2:40
On this date in 1901, North Dakotans were buzzing about the accusation of murder against William Barry. Barry was a farmer from Cavalier County who was accused of killing his hired hand. According to the complaint, Barry felt that Andrew Mellon, the hired man, had mistreated Barry’s sister, Mary Ann. It was Barry’s understanding that Mellon had proposed, and Mary Ann expected to marry him. Whether there was a misunderstanding between the two young people or whether Mellon changed his mind, Mary Ann became distraught when she learned the wedding would not take place.
The more he thought about how Mellon had hurt his sister, the angrier Barry grew. He finally decided that the only way to resolve the matter was murder. He lured Mellon into the barn, gave Mellon a few minutes to pray, and gave him the choice of being hanged or having his throat cut. Mellon refused to make a choice. Barry tried to hang him, but Mellon fought back, so Barry went with option B and cut Mellon’s throat.