Roy Berry (1908)

BERRY

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson
Date: 7/22/2004 at 10:40:45

The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 10, 1908

Roy Berry, a man 26 years old, residing on the old home farm in Monroe township, blew his head off Friday morning. A 16-gauge shot gun was found by his side with the barrel empty.

Berry had placed the muzzle of the gun close to his nose and pull the trigger. His whole face was mangled and the contents of his skull scattered over the barnyard.

Berry had got up early and gone hunting with is brother, Louis Berry. They killed a rabbit and he had given it to his brother to clean. While his brother was looking after an axe which they proposed taking to the Clanton woods near by, Lewis heard the report of a shot gun.

Running to the barn he found his brother at the door with his head blown completely off. Roy Berry had placed the muzzle of the gun at his head. Either he had pulled the trigger of the short 28 inch gun with his finger or had used a stick which was found by his side. When the gun was discharged, Berry was instantly killed.

Berry lived with his Aunt on the old home place of his father, J. H. Berry, who died several years ago. He was a hard drinker and had been acting queerly for several days. The suicide was so evident that no inquest was called.

The funeral took place at the Blue Front Church Saturday.
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The Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 16, 1908
Page 3

Tired of Life

Roy Berry, who was born and raised in Madison county, and who for several years has made his home with his aunt, Sally Berry, of Monroe township, committed suicide last Friday morning between eight and nine o’clock by shooting himself through the head with a shot gun, blowing the entire top of his head off.

Roy had made threats that he would kill himself. Friday morning he took the gun and went into the orchard and shot a rabbit, his brother Lewis heard the report of the gun and told their aunt that he believed Roy had shot himself, but it was only a rabbit that he shot. Roby told Lewis to take the rabbit to the house and get the axe and they would go to the timber to chop some wood. While there he heard the second report of the gun in the barn. On returning he found Roy dead with his head blown off and his brains on the side of the barn. He leaves three sisters and three brothers besides other relatives and a host of friends to mourn his untimely end. He was laid to rest in the Hamlin cemetery on Saturday afternoon.
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The Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 16, 1908
Page 5

Barney

Roy Berry, a young man living near Barney, committed suicide Friday morning by shooting himself with a shot gun. The cause is unknown. He was buried Saturday in the Hamblin cemetery near Ord.

Gravesite
 

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