Joe Earp, a young fellow from the western part of the
county, who was in town that day, said:
"I met Mr. Brann in front of the Pacific Hotel, and
having heard of him and read after him, I was curious
to know him. It was our first meeting; in fact, the first
time I had ever seen him. We talked together, Mr.
Ward with us, to Laneri's saloon. They went inside and
I left them. In a few minutes they came out and crossed
the street, going to the Cotton Belt ticket office. They
moved together towards Austin Avenue, but half turned,
conversing one with the other. They reached the newsstand
and stopped. I saw a man whom I have been told
was Tom E. Davis, come out a door and shoot. Brann's
back was turned to the man, and while I did not see the
bullet strike him, I supposed he was shooting at Brann.
Ward turned as soon as the shot was fired and reached
for the pistol. Brann turned instantly, gun in hand,
and commenced shooting. Ward got in between the two
and then jumped away, against the wall. Davis fell at
Brann's first fire and rolled over a time or two, and
raising himself on his elbow, returned Brann's fire. They
emptied their pistols. When Davis fell Brann stepped
back a short distance and then advanced toward Davis,
shooting at him, but he never approached nearer than six
feet. Ward never fired a shot. I saw the whole affair and never
did he fire or produce a pistol. When the
shooting was over a man came out of the office and took
Davis' pistol from the walk."
J. C. Patterson was seen. He stated:
"I was with R. H. Brown of Calvert. We walked
into the street from the Pacific Hotel sidewalk, and were
walking north when we heard a shot. Three shots were
fired quickly and I saw Davis fall. I remarked, 'They
have killed Tom Davis.' I saw two men shooting, or
Brann had two pistols. Davis raised on his elbow and
returned the fire. I did not see the first shot."
Sherman Vaughan said:
"I was passing along Fourth Street and reached a
spot just in front of Geo. Laneri's saloon. I heard a shot,
and looking toward the place from whence the sound
came, I saw Tom Davis reeling backward toward the wall
in front of his place of business. He either fell against
the sign in front of his office or the wall, I could not tell
which. Mr. Brann was standing some eight or ten feet
from him with a pistol in his hand and smoke was between
them. Then followed a rapid succession of shots.
I could not see Mr. Davis shoot for the smoke, but could
see Mr. Brann plainly. Mr. Davis fell to the sidewalk
and then almost rose to his feet and fell again. He then
rolled along the sidewalk towards the alley and must
have turned over half a dozen times. Then another man,
whom I do not know, joined in, and he and Brann fired
shot after shot at Mr. Davis as he rolled along the
sidewalk. The police then came up and took Brann away.
I did not see what became of the other man."
Mr. James I. Moore said:
"I had met Tom Davis in front of my office in the
Pacific Hotel building, and we discussed the proposed
meeting at the city hall. He and I walked out on the
sidewalk just in front of my office. I stood at the south
side of the door facing north and Mr. Davis stood directly
in front of me on the sidewalk by the wall. We were
about two feet apart. While talking, W. C. Brann came
down the sidewalk from the direction of Austin Street.
He advanced within two feet of Mr. Davis and myself and
stopped; looked me squarely in the face and then at Mr.
Davis. I did not speak to Brann and don't think Davis
saw him until after he passed on. Brann passed on in
the direction of the postoffice. Almost immediately after
Brann left, Davis left me and walked up Fourth Street
towards his office, and I saw him cross the street to his
office. I then advanced to the edge of the sidewalk and
stood there alone about four or five minutes, when I
heard a shot in the direction of Davis' office. I looked
that way and three shots seemed to be fired almost
simultaneously. Davis fell to the sidewalk and writhed as
if in terrible agony. Brann seemed to be nearest to
Davis, a very large man being close in Brann's rear.
This man, I learned afterwards, was W. H. Ward. While
Davis was rolling on the sidewalk both of these men were
very rapidly firing upon Davis. They seemed to poke
their pistols almost against Davis' body as they fired.
After the first four or five shots the smoke became too
dense to see all that occurred. The first sight seemed to
chill my blood and I became too horrified to move."
H. C. Chase, 509 North Ninth Street:
"I was standing at the alley near Geo. Laneri's saloon
and heard somebody say, 'Look out!' I glanced across
the street and saw Tom Davis on the sidewalk. He had a
gun in his hand and fired at once. Brann and Ward
were a few feet distant. Brann had turned slightly,
but his back was still towards Davis when the latter fired.
Ward jumped back and grabbed at Davis' gun as the
latter fired the second time. Brann fired as soon as he
turned around and at his second shot Davis fell backwards.
Ward, it seemed to me, had gotten to one side of
Davis and was reaching for Davis' gun. As the latter
fell back, Ward backed up to the building. He did not
have a gun and did not shoot."