The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-08-18

MN bIldI the PROOF anu puDllc O1IiiIOA
was very strong against him. Berry re-
piled by saying, Il know il is, for they
have sworn lies against me, but never
mind let the world have the whole mat
ter as il will, God has it right and in
that great day it viii be seer that an
innocent man has been put to death
Berry. seemed greatly affected, so much
| so that we took our leave, but before
parting with him he requested us to re-
turn this morning as he wished to make
his last statement, which he desired to
be published in the newspapers of the
country. We then bid him good night
promising to call in the morning which
we did, and with him had the following
Reporter-Good morning Dir Berry,
how are you feeling to-day?
Berry, am feeling very badly.
Had such pains in my head and side
that l could not rest III through the
night, in fact, my health has not been
good for several months.
Beporter-How have You been pass
ing away your time in your eells A
Berry-MOst all of my time has Of
late been consumed in reading my BIZ
BILE and in earnest prayer to Almighty
God that He might pardon me and lead
me to that bright and happy world
above have now found peace with
nv Lord, and have no fears of dying
for the troubles of this world are many,
and feel willing and ready to leave my
prison cell.
Reportcr-Mr Berry, did you really
murder your wife, or were you in any
wav connected with the same?
Berry, positively did not kill my
wife or have anything to do with it in
any shape or form. Iallvays loved her,
and never spoke butstwo cross words to-
her in all my life, although she being
very high tempered, often said harsh
things to me, butt would go on paying
no attention TO her.
Reporter-Thcn Mr. Berry, since you
declare your innocence SO positively,
can you tell me who you think perpe-
trnted the fiendish deed?
Berry-Ay skirts are clear so help me
God, IN this my dying hour, but have
always believed the crime was com
mitted by my father, Patsy Dotson,
James AfcFerin, Hannah Berry, my
cousin, and Henderson Berry, my half
brother, as my father and others Of the
uarty named had threatened to kill her
on various occasions.
Reporter-How about the recent state
nnent Of your daughter, who declares
You murdered your wife with your own
hands?
Berry-She was scared into snch q
statement by my father and other che-
mics of myself and family. They also
promised # she would turn against me
they would get up a petition for tho
pardon Of her husband, who was seut
to the State prison some time ago for
stealing q hog May the Lord have
mercy on the poor child and pardon her
for the falsehood so great. l have tried
to raise nv children right, but they have
n
Youngest daughter who was always quick
to mind whatever myself or her mother
told her to do
Reporter-"Nr Berry, do yo't realize
the fact that you are to die on the gal
lows before the setting of the sun, and
that it is the utmost Importance to your
sours eternal welfare that You tell moth
ing save the truthY"
berry cs sir, do. I know this
body Of mine viii soon 3e cold and life
less. and look for no pardon from hui
man hands whatever, and nay maker has
already pardoned me fer the many sins
I nave committed against His holy law.
| give you true statement Of the unfor
tunate affair, knowing that grim death
now looks me in the face aud that moth
ing unclean shall enter the house of God,
and that all liars shall burn everlastingly
in that lake of fire and birthstone"
Rcporter-TeI US something about
your past life, where you We're born,
your age, occupation and, and so forth?
Berry, was born in this country,
and was forty-tive years old the 10th Of
last December. I went to school but
little while young, ard the most Of my
education | received by hard and faith
full study after was full grown.
I was conscriptcd into the Confederate
army during the war and put in Col
Fuckers regiment, Gen. Pcgram's bri-
gade, which { deserted in July3 1868,
when Bird and Saunders made their raid
through East Tennessee, and went home
10 my wife who was then very sick.
Since the war have tried TO live peace
able and quiet citizen, attending to my
own business and letting the affairs Of
others alone.
The hour for the execution having ar
rived, we left the cell, but before leaving
he thanked us for the interest we mani
tested in his behalf, and said he wanted
us to have everything published he had
given in his conversation, and that he
should make no remarks ut the gallOWs,
for the people were so prejHdiced against
him that his words would probably do
him more harm than good.
The gallo rs was a rude structure con-
sisting Of two upright pine poles, joined
same material. The wagon containing
the prisoner was driven under the cross
beam at fifteen minutes past eleven.
At Berry's request the Rev. Mr.. Hard-
en-, of the Second Presbyterian Church,
of Rogersville, made few very apprO-
pirate remarks, and offered up a feTvent
prayer in the prisoners behalf.
He made no speech, but spent about
fifteen, minutes in bidding farewell to his
L L ali
that he was fully prepared, willingl and
even anxious to leave the wicked, un-s
friendly world, and hoped that all would
meet him in that heavenly rest.
Among the others with whom he
shook hands was his murdered wife's
brother, who seemed deeply affected
Sheriff was adjusting the nose around
his neck he rolled his large blue eyes Up
IN tire Sheriffs face, and said, 'IIOw do
you feel about this?" To which the
Sheriff replied, ''Very bad, Nick -
The fatal knot was tied, the black cap
was drawn and all things made ready
when the doomed man quietly signified
his Willingness TO the Sheriff to die, the
whip cracked, the horses moved forward
and ut precisely minutes to IL his body
was dangling in the air. "a aA Is
Ills last audible words were'I now
bid this world farewell and hope to meet
you in that better world above where
parting is not known.
lie struggled but little but seemed a
long time in dying, in fact tie physicians
did not pronounce him dead until seven
minutes past 70. The body remained
hanging in all 81 minutes, when it was
taken down and delivered to friends who
had promised the unfortunate man at
his earnest request to- bury it along side
of his murdered wife.
Many believed that the reason why
Berry did not confess was through pure
mabee towards his father, brother and
the others whom he declared as above
stated, were the murderers of his wife,
while others thought that he had told SO
many falsehoods about the affair that he
really believed he was innocent.