Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-16
JOHN BERRY HANGED
Continued from First Page,

ception, and this wasythe one that related
to his being given new suit. Berry was
naturally possessed of a good face, but his
ragged clothes operated very much against
his appearance. His trousers had evidently
been worn for fully twelve consecutive
months, and there were holes in them large
en- )ugh to have been mist taken for openings
In the legs. His shirt was also of poor ma
terial and seemed to have needed a visit to
a laundry. He wore a coat and cap. and
in this costume the two officials of Prince
Georges county accompanied him to Cam
den station. where they boarded the 4:15
train for Chesapeake Beach junction at
Hyattsvile
Attracted Attention the Train.
On the b. and 0. train the prisoner and
his escorts attracted some attention, and
when the transfer was made at the juno
ton quite number of people rushed to the
train to get a glimpse of the one who might
have been lynched three months ago had
he been kept in the county Jail. From the
junction the trip to the Jail was made on
the chesapeake Beach railroad the party
occupying seats in the smoker. Not once
did the prisoner volunteer a remark, al
thouSh he frequently enjoyed the conversa-
ton of the others and broke out in a hearty
laugh.
Information of Berry's return reached
here long before train time, although it
was the desire of the sheriff that his move
ments should not be generally known. The
result was that when the train pulled in to
the station number of persons, mostly
coiored, had gathered to see the prisoner
about whom they had heard so much. The
party boarded the bus of Farmers Hotel
and We're driven directly the jail, dis
lance of about one-quarter of a mile. In
order to reach the Jail it was necessary for
the prisoner to be driven through the main
street. All along the line people gathered
In little groups, and many of the more curl
Gus ones followed the vehicle to the prison,
where small crowd of people had already
collected. Berry jumped from the bus as
soon as the reporters were out of his way
and came near pulling the sheriff with him.
He did not care to be gazed upon, but
seemed anxious to get inside the little pris-
on IN hurry. Only short time was con-
sumed il doing this, and when the re-
Gently whitewashed building reached
Berry was led to a cell on the first floor
almost directly under the cells that were
occupied by Pinkney and Barber, the color
ed men who were hanged here several years
ago for the murder of Frank Bowie
Berry in His Cell.
In the cell in which Berry was led there
was nothing but some broken window sash,
but cot was soon put in there for his ac
commodation, and he was left alone with |
the death watch Just before dark Deputy |
Sheriff Tighe and Contractor Michael Wy
VIII inspected the scaffold and put on the |
nn1shing touches. The ropes and traps |
We're adjusted and history of the scaffold |
About eight years ago the structure !
was erected for the execution of Barber |
and Pinkney. Afterward James Smith,
who murdered Miss Marguerite Drown at
Seat Pleasant, and John Allen, for an as
sault on little girl at Woodmore, were
hanged on 1t. Then, too, it was loaned to
Sheriff Wade of Charles county at the time
of the execution of George Matthews
When it was seen that the scaffold was in
readiness the party returned to the JAIL
where the moose was put around the neck |
of one Of them in order to see if the knot
had been properly constructed.
Berry called Deputy Sheriff Tighe
through the bars to the prisoner, lis there
anything you want? DO ayou want any
thing to eat or drink"
Il would like to see the priest in the
morning" was his only response.
He will be here tonight" Berry was
told. Father Trinkhaus of ST. Mary's
Church sent word that he would be here at |
8 O'Clock. 1t is now only a few minutes of |
that hour" 70 -