The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-04-23
PASTOR KILLS
TWO AND SELF
Shoots Wife and MOther-in-
law After All Night Quar-
rel Over War.
WOUNDS THIRD WOMAN
"Insane - Prussians," His
Final Note, Revealing Cause
of BrOnxville Tragedy.
WOUNDS THIRD WOMAN

eliminating one of "a series that had
been going on ever since the war began,
IN argument that lasted for twelve con-
secutive hours and wore his nerves to
the breaking point. the Rev. Robert
Frederick Berry, pastor OF the Armour
villa Park Chapel in Bronxville, yester-
Gay morning shot and killed his mother
in.law and his wife. wounded his sister
ln-law and then committed suicide.
conflict Of nationAlities and SYM
pathies was the leading cause of the
tragedy; at least that is the best in
formation the Coroner and police are
able to CLEAN. Berry, an intensely
patriotic American. had married Ger
man woman. Matilda Bahr. With them
and their three little children lived his
wife's mother Mrs. Christina Bahr, I2
years old. and sister-in-law. Caroline
Bahr, 46. Mrs. Bahr born in Germany
and reared there. lost never an oppor-
sanity to uphold the cause OF her Kaiser.
Her daughters sided with her. When
the United States entered the war the
tension in the divided household became
uncomfortable.
was III III Hcaltns
Berry was In poor health. hardly re-
covered from nervous breakdown
which had caused him to leave a pastor
ate in Wilton, Conn. last year. He was
4 serious, studious. frail little man, who
alternately worried and brooded and
hared into bursts of white hot anger.
For months he stood it and upheld his
convictions. But Saturday night an
argument opened up afresh. 1t lasted
while the large hand OF the clock trav-
elied twelve full times around the dial.
Then, frantic and desperate. he seized
revolver and killed. In note OF
only two words lie loft his reasons for
what he did. written on scrap OF
parer. The words were
"Insane-Prussians.
There was evidence in plenty about
the house, which was at $40 Rossmore
avenue, Bronxville, that tranquility In
the home had long been conspicuous by
It's absence.
Colncident. in time at least, with the
breaking off of diplomatic relations De-
tween this country and Germany. trouble
developed In the home. Three weeks
ago Mrs bahr and her two daughters
appeared one night before the Yonkers
police and swore that the clergyman
had threatened their lives. The wife per-
suaded her husband to take her back that
night The mother-in-law returned two
days later. The sister-in-law. however
did not return until Saturday. She tele-
phoncd many times. but was warned by
Berry not to show her face at the door
Flag wilfulJy FurIed.
Berry Was six years younger than his
wife and seven younger than his sister
in-lsw. His patriotism manifested Itself
IN many ways. In front of the house
Yesterday there was small American
fag on staff that extended from 8
porch pillar. But 1t had been wrapped
many times around the staff, in wa!
that II seemed Impossible for the WING
10 manage. so that IL might not futtel
y. the breeze. He had Joined the Home
Defence League.
Above all things the clergyman wa.
sn ardent admirer OF the Rev Dr
Newell Dwight Hills of the plymouth
Congregational Church Of Brooklyn
whom he knew. Or. Hillis's picture oc
cupied n prominent place on the wall o
Mr.. Berry's study.
Apparently the three women had littl,
sympathy for the clergyman. Neighbour
told yesterday of many harangues tina
went on in the house The three chill
dren, Caroline, 10: Matilda, 8, and Eva
g. corroborated this.
NV8ut Va W S'""'
Saturday the clergyman spent his af
t.rnoon hours pottering about th'
grounds surrounding the house. whsr
~ had even bit of a garden. He fin
she'd his work toward sundown an'
vent inside for dinner. The arguinl
began before the meal had ended. whei
the youngsters went to bed The other
wen: TO the bedroom occupied by th
husband and wife Matilda fell asleel
At once, but Caroline could not. Al
through the night she heard voices com
,ng from the floor below. She later toll
The police she had heard the parlor clocl
strike every hour UP to O'Clock. Sh
heard her father cry: "Why do yo
keep me awake all night when you knoy
I've got to preach tomorrow morning
But III stick 1t out. I'll stick 1t ou
with you
1t was ! o'clock before the row brok
W. Apparently at that time the mother
in-law and sister-in-law Withdrew
Berry and his wife prepared to retir
and were partly undressed when III
tragedy occurred. What happened dur
Ing the few minutes that followed is no
kcown, but the theory is that Berry
made frantic by some word, rushed int
Mrs. Bahr room and seized the re
yolyer he knew was beneath her pillow
His frst shot struck her In the head a
Then Berry rushed back into his bed
room. Wis wife ran shr!ek!ng into tn
hal', calling TO her sister. but fell wit
oulie. in her head The sister, Caro-
l,re ran out OF the ba'hrom at tn
screams and Berry turned on her. Sh
'ilrew up her hand instinctively and tn
bullet lodged there. She fell to tn
Gonr unconscious and the clergyman
cv.dentiy thinking her dead. went hac
uto his room Apparently lie mus
have written his message, INSANE
frushans," then, and after that II
'urutd the weapon on himself.
Dr. Hills last night said that he ha
t,nopn Mr., Berry for eighteen years
.,ving met him when he was connecte
with the Reecher Memorial Church |
Brooklyn. Dr. Hills last met him agai
some ak months ago. when Mr.. Berr
lad first returned 10 Yonkers. an
found him in poor health.
"i;o had a nervous breakdown abor
* weeka ago" Or. IiiIlis said, III
should have gonc to a sanitarIum then.
Million British Women In War.