Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-25


the latest designs. The building felt OPP
preSsively warm after coming out OF the
cold, crisp wind blowing from the snow
clad SUBMITS of the Allegheny Mountains,
and a ghostlv charnel-house air seemed to
fill the whitewashed cells, while few rays
of sunlight sifted through the grated win
doEs and made 4 dismal failure of their at
tempt to brighten the gloomy exterior. The
corridor in which the Nicelys are confined
contains three cells, two of which are occu-
pied bv the men and their watchers. The
other corridor also contains three cells, in
one of which is a colored man who kills
time by initiating the barking of dog.
DebiIitated by Their Long Imprisonment.
The Nicelys show the effect of their long
confinement. Their faces bear the prison
pallor but David's ewes are bright, his
form is erect, and he looks his visitors
straight in the face. Not that he has many
guests. Sheriff Good has hundreds of APP
plications for admission, but has refused all
but the prisoners counsel, physicians and
near relatives. Joseph looks very sickly.
His ankle is still bound up, his eyes pro-
tru6e, and his air is that of 4 man whose
mind is weakening. When visited in his
cell he was aroused with some difficulty.
He sat up on his cot. and passing his hand
back ana forth before his eyes several times,
as if brushing SWAY cloud thAt interfered
with his vision, said: "Wait a minute TILL
l think My head hurts me"
When thoroughly aroused Joseph talked
inteIlIgently, and the tears which stood in
his eyes show that be keeniy feels his posi-
tion. In continuing his reply to the ques-
tion of what prompted him and his brother
10 escape, he said: 1--WE are not guilty, and
we know our innocence will be proven in
time. We hoped to get away from this part
of the country and live in seclusion until
the truth of the Umberger murder came out,
the actual criminals were discovered and
our reputation cleared. Then we would
come back again.
Joseph Relies on His AlibL
81 was not near the Umberger farm on
the day of the murder. l was at my home,
Is miles away, and that was proven at the
trial. was never in Somerset county but
once, and did not know Z berger nor any
one else around Jennertown."
did not the Vaueers see you and David
on the mountain that day?''
NO; they did not The Vaneers are not
very good friends of mine. 1 rented shop
in Ligonier from Vaneer; we had a dispute
over the rent and he kued me. / won the
case, and be toli ME he would make me pay
for it.
''You have good wife and some bright
chiIdren?''
YES. indeed 1 have. Ny oldest boy,
Lorenzo, is smart and good. He is just
turned Il, and is teaching school three miles
away from home. But he walks to and
from the school every dav tha: he may be
home at night TO comfort bis mother"
How were YOU fixed financially at the
time OF the L mberger murder"
81 always had money. / owned little
farm and worked for my father and the
neighbors. 1 used to do all the butchering
for the neighbors. 1 never was without
few dollars, and owed no one. 1 was happy
and couteuted and coveted no ones
wealth"
Joseph Nicely's Prison Song.
Joseph Nicely belongs to the Evangelical
Church, aud the result OF the religious
training he received from his parents is
shown by the following poem, which he
composed in jail. It's title is "a Prison
Song
When my mind wanders back
Tony happy childhood days
The days that are now forever past
Around the dear old cottage house
These are thoughts stamped on memory to
last.
Chorus
ii your heart was ever sad,
Then these thoughts would make you glad:
When you think of the morning you'll be free;
For then you'll cross The prison floor
And 90 out the prison door;
For therere many happy days you yet may see.
But as DAYS months pass by;
All, the years. how swift they fly!
But our future, there is no one who can tell,
For this is left within the hands
Of the One that ever stands
And Savs: Trust in me and all things will be
welln
In the dark and gloomy cell
There is no one who can tell
How anXiously We wait the news to hear
That our freedom we have gained
And no longer will be chained,
And the laws of Somerset no longer fear.
Oh the sadness in my heart,
When think that must part
From the friend of life who is so dear to me;
That ] never more may be
80 Roaming DER this land as free,
As the birds thatsing upon the leafy tree.
But these thoughts MAJ not be SO,
And from prison We may go
If a trial fair by Jury we may see
Then with friends we can rejoice,
And, with one united voice,
Praise the God whose hand did surely set us
free.
David Firmly Maintains His Innocence
David gave the same reason as his brother
for attempting to escape. IA mistake has
beeu made :" be said, I'm convicting us of
this crime and We were determined not to
suffer by it if we could help it,"
David was asked what truth there was in
a rumor in Somerset that bottle Of lauda-
mum had been found in his cell, with which
he intended TO commit suicide.
There is no truth in it, he replied.
Then be Strengthened himself and said: 81
shall not commit suicide, because people
would say that it vas confession of guilt
If l must be hanged, will walk upon the
scatfold and declare there, as 1 do now, that
am innocent of the Umberger murder"
How about the people who testified that
they saw you crossing the Laurel Hill
Mountain"
They were either mistaken or swore
falsely"
Were you on good terms with the
Vaneers?"
IN OF very. Some years ago 1 was work
ing in sawmill where we did some work
for the elder Vaneer. a dispute arose over
the price to be paid. Vaneer said he had
made a special agreement, which was de.
MED bv my employer. | was brought into
the case and my testimony was unfavorable
10 Naueer Since then we have not been on
good terms.
Too Much Heart for the Task.
Il proved 1 was at home all the day of the
murder and if had not this should be suf
fcIent proof that did not climb the Laurel