Extracted from The Southwest News & Leader (Elk City, OK)
Thursday, February 10, 1916

The Amarillo News of last Saturday contained the following which will be of interest to many in this section, where the deceased was well known. The News says: ``William P. Cherry, aged forty-six years and leaving a widow and six children, was burned to death early yesterday morning when a `bunk shack' in which he was sleeping at Magenta was consumed by fire.'' The origin of the fire will never be known perhaps, as the shack was practically consumed before others staying in the camp, of which Mr. Cherry was foreman for C. E. Willmering of Amarillo, discovered the flames. When discovery was made it was impossible for laborers at the pits to rescue the unfortunate foreman. As soon as the fire had cooled sufficiently to admit a search of the ruins the badly charred body of Cherry was discovered among the debris. All of the bedding and clothing had been burned from the body and the fingers had been consumed by the flames. The unfortunate man was found face downward as if overcome by the smoke, he had not arisen from sleep when the fire swept over him. Numerous theories are advanced as to the cause of the fire, among them being that a lamp exploded or the bedding took fire from a cigarette. N. S. Griggs was called from Amarillo to have charge of the blackened remains and prepared same for burial or shipment, depending upon the wishes of the parents in Elk City. Mrs. Cherry, who was in Tascosa, was called to the scene and will remain until advices have been received from Elk City.

The remains of the unfortunate man were shipped to this place, Elk City, for burial, with many relatives from various sections of the state coming for the funeral services. The parents of Mr. Cherry are pioneers in this section. Funeral arrangements were in charge of Geo. R. Grubitz & Son.

W. P. Cherry was the son of Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Cherry, who are well known citizens of this county, having lived for a number of years south of Elk City. Mr. T. A. Cherry and younger son Clarence, went to Magenta and brought the remains back here last Monday for burial in the city cemetery. The deceased was about 43 years old and left a family, a wife and six children. His widow, who was Miss Julia Johnson, is the daughter of our well known former citizen, O. L. Johnson, now a resident of New Mexico. We learn that W. P. Cherry was a contractor, delivering stone and gravel to the railroad and had recently been paid some $260.00. From the surrounding circumstances, it is believed that he was robbed and murdered and the body burned to destroy evidence of the crime. Our people deeply sympathize with the distressed family.
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Extracted from The Southwest News & Leader (Elk City, OK)
Thursday, February 17, 1916

Chandler & Robinson Handled Cherry Funeral. In last week's issue of the News it was stated that the remains of Mr. W. P. Cherry, who was burned to death near Amarillo, were handled by Grubitz & Son. This was an error, as they were handled by Robinson & Chandler. The News gathered the first information on what was considered good authority, but without consulting either of the undertakers. The mistake, however, was an honest one on the part of the person furnishing the information.