in Asheville and on Jan. 25, 1876, he was returned to Lenoir where
he was tried, convicted and sentenced to hang. He never admitted the
crime, but persisted until the end that he was innocent. While await-
ing execution, he and another condmned man, James Laxton who was sub-~
sequently hanged at Statesville attempted to escape, but their. plot
was betrayed to the guards by other prisoners, He was hanged private-
ly at the Caldwell Co, jail in lenoir on June.1, 1876, He complained
before the drop and after he had addressed the witnesses for twenty
minutes that the rope was too tight and asked not bo be blindfolded,
The Sheriff replied that the rope would soon be tighter and that he
was obliged by law to cover the condemned man's face, His body was
placed on display for one day before it was buried in a farmer's
orchard. The farmer had requested that the corpse be buried there
to frighten off would-be theives.
HERE WILL I DWELL, THE STORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY by Nancy Alexander,
Pages 152-15).
{ote Mg i phie had been bludgeoned to death, evidently with a stick
in Asheville and on Jan. 25, 1876, he was returned to Lenoir where
he was tried, convicted and sentenced to hang. He never admitted the
crime, but persisted until the end that he was innocent. While await
ing execution, he and another condmned man, James Laxton who was sub-
sequently hanged at Statesville attempted to escape, but their plot
was betrayed to the guards by other prisoners, He was hanged private4
ly at the Caldwell Co, jail in Lenoir on June.1, 1876, He complained
before the arop and after he had addressed the witnesses for twenty
minutes that the rope was too tight and asked not bo be blindfolded.
The Sheriff replied that the rope would soon be tighter and that he
was obliged by law to cover the condemned man's face, His body was
placed on display for one day before it was buried in a farmer's
orchard. The farmer had requested that the corpse be buried there
to frighten off would-be theives.
HERE WILL I DWELL, THE STORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY by Nancy Alexander.
Pages 152-15).
Gote ie egpnie had been bludgeoned to death, evidently with a stick
in Asheville and on Jan. 25, 1876, he was returned to Lenoir where
he was tried, convicted and sentenced to hang.
sequently hanged at Statesville attempted to escape, but their plot
was betrayed to the guards by other prisoners, He was hanged private.
ly at the Caldwell Co, jail in Lenoir on June. 1, 1876, He complained
before the wrop and after he had addressed the witnesses for twenty
minutes that the rope was too tight and asked not bo be blindfolded.
The Sheriff replied that the rope would soon be tighter and that he
was obliged by law to cover the condemned man's face, His body was
placed on eieplay for one day before it was buried in a farmer's
The farmer quested that the corpse be buried there
o fei ghten (obt wenla-beltiel yeas
HERE WILL I DWELL, THE STORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY by Nancy Alexander.
Pages 152-5h,
Geter 8 Sppnie had been bludgeoned to death, evidently with a stick
od on Jane 3, 0T6y he wis returned to Tanats are
Gauge ta toon vantnenot to saath, avanti with « ack
Hadid
BERRY, Isaac
Berry, a l5-year-old black man, had been the slave or Robert berry
whose name he had adopted as his own. He was married to another
Slave, S8PXSJXH Sophie, and they appeared happy enough until thier
emancipation when Berry, who:professed to be a preacher, started
going with other women. This provoked a number of violent arguments
between him and Sophie and he was heard on several occasions to tell
her that if she did not stop nagging him, he would someday hush her
permanently. In late 1880, both disappeared from their home in
Lovelady (Granite Falls), Caldwell Cosy Ne Ce, ami when their house
was searched, it was found to be greatly disturbed as though a fight
had taken place. Dried blood was found scattered over the cabin
and when Sophie's body was subsequently found buried beneath some
mud and covered with pine straw near the house, a warrant was issued
for Berry's arrest. A Mob went to his aged father's house and, in a
effert to force the old man to reveal his son's wheareabouts, hanged
him but then lowered him to the gound before he died. When the old
man still insisted that he did not know wher Be
crowd believed him and released him, LL ae Clana alas
Berry was subsequently captured
BERRY, Isaac
Berry, a 5-year-old black man, had been the slave or Robert Berry
whose name he had adopted as his own. He was married to another
slave, SS$XS¥XH Sophie, and they appeared happy enough until thier
emancipation when Berry, who professed to be a preacher, started
going with other women. This provoked a number of violent arguments
between him and Sophie and he was heard on several occasions to tell
her that if she did not stop nagging him, he would someday hush her
permanently. In late 1880, both disappeared from their home in
Lovelady (Granite Falls), Caldwell Co., Ne Coy and when their house
was searched, it was found to be greatly disturbed as though a fight
had taken place. Dried blood was found scattered over the cabin
and when Sophie's body was subsequently found buried beneath some
mud and covered with pine straw near the house, @ warrant was issued
for Berry's arrest. A Mob went to his aged father's house and, in ar
effert to force the old man to reveal his son's wheareabouts, hanged
him but then lowered him to the gound before he died. When the old
man still insisted that he did not know where Berry was hiding, the
crowd believed him and released him, Berry was subsequently captured
BERRY, Isaac
Berry, a 5-year-old black man, had been the slave or Robert Berry
whose name he had adopted as his own, He was married to another
slave, S5§XKJXK Sophie, and they appeared happy enough until thier
emancipation when Berry, who professed to be a preacher, started
going with other women, This provoked a mmber of violent arguments
between him and Sophie and he was heard on several occasions to tell
her that if she did not stop nagging him, he would someday hush her
permanently, In late 18805 both disappeared fron their home in
lovelady (Grantte Falls), Caldwell Co., N. Cs, ami when their house
was searched, it was found to be greatly disturbed as though a fight
id
had taken place. blood was found scattered over the cabin
‘and ven Sophie's body, was subsequently found buried beneath sone
mud and covered with pine straw near the house, @ warrant was issued
or Berry's arrest. A Mob vent to his aged father's house and, in
ee to force the old man to reveal his son's wheareabouts, tated
him but then lowered him to the gound before he died, When the old
man still insisted that he did not know wi
crowd believed him and released him, eens aye iad me died
Le ‘Ty was subsequently captured]
ae Babar Bey
