The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-16

The foregoing verdict was found by the
Coroner's jury yesterday noon at the IN
quest over the body of Clifford Hambley OF
ST Louis who was shot and killed IN a
pitched battle north of Bratton's place on
the Rock road Saturday night.
Bratton and the four other men were re
turned to the custody of the Sheriff, VINO
will be called on this morning to deliver
them up on writs of habeas corpus. which
1t said last night would be applied ior
before the Master in Chancery. 1t is eX-
pected that bonds will be fixed at that time.
The men were not locked up, but are In the
custody of the Sheriff.
According to the statements of Bratton
and his friends, the shooting was the result
of a misunderstanding to the identity OF
the crowds of men who met at various
times on the dixie.
mlitiamen. or those who We're with them.
fired the first shot. while the militiamen
assert that the Bratton party fired first.
Bratton was in the fault was given by
George L. Huntoon Lieutenant c. p Sum
mers and Captain Perkins. Bratton and the
men held in connection with the death of
the soldier testified in their own behalf.
STATEMENT OF BRATTON.
The first testimony heard yesterday morn
ing was Bratton's statement. He reiterated
his former statements to the effect that
with his men he had guarded the levee Sat
urday. and that in the afternoon an effort
had been made by some farmers to cut the
levee. but that they had been chased away.
Deputy Sheriff. which had been issued to
him by Sheriff Wash Thompson, and also a
commission as special officer. issued by
Mayor Cook.
In the evening Bratton stated that an
other crowd attempted to cut the levee and
was chased away. Later another crowd
whom the Bratton crowd thought were the
same. appeared and were called to halt.
They linz m Prott
they fired the first shot. Bratton says that
he thought that they intended to cut the
levee and he and his men returned the fire.
Bratton said he thought that about 100
shots were fired He said that he believed
at the time that he was protecting his
property. not only as private citizen, but
as a sworn officer of the law.
SPECIAL POLICEMAN TESTIFIES.
George L. Huntoon. special policeman.
testified that he was on patrol duty at
Washington place about dark. when he was
informed that the levee at Bratton's place
was being cut He was accompanied by
three citizens. he says, and they went to
the place. where they found a crowd of
men at work. As he neared the place sew
eral shotguns were pointed at him and he
was ordered to leave by a heavy-Set man.
Huntoon says that he told the man that
ne was special officer when the latter re-
there. .Huntoon said he asked for the mans
authority. when he was told to leave the
pace. Huntoon hurried to the nearest tele-
phone and notified the Mayors office and
there. s''
According to Bratton and his friends
Huntoon and the citizens were thought to
De ievee cutters, and when the militia ar
rived later the misunderstanding Increased
resulting in the pitched battle
w. A. Brown and the other members of
timony. VS.
Lieutenant c. P Summers of Companv n
testified that he was the officer of the day
and that when he arrived he met Bratton
and Deputy Sheriff Charles CasheI and
and said:
am the man who did the killing"
Captain Perkins testified that he was
with Lieutenant Summers at the time and
heard Bratton use language which was
equivalent to Lieutenant Summerss state
ment.
The Coroner's jury decided on a verdict |
EolCing Bratton and his crowd in connec- |
ton with the death of Hambley.
Lieutenant Summers was arrested nv |
Deputy Sheriff Charles Cashel on a charge |
OF disorderly conduct. He was taken to the |
headquarters on order of Sheriff thompson. |