The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-22

Following is a copy OF a letter written by
Elder Granger to the mother Of the Nicely
boys as it appeared in the Westmoreland
DeRoora, Of the 18th inst.
SOMERSET, Pa, April 1, 1891.
Mns. A. A. NIcELy-
Dear Madam: 1t the request of your son,
David, this letter is written. l was with
him at the last. saw Dave and Joe for the
first time Nov 2Sth, 1880 the day before the
last escape from jail. spoke to him often
about obey:ng the gospel, as he told me on
my first visit TO him that he was not men,
ber Of any church. ! procured for him a
Bible; he had only small testament be-
fore. He read his Bible great deal, as
think, because he oflen spoke 10 me about
it, and was familiar with much it con tain
ed. He desired some commentary also, and
furnished him some such as | thought he
would like and would, at the same time, be
useful to him. About 10 days ago he re-
guested me TO visit him oftener than | was
then doing-about once every week vis-
tied him then about once each day, and tow
ard the last was with him almost all the
time He desired to be baptized and was on
last Wednesday, at II o'clock, in the bath
tub in the corridor of the Jail The same
evening at o'clock some Christian people
accompanied me and they and be and par
took together of the Lords supper. On last
Saturday evening, at clock, few breth-
rem and had short prayer service with
him. According to his request, after the
communion service Wednesday evening, l
remained, going with him TO his cell and
staying there until His, when | went
home for the rest of the night. ! returned
to the jail a little after O'Clock, Thursday
morning and remained there, with the ex-
ception of the time from 1890 to Ills un-
til all was over. For several days before the
end he did not have hope of receiving any
favorable news from Harrisburg, but hope
was not entirely abandoned until Thursday
morning, when he learned from counsel
that Gov PattisoD decided not to grant a
respite. think be was prepared for death
and as much resigned to it as any one in
like circumstances could be. He preferred
to live, and said if that could be, his life
would be above reproach in the future.
Much of his last hours was spent in devo-
ton. He prayed earnestly and fervently,
sometimes alone and sometimes with me.
He expressed the hope that he might have
strength for the final moment, and this was
l. .tfs
he stood il all A little before s o'clock on
Thursday morning Joe sent for me. He
was rational. He spoke of the coming cris-
is and freely of his future. After perhaps
half an hours conversation, he proceeded
10 finish a letter to his wife, which he had
commenced before came in. He was soon
visited by Rev. Beal, of the Evangelical AS
sociation who administered to him the sac
rament. At half past IL o'clock, Dave, Joe,
Sheriff Good and | ate alone at dinner,
which had been prepared in one Of the cells,
the one that was Dawes all winter. After
dinner Rev. Beal returned and he and Joe
were together in devotion, praying and
singing. A little before o'clock Dave Joe,
Rev. Beal and were requested to go to the
west of the jail, which we did Soon after
Joe and Rev. Beal joined Dave and me in
our cell, and the rest of the time, until the
sheriff came, was spent in prayer and sorg
Joe leading and both Dave and joining in
the singing / send you in this mail Dawes
testament and handkerchief left with me
by him for YOU.
Sincerely and truly yours,
r-.r, w lnL,-l-rn