The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-29
MOB AFTER BRANCH
uuT THE NEGRO WAS LANDED IN
JAIL Ar ATHENS.
WAS THE MURDERER OF BELL.
ne ALSO FIRED on McLANARAN
AND HIs WIPE.

crowds at EIbcrtoR Were waiting
for the NEGRO, latent ON Ven
Hrance Hut the Prisoner Was
Taken 60 Athens and kept out OF
Their May-He Eiad Been Arrested
for stealing CottoR-Confessed His
Grimes.
Atlanta. sept 2s.-Early this morning.
near Eiberton. William Branch. negro.
called at che home OF George McI.anahan.
a prominent planter Of Eibeo county. and
nred both barrels Of shotgun through
the window. The charge struck the plant
ar and his wife. who were asleep In bed
near the window, wounding them serious
ly In the breast
A few hours before the negro had killed
George Bell. another prominent planter.
News OF the murder Of Bell and the at
tempted assassination OF McI.anahan and
his wife spread quickly 20 the adjoining
plantations and pursuit was instituted for
Branch. who fed 90 the woods. He was
captured near Athens and placed IN Jail
there.
Al Elborton county fair and carnival
Is in progress. Hundreds OF people are In
the town. When the news OF Branoh's
crimes reached there mob was organized
TO hunt for the negro. and Il had just
started out when a message from Athens
sold Of his capture. The mob Is waiting
ct the depot for the arrival OF the train
from Athens on which Branch Is pris-
oner They are determined TO lynch him.
a
ai the stake.
Bell traced stolen cotton to Branch's
house yesterday. In company with Nc
Lanahan he went TO the house and ar
rested the negro Bell carried a shot gun.
while McLanahan was armed with a pis-
tol
As they proceeded towards Fiber
ton in the main road Branch
suddenly snatched the gun from
BelIs shoulder and fred at him. The
planter eank to the ground and died with
cut speaking.
McLanahan shot at the negro as he ran
away and wounded him Ia the back. The
planter ran TO his house. told the news
10 his neighboTs and Joined in a short
ssarch for the murderer lie was not To-
Gated. and the searching party returned
20 await daylight to continue
II was sho. tly before daylight that the
sNIV hArltF1 TUG MAAaaNNN@h lAiNNs NhAA
tried 90 kill the family.
Branch Made q Confession.
Athens. Ca, Sept. 2s-william Branch
Of Ebert county lies IN the city prison
charged with killing one man and wound
ing three others.
Branch was brought here on the early
seab0ard train this morning TO keep him
from being lynched by an organized body
Of Elberton's citizens.
The negro was interviewed by a News
representative this morning and made
c.oau breast OF Il ali. He was carrying
load OF cotton along the road Wednes-
day night when he was detected by
Young man named Ed. Mills lie shot
Nils, then escaped.
Yesterday morning Constable McLana-
han aud Messrs. George and Tom Bell
went 10 Branch's house. three miles from
ElDerton, to bring him 10 Jail and see Il
be we're the right party. lie was found
and was coming along with the three
men ali right when he suddenly snatched
the gun from George Ben and nred at
AicIannhen He missed him. bat hit
George Bell IN the head. Instantly killing
him He then escaped.
That night he went to McI4anahan's
house and waited until he mad retired
when he empticd his double-barreled gun
into the bed. wounding both McLanahan
aud hts wife. ne then went 20 the Sea-
hoard Railroad and waited for the train,
Intending. as he says. to be killed by II.
He AID himself across the rails, but was
knocked of lie was picked up and
brought to Eiberton. but begged hard TO
b. brought here for safe-keeping. which
was done.
A large posse was organized In Elberton
and be was hunted all night. Excitement
there r. az fever heat. RE will be ken,
here for safe-koeping at present. but win
DE given a speedy trial