Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-07-08
TO BE HANGED

last Saturday, the death sentence of w.
N. Berry, and Anauias, Honeycutt, were
affirmed andVFriday, August, the 18th,
designated . ASA the eday npon which
both men are to be hanged. Berry will
be hanged at Rogcrsville, and Honeycutt
at Tazewell. The following is a brief
resume of the fact in their cases, which
we clip from ths-fr:SS and Herald.
In the Supreme Court, yesterday, the
death sentepces.iA the, eases Of Ananias
Honeycatt and W. N. Berry were at.
frmed, and Friday, August 18th desig-
mated as the day upon which both men
are to be hanged. The following narra-
tives concerning the condemned will
doubtless interest the reader :.iiA II
w. M BERRY, lIF
In the case Of w. N. Berry, for the
murder of his wife, from Hambleu coun,
ty (a'charge Of venue from Hawkins
having Been granted), his Honor,
Judge Turrey delivered the opinion of
the Court affirming The decision of the
Court below. and fixing the time for the
execution Of the prisoner on Friday.
L. I'll ~ -. 80
August 18th nexta Rogcrsville, Hawkins
equity ~ o1t mon errrr0 (
A brief resume Of tho facts in this
most atrocious murder is as follows;
Berry and his family, consisting of
his wife and four children, including one
grown daughter, lived in the l4th
district of Hawkins county. They did
not live happily. but on the contrary
frequent quarrels took place between
them, and several times Mrs. Berry left
home and would be gone for many days
at a time to save herself from his fury.
Thiugswent on in this way from bad
to worse until the morning of the l1th
October, 1872, about daylight, when
screams were hesrd from the house of
Berry, and were recognized by the
heighbors as those of Mrs. Berry, and
sounded as coming from one in distress
"pittiful cries,Nas testified to by one of
the witnesses. Those screams we're heard
a distance Of over a mile. From that
time Mrs, Berry, who had been seen no
more. The Berrys had parted severed
times before, and Berry when asked
about her. stated that she had left
him again, no inquiry was made for her
for some two or three weeks, when Berry
and bis children started to move from the
country. Berry's father and brother be-
lieying that Mrs. Berry had been foully
dealt with, commenced a search which re-
suited in fRding her body, stripped of all
clothing. buried Where q tree had been
blown up about ninety yards from the
house, with marks ofs deadly blow upon
her head, and covered with a large stone
and some clay. All evidences Of tie
ground having been disturbed was
carefully concealed. After the find
ing o f,ths body Berry was followed, was
arrested az Messy Creek, and brought
backywhenhe pretended not to recognize
the body asthat .of.his wife, but said if
itswas her to have her buried right.
From lifetime of the disappearance Of
Mrs. Berry till the time Berry was ar.
rested, he several times spoke of having
heard 'fromlhis wife who he said had
gone overthe mountain to- Clihch river
where she had formerly lived and
had sent him word that she was going to
ZONE back some time and kill him /: and
that she knew where he was going and
would follow him. Many other facts, all
pointing Immediately to Berry as the
murderer, were testified to by the witness
ses in the case, many of whom were his
near relation. ir u.
Some Of the details Of this atrocious
crime, as dsvelopedat the time of the
murder, are Of 50 revolving a character as
to render them unfit for our columns
After his arrest Berry managed to make
his escape, and was afterwards captured
in Texas and brought back. When arres,
ted in Texas he denied that he was Berry
or had ever been in Tennessee.
When asked blythe court if lie had
anything to say why sentence should not
be passed. Upon him, he replied that it was
al unjust thing, and asserted his limo
sence; and at the close of the-sentence OF
the court he said: dThey may kill the
body, but they can't kill the soul. A
man has that satisfaction
Berry,isabout As years ofage, a native
of Hawkins county, of medium height ant
nervous temperament. He persists in hi,
smnNF FH H H. am M..
innocence and seems perfectly ~callous Il