The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-27
HE FOUGHT TO DIE
Desperate Efforts to Com
NIT Suicide.
Bob Berry SIashes His Throat, Driven
Thereto, 1t is'Aleged by Burning
Bush Religion and WhiS-
key.

Especial to News and Observer.)
High Point, n. c., July 26.-"Burn-
ing Bush" religion and corn whiskey
is given as the cause of an attempted
suicide on Main street, in the heart
of the city this morning about eight
o'clock. when Bob Berry. a white man
employed at Kearns Furniture factory
slashcd his own throat before several
Of our citizens. Berry went To MS
work as usual this morning, but after
working for awhile quit and came up
town. He intimated to Mr. Gurney
Fl. Keams. foreman of KCarnS Furn1-
ture Company. that he would kill him
self. He came up the street and went
direct to his room, over Mr. II. a.
Mofiitt's dry goods store. In passing
through the above named store ne
told the proprietor to see that his 1T
tie girl and some papers he had were
looked after that he would be dead
within an hour. Then he proceeded
to his room.
BY this time the report
had gotten out that he had
threatened to Kill hinSe1'
and there were several citizens in
Guiding Chief of Police Gray,
on the way to Berry's room.
Reaching there they found chat
the would-be suicide had wash
ed himself as do the Japanese
before entering battle, and otherwise
prepared for his departure. About
the time these men arrived: Mr.. G. ii.
Kcarns. Rev George F.. Kirby Rev.
d. E. Bowers, Capt. y. M. Rankin. Ii.
A. Mohitt and the chief of police.
Berry made dash for his trunk and
to get his razor. However, he was
hi
But, 10! all of sudden he had his
knife out. Quick as flash Chief of
Police Gray grabbed Berry's arm, but
it was his left arm, while the knife
was held in the right, and before any
one could prevent it Berry slashed his
throat, cutting a cash about three
inches long The blood spurted and 1t
looked to those present as if Berry had
carried out his design. DR.. j. a.
Turner was called in and found that
he had missed the jugular vein and
that the wound was not SO bad as
was first thought.
Capt. w. Il. Johns, justice of the
peace, issued commitment for in
sanity and Berry was taken to Jail
The trouble that led to this rash act
on the part of Berry was caused part
ly from WhiSkey and recent complete
adherence to the Burning Bush doc
trine. which has been allowed to be
preached in this community to the
detriment of many otherwise well
meaning people, and to the disCom-
fort of those who for many a night
were kept from sleeping on account of
the loud noise kept uD by the band,
claiming they were the elect-on fire
with religion-or the Burning Bush"
people as they called themselves.
Berry told the crowd this morning
that he was sanctified and was going
whero he could rest and he came very
near getting a long unrest, instead
There was a report out that he had
been indicted for selling Whiskey, but
those who know Berry say the charge
is false that while he drank whiskey
he never attempted to sell any
Mr.. Kearns remarked that Berry
had worked for him for three years
and that he was a good workman.
The wGuld-be suicide caused q
furry of excitement here this morning.