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

Of the crime, and this feeling was intensified
by the operations of what is now known as
the McClellandtown gang, who shortly after
hanged and roasted a Somerset county
farmer to make him reveal his hidden
wealth. Somerset county is devoted almost
exclusively to agriculture, and the farmers
felt that there would be no safety for them
in their isolated homes unless Justice made
an example of the criminals as warning to
others predisposed towards deeds Of robbery
and murder.
As a result of this sentiment the County
Commissioners offered reward of $500 for
the apprehension of the criminals, the
Umberger family offered s., 900 and others
came to the front until the aggregate reward
was over 81, 900.
The Home of the Nicelys.
Four miles back of Ligonier, in West
moreland county, and 15 miles from the
Umberger farm, lived the Nicely family.
The head of the family was A. A. Nicely, a
man much respected throughout that section
of the country. He owned large and val
liable farm, free of enc umbrance, and had a
neat little bank account in addition. The
old gentleman and his wife belonged to the
Reformed Brethren or Dunkari faith, and
worshiped in little frame church built by
Nicely on his farm.
The Nicely family consisted of four sons
and four daughters, the latter married and
living away from home. Joseph Nicely,
the eldest son, who was then 81 years old,
lived on a small farm which his father had
married and had seven children, his wife
being woman of exemplary character and
strong religious principles.
Thriving by His Industry.
Joseph was industrious and bright. he
had travelled through the West in his youth,
and had become injected with the American
spirit of hustling. He worked his own
farm, helped his father, did the butchering
for the neighborhood, and when there was
nothing else to do went into the virgin
forests and helped to get out lumber. Oc-
casionally he would do little trading. and
barter cheap jewelry in articles not quite so
pretty, but more substantial. As result of
his thrift and industry he always had a roll
of bills in his pocket, was pleased with him
self and content with the world.
Joseph would be in Ligonier very fire.
quently, but, according to his own state
ments, which are uncontradicted, was but
once in Somerset county before the Um-
berger murder, and then he went to Jenner-
town to serve a subpoena. He was we'll
known on the Westmoreland side of the
mountains, and was very popular. always
being ready with a smile and CHEEKY word
for his friends.
David Was Delicate but Industrious.
David, the youngest of the Nicely boys,
was 25 years of age at the time OF the Um
berger murder. He also was married, had
three children and lived on his fathers
farm about a quarter of a mile from the
homestead. David was delicate man. He
suffered from enlargement of the heart,
which affected his whole system and pre-
vented him from performing heavy labor or
taking exercise of severe character. Never
theless David was just as industrious as the
other members of his family. He helped
his father farm, titled the acres he occupied
himself which his father had promised to
deed to him in the spring Of 1889, and made
shoes for the neighbors.
David appeared satisfied with his let. He
and his family were always neatly clad, had
NO lack of the necessaries and comforts OF
life, ard David was never without few
dollars of ready cash to meet an emergency.
David was seldom further away from home
than Ligonier, where he received his mail
andipurchased his groceries.
On the Track of the Nicelys.
Suspicion first fell upon Joseph and
David Nicely when Lewis and Charles Var
NEAR. father and son, said they had seen the
two brothers crossing Laurel hill, on the
Pittsburg and Philadelphia pike, on the
afternoon OF the murder. The Vanmesrs
were saving logs on the slope of the mount
tain 40 yards below the road. and could see
only the heads and shoulders of the Nicelys,
but were nevertheless positive OF their iden-
tity. The Vanmears admitted on the stand
that they had told different stories about the
identity of the two men they saw, but init
mated that they did not care to tell all they
knew to persons it did not concern.
Hamilton Smith said he saw David Nicely
in Ligonier on Wednesday noon and that
the latter was starting along the pike over
Laurel hill. Smith said that Seal Burnett
was with him at the time, but Burnett de-
clared that it was not on Wednesday, but on
the Saturday after the murder.
Contradictory Evidence of Identification.
Lewis Bener and Edward McCracken met
two men ascending the mountain on the
afternoon OF the murder. Beener believed
it was David Nicely, as did McCrackep,