Year: 1879

which covers the inside Of the abdominal cavity.
Internal hemorrhage. loss of blood and the shock
resulting from the blows were the cause of death.
The blows were caused by the hands and the booted
feet some person. while the two cuts in the head
the head down to the waist and over the abdomen
the body black and blue. Such was the Doctors
Irish the child's death was caused by suffocation.
No marks of violence were found on the body. The
countenance slightly swollen


ARREST AND coNvIcrION.


The officers tracked Devlin to Bellows Falls, Vt.
where he arrested. He practically admitted his
crime and when brought before the Grand Jury an
indictment was found on which he tried III De-
cember, 1873, before the Supreme Court. in East
Cambridge. The trial lasted two days. and the jury.
after an all night session, brought in verdict Of
"Ciuilty Of murder in the first degree He took the
verdict very calmly. and said he must now hang.
EXECUTION OF JOHN O. pINKHAM FOR THE MUIR


DER OF THE WIDOW BERRY.


CoNcoRD. N H.. March IA. 1879.
In the yard Of the State Prison in this city to-day
was executed John Q. Pinkham. of East Durham. for
the murder OF Mrs. Berry. Of the same town. About
one hundred spectators were present by invitation
Of High Sheriff Chick Of Great Falls. who had
charge Of the arrangements. The wretched man
slept only hour last night and ate sparingy
this morning at breakfast.


PARDON ASKED.


Shortly after midnight he dictated letter to Mrs.
Betsey Berry, daughter of the woman he murdered
in which he sent messages to his friends and old
neishbors. ana expressed contrition for his crime
and the hope that Jesus had forgiven his sins. The
spectators were admitted to the prison at
half past ten o'clock and ct four minutes past
eleven were arranged around the scafold. The
march of death taken up at precisely eleven
o'clock the prisoner being conducted to the scaold
by Sheriff Chick. assisted by Deputies Wentworth.
Of Great Falls, and johnson. of Pennington. and
D.;ca via vbn had
remained with him through the night. Fears
were expressed that he would break down. being
naturally Of cowardly nature but he bore the try
ing ordeal with remarkable courage aud fortitude.
No word was spoken the gallows except by the
Sheriff reading the warrant and procaiming that he
was about to execute the sentence of the law At
four minutes past eleven. the rope being adjusted
and the black cap drawn over the face of the con-
demned man. the trap was sprung and the body shot
through it like lightning. breaking the neck in
stantly, and death must have been instantaneous
and painless. After hanging seventeen minutes
Pinkham dead. aud the body was cut down and de-
hvered to Mr.. Dolbier cousin of the deceased. who
will take it to Alton for burial.


The execution perfect in its way. no bunging
nor delays being noticed. The condemned man
showed no trepidation. but took his stand on the
fatal trap with rmness. and stood perfectly still
til the drop fell





ment of ST. which he wanted her to pay and which,
according to contract. she not bound to pay.
Mrs. Hiram Berry lived V din in New Durham, n. H. with
named Charles E. Corson whom she had adopted.
She owned large farm, situated along what is known
as the Valley Road. running between Pennington and
Glmanton. John Q. Pinkham had been employed
on the farm during the summer. caring for and har
in October but ho still remained on the
farm. agreeing to work for his board,
doing chores" and chopping wood during the win
,rnA fhn riu lf dnin nrrfsi do
work he could find in the neighborhood. No chance
of this kind having offered. he went into the woods
January g. 1878. he suddenly Left he felt that he
working hard and getting nothing for it, and he
believed he ought to be compensated. The family
on the Berry farm were very well satisfied
at his departure He had been seen under
tho influence OF liquor several times, and
his habits generally were obnoxious to the
two ladies. On the afternoon of the 9th he to
the house carrying with him double shot
gun which he left in the entry. He walked into the
room where Mrs. Berry and her daughter were. the
former engaged in churning aud the latter sewing.
The boy was also present reading: i'm Pinkham was vas
asked how they were getting along and was answered
IAN right" He then said he would like to
ing room for it. He returned and went
out into the entry. where he laid down the
saying to Mrs that he was ened
to some pay for his work. as she had hired him to
do it. He presented BILL She replied that he had
agreed to work for his board. but II he not
isfied with that arrangement and wanted to leave
she would make 1t all right. Pinkham started out,
remarking that he would say before her face be-
hind her back that she very mean woman. He
was very much excited, aud left, as the ladies
thought. for good.


He stepped into the entry and quickly returned
carrying Q gun in his hands. The two women
sprang to their feet in alarm and screamed for aid
but there none Their voices were drowned in
the loud report from one Of the discharged barrels
besrimed corpse She had been shot in the face and
her death was almost instantaneous. Mrs. Berry's
daughter had tried to dissuade the murderer from
for his cowardly act. but he told her
To- to shut ut. up. p, or s he would ns give her the
he brought the gun to the level of her head and she
heard the ominous click Of the hammer it came
into position: Out through the rear door she ran
and lots to the railroad and thence neigh
bors house. Meanwhile the boy Corson, who
had in just in time to see the fatal shot fred
left alone with his victim. What took place in the
death chamber, with its bloody wallis and furniture
nobody lives TO tell except the murderer himself.


ArrEMPTED SUICIDE.


The neighbors ran to the scene as quickly possi-
Bile, and Pinkham was found In q snow bank near the
house. cutcling the gun in one hand and knife In
the other. with which latter he had cut ugly cash
In his throat. He had vainly tried to cut his own
throat but dull pocket knife tho instrument,
doctor sent for. who stanched tho wound.
Pnkham admitted his crime. anu also confessed that
he went to the house for the purpose OF killing Mrs.
Berry.


FOUND GUILTY.


his trlel JOOk plhce III the reDruory term OF the
Supreme Court III Dover. The evidence was soon
put in and the jury got the case at Ave O'Clock on
Saturday evening. and at three A.. M, Sunday.
agreed on verdict OF guilty of murder in the first
degree. The plea Of the defence was insanity. The
evidence, however. conflicting. the doctors dis
agreeing usual. The Court and jury found that
he ut the time of the killing and that the
decd was done with malice aforethought.


Pinkham born in Alton N. H., in 1889. His
mother and two brothers now live there He
of medium height. with blue eyes aud gray hair.
and was not repulsive looking man. He acquired
habits OF intemperance when young and has never
been able TO overcome them. He served in the
and taken prisoner ut the battle of Deep Bot
tom. sent to Libby and thence to salisbury. where
he suffered some terrible hardshps and privations.
He there contracted prison fever and since then he
has been quite free from disease both mental
and physical.


EXECUTION OF HENRY GRAvELIN FOR THE


MURDER OF HRRDERT O. WHITE.


IBy TELEaRAPH TO THE HERALDl


WINDSOR, VT. March IA 1879.
hot fro,, f.x.t