The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-06
MURDER At TIE POLLS.
Details of,he Tragedy In Mingo County.
Cap iIn'neid's Winchester Does Deadly


Cap iIn,neid's Winchester Does Deadly
Work. u
Special Dispatch TO tho ln,oliircnccr.
MATAWAN, W, VA. Nov. 6.--Elcc-
ton day seldom passes In this county
but what Il has murder record 10 mar
tho occasion, Ten years ago was the
date when Ellison Hatfield was shot and
Killed by the Mccoy element. Three
days later. as result OF tho murder,
and as policy OF revenge, three Nc
Gov boys were tied TO bushes on the
Kentucky side OF Tug river, lust on-
poSItc the town OF Matownn, which at
that time was simply corn field, aud
these boys shot and killed. il IL said
that sCvcnty-slx bullets were shot into
their bodies. No mare hcInous crime IL
recorded insavasG warfare than IL truth
In this clse. After this dreadful oc-
currencc, the real battle between the
two factions took place--sevcral being
killed On each side.
One year ago In this town John
Rutherford and John Chntin engaged
In u shooting contest, three balls lodg-
Ing In Rutherford md five balls strik-
ins Chailn both men recovering.
rutherford was Indicted by the grand
jury OF MOgo county, but was acquitted
on his trial, the jury finding that
Rutherford shot In self defense On
election day 1896, the voting precinct OF
this district was the store room OF II.
$. White. The day passed quietly.
There was much drinking and many
guns and Winchcsters were In evidence,
although the crowd was jovial and
every. one remarked how fortunate II
| was that no quarrclS were taken up.
| Many Hatilelds and their friends were
| present and voted, and peH.cc seemed 10
have been declared. Many differences
were declared or by the mountnlnecrs
method OF smoking the peace pipe.
| through the neck OF whisky bottle.
The crowd had dispersed, and no one OF
moment remained In town except and
save Cap" Hatfield. The clectlun
officers were just In the act OF closing
the polls when, within thirty yards OF
the ballot box, most terrific fusllade
Of shots were fired. John Rutherford
was engaged in life and death contest
with the famous Hatfield OF this noun
tain district. Rutherford shot a re-
vulvcr six or seven times at his advcr-
sary, and Hatfield made his mark with
double barreled shot gun. The two
men were not fifteen feet apart, and
ghnth men displayed remarkable courage.
| But the shot gun proved deadly, one
load being discharged into Rutherford,
| tearing away u large portion OF his alb
| domen In q horrible manner.
Hatfield then grabbed his A calbre
| Winchester and shot several times. one
| bullet striking Henson Chambers, one
OF the clectionotilcerS, the ball entering
his body just 10 the right OF the navel
and passing through him. Hatfield
then took flight and was followed by
| Slllott Rutherford, but the fugitive
turned and shot Rutherford through the
heart. killing him instantly. BY this
time the village was wild. every one run.
| Ming for his or her guns
Ex-U. S. Marshal Fl. S. White was
struck with two large buck shots In the
back ofthe head. the shots lodging In the
skull. and although not dangerously In
| jured. the wounds proved rather pain
| ful. This. was II marvellous escape, rs
Mr.. White was by Chambers when the
latter was hit. John Rutherford Is the
son OF DR.. Elliott Rutherford. the mayor
OF MntewEn. and q most highly respect
ed citizen. being in his SOS. The other
| Rutherford boy killed was grandson
| OF the mayor, and Chambers. who IL yet
alive. but with no chace OF life is the
| son-lR-law OF the old doctor. Hatfield
made his escape, and the whole equity Is
literally In arms. AT least two hun
bred men are In pursuit, and every acre
OF ground !s being searched.
1t nigh: be OF interest to inform the
| rest OF the state that seven men have
been shot and killed In Mingo county
| within the las. forty-cight hours Such
dlsEraceful record Is this, occurring in
4 state like ours, and In this age OF
Christian influence is simply appalling.
These murders can be attributed 10 two
| hOurce5. whisky. and the criminal neg
| lcct with which our laws are executed
The laxity OF tn courts In enforcing the
statutes, relative to the carrying OF
deadly weapons, Winchesters and re-
volvers. can be held largely responsible
| for these murders, for the widows and
orphans left TO the tender mercles OF
ravenous human wolves.