The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1908-05-07

SLAYER of Mr.. B. T. Archer, was al
last run down and killed on Point
Facile, north of Bayou Pierre
where that stream enters the Mis-
sissippi river.
The chase began about two miles
east of Port Gibson, where Joseph
crossed the bayou the morning oi
the killing, and made a detour,
first through the forests near Her
manville, thence near Martin to
Red Lick, crossing the Y. & M. V.
railroad north of Lorman and down
to James creek near Westside.
From there he crossed Bayou
Pierre on a log and was later seen
In the neighborhood in which he
was killed. There were many men
engaged in the chase, though for
the past week not more than fifteen
were on the trail at any one time.
When one crowd would wear out
another would take their places.
However, there were three or four
who seemed to never tire, and these
were near the scene of the killing.
After crossing Bayou Pierre to
Point Facile, Joseph went to the
house of an old negro woman last
Friday and asked for food. When
her son returned, the woman told
him of the visit of the stranger,
wherupon the son Immediately re-
ported the matter to Mr.. Mike
Brand, owner of the place. About
the same time Joseph was seen in a
tree by some raftsmen. These facts
were communicated to the authori-
ties at Port Gibson, and a fresh lot
of men were sent to the scene.
They searched through the back
water until dark, when it was de-
cided to give up the chase until the
next dav.
Just as Messrs. R. c. McCay
and Mike Brand turned to row to
land their attention was attracted
by slight noise in a thick bush.
They called repeatedly to Joseph to
surrender, though they were OF
the opinion that the noise was pro-
duced by a snake or turtle falling
into the water. Getting no reply
they decided to shoot into the bush.
After. firing several times they
rowed to the place. To their sur
prise, there stood the man, breast
deep in water with his arms clasp
ed around the bush. Several shot
had taken effect in his head. The
body was pulled into the boat and
brought to Port Gibson in a steam
launch the same night.
Joseph's 80 calibre Colts auto
matte pistol, containing two unex-
ploded cartridges, was found upon
his person, but the weapon had
been exposed to the elements so
long that the cylinder would not
revolve, therefore was useless.
Saturday morning the remains
were exposed to public view at the
court house, and hundreds of peC-
pie crowded around to get a
glimpse of the man who had been
the cause of SO much suppressed
excitement.
The private reward Of $500
will be divided between Messes. Nc
Cay and Brand, and possibly a
young man who was rowing Mr..
boat at the time. The
statutory reward of 500 is only
given when a murderer is captured
alive, and the $3.50 offered by the
governor for the capture is con-
strued as meaning the same thing.
IT was discovered Monday that
the board of supervisors has no
power to offer reward. therefore
the $3.50 offered by that body can
not be paid. However, Sheriff
Morehead declares that since the
reward was offered he Is going to
pay the $3.50 out of his own pocket.
II Is understood that Messrs. Nc
Cay aud Brand are going to give
the old colored woman and her son,
who reported the presence of