The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-06-12
CHARGE MURDER IN COLD BLOOD.
CORONER'S VERDICT SAYS KILLING OF BERRYS
WAS PREMEDTTATED.
Chauncey Dewey, Clyde William
Charge at St. Francis-In Custody Of State Militia
Protect Them From RetIibutiOn of People.

Chauncey Dewey, Clyde Wilson and
William J. Mcbride, June 3, on Alpheus
Berry's place, in the southeastern corner
Of Cheyenne county, is held to be muir
der in cold blood. The verdict OF the
coroner's jury says that D. P. Berry,
AIpheus Berry and Berch Berry came
to their death by shots from guns in the
hands Of Chauncey Dewey, Clyde Wilson
and William J. Mcbride, and that the
killing was premeditsted.
Roy Berry, who was thought to be
MORALLY wounded from a rife shot in
the cheek, Is still alive and the chances
for his recovery are encouraging. Beach
Berry's wound in the leg was nothing
more than a bruise from a rife ball
which struck him on the thinly covered
part of the hip joint and glanced. They
tried to kill him, however, for they sent
six shots after him while he was run
ming the gauntlet from the barn to the
corn crib and house. His escape was a
miracle.
The three men who did the shooting
are IN custody at St. Francis, awaiting
preliminary trial. They are under pro-
lection Of so troopers Of the state mill
tia, from Osborne. The hearing will
take place as soon as the witnesses can
be summoned to the trial If the charge
of murder is sustained, bail will be re-
fused and the prisoners committed TO
Jail. Although the county bastile at St.
Francis is provided with a small iron
cage, the prison is altogether poor az
fair and no attempt will be made to re-
tain the men at that place. Should they
be kept there the militia would have to
remain there to guard them, and if the
passi n Of the settlers all around the
country is not guarded against in one
Of these two ways, it is not a wild state
ment to say that Chauncey Dewey and
his associates may expect the worst
from the hands Of an infuriated people.
Definite news as to what viii be done
with the prisoners has not reached here.
Sheriff McCullOch made the arrest
Of the men at the Oak Ranch, headquaF-
tiers Of the Dewey Cattle company IN
northwest Kansas, Friday, but was
afraid to move the prisoners to ST.
Francis, for fear Of the vengeance Of the
people. He remained there until
Saturday, when, fearing to remain there
while people from all quarters were
marching toward the place with Win
chesters to augment the numbers of
the Gordon which has already been
formed, decided to run the gauntlet
with his prisoners. The sheriff and his
deputy, the three meu under arrest and
q number Of Dewey cowboys, made q
swift exit from the place on horseback
and made fast tracks for Colby, where
they were to meet a body of the state
militia, which had been asked for by the
sheriff and already sent on the way by
Gov. Bailey. The Gordon around the
ranch when the run was made was not
kept in tact as the crowd was as yet
small. Hence McCulloch found himself
fortunate in conveying his men without
skirmish with the angry settlers
Sunday evening a company Of militia
from Osborne, under Captain Cunning
ham, arrived at Colby, and on Monday
morning the march with the prisoners
to st. Francis began. The distance is
about So miles and the party did not
reach their destination until Wednesday.
Anxiety for the safety Of the men was
felt all the way. A scouting party Oh
horseback was sent ahead to look out
for ambush and to see IL the way was
clear. Fortunately 10 trouble happened,
although the people upon whom had
been perpetrated such an outrage, we're
angry beyond measure, they thought II
best not to bring on a battle which
would have surely resulted in a bloody
encounter.
The story Of the tragedy as told by
two Of the Berry surviving witnesses to
the affair, to reporter Of the Atwood
Patriot is in substance as follows.
daniel and Alpheus Berry were at
the home Of Alpheus, while Beach,
Burchard and Roy Berry were at the
old Berry home two miles south. About
two o'clock the boys with L L CaprOn,
who had taken dinner with them, start
ed for the Alpheus Berry home. While
enroute they noticed a wagon in which
four or five men were riding and12 OF Il
men on horseback approaching the al
pheus Berry home, coming from the
direction Of the Dewey ranch. The men
whose ostensible purpose was to haul
away a water tank which had been
purchased the day before, reached the
place ahead Of the boys. They were al
armed with rifles and revolvers. Uncle
Dan and Alpheus went unarmed to the
corral where the tank vas located and
/ offered their assistance IN loading the
tank on the wagon. About this tims
the other BOYS and Mr.. Capron reached
the front gate. Mr.. Cspron proceeded
on toward his home and the two boy
rode into the corral. The boys Wer'
armed with reYolvers. When about 1.
PAGES from e sod wall which formed I
portion Of the vest boundary Of the cor
raj, one Of the Dewey crowd. without
warning, raised rife and shot ROl