was simply a mistake. The Commonwealth showed that stage after stage had passed Rice but that he hud made no imp) rv fur McBurney. The charge of the court was favorable to the prison er. After deliberating for two hours the jury rendered a verdict of guilty. On the following Monday morn ing a motion for a new trial was made. After the arguments clos ed Judge Thompson intimated in a very feeling, pathetic- and touch ing manner that the motion could not be granted. All appeared to manifest the most intense interest in every word that fell from the lips of His Honor. Tears gushed from the eyes of nearly all present, und every muscle in the frame of the unfortunate Rice was in deep agitation. He. too, ut last wepl. bitterly. The Judge ticked him if he had anything to say why sen tence of death should not be pass ed upon him, to which he replied that he never killed a man in his life and that the witnesses had sworn lies. Judge Thompson then sentenced the prisoner to be hang ed. The Governor named June 17th us the date for the execution, but a strong sentiment in favor of the -prisoner having been aroused, he afterward granted a reprieve. Petitions for a pardon received hundreds of signatures in Bedford. Greene, Payette and Washington counties, w-hilo the members of the Legislature from Greene, Fayette and Washington interceded person ally with Governor Porter. The Governor, however, declined to in terfere and decreed that the execu tion should take place Septeinbei 2d. At about a (piat ter before eleven on the day of his execution Rice was dressed in the habiliments of death. During the time the Sherill" and his deputy were dressing him the most excruciating groans es caped his lips, and he sobbed and cried bitterly from the time his grave clothes were put on him un til ten minutes after twelve, when ho was taken upon the scaffold. Rev. Allen of Cumberland and Rev. Lee of Bedford were invited by the Sheriff to attend this wretched muu in his last moments, and after Rev.Allen offered up a lust prayer to the Throne of Mercy, in which Rice took part, the ministers de scended the scaffold and the Sherill' then assisted the prisoner to his feet, placed the rope around his neck and drew the cup over his face, after which he took Rice's hand, and, in a solemn, impressive! and distinct manner, asked him whether he was "guilty or not guilty," to which ho replied in trembling and faltering manner, "I am innocent indeed i am, Sherlir.'' The Sherill', after re ceiving this reply, immediately de- ccuded from the gallows and cut the rope by which the platform was suspended, and he was swung off ut precisely forty minutes after one o'clock. He appeared to die easy. His hands were clenched and trombledviolenlly for one mo ment, then his legs trembled for thirty seconds and a general con vulsion passed rapidly over his en tire friime, when his immortal spirit took its (light into the pres ence of its God. In thirteen min utes ho was pronounced dead by Drs. Barclay and Getty, and in twenty-six minutes from the time ho was hanged his body was. plac ed in the coflin und taken to that "bourne from whence no traveller returns." During the time of his execution and for several hours previous the walls of the jail yard and the roofs of the jail and surrounding houses were crowded with people who hud come from all sections of. the c-untyto witness the execution. The utmost decorum, however, was preserved during the whole time. A sympathetic feeling seemed to pervade the bosoms of all for the prisoner but there was no remedy he hud to forfeit his life to satisfy the awful penal ty of violating' both the laws of j GOLDEN WEDDING- j Celebrated at the Home of Mr. and Mrs. ; Henry Anderson. Near Knobsvillc, Pennsylvania. I Happiness, merrymaking, md i the reciting of reminis .ences, I were characteristic features on j joyed by the host oT relatives ai.tt I friends who lathered, in re- j spouse to invitations, at tho 1 1.' j of Henry Anderson and wife, id Knobsville, Pa., on Tuesday, Oc tober Hi, l)0t; It was the Gold en Wedding celebration of Jiese highly esteemed neighbors, who were the recipients of many gifts and'tokens of Hind remembrance just before the call to the elabor ately spread dinner , all the guest assembled iij the parlor and sit. ting room, surrounding Mr. und Mrs. Anderson, upon whom, they stood together, Rev Join, C. Grimes prayed the Divine Blessing to rest uud coutinue un til the end of their earthly ear o -. Gf.od wishes, and hopot ul oxues sioiis for prolonged life greeted Mr. and Mrs. Anderson on every side. ' Mr. Andersou's great-grand father came to America from Ire land, und settled near the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. An derson's grandfather was among the early settlers of Broad Top. Huntingdon and Bedford coun ties will find among their early S".h iit'i s i;ii:ij;i:iius 01 Anderson, blorlou.Cook, White, Evans, Hoov er, and Barnct. Mr. Audorson's graudmother.ou his father'ssido, was a Witlet, whom he often hoard telling of the many hard ships of the early settlers. She said the meu had to taketluir guns with them wheu they went to work, and the women had to take ,:lu'os with them vhon they went to pull llax, in order to kill t' e snnl--i'5 wh'oh were so plenti fulatthat time. Th.-ir nearest' store was McConnellsburg, t which they came about once; year. Mr. Audersou's lathe: married a daughter of .losiah Horton, and settled near Broau t)pcity. Here Mr. Henry Au dorson was born. 'Twushere h" spent his boyhood and young manhood's days. After this his father, Edward Anderson, who was a Local Preacher in tin; Church of God, for many years, removed to Fultou county, whore he died iu 18(52. Edward Ander son's family numbered 13, all of whom, have passed away, except the wife of Rev. J. W. Deshoug, of Lancaster, Pa., and Henry An derson, of Knobsville, I 'a. The latter was united iu marriage to Jane Sites, Oct. 16, 18513, which uuioa was blessed with 11 chil dren, eight of whom are living : Mrs. Albert Davis, Chambers burg, Pa ; Mrs. Daniel Kraus, Waynesboro, Pa.; 'Valter B. An derson, McConnellsburg, Pa.; Mrs. Peter Scheidloman, Knobs ville, Pa.; Mrs. Charles Tlco, Knobsville, Pa.; Charles Edward Anderson, Moat Alto, Pa.; Albert Theophilus Anderson, Braddoek, Pa., and William Henry Ander son, Cassville, Pa. Henry An derson has 27 grandchildren, auJ tive great graudchildren. Those present on this happy occasion wore the following; Sam uel Divens aud wife, and Samuel II. Kelso, of Knobsville; Walter, Morris, Clara, Philip, Annio, and Ranktu Davis, ot Chambersburg; Dauiul Kraus and wife, of Waynes boro; Walter 3. Anderson, wife, and daughter Blanche, of McCo i nellsburg; Mr. and Mrs. Schoidle man, William, Pearl, Helen, and Dewey Scheidleman, of Kntbs ville; William Henry Anderson and daught3rs Catherine aud Lo lotta, of CassviHe; Charles Ttce, wife and two children' John Hen ry aud Kathleen, i t Knobsville; Amos Griffith and wife, of Eagle Foundry; Mrs. Orth, Ft. Little ton ; Mrs. Sowers, Abraham Wag. ner and wife, of Knobsville; Clar eneo Seville, and Rev. aud Nrrs. John 0. ((rimes, of McConnells burg. God aud his country. Immediate ly after his execution the crowd dispersed and the town ussuiuod its usual quiet. QUIET HOME WEDDING. ! Mis Sallie Mtkibuin I'ecoine the liriilc ; of Prothonolary George A. Harris Yesterday at Noon, i At the home of the bride's par jents, Mr. and Mrs. George Mc I Kibbin, at Buck Valley, at hi-h j noon on Wednesday, George A. j Harris, of McConuollshuig, was i unitod in marriage to Miss Sarah j I. McKibbie, the ceremony beirg ! performed by Rev. Win. A West, j D. D., of the Presbyterian church, I McConnellsburg, Pa. ; The wedding was a quiet affair, only a few of the immediate friends of the-contracting parties j being present. 1 The groom is the popular and efficient prothonolary, clerk of I the courts, Ac, of this county, aud the brido a beautiful and uc- . eomplished young lady. j The bridal party 'vent to Han- jCock yesterday afternoon, and took, a train for the eastern cities, '. where after a short sojourn, they will return to McLouncllsburg, where the groom has a comfort able home awaitmg the coming of ; his bride. The voutig people have the best . wishes of their numerous Irieuds for their happiness and micc-i-.s . in the join ney through life. Clara Hoke and John Miller. Mrs. Samuel llu .veraiuiounces ti e marriage of her daughter : Clara Belle Hoke to John H. Mil 1 lor, the ceremony of which took 1 place at Morrison. HI., last Satur day. The bride is a daughter of the late Samuel Hoover, a former . prominent merchant of. Mi-Con nellsburg. She was man ied, a few years ago to Howard, a son of G. Newton Hoke, of this place. Tlie failint; health and ultimate . death of Mr. Hoke soon left the : young bride a widow. The groom John H. Miller, is a son of Wil Jiain Miller a prominent farmer of Taylor township. John used to attend the summer normal schools in this place, taught school like most Fulton county boys, a little while, then went to Chicago, read law aud, to-day, is one of the Windy City's big law yers. Both the bride and groom having been model students of tho editor during his teaching days, the editor now bestows up ou them his "fatherly blessing." The Boy That was Puzzled. the boy that was puzzled sed, "Mama, what is ihy name?" "Why, Tome, Don't, you no your uamo?" "no mam; last winter wheu I was sick, Mr. Humbertsf.d I must go to School; then I thought he was my papa; uow, Mr. barton wont let me go till I get vaxanat id, and I thought he was my papa, tho man that I call papa thai' gets my Close aud feeds me, and wheu I am sick pays tho doctor to Come and s. e me, has nothing to say to me aney more has he, Mama?'' "110, my Boy not Much; but it was all write fore Mr Humbert to try aud &et the t'hildern to go to School, but Birtou has spoild all thai, now you see tho littel Chil deru Ruuiug aroui d playing, and the teachers settiug in tho School Houses w ith half as mui ey school ers as thay would have, and the papas paying tax to seiort them and Mr Barton t j. uo, I dor.t think Mr Barton is a papa, ore he would not uphold such a siliy Peace of work, 'tis true that Par ence have not much say to thire Childern. I suy no tnau oupht to pay aney tax aud put the teach ers out. what do they a inounto, wheu you Cautsend your Clnl dern to School, onless you run the risk of getting them vava nated 'i Oh ! thay say its no risk ! no, not fore the wous that Made tho fool law ! I would railu-i run the risk of i.iuull Pox thvi boi-'g va.vaiia,ied. More peophj stiller and din from v.ix .minion, than from sm.illPov. not won Pur son out ofahuudord in this County has' ever seen a Case of small Pox. A Rk.di'.k op tun Nkws. HIGH WATERS. J Horse Drowned in Attempting to Eord I Tonoloway Creek at Franklin Mills. I Franklin Mills, October 22. George Martin aud Jesse Mann, both of whom reside near this place, went to Hancock last Fri day in Martin's buggy. After attending to business at the Riv er town, tliegentloineu started to return home. Tho day being dark and gloomy, when they crossed 1 he bridge at Stigers' mill, they took the road which leads by John Lewis's and the fording at Frank I111 Mills. When they reached the ford, night was upon them, aim t:;ey found Tonoloway creek cu a rum page. As a precaution they got out of the buggy, and 'while groping about in the dark, made the discovery that horse and buggy were missing. Mak iug the b.'st of a bad job, they waited for thef e!uru of day, went to tho fording ouly to find that tlie tracks showed that the horse and buggy had entered the rag Kig creek, but there was no evi dence that the team had emerged from the other side. A. search was then made dowu the stream, aud aoout a half mile from the fording, opposite the homo" of W. 11. Downs, they found horse aud buugy the horse drowued. M. run, a few years ago, made a eiion mile trip across the Atlan tic oceau and return, with less disastrous results than the at tempted fording of the creek at Franklin Mil s. Report of Akersville Primary School. Fi st 1110.1th, beginning Septem ber 17, and endiug October 12th. Number of pupils in attendance, male, -, female, 17; total 'u. Av erage attendance during .the month, mule Hi; female, H; total, 21; per cent, ol attendance, male, 1)1; female !K total, ilU.J. Whole number of days attended during month, male, 2;J7; female, 1 78; to tal, -Hj. Honor roll, Vernio Du vall aud Leona Thomas. Albert vV. Spade, teacher. The Need of Day Nurseries. In au article 011 day nurserks iu The New Idea Woman's Mag azine for November, it is asserted that "The cities of the poor are not yet nearly overtaken by the clay nursery movement, although two years ago it was stated that 11,000 children were taken care of dully iu the nurseries (approx imately ;i00j throughout the coun try. There is a '(hy nursery 3' of New York, for instance, map showing long aching gaps un marked by the red crosses which show where a baby may bo left with-a tender hearted lady, while its plebiau mother turns out a day's washing or scrubbing to earn her bread. From districts like these tlie mothers must of ten trr verse long distances ou foot or hy cur, before they go to theit day's work, to leave the ba by in charge. Then, too, hard ship as it maybe, many nurser es hi e fotced to close during the summer for lack of funds and workers. These are problems whi.'.h ouly time and the awaken ing of tlio spirit of citizenship throughout the couutry can solve." As a charity, day nurs eries appear to occupy a valuable place, beiug botheducatioual aud philanthropic, and tho article iu question declares ; "Of all the points of contact established be tween the submerged classes and those of society who are comfort ably all oat, none seems to be sounder in principle or to&o mere to the root of things than the day nursery. While insisting that homes, as the basis of society, must bo kept together, it ree.og. uizes that mothers without sup port must tiotlibe pauperized by charity, and must therefore give uptowurk the time that more fortunate mothers may spend in caring for their '...Idrun; and in the dilemma between preserving the home and pauperizing the mother, the nursery steps iu to care for the children during workiug hours. A small fee is charged to maintain the self re spect of the mother." Why Can't We Have 1 Fair? A citizen of Thompson town- 1 sh'p writes as lollows : "Why 1 c?unot Fulton county have a i County air, instead of half the j people going to llagerstown to I see one' Our people who go I there, do rt lot of shopi.iug tint j Week. Win not keep that 111011 j ey 111 our own county? We are I sure that the unterprisiug mer I chants in McConnellsburg would j offer tho right kind of induce I meuts, and by selling so much j more, they could afford lo sell 1 very close. Our people would be saved tlie expense of railroad fare, not to say anything of hav ing to take a team to Mercers burg or Hancock aud pay for hav ing it kept while oue is attending the Fair. To have a day at tin Uu.rerstown Fair, means about three days away from home; or, at least, two nights and one clay. If the latter, one comes home so tired, that he wishes he had uev er seen a fair. If we had a fair at McConnellsburg, we could dr ive there, spend the day, and go home whenever we wished to. without bt mg compelled to travel on a crowded train and then wait until the railroad company was good and rerdy to take you home. "A fair would be of much ad vantage to almost every onb iu tin county. Farmers would bo en eouraged to uke to the fair their best productions in grain, hors ses, cattle, chickens, ducks, and geese; while the ladies would take pride in exhibiting their choicest rolls of butter,- jellies, jams, rolls, bread, cakes, fancy work, flowers, needlework, and a thousand oth er tilings that Fultou county peo ple could prcdnce as well as any people 011 ea rlh. "It would not le expected that it could be brought up to the standard of a llagerstown Fair t h e ti r s t y ea r ; li u t i f a 11 e Ifo r t we r e made, it would be found that each year w mid hud the enterprise more aud more popular, and in a -'ery few years, the Fulton coun ty fair would be the great event of the year. "It may be objected by some that the moral influence on the community is not good. That would depend upon the moral cah ber of the management. People will go to such places; aud wouid it not be better to have one at home under the management of our own people, than to allow our young folks to go away to places abounding often in alluremeuts to evil V "Let us hear from else on the subject. " some oue BURNT CABINS. Florence Cromer, of Fort Lit tleton, spent Tuesday with her sister Mrs Jno. Baldwin, 111 this plac.e. A. V. Kelly, wh -, was visitiug iu the vicinity of llarrisburg, has returned to his home i'i this place. Bessie lieeso loft Saturday for Clearfield county, where she ex pects to teach this winter, A. J. Comerer, of Hi 'am, spent Monday iu this place. Ida Cowan, who was visiting relatives iu llarrisburg, has re turned home. Lemuel and Samuel Cliue, of this place, spe.it Friday iu Mount Union. John Crouse and Blanche Fin ley, of Dicorum, spent Wednes day at the County Seat. The hunters stem pretty nu merous in this section. We pre sume moreso than the game. Oreu Cisney U now carrying tiie mail from here to Harr.'son ville, Omer Horton, who has been employed m Mount Union, has returned to his home in this place. Baxter and Kramer, of Fan nettsburg, are puiutiug in our town. Charlie McGehod spent a couple of days at Chamborsburg recent- ly- The Presbyterian people are having their church repaired. Mrs. ti, W. Mclhiay aud Iter daughter, who were visiting the lonner's pu'onts at this place, have returned to their home 111 CtVu.r county. ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW Snapshots at Their Comings and Ooings Here for Vacation, or Away for a Rcst;ul'0utinj. NAMES OF VISITORS AND VISITED U. K. Hinn an. 1 wife, of Salu ' via, spent Saturday in this placo i on hn.Mncss, ' Uncle John G. Metzler, of Har- risouville, was among the visitors j in town last Saturday, j Horace N. Sipes, Msq., of Mc j Cou nellsburg, spent Sunday with I friends near Huston town. j Anthony Mellott and Edward j Swope, of Flo isaut K dge, were j County Seat visitors Saturday, j Henry Tritle and family, of I near Mercersburg, we "e visiting j relatives in this plaCU Saturday, s Amos Mellott, 0110 of Belfast j township's progressive teachers, I was a McConnellsburg visitor j Saturday. j Harvey M. Strait was in town I last week arranging for the ad vertising of his sale. See the I register. j Mrs. L. K. Harris and son Johh S. Harris, moved to the Smith ; property ou South Second street last Wednesday. Mrs. F.mnline Daniels, of Pleas iui il.J gu, apent a few clays dur ing the past week among friends 111 town. Fx County Commissioner II. King Mellott was m town a few Hours last Thursday attending to busiuess. Lewis McQuade. of Altooua. is j spending his annual vacation with relatives and . friends in this place. Charlie Hixsou, of Brush Creek Valley, was the guest of his un cle, D. T. Fields, in town, a day or two this week. Harry Laidig, wife aud son Lester, aud William T. Laidig and Pearl Laidig, left Mouday morn ing for a visit at Jeanette, Pa. Nellie G. Palmer aud Frances Daniels were guests in the home of District Attorney Geo. B. Dan iels 'ast Saturday and Sunday. Mrs. Virgie Beidleman aud Mrs. Cornelius Doyle, of Harris burg, were here last Friday at tending Mrs. Goldsmith's funer al. Henry Shue and family havo mcved from Alt Union to East Eud McConnellsburg. Wo hope they any tind thoir new home pleasant. Captain aud Mrs. Dixor, of Sal-jvia, were in town last Satur day. They expect to make a visit to 'heir friends in Pittsburg litter the election. Mrs. Otto Rexruili, of Omaha, Nebraska, was called to this place Friday on account of the death or her mother, M rs.-Hannah Gold smith. Mrs. Agues Ray aud daughter Miss Emma, are spending tho week visiting at the home of Mrs. Ray's dar.ghter. Mrs. Henry Tri tie, near Mercersburg. Walker Mellott, ot Belfast, town ship, vas in town a few hours last Thursday arraugijg for the ad vertising of his sale, which will bo on the first day of November. David Wise aud wife, of St. Thomas, returned home Monday after having spout several Uayr. in tho homo of J. K. Tritle tud wife. Mrs. Wise and Mrs. Tri tle are sisters. Howard Shimer and sou Clair, and the hitter's cousin, Roy Bark leyad of McKees Rockr, Pa., are visiting Howard's mother, and other friends and relatives in town this week. Diviuo services in the Reform od church m xt Sunday morning, at 10;!I0 a. m.; at Hebron ut 2:i:o p. in. Rev. li.- D. Kurtz, of Tel fore, Pa., will hold those services. All are invited. George Laidig and wife return ed to tlu.ir home in Hustontowu, Tuesday, after a ten hIhvh' visit with their children at Jeanette, Pa. Their son William returned with th iu.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers