The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-02-23
THE DAY FIXED,
Tuesday, Ap-ii ssth, for the Execution Of
the Roday Boys.
DEFENDANTS MAINTAIN THEIR LIMO.
cENcE.

The daily papers of last Wednesday
contained the statement that Governor
Hastings had designated Tuesday, April
18th, as the day upon which James and
john ROddy, confined in the county jail
under sentence Of death should pay the
extreme penalty Of the law.
Sheriff Hartzen has not been officially
advised Of the Governors action and the
death warrant has not yet been received
at his Office.
It seems TO be settled. however, that
unless the Board of Pardons interferes or
the Chief Executive OF the State is pre-
vailed upon to grant a stay of execution.
the condemned brothers will be executed
on that day.
Counsel for the condemned men have
no; yet outlined the course they will
| pursue when they @ before the Board of
Pardons 20 ask for a recommendation for
| Executive clemency in behalf of their
/ clients, bat they are basily at work Sc
caring ali davits from residents of Nor
rellvilie and Johnstown, whom, it is
claimed can throw some additional light
on the whereabouts of the prisoners on
the night when il is alleged they robbed
and tortured David Berkey. Counsel are
hopeful, but not confident, that they can
collect such mass Of evidence as will
warrant the Board OF Pardons in taking
favorable action, or at least in recon-
mending that a stay OF execution be
granted until such time as all the alleged
aiter-discovered evidence tending to show
the innocence Of the condemned men has
been thoroughly Investigated.
In view of the opinion Of the Supreme
Court, in which il is stated that the dying
declaration Of the murdered man was
properly admitted in evidences, and that
his opportunities afforded him the best
facilities for identifying the msu who
tortured him, il is not believed that the
Board of Pardons viii be affected by any
aiiidavits that may be submitted in be-
half of the condemned men, unless they
are accompanied 10y petition signed by
majority of those who were directly in-
terested in the trial of the case, aud by
the court whose duties required them to
impose sentence OF death.
When Sheriff Hartzell broke the news
TO the condemned brothers last wednes-
day afternoon neither evinced any sud
den surprise, nor did they express hope
that the sentence OF the law would be de-
layed. Apparently they were prepared
10 hear that their days had been number
ed, and the only remark either vouchsafed
10 make was: "If they hang US they
will hang innocent men," The nerve
displayed by the Roddy boys ever since
they have been confined in the county
Jail has excited the admiration of the
Sheriff and the other prison officials.
There has not been the slightest thing in
their conduct or conversation during the
eighteen months they have been in pris-
on that would indicate that they were
guilty Of the highest crime known TO the
law, while on the other hand they have
won the admiration and respect of all
their fellow prisoners.
A report has been current here for sew
eral days that the prosecutors in the case
against the Roddy boys are opposed to
the death penalty and have expressed
willingness to sign petition praying
that the sentence Of the law may be re-
mitted to imprisonment for life, in this
instance. What foundation there IS for
the report has not been developed.