Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-13
KENTUCKY MURDERS
THE LAW SEEMS PoWERLEss TIC.
 STOP THE FEUD.

Two Families Bent on Murder-No Hope
 of Peace Until Both Arc Wiped Out.
 The Latest Battle Between the Rivals.
 Tho States Action.
 CArLETTsBURa, Ky, Jan. 13.-The war of extermination goes bravely on between the McCoys, of Pike county, Ky, and the Hat fields of Logan county. w. Va. As soon as tho burial of Mrs. Mccoy and her two sons, murdered by the Hatfields, was over the rest of the McCoys organized @ posse and visited the Hatfield settlements in West Virginia for the purpose of annihilating the gang. The posse went to the Hatfield house, and finding no one at home they repaired to the woods to mediate for few moments. Their secrecy was of short duration, for the Hat field gang was soon upon them, and a regu- lar war ensued.
 After the smoke of the battle had cleared away it was found that the Hatfield party was badly worsted, three of their number being killed, while none of the Mccoy posse. were hurt. Those known to be killed were Johnson Hatfield, Thomas Chambers and James Vance Satisfied with their days work, the Mccoy posse returned to their set- tleJnent to await developments. Vance had killed several men in the Mccoy neighbor- hood, and had to leave in consequence. He had been bold, daring, desperate fellow. The authorities are powerless. and the war will doub .less be waged until one side or the other is completely exterminated, as no one in authority seems to care. This was the case in the Jones' Hall war in Knott county, and all are satisfied at its termination after scores had been killed.
 The greatest excitement prevails in the neighborhood. and the end is not yet, as there is bad blood on both sides. The scene is on tho Blackberry fork of Pond creek, in Pike county. The crime is the outcome of an old feud, and is laid at the door of the notorious Hatfields and their gang. About five years ago there was an election held on that creek, and one of the Hatfields came across the river from West Virginia, and during the day engaged in an altercation with one of the McCoys. Two of the Mccoy brothers came to the rescue and fatally stabbed Hatfield Hatfield was taken home, and his relatives swooped down on the Mccoy boys, took them captives and held them prisoners until Ellison Hatfield, whom they had stabbed, died, when the Hatfeld's conveyed the three Mccoy boys to the scene of the altercation, stripped them, tied them to a paw-paw bush, shot them to death, and left their bodies in that position.
 Since that time a regular war has been waged between the Hatfelds and the Mo- Coys A short time ago the Hatfield party visited the residence of Randall Mccoy and set fire to the house. Alafara, his eldest daughter, was the first to open the door and mako her appearance, and in the glaring light she was shot dead by the gang outside, who were concealed. The son Calvin next appeared, and he was shot dead. Mrs. Mo Coy made her appearance ill escaping from the burning building, and was shot in the head and dangerously wounded Randall Mccoy escaped from the burning house with his shotgun, and although volley was dis- charged at him he escaped unhurt and opened fire upon the attacking party. He is known to have killed one of tho gang by the name of Chambers, and, it is said, shot Capt. Hatfield in the shoulder and put the rest to flight. So ends this chapter. There are rewards aggregat- ing @, 7OO offered by the state of Kentucky for the arrest of the Hatfields and their de- livery to the jailer of Pike county for the murder of the three Mccoy boys, but no one seems anxious to make the attempt to take them, as they are strongly barricaded in the wilds of West Virginia. One of the number constantly stands guard, and they defy the authorities, but retributive justice Is now likely to speedily follow, as their last acts have stirred up that whole section. This gang of outlaws has killed MT. Mccoy s wife, four of his sons and one daughter, be- sides burning his house, leaving him only three daughters; but if the Hatfields are ever taken, dead or alive, the men who un- dertake the jobs will experience some fun, as this set of West Virginia toughs is de. termined and desperate band.