The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-03-25

John Berry, a young negro, aged ~ years,
killed Miss Amanda Clark, near Bowie, in
Prince Georges county, on Saturday night
last, and at the same time beat into insensi-
biity and attempted to outrage Miss Annie
Clark, a younger sister of the lady he killed.
SCENE OF THE MURDER.
The scene of the murder is about two and
a-half miles south of Bowie. The Misses
Clark lived alone on a farm on the road from
Bowie to White Marsh Church Berry was
secured by Miss Amanda Clark about two
years ago from Cheltenham Retormatory
School for Colored BOYS and was employed
to assist the two ladies about their house
work No one can tell just at what hour The
young negro commenced the assault but cir
cunstances and events place the hour at about
o'clock, on Saturday evening. While he
has confessed the crime, there are other evil
dences to corroborate the story which, IN all
its details, stamp it rs one of the most nota-
BILE in the criminal annals Of Prince George
county and lis perpetrator to be one OF the
coolest creatures in existence.
Berry was arrested and taken to Jail Ill Up
per Marlboro. and later was removed to the
Baltimore City Jail to save him from lynch.
ing which he richly merited. He confessed
to the killing both before and since his arrest,
and his story below is true one Miss An
ME Clark says. except that the boy had not
been ill-treated or scolded.
BERRY's CONFESSION.
Next month will lie two years since
the Misses Clark took me out Of Chel-
tenham. They told me | was only TO do odd
Jobs about the house and would be raised. fed
and clothed. but soon they had me doing
work on the farm the same as meu were do
ing. never had any money 10 20 away With
70 have any fun with other boys Nearly all
the time had TO stay on the farm, where
there are 1873 acres, no near neIghbors and
no playihings 10 amuSe me when not working.
Often walked out in the woods to amuse
myself.
Sometimes they scolded me for doing
things they did not want rue Ia 10 and not
doing things they had told me 10 do which
had forgotten This made me mad for
a while. but | soon got over H.
Last Saturday morning took some water
into the house aud spilled some on the door.
Mss Amanda scolded me tor 1t. aud also for
bringing mud IN GA my shoes. For some
time ! had thought a. hurting them i"1 seoid-
ing me but never Thought Of killing them.
Is vas between and : clock that night.
when ! was siIiiB. back in q corner ga the
kitchen beside the stove. thar the thought
come 60 me again to hurt them and gel even.
They had finished their supper and we're get
ting mine ready. Mis- Annie Was seated al
the table. Wjih her back toward mr, and Mss
Amanda was facing ms. 4 piece Of wood
had brought in N4s toe long fsr she Stove ai'd
was lying ou the floor near me. picked %
np weSi To- the table aud aR5 bit Miss ABulc
on the bead hrss. She Jnnpsd az and both
screamed. struck hFr several more Umes
snd she fell on the Haor. Ms,- AmaH .iH
came az me, screaming, and tired 10 ses iar
club away from me commenced "o het
and she pRt her sTm $50 her head, ~hfh !
sirsek % aud she yelled. bad hr"As# H.
| struck her apiil she fell, aud thea beai hrf
/ ausil crushed Der head ia. Beih weuA .y'nE
I sp tie floor. ,snseir.s.
q. Then zeut into their bedroom. veSJ q"
/ the kitchen, found Je~clry tex uudeg the
I bed In q ~arc soma bracelets ear rrngs and
( other je~-iry aud % GENTS ~ mooney. / iaoS
: the moaey AMI j,it the }svc.'y,
Then was go worked sy 5Si Hei Snn~
( shat what wAs doi#a. suat back 50 The
I kitchen, asi, a. Mss Aan'e attempted 8" srt
7 ap, ] started sn besi hcT aEaia- She orEzs4
me 60 stop hen started 70 otEss.se i''3' anu