In 1888, prohibition of alcohol was a hot topic for the entire state, and reports of the time claimed that the state was about evenly divided on the issue.
Within the town of Winona, the Advance, published by Perry L. Moore, was strongly anti-prohibition while the Winona Times, published by D. R. Branch, had been a strong proponent in favor of prohibition. So deep was the divide that Winona’s two newspaper editors were at odds with one another.
As tensions grew, the dispute soon turned personal between editors. Branch’s Times newspaper accused Moore’s Advance of publishing malicious and false statements about prohibition, and in response, Moore’s Advance newspaper carried a rebuttal and accused the Times of being a “liar.”
On Monday, March 5, 1888, Moore and Branch met one another on the street in front of City Hall in Winona. Branch asked Moore if his paper’s accusation that the Times was a liar was an accusation aimed at Branch personally. Moore replied that it was not directed towards anyone but then added, “… yet if the cap fits, wear it.”
Before Moore had barely finished his sentence, Branch reached in his pocket for his pistol, but it caught in the material of his pocket. Moore reacted by pulling his own pistol, which did not snag. Moore was able to fire three shots at Branch before Branch was able to free his pistol and return fire. Moore fired three more shots, and when his gun emptied, Moore “broke and ran.” Moore did not get far before Branch leveled his pistol and fired a shot that struck Moore between the ninth and tenth ribs and lodged just below his belly button.
Moore was transported to his house, and a local doctor removed the bullet. He seems to have recovered from his wounds. As for Branch, he was not injured in the fracas, and after the shooting, he gave himself up to the authorities. Following a preliminary hearing the next day, he was released from jail on $1000 bond. No further reports were found regarding the shootout or whether charges against anyone were ever prosecuted.
Unfortunately, Moore and Branch were not the only persons caught up in the shootout. Pat Naughton, a peddler standing nearby, was shot in the groin by a stray bullet. It was also reported that two bullets penetrated the window of City Hall. While no one was injured inside, the newspaper reported that when the shooting began, the meeting of the aldermen inside was “adjourned without a formal motion” as they quickly hid under some nearby benches.
The pen may be mightier than the sword, but even newspapers editors sometimes succumb to the urge to lay down the pen and take up the pistol.
