Obituaries: Monroe Bratton, 1928, Winn Parish, LA
Submitter: Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
Source: Winnfield News-American
Date: August 3, 1928
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One Dead As Result Of Pistol Fight

Quarrel-Fight Result In Death Of Monroe Bratton

Two Others Are Shot As Factions Clash On Court Square

Alleged Stealing Of Cattle Cause

Slayer Surrenders, Place In Jail To Await Grand Jury

Monroe Bratton, 35 years old, is dead and Clarence Jones is in jail as a
result of a quarrel, fist-fight and gun battle engaged in Sunday afternoon
about three-thirty o'clock on court square between the Melton and Hyde
factions of Grant Parish regarding the ownership of certain cows and cow
hides. Two other shots from Jones' 38-caliber pistol were fired, one going
through the hat worn by Walter Hyde, the other inflicting a minor scalp wound
to Sam Hyde.

The families of Melton and Hydes live at Allbright's Prairie in Grant Parish
and between them had existed a feud for almost a year over the alleged
stealing of cattle from the Meltons and Jones by the Hydes.

Warrants were issued in Grant Parish for the arrest of Walter Hyde believing
he had some cows from Bud and Walker Melton and Clarence Jones and last Sunday
morning Sheriff O'Quinn of Grant and a party of deputies searched the home of
Walter Hyde. It is said they found the heads of some of the missing cows but
did not find the hides. Following the search Bud and Walker Melton and
Clarence Jones came to Winnfield, at the suggestion of Grant Parish officers
it is said, to notify Winn Parish officials to look out for Sam Hyde, who
lived here.

Walker Melton, Clarence Jones, and Sam and Walter Hyde and Monroe Bratton met
on Court Square. Soon Walker Melton and Sam Hyde engaged in a fist fight,
Melton seemingly getting the advantage when Walter Hyde and Monroe Bratton
joined in to assist Sam Hyde. In the free-for-all one of the three, Sam,
Walter or Bratton pounded Melton over the head with a knife handle or the butt
of a pistol.

Clarence Jones, who was sitting in a car near by on hearing the calls of
Melton for help stepped out of the car, pulled his gun, shooting three times,
one bullet entering the left cheek of Monroe Bratton causing instant death,
one glazing Sam Hyde's scallp and one passing through the hat worn by Walter
Hyde. Sam and Walter Hyde were only slightly injured.

Immediately after the shooting Jones surrendered to the officers and was
placed in jail by Sheriff Bryant Sholars, who with Bud Melton had returned
from a search for alleged stolen cow hides. A pistol was found on the dead
man, concealed in the bosom of his shirt, by Sheriff Sholars and Marshal M. E.
Jolly and other pistols and a rifle were found in the automobiles of the other
participants, it is said.

Dr. S. C. Fittz, coroner, examined the body and turned it over to Rufus Walsh,
local undertaker, Sunday night. Bratton's body was prepared for burial and
sent to his home on Allbright's Prairie in Grant Parish.

The coroner's inquest held Sunday night and completed Monday morning rendered
a verdict that Monroe Bratton came to his death from pistol shot wounds at the
hands of Clarence Jones. A. S. Branch, J. R. Hall, W. J. Walker, A. I. Talton,
and A. P. Smith were the coroner's jury.

Jones will remain in jail awaiting the action of the next grand jury.