Ernest G. Berry, 35, left his Salt Lake home on September 27, 1914, telling his wife that he was going to work. When he failed to return that evening, Mrs. Berry filed a missing person report with the Salt Lake Police Department. On Oct. 2, her husband's partially decomposed body was discovered by officers searching the shores of Williams Lake.

An employee of Salt Lake City, Berry was the operator of the city dredge in Williams Lake, today approximately the northeast corner of Salt Lake International Airport. Because of his work’s proximity to the salt marshes, Berry also held a commission as a deputy state game warden.

Witnesses who saw Berry on Sept. 27 said he left the dredge around 6 p.m. to investigate the sounds of nearby shooting. Berry expressed concern that ducks were being hunted illegally since the season did not open for another three days. In the weeks prior to his death, Berry had had unfavorable contacts with a group of immigrant “laborers” who frequented the area for the purposes of poaching. Berry told friends that these poachers “had it in for him.”

Berry, who was unarmed, was last seen alive by a young boy who was fishing in the area. The boy told investigators that he saw Berry following a man carrying a gun into the marsh. When officers located Berry's body, it was apparent that an attempt had been made to conceal it in the marsh. A coroner's examination revealed a shotgun blast to Berry's left side, and another to the head, chest and neck.

Due to the condition of his body, Berry was interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery the day after it was discovered. Several fund-raising events were held to assist the Berry family, who eventually left the area. Warden Berry's murderer was never identified.  "He was a good officer and a fine brave man, was their comment."