, 1889-11-07
A GREAT FEUD.
One Of the Cruel Hatfields
in This State.
He HAS BEEN IN SPOKANE.
A Remarkable but Straight
forward Statement.
4 DETECTIVE SENT FROM KENTUCKY.
The Fugitive Aided and Allotted
by Men In the Government
Employ.
He HAS BEEN IN SPOKANE.
4 DETECTIVE SENT FROM KENTUCKY


Ing page in the history OF a famous ven-
detta From this statement it appears
that one of the murderous Hathelds Is
even now In this state The following
story has been written by detective
now here from the state of Kentucky,
who makes II over his own signature
and vouches for its correctness. To the
REVIEW reporters he exhibited many
confirmatory facts whose publication at
this juncture would not be prudential.
His story is as follows:
After reading .he interesting account
of the Hatfield cCoy warfare given In
the REVIEW OF October 30, would like
to add few facts which may be of in
terest to the readers of your valuable
paper. Having been employed by the
state of Kentucky to help "run down"
and prosecute the gang of desperadoes
led by "Devil Anse' Hatfield, am very
familiar with every detail of the case.
1t would be difficult to give more accu-
rate account, or fuller details of the afro
cious crimes that have been committed
since this feud began, than that already
published. But as my name has been
mentioned in connection with the arrest
OF Ellison Mounts and others of the
Hatfield outlaws, I will endeavor to give
full account of these arrests.
=. Shall never forget the morning we
arrested Mounts. | say 1--WE" because
there were with me Dan Cunningham,
as brave man and true-hearted gentle
man as you will often see, and Bill
Knapper, Kentucky Bill' we always
called him, with his willy ways and the
cunning of fox. We made strong
team, and the Hatfelds dreaded us and
consequently they kept close TO
their fort on Island creek. There were
eight of them there, and they each
had q brace of revolvers and trusty Win
chester rifle in reach all the time. While
eating their Winchesters were in their
laps, and sleeping they were under their
pillows. And besides posting one of
them as sentinel while the others slept
they kept Keen scented, well-trained
greyhound and an enormous bulldog
lying outside the fort" They were
too well guarded for us to hope for any
success in an attack on the fort" our
only chance being to Inaneuver care
fully and surprise them.
We had some warm friends in the
neighborhood, who kept us concealed
Tor days until the Hathelds, not hearing
of ua, thought we had left for parts un.
known" and then they ventured out
TRACKED TO THEIR HOME
Tom Mitchell and Ellison Mounts
thinking the coast was clear crossed the
mountains to Mate valley TO visit their
families. This was our chance. We
followed through the woods, arriving
only few hours later than they. Sitting
OH hillside about half a mile from the
house we waited for nightfall to make
lho attack. But just at dusk we saw
them leaving the house with their blan.
sets, being afraid to sleep in the house,
hey were going to the woods. We
couldn't get up with them from where
we were, so we decided to clay" for them
rs they came to breakfast the following
morning
Early in the morning, the ground GOV.
cred with frost we stood, chilled and
numb, having staid out without fire or
blankets by the mountain trail, hidden
by two large poplar trees, waiting for
the villains to come along. Presently,
peering out from our hiding place, ] saw
them coming. Mounts was some thirty
yards in front of Mitchell, and carried
the same Winchester with which he so
brutally mprdered Miss Alaphare Mccoy
and which he afterwards presented to
me. Mitchell carried large Winchester
and pair OF heavy revolvers in his belt.
AS Mounts approached, Cunningham
stepped out and with his gun in Mounts
face told him to surrender. Mounts had
always said he would not be arrested
alive and thinking to carry out his reso.
luton, he started his gun from his
shoulder to shooting position, but before
he could use it, sprang forward, push
ing Cunningham aside, and dealt him q
h. awtrh lnxs N hi ha 80
covered he was handcutfed.
Meanwhile Mitchell, seeing Mounts
confronted, turned and ran. He had
gore about 100 yards when | started In
pursuit. My gain was so apparent that
Returned and fired four shots at me,
wounding me slightly in the leg. while
enptied my pistol, shooting OIL his left
side.
4 few more steps took him to thicket
that covered his retreat, and was una.
BIZ to get sight of him again.
Mounts begged us to allow us to kill
himself, saying he would rather commit
suicide than be hanged for killing a Nc.
Coy, At his trial in September last he
was sentenced to hang December 8.
RANDOLPH MCOY'S MURDERER.
Alexander Mcsser, who shot young
Randolph Mccoy, and was sentenced to
he penitentiary for life, was one of the
most desperate of the gang. A perfect
daredevil" " he left the fort at his
pleasure and defied the officers of the
.aw.
=. On learning that he had left the gang
to visit his family some ten miles dis
tant. thought that my time to follow
him Knowing that he had for some
time been trying to get pension for
wounds alleged to have been received in
the war, went boldly into his neighbor.
hood and representing myself to be a
pension agent called to sec him. Hc
much SO in fact that he laid his gun in
the rack" and turning to the corner
reached up to pull down Il little smoky,
dusty box which contained his letters,
Turning to me he said 'Pll show --
But the sentenced was never finished,
] had him covered and told him to
''hold up" which lac did without a
work landed Messer in Jail the fol.
lowing day, where he has remained
until his trial with the above result.
Charles Gillispie another of the Hat.
field gang, who is indicted for the muir
der of Calvin Mccoy and his sister Ala,
phare. was arrested by Cunningham and
myself while in hiding with his uncle.
He lay In the woods In daytime, and
came in at night We got ION to- him
was riding in VIC stepped out, stopped
his horse and handcuiiod him. He is
now awaiting trial at Pheville. Ky. Ho
confcsses he was with the gang when
Calvin and Alaphare Mccoy were mur-
Jered