Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-25
THE TOPIC OF THE HOUR.
SOMERSET NOW DISCUSSING THE CRIME
AND THE CONVICTION.
Sentiment Said to Be Changlng-Groups Try
ing the Case Over Every Day-Lawyers
For the Defense Believe the Boys Inno-
cent-Dave NiceIy's Crucial Test.

The Umberger murder is the main topic
of conversation in Somerset county to-day,
as 1t has been ever since it occurred. The
nature of the tragedy was sufficient to
arouse interest in any community, but espe-
cially in one devoted to agricultural pur-
suits. The trial with its verdict was an
event long to be remembered, and the at
tcmpts to escape made by the condemned
men revived interest in the case whenever
it tagged. Now the near approach of the
day of execution keeps the gossips busy.
Every day the case is tried by little knots
of citizens. They 60 over the case and dis
cuss 1t thoroughly. No library in Somerset
is complete without copy of the paper book
prepared for the Supreme Court, which is
known throughout the country as the Book
OF Evidence" and is quoted so frequently
that the stranger imagines that he has
struck community with new religion. All
the testimony is dissected, the characters of
the witnesses impeached or sustained, and a
verdict rendered.
A Change of Sentiment.
There appears to be change of sentiment
toward the Nicely boys in Somerset county.
At first and up until few months past al
most everyone was convinced OF their guilt.
The tide seems to be turning now Never
theless, those who are going over to the
Nicelys positively refuse to be quoted.
They are waiting to see if that is going to be
the popular side, as it is dreadful thing to
be unpopular in an agricultural community,
where, if you offend your nextdoor neigh
Dor, who lives half mile away, you will be
forced to walk mile to the next house to
fnd man who will talk crops with you.
a peculiar phase OF this change of feeling
Is that many men who insist that the
Nicelys are guilty, say they wish the boys
had gotten away when they broke Jail the
last time. They wonder why the men
didn't steal couple OF horses and get into
the mountains, and intimate that if the
Nicelys had come to them they would have
gotten them out OF the county. When the
speaker stands with group the others
chime in and say. $50 would ]"
What the Lawyers Say.
Generals koontz and Coffroth, the counsel
for the defense, firmly believe in the inno-
cence of their clients, and have not hesitated
to say 80 at all times. They call the at
tentioE of their acquaintance to the strong
alibi presented by the defense; the question
raised as to the identity of The pocketbook
found on David Nicely; the condition of his
hat when taken from his home and when
presented in court; that it was common re-
port at the time of the murder, but could not
he extracted from the witnesses at the trial,
that Farmer Umberger recognized one of his
assailants and called him by name, and that
that name was not Nicely.
The Beach confession produced a strong
effect upon the people of Somerset county,
but was counteracted by the representatives
OF the Commonwealth, who declared that it
was cleverly concocted scheme to throw
doubt upon the guilt of the Nicelys. Old
Farmer Nicely believes he is close OH the
trail of Reach, and if the man can be pro-
duced and confronted with the confession
puIporting to be written by him its truth or
falsity will be determined beyond peradven-
ture.
Testing David's Innocence.
General Cofroth, in his long legal expert
ence, has met with much deception, and like
all attorneys, is not always ready to believe
even the evidence of his own senses. His
faith in the Nicelys had never swerved, but
he determined to put them to test which
would be final and conclusive. The Gen
eral went to David and told him that there
was but little hope for he and his brother
The Governor might interfere, but that was
only bare possibility.