Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-16

| but he had been in Prince Georges county
long enough to become identified with the
people of them. At the house of
the Clarkes Berry found comforts and a
Christian home, and everything was done
to make good man of him. Like others
of his age and condition, he had his petty
troubles and at times he thought his treat
ment was a little harsh. This imagined
harshness, however consisted of the efforts
on the part of those who were befriending
him to bring him up in the proper way. He
usually attended to the work of chopping
wood, looking after the garden and doing
some of the house cleaning. But like many
other country boys who had had a taste of
city life, with its attending excitement, he
longed for change. 1t was his belief that
if he could go west he could repeat what
many seekers for gold had done. What
was necessary for him to make the start
was little cash capital, and the only way
he could get 1t was to steal it. He consid-
cred the matter carefully, and concluded
that he could only get possession of what
money there was in the house by commit
ting a double murder.
Several times he loitered about the house
and waited for an opportunity to commit
the crime, and each time his heart failed
him. Finally the night OF March IS came
and he concluded to commit the crime and
escape under cover of darkness. 1t was
Saturday night, and rain was falling Miss
Amanda Clarke and her sister We're seated
at the supper table, with only a coal oil
lamp to give the light necessary for the
supper table.
After fastening the outbuldings Berry
entered the dining room, put some firewood
near the stove and took a seat near the
ire He listened to the conversation and
occasionally ventured remark. This was
few minutes after o'clock When sup
per was about finished and Miss Annie
Clarke was getting up from the table she
received blow with a heavy instrument
on the top of her head Looking around
she saw that her assailant was John Ber-
ry, the boy who had lived in the house
| nearly two years. Almost Immediately she
saw Berry deliver similar blow on her
sisters head. These blows We're continued
until both women were knocked down, and
then each endeavored to shield the other
The Piteous Story.
AT last we could do no more" said Miss
Annie Clarke, describing the scene to the
court. "One last blow that l could not
ward off fell on the left side of my sisters
head, and she fell to the floor. She NUT
tered: Mercy, Jesus and did not move
again.
Berry appeared to be satisfied that his
victims were dead, and went upstairs
searched for money, changed his clothes
and returned to the rooms down stairs
Hearing him in an adjoining room. Miss
Annie called to him. He answered her
| call and picked up the piece of wood to
end the murderous work he had begun.
Miss Annie pleaded with him, however and
promised she would not tell that he had
&C mmitted the crime If he would go for "a
priest and doctor.
Swear on the cross" said the murderer,
! land l will
Miss Clarke did as he suggested. and Ber-
ry did what she asked him to do Before
going he put pillows beneath the heads of
his victims and placed covering over them.
Then he went to the home of Mr. Green, a
neighbor, and later he returned, having
summoned the priest and the doctor.
The Confession.
Berry subsequently made a confession. He
said he committed the crime because of
harsh treatment. He had been taken to
task, he said, for having brought mud in
the house on his shoes and also for break
| ing the leg of a chicken. Incidentally he
told of his desire to go west, and said it
Sunday morning an, inquest was held and
Berry was hurried to Jail, but the
feeling against him was so strong that
one of the judges, fearing violence,
advised his removal to Baltimore.
When the case was called for trial in the
! court Of the county Messers. Magru-
| der and Stanley were assigned to defend
him, and because Of a change of venue be-
! ing asked the case went to Baltimore for
trial. There was practically no defense
made, ana a Verulct OF guilty was promptly
returned. Judge Wright in passing sentence
| on the condemned murderer said:
You have been tried by an impartial
jury; you have been defended by able coun-
sci, who, probably contrary to their in
most wishes, felt it to be their duty to do
all they could in order that you should OBJ
tain a fair trial. The jury have found
verdict, and if they should have found any
other verdict it would have been humil
iation and a disgrace to this court. No
other punishment but death is proper in
such case as this. This very great out
break of crime all over the country must
be punished speedily. I am grateful and
| thankful to the jury that they measured
up to the duty which the law and the evil
dence demanded of them.
1.-THE sentence of the court is that you
be hence taken to the Baltimore city Jail
and there held subject to the order of the
sheriff of Prince Georges county, and upon
the demand of the sheriff delivered to him
and by him taken to the Jail of Prince
Georges county, and upon a day to be
designated by the governor of this state
to be hanged by the neck until you are
dead