JL 4 1 cc Sheriff Good coa- ;V!1 .. j,t .nperniai comfort, ' .; V to that ' f the prisoners, to f,A ilUl them almost exelu " ". t t p.n'titndt cf mo.hidly '.'. now throrir-g the . t m, and from time to e jail yard to importune it a nioiucr.U g.impwe" of rf.j. To have praiifiel the u ntil of those who pre aould have kept the 1 i .ici-ulie constantly en- :jV'-l aI v1'- 1.-1 .:,,,. -.;b'nvted the two broth 'v ir. The " throws of death, " to -viii 'f even pain that ,-'r.-i ...red I; would Dot b . -j,.;;. tjn. f course discon-,-v h.iJ f'-eling in many jn ,.;! r-.-uitant of the repris .....,v iiw very gneml and . c-i-v of tbse at first angry, humor and finally ; : v.eriff fjr his consider ' xt:.e affair. The front end v . ' his private residence and ....-A,-, ill oihce were closed all r'v psties aa i officials of the ..-e'iirn.ttt J allowed to pass ri.-ical and ingenius pre f rarJ in order to pet in. have lived in a locality .;.;:.:.' J than any other n.eMand and Somerset f:.;.:u the pica1 that were .t':' for entrance on the p and the still c'os- '.low ship, business re rditionsh'p, aitidental :l.a: combine to bring r. years before the moun- jailers of the broth : 1 an 1 one other schemes n.vi who wished to pet anvof whom had notb-:-, is concerning the Nice st they have gleaned from 1 inferior source of in .ifver, very few persons n. H enr the jail, and these . . . y jien.!er of the city preoa to w:tn'f the exevation, re'. 'rninaries thereto. Even . :.; ::."n wre kept in ercrpeuse j. s.' v.'i !' r the Jetennination of . :f a.laiit only a ctrtaln very - .-. :. and a this number had , i:pn and tickets issued to -s !. ;! was founJ impossibie to . all who applied. Here .if o. 'appointment and oneor . ';ci. y reprters have not yet g! it thror.ph tbeir hair , ; .ane that they and their journals -v.rr.i n in a 'jay" county by vr.r heritr. a-lv&a'.ace that the .cemert o--r all of the prisons in the . that tue pillows in cse is the t. t-f nioi'-rn appliance in ue ns. There is no enci.. sure to '. n-' aw kwara wooJen platform -;j ttr-ifying incidents of njil-driv-u:-r..er pounding, fca wing of b juris, :j . i his. Is, and ft-jse other pre-.-..s iiich prate more horribly on v.-f the prisoners than the tones j. :,vr;!! in iva.hcg the death war : Zi.r Ijesui which pupports the r.pe, throtih which they are thrust, t f ..-vh-trapis the lever for releasing J tnr-. and ea. h a&d all p;.rts an i ofthe jail itself are always reaJy j .e u-' f'r wiitch lliev were maue ire heavy steel plates, ai.d thfy f.ill they make rather a loud . that may readily be heard in the : 1 it even tiii defet is. one tliat I L: l:!y rcaiciied. ani this done, - v..- ti of the pillow. is sure and noise- . s:."-r :f tJood, ia his wisdom, as- J e! that it was not necessary to pive r-j-es prepared for the execution of Nitelys a numWrof unnecessary tests, rt- f-nt unfortunate occarrence in ic.Lsrt':i oicnty, in the case of mur t Wrst. strenpthened this idea. He V re c -.E.-luded that "the fall of the y- won! 1 would be the proper test," t it last determination tore another . t t.vz .ncident from the last days br..hers. Kvery sheritfand visitor ';;; commended the wiom of the .r-f tnthis particular, and were loud . u.-::r xpres-ions of admiration of ;.!! , and the arramremcnts for the r.-E .. Tr.na .on st i-ER-TrrioN. j 2 r.f the prisoners confined in the s -r.1 r of the jiil are two colored -t l!a.-kir.s, in for carrying con-'- p.ns, and Charles, Alien com -: to u!.wer a charge of burglary. e rt .ieath and more particu-X:- ln:ty of the instrument of -i.-..;':..r-t ft .ri.-s, legends an 1 tradi-- n ::r iers under most horrible cir r, -u: led with innate fuper i :.:ve tijVine.! U well-niph craze "-; r. -n and their terror is pitiable. v h. c zp the Sheriff in a very jni- tested the death traps. Seeing " 's. i: d n-aliiing its objects appar- ii'ur.-tcd the negroes with fear. -J d an i implored the Sheriff to J-'.ln w the barn on the day of the t in ! them hand and foot w ith r. i ixp ise nrvr! tLem tne most " -i:r- fuetcr.k.n he might wili i vy. ! ':t "f. t i:i"8 sake don't " 5s in ti e jll a hen you ia hanging --uki.' .--.in an ! nziin thev haveiiu- '..iV. the if to (jet t'nem ot of j U'; i.r.j. He w ill likely confine them j :-'." ui tl.e (vhs oc up.ed by the Nn-e-n- tie ei c-. rridor of the prison. '- ,:"-!-l 1 aTTutKEY BiEiEC'KER tave Nicely Baptized. . ' r . . r.O'. ADMITS HIM T0TI! ' .''.-T TYf F rAXI'BF.LUTK EtEMO- 4' .'y was baptiied yesterday -Jj iTter the orescrlntion of the Dis- ' : ' ha-.. h at the bands ot iier. C W. the local istor in the crunty ta;ti 't wim nrvtiariw) and filknl I . i r 41 ivr v.y tbe direction of Sheriff 'iT.d thortlv fter li) nWt Itrt Si'3 f-v.m ti cell and to the im ,. '" hapt'-Jry where the minister of '--lii ( iiorch awaited him. The fc-iuLr t ; . . i i i .i : Vl -w u-.H long nor uu liic wiu "b the candidate beyond the -l. T8loftheriM!. He was assisted iSi:i,'rr of thtimembers and othciaia -Miic?gatia who were also icter-fj-.-titirs of the ceremony. A I -'3':is-i'jn Dave said he feit nnrh -ic at any time einc hi mcar and warmly thanked bis friends r' CV ir4 teit in thi last act this side liie VOL. XXXIX. NO. 11. THE NICELYS HANGED ! THE MURDEUEKS OF OLD HERXAS I'MCERGER SATISFY THE 1AWS DEHAXDS. DEATH OX THE GALLOWS Finale of One of the State's Most Celebrated Criminal Trials. FULL HISTORY OF THE C3SE FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE h - . . --V- - e :. rar -..-.- -J5 .... i. n is i THE COUNTY JAIL. The Local Exciiement High, but Temperate. Scenes Never to Air t Exercise ?ECOXI -Tlx tR 1X.AS OF MALE l'EPARTMENT OF FRISOX. Tn T!'S ' t,-l-loe oiatain nr romhination ftir lot kinr rell. D.Ca to the exer r i crnJor. E, Eik-j'.'.w Tnl fiair leaitiiu? fnn eurj room to ee cou.i florrr prison. .s Thousands of Curious People Crowd the Streets for Scpiares Around the Jail's Cold Aralls, Me a Select Few-Witness the Execution. DEATH SCENES AND I Bill 1! : 5 A b END. n r- w; - m be Forgotten. hamber. Jot Sic:. Cave Xit?!y. C1 OrriA. St;: AND INCIDENTS. Somerset SOIERSET, PA., THURSDAY, The Xiclv hrotlicr Josc aiij David, were Lanired in the Somerset county juil at 1 A? o'clock this af ternoon ; the drop failintr at that moment. The preliminaries were of very brief duration, and were absolutely perfect ia the minutest detail. Sheriff Good who executed the men, went at tu-j matter of preparation in his characteristic business-like manner, and when the time come there was not a hitch. The scenes and incidents prelimina ry to the drop were of the conven tional type and those who went for a surprise were disappointed. The brothers were cool, unrated and prepared for their share in the pro ceedings. A half hour before the hanging took place they were re moved to a cell adjoiuing the drop and there they awaited the Sheriff of their execution. Revs. Grander and Deal attended them in their cells and the interval of waiting was passed in ingintr and praying. "I'm Going Home, " and other hymns were sung. Joe's tenor ming ling harmoniously with the deep, robust bass of Rev. Real. The singing was kept up until 1:17 V. M., when Sheriff Good and his dej uty Henry Rarron went to the cell and ia a firm, loud voice read the death warrants to the condemned men, reading David's first. Dave at the conclusion of the reading ex claimed, " God bless you Sheriff. " and reaching up kissed the Sheriff on the cheek. Joe did the same thing Revs. Granger and Real then bent forward and whispered in the ear of each of the men a mo ment presumably exhorting them to a confession, but evidently to no effect as both shook their heads and turned to the Sheriff. They were then left alone for a few minutes with the minister and Sheriff Good, and at 1 :3S the pro cession started to the trap, Sheriff Good and deputy Rarron leading, followed by Rev. Granger, leading Dave, and Rev. Reall. encouraging Joe. Thoy took seats on tlte scaf fold next to the drop, and ia a mo ment knelt at the request of Rev. Granger, whilst he. in a peculiarly solemn manner, prayed lor them. their loved ones and their salvation. Rev. Real added a word, and then Sheriff Good EaiJ, Dave "have yoa anything tor say ?" "I say to you all good-bye," said Dave in a firm tone. fcIf a single word I can say will be the instru mentality of saving a single soul, 1 shall have had my reward. I bear no ill-will toward any one. Again, good-bye." lie sank back into his seat, and Joe was asked if he wish ed to add anything. Joe hesitated a minute, looked benevolently at those in front hi;u and said: I say to you all. prepare to meet your God. It is a sure thing that you must all meet your God. It is bet ter to do so now, for the time may come when you will wish you had. I hold no feeling or ill-will toward any one. This is all I have to Eay." r the next minute the men were busily engaged in shaking hands and kissing their friends. They were quickly bound and prepared for the drop. They stood up and the ropes were adjusted and the black caps put over their heads. -Good-bye, boys," said Sheriff Good. -Good-bye all." said the two men together, and the sound of their voices was lost ia the clanrin:r of the steel traps as they fclL The usual shudder, the heavy breaths of relief, and the spectator? began to hurry tip and get out of the upper corridor to watch what , was going on below. Dave stood on the south trap aud as Sheriff Good moved the lev er and the doomed men dropped Drs. Kimmell, Luther, Shaffer and Good began aa examination oi pulse and heart. Dave died wiin- out a struggle, while Joe s spirit seemed lothc to leave his body. Roth men were pronounced dead in thirteen minutes. Dave's body being lot down at precisely 2 o'clock and Joe's two minutes later. The remains were carried to the Sheriff's office, placed in coffins which were at once loaded on un dertaker Lowry's wagon and start ed for the darkened home across the ridge. Roger O'Mara, assistant supcr- tendent of police. Pittsburgh, who was aa interested spectator, gays of th -reeiitinn aa a whole : "This is the first time that I have ever seen an execution on a scaffold tbat was a iwrtion of the jail and I am very much pleased with its working. There is really nothing but the drops and traps and these are so arranged as to do their work sim ply and effectively. Ia my opinion the Somerset plan u the Lest in ESTABLISHED 1827. the State and should bt a general adoption. The preparitions made by Sheriff Good were simply fault less and oa the whole I consider it one of the best coudtcted oi the manv executions I hav witnessed.'' The Jury. Sheriff Good selected the following named gentlemen to serve as the jury: Edward llolaopple, Paint Twp. Samuel Barclay, Miiford Aaron Miller, Conenaugu " Herman Stahl, Somerset u 5. Nelson Simpson, Somerset " 6. Joseph Specht, tjuenahoning " 7. Samnel Snyder, Sofserset " 8 Jasper Aoyitine, Addison " 0. Robert E. IUws, AildLson 10. lM. Miller, Summit 11. Xuthan Grift th, Jenner " 12. tieorge Duuibauld, Upper Tur keyfoot township. U HERMAN CMBERO'ER Their Last Night. HO' THK Mt'UtiKRS I'ASSEU TI1KIR hoves ix rr.isoN. There was little cf an incidental nature going on ia the corridor in which the Nieelys were confined lait night Early in tlte evening Iiev. Mr. Grander accom panied by a few of his parishioners went to the jail and hold a prayer meeting in Dave's celL The singing and pray ins; were conducted in a solemn manner and Dave's responses to the petitions in his behalf were little stronger than the tones of thoee who were iropioriujr Divine mercy fur hiai. The atmosphere of glootn that invested the cell, brounght its chill to the minister and his friends and the attempt at cheerfulness was ftaccess fuL Dave comforted himself as Lravely as he could, but his face was the picture of crief inp fr-- Ci - After iux. acvotionai exercises tiad been eluded those who went into the jail with Mr. Granger left, and upon the ur gent appeal of Dave tl.e minister con sented to remain all night with lilru. It was a lonely vizil. Cave sat in one cor ner of his cell, bis fa?e a greenish w hite, bis hands loosely clisped together and his feet dra-jin on the floor, as they no longer possessed the power of action or locomotion. He appeared oblivious to his sammndinss but frequently bright ened cp and appeared to t ike an inter est in the admonitions of his spiritual advisor, who gently and kindly talked to him in so low a tone of voice that the eound of their voices died ere it reached the grated bars of his cell door. There was something terrifying in the specta cle and its influence farced itself upon the death watchers who crept rather than walked along the narrow passage way fronting the cells, occasionally steal ing a sympathetic glance upon the men who, the next night, would have passed beyond their custody. In Joe's cell the spectacle was even more mournful. HU footsteps, which were distinctly heard in the afternoon echoing through the halls ad they falter ed triangularly through the cell, were now catlike in their silence, an J he seem ed to glide rather than w alk as he went from bolthead to bolthead ; now feeling of his washboards ; now pausing at Lis bedside ; but always moving either his feet or his bands, or his whole body. The entrance of the minister or that of some new person, the movements of those outside his cell, never for a moment attracted hia attention, nor did he once raise his eyes or look out through his cell door during the whole of the long evening. He Las the appearance of one in both mental and physical collapse. If he is shamming, thtre has not been a flaw in the scheme of deception, and he has carried it oat with a fidelity to detail that is simply past belief. Ex-depaty SheriSf McTdillen said shortly before midnight : "I am not yet satisfied that Joe is insane. I know him so welL lie is a great schemer, and once he takes hold of a thing he will stick to it I still think be is shamming. I have watched the employment by hi of some of his senses when his actions would give the idea that he is absolutely obliv ions to his surrounding". A day or two ago, w hen a tet of the trap was being made he cocked his ears and looked past me as sanely as ever he did, ami in a moment he was apparently entirely "off." " Early Morning in Their Cells. Dave Nicely arose this morning 20 minutes before 6 o'clock. He said to George Witt, a member of the death watch, "I was worked np to such a pitch last night that I slept but very little. I never had much pleasure in this world. All I ever had was with my children. No father could have thought more of bis children than I have." Tarning to Witt, he asked, "if one of your children asked for a fish would you give him a snake T Witt replied tbat he would not, and Dave continued, "well, I believe if I ask Christ for something good he will not give me something bad." The guard say that he was rest'.ew throughout the night and turned on his cot every half-hour. J )g ABANDONS THE INSANITY DOIK.E. Joe arose about five tninntes after his hmther. and when Milt entered his cell M1 tim to the Lbasia be asked, p 2 Fii ft. i . - v . "how do yoa feel, Joe V T ! APRIL 2, 1891. "First-rate," came a prompt response from the lips that have not uttered a sound for more than ten days. "What day is this V he aked of Witt He was told that it was Thursday. When his breakfast was brought in a few minutes Liter he said, after taking a few bites, "this tastes first-rate." Here the Sheriff entered his cell and said, "how are yon feeling, Joe 7" "I am feeling pretty well," answered the prisoner, and then asked the Sheriff the day of the week. ' Joe," said Sheriff Good, "don't yon want to see a minis ter r "Ia Pap here?" was his reply Onbe- ing infrrued that his father had not ar rived, he requested that the minister who had been visiting Iave Elder Granger be sent for. and asked for his satchel. When the satchel was handed him he took from it a clean shirt, collar, necktie and cuff-buttons, and after plac ing a few articles of soiled linen in it requested tbat it be seut to his family. After this he asked if his wife had come to Somerset, and learning that she had not, he began writing a letter to her at 8 o'clock and was writing when the El der arrived, half an hour afterward. Elder Granger spent a few minutes in hia cell and then retired until Joe had completed his letter. He had entirely broken down when he had finished writing, and wept bitterly. Mrs. Good came into the corridor about 10 o'clock and exchanged a few words with the wretched man. "If only you are pre pared to die, Joe," said Mrs. Good. "I am prepared," he replied, and great tears rolled down bis cheeks. Said They Were Innocent. FINAL TALK Or THE NICELYS WITH THEIR COINSEL AMI WHAT T1IKY 6AIO. At 11 o'clock ("ii-nerals ColTroth and Koonts and Mr. W. H. Ruppel, counsel for Nicelys came into the jail and hook hands with them in an affectionate man ner. They first entered Jce's cell and talked with hiin a minute or two, when General Koontz called the Herald rep resentative into the cell and said : "Joe knows that from the very start we have urged him to tell the unqualified truth in thi- matter." "Yes I did," said Joe, his eyes suffuKl wi;h tears, at the same time using the back of his han.ls to brush away those that streamed down his (ace. "He also protested his innocence from the start, and'' "You still d.i, Joe?" asked the reporter. "Yes, sir, I do ; and am innocent," said J Joe, almot overcome, not only by the intensity of his emotions, but by his physical weakness aa well. "We al-o told him," continued General Koontz, "that if they w?re guilty it was of no use in impoverishing his poor old father and keeping him in ignorance of the c.""K-.,beiid. cent and etui aert it "Yes, ir," said General Coffroth, " iod has cleared np his mind at this final moment for a purpose. He has done it in order that he may, meet death, asert his innocence and clear his memory and leave his children his good name." "Oh, yes," said Joe, fervently and fer vid!y, "God has done this for me. I an innocent and I maintain it I want to say that our counsel here have done all that was humanly possible to save ns and to get us out of this trouble. They have stood by ns to the lad ; they have been our friends. We are innocent." From the cell of Joe the counsel went into Dave's cell and held a private con versation lasting about three minutes. Again the Herald representative was called in, and again toe questions as to j innocence or guilt were put by General Koontz. Dave was much more reticent than Joe, but said : "I have denied any connection with this Umherger aflair so frequently; so distinctly and so emphat ically that I do not care again to do so." "Are yen innocent?" asked the report er. Dave hestiated, averted his eyes for a moment, and said : "I will say, yes. That is all I have to say now. I wish to say that my counsel have been steadfast, faithful and true to me. They have neg lected nothing that would have served to save me and Joe." " Have you male a confession V " I have made a statement to my pas tor, Mr. Granger, and he will make it public It is not a confession, but rather a comment on the testimony. That tes timony about our going over the moun tain was false, and the pocketbook they produced against ns bogns. That's all I have to say." Joe subsequently said, "yoa can just say that fraud and perjury have placed ns w here we are. Men and women testi fied to things that were not true in order to convict us. I believe that ttis was a set np job against ns in order to get the reward that was offered. This reward w ill burn their hands now and in eterni ty, without they repent I harbor no ill- feelinz toward any of my enemies. I for give them all ; I forgive them as freely as Christ has forgiven me for my trans gressions." SHERIFF GOOD. Examining the Death Traps. THE NICELYS StRlTlSIZE THE BoPES, COF FINS, HAXDCXFVS 1SD OTUEE PREPARA TIONS FOR TneiR DEATH. Shortly before 10 o'clock this morning both of tbe Nicelys asked Sheriff Good to allow them to examine the coffins, ropes, handcuffs and other things that been prepared for the final act cf their lives. The Sheriff1 said if they really I' ' ' ' T3 ? n JLJLC wished to make the examination he would be glad to go with them. Dave was already dressed and Joe placed him self in the hands of Sheriff flood and ex Sheriff Winters for his last toilet He carefully examined each article of cloth ing as it was produced and as he picked up little articles such as a handkerchief, pair of socks, a photograph of himself or his unfortunate brother he would re mark, " These few things I have marked for the children. Sheriff, and I want yoa to send this valise and its contents home for me." Looking np he noticed an old weather-beaten derby hat hanging on the wall of his ced and he asked that it also be wrapped np and sent to his fath er. All of his requests were attentively listened toby the Sheriff and an early compliance promised. The suits in which the brothers were hanged are those that they have been wearing since their confinement and are neither hand some nor attractive. Slowly and pain fully was the dressing process carried on in Joe's case, he insisting on examining e ach article of apparal and passing an opinion on it as he donned it. Finally the two officials finished their work and placing at old fashioned linen collar around Joe's neck he walked out into the corridor where Dave joined them a minute later and limped painfully after him alone the passage way and down in to the jail office where thetwocolfins had been placed. Joe examined both care fully and said they seem very nice, ne looked at the glass lids and finally asked which one was his. Dave took a similar interest in the examination and then the two walked into cell in which the ropes were stored. The ropes had been placed in the little box in which they had come to the Shiriff C. O. D. and at Joe's instance Sheriff Good took them from the box and banded them to Joe and Dave. The very small diameter of the one Joe took in his hand caused him to ask: "Do yoa think this will be strong enough, Sheriff? I do not want any mistakes now." The Sheriff assured Joe that the rope would make no mistake and Joe pro ceeded with his examination. "This is what you call the knot is it?" said he as he took hold of the rope. The rope slips through this doesn't it, are yoa sure it will slip all right ?" be asked somewhat petulantly as if doubtful of the perfection of the cord and noose, "Oh we intend to soap the rope and faultless" sai l the Sheriff in a reassuring tone. "I don't think anything will eo wrong at the last"' rejoined Joe. "Now, how are you to combine our arms?" "In this place" said the Sheriff pro ducing a little paper box, and taking frorn it a pair of glistening new hand en ffs. "I thought I would get new ones, Joe, and not use thoee old ones you knew so well." "I am glad you did, now put them on the t vnn intr' ".at the last," Jot s r.iiOA, aimost encOma.-eea iu those of the Sheriff, were placed behind Lis back and the cuffs placed n them. Joe made a feeble test-movement and said wearidly. "I guess they! hold, What time is it." He was told just 10 o'clock and he said : "Three hours yet, are you going to us then." "At one thirty Joe," replied the Sher iff, and at this moment a residentof Som erset called Joe aside and asked h'm : "Have you made any confession or given out anything for publication that is in the nature of a confession." "Nothing" said Joe, "but what I have already said, and that is no confession." All of this time ex-Sheriff Winters was carrying on a similar scene with with Dave who had had apparently the same morbid interest in the accesso ries to his death as that of his brother. The mournful inventory was soon com pleted and the men went np the stairs to their cells for the last time and for near ly an hour remained and took leave of those who had been their friends and neighbors in more hapny times. JtriKiE BAES. The Final Meal. JOB NICELY PHILOSOPHIZES ON THK BEAT TV OF YIELDING GR-UEFVLLY TO TU INEVITABLE. At 11-11 o'clock Mrs. Good, wife of the Sheriff, and one or two other ladies spread the table for the last meal of the doomed men. Upon it they placed oranges, ap ples, prunes, set eral kinds of cake, cold chicken, custard, and coffee. Both par took sparingly, hut what they ate was eaten with a relish. The Sheriff and Rev. Mr. Granger sat down at the table, and with Mrs. Good talked of matters and incidents of their confinement in a pleasant manner. Joe said : " It is a sudden death, but it most be met, and where a thing is not to be avoided, it most be met. It is but a step from darkness to light, and I am so glad that I am ready to go.'. Incidents of tbe Day. Just after breakfast this, morning Joe Nicely called Milton McMiilten.the Dep uty Sheriff he shot in his first effort at escape, to his cell and shaking him warmly by the hand asked his pardon for the art and tne pain it had caused McMiilen. "I have always been sorry for it and I hope you will forgive me." McMiilen assured him. of bearty forgive ness and Joe appeared to be more at his ease. mm- STl .Ml 1 -Li- VLL WHOLE XO. 12071. A little son George Nicely, of Ligonier, a cousin of the Nklys, called at the jail this morning and was was warmly re ceived by both iif them. " I'.A. Lowry, tho Ligonier undertaker, called on the boy this morning. They asked him very n ;rTouly about the pr parations for their funeral and burial, and were well sitisfied with what he told them. Both of the Nicelys were confident np to the last m:nute that their father and mother wou'd call on them before their death, and doe was very much dis appointed a he was not rational on the occasion of his father's have taking with him earlier in the week. At 12.1 loclock Iter. IScall, pastor of the Eranslieal Asoo.ation church of this place and the Kev. Z:n . of the Lntheran church of New (Vntreyillo, went to Joe's ceil and after ustutl solemn preliminaries administer ed the communion using the conventional bread a:id wine as symbols. Joe joined heartily in the services and responses. One or twice Li3 tea-s overcame him and he broke down as tbe minister read the oiemn and 'oraiitifu! wo'da inciiU-nt to the celebra tion of the aered rite. A bymn or two was sung a i ihe services for the dead followed close ur-in those that acclaimed Joe's recep tion inu the chu.xh. At the conclusion of the services Joe bran the hymn in a dis tinct but weak voice that at times was husky "If ever I loved toy Jesns 'tis now." singing it through, then K?v. Zicn offered a fervent prayer and after a word or two exhortation the services in J ' room were concluded with the hymn "Nearer tc (.iod," Joe leading the gin(Ti;ig. la the cell occupied by Dave Elder Cran ger and tue doomed man held wispered con verse. Dave t jrning the leves of the Bibie he has read for months. Scarcely a word could be heard coming from the cell occupied by Joe. At 12 A') p. ni. the Niceiys were removed to the cell aJj'jii.ini; the drops. They took no notice whMver of the npes or other preparations ar.d after an a.iecting leave taking from Mr. McMiilen. wife of theShertf who had them i;t charge so many months, they ad.lresl themselves to the reiigious preliminaries and awaited the Sheriff's coming. At U 15 o'clock Alderman Bopp. of Alle gheny, the man who made the r'pesapir ed and with the assistance of the Sheriff at tached the rope to the rinjs prepared for them and tested them without springing the j trap. Tbe hanlcuns. straps :or mnu;ng aau other preliminaries were som arrangeu. The r.oes were so ailju.-i-' l as to give a Ml of rather more than tbive feet, and in the interval follownt; tbt-ir eianination by the condemned had been waxed and were in ex cellent condition. Curious spectators of this scene were the negroes Allen and Haskins and the three or I ur prisoners -ho looked on in opened mouthed awe and terror. They were soon after taken back to thrir cells locked up until after the drops feli. y. J. K' -ER. ES-i. Burial of the Nicelys. GfcVTES AWAITING THE OS THE FARM OF THE K FATHER NEAR LI'ioMER. C. A. Dowry, a Ligonier undertaker, together a ith his assistant G. W- Deeds, arrival in town hist night at the instance of the father of the Nicelys to take home ! the rema: ns of the men directly after the exeeu'.ion cer. Mr. Lowry said, Mr. Nicely in? reeled roe to take charge of the ren.ains of both boys as soon as tne Sheriff shall have finished with them. I aai to take charge of the re mains without removing the black caps, place the n in the coffins furnished by the county of Somerset and start with then for Ligonier at once. We should arrive there sometime to-morrow night. j No one must be allowed to see the re mains, not even the faces of the dead men. When I arrive home I shall at once pro.fed to embalm the bodies and prepare them fr burial. They are to be placed in two of ray coffins and buried in them. These are the old man's orders. He said to me this morning, "the coffins that yon may bring them home in may be as good and may be even better than those I shall be able to bury them in, but they must be bttried in my coffins and you must barn those that they were broughT home in. Make no show of my bovs in Somerset but come home imme diately you get them." "I think the funeral will take place about Sanday. as Mr. Nicely was anxious to know if I could embalm the bodies to test tint kn.'. Ii will be of the most private nature and only a very fe peo ple wi 1 be present. Rev. Mr. llanna- walt, a Dunkard minister, will conduct the de otional exercises. Tbe interment will take place in a comer of the farm of old man Nicely, in which already lay the remaits of one of Joe Nicely "s children, the wife of Dan Nicely, and other more remote relations of the family. The little graveyard is a private one and in it now lie hut the blood of the Nicelys. Mr. Nicelv has gone at this matter methodically and intelligently, and means that no public exhibition of his dead jhall follow their execution." Summary of Sentiment. GENES A LS rOFrROTTT. AND KOONTZ TELL THE STORY OF THE13 DEFENSE Or THI S1CSLYS. General A. II. Coffroth, senior counsel for tbe Nicely boys, tells the story of his conniption with the case in a most inter esting and thnding manner. I was called npon bv A. A. Nicely, father of Joe nd Dave, shortly after their arrest and asked by him to undertake their de fense. He also told me that he wished to employ an.th-r attorney a;.d askl ni to name a man in whom I had cor.tidence ami I sugge-ted Gen. W. H. Koor.tz and after a consultation with that gentleman be consented to co-ojtrau; with me hi the conduct of the case. We began the defense, and its successive steps are mat ters of history. "Dj I believe them giilty? Nx sir, I do n ?t, and from jnytLicg either his tf.l i tae, or aaytila I le.ira.fl Leri-. I have lacy solemn' o jii-U f .r Ht;:i abt l. :' aQ-rrted U.?ir ica .e.i.- to i.ieon the iasi a of nr Sri! n. --'-in;. and hive rtter4'ed it ftir. t:n:f I time under ir uins'aix rs that 'ai in to think lhy are innocent men. D.tvi Nicely, in particular, has persistently de nied complicity in or knowledge of the crime of k.lling Herman I ml-erger. Joe, in his sane rnotu-nu, wasejuiiiy positive in his assertions. Let me illus trate. This morning I was in the jiil 1" minutes before Dave Nicely was immers ed, and calling hu attention to the pro posed rite, its sanctity, its meaning as a preparation for the awful ordeal through which he is to pass, I said solemnly to Dave, ' David, are you a guilty man ?' He drew himself up, and looking at mo steadily, he said, I am an innocent man.' A few minutes after w iris the . minister of God rwme in and Dave was immersed and professed his faith in the merits of Christianity. Dj this the ap pearance of guilt? I can cite a still stronger example, and. to my mind, the dramatic scene of my lifetime and pro professional experience. One day, after the Supreme Court had cut off ail hope in that direction, and after the desperate effort they mad at liberating themselves, in which they shot IVputy Sheriff Mc Miilen, old man Nicely came to mean! avked me to go witb hi:n to see the boys. The Sheriff bad plaed a guard on the jail, and assuming the responsibility for everything the guard was expectel to cover I sent it don stairs and lett the old man alone wih his son, I pa-wing into the corridor in the meanwhile or kept out of ear shot of the confi. lances of fath er and son when enter-hAnng. Final ly I walked np to the cell and the two ape together. The old man turned around and faced Dave, regarding him with all the love that desperation and the knowledge of an imminent separation can crowd into a father's Cce and eyes and bursting into tears said, ' h Dave my son, my youngest son, my last born son, yoa see into what trouble this affair has brought ns all. you in the shadow of death and I and your mother in the very depths of despair over your condition and that of your brother. Yoa have whitened our heads prematurely ad are hastening as toward the graves which we are already too near. Oh son, my son, my son.;f you are guilty tell me now, confess and let me know alL ' The fath er's feelings overcame him here, and turning his eyes imploringly on his son besought him to unbosom himse'f. David's tears were mingling with those of his father, but drawing himself np he steadied his body and his voice and sol emnly and distinctly declared hht inn cence. "I believe yoa, my son, I believe yoa, and I'll do all in my power to help yoa establish yoar innocence." The father and son fell into each other's anus and there was as sad a scene as I have ever witnessed. I might multiply in stances of this nature, bnt these will go tOBhowthe trend of thine and at the same time give the basis of my belief in their innocence. "Another factor in this fabric of inni cence. I asked Iave and Joe one day, after the Supreme Court had affirmed the fin-ling of the Somerset county court in their case, " Gentlemen, if yoa can ar range to furnish the means this case can be carried up to the Board of Fardons. I -..uit . - .ouiu..wtion 0( gnten, 9 may uc rmu6vj r . , t solute pardon. " How mnch will it take T asked b-t'a of them. "Well, four or five, or six thousand dollars," aaid I, trying to drw them out in regard to the Umberger money, which it was said lhey had ta ken on tbe night of the murder cf old man Umberger. I watched them nar rowly for a few minutes, and Joe sai-1. "there is a man in the neighborhood who, I think, will advance me a thou sand dollars if father will back the note for me. That is all I can raise." "1 think Mr. P.odebaugh, of Suter. will let me have a thousand dollars to aid me in a case like this," sai l Dav. "Boys," said I, " where is the Vmber ber money ? It is cla:med that thousands were lost that night I do not care w hat yoa have done with it or where you have put it. Let some man come to me, I do not care to know his name, and say he wants to put money into this case to save your lives and I will ask no ques tions about the source of the money or try to discover the identity of the man.'' I was still trying to see if I had been mistaken in my estimate of their inno cence. They never quivered, never mov ed a facial muscle or manifested the least sign of guilt or confusion. Both sai l they had not a penny, and ha never touched or seen a cent of oi l I'raber ger's money. This convinced me more than ever of their innocence and has kept me stable ia this belief." General W. H. Koontz, who has bevn associated with General Coffr- th ia tha defense of the Nicelys, sai l bast night : "An attorney's duty to his ciient in a capital case ends when the d nip fails an i not before. I besran the defense of Joe and Ive as conscientiously as I ever did anything in my lifts and have made as honest an effort in their behalf as it was in my power to do as did, also, ien- era! Coffroth. I think the uncertain character of the testimony of the Com monwealth, contradicted as it w is in al most every particular, wa3 too vaci in itself to take away the lives of two people. I thirk ali that there was in the case of Joe Nicely a clear prof of alibi where at least ten witnesses aa 1 three books were introduced and uncon tradicted in his beha'f, and in the in stance of Iave the proof of alibi was nearly as good. In every sppeal to these brothers on the part of General Coffroth and myself to declare themselves, they solemn'y ai l emphatically denied any complicity in the murder of old man Umberger. After their first conviction, in the appeal to the Supreme Court, in our efforts before the Pardon Board, they separately and to gether affirmed and decUred their inno cenre J asked them, (ien. Coffroth asked them, ana in all forms and conditions have we tried to get from them a state ment of their guilt, if they were guilty and our every attempt was met by the same denial, and to-night I can say, as one of their counsel, that there is, and has been, nothing in their conduct to make me believe to the contrary." Rev. C. W. Grarger for weeks haj been unwearied in his attendance upon Ive Nicely, and to his minL-trations Dave said he was indebted for the grace he feit at tbe last moment. He has. at the ex expense of his health and '.hat of his wife spent nearly all of the !at ten day with Dave, and lias done m'Kti to alieviato his sufferings. SheriJGood and his wife also did all ia their power fur the boys, and were extremely kind at all times The parting was an extremely affecting one, juat after noon to-day. SCENE OF THE! HANGING. rv. O
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