The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-04-27
IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD,
Roddy Boys Declare They viii Proclaim
Their Innocence Before the
Almighty.
INTERVIEW WITH THEIR LAWYERS

Shortly after their return from Harris
burg Friday morning, zen. A. II. Cof-
froth and chas. F. Uhl, Jr.. visited the
Roddy boys in their cells.
After telling the prisoners OF their fail
ure to influence the Pardon Board il
their behalf. General Coffroth said:
"Now John. 1 have done everything in
my power 10 establish your inno-
cence without success; your fate has been
uppermost in my mind fer many days
and have spent sleepless nights think
ing how could save your life. You have
only four more days TO live and you must
not go before God with a lie upon your
lips want to know for my own person
al satisfaction " hether you are guilty OF
the murder of David Berkey; your moth
er and father. both old and gray. want TO
know whether their sons are murderers
deserving death. or whether they shall
cherish their memories as they viii If
you are innocent Don't leave them in
doubt, but answer me truthfully as you
will have to answer in a brief time in the
presence of Almighty God"
Scalding tears streamsd down Johns
cheeks as he quickly raised his right
hand and said: General, expect to
raise my hand in the presence of God
and declare that had nothing to do with
the Berkey robbery and murder; that
never saw Mr.. Berkey in my life, and
that / was never in Paint township
Turning TO James, General Cofroth re-
peated the same remarks he had made 10
John, and urged him for the sake OF his
mother and in the presence of death to
tell the truth.
Il never saw old man Berkey in my
life" said Jim ''I was never in Paint
township, and had nothing TO do with the
Berkey MURDER
Messrs. Coffroth and Uhl then urged
the condemned men TO prepare to meet
their God, and suggested that they had
better send for a minister. Don't die
like intidels,r urged Gen. CoGroth, you
now know that death Is only four days
off, and if you are innocent a confession
of faith will not only be comforting 10
your souls, but it will tend to make peo-
pie believe that your dying statements
are true; while If you go into am unknown
world denying God, few persons will be-
lieve you.''
Il believe in God" spoke up John. and
have always been willing TO send for a
minister to read and pray for US, but
''Jim' didn't want it that way.''
at was this way" said "Jim," ''they
were said to be christian people who
swore our lives away, and 1 thought I
didn't want TO have anything to do with
such people. l am agreed to send for
preacher now, however"
In view OF the fact that their mother is
member of the Baptist Church, the un-
happy brothers decided to send for Elder
William Mullendore, of the Disciple
Church, as he had visited them at inter
yais during their long Imprisonment.
General Coffroth's frame shook with
emotion when relating the above conver-
sation TO the HERALD reporter and his
voice betrayed his deep feeling.
Il am thoroughly satisfied that the
Roddys are innocent of the Berkey muir
der" he said, ''and have felt that they
were wrongly accused from the begin
ming. have done everything that an at
torney could do to establish their inno-
cence, and without hope OF reward furth-
er than the knowledge that l have tried
to save two ignorant boys from ignomini-