Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-04-11
THE BROTHERS HANGED.
Execution Of the Nicelys in the Jail
at Somerset, Pa.
story ofan Atrocious Crime--Nu Old
Man shot Down by hi, Own Fire
side by Thieves

Man shot Down by his Owa Fire
side by Thieves.
The Nicely brothers were hanged at i.as
O'Clock P NJ. In the jail yard. They both
died game and protesting their Innocence
Death resulted from stsaugulation. The bod.
les we're cut down about nineteen minute,
after the trap was sprung
The town was crowded with strangers from
all parts Of the surrouniingcoun,ry. and not.
withstaniing the sleel and rain the Jail wa,
surrounded from early morning with people
who stood eatin the damp jas, to look at the
side Of the p..soa where Joe aud Dave Nicely
themurlerers Of Farmer Umberger, were
confined
The condemned men spent their last night
on earth in much the usual way. Both re.
tired early And slept well They rose about
6o'cloek and partooS otquiie hearty break.
fast.
Jos, who has been feigning insanity forscv.
eral weeks Suddenly came To- his senses ami
talked in rational manner. lie requested
TO be shaved and then asked for minister Ia
baptize hin. Both requests were granted
and he then sat down anu wrote lengthy
statement in which Reclaimed that nearly all
the evidence against them WAS perjured: that
he was uniustiy convicted aud that God knows
he Is innocent.
David also madea statement to hiaattorney.
reitcratng his innocence.
THE CRIME.
The crime for which David and Joseph
Nicely to-day paid the extreme aud awful
penalty Of the law stands out pre.eminently
as being one Of the most brutal anddeliberate.
and at the same time one Of the most mystic.
rious crimes for which two men were ever
hanged when a shred Of doubt remained as 10
their guilt On the evening Of February N.
1883, an ugly, cold sleet was falling that drove
. niue coahtry family closer 10 generous
IRE In the home Of Herman Umberger in
Somerset county, about two miles from Jan
nerstown. Some time before this IL became
generally known that Farmer Umbcrper had
been gathering up his money, and collecting
All loaned money, presumably fearing the
banks II was also known that lie was wealthy
and after this collection kept large sums Of
money ia the house.
AZ this time the laml consisted Of Herman
Umbercer and wife Mamie. twOgrandchildrcD
Nellie aud George Homer, aud The hired pirl
Ella stern. On the early evening ofthe day
mentioned. just after dusk, there was q rap
at the door, and IN response 30 lImbcrger's in.
yitation TO enter there came two men into that
hosptablc home whose appearance cast a chill
over the household. One had his head bound
up In two common red handkerchief, while
the other had his face covered by false gray
beard. The men we're invited 10 the fire. and
after some talk tie smaller man said they
were officers aud were searching houses for
lewerly supposed 20 have ho ~ stolen from a
pedller. Taey then read what purpottcd 10
he warrant sgned BY squire Rauch, OF
JennerstoWn. Then began an ostensiblo
search for the alleged stolen jewerly, but in
reality for the large sums Of money known 10
be kept in the house.
After some search Umbsrgcr the two men
and Mamie H0rner went INTO a bedroom.
n there the smaller mau pulled out bureau
drawer, exposing two p0ckCtbooks, which
the farmer said contained mGucy % pay his
hands. Umberger picked these up and placed
them 10 hisvest pocket and becoming alarmed
At the fearful looks OF his strange guests sent
the little girl ior his wife. shc ran in, and
said the farce had gone far enough. The
party went into the sittng.room, when the
smaller man pulled a revolver and pointing
II at Umbcrger cried
"YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LfFE"
This he cried agaiR, then deliberately be-
gan firing at the old man, who had thrown
up his hands and backed into a corner. The
men had evidently intended to murder, a.
they gave the man no chance for bis life.
Umberger received one bullet ia the shoulder
into the kitchen and wildly rang the bell that
served to cali the hands to their meals. 10
moment her aged husband staggered through
the kitchen door and fell dead AZ her feet
short rs was the time occupied however,
the desperate mcn hAd secured what they had
come ior-the two puoEetb0oks-which e0u-
tanned between $1,000 aud $4,000 ia gold
and greenbaeks la 10 minutes the house
was tiled with frightened ncighbors, but the
men had gone and leit no clue. A reward u
5000 SOON sharpened the eyes Of the good
people OF Somerset county, who were up in
arms over the outrageous deed. Lewis and
Charles NArmear came forward aud first
started the keen eye Of suspicion toward the
kiceys by stating that they had seen tho
brothers crossing Laurel liili on tho after
noon Of the murder
The Nicciys lived near Ligonier i5 miles
from the Umberger place They we're we'll.
TODD people Of tne Duukard faith. who wor.
shipped In little church erected Oh their
own large farm.
The story Of the Narmears started a close
inquiry, as they we're positive as 10 the iden-
ity oftbe Nicely boys they bad seen on Laurel
Hii on the afternoon Of the murder There
we're other witnesses called who had seen tho
men, and though some contradictory evidence
was introduced, on the whole, the testimony
pointed towards these two men positively AZ
going Ia the direction Of the Umberger plaes
on the afternoon Of the murder
Ga August 49, however, they we're sentenced
10 death, hul tHtn beg another legal hgit
pardon, Tor repnese aud freedom that has
no D traliei ia this scetiou. Neither time nor
moaey vas spared, and the father Of the boys,
who had been we'll Oh moftgaged bis splendid
arm 70 the limit ia engaging the best Of
counsel for the hght against verdict that 81
the time met viii popular approval.