The Complete Works of Brann, the Iconoclast — Volume 12 — John Shaqi
The Complete Works of Brann, the Iconoclast — Volume 12Brann, William Cowper
History
The Complete Works of Brann, the Iconoclast — Volume 12
Brann, William Cowper
Brann, William Cowper, 1855-1898; Essays; Reformers
"I met Mr. Brann in front of the Pacific Hotel, and
having heard of him and read after him, I was curious
to know him. It was our first meeting; in fact, the first
time I had ever seen him. We talked together, Mr.
Ward with us, to Laneri's saloon. They went inside and
I left them. In a few minutes they came out and crossed
the street, going to the Cotton Belt ticket office. They
moved together towards Austin Avenue, but half turned,
conversing one with the other. They reached the newsstand
and stopped. I saw a man whom I have been told
was Tom E. Davis, come out a door and shoot. Brann's
back was turned to the man, and while I did not see the
bullet strike him, I supposed he was shooting at Brann.
Ward turned as soon as the shot was fired and reached
for the pistol. Brann turned instantly, gun in hand,
and commenced shooting. Ward got in between the two
and then jumped away, against the wall. Davis fell at
Brann's first fire and rolled over a time or two, and
raising himself on his elbow, returned Brann's fire. They
emptied their pistols. When Davis fell Brann stepped
back a short distance and then advanced toward Davis,
shooting at him, but he never approached nearer than six
feet. Ward never fired a shot. I saw the whole affair and never
did he fire or produce a pistol. When the
shooting was over a man came out of the office and took
Davis' pistol from the walk."
J. C. Patterson was seen. He stated:
"I was with R. H. Brown of Calvert. We walked
into the street from the Pacific Hotel sidewalk, and were
walking north when we heard a shot. Three shots were
fired quickly and I saw Davis fall. I remarked, 'They
have killed Tom Davis.' I saw two men shooting, or
Brann had two pistols. Davis raised on his elbow and
returned the fire. I did not see the first shot."
Sherman Vaughan said:
"I was passing along Fourth Street and reached a
spot just in front of Geo. Laneri's saloon. I heard a shot,
and looking toward the place from whence the sound
came, I saw Tom Davis reeling backward toward the wall
in front of his place of business. He either fell against
the sign in front of his office or the wall, I could not tell
which. Mr. Brann was standing some eight or ten feet
from him with a pistol in his hand and smoke was between
them. Then followed a rapid succession of shots.
I could not see Mr. Davis shoot for the smoke, but could
see Mr. Brann plainly. Mr. Davis fell to the sidewalk
and then almost rose to his feet and fell again. He then
rolled along the sidewalk towards the alley and must
have turned over half a dozen times. Then another man,
whom I do not know, joined in, and he and Brann fired
shot after shot at Mr. Davis as he rolled along the
sidewalk. The police then came up and took Brann away.
I did not see what became of the other man."
Mr. James I. Moore said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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