Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-02-01

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how to use it. This pistol was carried
for some time after his arrival in Can.
ada.
Conspiracy Framed.
| A heavy reward had long been offer.
ed by the United States government
for his capture. The fact was adver-
tised throughout the United States and
Canada. An American detective named
Hester was after that reward from the
time it was offered. 1t was he who
trailed the Klansman to Barnwell, Sell
ma and Memphis. Then he learned
! that The fugitive was in Canada and he
carefully laid plans to take him. A con :
spiracy to kidnap him was framed with
a Canadian detective.
Always a lover Of nature, Dr.. Bratton
walked in the open fields or commons
outside the city of London one day
For some reason or other he had left
his trusty Colt behind. Years after
ward in narrating the experience ne
told his children he thanked God he
had. else there would have been dead
Canadian, or maybe two, on the COM
mons that day.
A carriage drove up and a man jump
ed out and approached him, telling him
that he had a warrant for his arrest.
The doctor showed fight and there was
a lively tussle. The cab driver, how
ever, also Joined in and the two over
powered the bold Southerner.
Carried to Detroit.
The prisoner demanded that he be
given an opportunity to confer with MS
friends, and the answer was that ne
would have that privilege after he was
taken to Windsor, Canada. That was
deception, however, for instead OF be-
ing taken to Windsor he was carried
over to Detroit, on the American SIDE
of the line and there turned over to De-
tective Hester.
The detective Immediately began the
Journey back to South Carolina with
his prisoner. AS the train proceeded
through Virginia the following day DR..
Bratton was given his liberty for mo-
ment. The train was slowing up pc
cause Of a station near at hand. The
prisoner quickly leaped from the car
and fled into patch Of woodland near
by. There he spent the night. Gong
I'D to the little Virginia station next
day to buy ticket. imagine his sur
prise to find Detective Hester there.
"Glad to see you," said Hester.
"Well, let's go home" quietly return
ed the doctor.
Arriving in Yorkville he was COM
mitted to the county jail. He had plen-
" of company, because the Jail was lit
orally crowded with white citizens who
had been arrested on warrants charg-
ing membership in ku kluN klans. Old
citizens still tell Of the Jail full OF .ku
Kluxes" and how the local cornet band,
under the leadership of Prof. r. j..
Herndon, used to go to the jail IN the
afternoon and play Dixie"
Money was scarce with Southerners
in 1873 and it was some time before
DR.. Bratton could arrange bond. After
Imprisonment of several weeks, how
ever he did obtain bond. Then he
learned that the English government
had demanded Of the United States
government his release and return 10
Canada, on the ground that ne haa
been unlawfully kidnapped. Full facts
were developed and there followed be-
tween the United States government
and the British government sharp dip
lomatic correspondence OF very
threatening nature especially on the
part of the latter government. AS a
result of it he was finally uncondition-
ally released.
Returned to Canada.
After his release on bond he return
ed to Canada, taking his wife, VINO IS
still living at the home Of her son here'
unite healthy in the nineticth year OF
her age, and his children. They are:
DR.. r. A. Bratton. Mr.. r. Moultrie and
". L. Bratton, of Yorkville; Mrs Hat
tie Hannahan, of Winnsboro, and COL
sumpter Bratton, United States army
in command of the United States Army
Hospital at Hot Springs, Ark.
IJpon his return to London DR.. Brat
ton prosecuted the Canadian detective
who had kidnapped him. The man was
convicted and served prison sentence
Then he entered suit through the Brlt-
ish government against the United
States government for damages total
ling many thousands Of dollars. Inc
LITIGATION was tied up. through govern
nent red tape and the case was never
tried. However, it had the effect OF Inc
United States government releasing
him from all Ku KluX charges uncon-
ditionally.
After a total residence of nearly
aipbt years in Canada he decided TO re-
tu,n TO his native home with his lam
ily. They returned in 1878. 1t was Il
ROYAL home coming. The energetic doc
tor Immediately began TO build up MS
estate, which was much run down, ana
also his medical practice. He was SO
engaged until his death at the age VI