Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-01-03
KILLED BY AN OFFICER.
Policeman BrasWeII Stays Samuel NoIes In
Seif-Defense.

On last Monday afternoon John
Braswell, of the city police force,
while being surrounded and his
life threatened ty crowd who
was trying to release Vic Widen
house, who had been arrested by
Braswell, shot in defence Of his
life, the shot entering the breast
Of Samuel Noles and inficting a
wound from which he died about
five hours afterward. The shoot
ing occurred in front of Sapp's
livery stable, near the Gibson
mill.
Mr.. Braswell and special
policeman, Cab Watkins, had ar.
rested Victor Widenhouse and
David Eudy for fighting at D, J..
Bost & Cos store. They walked
down to Sapp's stable, when
Widenhouse asked Braswell if he
would accept bond for his appear
ance. The officer said he would,
and that, the amount would be
SIS. Widenhouse got out the
money, but did not give it to
Braswell. He then began cursing
and started to walk off. What
followed will be round in the fol-
lowing testimony of Mr.. Braswell
and the other witnesses at the
trial Tuesday morning at the
court house before Esq. G. M.
Lore:
Mr.. Braswell said: When Vic
refused to put up the money for
the bond he walked out into the
road, and I with him, having
hold of him. Then George and q
los of others came up. Vic curs-
ed me and said he wouldn't give
me any money. The crowd turn
ed on me. Vic said "Get his gun
"a shootEhim." Some Others
said, "Stick your knife III him.
One man felt in my overcoat
pocket for my pistol, but it was
not there. George ran between
Vic and me and knocked him
loose. Vic fought me and tried
to throw me down. kept going
back until l got against the stable
and could 60 no further. Three
or four had hold of my billy
which was strapped to my arm.
They kicked me on the leg and in
the stomach and knocked my hat
off. George had some kind of a
weapon. Noles was striking at
me, I did not know Noles. I
expected to be killed every mo-
ment. I shot because I thought
they were going to kill me.
A. B. Cleaver testified. I saw
Vic come running out to the stable
with Braswell hold of him.
Crowd ran up and surged on Bras
we'll. George grabbed Braswell
and they took Vic loose. They
were kicking and knocking Bras
we'll and trying to get his billy.
Braswell told them several times
to let him alone. Noles came up
and was striking at Braswell.
Two shots were fired. There were
six or eight on Braswell. George
told him he was going to kill him.
They had Braswell down. George
had pistol. I ran in to help
Braswell and pulled several away.
Lee Dancy testified as following
I heard Sam Noles say he would
die and 60 to hell for his Widen
house boys. Vic had Braswell
clasped, and [ ran to help Bras
we'll. They grabbed me and pull
ed me away. Some one said,
'Take his gun; kill the g. of a
b." They pressed him to the
corner of the stable. Braswell
said, "Stay off or I'll shoot. y
He shot twice. After the testi-
mony was all in W. Means, who
was attorney for the prosecution,
arose and after few felicitous re.
marks asked the magistrate to dis
charged Braswell. He said that
no one had had more experience
with policemen than he. He real
lxed the duties of the officer who