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

I 4fdtiur Nttt udll-t1 IN Si. CVlliGfSSt
county jail at l :43 o'clock this af
ternoon; The drop falling at that
momeat. The prellminaries we're
Of very brief duration. aud were
absolutely perfect IN the minutest
detail. Sheriff Good who executed
the men, went at the matter of
preparation in his characteristic
business-like manner, and when the
time come there was not hitch.
/ The scenes and incidents prcIimine-
~ to the drop we're ofthe conven-
tional type and those who went for
a surprise were disappointed. The
brothers we're cool, unruified and
prepared for their share in the pro-
ceedings. A half hour before the
hanging took place they we're re-
moved to a cell adjoining the drop
aud there they awaited the moment
Of their execution. Reys. Granger
and Beal attended them in their
cells and the interval Of waiting
was passed in singing and praying.
@Tm Going Home, ? and other
hymns we're sung, Joe's tenor ming
ling harmoniously With the deep,
robust bass Of Rev. BeaI. The
singing was kept up until 1:1T p.
NJ, when Sheriff Good and his dep
uty Henry Barron went to the cell
and in a firm, loud voice read the
death warrants to the condemned
men, reading Davids first. Dave at
/ the conclusion OF the reading ex-
claimed, God bless You Sheriff,
and reaching up kissed the Sheriff
on the cheek. Joe did the same
/ thing Revs. Granger and Beal
then bent forward and whispered
in the ear of each of the men a mo-
ment, presumably exhorting them
to a confession, but evidently to no
effect as both shook their heads
and turned to the Sheriff.
They were then left alone for
few minutes with the minister and
/ Sheriff Good, and at l IS the pro-
/ cession started to the trap, Sheriff
Good and deputy Barron leading,
followed by Rev. Granger. leading
Dave, and Rev. BeaIL, encouraging
Joe. They took seats on the scaf-
fold next to the drop, and IN a mo-
ment kneIt at the request of Rev.
I Granger. whilst he. IN a peculiarly
solemn manner, prayed for them,
their loved ones and their salvation.
Rev. BeaI added a word, and then
I Sheriff Good said, Dave @have You
anything to say
Il say To Won all rOod-bye.7 said
Dave in a firm tone. IF a single
word I can say VIII be the instru-
mentality Of saving a single soul, |
shall have had my reward bear
no ilI-wilI toward any one. Again,
goodbye he sank back into his
seat, and Joe was asked If he wish
ed to add anything. Joe hesitated
a minute, looked benevolently at
I those IN front Of him and said: Il
say to you all, prepare TO meet your
/ God. 1t is a sure thing that you
must all meet your God. 1t Is bet
ter to DO 50 now, for the time may
; come when you viii wish YOU had
/ / hold no feeling or ill-will toward
any one. This Is all | have to say.
Fo7 the next minute the men were
busily engaged in shaking hands and
kissing their friends They were
quickly bound and prepared for the
drop. They stood up and the ropes
we're adjusted and the black caps
put over their heads. Goodbye,
BOYS, said Sheriff Good.
-Good-bye all, 2 said the two men
together, and the sound Of their
voices was lost in the changing Of
the steel traps as they fell
The usual shudder, the heavy
breaths of relief. and the spectators
began to hurry up and get out Of
the upper corridor to watch what
was going on below.
Dave stood on the south trap
and as sheriff Good moved the lev.
or and the doomed men dropped
Drs. KimmelI, Luther, Shafer and
Good began an examination Of
pulse and heart. Dave died with.
out a struggle, while Joe's spirit
seemed loath to leave his body
Both men were pronounced dead
in thirteen minutes. Dawes body
being let down at precisely :
O'Clock and Joe's two minutes later
The remains we're carried to the
Sherif-s Office, placed in coffin;
which were at once loaded on IN
dertaker Lowrys wagon and start
ed for the darkened home across
the ridge.
Roger OsMara, assistant super
tendent Of police, Pittsburgh, wh'
was an interested spectator, says o