The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-02
said They Were Innocent.
FrSAI. TALK OF THE NIcELYs WITH THEIE
COUNSEL AND WHAT THEY SAID.


FINAL TALK oF THE NIcELTs wITH THEIR
COUNSEL AND WHAT THEY SAID.
At II o'clock Generals Cofroth and
Koontz and Mr.. W. H. Ruppel, counsel
for Nieelys. came into the jail and shook
hands with them in an affectionate man
ner. They first entered Joe's cell and
talked with him minute or two, when
General Keo1tz called the HERALD rep
resentative into the cell and said "Joe
knows that from the very start We have
urged him to tell the unqualified truth
in this matter"
'eYes did" said Joe, his eyes sufused
with tears, at the same time using the
back Of his hands TO brush away those
that streamed down his Eaee.
"He also protested his innocence from
the start, and"
aYou stiIl Do, Joe?" asked the reporter.
ayes. sir, do; and am innocent" said
Joe, almost overcome. not only by the
intensity Of his emotions, but by his
physical weakness as well.
"We also told him" continued General
Koontz, @that if they were guilty it was
Of no use in impoverishing his poor old
father and keeping him in ignorance of
The r. ts'iss- hey said ~---s
cent and still assert i.
@Yes, sir" said General Cofroth, "tfod
has cleared up his mind st this 6nsl
moment for a purpose. He has done it
in order that he may, meet death, assert
his innocence and clear MS memory and
leave his children his good name"
aOh, yes" said Joe, fervently and fer
vidiv, "God has done this for me. / am
innocent and l maintain it. want to
say that our counsel here have done all
that was humanity possible to save US and
TO get US out Of this trouble. They have
stood by US to the last they have been
our friends. We are innocent"
From the cell Of Joe the counsel went
into Dawes cell and held private con-
versation lasting about three minutes.
Again the HERALD representative was
called in, and again the questions as to
innocence or guilt were put by General
Koontz. Dare was much more retieenr
than Joe, but said q have denied any
connection with this Umberger affair SC
frequently; 50 distinctly and 50 emphat-
ically that DO not care again to do so
"Are you innocent ," asked the report
er. Dave hestiated, averted his eyes fol-
a moment, and said Il viii say, yes
That is all have to say now. wish tc
/ say that my counsel have been steadfast
faithful and true to me. They have neg
/ lected nothing that would have served tC
save me and joe
Have you made confession ?"
az have made statement to my pas
tor. Mr.. Granger, and he will make j
public. It Is not confession, but rathe
a comment on the testimony. That ties
timony about our going over the noun
+ tain was false, and the pocketbook the!
/ produced against US bogus. That's all
have TO say"
Joe subsequently said. you can jus
say that fraud and perjury have plaee'
( Us where We are. Men and women testi
fed to things that were not true in orde
( TO convict Us. l believe that this was
set up job against US in order to get tn
reward that was offered. This reward
yiil burn their hands now and in eterni
tv. without they repent I harbor no i'll
feeling toward any Of my enemies for
give them all l forgive them as freely
as Christ has forgiven me for my trans
1 gressions-"