The weekly Arizona miner., 1882-02-03
BLACK FRIDAY.
Execution of Johr ", Berry for the Murder E . Of Michael P. Shores. t-i

| John W. Berry, convicted at the June term . of the District Court, for having shot and
 killed Michael P Shores, on or about the 21st day of April, 1881, a few miles from
 Tiptop, was hung in the court yard of the
 old county jail at twelve o'clock to-day.
 A large crowd assembledin and around the
 yard an hour before the execution, waiting to
 see the condemned man, who was taken from
 his cell in. the county jail and brought to the scene of his execution in bareuche, "a few minutes before twelve. He was led by the
 hand to the gallows by Father Duraches, who has been in attendance on him for ssv-
 eral days. Following were Sheriff Walker,
 Deputies Long, Herbert, St James and Mul-
 the scaffeld Berry assembled the stairs with a
 firm step, and was, apparently, Hess affected
 by the proceedings than the officers in charge. Deputy Sheriff Herbert read the death warrant in a low tone, during which time Berry, except looking nervously at the
 surrounding. showed no sisp pf fear or way
 ering, as was expected. ''When the reading
 of the warrant was through, Berry. was placed on the trap by the sheriff, and glass
 of whisky given to him. As the officers
 were binding him, he turned to the Sheriff and requested him to do the business as
 quickly as possible. These were the only
 words he spoke. The black cap was then
 put on, and the rope adjusted. All being
 in readiness the trap, at eight minutes past
 twelve, which worked with "a lever, was. sprung, and Berry dropped with a.dull thpa. the full extent of the rope, about six feet
 His neck was broken by the fall, and bar ring slight contraction of the muscles, no movement was perceptille. At 12:24 he was pronounced, dead. the body cut down, \ placed ir a rough pine coffin, and given over to the city undertaken for burial. Exactly eighteen minutes were occupied from the time of the springingof the trap until the placing of the body in the coffin.
 Berry, in appearance, was of medium night, weighed 15O pounds and about forty years of age He was rather good looking tilu DuJ lOE SyCo, iisN d Di ute1i tilN doggish expression, would be taken for T peacesble and well disposed person. He was neatly dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, collar and black necktie.
 The crime for which Berry expiated on the gallows was most fiendish and cow ardly one On or about the Dist day O. April, 1881, the body of Michael P. Shores called "Old Tex" was found 1pon the trail between his range and Tip top by some prosPectors in state of de. The murderer, after commit
 ing the deed, took southwarj, taking 10 tn ,ocks and horse ranges bo make it more dn-. icult to find his trail. Berry was first ar 'csted iH Pkenix for having in his nossession saddle that Mexican at Frog Tanks laimed, and bridle that belonged to ''Old Tex, but for want of evidence was discharg d, but was immediately re arrested by Dep heriff Rodgers, of Phenix, on the charge f murdering old Tex. He was brought f' 'rescott, and after fair and impartialtria ras convicted. The evidence was wholly but so connected link by nk that it proved, beyond a doubt, that Gerry was the man that committed the deed. 1