7,000 COPIES!
HIGH WATER MARK.
A Edition of 7.000 Copies of the Her
Sold and Order for Thousand
More Received.
Dave Nicely BapiUod.
V
1
j rr.
lie
TK3
David Nicely was bapt !.-! "V.-
moming after the manner of !h
cipies' t harch at the hand c f 1-v
Granger, the lural patr, ra ti:e
oir.-y
jaiL A bath tub perStctiy
:ate to
ill theesact;s was jmpircd ''1. ' '.
Borne
Her aid
SO h
Or. Ust Tlnirsdn-, April 2,
T-.:r Herald published a
tIr-r'.ure "Extra" regular
UrRl:.D size devoted entire
to natters! and incidents
Staining" to the murder of
Ueman Umterger, and the
--re-:, trial and execution of
e sorcerers. The first edi
cf 1.500 copies was sold
-redly as the papers could
5 Vkcn" from the press, to
"be anxious crowd that sur-r-,ied
the Herald ornce. A
'-v:-hour later a second edi-v.-as
put to press, and
7 ;o0 copies struck off. This
entire edition was disposed cf
,j -cwsbovs and Local news-'L-.'ers,
and orders were re-
through the mail for
I thousand copies that
;:t be supplied. This
-edition of the Heuald
?-ee " the "Extra " and
1.000 better.
St'.'C.
j-etiC '
ri :t
8,000 COPIES.
The Sherifrs Good Nature.
Y-.:.:,:t ne r&ir.g Sheriff Good coc- j
cai-i it oulJ be to h.s persona! corufort,
trid e-i-i':''T to t"at prisot-ers. to !
himself and them almost exela-j
sv- y frits the multitudes of morbidly j
that are now thronging; the j
,,f the trwn, and from tin.e to j
-je av.ading the jail yar ! to importune j
h.m f. r "just a moment's glimpse" of j
!:e c"cl- To gratifiel j
sir?s -f one-tenth of those who pre-f
fc-rej tl.e requests, would have kept the
v.er.l and his deputies constantly en-"fcS-i
a'.' '-aT is J far into the night and
1: tie eaa.e time subjected the two broth
rs. a.ready in the " threes of death, " to
tsJiofc aanoyanee and even pain that
elieri:Ic?r!sidered he would not be
'3st;ieJ ia ia:V;cting. Of course discon
wnt and very bad feelings in mmr in-f-ve
were the re-ultants of the re fis
ts, tat a they were very general and
wwiss, many of those at first anrry,
-gained their good humor and finally
r amended the Sheriff for his c-msider-K
conduct in the affair. The front and
f;.i d.-ors of Lis private residence and
is d-- of the jail off.. were closed all
itv and only deputies and officiate of the j
clotty were admitted or allowed to pass
out.
The most whimsical and ir.jenics pre
! xts wore pat forward in order to get in.
Tie Nicelys nvast have lived in a locality
norethukly populated than any otfcex
section of Westmoreland and r-omerset
coanties.jaditing from the plea? that were
sect into the Sheriff for entrance on the
score tf nehzhborsh p aad the still clos
er tynd of schoo'cieliowship, business re
lations, blood relation&h.p, accidental
cin'oaisUnees that combined to bring
thrai together in years before the moan- j
am were the only jailers of the broth- j
era, A laosssnu ana one otner n wui"
were arged by men who wished to sr"t
iBtothe jaii, niany of whom had noth
ing in their minds conceminir the N:ee
?ys beyond hat they have gleaned from
tae Heiuu) and inferior sourefs of in
fcrEation. However, very few persons
wre a!:owed to enter the jail, and thew
wer larevly meinterR of the city press
hoha.1 come to witness the execution, i
ail the preliminaries thereto. Even
iese genilemen were kept in surpease j
aU day, as under the determination of j
tEe ;herirT to admit only a anain yery
anaa rsumber, and as this number bad
txea atved upon and tickets issued to
e-irwspond, it was found impossible to
ti. kets to all w ho applied. Here
artn was a disappointment and one or
ti of the city reporters have n.t yet
entirely got it through their hair
i. it came that th"y and their journals
tsrned down in a 'jay " o.unty by
Layee. "' j-herilH
Ow great advantage that the Somerset
2 Las over all of the prisons in the
ate i that toe gallows in nse is t!ie
jrSftion of modern appliances in nse
tr executions. There ia no enclosure to
V frrc:ed, no awkward wien platform
w.'Ji ia terrifying incidents of nail-driv- i
A:. hiKjTier-poundir g. sawing of boar-la, j
owxg cf chisels, and those other pre-
lialaaries which grate more horrihiy on j
St ears of the priscera than tae tones j
sfie -"tenJia reading the death war- j
3i. Ihe beam which seppons the rope, J
j r.ii thrc-cgh which they are thrust, j
5 att -traps, the lever for releasing
a tr&. and each and all parts and
r of the jail itnelf are always ready
r 'Jt.t ase f r which they were made.
tr: are heavy steel p'a'.es, and
:a :h-y fall they make rather a loud
-i. ti.it may reaiily be hearj in the
tut even this defect is one that
be readily remedied, and this done,
action uf the gallo v s is sure and noise
. irhrrij Gol, in his wisdom, as
ti.st it was not n-esary to give
5 rtrs prepared for the execution of
cicely 1 a number of oaneces-sary tests,
S't the re-.-vct unfortunate occurrence in
fti-itdfyc county, in the case of mur
''est, rcrengthened this ide. He
'irfjre concluded that the fall of the
5-eeiyi woulj would be the proper test,"
U.4 last determination t-re another
ii-iac incident from tbe last days
br xbers. Hvery sheri S and Tisitor
'"b jai! cooiuiended the wisiam of the
ia this particular, and were load
5 -be' expressions of admiration of
4f all. ws and the amnments for the
r,:i TEksoa a?D srniisTrnow.
:e pnsoners cx)nhnc:
I in the
of the jail are twa colored
-l.a liaskins, in for carrying cun-'-aijxrcs,
and Charles, Alien com --Csi
to answer a charge of burglary.
, ?m ot death and cire partica
"J tae turicityof the instrument of
i-fii-wt ttoiv. legends and tradi-
n:;:riers na.ler nvt horrible cir--tt-e.
c-.f:pleI with innate so per-
bve rfHnhinel to well-nigh rraze
Ken and their terror is pitiable.
:.T ago the Sherif in a very qui-"-.-.TtfJ
tbe death trips. Seeing
.'' r-' r-lizlng its otjert, appar
:'irted the negroes ith fear.
na implored the heri ff to
'a to the barn on the day of tbe
J'8 5 ad them hand and foot with
jlad imposo upon them trie most
iiec of detention lie might wish
j5"?- bat " t 'Cod's sake don't
ia it ji3 when you ia hatsrin'
Apa aij agaia Om-t have iaa
y4 the heri J to get them out of
taiiOBg. HewuilikelTeoBtinetheia
. T the cells orcopiel by the Sioe-
VOL. XXXIX. XO. 42.
THE NICELYS HANGED !
THE Ml'RDEREES OF OLD IIERUAN I'MBEUGEK
SATISFY THE LAW'S DEJIAXDS.
DEATH ON THE GALLOWS
Finale of One of the State's Most Celebrated
Criminal Trials.
FULL HISTORY OF THE CASE FROM THE BEGINNING
TO THE END.
THE COUNTY JAIL.
Air Chamber.
C !
s 1
txc?t-i-e
MMIII
PLAN OF
Etpi TT. !t 4. Tyvk Min )tita!nine wib:aation f ir lot k'ns iei'j". P. Cas tn the eier
eweeomdor. , Exeiauoa Trafx. bUiinf lr gMrd t room to secmi't flimr f prjo.
The Local Excitement High, but
Temperate.
Scenes Never to
Thou-saiicis of Curious People
Crowd the Streets lor Squares
rovinci the Jail's Cold "Walls,
Me a Select Few Witness the Execution.
DEATH SCENES
5
" la -i
j j ; i f-f i
H i -i .
jit
' .
i - I 1 ''
3 i
:J i
1 :
Dave Jfieely.
i c i
Corridor.
Sta'r
THE JAIL.
be Forgotten,
AND INCIDENTS.
e
til A; 1 1.- - t
SOMERSET, PA., ; WEDNESDAY,
T-rtm :h Hiaar, ' Extra," April i
Tie Xieely brothers Joseph and
IaviJ, were hantred in the r?mcmrt
county jail at 1 :43 o'clock this af
ternoon: tho drop falling at that
rnoiziejt. prtliinluarlca were
of very brief daration, and were
absolutely perf.vt ia the minntcst
detail. iierifT Good who executed
tlie nien. went at the matttr of
prefaration in hia characteristic
bnsias-likc ruaaKor, n:ij when the
taue eoaift there was not a
hitch.
The caos and incidents prolirnina
rv to the d:'p 'w ere of the conven
tional type aa-1 those who went lor
a surprise were disappointed. The
brot;,cr? were ecntl, nn raffled and
prepared f -r their share ia the pro
ceedings, A halt hour before the
hanging took place they were re
moved to a cell adjoining the drop
and there they awaited the moaie&t
of their execution. Revs. Grander
and Beal attended them ia their
cells and the interval of waiting
was passe 1 ia singing and praying.
"I'm Going Home,'' and other
hymns were sung. Joe's tenor ming
ling harmoniously with the deep,
robust Lass of Rev. Real. The
sinning was kept up until 1:17 I.
II., when Slieriff Good and his dep
uty Henry Earroa went to the cell
and in a firm, lond voice read the
death warrants to the condemned
men, reading David's urt. Pave at
the conclusion of the reading ex
claimed. God bless yoi Sheriff, "
and reaching up kissed the Sheriff
on the cheek. Joe did the same
thins. Revs. Granger and Real
then bent forward and whisj'ered
in the ear of each of the men a mo
ment, presumably exhorting thein
to a confession, but evidently to no
effect as Loth -hook their
heads
aad turned to the Sheriff.
They w ere then left alone for a
few minutes with the minister and
Sheriff Good, and at 1 :3S the pro-
n Started to the trap, Sheriff i
ces
Good and deputy Earroa leading,
f.llowed by Rev. Granger, leading
Dave, and Rev. EealL encouragiag
Joe. They took seats on the scaf
fold next to the dropj and ia a mo
ment knelt at the request of Rev.
Granrer, whilst he, ia a peculiarly
solemn manner, prayed for them,
their loved ones and their salvation.
Rev. Real added a word, and then
Sheriff Good said. Dave -have yon
I say to you all go.l-bye, said ,
Dave in a firm tone. Lf a single j
wonl T cm uv wi'.! be th instru- 1
mentality of saving a single sou!, I j
hhall have kid my reward. I bear
no ill-will toward any one. Again.
rood-bye.5 He 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 of him aad 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 let
ter to Jo so now, for the time may
come when yoa mill wish yoa had.
I hold no feeling or ill-will toward
any one. This is all I have to say."
For the next niinute the men were
bu-ilv engaged in shaking hands and
kissing their friend?. They were
quickly bound and prepa.-d for the
drop. They stood np and the ropes
were adjusted and the black caps
put over their heads. "Good-bye,
boys,r said Sheriff Good.
-Good-bye ail," said the two men
together, and the sound of their
' . , i t
voices was lost in the changing of
i i. e tt
tlie steel traps as they elL
The usual shudder, the heavy
breaths of relief, and the spectators
began to hurry np and get out of
tbe upper corridor to watch what
was going on below.
Dave stood oa the south trap
and as Sheriff Good moved the lev
er and the doomed men dropped
Drs. Kimmell. Lather. Shaffer aad
Good becran an examination of
pulse and heart. Dave died with
out a struggle, while Joe's spirit
eemed loath to leave his body.
Roth men were pronounced dead
in thirteen minutes. Dave's body
being let down at precisely 2
o'clock and Joe's two minutes later.
The remains were carried to the
Sheriffs office, placed ia coffins
which were at once loaded on un
dertaker Lorry's wagon and start
ed for the darkened home across
the ridge.
Roircr O'Mara. assistant saper
tendeat of police. Pittsburgh, who
was an interested spectator, says of
lite execution as a whole : "This is
the first tiaie that I have ever seen
aa execution on a scaffold that was
a ;xrtioa of the jail and I am very
much pleased with its working.
ply aal eTectirely. Ia mj Opinioa
the Somerset plan Ls the best ia
There 13 really nothing but the J WiU a ,nely vigiL Dave sat in one o r- was already dressed and Joe placed him-
dror and traD and the"e are so e of his 1L his face a greenish white, self in the hand of Sheriff Good and -drof
aad traps a-a taese j H
arranged as to do teir worK s.m- vUfiir,;a20atUefiix. Mthjrw j carefully examined each article of cloth-
ESTATST,TSHKI) 1827.
the Sure aud s-lniId be generally
adopted. The preparations made
by Sheriff Good were simply fault
less and on the wjioic I consider it
one of the best conducted ot the
many esecutiots I have witnessed.''
E5.K5IAS rSfEESOER
cStory of the Crime.
The crime for Tkich the Nicely broth
ers were handed was the mnHer for rain
of Herman Ucifcergef, a wealthy farmer
living near Jennertown. The crime was
eomccit'ed on the evening cf February
27, IS Th- two Nict'ys, partially dis
gaised, earered the bouse of Uaberger
in the guu-e cf oiBcers searching fr jew
elry ttolen from a ivsddler. It was well
kaoirn that l"mberg wa3 rich, and,
fearing banks, kept his money in hia
house. To secure Lis savings was the real
object of Vicelys. In ! joking through
the house they came ttpon two weil-C!!ei
pocketbooks in a bureau drawer, which
Mr. Uoiberger picked up and place-l in
his pocket. This was the signal for a
volley of fatal bullets from the two
thieves, and robbing the expiring man'
they fled. The STCount of money stolen
was between VS-.0 and 2a0o. The
arrc-st and trial cf the Xicelys fol
lowed an ' they were fjund guilty. Taice
thc-T broiejaU and were recaptured and
.J ' ,
once an inerTectua! attempt was made.
The t.tat l"gal talent attainable was re
tained by the:a, and bo money spared to
either secure a pardon or commutation
of the death sentence that followed their
mTaiiias,and the lives of the nr ierers
went cut to rewiv ?ost:ee for their crime.
Outside the Jail.
Two guard,, anned with Winchester
rifles, stood on the steps of ihe vemn la
In' front of the Shell's o!Ti -e and care
filly scrntinized every pass before they
permitted the hol ler to pass into the jiil.
Those who held pass -s of admission had
a dillicult strd-gle before tiiey sucf-ede-l
in elhowins their way through the dense
crowd to the door.
Whon the drop fell it was with a bang
that resounded throughout the c"urt and
oJ c'.ap of lhnn,kr aa.j w hear-1 by
not less than three thousand people, who
realized tbe instant the siun i penetrated
theirears that a'l was at an end with tae j
Niceiy boys. The bare limbs of two j
large trees between tne jail and i
house were crowded with men aa t boys.
who evidently biped that from their
elevated p!r.t of view they would be
ahle to peer through the jd wails or
the heavy fretted glass of the sa:ali
window that opens ir. to the cjrrl i r ca
which the death traps are located, aa-1
thus en.ivile them to view the Snil act
ia the gh j-'.lv tragedy. A heavy, wet
snow that had been desiec hng ail day
was stUi coming uown. afce
".Mr"--"" fi" '-.
",vi I
the jail and court vans ba been ci.-p-1 (-iraE?el.lie Mt for. anj ked for his
ped into a sucky morUr by tbe thou- j wben the satchel was handed
sands of men who bad tramped around ; h-m he Ujok from it , cleaa ghirt, collar,
the buildinsrs throazhoat the morning, ! nlkt:ealld cnff.battor,s. and after plac
bat thse facts did not deter fr-ra two . a few cf ed linen in it
VO taree iaousa.ua men no a u iui-
ber of women from standing ankle-deep
in mud and with their garments thor
oughly drenched, until after they Lad
seen the coffins containing the bodies of
the victim: debited m the undertakers j
wgoa. The sidewalks ia front of the j
court house and jail were jammed f-a of j
curious people, while tne o;hces aad ,
residences from which a view of the j
prison was to be had were nhed wsta j
strangers, esger that n-.tie.ag should es- .
cape toeirooservation. Tee instant the
drop fell the ereat crowd pushed toward
Bnasbof the m.re morbid! v
I
i curioas climbed onto the window su!s
and peered beten the bars covering the
lights in the Sheriff's ctSce while the
I bo lies were being embalmed and placed
in the coiliiis. When the coilias were
finally carried from the jail and place!
in undertaker Lowry's wagon, men
crowded around the covered vehicle in
swarms and it was with diihculty that
the driver made his way through the
crowiL
Their Last Night.
EOW THE yUBPEKEKS PASSr THEfB FINAL
iioias is riiis s.
There was littleof an interesting nature
( jpin on in the comdor in which the
Nicelys were confined lar.t night. Early
in the evening Rev. Granger, accom
panied by a few of bis parish i-Miers went
to the jail and held a p-ay?r meeting ia
Dave's cell. The singing an ! praying
were conducted in a solemn m ar.ner and
Dave's resp r..--s to the petitions ia hia
behalf were a little stronger than the tones
of those who were imploring Divine
merry for Lim. The atnosphere of
gloom thit pervaded the cell. rought its
chill to the minister and LL frien.ls and
their attempt at cheerfulness was ansuc
cesfal. Daveeomfnrted himsi-T as bravely
as he conld, bot his face was the picture
of grief, the ir-araation of elespair. After
the devo:--.cal exercises Lad beer, con
e'uded th who w?nt into the jail
with Mr.GriHi-r left, and upon the ur-
geat appeal of Dave the minister con-
srnted to remain all night with hi.u. It
loc;KT yi the power of action or
locomotion. He appeared oblivious to
APEIL 8, 1891.
his surroundings bet frequently bright
ened np aad appeared to tike an inter
est in the admonitions of his spiritual
advisor, who gently and kindly talked to
him ia so low a tone of oico that the
sound of their foios died ere it reached
th'. grated bars of his cell door. There
was something terrifying ia the specta
cle and its intluence forced itself upon
the death watchers who crept rather
than walked along the narrow passage
way fronting the cells, occasionally steal
in a sympathetic glance upon the men
who, the next night, would have passed
beyond their custody.
Ia Joe's cell the spectacle was even
mnre mournful. His footsteps, which
were distinctly heard in the afternoon
echoing throoiih tbe halls as they falter
ed trianarulariy throna the cell, were
now catlike in their silence, and be seem
ed to glide rather than walk as he went
from bolthead to bolthead ; now feeling
at the washboards ; now pausing at Lis
bedside ; bat always moving either his
ft.et or his hands, or Lis whole body.
The entrance of the minister or that of
some new person, the movements of
those outside Lis cell, never for a moment
attracted his attention, nor did he once
raise his eyes or look out through his
ceil door during the whole of the long
evening. He has the appearance of one
in both mental and physical collaps. If
he is shamming, thtre has not been s
t?aw in the scheme of deception, and he
has carried it out with a fidelity to detail
that is simply past belief.
Ex-deputy Sheriff McMillen said
shortly before midnight : "I am not yet
aatisaed that Joe is insane. I know him
so weii. He is a great schemer, and once
he takes hold of a thing he will stick to
it. I still think he ia shamming. I have
watched the employment by him of some
of his senses when his actions would
give the idea that he Is absolutely obliv
ious to his surrounding!. A day or two
ago. when a test of the trap was being
made he cocked his ears and looked past
nse aa sanely as ever he did, and ia a
motnent he was apparently entirely
"off." "
Early Morning in Their Cells.
Pave Nicely arose this morning 20
i , , ,
Mieorie V lit, a member of the death-
watL-h, "I was worked up to such a pitch
i last night that I slept bat very little. I
never had much pleasure in this world.
All I ever had was with my children. No
father conld have thought more of Lis
children than I have."
Turning to Witt, he asked, "if one of
your children asked for a fish would you
give him a snake T Witt replied that he
would not, and Dave continue!, "well, I
believe if I ask Christ for something
good he will n',t give me something bad."
The guard say that be was restless
throughout the night and turned on his
cot every half-Lour.
J.'S ABASDONS THE ISSASITY DOEM-E.
Joe arose about five minutes after his
bmther. and when Witt entered his cell
and led him to the washbasin he asked,
"how do you feel, Joe 7"
"First-rate," came a prompt response
from the lips that have not uttered a
sound for more than ten diys. "What
day U this T be asked of Witt.
'If, wa told that it was Thursday.
wheQ breakfast was brought in a
few micut ter he said, after taking
few bitrf. thi9 tastes first-rate."
si s hia ua
said, "how are yoa feeling, Joe?"
T am feeiicz pretty well," answered
the prisoner, and then asked the Sheriff
the day of the week. "Joe," said Sheriff
Good, "don't you want to see a minis
ter V"
"Is Pao here V was his reply. On be
ing informed that hia Hither had not ar- j
who had been visiting Dave-Klder i
,l , his faniilV.
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
i nVWk and was writic when the El-
ha;f aa hour afterward,
EMep Granger 8pent a few minutes in
MiJ then ar,ta Joe had
(tetel his5 letter. He had entirely
down when fee hail finLhed
Bll wept bitterly. Mrs. (lood
. the corridor about 10 o'clock
j , pchanired a few words with the
i .
reU,h,e;i,
pared to on
DP
man. "If onlv yoa are pre-
e, Joe," said Mrs. tJood.
I am prepared," he replied, and great
tears rolled down hia cheeks.
I?
Ji
3HEEIFT GOOD.
Examining the Death Traps.
THE XKSLTS CMT.X!a xa kopss, cr
F133, HASWTFTS A5D OTHE rKiPiB-i-TJOSS
FOB THIIB lIATH.
Shortly before 10 o'clock this morning
both of the Nicely askel Sheriff Good
to allow them to examine the coxSna,
rfjpes, handcuffs and other things that had
been prepared for the final act of their
lives. The Sheriff said if they really
wished to make the examination ne
would be glad to go with them. Dave
1 ing as U was produced an3 as he picked
Up little articles such as a handkerchief,
Vl '-'sr?-"-J '
pair of socks, a photograph of himself or
his unfortunate brother, he woold re
mark, "These few thinrs I have marked
for the children. Sheriff, and I want yoa
to send thia Talise and its contents home
for me." Looking np be nock ed an okl
weather-beaten derby hat hanging on
the wall of his ce.l and he asked that it
also be wrapped np and sent to his fath
er. All of his request were attentively
listened to by the Sheriff and an early
compliance promiirJ. The suits in
which the brothers were hanged are
tho that they have been wearing sice
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
each article cf apparal and paing an
opinion on it as he donned it. Finally
the two officials finished their work and
placing an old fashioned linen collar
around hia neck Joe walked oat into
the corridor where Dave joined him a
minute later and limped painfully after
him along the passage way and down in
to the jail office where the two cothna had
been placed. Joe examined both careful
ly and said, "thev seem verv nice." Ho
looked at the glass lids and finally asked
which one was his. Iave took a simuar .
interest in tbe examination and then the !
lto cell in wnico. Uc ',
ed. Tbe rope ha.1 been !
ittle box in which they
.. . . . , . ...
ropes were stored.
placed in the litt
had come to the ShiritT, C. O. D and at
Joe's instance Sheriff Good took thena
from the box and handed them to he
and Dave.
The very small diameter of the one Joe
took in bis hand caused hira to a-k:
"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 mistace and Joe pro
ceeded with his examination.
This is what yoa call the knot is it V
said he as he took hold of the rope. The
rope slips through this doesn't it, are you j
sure it will slip all right T he asked J
somewhat petulantly, as if doubtful of.
the perfection of the cord and nooee.
"Oh, we intend to soap the ropes; all
our preparations are carefully made and
we want everything, if possible, to be
faultless," said the Sheriff in a reassurirg
tone. "I don't think anything will go
wrong at the last," rejoined Joe. "Now,
Low are you to confiine our arms?"
"In this place" said the Sheriff pro-
durin? a little- naner box. and takin?
r - - T - w
from it pair of glistening new hand-
cuffs. "I thought I would gpt new ones,
Joe, and not use those old ones yoa knew
so welL"
"I am glad yoa did, now put them on
the way yoa intend to at the last."
Joe's hands, almost encompassed in
those of the Sheriff,were placed behind his
back aad the cufis placed en them. Joe
made a feeble test-movement and said
weariJiy.
"I guess they! hold. What time is it."
He was told just 10 o'clock and he
said : "Three hours yet ; are yoa ging to
hang us then."
"At one thirty, Joe," replied the Sher
iff, and at this moment a resident of Som
erset called Joe aside and asked h:m :
"Have yoa made any confession or given
out anything for publication that is in
the nature cf 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
Dave, who had apparently the same
morbid interest in the accessories to his
death as had his brother in those to hia.
The mournful inventory was soon com
pleted and the men went up the stairs to
their ceils for the last time and for near-
!v an hour remained and took leave of
k . -U V . .1 lu.. thai, fpiAnila art. !
neighbors in more Lappy times.
JVDOE BAE2.
The Final Meal.
JOB StCELT PHrLOt-OPHilB OX TBS BSAC-
tt op TixLorsG ciaixrcuT to tai
INEVITABLE.
At llil o'clock Mrs. Good, wife of the
Sheriff, and one or two other la-lies spread
the table for the last meal of the doomed
men. Upon it they placed oranges, ap
ples, prunes, several kinds of cake, cold
chicken, custard, and coffee. Both par
took sparingly, bat what they ate was
eaten with a reiish. The Sheriff and
Kev. Granger sat down at the table, and,
with Mrs. Good, talked in a pleasant
manner with the prisoners of matters
aad incidents of their imprisonment.
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 bat a
step from darkness to light, and I am so
glad that I am ready to go."
Incidents of the Day.
Just after breakfast this morning Joe
Nicely called Milton McMillen, the Dep
tttr Sheriff he shot in his first effort at
escape, to his cell and shaking him
warmly by the hand asked his pardon
for the act and tne pain it had caused
McMillen. "I nave always been sorry
for it and I hope yoa will forgive me,"
he said. Mr. McMillen assured him of j
his hearty forgiveness and Joe appeared j
to be more at his ease.
A little son of Geo. Nicely, of Ligonler,
a coaain of the Nicelys, called at the jail
this morning and was warmly received
by both Joe and Dave.
'i k
WHOLE NO. 2072.
C. A. Ijo-stv, th- Livrnier undertaker,
called or th- hy this moraim:. Th-y
asked hi a very nr7"rtf!y about the pre-part:oc-i
fr th;,r fineral aad banal,
and wer e" saJis'icl w:th what he
tell thnsa.
Both 4d the Nicely were confident
np to th.i last minute that their father
and mother w-ul l cull on thera tfore
their -ieiith. and J-e was very reach dis
appoint i as ho preLenih-.g not to be
ralion.il cn the oi-a.si"n bis father's
leave tji ing wi:h him ear'.ieriathe week.
At 1-t". oVi-ick lUr. Braih pastor f tlw
Evao je!i- a! A'-;a';on chureU of th j place
an-i the Itev. Z :;n. of the Lstaeraa church
of Vw tVntreTille. wrr.t to J-je's cell and
a-'ter the uiai s!ecia j-rfilmiaaries admin
Utered tlie cttrrirj-ir.io.i. the oavea-
tional bre-iil.Ui l m:- ss -yaSilj. Jue j inel
hearti'y in tii -r-. i.rcj and responses. Once
or twUe h i tt -ars overr:snie him and h
broke ilom u te m:n::r rel the soiema
an j beadUi' .i worls iacident to the ceiebra
tioa oi the -ac.-fcl rite. A hymn ur two was
SU3 a.nj ihe ferrioes f.r the dead JjUoweJ
c!oe Brn th;e 'rat acriaifoeil Joe's rerep-
t;oii into th-; r:h r h. At the conclusion of !
j the services J
h :n Th ?.vma in a d'i- '
tiatt out w i-.ee tsat na was 3sy
"I: eve-1 loved my Jesus 'tis now." sinclng
i-.u-sj . -
Pra-VCT R1 crtaoof e.thurtation
tL" J m .''
with t'se Lyn.n Nearer icy .! to Thee,
ymn srer icy
Joe leading the slagirir.
In the cell cxup!a by I'are EUier 'iratt
gr and t j doomed tcan h J xpero! coa
Tere. Ive tMrr.ia '.he ieres of the
Bible be Ls read Cr months. Scarcely a
word coal e t -a- I ror:ni from the cell
occupied by J x.
At Ii-' p. m. the Nloelys were removed
to the cell ail.-lni.-g the drops. They took
no notice wha'evfr of the mpes or other
prfriti -jr.i and af-er aa ar!a:ung leare
takicfn in 11.--. McM.llen. wife of theSherff
who had hnai ia charge so taar.y monthi,
tbey addle.! th-mlres to the re'tigions
"J13"' 1
ar. 1 iijirol the Sheril'i
At " o cl- k A'dcrmn B..pp, of Alle
gheny, the rra wiio m ldt the ropes ppar
el ar.'l with the aeisrar.c of tbe Saerlff at
tached the r.-pes to the r.n prpparwl for
them ard ts"el l'j.-ia wi'.hoi.r ; nr. ring the
trap. The hat
sir-ips
hia ling and
other pn-iimiaaies wre soon arracged.
The pr were so aJjn.-::.l as to jrlve a fail
of rather more than shr-e lt. and in the
interval folio riz- .r examination by the
condemned bad b-t " wa.tcl and were in ex
cellent condition. Cirloc spectators of this
scene were th r.pjroes Alien and Hast dj
and the t iree sr f. :r prisoners who looie-I
' on ia c,;a-m -;t-l . e aa-l tem.r. iaey
were siioa a. er
and Iik up z
tiea ba.k to their cells
.il afr the drcj-s :'e:h
'
i
u is. ;c.ir- CEsXA.
Burial cf the Nicelys.
okavs n .i;r
THE" THE raBH CF
us;?, f r::u
'Ea L!- -"N". S.B.
C. A. I.orv, a Llg"n:er undertaker,
tc.-ether with his assistant G. W. Deeds,
arrived in town last night at the instance
t of th f itiier of the Nii-ciys to take home
! the rea.al r-.s i tlie raea directly after
! the ex.-f. en is over. Mr. Lcwry said,
! " Mr. N .celv ir.strnrted me to take charge
i of the rea.a:as of Lvth boys as soon aa
I the ! eriff shall have finished with
! them. I lai to tak-j charge of the re-
mains withoct rovirt.: the black caps,
p1 ace tl.e ai ia the cMfins furnished by
' thecemty of xer3-t and start with
i thetn fir L'lg.-cler at once. We should
; arrive thre "'tiiet;:ae to-ciorrw night.
! No one t-'-st all owe-I t- see the re
j mains, net ev n the faces of the dead
men. When I arrive home I shall at
' once proceed to embalm the bodies aad
prepare thera f .r burial. They are to be
! placed in two cf my eotlins and buried
ia thera- Thee are the old man s orders.
He said to me this morning, "the corf.ns
that y a may bring thetn home :a may
be as ex! and msy be even better than
those I shall bo ahle to bury them ia.
but they tnu-t be buried in my covins
and yru m t.-t "tcirrj th -e that they were
breuzht hotite ic. Make no show of my
bovs iii Somer-et bit ci::ie home imme
diately a"- r y 'i ett ti-.t m."
"I think the fcr.tral will Uk place
about M-tn-'-ay. as Mr. N..-eiy was anxi .us
to knew If I c'.'tld erc?.a'ta the belles to
tat that l.,Bi. it will be of the mjst
private nat'ire ai 1 nly a v-ry few peo
ple wi 1 tf j resent. Keveren I Hanna
walt, Tankard miniver, will coclact
the devolionil exercises. The intenseot
will lake pla'-e in a corner of the f irm of
old mitn Nsre'y. ia which already lay the
retsahis of '"r.e of Joe Nli-ely's chiMren,
the wife of fUa Nicely, and other more
remot rehitK-ns cf the family. Tne
Utile graveyard is a priva'eone and in
it no- lie b'tt ihe tl xI of the Niceijs
Mr. Nictly has g"ne at this matter
rr.eth"Hi-illy aid intelligently, and
means that do pih'le exhibition of his
dead ."hall fi-'.lo their execution."
The Jury.
Sheriff Jooii selected the following
namel gen'-leri:en to srve aa the jury
ind bo afterwards (rertiried to the death
of Jotet h at; 1 David Nicely :
1. Edward Holeopple, Taint Twp.
Z. Samuel la-flay, Miifri "
3.
4.
5.
6.
5
f.
10.
11.
Lh
Jacob M. Lobr, CoGeraaagh. "
Herman -tahl, Somerset "
Nelson Simpsr.c, Somerset "
Ji4Sl S. Picking, Somerset
Samuel Say ler, Somerset "
Jasper Aagu-tine. Addison "
Ribert Ih Ko63, Addison "
C. M. Miller, Summit
Nathan GritHth, Jecner "
Gejri9 I'urB baaid, Upper Tux
k?yfjt towaship. 4
i )
in larn frm hi - 1 j i w '-.
pniviiptl buz -try when: t;j rn.L- ' r !'
the Christain Church au T..
ceremony was nu long n. r d. i -ister
Ueia.a the caavi.-iate t-v-tl
minutes actually rej-ilred f.r :Lep-.j.:
observance of the rite. He wis ase:-ted
bv a number of the members and orficm
of hia consregatioa who were also iatcr-e-ttd
spectators of the a-r-ai-.-rty. At
its concision Dave sai l he f.'.t :r. . h
better than at anytime since l.sina--cerationand
warmly thanked hii frn is
for their fijntnbution to toe Bielaacholy
pleasure he fcit in thU List act ta'.s ilde
of the grave.
f
V
;-es. a. h. .fta 'T:.
What Their Lawyers Say.
Lawyers Co r-th and Kntx, the
leading counsel for the Nicelys. have al
ways insisted in their firm belief in the
innocence of their clients, ti-rne.-al Gf
froth is reported to have gone to I'a-re
one day recently for the purpose of tear
ing hia innocence. He toi l the pr.--.nr-r
that there was but little hope f .r he a -i I
his brother. The Governor might inter
fere, bat that was only a bre possibility.
"Now, Dave, "said the 'renerai.-ti.ere
ia bat one thing we caa do. We mi.-ht
carry the rase np to the United su-e
Supreme Court on constitutional irroan i,
but before we make a move it w.il eo.-t
fl'1". Your father has exhausted
his money in fighting th case,
which, as yoa know, has cost several
thousand dolLu-j fr actjai es-i.os-.
Can yoa raise $!)?"
" No, I cannot," replied David.
"Can't yoa get it from orie of y-:r
friends?"
" They have spent ail they had. an I
Joe and I have but $4 betw-ea a. I: is
utterly impcwilbie for me to rase the
money. "
HAD SONE OP CH.-.EKl ES's W-.VSV.
"Now, Dave," said the General, "yoi
most be frank with me aj yoar eoi!ise!.
The time for your execution is drawing
too close for yoa to hesitate to contide in
me without reserve. Ls thera no cla-.e
where yoa could get this money, ,ir v tr
frien'Is could find itf.r you? Ivr.'t ar.
swer too quickly ; remeuther it i3 a case
of life or death with yoa an 1 your broth
er. ,
'No," replie-I David, firmly, "I ktiuw
of no place in the world where I or a
friends could find
a uo.ir.
If
ould save oar lives, we shall be elici
ted."
since that interview lieneral Coffroth
is ready to swear that his clienu are in
nocent. Said They Were Innocent.
KlSit TaLK OF THE M.TtV
CoCNaEi. ASO H IT THEY
At 11 o'clock General- Coffn'.h art 1
KoonU and Mr. W. H. Kuppel. coun-ei fr
the Nicely, came into the Ja.1 and shooi
bands with thera ia aa affectionate naa
ner. They first entered Joe's cell an t
talkel with him a minute or two. when
General Kooatx called the ITtrt s : n nr-;-resentative
into the ceil and sai l : "Joe
knows that from the very strt we Lav
urged hiaa to tell the on ua.::i-si tn."..
ia this matter."
"Yes I do," said Joe. his ey-s sr.ff t- I
with tear, at the aime tiriie osln the
Lack of his hands to brush away tace
that streamed down his face.
"He also protested his innocence :'r jli
the start, aad"
"You still 'Li, Joe?" asked ti.e rer- rer.
"Yes, sir, I do; and am inno-TTt." said
Joe, almost overcorae, u.t or.ly by the
intensity of his emotion.-, t at by his
physical weakness as well.
"We al-o told him," contiarte 1 Genera!
Koontx, "that if they w-re riilty it
of no use in impoverishing his p"r old
father and keeping him in ignorance -f
the crime. They said they wers Lt.C'
cent and still assert it."
"Yes, rlr," said General Corr-th, " - 1
has cleareI op his mini a: this final
moment lor a purpoee. H- Las i--v. it
ia orler that he may, nieet death, a-rt
his innocence and clear his memory arel
leave his children his good naie."
"Oh, yes," said Joe, fervently and fer
vidly, "! has done ths for n.e. I aru
innocent and I maintain it. I wart to
say that our counsel here have done all
that was haaianiy possible to save us aa i
to i"t us out cf this troulle. They ha .
stood by as to the last ; they have hee:
our friends. We are inn-jcent."
From the ceil of Joe the coansed w-.t
into Dave's ceil aad hel l a private con
versation lasting about three minute.
Again the Hxzalo representative was
called in, and ajrarn the qieticr.s as t
innocence or guilt were put by G-teral
KoonU. Lave was mira more reix-eiit
than J'3, but aid t "I have den.! any
connection with this Umberger a:L.!r"-
frequentlyt so distinctly an ! -o er.ohat
; icaiiy that I do not care aea:n to 'In
"Are yoa innocent V aske.1 the report
er. Dave hestiate.!. averte-1 hiseyeaiVr
a moment, and said: "I wt.i say. y.-.
That is all I have to say now.' I a t
say that my counsel have beea tt a 1 a.-?,
faithful and true to me. They have E"7
lected nothing that woaidhavs serve-1 t
save me and Joe."
" Have yoa male a o-.nf.rssl-. a ?"
" I have made a statement to my p.i--tor,
Mr. Granger, and be will rak it
public It is not a confeion, hut rather
a comment on tiie testimony. That tes
tioiony about oar gr-ing over tl.eni. tn
taia was false, sa l the pocke-h. t' ry
prodace-l against us, bc-g-ts. That's ill I
have to ssy."
Joe sarjee-aently said, "yoa ran just
say that fraud and perj iry nav-j piace.1
t where we are. 3I?n aa l w . Ui-a testi
fied to things that were col trie ia orier
to convict cs. I believe th at this w a
set op job against us in orier to g-t tre
rewari that was odered. This r a.-1
will burn their hands now and :n evrui
ty, without they repent. I harbor no ill
feeling toward any of my enemies. I for
give them all ; I fcrgive them as freely
as Christ has forgiven me f.-r my tnas-gressiocs."
SCENE OF THE HANGING.
tt.e
east corridor of tbe prison.
o
n