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

,vn,rniag sheriff Good con
IA be to sPersonai comfort
.rr 10 thai of the prisoners {.
s.T and them almost exclu
ae muliiindes II mofbidll
~ are now thronging th'
~ town, aud from time {,
~, tie jail yard TO importuni
8 moments glimpse = o
-nel. To have eTatifel tbs
,,e-,en.h Of those who pre-
nests. would have kept tbs
sbis deputies constantly en-
7,vani far into the night and
sine subjected the two broth
rnthe throes Of death, to
,,rauoe end even pain that
r~nsiiered he would not be
rai1ting. OF course discon-
-s-r hld feelings IN many IN
rsuiiants Of the repris-
bsr were very general and
snv ofthose at first angry,
5.tsfr good humor and finally
s.5 The sheriff for his consider
.- -le stair. The front and
fh.s private residence and
f.5e Jail oi6ce were closed all
4 s-,y deputies and officials ofthe
~ admitted or allowed to pass
whimsical and ingenius pre-
p1. forward in order to get in.
rsm nus, have lived in a locality
lv populated than any other
| Wemoreland and Somerset
8ein- from the pleas that were
-.te sheriff for entrance on the
ftlr,l. . and the still clos
fellowship, business re-
blood relationship, accidental
u-e hat combine to bring
hs- IN years before the noun
~ only jailers Of the broth
.A~snd and one other schemes
bv men who wished TO get
4. i,7 many Of whom had moth
.tasrminds concerning the Nice
what they have Cleaned from
1-.n and Inferior sources of in
7 However, very few persons
.r,ref 90 enter the Jail, and these
v members Of the city press
..4 rua 10 witness the execution,
a refminaries thereto. Even
-tIemen we're kept in surpense
under the determination Of
..,s-F 20 sdmit only a certain very
amber. and as this number had
e5 upon and tickets issued TO
-nl. .t was found impossible to
te.s 90 al who applied. Here
rss O disappointment and one or
,he city reporters have not yet
r got Il through their hair
s ane thar they and their journals
= maed down in a Jay" county by
lei sheriff.
r. neat advantage that the Somerset
IS over all Of the prisons in the
r that the gallows IN use Is the
51 Of modern appliances in use
es1s5ns There is no enclosure TO
g-ei. no awkward wooden platform
r.sritying incidents Of nail-driy-
isunerpounding, saving Of boards,
r-g5 chiseis, and Aose other pre-
ass which CRATE more horribly on
aS of the prisoners than the tones
b sheriff in reading the death war
The beam which supports the rope,
---s through which they are thrust,
5sa,h-traps, the lever for releasing
raus and each sud all parts and
e ofthe Jail itself are always ready
BE use for which they were made.
traps are heavy steel plates, and
b they fan they make rather a loud
. that may readily be heard in the
& bat even this defect is one that
really remedied, and this done,
acton ofthe gallows Is sure and noise
sheriff Good, in his wisdom, as
e. that i was not necessary 10 give
-opes prepared for the execution Of
Iioelvs a number Of unnecessary tests,
The recent unfortunate occurrence IN
t1gton county, IN the case Of mur-
2 West. strengthened this idea. he
se concluded that the fall Of the
Iys would would be the proper test,
this last determination tore another
iung Incident from the last days
5 br0thers. Every Shorthand visitor
s jail commended the wisdom Of the
Il in this particular, and were loud
heir expressions Of admiration Of
cll5Vs and the arrangements for the
1,i1n.
EE1PIlN TERROR AND SUPERSTITION.
l1ng the prisoners confined in the
ou5or Of the jail are two colored
Jim Haskins, in for carrying con
e. weapons, and Charles, Allen com
to answer a charge Of burglary.
rzuoe OF death and more particu-
.le vicinity Of the instrument Of
- ghost stories, legends and tradi-
3 u etnuriers under most horrible cir
zz-as coupled with innate super
q have combined to well-nigh craze
$50 men and their terror Is pitiable.
s-li days ago the Sheriff il a very qui-
ll1s- tested the death traps. Seeing
ISIS ard realizing It's objects app2r-
3 z.uated the negroes with fear.
2 begged ana implored the Sheriff to
them % the barn on the day Of the
slz bind them hand and foot with
3 and impose upon them the most
+ uens Of detention he might wish
.1p.oy but "for Gods sake don't
, Is in ihe Jail when you is hanging
.1sE' Again and again they have i'm
z2sd the sheriff 70 get them ont Of
tlliin.. lie VIII likely eOnfne them
:! IN the oells occupied by the Nice
3 tie east corridor Of the prison.
~