Suicide Verdict For Death of Carmi Oil Man

(United Press) – Carmi, Ill, Jan. 26  – A coroner’s jury today reported a verdict of suicide in the death of Russell O. Berry, 37-year old oil lease operator and bigamist, who shot himself in his hotel room here, Wednesday, January 25, 1940.

Berry, a former Olney, Illinois undertaker, registered at the hotel several months ago with his second wife. He registered as Joe Lamar. The coroner’s jury found that he killed himself because of financial worries. Coroner Leroy Stein said Berry’s first wife lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma and that Mrs. Lamar was unaware that her husband had been previously married until authorities called Mrs. Berry at Tulsa to inform her of his death.

Stein said Berry left a note instructing authorities to call his first wife, whom he had never divorced. He said Mrs. Lamar did not testify at the inquest.

Berry is a former resident of Olney, where he attended high school and for two years, 1924 to 1926, was an associate in a funeral home here. After working in the funeral home, he left Olney. He and his wife, Lelah (Marks) Berry then moved to Oklahoma City to operate the Guardian Funeral Homes there.

He returned to Olney several years ago, managed a second-hand store for a time and then moved to Carmi. His father, J.O. Berry lives here.

Russell Ogden Berry was born September 23, 1902 in Clay County Illinois, son of John O. and Susan O. (Robards) Berry. He married Lelah Marks of Edwards County, Ill.

He is survived by his father, John Berry and a son, Russell R. “Bob” Berry.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Susan O. Berry.

Funeral services held in Carmi with burial in Maple Ridge Cemetery, Carmi, Illinois

Published in Daily Republican-Register (Mt. Carmel, IL) and The Decatur Herald (IL)  – Friday, January 26, 1940