Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-06-19
DEADLY KANSAS FEUD AND
MURDER OF THREE BERRYS

tered their heads from the back.
Beach. the one first hit. had fallen. but
had not lost consciousness. He tried
To crawl TO the house. but the cowboys
saw the effort and fired twice ut him.
both shot going through the rim OF his
hat. He laid still after that. and the
men thought they had finished him.
Roy Berry. the only one OF the
Berrys not killed or disabled. had run
for the shelter of u sod fence and was
behind that. lie saw two Of the Dewey
men start To ride around no as to get
at him. and made dash for tn. house.
He was fired nj several times as he ran.
but received only u slight wound in III.
leg. As he ran he iit-d one shot at
Chaunccy Dewey. who was standin. by
his horse. lie missed Dewey. but killed
the horse. This Is the only shot that
was iired by any Of the BeFrys- The
D-wcys then fired on the house and
through the windows. trying to force
Roy berry out. hut they failed In this
and after time rode away.
The above facts were brought out at
the coroncr's Inquest from the ,-s'i-
mony of the two surviving ncrrys. two
Berry women and neishbor. capEon
by name.
The coroner made out subpocnas for
tho Dewey witnesses. but the deputy
sheriff was afraid to serve them. and
80 that side was no, represented at the
inquest.
The sheriff and coroner we're notified
of the tragedy by telegram from Roy
n.rty. The young man mounted his
horse after the cowboys had gone and
rode To BiTd City. where he sent a
message to the officers. They arrived
that evening. aud after the in1u-s, the
sheriff and one deputy went to the Oak
ranch TO arrest Dewey and his men.
They found a picket line thrown
around the ranch. and the sheriff ~as
held up and mad. to tell his business.
The officers were allowed to enter and
were received ?sa-.ably by Dewey.
However. the men refused 10 b. arrest
, cd or lay down their arms until they
could bc assured to their own sa,isfac-
,iun iha; ,hcT. was no danger of mob
violence.
The sheriff LET, his deputy a, the
ranch and wen, TO 81. Francis. where
he made an Investigation of the coa,ii-
iions arising FROM the shooting. lie
found the iuun Wildly excited and
armed men gathering from every quar-
ter OF the county. The general NrtdiC,
was that the muTdrTcrs should bp
hanged as sIon as they could be cap.
tur-d. This convinced the sheriff that
he must have outside help. lie wired
Governor Baitry for company of mill.
tia that he might bc able to give his
prisoners adequate protection.
The Osborne company. being nearest
| 10 the scene of action. was ordered to
go there at once and cooperate with
the sheriff. The sheriff returned to the
Dewey ranch. told them Of what he had
Dewey and two uf his men. They met
the militia at that place. and thus
suarued marched across the country 20
st. Francis. on the way they stopped
at the Dewey ranch. where they were
vol entertained for night and a day.
while the officers could make a more
complete investigation Of the sentiment
OF the people. II was soon found that
the utmost vigilance would he required
to keep the men out Of the hands uf
the mob. In true military style. there
fore. with the prisoners we'll surround
cd by soldiers. tho remarkable journey
to st. Francis was commenced. There
was danger that an effort would be
made to pick on the Deweys by sharp
shooters but nothing Of the Kind was
attempted aid they arrived safely at
st. Francis
At this time the soldiers arc yet
there. keeping a close guard over the
Devcys. Their camp is drawn up in
true military style and sentrics pace
their beats night and day. II will take
strong combination of settlers tI
fight this aggregation successfully. and
nothing Of the kind will 10 attempted.
The preliminary trial Of the supposed
murdercrs v.li be held tomorrow.
Tuesday. June 10th. a; st. Francis. The
troops will 10 present through all the
proceedings and martial law will oh
tain. just as IN the trial Of the fcudists
in jackson. Kentucky.
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