The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-02
A Rotten Cord
PgEyENTs EscApE AND CAUSES NAVY BRoEEN
BoSEs sN8 ONE DEATH.

=
Help. Hep was the sgonizing cry
that came from the court yard shortly sfter
dark Saturday, Nov. 29,h 1880 A number
+ Of people started in the direction from which
+ The cry proceeded. and we're som b-oaght 10
the northeast corner Of the Jail. where they
found m&n xrithing on the ground ard
I insisting that be Ezs bleeding 70 death. A
I glance suffioei 10 show that general jail
7 delivery had been accomplished, and The
alarm was raised Immediately. A light vas
{ procured before the excited townspeople had
! time to respond to the alarm. and by It's dim
/ light the features OF Alex Qaeer we're dis
cerned in she poor creature who claimed
/ that be was bleeding to death At his side
1 lay large w0olen blanket, Shile thirty feet
above bis head dangled the broken end Of a
/ quzrter-inch r0pe. which explained how
/ Quaer came 10 Be outside OF the jail walls in
such pitisble plight. Very little sympathy
was shown the unfortunate cripple, who bad
Z only been placed in jail one week before,
charged with having SCI IRE to his neigh
/ boFs. Mr Abrzm Seyiis, barn. and be was
r1dely gathered into a blanket and carried
into the sheriff : residence.
MeanWhile the Sheriff. accompanied By
his deputy. the janitor and a number Of citi-
zsns, bad gone into the jail TO make an ex-
/ animation, while the vast crowd gathered
I on the outside were giving vent 70 their in
dignsfi0n al the insecurity Of the New jail
The Jail contained seven inmates, but tTo
8 only were lett. a col0red man and crippled
i -McCarty- -McCzrty told the following
story ~Humberlson, the Rockro0l burg
lar, sawed the lock otthe trap door ten days
/ ago and went up into the loa every day
I thereafter. where be could b heard work
ing on the brick wall The boy Ksiser a.
ways stood guard and had plenty OF time in
Z which TO notify Humbertson OF the approach
Of any Of the jail officials At dark this
evening the combination box was opened
and the Nicely boys were soon released from
their cell. and had hid the saws beneath the
Z dry closets. When the door Of Hambert-
son cell vas opened. il required very little
effort 10 crawl from II through the trap door
above. HumbertsOn vas the 6rst to 90 up
The blankets and hammock in his cell were
handed 10 him. and in a second Joe Nicely
Joined him. II Eas almost seven o'clock BY
this time and the prisoners we're greatly ex-
cited Joe and Humoertson were engaged
in making = rope by the light Of a small
hand lamp that had been handed up 10
them. and removing the outer layer bricks
from the hole that had been dug alongside
the water spout in the northeast corner Of
the wall. Everything Is ready c0ue OF.
Dave whispered Joe from the hole in the
ceiling. and the next minute Dave had iGin-
Cd bis brother and Humbertson in the gar
ret Joe was the first TO attempt 10 crawl
down the h0rriefly constructed r0pe and
Il broke under his weight, letting him drop
about ten feet 10 the gronnd- Humbertson
followed next. and catching hold OF the Va
Ter spout. succeeded in reaching the ground
in safety. Dawes turn came next, bat be
missed MS hold on the spout. and fell more
than one half Of the entire distance from the
rope 70 the ground. Keiser scaled the water
pipe in safety. By this time queer bad
erzwled into the lost. notwithstanding the
warnings given hin by the darkey and
McCartv. who told him that be could never
crawl down 4 rope Both Of these prisoners
say that Q1eer was greatly existed and was
blowing Ike = bellows. and that Joe Nicely
bad ordered him from the trap-door above
. TO keep still snd stay where be was OF be
would kil hin. Bat Queer sad, Il am
going to leave and two or three minutes
afterwari the prisoners len behind heard his
body falling 70 the ground quickly followed
BY his cries Of pain.
While the Sheriff and his party we're IN
the jail the court house beli was rung by
some Of the more excited citizens, and when
the Sheriff appeared among the crowd and
asked that all Of the men present follow him
70 the court room. he zas accompanied by s
small number Of the great conoourse OF Peo-
pie
The sheriff announced that be would give
a reward Of 500 for the re-capture Of the
Nicely boys. and woald pay the expenses Of
4 ali the men present. who would 60 in pursuit
Of them
Not exceeding ten men enlisted in the
SherifTs pose. and soon as they could Sc
cure horses they were OF in the direction Of
Iigouier
Telegrans were sent to al Of the towns N
Somerset and Wes,moreland counties tell
ing Of the escape. and dozens Of messages
we're received asking for particulars.
.---e.,.....-.s s~-~-r rrr.r-
midnight Few persons excepting the Off
eers. seemed to care whether the NiceIys
we're re-captured or not. while hundreds OF
Others expressed hope. that they would
escape.
( The excitement Of ;he people continued
{ throughout the following day. aud Monday
{ morning = force Of men were started in pur-
+ suit. McCsr1y had said that The escaped
( prisoners were TO rendezvous Al point IN
the mountains above Ligouier, AID nearly
/ al Of the parsuers started in tha, direction.
/ The county Commissioners offered reward
Of 500 for the capture Of the Nicely boys
CAPTURE or nSvE SIcELY.
There were not more than half dozen
/ people around the county JAIL ar o'cioek
/ Monday morning, when Wm. Fsrnsr, vel
! known young farmer residing in the out
I skirts north Of town drove his trusty old
black horse hitched in a buggy up to the jail
door. sitting by bis side vas au inanimate
looking creature with sIouch hat drawn
down over his eyes and heavy oveIcoat
eneircling rs body. Femer's oompanion
was recognizes at once as Dave Nicely HIS
face was pale as death, and il required the
assistance Of two strong men 10 iifJ him
out Of the buggy and up 70 the cell be hsd
vacated 80 uuceremoni0usly Saturday even
ing. The prisoners Ieft leg vas rudsly
bandaged and bis ieft wrist was swollen
frightialiy. The jail physician. Dr. H. ;.
Kimmei. was sent for al once, and pending
his coming Mr. Fs-ner related the story Of
how he came 70 bag little David
4 took lantern ard went 70 the barn 70
feed my stock before daylight this morning,
szid M Ferner. and after ] had climbed
into the NOV and pat one or two FORKS flil
Of hay in the racks. was startled on hear
ing voice plead. for Gods SAKE. don XII
me 7 am hurt and want 70 give myself up
FsFner was unable 70 Sc from whence the
voice proceedei, and asksd. who are you q
Dave Nicely vas the Pronpt reply e. Well
get out Of there and down onto the thresh.
ing floor. Ferner CON mmanded. hoiding hi.