The times., 1899-03-21
THE MURDERER'S FIRST
MOTIVE WAS ROBBERY
Annie Clark's Story of the
AtrOcious Bowie Crime.
Little Is Known of the Youthful
Degenerate's History.
He Came of n White Father-Pre-
pairing for His Trial at MarI-
borO I'm April.

Additional light thrown on the crime of
the colored youth John Berry, at Bowie,
Nd, on Saturday night, by the statement
of Annie Clark, the surviving sister, and
through the evidence gathered from the
neighbors, shows beyond doubt that the
murder was committed for gain and not
for more vicious purpose. as was at first
supposed. 1t is shown further that there
was no intention on the part Of Berry to
eliminate the evidence of his guilt by de-
stroying his victims and their home with
fire. He felt positive that he would be
suspected of what he first intended to be
only a brutal assault and robbery. but
which he was afterward frightened into
making, as he supposed, a double murder.
His only hope of safety, then, it appears,
was in flight, but in this he was arrested by
the pieadings and promises of the younger
sister. whom he had left for dead.
This is the consensus of opinion among
the residents of the little village on the
Pennsylvania railroad, eighteen miles
from Washington. 1t is still in furor Of
excitement, and the chief, if not the almost
exclusive, topic of conversation of the 500
inhabitants is the atrocious crime and its
motive. Small knots of people gathered
at convenient places yesterday and dis
cussed the crime in all its details All
agree that the murder was committed for
robbery. Opinions differ, however, as to
the form of punishment that should be
meted out to the murderer. Many people
think, and so express themselves, that
Berry should have been lynched imme-
diately after confessing his guilt, but the
majority are satisfied that justice will be
done and are content to let the law take
-
cooler heads prevailed Sunday the murder>r r
would have expiated his crime at the end
of rope on an impromptu scaffold. Even
at that it is probable that had some one
taken the initiative and acted as leader
it would have been impossible for law and
order to have prevailed against those dis
posed to deal what they considered sum-
mary justice.
The First Suspicion.
When the crime was discovered no one,
save possibly DIR. N. A. Ryon, who attend
ed the victims, suspected the hired man.
So cool and calm was Berry in the face
of his guilt and so well had he been spoken
of by his employers when they had been in
conversation with others, that no one
thought to associate the youth with the
deed. The knowledge of his guilt when
thrust on the people struck them like
Il
frenZied, and would have killed the youth
had not DR.. Ryon foreseen the almost in
evitable result and advised Constable
Porter to arrest Berry and remove to a
place of safety. Later. when he was
brought back to the scene of the tragedy
for the inquest, had not women anu chill
dren been present and, as before stated,
had there not been an absence OF leader,
the man must certainly have suffered
death at the hands OF the crowd.
At the conclusion OF the inquest, Berry
was hastily removed to the jail at Marl-
boro, and from there for surer safety he
was taken to Baltimore where he now oc-
cupies Jail cell No. 13.
During the inquest the crowd waxed
more and more indignant, and when the
murderer told the story of his brutal
crime in cool, deliberate way without
a tremor in his voice or an expression OF
sorrow or remorse apparent, the indigna-
ton of those assembled knew no bounds.
Berry told his story, complete confess
sion, just as though he were relating
commonplace narrative. He was Informed
that it was not compulsory that he should
answer questions or make a statement.
and yet, as though in utter defiance of
the crowd and with an air of perfect aban-
don. he replied that he was anxious to
tell his story.
Preparing Tor the Trial.
There is no speculation now as to what
the outcome of the trial of the murderer
will be. There is unanimity of opinion
that he will be hanged, and while the
community naturally deplores the crime
it feels satisfied that justice will be done
Preparations are now being made for the
trial of Berry, which will be held the
second week after the opening of the court
yene on the Sd of April, and as soon as
the usual preliminary formaIities and rou-
tine petty cases are disposed of Berry will
Immediately be indicted and put on trial.
He will be prosecuted by States Attor-
ney Roger BELLS. and Will probably be de-
Tended by George p. Merrick, a son of
Associate Judge George G. Merrick. who
will occupy the bench at the trial. TO
gether with Associate Judge ]. Parran
Crane and Chief Justice John ]. Briscoe.
The jury for the trial has already been
impanneled.
Preparations were completed yesterday
for the funeral of Miss Amanda Clark, who
died at the hands of Berry. Her remains
will be taken from the Clark home at 1890
o'clock this morning and conveyed to the
Catholic Church at White Marsh, where
requiem high mass will be sung for the
repose of her soul. From there the re-
mains will be taken TO the little cemetery
a short distance removed from the church
for interment. The funeral will be attend
ed by residents of Bowie and White Marsh,
and persons residing throughout the coun
ty The pallbearers selected are relatives
of the dead woman. They are Thomas.
Dennis and Duckett Wells, cousins; and
Joshua, James, and Ernest Clark, nephews.
Annie Clark Nay Live.
The condition of Miss Annie Clark. tie
other victim was much improved last
night. Her wounds had been stitched and
dressed, and she was resting fairly COM
fortably, with a normal pulse and ony 4
slight increase in temperature. She had
ceased vomiting blood, and was abe to re-
tain nourishment on her stomach. DR..
Ryon thinks her chances for recovery gooi.
and unless some unforeseen campl ca io1s
arise, he says. she VIII recover.
She suffered eighteen cuts on the head
and face slight fracture on the top of tn
skull and two large bruises, one on the
stomach and the other on the caest. It is
from these latter that dangerous resu Is
are feared, as il is possible that the wonal
has suffered internal injury. Should tina
not prove to be the case, there IS no rea-