Beckham County, OK - Obits: Walter M. Branch, 1907 26 Sep 2007 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ************************************************ BRANCH, WALTER M. (27 Jun 1907, The Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK): Deputy Sheriff Kills Citizen. Quarrel of Long Standing Causes the Death of Walter Branch at Sayre - Special to the State Capital. Sayre, Okla., June 24 - Walter M. Branch was shot and instantly killed here Saturday by J. W. Dobbs deputy sheriff. The shooting occurred about 11 o'clock Saturday morning. It seems that an old grudge has existed between the two men for the past two years or more which came about in the killing of Sam Doxey about two years ago in which Dobbs says that Branch has circulated reports that Dobbs had faulty murdered Doxey. While the court records shows that Dobbs acted in self defence (sic) and in the official discharge of his duty. They met on the street today and after some words Dobbs caught Branch around the neck with his left arm and with his right drew his revolver and shot him in the head killing him instantly. Branch was unarmed and was a quiet and peaceable man single and about 45 years old. His father resides near Rome, Georgia. Dobbs immediately started to Cheyenne to give himself up to the sheriff. The Capital correspondent's report of the deplorable affair was calm and considerate, calculated to quiet rather than further argue with -----(smeared ?) of the people which was at a fever heat. Deceased was an honored and respected member of the Masonic Lodge at this place and that order took charge of the body, wired the father the sad news and for instruction as to what disposition to make of the body, had it embalmed and Sunday morning shipped to Cedar Hill, Georgia, as per request of the father, A. D. Jones accompanying the remains to their destination. (27 Jun 1907, Erick Altruist, Erick, Beckham Co, OK): ANOTHER KILLING AT SAYRE. An apparently unprovoked murder occurred at Sayre last Saturday. The following reports of the deplorable affair was given us by an Erick man who was at Sayre at the time the murder occurred and his report was corroborated by Judge Bell of Sayre who was here Monday. Ex-City Marshall James W. Dobbs met Judge Branch on Main street at Sayre last Saturday morning and was overheard to say "Branch, you have been talking about me and you must cut it out." Judge Branch replied that what he said was true, that he had nothing to take back and that he would continue to talk as he saw fit; whereupon Dobbs drew his six-shooter, and shot Branch, the bullet entering Branch's chin passing out the back of his head killing him instantly. Dobbs had his left hand at the back of Branch's head and the bullet wounded Dobbs' hand after passing through Branch's head. After the killing Dobbs gave himself up to Mayor Charlie Boren and Judge John B. Harrison and these three started immediately for Cheyenne where Dobbs was placed in jail. Judge Branch was justice of the peace at Sayre, a quiet unassuming old gentleman, and was universally well thought of and it is incomprehensible to the Altruist that he would have given fancied cause to anyone for committing the dreadful crime of murder. He lived alone and we know nothing of his relatives. This makes the sixth murder that has occurred in Sayre within the past four years and gives the would-be county seat of Beckham county a reputation no town of its size in the entire United States, certainly not within the new State, with such a record. (27 Jun 1907, Elk City Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): JIM DOBBS KILLS AGAIN. Rumor Says it is His 6th in this Country - No Provocation. JUDGE WALTER BRANCH Of Sayre, Okla., Is the Victim. An Attempt To Secured Perjured Evidence. Last Saturday morning, Jim Dobbs, deputy sheriff, shot down in the public streets of Sayre, Judge Walter M. Branch. He used an automatic gun with steel ball and dynamite powder. As reported to this paper, Judge Branch was one of the two men who were sitting quietly with Sam Doxie in front of a saloon in Sayre, when Dobbs shot Doxie three times and killed him. This happened about three years ago. Jim Dobbs has never been tried for that Doxie killing. At that time many rumors went out regarding the killing, but in the course of time the true facts of case leaked out. Our report says that Judge Brance (sic) believed himself to have been used by Dobbs as a shield so that he could kill Doxie without danger to himself, and that Judge Branch mooded over the tragedy. It seems that Branch after a while talked freely about it when ever he was approached on the subject. The report says that Dobbs seemed to have a fear that Branch talking about it would cause a stir among the people and that if he was ever tried for that killing that Judge Branch would take the stand and tell what he knew. The report further says that Dobbs went to Judge Branch's office Saturday morning and had some words with him, but what they were is not given. Judge Branch and Dobbs both came out of the office togeather (sic) and walked east on the side walk and Dobbs accused Branch of talking about the Doxie killing, which Branch admitted but claimed he had said nothing only facts and what every one now knew to be facts. Dobbs insisted on Judge Branch publicly repudiating the facts which the Judge refused to do, then Dobbs, quickly garrotted him and shot him. (Garrotting is to place your left arm around the vicitms neck, with the left hand under the chin, useing (sic) the right hand for a moment to force the chin back.) Quickly drawing his gun with his right hand and placing the gun to Judge Branch's mouth fired the shot which passed through the brain, severing arteries and spinal cord. The force of the dynamite powder blew open the face and shattered the brain. Dobbs then pitched the body into the gutter, watched it for a moment to see if he was dead and then turned and walked to his livery barn. Dobbs refused to let any one arrest him and Charley Boran (sic) got into a buggy with him and they drove to Cheyenne, Dobbs keeping his pistol. It is said that Dobbs is now in jail at Cheyenne. (29 Aug 1907, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK): Mangum, Okla., Aug. 27. - In the district court here Judge Clinton F. Irwin refused to allow J. W. Dobbs, deputy sheriff of Roger Mills county, to be released on bond. Dobbs' attorneys had made application several weeks ago. Dobbs shot and killed Walter M. Branch at Sayre on June 23, last, as the result of an old grudge, the outcome of the killing of Sam Doxey by Dobbs two years ago. Dobbs was acquitted of murdering Doxey, showing that he shot in self-defense. Branch was a bachelor, aged 45, whose former home was in Rome, Ga.