Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-02
Their Last Hope Gone, the
Nicely Boys Will Pay the
Death Penalty To-Day.
DAVE MAY YET CONFESS.
A Warning Telegraphed From Ligo-
nier of Rescuing Raid.
ALL DETAILS ARE NOW COMPLETE.
The Boys Will Be Given Honorable Burial
by Relatives.
JOE is STILL PLAYING AT INSANITY

.srFcIAL TnLEGRAM TO THE pIspArcu.i
HARRISBURG, April 1.-"Nothing what
ever will be DONE" said Governor Pattison
tonight when asked what disposition he
would make of the application for the re-
spite of Joseph Nicely, who, with his
brother David, will be hanged at Somerset
tomorrow. A letter has been received in
this city from the clergyman who has been
ministering 10 the spiritual wants of David
Nicely, which, while it denies the state
ment that the murderer had expressed his
intention to confess, conveys the impression
that onfesSIon will be forthcoming when
all hope Of a stay of execution shall have
disappeared. 1t also justifes the interpreta-
tion that the minister believes him guilty.
Warned Of an Attempted Rescue.
A dispatch from Somerset says: At $50
tonight a telegram was received from a
veIl-known citizen from Lisonier, saving
'Look out for 4 rescuing party tonight. !"
The dispatch was duplicated, one going to
Sheriff Good and the other to Attorney
Kooser the principal attorney for the prose-
cution.
A, interview with Undertaken Lowry,
has orders from the Nicely family to coffin the
remains of the condemned men at once after
execution; TO allow no one to see their faces,
keeping the caps over their faces, and start at
once for Ligonier by wagon, where they will be
transferred from the cuffins furnished by the
county to expensive caskets TO be furnished by
their relatives They are to be buried OF Sat
uYday on the Nicely farm. Rev. MIR. Hama
walt Dunkard preacher, is to ofticiate at the
funeral
!: is confidently expected by many here that
Dave Nicely will make 4 confession to-day.
Many newspaper men and strangers are arrIy-
ing to-day IN anticipation of the execution to-
morrow, and there is much hustling to procure
passes -Four correspondents representing
Baltimore papers have been here since yester-
day. Dave wrote a private letter this afternoon
and upon being asked if that was the last he
had to communicate, replied that he did not
know He knelt in PRAYER this afternoon by
himself. Rev. Mr.. Granger intends spending
the evening with him until late hour
Still Playing at Insanity.
Dave and Joe both ate 4 hearty supper. Joe
eating very heartily Joe still keeps up the
insanity dOdge although considerably modified
from his former efforts. There are already
this evening 1000 strangers in town. All
preparations are made tor the hanging of both
men. Lawyer Cofroth, for the condemned
men. continues to circulate back and forth to
the SEeriff's Office IN mysterious manner, but
nothing develops through him so far.
Through the courtesy of Sheriff Good"
said reporter II was admitted to the jail. and
a more pitiful sight could not be imagined. In
cell WAS David Nicely, with his spiritual
adviser, Rev. e. W. Granger. engaged in devo-
tlonal exercises. In the cell Immediately ad-
luIning was Joseph Nicely. who is in 4 terrible
condition. Some people seem to think he is
Ieignng insanity. hut any one who looks at
HIM will have This thought dispelleG. HIS at
torney, General hounIZ, was there at the time
and tried to get him to speak. Joe would not
look up, and went about the cell in an aimless
way. picking 1T the iron rims as if he were try
ing to some way of escape. He would go
TO the washstand and endeavor to pull 1t up
and then he would go to the chair He seemed
TO be obliYious of everything surrounding him,
and If he is not insane l never saw a crazy
man
Won't Recognize His Brother.
This morning David expressed desire to see
his brother. 1t has been four months since
they have seen one another. and the sane
brother was very anxious to see the one who
Will suffer death with him. He was taken out
of bis cell to that of Joe's. Dave looked at his
brother for a minute as if dazed. and then
said: "Joe, won't you speak to mef'
No response came and again Dave spoke,
saying: Joe we only have a short time to live.
Won't YOU speak just once? Don't you know
me? / am your brother"
The man seemed to neither hear nor heed.
David then placed his arms around his
brothers neck and kissed him. Tears were in
his ~vrs. and with a pltiful look requested the
Sheriff 10 lead HIM back to his cell.
1t now evident that the Nicely family have
given up all hopes of reprleve. Mrs. Kate
Nicely, wife of Dave, on Saturday last disposed
of all her properly in BigOnier township, West
moreland county, and last evening" with her
three children, took her departure for OHIO,
where she will make her future home, and in
hopes of getting away from the disgrace
Brought upon her by her recreant husband,
whom she had not seen since the trial, as she
mas refused to go tu him or have anything
10 do in the way of securing a communication or
reprieve.