Evening star., 1899-03-20
MURDER Most FOUL
-r
Two Unprotected Wemen Victims of
a Negro Boy.
One DEAD, OTHER CRUELTY BEATEN
Revenge for Alleged I'll Treatment
Assigned as as Cause.
--y"
THE ASSASSIN CONFEsSEs
)EAD, OTHER CRUELTY BEATEN
THE ASSASSIN CONFEssES

About three miles from Bowie station
on the Baltimore and Potomac railroad, in
fr'hce Georges county. Nd, John Berry,
coiored, sixteen years old, committed a
horrible crime Saturday evening, equally
shocking In detail as was the brutal murder
OF Miss Drown by James Smith, also col
ofed' in the same county, two years ago.
AS the result of Berry's deed Miss Mary
A. Clarke fffty-two years old. died the
same night, and her sister, Miss Annie
Clarke, seven years her. junior. was left
In an apparently dying condition.
while some OF the authorities are Of the
opinion that Berrys motive was even
worse than murder, and that he also In
tended to burn the house in order to con-
ceal his crime. the youthful fiend denies
that he had any such Intentions. After
committing the crime he went for priest
and doctor, believing he would be shielded
by Miss Annie Clarke who had made him
a promise OF immunity If he would spare
her life.
But even this did not save the boy, for
suspicion rested upon him from the outset,
and when he was accused Of the crime.
although at first attempting a denial, he
admitted his guilt under the pressure Oh
accusation.
1t was late at night when the affair be-
came generally known, and to this fact 1t
is probably due that the prisoners life was
oof ou. All lIiQQcSl HGiQ yesterday HOIIllflk
by Magistrate Rufus Belt resulted in fixing
the responsibility for the death on Berry,
and he was committed to the county Jail
at Upper Marlboro. When Judge Merrick
heard OF the particulars OF the tragedy he
deemed 1t to be unwise to have Berry re-
main in the cohnty jail. Indignation
against the boy murderer, he feared would
result in a lynchtng, and in order to pre-
vent this Berry was removed to Baltimore
and lodged in jail.
The Alleged Motive,
The only motive Berry said he had for
the crime was revenge, one of his victims
having spoken harshly to him. or. as he
put it, had fused with him for entering
the house with wet feet and leaving his
tracks on the floor.
The Misses Clarke were we'll known in
the section of the county where they re-
sided, their house being on the road lead
Ing from Bowie past the White Marsh
Catholic Church. a place of worship known
throughout the entire state. The house
was built more than fifty years ago, and
was the home of the parents of Berrys
victims. Joshua Clarke. their father, was
prominent man in his county. He had
figured in politics, ana at the time of his
death. in 1883, was b justice Of the peace.
One brother of the deceased Is DR.. ]. c.
Clarke, now residing in Philade phia. The
others are c. G. Clarke Of Bowie, Thomas
c. Clarke of Mullikins and William Clarke.
living at Savage. Being the only daugh-
terS the OLD homestead Tell 10 MISS
and Miss Annie Clarke. and they have
lived there virtually alone since the death
of their father.
Being alone as they were it was
necessary that t-eY, should have some
help in addition to the farm hands
they employed each season, and they pro-
cured John Berry. thenoa small colored
boy who they thought. would fill the bill.
He was taken from the Cheltenham re-
formatory. and it is Stated he was recon-
mended to the employers as a good house
boy. Just what his conduct was from the
time of his employment until ,SaturdaSTis
not known. No one had heard of COM
plants against him t-
Saturday night supper was prepared at
the usual hour. The meal was served in
the dining room. which is the middle room
on the ground floor. and Miss Mary was
She had hardly reached the parlor when
she heard Miss Annie make an outcry as if
she needed help Returning to the dining
room without any delay, the elder sister
saw the colored boy assaulting Miss An
ME. Turning, upon her entrance, the boy
began an assault on the elder sister He
had. 1t is believed. used a heavy potato
masher on the two women. for this imple-
ment was afterward found covered with
blood.
Appeals for Mercy.
Miss Mary soon fell under the terrific
blows of the powerfully built boy. and was
rendered unconscious. Miss Annie begged
for her life and swore, with a crucifix
pressed to her lips that she would endeayor
to shield him If he would comply with her
requests Before these requests were made