The Mena weekly star., 1921-10-27
BROTHERS IN DUEL,
 GEORGE LATCH DIES
Victim of Encounter Said to Have Sought Others Death Because of Alleged Court Testimony-No
 Arrest Made.

4 duel to death between brothers was fought near Hatfield Thursday evening resulting in the killing of George Latch, man well known in the courts of Polk county. Tib Latch, a younger brother, surrendered him self to the authorities and admitted the killing. claiming that he was forced to do it in defense of his own life. Sheriff J. A. Thornton, Judge H. ". Finger and others who made an in vestigation were so convinced of the truth of the slayer's statement no attempt was made to arrest him and Tib Latch was permitted to come to Mena of his own accord.
 The deadly encounter between the Latch brothers took place sometime between and o'clock Thursday af- ternoon at the barn at the Tib Latch farm east of Hatfield. From evidence gathered by the officers it is believed that George Latch was lying in am- bush waiting to kill his brother, and was himself killed because he was slow on the draw. A heavy caiibre revolver, fully loaded and a partly emptied bottle of moonshine liquor are said to have been found on the dead mans person. Near the point where the dead man stood when the ,fatal shot was fired, was also found a Winchester rife. The weapons are considered evidence of the murderous intent of the dead mans visit to his brothers barn.
 Immediately after the shooting Tib Latch sent word to Hatfield that he had been forced to kill his brother, and asked officers be sent out to investi- gate. J. C. Hoheimer, Ed Hutson and Dr. D. W. Connally were among those who responded to the call and went to the Latch farm. They found George Latch lying dead, with the contents of q double-barreled shotgun in his chest. The man had fallen only a few steps away from where he stood when his brother fired.
 There were no eye-witnesses to the tragedy and Tib Latch did not attempt to explain the killing until the Hat field party arrived. To these men he explained in detail the deadly encoun- ter and they investigated and stated the siayer's version was generally corroborated
 According to Tib Latch's story he had been warned his brother had threatened his life. The cause of the ill-feeling went back to some alleged thefts of cattle in which George Latch is said to have participated, and which he believed Tib Latch had taken be- fore the grand jury The two broth CTS lived on the old homestead and their homes were not over quarter mile apart.
 Thursday afternoon George Latch was seen to go down the road towards his brothers house and to two men he met is said to have said, Keep away, we're going to have trouble" At the time Latch carried a rifle and was in an excited and angry mood
 Since he received his first warning of threats against him, Tib Latch has been careful to 20 near his barn only in bright daylight, as he feared, he says. of being shot down from am- bush. This explained why he was tending to his stock so early in the evening.
 While at the barn Thursday even ing Tib Latch states that he had his double-barreled shotgun with him, a weapon he had carried on such err rands since his brother made threats against him. While at work he saw his brother rise up from a ciump of weeds not fifty feet distant. Believ- ing from the brothers actions he was about to be fired upon, lib Latch fired both barrels in rapid succession
 As George Latch staggered. he said, according to his brother:
 'It's good thing you got me first.1
 Tib Latch did not 20 near his broth. CT until after Dr. Connally and the Hatfield men arrived It was not un- til then that the weapons and moon- shine were found IL was evident Dr Connally stated, that the man had died almost instantly, as both charges of No. 4 shot had penetrated vital organs.
 The body of the dead man was taken to the home where he lived with his aged mother Funeral services were held at Hatfield Friday. The dead man was generally referred to as
 
 ago while engaged in one of his nura- erous law suits He was about 51 years old and unmarried.
 When Sheriff Thornton was notified of the fatal shooting he went to Hat field in company with Judge Finger John Shorter and Deputy Sheriff Amos Musgravc After the officials had checked ID the evidense they wers convinced that lib Latch had been forced to kill his brother or he killed and they did not place the slayer un- der arrest. It was not even considered necessary to put the county to the ex pense of coroner's inquest Tibl Latch was directed to come to Mena Friday, where the grand jury was ex pected to make more thoro inyesti- gation of the fatal shooting.
 He is about 20 years old and mar red man with grown children, and has always been considered good citizen in his community and not a trouble maker.
 Mrs. l.. D. Lifts Burial Here.
 Word was received in Mena Thurs day that the remains of Mrs l. n