BLACK SHEEP AND RASCALS
  

1. Harvey Leonard BRASWELL, age 65, a former mental patient and "moral offender" was charged with running a "wife-swapping" ring in Los Angeles, California. Found in the newspaper files an Ancestry.com. The newspaper article is dated April, 15, 1962.

Another newspaper article about this individual is as follows:

INDEPENDENT THURSDAY, APRIL-24, Sex Linked in Wife-Swap TUJI [sic] Suspect llclil [sic] in Probation Lapse SAN H E R N A n D1 N [sic] Harvey L. Braswell, 65, accused of heading a bizarre wife-swapping sex club, was held in isolation here yesterday for alleged violation of probation on a 1057- statutory rape conviction In San Sfai [sic]County. At that time he was declared a sexual psychopath. Braswell and three others, including his 60-year-old wife, Sarah Klliel,[sic] are charged with conspiring to commit acts injurious to the public morals and outrageous to public decency.

Note that the article is a bit garbled due to having been scanned and some characters weren't recognized.

An Oakland paper reported on August 11 of that year that a judge dismissed the charges against, Harvey L. Braswell for lack of evidence and denounced the indictment as a farce. Mrs. Braswell pleaded guilty and was on probation, along with another couple who had also pleaded guilty.

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2.  PATRICK FLOYD GARRETT (1850-1908) Pat Garrett, a frontier sheriff and rancher, was best known for capturing and later killing the outlaw "Billy the Kid" in July 1881.

After retirement, Garrett became a cattle rancher near Organ, NM. On March 1, 1908, Garrett was riding to Las Cruces with Carl Adamson who was a partner in a cattle operation with "Deacon Jim" Miller, a noted gunslinger. Adamson was negotiating with Garrett over a deal to fatten up Mexican cattle on Garrett's grass. Also present was JESSE WAYNE BRAZEL, a local cowboy who was raising goats on land rented from Garrett. About four miles from La Cruces, the men had stopped by the side of the road to relieve themselves, when, according to Adamson, Brazel suddenly drew his gun and shot Garrett. Brazel, who later confessed to the crime, claimed he shot in self defense. Brazel stated that he and Garrett had been arguing and the old lawman was threatening to shoot him.

The case went to trial and Brazel was acquitted. Some say the trial was highly suspicious. For one thing, Adamson, the only witness, was never called to testify. For another, the evidence suggested that Garrett was shot in the back of the head, and that at the time he was shot he was in the act of urinating. There has been much speculation over the years that others were involved. One suspect was a local rancher and long-time enemy of Garrett's named W.W. Cox. Another was a partner of Brazel's named Print Rhode, and of course "Deacon Jim" Miller. Also, some believe Adamson was the murderer. Most votes, seem to be for Miller, as part of a grand collusion of all parties involved. The best evidence however, still points to Brazel who likely did get into an argument with Garrett over Pat's insistence that he sell his goats so Garrett could lease the land to Miller and Adamson.

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3.  HANGINGS (see article below)

Joseph Brassell, age 23, white male, murder, hanging on 27 Mar 1878 in Putnam Co, TN
George Brassell, age 20, white male, murder, hanging on 27 Mar 1787 in Putman Co, TN
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"The Brassell Hanging of Putnam County, Tennessee" by Donald E. Spurlock

Joseph Lewis (Joe) Brassell (also Braswell & Brazel) and his brother George A. (Teek) Brassell murdered John J. & Russell Allison in November 1875 in Putnam Co., Tenn. Joe & Teek were the sons of Edbert, b. ca. 1816 in N.C. (he was accused of raping his daughter, Tennessee, but the charges were dropped) and Mary P. Brassell, b. ca. 1829 in Tenn. They had children:

Tennessee, F, b. ca. 1848 Tenn.
William, b. ca. 1844, Tenn.
Reuben J. (James/Jim), b. ca. 1845, Tenn.; m. Harriet Z.
Zachariah T., b. ca. 1851, Ky.
Luiza, b. ca. 1853, Ky. (These 2 may have)
Joseph, b. ca. 1853, Ky. ( been twins )
George A. (Teek), b. ca. 1855, Ky.
Amanda, b. ca. 1857, Tenn.

(This was from the 1860 census of Dixon Springs, Smith Co., Tenn.) Samuel (Buck), b. ca. 1862, Tenn.

(From the 1870 census of 7th Civil Dist. (Gentry Community, Baxter), Putnam Co., Tenn.)

It would seem that Joe, Teek, prob. Jim, and another decided to rob a man carrying a lot of money who was suppose to spend the night at Russell Allison's step-mother's house. The man didn't get there that night, but Joe, et. al., came, demanded to be let in and fed. Russell went to the door, let them in, and was shot. He died the next day claiming who shot him. His brother, John, went with the posse to capture the killers, and was himself shot and died 25 hours after Russell. There was some question about whether Teek really did either of the shootings. He & Joe were hanged in 1878 - the only public hanging in Putnam County. Joe admitted to the killing, but Teek died claiming his innocence. It has been speculated that he took the "rap" for his sister Amanda, who was at the hanging. Their brother Jim claimed he did the killing when he was dying.

Russell & John were the sons of Joseph Allison, and brothers of William & Joseph Allison. Joseph, Sr., had married 2nd Angeline ?, and they had a house with a dog trot separating the two sections. The section not used by the family was often used by travelers. After Joseph died, Angeline m. James Isbell. His son, W.J. Isbell, was the Tax Collector for Putnam County and was the man who was carrying so much money, and who the Brassells had intended to kill.

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4.  POLLY'S FOLLY

I wondered how our ancestors got divorced. I found a good book in the library - "Tennessee Divorce Laws 1797-1858" by Gale W. Bramman.  There was only one ancestor in the book, but she was a rascal. Cousin Carey Bracewell aptly called this "Polly's Folly."

RODGERS, JAMES 18 October 1833 SUMNER COUNTY   James Rodgers was married in Sumner County on 25 April 1833 to POLLY BRAZZEL of Sumner County. He lived with her "until June last." Polly would not permit him to cohabit with her, or "treat him as a wife should treat a husband." She went to Gallatin and took goods in his name up to $100.00 and returned home, took his only horse and saddle and left him. She says she only married him for his property and that she won't live with him. He last heard she was on her way to Nashville. He believes she is guilty of adultery, but has no proof. 269-1833.

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5.  CALLEY BRASWELL    Click here for more genealogical info on Robin & Calley.

Nash County CALLEY has the honor of getting (involuntarily) one of only four divorces granted in North Carolina before 1800. She ran off to Florida Territory with some Negro runaway, had a couple of children by him, then came back to husband ROBIN BRASWELL demanding he support all three of them. The Supreme Court of NC denied the request in 1799.

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6.  RICHARD BRASWELL of Edgecombe Co, NC - Counterfeiter.  See Court Records - VA - 1745-22 May.

Richard is arrested and tried for making and passing counterfeit coins.  Verdict - not guilty.

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7.  WILLIAM BRASWELL (d. 1720 Chowan Co, NC) beat up Constable RICHARD WASHINGTON when he tried to arrest him for counterfeiting in 1719.

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8.  BASTARDY BONDS.  

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JAMES BRASWELL charged by Sallie Price - August 27, 1804.  Bastardy Bonds from State Archives in Raleigh.  Reported in August 1998 Edition of "Lines and Pathways of Edgecombe" (County, NC), page 3.

MARY BRASWELL charged John Winberly of Bertie Co, NC in April 1791.

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9.  SIDNEY BRAZZIL.  In 1870 Alabama census, Sidney was a convict in the state prison.
     Age 21, pg. 216, line 27 (Ancestry.com view 71/112).  Elmore County, Township 18, PO Wetumpka.

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10.   GEORGE BRAZEL - TEXAS OUTLAW

Clinton, in Dewitt County, was first settled by colonists who had received headright grants of land from Green DeWitt. Before the establishment of the townsite in 1846, Richard Chisholm began operating a ferry across the Guadalupe River there around 1836. At this location, about three and a half miles below the spot where the Sandies flows into the river, he also built a log store and horse-driven grist mill. The town was named for a son of Empresario Green Dewitt, and Chisholm was very anxious to have the county seat located there when the county was created by the Texas legislature on March 24, 1846. However, it was located on land of the J. J. Tumlinson survey east of the Guadalupe and was named Cameron.

Cameron never developed, but Clinton grew and after a contested election, the county seat was moved there in August, 1850, and remained there until it was moved to the railroad town of Cuero in 1876, killing the county s oldest town.

After the Civil War, the Reconstruction years of military rule created a great deal of resentment and lawlessness. And during the confusion of these troubled times, a new society was bred a society that for years was forced to accept notorious gunmen and feuding as a way of life. Of course, there was always the segment of law abiding citizenry, and one of the leaders in Dewitt County was Henry Clay Pleasants, who was district court judge for forty years. His counterpart in Karnes County was Major K. Pleasant, first Chief Justice (now called County Judge) when the county was formed in 1854.

Nearly all the boys twelve to sixteen years old carried their own pistols. Some carried saddle rifles as well as single shot derringers.

In 1869, on the night of the school closing exercises in the courthouse at Clinton, Dick Chisholm and Buck Taylor were killed on the street after a saloon shootup, part of the famous Sutton and Taylor feud that lasted several years.

During the winter of 1875 and the spring of 1876, there were numerous shootouts between the Suttons and Taylors in DeWitt County. A Mr. Wiley Pridgen was one of those killed in a bloody battle at Thomaston. Later, Bill Taylor and some of his men tried to kill Add Killoore - he was head deputy sheriff of DeWitt County who had arrested some of the Taylor gang. Kiligore and Sheriff Weisiger arrested a Mr. Killensworth on the road toward Yorktown, and he was brought to Clinton and jailed. The second night, some masked men pretending to free him killed him in jail.

Marshall Rube Brown was killed by Wes Hardin in 1875. Sometime after that, Hardin left the state as an outlaw with a price on his head offered by the State of Texas. Jim Taylor and Bill Taylor were also outlaws. The State of Texas offered a thousand dollars reward for each of them or for their bodies delivered to the Calhoun County jail for the murder of Bill Sutton and Gabe Slaughter at Indianola several years before.

On one occasion, Jim Taylor with about forty men rode into Clinton and took possession of the town. A hard fight resulted, and Jim Taylor and several of his men were killed. Judge Pleasants was one of those who guarded the jail.

In 1876, Doctor Brazell and Dave Augustine were trustees of the Brazell School located halfway between Clinton and Yorktown. Brazell’s oldest son, George, was an outlaw for whom the State of Texas had offered a reward dead or alive.

On New Year's night, Dr. Philip Haddox Brazell and his son, Bob, were killed on the road to the Brazell home which led from the main Yorktown road. There were signs of a terrific battle. The authorities arrested quite a few. They were tried and several were found guilty and given the death penalty; however, none were ever put to death. Sometime after this trial, there was a marriage and all-night dance. The Sutton gang was there in full force, and when daylight came, Lee Hall and five of his Rangers picked out the men for whom they had warrants and let the others go. Judge Pheasants ordered them to San Antonio for safekeeping and for trial later. This ended one of the greatest feuds in the State of Texas. At one time, there were about three hundred armed men in the field.

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11.   A BLOODY DEED - Clay, Claude and James Braswell of  De Kalb Co, Tennessee

A BLOODY DEED -- Giles Bradford, Jr., Killed at Ai, Last Sunday. -- James Braswell and Sons, Clay and Claude, Arrested. -- They Will Be Given a Preliminary Hearing Next Saturday at this Place -- Considerable Difficulty was
Encountered in Getting at the Exact Facts -- Giles Bradford, Jr., was shot and stabbed to death at Ai last Sunday, by, report says, Clay and Claude Braswell. We learn that a difficulty arose between William Bradford (a nephew of the deceased)
and Clay Braswell, when the deceased interferred to separate them. About this time a general fight ensued, several being mixed up in it. In the meantime, Giles Bradford was badly cut in the side and a stab in the back to the hollow, and shot through both lungs, from the effect of which he died in about four minutes. The jury of inquest reported as we are informed, that the deceased came to his death from a pistol shot fired by Claude Braswell, and bruises with brass knucks on the hand of James Braswell. Warrants for the arrest of Clay, Claude, and James Braswell were sworn out and placed in the hands of the Sheriff,
who immediately went to the scene of the trouble and arrested James and Clay Braswell, but failed to find Claude. Clay was lodged in jail to await an examination, while James Braswell was out in charge of the Sheriff. We failed to find the report of the jury of inquest after search in the Clerk's office. The case was set for trial at the court house in Cookeville on last Tuesda, at which time Claude Braswell voluntarily came in and surrendered to the Sheriff. On application of the State the case was continued until next Saturday. James Braswell was allowed to give bond in the sum of $2000, but Clay and Claude were
sent to jail.

[Date: 4/7/1898, Vol. XI, No. 25, Page 1]The Cookeville Press, Overton County, Tennessee

Contributed by Angela Meadows - These appear to be Braswell's from De Kalb County, Tennessee.