The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-22
LOVE FANS FLAMES IN
A RANCHERS' FEUD
Millionaire Forces Poverty
Upon SWeetheart's Family.
THREE MEN ARE KILLED
The Fight Likely to Continue-Sur-
vivors Are Determined to Kill
Their Foe.

TOPEKA, Kan, June 22.-Back OF the
Kansas feud which brought about the
pitched battle in which Daniel P. Berry.
Alpheus Berry. and Burchard Berry were
killed by Chauncey Dewey, Clyde VIII
son. and William J. Mcbride, is a ro-
mantle love affair, in which the chief
figure is beautiful girl of the prairies.
She is Bessie Berry Vaprona, daughter
of Daniel Berry, and wife OF her cousin.
Albert Vaprona. to whom, according to
the story, she was welded against her
viii, having been in love with Chauncey
ana clubman.
The three accused men will have
hearing befort the supreme court this
week on an application for admission to
bail, and in a petition. filed and sworn
to by Dewey's father, c. P. Dewey. an
other side OF the story is told
Self Defense Say Slayers.
1t is there alleged that Dewey. Nc
Bride and Wilson went to the home of
Burehard Berry on June to get wa
ter tank which they had bought, and
which Berry had asked them to come
and. get
Although the FIVE members of the Ber-
~ family live several miles apart, they
were all at Burchard Berry's place that
day. and. according to the petition, the
Berrys opened fire on the three men, aud
they began TO shoot in self-defense.
The feud began when the Dewey Cat
tie Company began to extend its hold
ings over the cattle country OF the
Northwest and TO drive out the smaller
ranchmen. Hostility against young
Dewey has been growing for years in
consequence. and one of his enemies is
Frank Rockefeller. brother of John ID.
Rockefeller. who has large interests in
this part of Kansas.
Persecution Is Charged.
The Berrys were old settlers in the
territory purchased by Dewey. and they
declared that they were driven out Of
their homes and made bankrupt by per-
secutions at the hands Of the Deweys.
About a year ago twenty head of
high grade Hereford bulls belonging to
the Deweys were shot and killed. and
at various times other depredations.
such as cutting wire fences several
miles distant. setting fire 70 the range
and crippling horses, were committed.
these acts being, in the belief of the
Deweys, the work OF the Berrys.
The feeling was made bitter on Dew
ey's part, il is now said. because he
was in love with Bessie Berry and she
with him. but the other members of
her family angry at the aggressions
OF the young ranchman, opposed Dew
ey's attentions.
The story goes that when the girl
was forced into the marriage with her
cousin she wept throughout the cere-
mony. but there is nothing TO indi-
cate whether or not Dewey had hoped
to make her his bride.
Feud Will Probably Go On.
She is an educated and refined girl.
a daring equestrienne. and one who
would have graced even the home OF a
millionaire.
1t was when Dewey was forbidden
the Berry house that he began his
scheme of revenge. using the increas-
ing poverty of the Berrys as a weapon
with which TO push them closer to the
wall. The shooting ARRAY which re-
suited IN the loss of the three lives
was only the inevitable outcome of
this situation.
Should Dewey. Mcbride. and Wilson
regain their liberty next week the feud
will undoubtedly be renewed, as the
surviving Berrys are determined that
they shall pay for the lives taken with
their own.