The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-10-17
"A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
a Cowardly Murder is Fo owed b.
Swift Punishment at Lexington


a cowardly Murder is Fo owed by
Swift Punishment at Lexington
The blood almost rms cold Mt the
story of a mans brutality and his
speedy execution which comes from
Davidson county. There have been
few such cases in our States history,
and we trust there will be no more.
Months ago Robert Berrier, living
about eight miles from Lexington,
bert Walser He was considered
well-to-do, and the young lady mar
ried him. Then began n life of woe
for her. Her husband would make
her hitch the horses and go with him
to the fields, where she worked like a
slave. When meal-time came they
would return home, and he would sit
by and curse her while she prepared
their food.
Such a life could not be borne, and
she tried to escape from him, but was
too closely watched. However, a
few months ago she did escape and
sought refuge for herself and infant
at the home of her mother. Since
then Berrier has frequently tried to
get her and failed.
On Tuesday morning OF last week
he went to Mrs Walser's house. ac-
companied by Il desperate .compan-
ion, who swore that he would see
him through. They chose this OPP
portunity because Mr.. Walser had
gone to Morganton to carry an in
sane daughter.
Berrier S companion concealed HIM
self behind the barn, while he knock
ed at the door. 1t was opened by
Mrs. Walser, who held the babe in
her arms Berrier demanded his
wife and child. Mrs Walser refused.
Then he drew a pistol and fired four
times, three balls entering Mrs. Wal
ser's body and producing almost in
slant death. He then seized the
child and made Otto body of thick,
marshy forest in the neighborhood.
The daughter witnessed the tragedy
and when some neighbors arrived
she was holding her mother in her
arms and both were covered with
blood.
The news of the terrible tragedy
spread Immediately and a party of
over a hundred men were securing
the woods for the murderer within n
few hours after his dastardly deed.
The search continued, each day adj
ding larger numbers to the pursue-s,
until Sunday, when he was arrested
by officers in barn about six miles
from Winston. ToIkeep him in Lexing-
ton would be to expose him to the
certainty of lynching. So he was
committed to jail by a justice and
sent to Greensboro for safe-keeping.
On Monday morning he was car
ried back to Lexington and arraign-
ed before Esquire Mayer. His coun-
sci. NJ. H. Pink and w. B: Glenn,
waived an examination, and the
prisoner was committed to the coun-
ty Jail to await the. action of the
grand jury.
Darkness had scarcely fallen that
night before the crowd of avengers
began to gather, and at 7:3O O'Clock
over IL hundred white men fOrcibly
took him from the Jail and hung him
to a tree near the outskirts of the
town.
The sheriff and officers did their
duty, and the town people, as rule,
counselled delay, but the relatives
and friends of the murdered woman
would not listen to it.
The four months old child that he
carried away when he committed the
terrible murder has been recovered
1t was found in a hollow tree
sound and well, and has been restor-
ed to it's mother.
Berrier's companion, 'Grubbs, is
now in Jail at Greensboro awaiting
a trial as an accessory to the muir
der