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

moEel q NUMBER ~ sheets were found
tied together, making a rope long enough tc
reach from the cell to the ground chisels
braces aud bits and other tools were found
5 Above the hole in the wall was written
~Cicod-bye, Nit, old boy We can't stay
+ wilh you McMillen xas not ready 70 hav,
his prisoners bid him sdieu in this manner
and going bsloz he locked the Two Nicely
boys and two others in The STEEL cell.
A guard vas placed in the jail thereafter
DErprY sHKElFF xcsBLLEx SHOT.
T The Umberser case reached is bighes;
( degree Of horror and excitement al L O'Clock
Monday, September is 1859. when Joseph
and David Nicsiy made murderous attack
upon deputy sheriff McMiIen. shooting him
twice through the body, and made theii
escape 10 the woods eas, Of
Juss At noon on that day persons on
Union sirest were startled by the rsl.or. oi
a revolver The next moment Joe and Dave
Nicely were seen rushing down the Jail steps
+ and around the east corner Of the building
( Bofh cleared the iron fence Of the jail yard
ats bound aud ran dowE the alley as fast as
their legs eogld carry them.
The Nioelys have escape1.n shouted
those who saw then leaving the jail The
cry was taken up by all within hearing OF
their voices. aud nearly every nan who
heard il started in pursuit. The oest runners
were close al the heels Of the fesing uur-
derers when they disappeared in the woods,
and clergyman who vas one Of the pur-
s1rers fired a shot from his rife al their re-
treating figure. Then came the shout.
The deputy Sheriff bss been shot r. and an
expression Of horror erept over the faces Of
the hundreds who had coilected about the
Jail Ii 8 few minutes dozens OF h0rsemsn
With guns over their shoulders went gsIl0p-
ing in the direction OF the ten-acre patch OF
woodland IN which the criminals had taken
refuge Hundreds OF men and boys. with
al conceivable sorts Of firearms. from 4 toy
pistol TO repeating rife. followed on foot
Women and Httle girls were runuing here
and fhere, screaming and crying. Almost
the entire population, excepting those who
had gone in pursuit. collected in the Acad-
eny square. whence fan view OF the woods
was 20 be bad
GuAris were speedily stationed al eouve3-
lent points surrounding the thirty acres Of
woods, while the more venturesome com
nenoed searching among the timber for the
escaped marderers. The thought thar they
would ever permit themselves 70 be captured
alive never entered the mind Of anyone.
Suddenly a riie shot rang ont on the still
air, and with is echo came the cry. here
be is~ Dave was discovered up among The
thick branches q q pine tree. Il didn't re-
eli-e a second summons % him to come
down. for letting himself drop from the
branches 70 the groupd. he held Up his
bands and pleaded for Gods sake, don't
Shoot At this jancture pistol vas thrust
IN bis faoe aad the question asked, Who
shot Nil
III wasn't ne here's my revolver with
alI the loads IN IL pleaded the miserab.s
wretch.
The prisoner Was CONDUCTED TO town and
at every step was greeted sith the jeers and
threats of;he infaria;ed people who lined
,be road.
For Gods sake don't iet them lynch ne. p
F be Eouid whisper as rapidly as ne could
catch bis breath. '.wouisn't & you have tried
Z to escape f ycu had been convicted inno-
Gently and the chAnces were ali agaiust you.
/ ! never did any shooting. Please dont Iet
them shoot me, and ikea Wild beast run
to the sal. be would turu his head from
side % sise as swiftly a. the muscles Of bis
neck woa,i permit, while the ierrorizsd ex-
preston On bis face showed that be was in
( eoustant fsav % an attack fno.n the rea-.
IT wasn't ne thar did The shooting. I
never fired a shot IS my revolver shows.
Don't Ie, them XIII me- he pleaded every
& step Of The way back 70 Jail
rHE c2rrURE or 1oE
A lire of men, PLACED SIX feet apart. were
marching slowly and guariidiy through the
soods. Ehen a mans body parsly concealed
behind log and covered with leaves. AZ
srscsed ibe attention Of one OF she hunters.
Get up there, and hold Up your hands
was the prompt command
"rHoH rP youR Hlxrs
Don't shoot. for the love Of God. ] ara
uuarlaed. cried thecovardlv cur Who had
but iEo hours besnre sbo, Deputy -sheHH
McNiBen in cold blood Gettine on bis
1 knees. The convicted murderer who had al.
ways bora himsSif witA the searlessness Of a
T lion, begged that his life b. sp4rsd him a
+ little while longer.
LTseHlSG PREVENTED.
-Ie,s hang him, NO. ven torture 8
+ confession out Of him drs'.- Get rope
He's not fit 10 live snd similar expression.
we're 70 he heard on all sides.
You're among the Somerset couu;y
Dutch, yelled one. "and We always let tx
F Law take its co1Tse
The law S Too SLOW, replied the excitet
mob.
The fellow who referred TO the Somerse,
Dutch. struck popular chord. and from
{ that instant better eoancil prevsiled. not
sishsianding the chorus Of "get the rope-'
Hang him. He murdered two men an,
ought % die
The march from the woods to the TOW,
was ore Of widest excitement. The croxC
increased n every step and the cries for ven
+ geznee grew louder and louder. The street,
were cr0wdsl with women who anxiousl,
asked which Is he p and then in tones o
deepest hatred, hissed skill him. he's no
1T TO live Wien the crowd reached III
Academy square there was q scene or in
ter Sc CON uotSon. aud for few moments
booked as though the lynehing suggested a
the woods would be carried into effect righ
there. But cooler beads again prevente
any such aitenp, from being consammai
"a. and after comparative quiet bad bee
restored tbe @littie man" Eas hurried a
Union Street and back into the jail fror
which Be had escspei
Joe Nicely hung MS head Ike crave
coward, insisting ali the while that be ha
not shot McAileu and begged % be save
from the crowd who gibed and tzanted hir
A. he PISSED bF.
-r1Hr8 " s8c itAs Eefe4l1a iO2r Ec'
smith a Wesson reSolvers. in addition {
the tEo that were found On the pTisoners +
the woods. bnt their hiding place was NJ
revealed until confession had been choke
from one ofsbe prisoners. who was in IN
Nicely's confidence \ liberal supply {
cartridges was aiso found
rs1k WIN rag xrrzsx.s
. HERALB reporter stepped Up to DaT
Nice'v's cell after the brothers we're retarr