The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-02
Their Last Night.
HOW THE xURDERs PASSED THEIR FINAL
HOURS N PRISON.

There was little Of an incidental nature
going on in the corridor in which the
Nicelys were confined last night Early
in tie evening Rev. Mr. Granger accom-
panied by few Of his parishioners went
TO the jail and held a prayer meeting in
Dawes cell. The singing and praying
were conducted in a solemn manner and
Dawes responses to the petitions in his
behalf were little stronger than the tones
Of those who were imploring Divine
mercy for him. The atmosphere OF
gloom that invested the cell, brought its
chill to the minister and his friends and
the attempt at cheerfulness was success
fui. Dave comforted himself as bravely
as he coald, but his face was the picture
I of grief fh4 ipee--4siop nf = Ii After
! etss slrSUuonAl exercises had been CsJli
Guided those who went into the Jail
with Mr.. Granger left, and upon the ur-
gent appeal of Dave the minister con
ssnted TO remain all night with him. Il
was lonely vigil. Dave sat in one cor
ner Of his cell, his face a greenish white,
his hands loosely clasped together and
his feet dragging on the floor, as they no
I longer possessed the power of action or
loeomoiion. He appeared oblivious TO
his surroundings but frequently bright
ened up and appeared to take an inter
est in the admonitions of his spiritual
advisor, who gently and kindly talked to
him in so low a tone Of voice that the
sound Of their voices died ere it reached
the grated bars Of his cell door. There
was something terrifying in the speeta-
Gle and its influence forced itself upon
the death watchers who erept rather
than walked along the narrow passage
way fronting the cells, occasionally steal
ing a sympathetic glance upon the men
who, the next night, would have passed
beyond their custody.
In Joe's cell the spectacle was even
more mournfui. His footsteps, which
were distinctly heard in the afternoon
echoing through the halls as they faiter-
ed triangularly through the cell, were
now catlike in their silence, and he seem
ed to glide rather than walk as he went
from bolthead to bolthead now feeling
of his washboards now pausing at Lis
| bedside but always moving either his
feet or his hands, or his whole body,
The entrance Of the minister or that Of
some new person, the movements 0!
those outside his cell, never for moment
attracted his attention, nor did he once
raise his eyes or look out through his
cell door during the whole Of the long
evening. He has the appearance Of one
in both mental and physical collapse. Il
ne IS shamming, there has not been a
flaw in the scheme Of deception, and be
has carried il out with fidelity to detail
that is simply past belief.
Ex-deputy Sheriff McMillen said
shortly before midnight: Il am not yei
satisfied that Joe is insane. know him
SO well. He is a great schemer, and once
ne takes hold Of thing he will stick &c
it. still think he is shsmming. ! have
watched the employment by him OF sone
of his senses when his actions would
| give the idea that ne is absolutely obliv
ious to his surroundings. A day or two
ago. when test Of the trap was being
made he cooked his ears and looked pas
me as sanely as ever he did, and in a
moment he was apparently entirely
"of.- -