Brann The Iconoclast, vol 12 | Page 7

that he did not and he did not exhibit a weapon of any kind. He slipped
back close to the building when he let go of Davis, and when the
shooting was over walked up the street. I saw a man come out of
Williams' place and make an effort to get Davis' pistol. I can't say
whether or not he got it. I don't know where he went. Policeman had
reached the scene and arrested Brann."
Policeman Sam Hall said:
"I was standing in front of George Willig's office at the alley and
Fourth Street on the same side of the street and say forty or forty-five

feet away from the place where the shooting took place. I was talking
to Mr. Dugger and was standing out on the sidewalk. Some four or five
minutes before the shooting occurred I looked across the street and saw
Brann and Ward standing in front of the haberdasher store of L. Krauss,
and at that time Davis passed them and went on a couple of doors and
stepped inside of the storeroom at that point. I then looked away, not
having any idea at all of any trouble, but just happened to see them.
The next thing I noticed was the men were close together in front of
French's newsstand with Davis between me and Brann and Ward. The
first of the trouble I saw Davis had his pistol in his hand and instantly
fired. Brann whirled and commenced firing at Davis. I immediately
started to them, but had to work my way in and out of one door to the
other and work my way along the wall of the building, as Brann was
shooting directly toward me all the time. I hallooed several times at
them to stop shooting, and just before I reached them Davis fell on the
sidewalk and Brann was still shooting. Davis attempted to rise and
Ward caught Davis by the shoulders and pulled him back down on the
sidewalk. Davis turned with his face towards Brann and kept trying to
fire, but his pistol snapped. I jumped over Davis and caught Brann and
took the pistol out of his hands. Brann's pistol is a Colts .41, latest
improved, and was loaded all around and all chambers were freshly
fired. When I caught Brann, Ward was standing up by the wall holding
his hand that was shot. I saw Ward fire no shots and I saw no pistol in
his hand. I then started with Brann to the city hall, and as I crossed the
street towards the Citizens National Bank, Police Officer Durie came
up and assisted me in taking Brann on to the city hall."
* * * BRANN'S DEATH.
IT CAME AS PEACEFULLY AS SLEEP TO A BABE.
After being taken to the city hall, Mr. Brann was removed to his home,
where Drs. Foscue, Hale, Graves and C. E. Smith attended him. Soon
after arriving there he appeared to have reacted from the shock and
there was every indication of an improvement. At 11 o'clock there was
a change, hemorrhage of the lungs occurring frequently. In addition to
the immediate family circle a number of devoted friends (and no man
ever had more devoted friends than Brann) were at the home, anxious
to render the offices of friendship. At midnight the physicians said
there was no chance and the family gathered about the bedside. During

the long minutes which followed, a loving wife and two children sat by
that bedside and watched the unconscious man. His life hung by a
thread and while surgeon's science was being used to strengthen the
strand that held the life, Death's knife was on it. They watched by his
side, and as they watched they saw him seek sweet repose. The anguish
of the wife and those children was terrible, but they awaited the
visitation to that happy home, kind friends being near to speak sweet
words of comfort. At 1.55 A.M. he died. His features showed no pain,
and when life left his body, the face appeared as that of one in a sweet,
peaceful sleep.
The remains of W. C. Brann were prepared early Saturday morning and
lay in state all day at the residence on North Fifth Street. Hundreds of
ladies visited the home and viewed the face of the Apostle. It was
natural as life itself. He lay upon a catafalque in the parlors at home and
the visitors passed around the lifeless form, looked upon the face and
passed out.
Surviving Mr. Brann are his wife and two children, Grace, aged 11
years, and Willie, a son, aged 6 years. Brann himself was 44 years old.
Mr. Brann came to Texas about twelve years ago and has been engaged
in the newspaper business