The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-01
HOTBY A SHERIFF..
APossE's DESPERATE ENCOUNTER
WITH HOPE BRANNEN

Sheriff Mills of scriven County
Wounded by a Bullet from Bran
mems Pistol, and Shoots the Lunatic
In SelfDefense - Brennen's Family
Attacks the Oacers.
Friday night was a bloody night in
Scriven county. Two men were shot and
one of them fatally. When the news
reached the quiet little village Of Sylvanis,
il was thrown into fever Of excitemszt
which was intensified when an ambulanos
drove up in front of the Office of County
Physician Minis few minutes later with
Sheriff Mills bleeding from a pistol shot
wound in the head His clothing was cut
into shreds and every vestigs OF it was
soaked with blood.
A few miles out from town lay the body
Of Hope Brannen. with a bullet hols
through it. The dying mans family sat
around him invoking the vilsst impreca-
tions upon the head Of Sheriff Mills, who
fired the fatal shot.
Brannen was in Savannah few days ago
bristling with pistols, bowie knives aud
dirks and carrying an old hammeriess
musket While here he claimed to have
CONE from AdLLueWS dull. .. u.
OFFICERS AFTER HIM.
Sheriff Mills has been trying 10 arrest
the man and have him tried before the
ordinary, and if adjudged a lunatic, have
him sent to the asylum, but Brannen out
genersled the officers.
Sheriff Mills was in Savannah Thursday
morning to arrest Brannen, whom be learned
was here, but Brannen had left the
city and gone to Outiand. AT Outland
he got off the train and walked
TO his home, near the Savannah
river and few miles south of Sylvania.
Sheriff Mills returned to Sylvania in the
hope Of hearing from Branuen soon, when
he would arrest him. Thursday night
Brannen's son notified the sheriff that his
father was hauling the provender out of
the fields of his neghbors, and the family
wanted him sent to the asylum.
Sheriff Mills at once deputized half a
dozen citizens to 60 with him TO arrest
Brannen. The officer wanted to take the
man peaceably if possible, but he was ap-
prehensive Of trouble because Brannen had
sent him message after message that he
would kill him on sight if he ever tried to
arrest him. The posse left Sheriff Mills
house. mile east of Sylvania, about 4
O'Clock Friday afternoon, and reached the
Brannen neighborhood about o'clock.
THE SCENE OF THE SHOOTING.
The posse drew up short distance from
the house and sent one of the men named
Mock down 10 get Brannen outside. Mock
disguised his voice so that Brannen did not
recognize him He told Brannen that man
had lost his way and he had come for
Brannen to put him right. Evidently Bran
men suspected something, for he armed him
self with a 44-callber cavalry pistol and
drove up the hill in his road cart. When
he got within ten PAGES Of
the party he recognized Sheriff Mills
who sat in his buggy alone, aud no whipped
out the weapon ana and began firing. He
fired four shots suC cessively one of which
took effect in the officers head. He was
in the act of firing the fifth shot when
Sheriff Mills returned his fire. The first
shot entered Branneu's right side and pass
ing through his right lung came out on the
other side.
FELL FROM HIS CART.
Brannen threw up bis hands and fell from
his cart. He attempted TO get on his feet
again, but staggered and fell heavily. All
the time he clutched the weapon tight in
his right hand, and in his death struggle
several times tried 10 shoot the sheriff The
rapid firing brought Branneu's family to
the scene. They were armed with dirks.
Tae wife OF the wounded man
had a piece Of iron. Brannen's sons
1VuRut Iue sneTIH dHu MS posse madlY
They cut their clothing into shreds and
wounded one or two of them severely
Brannen's body was removed to his house
by Dr. Mccall, and Sheriff Mills was taken
TO Sylvania.
After dressing the sheriff's wounds
County Physician Minis went out to Bran
men aud rendered what aid he could. The
would was fatal though, the doctor said.
and tine wounded man could live only a few
hours.
SHERIFF MILLS WOUND NOT SERIOUS.
Sheriff Mills wound is not a serious one.
The ball entered the skin over the right
temple but came out without fracturing The
skull.
Brannen has been farmer for many
years and has always lived near Sylvania.
Some years ago he gave his farm to his
sons and went into politics. He was an un-
scrupulous politician and made many
enemies. He was very bitter against
everybody who did not agree with
him. From that time he has been
unbalanced. He has been Of so much an
noyance to the farmers in the neighbor-
hood i'll which he lived that they had him
arrested, and he was sent TO the asylum for
a short time Soon after he returned he
began his old tricks, and has kept them up
ever since. With it all he was a klept5-
maniac and stole and destroyed everything
he could get his hands on.