Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-11-14
MURDERoUsLY DELIRIoUs.
New York Mercury.

The assembly chamber at Sacramento,
CAL, recently was the scene of murderous
attack, which, for the time being, caused
great excitment, and has since been the
chief topic of conversation. The constitu-
tlonal convention adjourned before noon,
but after lunch great many delegates re-
turned to the capitol and remained in the
chamber throughout the afternoon. Shortly
after 2 o'clock an individual named Hale,
considerably under the influence of liquor,
put in an appearance, and by his actions
sue ,eeded in making himself obnoxious.
Sergeant-at-arms Sherwood was called in.
and took the man by the arm to put him
out. At that moment J. Berry, joint dele
gate from the counties of Sisklyou, Trinity
and ModOc, was passing out.
The Sergeant-at-arms 4 and bis
drunken charge followed, the latter expostu-
lating wildly. Suddenly he called out:
"Where in hi are you going?" Berry,
thinking doubtless that the question was ad-
dressed to him, turned and used an indecent
expression. The drunken mar made some
remark to the effect that he was not address
sing Berry, when the latter said, Oh
you, I'll kill both of you," at the same time
DRAWING His POCKET KNIFE AND RUSHING ON
~, THEM.
The sergeant-at-arms, whom Berry evil
IDENTIFY did not know, seized his arm and at
tempted to reason with aim and explain that
he was removing drunken man, but Berry
was greatly excited and struggled to get free.
He applied severe epithets to the drunken
man, and shouted: "Let me get at
him, why don't you let me ge; I'll kill the -
of a -" Suddenly he loosened the ser
geant at arms clutch on him, and darting
at the unofending man, seized him by the
whiskers with one hand, and drove knife
twice or three times into the right side of
his neck. The sergeant at arms and
Delegates Tinnin and Farrell rushed on him
and forced him back over the desk, where
they attempted to get the knife out of his
hand. In the fierce struggle the sergeant at
arms relaxed his grasp of Berry's hand, ind
in a twinkling
BE DROVE THE KNIFE INTO THE BACK OF THE
sERGEANT's HAND, ""a
infieting painful wounds. Thereupon all
parties relinquished their hold upon the infu-
rated man and retreated to safe distance
Berry pocketed his knife and walked up and
down the center aisle, brandishing his arms
and calling upon the chairman to call him
to order If he dared, and kindred nonsensical
remarks. In few moments Officers Woods
and Coffee arrived, and taking him in charge
conveyed him to prison. The wounded man
walked off alone to the drug store. The
conduct of Berry was extraordinary under
the circumstances, but subsequent explana-
tons by Mr.. Tinnin, of Trinity, and others
acquainted with him, tend to cleBr up the
mystery. It appears that Berry, who resides
in Yreke,
WAS FORMERLY HEAVY DRINKER,
and has suffered the customary results of ex-
.cessive intemperance. He was formerly in
the Stockton asylum, but for some time has
been vigorously abstes1ious, and his con-
stituents, who deem him, very Justly, an
able man and talented attorney, became
convinced that it was safe to intrust him
with election to the convention. He has not
participated in the proceedings of the con-
vention to any marked extent, not having
introduced single proposition or amend
ment to the constitution. It is thought the
INDULGENCE IN LIQUOR
induced sudden attack of his old ailment,
resulting in the unfortunate affair. An eff
fort will be made to have him committed to
the insane asylum, and as necessary con-
sequence his seat will be declared vacated by
the convention. .