Court Records Found - Howard Branham
The records department of the Clark County Courthouse have identified alternate sources for ** some ** of the documents that were ripped out of the record books. The gentleman in the records department so graciously helped me, and we are still processing the documents. More have also been identified and will be processed in due time.
The records department of the Clark County Courthouse have identified alternate sources for ** some ** of the documents that were ripped out of the record books. The gentleman in the records department so graciously helped me, and we are still processing the documents. More have also been identified and will be processed in due time.
Records now uploaded to the Howard Branham Page:
https://william-branham.org/site/research/people/howard_branham
At the same time, a non-cult, unbiased third party who personally knew the people involved with these court cases has contacted us to help to fill in the details. Combined, we can see why the Branham cult tried so hard to erase the history of Howard Branham.
The Background
Howard Branham was not simply the brother of William Branham who toured in the Branham campaigns and worked as an usher[1] in the revivals. Howard Branham was used as a "prop" in the meetings as an example of one who was "healed".[2] Yet according to the third party, which is confirmed by Howard's death certificate (see it here), Howard was never actually healed. He continued to suffer with heart disease, even though William Branham claimed multiple times to have "healed" Howard.
my brother, Howard, he—he'd been healed of a horrible thing, my brother had, sent home from the army to die. And he—we—he went with me.[3]
The third party said that people who knew the Branham family called them "the marrying Branhams". This is also confirmed in the courthouse records for William Branham and his brothers -- they apparently traded women frequently, often in remarriage-after-divorce proceedings officiated by William Branham himself. Yet while using his stage persona, William Branham preached very strongly against remarriage after divorce, and even more strongly against ministers who participated.[4]
Last, the third party said that Howard owned multiple bars, and did not believe the "Message". This is confirmed by the newspaper advertisements we have identified of Howard selling liquor. Even though Howard toured with William Branham as a "prop", and while on stage both pretended to be anti-remarriage, anti-liquor, pro-family, Howard was quite the opposite. William Branham, who aided and even enabled Howard's lifestyle — which was the opposite of — the "Message" lifestyle, continued to pretend that the men were "holy" and "godly" while the stage act persisted and until Howard died of his heart condition that William Branham allegedly had "healed" him of.
Court records show that this clearly was not the case, which is likely why we find these records to be torn out of the courthouse record books and stolen — which is a felony crime.
Here is the timeline:
1944
Case # 22843. Ingram S. Oldson appears in court on behalf of Howard Branham's wife Aline Branham, and brings a motion against Howard for what would later be known as inhumane treatment of Aline. Howard did not show up to court, and was and was sent a notice to appear in court in September 1944. When he did not show in September, Aline dismissed charges against Howard and apparently started divorce proceedings.
1945
Case #23263. Aline hires an attorney, and files a complaint against Howard Branham. The Clark County Sheriff was directed to command Howard to be present in June 1945 for a trial. Howard apparently did not show, and the Clark County Sheriff was asked to bring Howard in September 1945.
Howard finally appears in court after being summoned by the Clark County Sheriff. Howard became unruly in court three times, and as a result, was defaulted in court. The court found agreed with Aline that Howard was cruel and inhumane in his treatment of her. As a result, her marriage was dissolved and her maiden name Oldson was restored.
1946
Case #23938. Edith Wathen appears in court on behalf of Edith Grace Branham and once again the Clark County Sheriff is directed to command that Howard appear in court, this time in May 1946. Howard's name was called three times loudly in the open court room, but again did not show.
In September, Earl A. Dunlevy, Prosecuting Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Court of Indiana and Howard appear in court. The court finds that Edith's allegations against Howard are true, and is granted divorce. Howard is ordered to pay child care for 2-month-old Linda Luane Branham.
1947-8
Case # 23938. Howard does not pay his child support, and did not pay the court costs for the previous appearances in court.
1949
Case # 23938. After continuing to neglect Linda Luane Branham, Howard is found to be in contempt of the Clark County Court. He was sentenced to the Clark County Jail. If the child support was not paid, Howard was to be arrested and sent to the Indiana State Farm.
References
[1] ex: Branham, William. Obey The Voice Of The Angel. 1950, Jul, 13. Obey The Voice Of The Angel (50-0713). "1950/13/07 Obey The Voice Of The Angel Everyone be just as reverent as you can. Pray, everyone. All right now, Howard, I want you to bring them to me just one at a time. Yes, bring them to me William ex: Branham Everyone be just as reverent as you can. Pray, everyone. All right now, Howard, I want you to bring them to me just one at a time. Yes, bring them to me."
[2] Branham, William. The Angel Of God. 1951, Jul, 20. The Angel Of God (51-0720). "1951/20/07 The Angel Of God I went upstairs, it got dusty like, so, I was upstairs in the hotel, and I went to the window. I had this Bible. I'll never forget this. Listen closely now; I'm fixing to close. And I had this Bible, and I went in and Brother Baxter there, and—and my brother, Howard, he—he'd been healed of a horrible thing, my brother had, sent home from the army to die. And he—we—he went with me. And Brother Baxter and he was in the same room. And Brother Lindsay and Brother Moore was in the room. Mrs. Isaacson was in her room, and I had a private room on account I stayed by myself on account of the visitation of the Angel of the Lord William Branham I went upstairs, it got dusty like, so, I was upstairs in the hotel, and I went to the window. I had this Bible. I'll never forget this. Listen closely now; I'm fixing to close. And I had this Bible, and I went in and Brother Baxter there, and—and my brother, Howard, he—he'd been healed of a horrible thing, my brother had, sent home from the army to die. And he—we—he went with me. And Brother Baxter and he was in the same room. And Brother Lindsay and Brother Moore was in the room. Mrs. Isaacson was in her room, and I had a private room on account I stayed by myself on account of the visitation of the Angel of the Lord."
[3] Branham, William. The Angel Of God. 1951, Jul, 20. The Angel Of God (51-0720). "1951/20/07 The Angel Of God The Angel Of God (51-0720) William Branham The Angel Of God (51-0720)."
[4] Ex: Branham, William. I Am The Resurrection And The Life. 1952, Aug, 10. I Am The Resurrection And The Life (52-0810A). "1952/10/08 I Am The Resurrection And The Life I can see him. Herod come up, you know, living with his brother Philip's wife. I can hear some of the elders come out, say, 'Don't preach on marriage and divorce, today, now. There's Herod setting down there.' Old John, full of the Holy Ghost (Could you imagine holding him back?) walked right straight up in his face, and said, 'It's not lawful for you to have her.' That's right. God, give us some Johns William Ex: Branham I can see him. Herod come up, you know, living with his brother Philip's wife. I can hear some of the elders come out, say, 'Don't preach on marriage and divorce, today, now. There's Herod setting down there.' Old John, full of the Holy Ghost (Could you imagine holding him back?) walked right straight up in his face, and said, 'It's not lawful for you to have her.' That's right. God, give us some Johns."