The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-02-22
Bunk" McGinnis on Trial for
the Murder of VIM.
Bercherding.
THE MOTIVE WAS ROBBERY.
The Deed Was Foul and Brutal.
Jury SeIected.-The TAX
ing of Testimony
Begun.

The following is taken from the
TIE TINES of April 20. 1899. and
shows the crime for which NcGinnis
is being tried
'On last Saturday evening, be-
tween s and O'Clock, VIM. Berch-
erding, prominent and thrifty
German farmer, living three miles
| north of Rockville. in Hudson town
ship, was called into his yard and
confronted by stranger who pre-
scented a revolver to his head and de-
manded his money. The old man
protested that he had no money with
him, when the rObber told him to 90
into the house and find it, and if he
ran he would shoot him. Mr.. Ber-
cherding stepped into the house and
slammed the door and attempted to
hold it when the robber shot him
through side window, the bullet
entering his back where the suspend
ers cross. He dropped to the floor
and the robber kicked him aside and
ordered his wife, the only other per-
son on the place, to find the money
under penalty of death, but the old
lady protested SO strongly that they
did not have any money in the house
that he finally gave up and left the
premises. The wife then alarmed
the neighbors and a vigilant search
was instigated but no trace of the
robber could be discovered. Sheriff
Mudd was telegraphed on Monday
and he and prosecuting attorney, III
{. Clark, went to the scene They
secured a pretty fair description OF
the robber from Mr.. Bercherding, and
have hopes of bringing the miscreant
to Justice"
The last of the week following the
Noah, better known as
''Bunk" McGinnis was arrested bv |
Deputy Sheriff McCann at Panama.
as he was boarding the train. He !
had on his person a 3S colts revolver
The bullet cut from the old Germans
body fit this pistol. After being con-
fined in Jail he confessed to stealing
a steer from Loeb Bro. 5 pasture near
Rich Hill, but stoutly denied killing
The old German. /
The jury was secured and the case
vent to trial Tuesday evening at 4
o'clock. Gen. H. C. Clark, prosecut-
ng attorney and John Gilbreath, of
Appleton City, for the state. McGin-
lis was represented by Silvers & Sill
'ers. IL
The following are the jurors Sc t
ected to try the case: {
Charles Jasper, Perry Black, J. NJ. i
dive, l.. Q. Roberts, Charles Concklin.
;. Blackman, W. c. Hensley, c. A. /
Wallace, H. Enyart, L. r. Nichols.
: ID. Dickerson and George Williams.
DR. E. j. VEIDT. I
lrst witness called testified. in sub i
tance: Live in Rockville. Practic- |
lg physician. Called to attend Mr.. g
'ercherdlng, at time he was shot. 8
'ullet entered in back to left of center q
etween 18th and Sth rib passed q
trough spinal column and severed I
ord, ranged upward to right and v
'dged IN right breast. Saw hole in @
aae OF glass in an ante-room to f
ltchen. Saw blood on floor where |.
dropped Died Bird morning after d
eng shot. Death caused by bullet II
ound- Extracted bullet after death. =
urned 1t over to the sheriff. Identi
ed bullet Fitted bullet in cartridge
Finished by Sheriff Mudd. r
Cross-examination: Bullet CORES
onded to 80 Colts long, weighed 4 :
rains less than regular bullet of that
aliber.
Bullet offered in evidence. :
Mrs. MARGARET BERcHERDrSG. :
idow OF Ferdinand ". Bercberdino ,,
he murdered man. testified in Ger o.
an, Paul Bengsch. interpreter. as fol-
ws: Live at Prairie City. Husband
lied 10th day of April. 1899. Was :
meeting at Prairie City in after :
oon- Returned home between > E
Id $50 O'Clock. Husband went ont U
the yard after dark. Net a stran- CT
+. Her husband came in house and =,
ahmed door in his face. She was b,
ere. Husband motioned to her +o p
back. Shot was fired through win al
Nv and struck her husband. The liph+
mt out Mr.. Bereherding and She in