The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-03-05
Jill TAklNo TesrlMoN4
To Be Used Before the Pardon
Board In the NIcely Case


The State Pardon Board viii meet in Har-
risburg two weeks from to-day. Wednesday.
February Is when the application Of Joseph
and David Nicely for pardon or commusa-
ton Of sentence from death To life imprison-
nieni. viii be laid before them.
DsPcsiiicns on The part Of the condemned
men acre taken before Esquire Lint Friday
OF last week. The examination of witnesses
was conducted BY Messrs. Coffroth and
koontz on the part Of the prisoners, and by
F. J. K0oser, Esq, on the part Of the Com
monwsalth.
The int witness to be examined was Mrs.
Mary spiegle. She said that she lived in
Jenner township, about one mile from I'm
bergefsi that she was tifty-three years Of
age and was the wife of Jacob speigle. They
we're in the habit Of keeping strangers st
their house. On the 10Th day Of February.
1850. man by the nsme Of Showers came
there. She knew il vas the 18th because il
was election day. A man came on wednes-
day who said his name was Frisbee. Con-
tinuing. the witness said showers was q
niddling gocd-sized man, about as tall as
Mr.. Kooser. lie had nice black hair and
mastache. He wasn't
RED FACED xAs.
Was pretty fair. The man who came on
Wednesday was tall and heavy set His
hair was black but not as black as Showers
He had brownish nsustaehe and wore
derby hat. He only stayed about three
quarters Of an honr. Showers left Wednes-
morning said he vas going to Haines. !
never saw either Of them afterwards Show
ers said he was a phrenologist. saw him
examine heads at the school house
ON cross-exznination. the witness said
Showers lectured on Tuesday and wednes-
day nights at the school house, and that
Frisbee drove away in his sled towards :he
pike
Ross F. Hammer was the next witness
called He said 4" live in Jenner town
ship, one half nliie from Umberger's- Am
81 years old. Showers met me on the 18th
of February at Speigle's. At supper he an
nounced that he would lecture Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings He came to my
house Wednesday evening and announced
a lecture for Friday evening. On the 10Th
! met man coming down whom TOOK to
be Frisbee. He was a magic-lsntern show
man. met him on the pike above For
waTdstOwn. He was about as tall as General
Kooniz had dark hair and dark mustache
wss dark eomplsxioned, and was not red
faced Showers left my place Tuesday
morning. and never saw him afterwards.
saw Joe and lave Nicely when they were
being tried. These men did not look like
the Nicelysn
Cross-exsmined-"Th were from Is TO
30 people in the audience at the lecture;
showers had jet black hair aud musiache;
his hsir was long and curly met the man
took to be Frisbee about three miles from
Umberger on the 18th. going north, towards
Johnstown ard away from Umberger's. It
Is common thing TO meet people on the
pike and to have entertainments at the
school house
The next witness called was Perry I'm
berger he said-''I know Charles and Lewis
Vaneer; / received letter from them since
the trial Of the Nieely's in court. They did |
not demand part of the reward or claim it,
Destroyed or lost the letters. They wrote
me that if they were to have par; OF the re-
ward was to notify them or hold back part
OFF