The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-01-19
A Review
OF the Troubles in Pike County.
Railroad Development Badly Needed

PlkevIlle, KY, Ian, 18th, 1883.
In the first place about twenty
three men were indicted in the Pike
Criminal Court, charged with the
crime Of numbering the three Nc
Coy boys,( Ga history of these crimes
having long since been given To the
public through the press) and about
Oct. LIST, 1887, the Governor of Ken
lucky offered reward of $500 each
for the delivery to the jailer of Pike
county Ans. Hatfield, Cap Hatfield,
johnson Hatfield and one Thomas
Chambers, the latter being reward
ed by mistake; SO says the man
who was instrumental in procuring
the reward, aud that it was intend
ed for one Tom Mitchell, who is
sometimes called Tom Chambers.
In December Tom Chambers was
found by Frank Philips and par
ty at home in Logan county, w.
Va, and brought to the Jail at this
place. An attempt was made by the
counsel Tor Chambers 10 have an
investigation OF the charges made
against him as to his probable guilt
or innocence, with n view to obtain
ing bail-for him. They applied to
the County Judge and obtained a
writ OF ha5eas corpus, and when
EGhhmbers was brought before HIM
he (Chambeps) by oath removed
1.-THE Judge Then the Sheriff re.
Eturnedtfie wflt befofe +. o. Marrs,
Police Judge of fikeville, and he
! fused to hear the case. The officer
then returned it before Justice Of
1.-THE Peace, who decided that Mars
was the man to try the case. Then
the Counsel applied to Judge Rice
fora new habeas corpus, but no an
swer TO the petition was received
IN the night OF Jan. LIST, 1888, the
House of Randall Mccoy was burn
ed and one son and daughter o
Mccoy killed and their mother bad
lily wounded. (She has been remov
ed to this place and is recovering
Soon after this n posse of % or 81
men from this county, well.armeo
aud led by Frank Phillips, made {
raid into the enemies country AM
found III the gap at the head D
Buck creek, james Vance ant {
woman and Cap Hatfield, Alters
lively exchange OF shuis. Vance Nh
killed aud Cap was shot III lh'
wrist aud back Cap ran, after tir
ing d few shots The pursuing par
ty then started home and coming
to the head OF Johns creek they
met Il reinforcement party and re
4 turr6d to West Virginia, wher,
they arrested Valentine Hatfield
(called Wall); Andrew Varney, Dol
Mahon; Pleasant Mahon, Sam Ma
hon and L. d. Mccoy, all of whom
are indicted but they were foun,
at home and there is no reward 70
them. They aten in Jail Their
have been many reports about mel
killed, but from the best authorit
), We can get, Vance is the only dea,
MN, johnson Hatfield wounded il
the shoulder, and Cap in the bacl
and arm. There may be others kill
ed, but we do hot know it; henc
we will not state.
AT the time the reward was offei
ed, the Governor of This State is
sued his reqtiisitlon on The Govei
nor of West Virginia for the surfer
der of these violators of the law
! but weare credibly informed tina
the Governor of West Virginia re
fused tolssue his warrant for thei
apprehension or to do anytHin
in the matter
This is as full a history of tn
facts as we now have them, tol
i without exageratlon, that the pull
(: lie may know only the truth ft
6 God knows, the ruth is bad enodgl
, We want more railroad develol
!, ment of the country, better edhci
tion and more enlightenment, LEI
: killing, less lawlessness, less idl,
e ness and fewer crimes; and a d,
velopment of the resources OF II
country is the road to these, an
the driving away of lawless an
worthless characters.
/. ssass AN OBsERVER.