The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-02
Constable John o. Rauch

OF THE NC ELNs-
Constable Rauch spent three or four
iavs following the murder in and about
Ligonier and hunting up evidence in re-
gard to "Coll Hamilton, who had been
arrested for the crime. A number Of peo-
pie residing in that neighborhood inti-
mated 10 the constable that he was on
the wrong scent and that two residents
Of the Ligonier valley who had long
been suspected Of committing numerous
robberies in that section were more than
likely the murderers. Acting upon this
information Rauch soon learned that Joe
and Dave Nicely tailed with the diserip-
ton Of the nurderers given by the wit
nesses Of the crime and soon afterwards
ne discovered that they had been seen
by different parties on the evening pre-
ceeding the murder travelling in the di-
rection of Umbergers. At the same time
Rauch came into possession OF informa-
ton that led him TO suspect two other
men residing in Westmoreland county,
and coming to Somerset he appeared be-
fore Justice l.. NJ. Hicks Saturday and
procured a warrant for the arrest Of two
men. names unk nown, on a charge Of mur-
der. Rauch and Hammer Garfield, left
the same morning for Laurelville, short
distance this side Of Mt. Pleasant, where
they had reasons to believe they would
find the parties they wanted. When
they got to Laurelville they discovered
they we're on the wrong scent, the men
they suspected had not been sway from
home tie day or night of the murder,
but while there they gathered some i'm
portant information, after learning which
they made a bee line for Ligonier.
They arrived at Ligonier about II
O'Clock Monday morning, and, after get
ting Squire Glessner to renew their war
rant. they hired a carriage and drove to
the residence Of David Nicely, about
three miles distant from Ligonier.
ATTEST on rnE RED PACED MAN.
Dave Nicely's wife responded to Con-
stable Rauch's knock at the door and to
his question as TO whether Mr. Nicely
was at home replied that he was in the
shop. just as she said this Mr. Nicely
came out Of another door and started fol
the constable. Constable R4uch knew
his man, and, drawing his revolver, or
dered him to throw mp his hands. Aiiei
in charge of his deputy he proceeded Il
search the house. Among other thing
found in the room was a pair Of
YELLOW STRIPPED oyERALLs,
a red handkerchief with white spots, az
overcoat. and a pair of boots. There
were also several letters relating tC
green goods found among Mr.. Nice
ly's effects. The prisoners wife cried
and protested violently against his being
taken away, while he himself, took the
matter quite coolly.
The constable, with his prisoner In
charge then started for the residence OF
Joseph Nicely. about mile distant
ARREST or THE LITTLE MAX.
Joseph Nicely was found at a black
smith shop close by his house and was
arrested without any great difficulty.
His family consisted Of wife and seven
chill, r.n. When arrested he had on a
pair of
GrN BOOTS,
which, when compared with the tracks
made in the snow By one Of the murder
ems, cOTesponded precisely.
A search of his house was made, and
among other things discovered was a
wallet, low-crowned derby hat with a
hole in the rim, and suit Of dark color
ed clothes.
THR HEARING.
The constable took his prisoners TO Jig
onier where he kept them over night.
and at an early hour Tuesday morning
started with them to Jennertown, where
they were given hearing before Squire
Raueh and were
FULLY AND POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED
by Mrs Umberger, Ellen Stern, and
Mamie Horuer, as the men who murder
ed and robbed Herman Fmberger.
The gumboots worn by the 'little man"
were compared with the tracks made in
the snow by the murderers, and were
found to fit exactly, as we're the boots
found in the house of the red faced
man
Constable Ranch produced s2 calibre,
Eve shot regolyer. and number Of car
tridges which he had foand ia ths house
OF the little man. The cartridge balls
were precisely the same as the one taken
from the body Of the murdered man
and those found imbedded in the wall
above the bookcase in his house and
they were fired from a centre fine revolver.
When Mrs. Umberger was brought in
10 the presence Of the prisoners she said
that she believed they we're the men
who had murdered her husband.
Ellen Stern positively identified both
men as the parties who robbed and mur-
dered her employer, Herman Umberger.
The Overcoat found in David Nicely's
house she recognized as the one worn by
him the night Of the murder. also the
yellow-striped overalls. a red handker-
chief. with white spots taken rom the
person Of David Nicely, was shown her
and she said it vas exactly similar to the
one worn by the masked man. She rec
ognized the voices Of both men and was
positive that they were the murderers.
A number Of the witnesses testified
that they bad seen prisoners travel
ing in the direction of Umberger'so on the
afternoon proceeding the murder.
COMMITTED TO JAIL.
Squire Rauch committed both prison
ers to the county jail to await trial at the
next term Of court
The news Of the arrest Of the murder
ers had spread like wild fire throughout
the surrounding country, and the entire
population came trcoping into the village
TO get sight Of the malefactors.
The feeling and excitement was un-