The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-14

assistance and Ayers imporing silence especially with
the Sheriff who, In his opinion, was a sneak
LAST HOURS or CONDEMNED.
The prisoner looked badly, which rs not 70 be won
dered az considering his long confinement, and some
think his mind had begun 70 give way under the
Bile strain Up 10 last Sunday evening he took no IN
teres in religious matters put lnen on oelng asked
what minister he would prefer should visit him, ex-
pressed desire 10 see Father Maroon the Catholic
priest, who has accordingly visited him.
Last Monday Webbs wife arrived from Missouri and
Immediately proceeded TO the Jail whore her husband
was confined The meeting was a sad one MIS- Webb
20 be working woman, about twenty three
years Old; has fair, honest face and tells straight
story. She said she had heard various stories, and
unable the suspense any longer she had deter
mined 20 and learn the truth regarding her nus
band and his crime She said she was put on the
train three times ST Louis and Knoxville, but
by begging and working. 50 husbanded her means as 10
Webb's w,fe remained with him until eleven O'Clock
night during the long vigls Of which his cell was
shared by officers detailed for the purpose He talked
freely but bstaned from saying anything 10 crimnate
himself He heartily Of breakfast al eight O'Clock,
when he was visited by his eonfessor Father Walsh,
who remained for two hours with HIM. The prisoner
furnished stimulant with small drink OF rye
whiskey twenty years old AT about hall past eleven
O'Clock
THE DKAru WARRANT
read 10 him by Sheriff Swami when he asked the
privilege OF reading il himself and when he had
finished raised his hand and declared:-
Before God my execution rs unjust" He then
kissed the crucihx he held In his hand He added that
be lorgave everybody but that it unjust TO hang
innocent man, but he placed his trust In God and
hoped Tor forgiveness lie perSplred freely Out was I'M
moved and calmly picked up rug on which ne had
been knee'ing and placed II on his bed just before
leaving the Jail he hade Ayers good by, saying
'Old fellow you will have TO pray mighty hard for for
gveness for all the murders you committed, you ever
get 10 heaven"
STARTING TO THE GALLowa
The prisoner was then escorted TO the wagon after
having his hands manacled. in which seated Mrs
Webb John White Sheriff Swami and two deputies
The procession then moved force OF police being In
front and the Sherrs posse fifty strong each side
and IN rear Of the wagon
was up Prince street to Union down Union TO Asylum
crossing the bridge the rolling mill the railroad
track 20 point in iat just west Of the keg factory
circle had been ENCLOSED with rope IN the centre of
which stood
THE aALLows
which composed Of two uprights with beam
braced al the bottom On each side inside the circle
the west the Zouaves were drawn up while on the
hillside on the south among the dense throng stood the
Light Guards The wagon driven immediately
under the gbbet when, at the prisoners request the
Sheriff called the names of his counsel well the
counsel for the State, 70 bid them adeu Webb then
briefly addressed those within hearing. He said
STATEMENT CONDEMNED.
1.-THE statement made 10 MI Henderson is true andI
die an innocent man They are killing me for nothing
put my trust in God and think have been forgiven
He then requested Sheriff Swami TO call Rebecca
White, Samuel Hoskins, c. Argebrigh Kate Bailey,
Mary Lenart Benjamin Diggs, Samuel Tlery, Barbara
Reynolds and Joseph Reynolds. Some Of the parties
called came up to the wagon, when Webb spoke 70 one
'Mr Hoskins say to you that it is serious
thing what you have done. If you want TO kill man
shoot him. but don't his life away
He then denounced the entire party as having sworn
to wilfu deliberate and malicious lies knowingly for
the purpose OF taking his life Turning TO James White
he exclaimed
''The night the murder was committed l stayed in
Clinton stayed with you You know did f."
He then handed letter 70 Huckaby, and turning TO
the crowd continued his remarks in
A DEsULroRY
i'rhe community wanted 70 poor old John Webb
hung prayed for you all last night Look at me and
mark what say, die innocent
Sam Tllery then came up with whom Webb shook
hQnd at a
"You swore lie against me; but forgive you
Every word have sald is true"
In proof Of which he kissed the crucnx suspended
from his neck
webb was then asked by Mayor Staub TO tell who
were the guilty parties if he himself nnocent but
he declined, saying that Captain George Washington
had the true statement and would give TO the public
concluding, This is all will say Agentleman came
up just then, when he shook hands and spoke pleas
antly of opposing counsel but denounced Dowell and
Ray whom he had employed. He was also very CRATE
full for the counsel assigned him by the Supreme Court
Messrs Thornburgh, Reeve and Nelson
EXCITEMENT
was caused at this juncture by fellow trying
the line who promptly arrested and brought inside
Father Marion having arrived from Rodgersvile the
train, out and took his place in the wagon
Sartn was called whom Webb addressed in pdtOiS
evidently understood between them, but which
else did hoping he would come out successful if 1t
was Gods will
tearfully urged him. saying
'tJohn tell us all you Tell US all you know. "
messenger here came in from Webb's father, inform
him of the death of his sister whose funeral would
take place to-day and that his body expected to
reach Clinton this evening Webb received the news
with almost apathetc camness and his steel blue eyes
had arof look in them though he would pierce the
veil thai divides time from eternity When the Sheriff
about bind his legs he offered his hand, saying
'eYou hold of the best soldier you had and
while the agonzing Of his wife ringing in
his he mounted the rear seat OF the wagon and
while Mr.. Swan tying the rope turned 70 the
crowd telling the people to look at him. that he was the
BEST PIECE OF FURNITURE
they had in many day Oticer Gain assisted Mrs
Webb descend from the wagon and led her away. The
means and agonzing screams Of the wretched woman
pitifu in the extreme and brought tears 70 the
eyes OF many in the vast multitude The black cap
drawn his face the fatal moose adjusted When the
leaned forward and eased himself Off and at twenty
minutes past one O'Clock his body was swinging
very natural appearance II was placed in neat coffin
with glass over the face and given 10 the custody OF his
friends
TIE CASE OF BERRY.
II any deserved death il was W. n. Berry,
of Hawkins county who murdered his wife, Rog
ersvie on the 1lth of October 1872 Notwithstanding
his long Imprisonment he has made confession to
the motive that induced him TO commit the terrible
crime but since hIs sentence was confirmed by the Su
daughters showing her father 10 have been possessed of
spirit Of solid brutality rarely among the
degraded and callous Of humanity He possessed but
little If any education, and lived on very bad terms
with his wife
THE MURDER.
On the morning Of the murder they commenced quar-
reing before getting out Of bed from which she first
arose when, stung by remark Of her husband,
Mrs Berry announced that she would live with him no
longer but intended going back TO her former home
This following what had already passed eXasperated
Berry 10 such extent that he eaped out Of bed,
swearing that he had stood the damned long
he could and insmated his intention Of putting
stop such episodes in the future He then picked up
a wooden mallet, and following his wife out into tho
yard struck the unfortunate woman a heavy blow on
the side OF the head which shattered the skull killing
her Instantly but left no sign beyond bruse, which
concealed by her hair
The murderer then dragged the body OF his victim be-
hind shuck pen, short distance from the house. and
covered il up. He then came back and calmly his
breakfast. threatening his children with similar fate
If they should disclose the bloody deed Berry sat
near the door all day making shoes, and at night |
dragged the body about $50 yards distant and CON-
menced digging grave but the rocky nature Of the
ground prevented his obtaining sufficient depth and he
compelled 70 hide the body and wait until the
night, when he again made the attempt TO bury it, but
was prevented by similar cause The third night he
tried another place. but the fates seemed combined
prevent bis success he finally became desperate and
throwing out the dirt between two large boulders he