The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1883-05-03
ERB'S Case DECIDED !!
HIS DEATH SENTENCE COMMIT
TED 10 IMPRISONMENT
FOR LIFE.
Breaking the News 70 the Prisoner.

0tv&kxh& ssA0 ANSWs J" Wv >sS
The board OF par1ons held n special
meeting IN the ofilce Of the Secretary
Of Internal Affairs IN the afternoon
Of April soth. The session lasted four
hours and was intended to complete
all business possible before the retire
ment OF Col. A. X. Dunkel. Recorder
Everett read thetestimony in the case
OF old Israel Erb and it took over
three hours In the hearing OF 1t. The
paper books are voluininous affairs.
The board, after careful considera-
tion. decided to recommend to the
governor Communication Of the death
sentence to imprisonment for life.
The papers to that effect will be pre-
pared and signed In the next few
days
Erb will probably be conveyed to
the Eastern Penitentiary ut Philadel
phia within 80 days should the gov
ernor not upon the recommendation
Of the board, which he undoubtedly
will.
RRB INTERVIEWED.
The news VI the action Of the Pardon
Board reached Middleburgh on Tues
day and was the general topic Of con
yersation all day. On "Wednesday
morning we called at the Jail and the
Sheriff kindly permitted us a private
interview with the old man. We ask
ed him il he had heard the news from
Harrisbu re-, to which he responded
that he hod heard some talk but was
slow TO believe il. Being armed with
Il daily paper we opened II and read
il in German-translating IL from the
English He fixed his eyes on II spot
on the floor and slowly shook his
head rs II it were unwelcome news
We asked him what he thought of
il. He said 1t was not what he expect
All, but, continuing, lie said, what
Justice could YOU expect when there
was as much false swearing done In n
case ~ there was In mine. You say
it is for life. Well do not expect To
live very long ut any rate, but do you
think there is any hope Of pardonS'
We replied in the Affirmative, but
could not give him much encourage
ment in that line.
Well" hs continued, then the
thing is as good as settled. ! would
rather have ii that way than be hung.
| Those OF my friends (Which he emph-
asized) who were so anxious to see me
hanged will not now have the pleas
ure Of attending such II picnic
He asked us why he could not just
as we'll stay here la Jail as bc sent to
the penitentiary. We told him that
there he could work at his trade (shoe
making) and earn his living. That
there he would cost the county only
about seventeen cents n day which
would only average little over one
third OF a cent a year to every man,
waman ind child in tho county.
well" he said, II have never been
TO Philadelphia in my life, and would
jd,t as leave not go now, but ! hope
they will get mea new pair Of shoes,
and nay coat aud hat are worn and
dustv Ny pants look better but they
need patching At this point we
chimed in by remarking that his suit
would do to go down in and when
he got there he would be presented
with Il brand new suit Of the lates
out and striped.
DO you think the sheriff will put
me I'm irons to take me down. he in
quircd. We told him he could rest
assured that the sheriff would take
every precaution To prevent his escape.
but at the same time would not place
him into unnecessary discomfort
y, I'm too old u man To run on.
would not attempt to escape even il |
were to be hung. They need not be
afraid OF that"
As we prepared to leave we asked
him II he had anything to say To the
public when he responded. tell them
that l realize that justice was not
done me" which some may be ready
to believe but not in the same sense
he meant il.