Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-04

assisting the officers of the law in arrest
ing Frank Phillips and three Of the McCoys,
on q warrant for the murder of James
Vance. T.. w. WILSON,
Governor, W. Va.
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
CHARLESTON, January rs, 1885,
"~SIR:-Since my telegram of yesterday,
| have positive information that William
Dempsey was killed, last Thursday, in
Logan county, this State, while acting as
a deputy, under the authority ola warrant
for the arrest Of Frank Phillips and others
for the murder of James Vance, by a party
Of thirty or forty men from Kentucky,
armed with Winchester rifles.
my information is of the most trust
worthy character that Vance had been
waylaid but 4 short time before, in Logan
county, by twenty-three armed men from
Kentu ky, led by Phillips, and murdered
in the most brutal manner.
Warrant was sued ont and placed in the
hands of a constable, for the arrest of
Phillips and others. The constable, on
hearing that the Phillips band were in
Logan county, summoned a posse of thir-
teen, including Dempsy, to assist in max
ing the arrest. While the posse were on
the search for the parties named in the
warrant they were fired upon by the Phil
lips marauders and Dempsey was killed.
ORIGIN OF THE FEUD.
From what l can learn, this feud dates
back to the early years of the late war-the
Hatfelds and McCoys representing oppo-
site sides Of the service-and commenced
by the shooting of one Of the Hatfelds by
families, and seems TO have
ended by the KILN Of one
Of the Hatfields and three of the McCoys,
in 1881 or 1882. Recently the hope OF
reward has prompted set of men, quite
as lawless as either the Hat6elds OF Nc.
Cows, to the commission of heinous crimes
against the laws of this State, and upon
its citizens while discharging their duty
as officers of the law.
Il have also been informed, though not
officially, that u number of persons, with
out warrant, have been torcibly seized
and taken from this State by the same
band, and are now confined in the Jail OF
Pike county. | shall communicate with
your Excellency upon this subject as soon
as | receive definite information.
~ have sent q reliable agent to Logan
county 10 ascertain and report the whole
facts Of the matter. If Your Excellency
will pursue that course would it not en-
able US to adopt similar measures for the
suppression of the lawless on both sides OF
the line? Your Ob'd't ~serv't,
"E. w. WILSON.
$40 His ErceNe"cy, s. B. Buck"er, GOrer-
nor Of Kentucky"
GOV. BuCKNER's REPLY.
FRANKFORT, KY,
January 80, 1888. J
'IO His Erceleacy, Cor. Wilson:
"Afit. General Hill is en- route to Pike
cUCGty. lie il instructed to cOufer with
your agent in Logan county. Please give
corresponding instructions to your ageqt,
with II view OF REFRESHING disorders and
quieting public excitement on both sides
of the line. s. b. BUCKNER,
Governor of Kentucky"
Telegram.
CHARLESTON, W. VA, January 30.
"T0 His ErcelImcy, s. b. Buckner, Frank.
fort, Ky.
~ sent an agent on the 23d inst, and
expect him here 10 night. A mass meet
ing of Logan county citizens has, by reso-
l~utions, asked that your Eycellency send
troops TO the border and that | do like
wise. | have ordered sixty 10 Logan coun,
ty to assist the civil authorities. They
will report here tomorrow night, but can.
not reach the southern side OF Logan be-
fore the 81 proximO. May l request that
your Excellency send a like number o.
troops to the scene Of the trouble. Will
communicate by mail Immediately.
"E w. WILSON,
Governor of West Virginia"
T1icgrdm.
CHARLESTON, W. VA, jar. 80, 1888.
TO HIS ErceNcacB S B BucIRcr, Frank
fort. Ky:
My agent has just returned from the
scene of the troubles and reports that the
belligerent parties, on both sides, have
disbanded. I have therefore counter
manded the order directing the military to
Logan county"
Z. W. WILSON,
Governor of West Virginia.