Chap. 104.—An ACT providing for the relief of H. J. Swindall, Fd. Tall, and
John Hall, adininistrators of John Branham, deceased, all of Wise county of
Virginia,

Approved January 25, 1SUS,

Whereas on the thirteenth day of May, eighteen hundred and ninety-
two, at Pound Gap, Wise county, Virginia, tra Mullins and his wife,
Wilson Mullins, Greenberry Harris, and John Chapman, while crossing

Cumberland mount: tin, on the public highway were wavlaid, murdered
and robbed; and whereas at the May term, cighteen hundred and hinety-
two, of the county court of W ise county, M. Bb. Tavlor, Calvin F leming,
and Henan Fleming were indicted for the above mentioned murder r, all
of whom became fugitives from justice (MLB. Taylor was subsequently
arrested, tried, convicted, and executed for participating in said murder);
and whereas his excelleney, Governor Mehinney, offered a reward of
two hundred dollars for the arrest and conviction of Calvin and Henan
Fleming; and whereas the said Calvin and Henan Fleming left the state
of Virginia, going to Webster county, West Virginia, where they went
under assumed names; and whereas A. J. Swindall, John Branham, and
Ed. Hall, all citizens of Wise county, learning of the whereabouts of
the Fleming brothers, obtained necessary papers for their arrest, and or
January thirteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, came upon the
said Calvin and Henan Fleming in Webster county, West Virginia, and
demanded their surrender, which demand the sil Flemings answered
with a volley of shots, whereupon a general encounter ensued, in which
Calvin Fleming was killed and Henan Fleming was arrested after beimy
seriously wounded, John Branham was killed, Ed. Hall, and A. J.
Swindall were seriously wounded; and whereas Henan F leming was
afterwards brought back to Wise county, where he was tried for the
murder of Ira Mullins, but Jane Mullins, the only eye witness to the
murder, having since the conviction of M. B. Tavlor died, sufficient
evidence was nat obtained for the conviction of Henan F lemaiiig, and
according to the terms of reward the governor was not authorized to
pay it.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia. That the audi-
tor of public accounts be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed, to
draw his warrant for the benefit of the said W. 7. Swindall, Edward
Hall, and John Hall, administrator for John Branham, for the sum of
two hundred dollars, pavable out of the public treasury.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.