The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1921-04-07

One of the foulest and most
atrocious murders ever commit
ted in Rankin county occurred
last Friday afternoon at 5 o'clock,
when E. 3. DObson, a prominent
white farmer living near the
Brandon depot, was shot by Sandy
thompson, negro living nearby.
Mr.. DObSon and a younger
brother had been repairing fence
on the DObson farm all day Fri
day. and after quitting hours they
drove by the home of the negro
Thompson for the purpose of
getting some hogs that Mr.. Dob
son had previously bought of the
darkey. They found Thompson at
home, and told their mission, and
the negro seemed to be all right
about the matter and CAME out to
assist in catching the hogs. One
hog had been caught and put in
the wagon, and experiencing some
trouble in catching the other one,
the negro suggested that he had
something in the house that would
catch it. Mr.. Dobson and his
brother naturally supposed that
he had gone for corn or other
feed. and were awaiting his re-
turn. In few moments the flash
of a gun was seen through a
crack in the house, and the elder
DobsOn staggered off for about
ten feet and fell to the ground.
His brother rushed to his side
just in time to hear his dying
words, "He killed me-kill him."
Nearly a dozen bucksh0t had
perforated the breast in the re-
gion of the heart of the dead man.
Young Dobson, who is about
Is years of age, managed to get
the body of his dead brother into
the wagon, and probably 80 min
utes passed before any one ar
rived. In the meantime the me-
gro reloaded his gun and made
his escape.
The news Of the crime spread
rapidly, and soon people began
to gather on the scene. Some of
them took charge of the body
while others began searching for
the negro.
Sheriff Harrison and his depu-
ties were soon on hand, and AN
hour later after the shooting
posses had been formed and the
woods were being combed In ev-
cry direction.
The forces of the searchers
were augmented as the narrowing
details of the crime were told.
Men of all ages and occupations
armed themselves and rushed to
the scene All Friday night the
search continued, but without any
clue being developed as to the ne
gro's whereabouts. Saturday
morning found them undaunted
and more determined than ever.
An automobile was sent to CryS-
tai Springs after Cant and his
bloodhounds, but Mr.. Cant was
crippled, and could not come. A
party at Hattiesburg who owns
two good dogs was then called.
He agreed to come at once. An
automobile met him in. Jackson,
and the dogs were put on the trail
at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
However, this was a disappolnt-
ment, as the negro was wearing
rubber boots, and the owner OF
the dogs said that it was lmpoSsl-
BILE for his dogs, or any other dogs,
to follow the tracks of a man
wearing rubber boots. The hounds
were withdrawn, and returned
from whence they came.
The hunt continued all Satur--
day night, and nothing developed
except the finding of still In the
woods near Thompson's home. A
lot Of mash and the complete par
apharnalia was destroyed.
During the day the negro's wife
and two or three of his kinsmenl
were brought to town and locked
up to prevent them from keeping
the culprit informed as to the
movements of the posses. Every
house and road in the commun,,
ity was closelv. guarded day and
night to see that the fugitive did
not return for food and informa-
ton. :,
Sunday morning dawned and
-