davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

pursuit Of Joe and Dave on that exciting
occasion. and as they were disappearing in
the woods fred shot after them, which
Joe afterwards said singed his hair, and thus
testified 10 the good ministers marksman-
ship. Strange things are constantly happen
ing in this world, and among them, few are
stranger than that Joe Nicely should spend
his last hours with Rev. Deal, eagerly de
vouring such consolation as the minister
could grant him. They sang and prayed
together during the last few hours OF the
doomed mans life, and it is doubtful II the
facts here related ever occurred to either oi
them.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08
SOMERSET JAIL, SOMERSET. Pa,
April lst, 1891.

IA Leu ANt -
/, David Nicely, make concern
ing the murder Of Herman Umber-
ger, for which | am convicted
and sentenced to be hung, April
2nd, 1891, the following state
ment: l was present when Herman
Umberger was murdered. | left my
home about / o'clock on February
9th, 1889, to go to some place in
Somerset county for the purpose of
robbery but not murder, and did
not know who was to be robbed,
not learning Mr.. Umberger's name
until well along on the road.
The murder took place about :
O'Clock in the evening. arrived at
my home about / or 2 o'clock the
next morning. / had a pistol and
fired into the ceiling, but not with
the intention of hitting Mr.. Umber.
ger, nor did any shot l fired hit
him. | intended only to frighten
him.
As to my evidence in Court, part
was true, and part was not.
Ny evidence in Court was not
true in this ! said was not pres
ent at Herman Umberger's murder,
when | was. The pocketbook pro-
duced in Court as mine was not the
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08
MiIt. McMIIIen as an Expert "a

never took any stock in Joe Nice
ly's insanity" said Mr.. McMillen to a
HERALD reporter, Wednesday afternoon.
" You know | knew the fellow thorough
ly. He was great schemer, and was
determined that his neck should never
be stretched. Why, after the first two
or three days was on guard and Joe
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

"Brace up Joe and walk out ike a
man." said well-known resident of
Somerset who was assisting Sheriff Good
in making preparations for the execu-
ton. al will do the best ] can. am
prepared to die AMI am not afraid, and il
could lie down on that cot and die it
would be much easier than to be cut off
50 sudden, it is only little over two
hours now till the time. 1t is hard to
die as / have to. l am hearty and
healthy. I have been at death beds
when ] knew that the people were ready
and willing to die, but still there seemed
to be something back they wanted to
live y and then turning and walking to
the back Of his cell with his chin drop
ping on his chest and great tears stream
ing down his cheeks the Eretehed man
muttered distinctly but hesitatingly T.
guess-I-deserye-it.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

A subsequent dispatch from Lio0,,.
says that cid Mrs. Nicely, who's -'s'
son had been dethroned. is much =
proved, having again become ratIo.-, -
although still sorely afflicted, with ~
possibility that death may yet resaI, ''
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

1t is very generally believed that Joe
Nicely made full confession to parties
who were with him during his last hours
OF life. If he did, he exacted from them
promise not TO reveal what he made
known unto them till certain time af-
ter his death. Said one of them only
yesterday, to a HERALD reporter, " You
must not ask me what Joe said to me for
cannot tell you at this time. know
him to be guilty of the crime for which
he forfeited his life, but just how know
it, and just what know, am not at lib
erty to tell you now. At some time
in the near future, after the bond of sec
recy has been removed from me, ! will
give you some very startling and inter
esting information in regard to this
case"
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

On being asked, after he had made the
statement acknowledging his guilt, why
be had not done so a year ago and thus
saved his neck from the hangman's S
moose, Dave Nicely replied :" / knew j.
would be certain death to me if l did.
There were parties outside who would
have shot me down the moment I was
released. l always thought it safer to
take the chances of a pardon or an es-
cape"
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08
Another opinion.

From the Altoona Tribune.
One of the most significant facts in con-
nection with the last hours Of the Nieeiys
was the sudden restoration of Joseph Nicely
to complete sanity. A few days ago Dr.
Orih, of Harrisburg, after careful exam
Ination. declared that the man was insane,
and desperate effort was made TO induce
the Governor TO annnl the death sentence
upon the ground that it would be a shame
to execute an insane man. Such a declara-
ton from medical man anu the subsequent
pressure might well give any Executive
some bad hours, flut Governor Pattison was
firm and the result justified his wisdom.
For when Joseph Nicely discovered that the
last spark of hope had fed and that the
sentence of the law was certain to be carried
into effect, bis reason returned. We do not
know whether or not be gave the explana
ton of the reason of his conduct put in his
mouth by the reporters, but one thing is
certain, be was never insane. As a result,
expert medical testimony will be looked on
with more suspicion than ever.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08
The Law satIsfled.

From the Pittsburgh Commerciai-Gazette.
The last act in the Nicely drama, though
it finally rung down the curtain on the lives
of the men, was less sensational than many
of the preceding incidents. The case has
been a series Of -ersatiOns from the murder
of Farmer Umbe., 10 the last tragedy, and
the efforts made By the men TO cheat the
gallows by flight. Dotably their first attempt
to escape over the oorpses of their keepers,
was sufficient answer in the minds Of the
public to their claims Of innocence. Ex-
haustive inquiries were made by Gov. Beav
er's Pardon Board and by the Governor him
self, into the circumstances Of the trial, aid
ed by powerful sidelights, and Gov. Pattison
and his advisers have not been dilatory in
assuring themselves of the justice of the re-
fussl of Executive elemency. No stone has
been left unturned by the lawyers employed
in behalf of the men to substantiate the
claim of innocence, and everything they
have produced has been carefully considered
by an impartial tribunal. There is eyery
reason to believe that simple justice, i1 ac-
cordance with law, has been done in thee case
Of the two men who were yesterday ushered
into eternity at the Somerset Jail in fulfill
ment of the decree Of the Judicial tribunal
that first passed the sentence upOa them.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

A great deal of interest was evinced by
the sheriffs from other counties who wit
messed the execution, in the working of
the death-trap. None of them had ever
seen or heard of such an instrument of
death before. The Somerset one is be-
lieved to be the only one in the State,
and one of the very few in the east. 1t
works perfectly, is simplicity itself, and
costs nothing when the Jail is built by the
Pauley Jail Company, of st. Louis, Mo-,
who have patent on it. All prenounc-
ed it the most perfect instrument for
which it is intended, extant.
The most trying thing connected
with ap execution" said one well-known
sheriff to reporter, sis to climb up the
steps of a gailows when you have
climbed TO the top you do not feel safe
and are afraid every mament something
about the hastily constructed structure is
going TO give way. These traps in your
jail are just the thing. You walk from
the cell On to them, only few steps, and
everything is in readiness and waiting
for you. l think every Jail in the State
should be provided with one"
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

After the last good-byes had been said,
and Joe Nicely was standing on the
death-trap, with the moose around his
neck, he glanced through the little
square hole that serves to admit food for
the prisoners into the corridor, and catch
ing glimpse of the Jail janitor, Will
Good, cried out, Goodbye, WILL" just
as the black cap W being pulled over
his head.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

In Joe Nicely's last communication to his
wife be directs her to get his diary. in pos
session of er Sheriff McNillen, and then
adds, lit will be of great deal of use to
you"
The diary referred to is made up Of TRADES
against the officials Of the Jail, the Common
weal'h's attorneys, the local newspapers,
(the HERALD especially coming In for good
share OF criticism) and the witnesses and
officers who testified against him and his
brother. Rev. Beal also comes in for
bit OF choice excoriation in the diary. for
the part he took In the recapture of the
brothers the time they escaped from Jail and
assaulted deputy Sheriff McAlillen. 1t will
be remembered that Rev Beal was in hot
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

And then Exacted Promise that What He Said Should Not
Be Made Public Until After His Death
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

uF NEVER ABANDONED HOPE OF CHEATING THE GALLoWS OF
TIC nFs TILL WITHIN FEW HOURS OF HIS EXECUTION,
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08

at is raw nonsense. Any average child's
mind could produce better romance. The
frame work of it lay out on top. The mem
tai operation which produced it could be
traced with ease from the first struggle to
find mysterious missing man for confessor,
through to the final disappearance Of the
stranger down the mud pike with a grip
sack full of money. He equaled the Wan
dering Jew for mystery, and beat him all
hollow in his supply of funds
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13

more Faithfully served and no
people are more generous IN their
appreciation Of honest, faithful
serulce thau are the peop'e of
Mississippi.
We love Mississippi, too, be-
cause we believe. rs we believed
IN the earlier days of her history,
that she Is AN integral AID co-equal
/ member Of this great and again oe-
loved union: and 10 me now, as
in other days, the brightest star
that sparlSles IA that brilliant dia-
dem OF States, IS that star which
"glltters TO the name Of Mlsslssip-
~.
In making np the history OF our
beloved State, there Is nu pat Of
II which contributes more To lis
greatness and glory than dne, this
brave little city, which with
queenly grace sits upon the banks
Of this beautiful river, overlooked
by the towering hlls of unanimous
lazoo. (Apr lause She responds
to every legitimate demand. She
honors every draft drawn for the
common good aud for .all mt, pa-
trlo'ic, intellectuai aud hospitable
men, and beautiful lovely and ac-
'complished women, she rivals The
world. Mississippi Is proud Of
fazpo Cry; Yazoo City rcjaccs
that SHE i part Of the great, Tie
glorious, the historic state Of
Mississippi
White iiy9 shall coyet no
higher dlstinctloa than that Of
being a c,tiztn OF MIssissippi. And
when the last baltle 5 fought. and
the victory won. aud ] shall have
"crossed uyrr the dark rver,
there, with no requiem save the
gentle murmers Of its dark water.
mingled with the whispering
wln1-song Of departing day, let
me rest forever IN the generous
bosom of my own my beloved
Mississippi. Continued applause ]
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13
GALLANT 10. AsKtw.

While ia Scranton recently,
one Of our fellow-citlzrns, who
hal noticed that Mr.. Joseph
Askcw had lost one Of his lower
limbs SAID; "Mlstrr, amt thus
railroad supervising mighty dan
gerous? That's the way You lost
your leg, wasn't ~ Mr. A,kew
told him he had met with acci.
dent Of getting ~ the way Of
some \ ankce bullet before the
commission was ever thought of.
--Denociat Star.
This calls to mind another re-
mark of 10. Askew's. He was
canvasslng in one Of the northern
COMMITTEES and met gentleman
who favored Col. j. r Bluford.
Tor Railroad Commissioner, but
be SAID: 81 hate to vote against
u man who lost a leg 10 the war n
Asllew replied. "Wcll could
not have made 4 better solder
than Blnforllf / had lost BON
legs and arms" When Blufoad
heard Of the remark he wrote
Askew that he would not run
against man who would com
mend him 10 thar gallant manner,
and that he was out of the race.
-Clarion-L dyer.
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13
NoRrAERN SENTIMENT.

Here ls the way the Boston
Herald, one Of the ab,est papers
~ the North, refers 10 the pur-
pose to erect Il monument to def
ierson DAVIS: mo objection can
bc made 10 the way IL Witch the
southern people propose to pay
respect TO tho memory of the hate
President OF the Cunfederacv
Whatever the North may thin5 Of
hlm as politician aud statesmuu,
whatever may be ITS opinion of
his political principles, II can fad
NO fault with the southern people
Tor showing a proper respect Tor
hun. iia was thclr standard
bearer as truly as Gen. Robert l..
lee was their military loader,
and perhaps the time will come
when, even IT the North, il may
be considered that Jefferson DAVIS
was as honest IA following his
convictions rs Robert +. Lee Is
universally admitted to have been.
Ihe late james Redpath was the
companion Of Mr.. DAVIS during
the Two last years Of his lite, and
Tad regard fol the Confederate
ieader wnIcn could only have
ueen derived fIom true knowl-
edge VI the man himself. II one
oI our most radical political guides
at The North could have been won
y give thls man hls intimate
irlendsllp, we caunot wonder at
the regard Of the Southern peo-
pie. 'inc monument to jefferson
DAVIS should be worthy of the
leader Of the Lost Cause, and no
body at the North will respect
Southern men the less on account
q tins manifestation Of regard
iJr him.
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13
EpwIN ARLlNorox.

There must be a screw loo.e in
Minister WhItsIaw Reid's dlplo-
matte machine. Republican pl-
per- have hn Z been telling hcir
readers i:iat Alr. Rel, b.ckcd by
the Administration. was ba,d NJ
work to -ern,e the free adnnssiDp
Ut American pofk INTO France.
and that There Was Il pr..baDilily
thpt d" would -uccced Now
comes the II W. that tie French
government has decided. not 10
admit AmriraD pork FREE of duty
hut 70 iafgely in fed~e lie exist
duty thereuaon. That 5 the kind of
diplomatic Mr. Reid Is.
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13

That il an interesting story
going the rounds OF the newspa-
pcrs about tine administration IN
tending TO form an nll auce with
France and Russia for the pur-
pose Of controlling the earth, 50 to
speak. 10 IN ordinary person il
looks as though the adminlstra-
lion alteady had upon its hands
moe foreign complications than Ii
can possibly di'p S. OF during the
remainder OF its short lite.
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13

Tnere las been Il disdut, a. 10
who WAS entitled to the credit Of
originating the phrase "Billion
dollar Congress-, which VIII al
ways cling TO the fifty first Con
giess. L.t us be just, even though
the h ayens fall; the republican
party is entitled 10 the credit OF
having originated the Billion dol
lar Congress.
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13

When my good friends honor, Z
me with the Invitation TO be pl es-
ent on tins occasion, and inform
ed me that would be expected
10 respond TO a toast they kindly
suggested that | might select the
subject, hut that If had no spec
lal preference and would permit
them to do j., they would take
pleasure IN mmlng the toast IL
which | should respond TO 'lGs
suggrs ION Ir, adliy assented aud
TO my profound lstomshment,
and lnexptcss;ble pleasure, when
! agaIn heard from the committee
they ha | assig ed 10 me a sub
ject which, above all Others, had
It been left To my ) lection, |
should have promptly cnosen. Ii
rs not b. cause | feel better quah-
fed to respond To ilifs. taan tu any
other toast that prefer it; il ii
not because ] expect to charm
this audienee with anything 1
have to say, OF by the manner IN
which 1t is sand, MOI is it because
! hope to do Justice 10 the sub
ject, but because / .Ioye, wit all
nay heart and soul, miul and
strength, the matchlsss name Of
Mississippi.
From The earliest Of my recOl-
lection, when the red savage
roamed at will through his natiye
forests. fiom the hills of Tlsho.
mlngo TO the gieat river on. the
west-when TIE tiniid fawn start.
ed fromsevefy brake, and the wild
deer graceluaY b uuded before
his fleet pursuers wien this beau
tlful nnd fertile valley was the
habilaty0f thc bear and the pan.
ther andathe wolf, in countless
numbers: my affections were
irresisilbly draws 10 the happy
hurting grounds Of The State OF
Mississippi (Applauses) So 5a.aa
Who can read her history and
dwell upon the virtnes and genus
of thnse great aud brilliant meI
who moulded her character.
without emotions OF pride and
pleasure? These men are too M
merous 10 mention here, hut
may b. p,,a.nlcd, wuifmt iecur-
ring the charge OF invIdi0as dis
tinctIon. FIR mentiunng few
names which | can now recall
OF these are poirEextei, McNutt.
Brown, Gran, Prentiss. and
jefferson Davis. (AppIanse. Ga
with aie 10 the pialns of Mexico.
and be BAR l. tiel.Is Of Cefra-
gotao,Monterey and Buena Vista !;
and tAese recount The yalorous
derds q our volunteer citizen
soldierg AID tell me if il is not a
proud privilege TO be MlSsls-
slppiap.
To whatever duties Missis-
sipPIans have been assigned, civiI
Or military Their ark has ever
'een faitht,.,.., ,,lluas4 ~.
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13
t'yritten for TINS C;AzfrfF.)
SUMNER TIME.


Her glorious gates are opened vide.
Her ttslop OF glsanrrs ehtuEing IA, "a
Her paths ar,i ilewer-gtt. and rife
With treaenrts troye ff0in out her
bin;
Aurora answers 10 her call ts
flinging her lnsr gates aiar.
While out upon swseg laden hills
We srent the hreath.of flowers air..
Her plenteou horn i pouring ont,
Sweet streams at hrtye.ly love,
Her Iarns ar VIDE aud oSrrIiiied
With grain culled frum Above
The happy herlsniaii seeks her ields,
The child sports there, ni merry play,
The worn aud weary fad ppose
Beneath her sunny, shining ray.
%, glorious, merry summer time
MirrOrel forth fgom hsalyens
Thy fields nmi fruits aud flowers
Are boOns to mankind given
The Golden Age Dt happy lifs,
Comes forth at thy advent,
The 'iahorer" IN Gaa's HyineyarN wide,
Yields up Il life we'll ilspent@
st. Charles Parish, Ia.
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13

Saying tha. no seals shall be
taken il Behring's sea this year
and shipping the illegal sealers
which are already at work are two
entirely different things. They
have TO be caught before they can
be stopped and this catching isn /
-asy on a sheet of water covering
four ;drrd square miles, aud
beic If durlag - summer
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13
New YORK leTreR.
em,o

rm BaHs eNl,o..
NEw YogN, Jane a.Aftcr
long agitation on the part OF the
New York press aud public, the
trustees Of the Mctroaohtan
Museum of Art have at last yield
el 70 popular demands by decid-
ing 10 open the museum on sun
DAYS. Accordingly, this great
collection Of art works. paintings,
statuary and ancient cur.o- was
yesterday opened lor The first time
On sunday, aud was thtongei
with thousands of sighl-seers.
who perhaps would never have
had an opportunity to VISIT it on
week days This is u vefy com
mcndahlc move On the part 81 the
museum auih0rijes aud one that
will net only be appreciated by
residents Of the metropolis. but
also bY those who may wish to
VISIT i ana whose tame may be
limited. For those, as well as for
the grelt majority Of the people,
who are busll} engaged SIX days
Of the week, the opening of the
art treasures on Sundays is d
boon whose cost beats no lela-
non to the benefit derived, Our
ciiy - poor enough ID places Of
interest, instruction, or recreation,
but i il rlch enough ia money,
and The few extra dolnis spent
for Sunday openings will never
be missed.
A moat novel md interesting
contest nf skll and endurance
took place licte tew days ago,
winch was nothing else than IN
attempt hy one man 10 catch an
other who was swimming in a
tank IS Il he were Il fish. The
Il herman was Mr.. William III.
GheseDorough, az expert angler.
while thc mao who acted IN the
hnman larpon was Mr. +. j.
Wells, who Is widely known
among amuteur athletes asa first
class swimmer. a wager uf din
nei for 4 party Of cluD men was
made by Mr.. Cheseborough that
he could reel in Mr.. Wells with
IN ordinary tarpon rod and llue 10
thirty MINUTES. Mr.. Wells wore Il
leathri harness abon, his head.
and the line was fastened to ~
cyclet at the top. lie was not al
lowed to touch The lnc with his
hands, nor to touch the sides or
bottom Of the tank. The fisher
man uscl al his arts TO tire out
the fish and land INN, but with
out success. After M exciting
contest OF IS minutes. the man
fish succeeded 10 breaking the
line and TINS won the wager. He
was still fresh, while the fisher
man was exhausted.
The "klGtograph i the name
Of Edison's latest wonder, the
ann Of which Is 10 enable Il man
slt N bis own parlor aud sec re-
produced on screen the forms of
players ina distant theatre. and
also to hear their voices at the
same tune. The machine il a
combination oi phonograpb
camera, and stcrcoptlcun, by
which ~ photographs are shown
each second, thus presenting, ap
parcnlly, o continuous movement
OF Tie actors and q perfecl repro
ductlon Of their voices. The prIn-
clpal mechanism for taking and
reproducing the photographs con-
Fists Of q narrow film oi gehtine,
of great length, wound upon a
spool When the machine IL set
~ motion this film is unwoan !
from one spool, passes brhind Il
leus, and i wound up on another.
The photographs are taken on
this tapidly moving s.rrp OF gel
atlDe ard afterwards reproduced
by the 4tereoptican.
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13

Ex-senator ingalls,, in a news
paper article over his own sigma.
tur,, practically admits that il WAS
Wall street gold that carried In
dtlna aud New York for Harrison
il 1888, and warns Ills party that
the same method will not do for
1892.
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13
ELECTION coMMIs ssIoNsRs.

Hon ID P. Porter, Secretary,
gives notice that the State Boa, d
of Election Commissioners will
meet ia the Executive office at tho
city Of Jackson, on TuesIay, the
first day Of September next, to
appoiit commissioners Of election
for The several cnuni les. County
Executive Committees, or parties
Recommending applicants for ap.
poictnent are requested 70 spec.
lally name the person desired to
DC designated as the one 10 have
priuted the necessary ballots ard
to be made he special Gus odiau
of the same. As required by see
tiun twoof the election ordnance,
adopted by the late C0nstitu ional
Convention.
The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1891-06-13

Children Cry for Pitchers Castoria.
CaIldren ~ for Pitchers CastorIa
Children Cry for Pitchers Castoria.
Children Cry for Pitchers castorla.