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SHOOTS HIMSELF THROUGH THE HEAD WITH A PISTOL. The Tragedy Occurs at the Home of the Young Man’s Mother Monday Evening—Heavy Drinking the Prob able Cause. Bart A. Berry, a son of the late Sheriff B. A. Berry, of Burke, committed suicide Monday evening last about 8 o'clock at the home of his mother, four miles east of Morganton. He and his mother were the only persons in the house at the time. The young man had been to town that day and returned home about sundown. Supper was over and his mother, not feel ing well, was lying on the bed in her room when her son came in. She told him he would find his supper on the table in the dining room. He went to the table and ate his supper, leaving his pistol in his mother’s room. Mrs. Berry says after her son had eaten his supper he went out into the yard, and that through a window she saw him leaning against a tree and looking downward as if in a deep study. After awhile he came into the house, still showing signs of a troubled mind. His mother questioned him as to what his trouble was and he replied that some men were after him and would be there in ten minutes. He then took his pistol and walked into the parlor, closing the door behind him. In a few seconds Mrs. Berry heard the report of a pistol, and on opening the parlor door heard the blood from her son’s wound pouring on the floor. The room was dark and she could see nothing, yet she supposed what proved to be true—that her son had taken his life. At this point Mrs. Berry fell in the floor and was unconscious for sev eral minutes. When she re covered she ran into the yard and screamed for help. Jas per Baker and his sons, who live nearby, heard her screams and were soon on the scene. They found the young man lying on a sofa with a wound in his head. A pistol was ly ing on the floor nearby. He lived only about half an hour after Baker and sons arrived. The pistol was of 44 calibre and the ball had passed entire ly through the head just back of the ears and buried itself in the sofa. The news of the tragedy did not reach town until next morning. Coroner J. Mon roe Kincaid went at once to the Berry homestead and by request of the family sum moned a jury and held an in quest. The testimony before the jury is given, in substance, above and the verdict returned was that the young man came to his death by his own hand. Bart Berry was about 30 years of age and unmarried. He was a member of the Burke company that volunteered for the Spanish-American war, and was liked by his comrades. He was his own worst enemy, having been drinking heavily for some time. Whiskey was doubtless the cause of the rash act which ended his life. The mother and brothers and sisters have the sympathy of their friends in the sore affliction. The funeral took place Tuesday evening at 5 o’clock, the service being conducted by Rev. Jno. W. Jones, of the Morganton circuit. The re mains were buried in Zion Methodist church yard, near the Berry homestead.
Newspaper Details
The Burke County News
Morganton, North Carolina, US
Fri, Jun 22, 1900
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Cynthia R.
NC, USA 05 Jul 2026
Other Publications Near Morganton, North Carolina
The Burke County News
