Rice, Ed (1898-1927)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1927 Sep 14 p. 1

Birth date: 1898

text of obituary:

WORKER MEETS TRAGIC DEATH

Ed Rice, Workman on the J. H. Regier Farm, Accidentally Killed

The home of J. H. Regier on the Harvey Co. line, directly east of Newton, was saddened last Thursday forenoon as Ed Rice, 29 year old farm hand, was accidentally killed there. Mr. Regier and Mr. Rice had been busy putting hay into the loft of the barn until about nine oclock, when Mr. Regier went to the field to mow more hay, leaving Rice to finish the work by himself. At about twelve o’clock Mr. Regier returned from the field and found the hired man lying near the barn, dead.

As Mr. Regier’s sister, who was the only person in the house at that time had not noticed anything unusual and as far as is known no one witnessed the accident, it is impossible to determine exactly how Mr. Rice met with death. However, it is quite evident that he must have been struck fatally by the sharp end of a broken double or single tree. As Mr. Regier came to the scene he found one double and one single tree broken and the horses standing a short distance away. close examination f the dead man’s body revealed a small wound in his chest near the heart; it was also found that the wall of the heart had been punctured by the p9ointed object, which is thought to have caused the man’s death. A jury, composed of a number of farmers from the community who had been immediately summoned to the place, confirmed this opinion.

Mr. Rice was a native of Wyoming, but his family was temporarily located in Wichita at the time of the accident. He was a good workman and as and as is known a respected citizen. In the whole community deep sympathy is felt and expressed for all who in some way are affected by the tragic incident.