The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-08
EIder cranger speaks.

a-ANlA - " IlAll-tI- " " k1Jln the dbDfC
confession was made, said to a HERALD
reporter: Il first visited the Nicely boys
on the 2sth Of November last and learned
that Dave was not member of any relig-
ious denomination. From that time on I
visited the jail at intervals Of perhaps a
veek. Shortly after their escape on the
29th Of November, and subsequent return
TO Jail, and when the brothers we're lying in
their cells seriously injured began to press
the messages Of the gospel upon Dave, with
out regard TO the crime Of which be had
been convicted, OF his surroundings. tried
to impress him with the fact that unless he
was truthful be could not hope for immor-
tally. lie never declared his innocence to
me at any time. and while he was yet un-
able to walk be expressed a desire to be
baptized and asked that he be taken to the
church 10 have the baptism performed /
made bis request known to Sheriff Good,
and With him and Jonas NJ Cook visited
Judge Baer and requested that he make an
order granting this request Of the prisoner.
HIS Honor said he had no authority
for making such an order, but that
he had no doubt if the Sheriff &C
ceded to the prisoners wishes it would be
unobjeetionable. Dave could never fully
make up his mind to confess, and said he
would not do so until he had consulted with
his counsel. ! never urged a confession,
only insisting that he tell the truth in regard
TO his completely in the Umberger tragedy
if be was implicated at all-and leave others
10 answer TO the Lord for their crimes. AS
! said before, he never once declared his in
nooenoe TO me, and never proposed to make
a statement until the morning of the day
before the execution. When | left him
Tuesday night be said, i will be baptized in
the morning. understand that he request
ed Sheriff Good to have the bath-tub filed
with water that morning, and when / called
upon him about O'Clock he expressed his
desire to be baptized, and made the above
statement to which be affixed his signature.
Just one week before the execution he re-
marked TO me, they will never hang me |
have had plenty of opportunities to commit
suicide but ! will not do that, because
people would look upon that as a confession
Of guilt prevailed upon him not to make
an attempt upon his own life. The morn
ing of the execution he said TO me, there
have been a great many questions asked me
to-day that could not answer
How does il come that you have with
held this information from the public for a
week Mr.. Granger?n
Il withheld il for one week at the request
of Dave, and ] think I am justified in
doing SO. ! regarded it almost as his dying
request, and as be expressed desire that il
should not be given to the public for one
week agreed to withhold it for that length
OF time"
Elder Granger gives it as his opinion that
Dave was far from being entirely depraved
and thinks that q terrible battle between
good and bad had been waging in the heari
Of the miserable man for months, and that
only after a last desperate struggle the good
conquered.
All who saw and conyersed with Dave on
the day Of his death are satisfied Of his pen.
itence. and to at least one person besides
Elder Granger be admitted his guilt.
ELDER GRANGER VISITS JOE NICELY.
'when reached the jail shortly before
nine O'Clock Thursday morning, having
come at the request of Joe Nicely, went di
rec;ly to the prisoners CELL" said Elder
Granger. "The prisoner looked up and re
marked they say this is the day We are tc
be executed. l told him it was
al feel happy, like shouting" said the
Condemned man.
The good minister drew small testament
from his pocket and after reading and ex-
planning passage of the gospel, asked, "dC
you think that person who does not tel
the truth can go to heaven? No" replied
the prisoner.
IF a person guilty of crime should con
fess it to God but deny it TO man, can he g
to heaven
Again the prisoner answered, Mo-
II man has anything against anothel
whai do you think he should do?''
think he ought to make it right will
him as far as possible by asking his pardon
and making restoration, replied the prison
er
You committed a murderous assault OF
Deputy Sheriff McMillen,n continued th'
minister, have you said anything to hin
about ii?'
81 did not know what was doing when
shot him. was the response. Il was eKcit
ed and trying to get away. l want to, ,se'
/ him to day and ask his forgiveness"
Are you innocent of all completely il
the Umberger murder"
Il did not murder Umberger," was th'
eguivOcal reply.
| Elder Granger asked the doomed man
number of similar questions to which tn
replies were all OF an uncetain character.
| Finally the minister asked, can you sa,
that Dave was innocent Of all completely il
the murder of Mr.. Umberger?"
Dave must answer for himself, said Joe
| lie then remarked that ne had an unhn
ished letter on his table, and Elder Grange
retired from the prisoners cell and was no
I alone with him again.