The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-04-24
A DESPERATE KENCOUNTER
UNDER MISTAKE.
Both after Branch, who Murdered
Phillips.
All Things Made Right at Last.

All Things Made Right at Last
The Home journal readers will rcmcm
her that we published 4 statement of til,
murder OF Il worthy young man. NAMED
Philips. ny Il man named joel Branch
ana that Branch was arrested and incnr,
ccratcd IN our Jail, but removed to the iai
at Fayetteville under II fear that the " in.
chester jail was not secure, However. tht
Judges and Jury were mistaken. Ton
Branch, wit I Il lot Of other prisoners. soon
effected an escape from the Fayetteville
Jail. since which time several attempt,
nave been made to arrest them. In the
case Of Branch ill.,. Governor has offered Il
reward Of $500. and ON Monday last (l5tll
lnSt..) Il company OF men, under charge OF
officer Hudson. were II search of Branch.
near Ridgcvillc, some fourteen miles from
W lncllestcr. An impression had obtained
that Branch was harborcd in the neigh
horIlood. at the house cf II Mr.. C.. A. Ma
jors. but the sequel would indicate that
Mr.. Majors was wrongly suSpicioncd. and
tor no other reason than because he had Il
brother Of Joel Il. Branch in his employ.
Cndertllis impression. however. the COM
pany sent II Mr.. Davis as. detective, Davis
managed to see Majors. and solicited work.
Becoming quite confidential. and securing
Il promise of sccrcsy from Majors, Davis
| stated that he was one of the prisoners
who had escaped from the Fayetteville
;lil. and wanted to get with Branch. SAID
he was hungry. and wanted Majors to 90
to the house. and get him something 10
eat. Also wanted to purchase Il pistol
all Of which wants Majors promised TO
supply, telling Davis he would put him
on the track to find Branch. &c. Davis
was to remain in Il deep hollow in the
wOo $ until Majors returned with proviS-
ions and a pistol. Majors then went to-
wards the village Of RidgcN lille. close ''y.
and in the road met our friend. George W.
Byron. who vas returning from Lynch"
burg. whittier he had been in attendance
upon a meeting in regard to tie new
county of Moore" Majors told Byron
that one Of the thieves who escaped from
tie Fayetteville Jail was in a hollow not
Gir Ot1-had confessed all to him. and that
lie (Byronl.) must 90 and help arrest him.
Mr.. Byron hc>itatcd at first. but finally
consented. and the plan agreed upon was
fol Majors to 20 back and engage the man
i'm conversation. and in ten minlt : By
rom was to follow. when Mayors was to
make the arrest. Screening himself be-
hind Il tree, Mr.. Byron took ont his watch
to count the minutes. but hctor tiNe HAD
flown he heard two pistol reports in q'lirh
succession. Going at on e to the scene he
discovered that Majors had been tcllco'
and his antagonist wa kicking him. BY
rom seized the supposed thief hy tlieallh>'
and II desperate Struggle c'Isled. whirh
resulted in favor of Mr.. Byron. WHO man
arcd to ret his antagonists face to the
ground. and TO secure his arms in such Il
position that he could diSlorite them II
necessary. 1t wa at this .inncturc that
49,
Mr.. Byron had to plead with Majors, WHO
had been shot III the arm, to not retallate
upon the prisoner. VINO had surrendered
upon condition that he should be taken he
fore officer Hudson. In the struggle Mr..
Byron had two finger" nearly severed by
Il knife in the hands Of Majors. who was
cndcavering to cut the prison i. 1t Is
fortunate t.tat more serious results did not
follow. and the GOODNESS Of MIR. Byron is
to he accredited. The prisoner was made
to prccede him on the way to Rid@evIlle.
where he surrendered Il navy pistol he HAD
concealed in his boots.
And noA for the dehOuement: The prs
onrr was carried, or, rather, led his cap
tors to IL spot in the woods where officer
and his men were concealed.
They at once recognized the prisoner aS
detective. Mr.. Davis, and cXplana-
that followed made it appear that
Mr.. Davis was under the impression that
Byron was Branch, and that Majors had
brought him along with mur,!erous irlen-
All OF the parties. it seems. WcT"
acting under false impressions. ana The
consequences came near to tragedy.