The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-18
HATFIELD-M'C0Y FEUD.
THE VIRGINIA CONTINGENT IN THE
LOUISVILLE JAIL.
Old Man Valentine Hatfield Tells
Straightforward Story About the
Bloody War that Waged Between
the Families.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb. 1.-THE nine
West Virginians known as the "Hatfields"
arrived here last night in charge OF q dep
uty United States marshal and the jailer
of Pike county. They will appear before
Judge Barr, of the United States district
court, Monday, when the habeas corpus
application OF the Governor Of West Vir-
ginia will be further heard. Valentine
Hatfield, the "old man" of the gang, after
stating that they had been well treated
while in the Pike county Jail, gave the fol-
lowing account of the celebrated feud;
'Thewholc trouble, so far as know, be-
gan about six or eight years ago. had
five brothes-Ellison, Elias, Anderson.
Smith and Patterson. Ellison was the
first one killed. Three Of the Mccoy boys
shot and cut him on Blackberry creek, on
the Kentucky side, and he died the next
day. The trouble, believe, was started
by one Of the McCoys attempting TO arrest
Anderson llatfeld's son johnson, about
eight years ago. There was a row, but /
don't remember exactly what it was.
After Ellison Hatfield was killed, 1albert,
Richard and Farmer Mccoy. all young
men, were killed by crowd supposed TO
have come from West Virginia. The kill
ing was done on the bridge between Black
berry and Mates creeks.
1.-THE next Pike county grand jury in
dicted n lot OF people in West Virginia.
No one was arrested, however and after
that jeff Mccoy, who is Bill Daniels
brother.in-law, heard Daniels and Tom
Wallace abusing the Hatfields, and a quar-
rel followed. Mccoy attempted 10 arrest
Wallace, and fight took place. This re-
suited in Capt. Hatfield arrcsting Mccoy,
and when Mccoy tried to get away ne was
killed by the men who were guarding him.
Some time after this squad OF men
went 10 Randolph McCoy's house and
killed one OF his sons and a daughter, and
o beat up his old woman. This was charged
TO the Hatfelds, but never knew any
thing about il until some time after the
murders were committed.
"a short time after this, company OF
Pike county men was formed to follow the
Hatfeds and kill them. They came into
West Virginia and found Jim, Vance and
Capt. Hatfield on bridge near Thacker's
creek. They shot Vance 10 death and
wounded Capt. Hatfield. After that the
Kentuckians came IN and captured us
while we were at work on our farms. None
OF us resisted and no injury was done us,
but II there there was any authority for
combining us in Jail, never heard OF it."
County Attorney j. Lee Ferguson, OF
Pike, was questioned concerningthe claim
of the prisoners that they were innocent.
He laughed at the idea, and said that
while the worst OF the Hatfield crowd had
not been captured, the men who are now
-, 4ka \ n,,tox.tlla tatl ara un1nuhfailv N
part Of the gang. He declared that the
prisoners had not been unlawfully i'm
prisoned, but after having crossed the bor-
der line between West Virginia and Ken
lucky, had been legally arrested and taken
to Jail by the proper officers. He did not
deny that the West Virginians had been
forcibly taken from their homes, but held
that the Kentuckians were justified by the
dangers threatening them in taking the
matter into their own hands when the
West Virginia authorities refused TO assist
in restraining and Furnishing the outlaws,
who had only 10 cross narrow stream 10
commit the most atrocious crimes and
then cross back again 10 safety from the
law. Mr.. Ferguson asserted positively
that he had creditable information that q
State official OF West Virginia had been re.
tanned with fec OF $500 TO prevent Gov.
Wilson from recognizing the requisition
issued by Gov. Buckner. He charged
also that the Hatfield crew had brought
other influences TO bear, and that the worst
Of the gang were now In comparative 30
curity.
Ofthe prisoners now in the Louisville
Jail, Mr.. Ferguson says that Valentine
Hatfield recently confessed 10 him that he
had five living wives and thirty.three liv
ing children. Nine OF his children hay,
died. Mr.. Ferguson states that Hatfield
has peculiar ideas Of polygamy and doe
not marry his wife according 10 law, bu
takes them and apportions his time ou
between them.