Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-03-22
A NEGRU's CRIME.


in their ancestral home in OH isola! ed
country spot near Bowie, Md, were
attacked by John Berry, their negro
servant, on Saturday night. One Of
them is dead and the recovery Of the
other is in doubt. Amanda A. Clarke
is the name of the victim who fell by
the murderer's hand and Anna E.
Clarke is the name Of the woman who
sur lives The assault. They were SIS
ters. She who is dead was ffty-siz
years old, and she who lives is forty
five. Berry was subsequently arrested
aud he has confessed. He was taken
t the county jail at Marlboro, and at
once there were ominous mutterings
suggestive of lynching, and later the
prisoner was taken to Baltimore. The
sisters lived alone on large farm be-
queathed them by their father. They
sublet parts of the farm end superin-
tenied the tillage Of about fifty acres
themy elves. Their only servant was
Berry, a thick-set mulatto, about 16
years old, whom they secured two
wears ago at the Maryland House Of
Correct This man, while the Sis
tiers were at supper on Saturday even
ing. attacked them with stick Of stove
wood. He first struck Anna, the
Younger, from behind, knocking her e
the floor. Amanda rushed to the aid
of her sister, and Berry turned on her
killing her with his improvised club
He fractured her skull at the base Of
the brain and at the left temple, and
broke her left arm. He then rushed
at his living victim and dealt her O
vicious blow which lacerated her face
and knocked out her front teeth. He
then stamped upon her chest inflictlng
internal injuries, the extent OF which
cannot now be determined. He then
attempted to commit an assault on the
PROSTATE woman but desisted. The
living sister implored the murderer to
90 for doctor and priest, telling him
if he would she would give him 500
and shield him from suspicion as the
murderer. They agreed that to divert
the suspicion that would naturally fall
on Berry it should be given out
that when the murder was committed
he was absent on mission to Colling'
ton.
The murderer made the woman swear
in a peculiar way that she would moi
betray him: "Cross your heart" COM
manded the assailant. The woman did
this, and Berry went to the stable
hitche1 horse to buggy and started
after the priest and doctor.
On the way he stopped at the home
of relatives OF the deceased and stated
that robbers had killed one sister and
terribly injured the other. When PEG.
pie arrived at the house the younger
sister refused to tell who the assailani
waa. Berry busted himself about the
house, bringing water from nearby
spring and performing other services
Early Sunday morning Berry was taken
into custody by Constable Norman
Porter, of Bowie. He was held simply
as a witness. About 8 o'clock he con-
fessed and requested that priest be
brought to him. Father Gardiner
obeyed The summons and it is said thai
Berry made full confession to linn
When Miss Anna Clarke was ask d
why she did moi reveal the assailAni
on Saturday night. she said that having
sworn not to expose him, and having
ma fe the sign of the Cross upon hel
breast in token of her promise, she fell
that this oath WAS binding on her con-
science.
TIE prisoner was cool and evidenced
no nervousness, and showed no emotion
He admitted having killed the woman
and that he also intended to kill both
He claimed he committed the deed To-
revenge, having, he SAID, been illtreat
ed by the sisters. He showed no re