The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-01-24

cartridges. alleging that he wanted 10 20
u the river-tank and shoot a groend-hog.
He Immediately returned To the house.
and on being intercepted BY a child. said
that be was going 10 shoots a gray headed
ground hog
v hen '-rete" reached the property Kar-
ney and old man Meyers were carrying
the window sash from the stable 70 the
house. The latter testified that be heard
'-PeseT' cry Lookout p and the next mo-
ment the report of gun He looked
around and saw Pete pointing the
smoking gun in his face. Baker, who
was in the house, head the report Of a
gun, and looked out of the window in
time to see Ksrney throw up his hands,
and heard him exclsitn. My God. I'm
shotr' before he fell 70 the ground NOR
tally wounded Tue murderer pointed
the gun at Baker and exclaimed. ''You
are the next So - Baker jump
ed ouf Of the window and fed
The report Of the gun alarmed the resi-
dents Of the village, but before they had
time to reach the scene Of the tragedy
Meyers had left He was seen entering
lis 70 olrding- no lse-George Judy's
Karney was shot in the back. his spine
being literally torn 70 pieces He lingsr-
ed in great sgOny until ten O'Clock
Constable Nelson Lenhart- Of Summit
township, deputized his brother John TO
go with him 70 Judy's for the purpose OF
placing Meyers under arrest. The mur-
derer was not in the Judy residence. bnt
in an unOccupied house adjoining John
Lsnhart had proceeded about half way
up the stairs when Meyers appeared at
the top. gun 10 hand. and. without word
Of warning. fred, blowing of the top Of
Lenhart's head. Lenbart fell backward
into the arms Of his brOtber. who was
I following. Nelson Lenhart escaped from
the house and informed the villagers Of
the second tragedy.
A guard Was placed around the house
and Sheriff HartzeIl was tslephnned TO
hasten TO the scene The sheriff. aeepm-
panied by a posse. len Somerset about six
O'Clock. reaching Garrett two hours later.
He found the people OF the town ia q wild
state Of terror and excitement Hun
dreds Of angry men, armed with guns
and revolvers. surrounded the Judy prop
erty. BOnfres had been started in order
that the murderer might not make his
ess ape in the darkness.
Sheriff Hartzeil called upon the mur-
derer TO surrender. promising him the
protection Of the law against the threats
Of the mob. who were bowling for his
I ~. f-r.rr the
| homicide. About ten o'clock the dead
body Of LenhRrt was recovered. and a
short time thereafter the sheriff, COnsta-
bic Fred Dupont, Of lockwood, and 9TH
ers, determined TO take Meyers, dead OF
alive. aud, with that object in view, en-
tered the house A thorough search
Of the premises was made. Then the
Sherif's posse went % the adjoining
house. aud. after searching the various
rooms, visited the cellar. where the mur-
derer was found crouching behind bar
rel. gun in hand.
| Dupont grabbed him by the throat and
raised him to his feet. Sheriff Hartzeli
placed manacles Oo his wrists, and, sur
rounded by posse Of armed deputies.
/ Meyers y - lahrLl AlDAAl AAE
Outside. the frenzied crowd. composed
Of friends and acquaintance Of the mur-
dered men, were crying for Meyers'
blood, and when he appeared in the door
way q rush was made 70 take him from
hsoffcers, while shouts OF Lynch him -
/ filed the air.
The officers commanded, begged and
threatened the mob % preserve the peace,
but before they had proceeded rod from
the house a man in the crowd showed
I weapon between them and fired Al the
prisoner. Fortunately his aim was bad,
the bullet cutting only a slight cash in
the prisoners forehesd. The posse guard
ing the prisoner were compelled 70 fight
every foot Of the way nom Ju iy's 70 the
hstel. where Meyers was placed in the
hotel cellar, under guard.
The prisoner fell to the ground when he
was shot. aud feigued uneonsciousuess
for several hours. He was carried 70 the
hotel. and when physician stitched the
wound in his head be did not move
muscle, bat when the glare OF an oil lamp
was flashed in bis eyes. he sat upright
Meanw bile the crowd assembled around
the hotel. and threats thai Meyers would
not be permitted 70 leave town alive were
heard on every side. Sheriff Hartzell
visited the railroad station and. learning
from the telegraph operator that west
bound freight train had just left Send
Patch and would be due at Garrett in less
than half an hour. arranged TO have the
train stop al the siding east OF the village
Returning to the hotel. he placed
strange hat and coat on the prisoner, and
in this disguise conducted him 70 the
siding. where he was placed on the freight
train aud brought % Jail The crowd
about the hotel did not learn thst the
Sheriff hsd worked a successful ruse on
them aud taken Meyers away until sew
erzl hours sfterwsrd.
Meyers WAS placed on trial for the mur-
der Of Karney at the following May term
OF court. The trial occupied four days.
The defense set up plea Of insanity.
The jury returned verdict Of guilty Of
murder Of the first degree. bringing their
verdict into court Sunday morning. May
g7th. When court again convened Mon
day morning Meyers was placed on trial
| fortbe murder Of John Lsnhart. Wednes-
day evening following the jury returned
4 verdict Of guilty of murder Of the first
degree. Counsel for defendant immedi-
ately filed motions TOR new trials.
Meyers application for new trial Was
argued at September term. when ii was
refused by the Court, and the defendant
/ was sentenced 70 death on each charge
TIE case Of Meyers is said 10 be unique
in the criminal annals of Pennsylvania.
if not Of the United States so far IS is
known he IS the only defendant who was
twice convicted OF capital crime, who was
twice sentenced 70 death. and for whose
execution Governor was called upon TO
| issue two death warrants.
Governor Stone respiied the Condemned
man for two weeks in order that his attor-
neys might appear before the Board Of
Pzrdous and ask that the sentence be
eOmmnted to life Imprisonment. Argu-
ment to that effect was heard by the
Board Of Pardons, last Wednesday. ard
Thursday morning announcement was
made that Meyers would have 70 exniate
the murder Of Karney and Lenhsrt on
the day set BY the Governor.
John Jacob sehslL
John Jscob Schell. one Of The best
known and for many years one Of the
! f.sas,r, ,,,oy, n sbfS es,rtusv 1fal of hfa