The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-03-24
The Tragedy near HnWic.

on Saturday last, IN all lis shocking dc
tails have been published throughout the
country.
The prcpetrator of the decd is now con
fined in the Baltimore City Jail for safe
keeping until he can he tried at the April
term of our court. The Sheriff. after con-
sulting with Judge Mcrrick carried his
prisoner thithcr last Sunday evening.
The criminal, John Berry, gives his age
as fifteen, but he is at least nineteen. He
was born in Frederick City and was sent
to Cheltenham by his grandmother, who
charged him with being incorrigible and
stealing money from her. Berry had been
at the reformatory six years when Miss
| Amanda Clark went to the institution to
get boy to work about the house. She
was impressed with Berry and took him
home with her, where he lived for two
years. Up to the present time the negro
had been we'll thought of by the neigh
bors and conducted himself with proprie
ty In color he is light yellow. He is
about five feet six inches tall and weighs
about 125 pounds.
He has confessed his crime, and in adj
dition to the confession there is much
evidence to corroborate the story. so there
will be no doubt as to Berry's conviction.
and probably prompt execution.
The lady who was murdered, Miss
Amanda Clark, and her sister, Miss Annie
who was severely and dangerously injur,
ell, are daughters of the late Mr.. Joshua
I. Clarke and lived on Il farm between
Bowie and Whitemarsh Church. The
| funel al OF the murdered lady took place
on Tuesday, the services being conducted
by Rev. J. T. Gardner. \ large number
of people attended the funeral
In the course of his remarks Father
Gardner said:
The relatives ana friends of the de-
ceased should not mourn. If the victim
of this murder was without hope word
| or murmur might rise, but with Chris
! tians this is wrong. We all have to die
| The manner of death counts for but little
| In violent deaths the victims suffer hut
| little: this death is not as though one died
after long suffering and what sometimes
| is called happy death. We who haye
know her-and | am sure You all have
| know her-know that she was a good and
| holy Christian. From the early years of
| her life she has been a strict member.
| leading life in perfect conformity with
| the church. She was ever kind to the
| al 70 ba Siol-
unfortunate. Doing good for others was
| one of her chief aims in life, and | am in
| formed that she was ever thoughtful and
kind to the one who is charged with TAX
ing her life She was an honor to our
church. and | say she was ready for the
| summons when it came. Be not sorrow-
full, therefore, as those who have no
| hope
| The story of the crime may be briefly
told as follows:
While the sisters were at supper on
Saturday evening, Berry attacked them
with stick of stove wood. He first struck
Miss Annie, the younger, from behind,
knocking her to the floor. Miss Amanda
| rushed to the aid of her sister, Berry turn
| ed on her, killing her with his improvis-
| ed club. He fractured her skull at the
| base of the brain and at the left temple
| and broke left arm. He then rushed at
his living victim and dealt her vicious
| blow which lacerated her face and knock
| ed out her front teeth. He then stamped
| upon her chest intlcting internal injuries,
| the extent of which cannot now be de-
| termined. He then attempted to com
| nit an assault on the PROSTATE woman
| but desisted.
After fighting until her strength was
| exhausted Miss Annie began to beg for
| life She promised to give him hundred
| dollars and never to mention his name if
he would spare her. These offers seem
ed to have some effect on him he began
to question the woman as to the sincerity
Of her promise to shield him.
| He went up stairs got small crucitix
and made her swear on it not to tell who
committed the crime. After doing this,
he went for The priest and doctor. When
Dr. n. A. Ryon arrived Miss Amanda had
been dead about an hour and a half
| On the.:way to the doctors, Berry stopped
at the home of relatives of the deceased
and stated that robbers had killed one sis
ter and terribly injured the other. When
people arrived at the house the younger
sister refused to tell who the assailant was
Berry busted himself about the house,
bringing water from a nearby spring and
performing other services. Early Sunday
morning Berry was taken into custody by
Constable Norman Porter. of Bowie
About 8 o'clock he confessed and requested
that priest be brought to him. Father
Gardner obeyed the summons and it is
said that Berry made a full confession to
him. When Miss Annie Clarke was asked
why she had not revealed the assailant
on Saturday night, she said that having
sworn not to expose him, and having
made the sign of TIE cross upon her breast
in token of her promise, she felt that this
oath was binding on her conscience.
The prisoner was cool and cvinced no
nervousness, and showed no emotion He
admitted having killed Miss Clarke. and
that he also intended to kill both. He
claimed he committed the deed for re-
venge, having, as he said. been i'll treated
by the sisters. He showed no rcmorse
whatever.
Deafness Cannot be Cured
by local applications as they cannot reach