The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-02

Roddy Boys Grew Merry wheu Told That
TAoy Must Die.


The death warrants for the execution 81
James and John Roddy we're received at
the Sherifiss Office Thursday morning.
bat as that official was out Of town they
were not read TO the condemned men
until the following day.
AT 10 o'clock Friday morning sheriff
Hartzell, accompanied by Deputy Sheriff
Baker, County Treasurer Winters. At
torney c. +. Uhl. Jr., Of counsel for the
defendants. and representatives of the
local newspapers visited the upper west
corridor OF the Jail in which the Roddy
boys are confined, separated from the
other inmates Of the prison.
Alter shaking hands all round the
Sheriff said, "boys have solemn duty
TO perform. The Governor has forward
ed the death warrants to me and it is my
duty 10 read them 70 you.H
"AI right Sheriff. quickly responded
the condemned brothers. as the Sheriff
proceeded to open the large official en-
velope.
Tue prisoners had evidently anticipat-
ed an official notification Of their ap-
proaching doom and were fully nerved to
meet il. When the Sheriff said, 81 will
read Johns first" that youth cheelily
remarked, "thars tight, maybe Jim's
will be difieree.n Al this sally the
brothers broke Into loud laugh that re-
sounded throughout the steel walls Of the
prison, aud was in startling contrast With
the painful character OF the business at
hand.
The brothers stood on either side of the
Shorin peeriag over his shoulders aad
gazing intontly on the large official paper,
not u single word OF which either ofthem
was able 90 read. but which contained
The Shcriilrs authority to lead them upon
tho death trap. where they viii be igno-
mlniously ushered into eternity between
the hours Of 10 aud 3 o'clock on Tuesday,
April adih.
When The sheriff had pronounced the
last word of tho tasteful document, John
said that's pretty long paper, isn't il ?''
Sheriff Hartzell was decidedly more
affected than either Of the condemned
men, and his voice showed evidence of
bis emotion when he came to the para
graph in which the words ''hang him by
the neck until he is dead" appear.
al guess mine must be different said
Jim, when the Sheriff unfolded the paper
that consigns him to death on April
18th, ''you know thanked the old man."
referring to the scene in Court, when
after sentence of death had been pro-
nounced upon him, Jim turn ed to Judge
Longenecker and said Pm much OBJ
liged." When the words ''hang him by
lips OF the Sheriff Jim gave sharp
nervous laugh, and during the remainder
OF the reading OF the warrant smiles play
cd around his mouth.
81 wouldn't like to be in your place,
Sheriff. he said when the officer had
finished reading, Il wouldn't ike to have
10 hang innocent men,"
1t was explained 70 the prisoners that
the Sheriff was simply an Instrument of
the law and would have TO fu!ai the
duty emposed upon him 10y the law.
I'VE can't blame you, of course, you
have been very kind to US" both said.
''But the Governor will never let US
hang" said John, when he sees the new
evidence our attorneys will show him.
But if we have to die, we might just as
well die then as at any other time"
Il was suggested by one of the news
paper men that Richard Jackson, who
was tried for the same crime, had been
very fortunate.
YES" spoke up Jim, eff he was here
now there would be little chance for him
to get away"
''All have to say" said John, sis that
l was where / swore I was on the night
of the Berkey robbery, and when Andy
Leonard said he saw me on that night he
spoke the truth, because Leonard is
man Of truth ~
The Roddy boys are densely ignorant
and have little conception of the doom
that awaits them. Neither ever attended
the public schools and the little knowl-
edge they have is such as they picked up
among their associates. Jim is % years
of age while John is p. Both look re-
well, considering th , long peri
cd of confinement they have endured.
Sheriff Hartzell considerably advised
the condemned men 70 make their prepa-
ratiOns for death and intimated that per-
haps it would be well for them to procure
spiritual advisors. The two boys were
touched by this suggestion
and Jim said II wouldn't like to join the
church in place like this"