San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-06
THE BRANNONS AND SCOTS.
Some Inside Pointers that Throw
Another Light Upon that Mail
Robbery

Some Inside Pointers that Throw
Another Light Upon that Mail
Robbery.
While it is true that Frank Scott is
wanted in Austin for completely in the
mail robbery, it would appear that the
BeXar county authorities, holding him
as they do under charge Of murder.
don't propose to give him up until that
charge has been Investigated and a YER
dict rendered.
There is something peculiar about
that mail robbery. Ii is known and dis
tinctly sworn to that there were four
men engaged in this robbery. Three Of
these men were known. That is Pitts
and Yeager, the murderers of poor Hal
Gosling, who were arrested and con-
victed, and a man named Ditson who
was never captured. A fourth man was
present who was not known, but one of
the Brannon's was arrested and convict
ed of the crime. This made up the full
complement and yet another Brannon
was pursued as being one of the robbers.
was shot to pieces in Missouri, and sur
viving that, he was killed a short time
since by Deputy Marshal Van Ripper.
The Brannons and their friends always
proclaimed their innocence, and this
seems now to be probable, for there is
evidence to show that F. Scott was the
unknown fourth man, who was wanted
for the robbery, and II that be so and the
sworn testimony adduoed in conviction
OF the other prisoners is true, Ii follows
as matter Of course that the Brannons
were innocent Of completely in the rob-
berry. That the Brannons ran with the
gang, that they were guilty Of horse
theft, is not denied, although 1t IL not
proven; but one paid the penalty Of bad
association by filling convict's cell, the
other by filling an outlaws grave. As
far as Cal BrannOn Is concerned, he Is In
the same boat, but at the same time he
has for years been known as an indus
trious farmer, and 1t is a well-known
fact that thieves don't work. He Is
described as man OF q peculiar sense of
honor. 1t is stated by q high legal
authority here that when his brother
was tried and convicted he believed him
to be innocent OF the charge made
against him, yet, when subpsnied to give
evidence to establish an alibi for him he
refused to testify In his favor because he
did not know where he was at the
questioned hour. A man will do much
to save his brother, yet this man would
not do 1t. Brannon has "peached" and
his life Is endangered by the gang, as
practically shown in the attempted as
sassination last Saturday. The lives Of
others are In jeopardy because the gang
believe that by silencing the witnesses
they end the matter. In this case they
are wOefully deceived for all the deposit
lions are on file sworn to, signed and
witnessed, and are therefore good evil
dence against them. For all this there are
dangers OF further tragedies, but there is
one thing, the wouid-be assassins of
Cal Brannon are known, and will short
ly be In the meshes Of the law. The ar
rest and conviction of these men may
have the beneficial effect of teaching the
gang that it is dangerous to monkey
with Justice when she Is deadset on her
beneficent work Of preserving law and
order and Furnishing crime.