Tippecanoe, Indiana, 1856.
Abram Rice 27, Timothy Driskill, 23, and David Stocking, all from
Lafayette were publically executed for murder. Stocking had been found
guilty of killing a man named John Rose by setting fire to Rose's warehouse
on Jan 8, 1855.
Rice and Driskill had been involved in killing a victim named Cephas
Fahrenbaugh during an armed robberty on May 3, 1855.
Two unnamed accomplices turned state's evidence against Rice and Driskill in
return for life sentences.
The trials were reprinted by Charles W. McClure, in 1975, from an account
of the hangings which are on microfilm at the Tippecanoe Co. Public
Library.
Rice, a tinner by trade, b. in Corydon, Indiana, and Driskill, a native of
Harrisburg, Pa, and Stocking. a tavern and hostelry owner, who came from
New York State, were linked by the two accomplices. The three were hanged
and Driskill and Rice's bodies were delivered to friends and Stocking was
buried at the expense of the county.
The above article was reprinted in part in the Lafayette Journal & Courier
on Sunday, July 13, 2003.
Roslyn