Beckham County, OK - Deaths: James Rice, 1919
Sunday, 05 October 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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RICE, JAMES
(Feb 1919, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Last week Wednesday night's issue of the Headlight, Jim Rice was picked up
in an unconscious condition at the northwest corner of Main and Fourth
streets, and died before he could be removed to a physician's office.
Dr. H. K. Speed was called, and an examination of the body disclosed a
bruise on the forehead, at first supposed to have been caused by his head
striking the cement sidewalk when he fell, but which the physician
declared was insufficient to have caused death.
Sheriff Frances was on hand only a few minutes after the discovery of the
body, and soon learned that two gentlemen, comparative strangers in Sayre,
had been standing only a few feet away, and had seen Rice in conversation
with four or five others.  About noon Jas. L. Taylor was arrested, charged
with being the man who hit Rice.  He was arraigned before Judge McComas,
his examination set for next Monday, Feb. 10, and bail fixed at $2,000,
which was furnished on Saturday.
Thursday forenoon a coroner's jury was drawn, and investigation started,
which brought out evidence tending to show that Rice had been drinking,
and that his death might have been caused by drinking some of the
substitutes quite commonly used to take the place of whiskey.
Under these conditions county officers decided that a complete
investigation was necessary, and the stomach contents were examined.  A
telephone message from Dr. DeBar, of Norman, state chemist, yesterday
brought the information to the Beckham county officers that the analysis
of the contents of Jas. Rice's stomach disclosed the presence of
strychnine and wood alcohol in quantities sufficient to have caused death.
Funeral services were held on Friday afternoon from Mr. Rice's late
residence, one half mile east of this city, Rev. Skelton officiating. 
Interment was at the Doxey-Sayre cemetery.
Jas. Rice was 33 years of age, and although a comparatively young man he
was a pioneer resident of this section, coming to this section with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Rice, when but a boy.  He is survived by a
wife and two children, his parents, and one sister, Mrs. Ed Wade,
northeast of this city.

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