The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-09-17
ANOTHER BLOODY DEED
ADDED TO BUNCOMBI:'S RF:EK-
ING RECORD OF CRIME.
Geo. w. BELL Shot and Killed by
the Man He Had Denounced as
aThieE-YesterClay' Tragedy OH
North Main street, Etc.

NOTIn MAIN street, A.IC.
George W. Bell, who kept a butcher
shop at % North Main street, was shot
by John Berry, former cmployc whom
Bell accused OF larceny, at about SIS
O'Clock yesterday morning.
Three shots were fired at Bell by his
assalant the second only taking effect.
Thc weapon used was a 3S-Calbrc
Smith 4 Wcsson revolver belonging to
Mr.. p. {. McIntirc who lives on College
street, and from whose house Berry took
the weapon yesterday morning without
Mclntirc's knowledge.
The shot that struck Bell was fired
from the outside OF the shop and from
the pavement 1t passed through a glass
window and entered his left side between
the sixth and seventh ribs. 1t also pcne-
tratcd the lower portion Of the left lung,
and is supposed to have ranged down
ward; finally lodging i'll the bowels.
a large crowd of people were attracted
to the place by the reports of the pistol,
and policeman had to clear the pave
mcnt several times while Bell was being
removed to Hills grocery store, which
adjuins the butcher shop, for treatment.
y cot was rugged up i'll the store. upon
which he Was placed, and medical assis-
tancc was at once summoned. A violent
hcmorrlagc followed his removal to the
cot, and as soon as this was over Bells
antc-mOrtcm statement was taken before
Justice Summcy, vino had been sent for
to take down the last declaration Of the
fatally wounded man.
This statement, in brief, relates that
Berry asked Bell at the Farmers ware
house if he Bcll had said that he Rcrryl
did not have to get too drunk to Stcal?"
Bell replied he did not remember what he
{ Bclll had said i'll the conversation re-
tcrrcd to. He and Berry then came up
the street to the market house, which
both entered, and where the quarrel
finally resulted i'll Bells ordering Berry
out of the house Bell picked up a two
pound iron scale weight at this time, but
put it back when he saw Berry leave the
shop. Berry had his hand on his right
brccchcs pocket all the while during the
quarrel, and Bell was sure that he had
pistol although he did not see it. He
told Berry he was a thief and aroguc
while i'll the shop. After Berry left the
shop Bell went to the door and ordered
him off the premises, and as he turned his
body about half around ingoing towards
the counter i'll the shop Berry's
second bullet struck him. Bell also said
that he had detected Berry stealing
money from the till several times; and
that he had set down the amount of the
larceny each time on sheet of brown
paper. Bell said his CBcl's) son, had
also detected Berry pilfering small
at various times.
Immediately after the cshooting, Mayor
Blantun, who had Just come up, arrested
Berry, took the smoking revolver from
his hand and asked him what he meant
by shooting Lcil. Berry, reply was that
''hc called me - - - and
tried to strike me with a weight" Berry
was as cool us a cucumber and as white
as sheet Mayor Blanton turned him
over to sheriff Reynolds, who, by Justice
Summcy's ORDER locked him up in a cell
at the jail, where he now is.
Bell died from the effects of his wound
at seven minutes to nine O'Clock last
evening, and an inquest over his remains
will be held by the coroner this morning.
His wife, two sons and mother were
with him throughout the day, and their
grief was pitiablc to behold.
The deceased WAS aged about forty
years, and leaves a wife and six children
who live six miles east of the city. His
remains will he taken to New Salem
Immediately after the inquest for inter
mcnt
Berry is about twenty years of age,
and has wife and one child.