Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-01-09
A Reverend Hypocrite and Rascal
Resists Arrest and Attempts to
Kill a Deputy Marshal at
Hertram I0xua

| "A Reverend AypOcrito and Rascal
Resists Arrest and Attempts to
Kill a Deputy Marshal at
Bertram, Iowa.
We find in the Burlington Huack.
eye, of Dec. 3lst, the following par
ticulars of the bloody contest at Ber.
tram, Iowa:
United States Marshal Melendy
and Deputy Marshal J. G. Shattuck
arrived in this city on the midnight
train from Cedar Rapids on Monday
night, having in charge the so-called
"Rev." H. A. Berry, of Bertram,
Linn county, whom they were ta-
king to the penitentiary at Fort
Madison. They lodged him at that
place yesterday, and last night re-
turned to Cedar Rapids.
So far as the above is concerned,
there is nothing startling about it..
But the capture of this same Berry
was accomplished by ore Of the
most desperate adventures that ever
attended the capture of a felon in
this State. No man ever faced
death more closely nor more boldly
than did Marshal Shattuck when,
last Saturday morning, he attempted
to serve a warrant of arrest on said
Berry.
The previous history of this man
is necessary to q thorough under
standing Of the case. 1t is history
of atrocious roguery. Last spring,
having assumed the role of a minis
ter of the gospel in order to better
prey upon those with whom he came
in contact, he visited the Jail a, Du-
buque in company with several cler-
gymen, to preach and pray with the
prisoners there confined. Leaving
there he began to prey in quite an
other manner by attempting to cheat
his creditors at Bertram, where he
was merchandising. There was
considerable method in his dishon-
esty, too. Contemplating the posi-
bility OF getting caught, he left a
very large hole out of which : he
thought be could crawl if it should
prove necessary. He attempted to
ship goods out of the store tor which
he had not paid, and thus defraud
his customers. He marked the
goods he was shipping, ''walnuts,'' .
and actually did put three or four
walnuts in each package, so that he
could swear he was shipping wal
nuts, if need be, without commit
ting perjury. He was arrested for
this offense and put under bonds.
AT the recent sitting of the United
States Court at Dubuque three in
dictments were found against him,
and bench warrant was issued tor
his arrest. Marshal Melendy put
this in Mr.. Shattuck's hands two
weeks ago yesterday. Bertram is
about ten miles east of Cedar Rap
ids, on the Chicago and Northw vest
ern railway, where he arrested Ber-
ry and took him to Cedar Rapids.
At the latter place Bcrry's friends
rallied around him, and used every
endeavor to obtain his release. The
United States Commissioner, Whit
tam, declared that Berry should not
60 to Dubuque; that he might as
we'll be bailed at Cedar Rapids.
Bailed he was, an ordinary commits
sioner's bond being drawn up for
$400, two citizens of Cedar Rapids,
Mr.. Harper and Mr.. Brown, being
bondsmen, the latter the owner Of
Browns Hotel property. Mr.. Shat
tuck protested against the validity
Of the proceeding, and left tor Du
buque, bearing with him he bond.
The Marshal at Dubuque sustained
Mr.. Shattuck's view OF the matter,
declaring the bond no better than
SO much blank paper. The Clerk
of the United States Court, Mr..
Love, was also displeased with such
action, and wrote Mr.. Whittam, the
Commissioner, pretty sharp letter
for his o1ficiousness and lack of
judgment. Armed with his bench
warrant, Mr.. Shattack again started
for Bertram, which place he reached
last Friday mornin He found
Berry at breakfast. He informed
the pseudo minister that there was
trouble about his bond, and that he
should have to ask him to go once
more to Dubuque. Berry signifed
his assent, and asked Mr.. Shattuck,
meanwhile, to sit down and take
breakfast with him. Mr.. Shattuck
declined, having already taken
breakfast. He did not dream, how
ever, that his intended prisoner, be.
meath his smooth exterior, was plan
ming murder. .&tA "
Berry's dwelling was once store
and in it still remain the counters
and shelving. AS he finished his
breakfast he got up, declaring to
his wife that he had better 90 and
dismiss his school until Tuesday,
having, since he quit merchandise
ing, taken up the birch as a means
OF livelihood. He left the house,
leaving Mr.. Shattuck to await his
return. The last named gentleman
was obliged to wait until nearly
train time, getting considerably ap-
prehensive that Berry had departed
without leave. Finally he saw his
prisoner returning through copsc
at the rear of his house. Mr.. Shat
tuck was conversing with some per-
sons in front of Berry's door, and
started to re-enter as Berry came in
the back door. As Mr.. Shattuck
entered the front door, which is the
vacant store room, Berry entered
the room from a back door, bearing
a breech-loading carbine in his
hands, which he pointed at Mr.. Shat