The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-27
FELL BY AN ASSASSINS HAND.
CAPT. G. II. BERRY OF THE Eff
BINGHAM HUSsARs MURDERED.

Shot by Ambushed RObbers-The
Victim on His Way Home From
Savannah When He Was Attacked
From a Thicket-The Upper Part
of His Head Blown OF by "A Load
of BuckshOt-His Body FOund in
the Augusta Road at the Foot of
Cherokee HII-Robbery Believed
to Have Been the Motive for the
KfIIIng-Omcers ON Track of the
AsSassins.
Capt. Gazaway H. Berry Of Berry, Eff
fngham county. commanding troop a Of
the First Regiment Georgia Cavalry, was
shot and killed yesterday afternoon just
the other side of Cherokee Hin, on the
Augusta road, So miles from the city
Capt. Berry had left the city shortly
after 10 o'clock in the morning to return
to his place near Berry. on the Florida
Central and Penlnsular road. He had
spent the morning with his cousin, Mr.
w. G. Gnann, at No. 10 New street, and
it was from there that he left for his
home He had descended the farther
slope of Cherokee Hi, and it was at the
foot that he was assassinated.
The fatal shot was fired from the right
side of the road, and, striking him on
the upper right side of the head, blew that
entire portion off. The murdered man fell
forward and out of his buggy on the right
of the road and lay there while the muir
derers added robbery to their greater
crime by rihing his pockets some of
which, when found. were turned wrong
side out. His watch, however, remained
on his person and 50 bill and one or
two small coins were left on the ground
beside him.
These facts pointed to the suspicion
that robbery was. perhaps, not the motive
of the crime, but that it was committed
from some other reason though it is pos
sible that the murderers might have been
frightened away by some fancied danger
of discovery before their purpose was
carried out.
Capt. Berry's pistol holster was found
on the ground beside him, but the weapon
had been carried away. 1t was a large
cavalry pistol, and on account of its size
and weight would have been carried in
the buggy rather than in his pocket. For
this reason 1t seems probable that ne
had attempted to draw the weapon when
he was waylaid, and it fell with him to
the ground.
Mr.. Hester. who lives in the neighbor-
hood, heard the report of a gun, but as
he heard but one shot, the pistol could
not have been fired. Mr. Hester reached
the top of the hill and from there saw
the body lying in the road, with the
horse making up the road a long distance
distance off. No one was in sight.
The horse was stopped at Monteith, a
mile and half further on by Mrs. DOVE
Keller, who, seeing the blood and brain
on the buggy, notified her husband, who
went back up the road until he found the
body. Hurrytng in to the city, he noti-
ned the authorities
Chief Of Police McDermott, Detective
Godbold, Coroner Goette and County De-
tectiye Morgan at once secured teams
and went to the scene of the killing They
found Capt. Berry's body lying as had
been described with a crowd of people
gathered about.
Nothing was in evidence to place the
crime on any one, though the officers OBJ
tanned clews to fasten suspicion
on two negroes, whose arrest
viii probably be made to-day. 1t Is
thought that the guilty party or parties
can be apprehended by means of the pis-
toll taken, which is one of the regulation
cavalry revolvers with Capt. Berry's num-
Der In the bingham Hussars on IT. Two
other robberies have been reported from
that neighborhood, and In each case the
parties held up and relieved of their cash
and valuables have said the work was
done by two negroes with a shot gun. so
II Is not improbable that the same wera
Capt. Berry's slayers.
When Capt. Berry left Savannah he was
known to have but small sum of money
with him, and the killing, if done for the
purpose or robbery, could not have been
premeditated, but was because he was
the first or most likely traveller to have
money that passed after the murderers
had placed themselves in ambush.
The place as one that would appeal TO
nighwaymen as suited to make their at
9empts successful. No house is within near
ly mile and a dense line of bushes &c on
one side or the road and a swamp leading
TO the Savannah river on the other. Either
side would AFFORD a ready lurking place
and after crime would render pursuit Diff
hcult and tracking impossible This was
shown by the efforts of the officers who
secured dog from the chain gang camp
not far off, and tried to trail the murder
ers. The dog refused to take up the
scent.
Capt. Berry was commanding officer of
the bingham Hussars, having succeeded
Capt. Morgan. He was about As years old
and leaves a wife and eight children.
The body was sent to Meinhard by Cor
oner Geette, and from that place was car
ried on the Florida Central and Peninsular
to Berry.
No inquest was held. Coroner Goette will
wait until he can secure more evidence
He suspects one or both of two negroes
who recently robbed the store of Cant.
Berry's father to be guilty of the crime.
and these negroes also of being the high
waymen.
1T rs ALDERMAN LEFFLER NOW