Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-09
THE CAREER OF HATFIELD.
FAMOUS MoUNTAIN DESPERATE NOW
UNDER ARREST.
His Triple Murder of Election Day
and His Subsequent Capture-The
Hatfield-McCOy Feud and How
it Began-It Is Historic.
From the New York Herald.

Williamson, W. Va, Nov. For some
time the people of AIingo and Logan coun-
ties have feared that election DAY would
pass off without the usual gun plays" and
blood with which balloting hereabouts is
usually leavened and enlivened.
Their fears were groundless. "Old Cap"
Hatfield came into Matewan on Tuesday
last loaded for bear. He usually votes with
a Winchester rifle. on this occasion he
used both the rifle and a breechlOading
shotgun. After he had cast his ballot he
began 10 cast bullets and buckshot in the
direction of one Rutherford, the affections
of whose wife he had alienated some years
ago.
When the smoke cleared away it was seen
that Rutherford was dead, that Henderson
! Chambers was lying on the ground mortal
ly hurt, and that Hatfield and his 12-year-
old son were fleeing toward the mountains
pursued hotly by a young nephew of Ru-
therford, who fired at every step.
These Hatfelds are not TO be baked
when they are out for blood. One of the
bullets from young Rutherford's revolver
stung odd Cap in his hard and bony
| thigh. 1t made him mad He wheeled
around knelt down. and, taking careful
aim. shot young Rutherford through the
heart. Then making a mental notch in
his calloused brain for his third VICTIM
"Old Cap" again fled for the woods.
marked man once more. He was captured,
| however, and is now under arrest.
The Hatfield-McCoy feud originated be-
fore the breaking out of the civil war. Its
immediate cause was the ownership of two
bony and bristly mountain hogs. over
these hogs Anse Hatfield and Randolph Nc
Coy had a disagreement. They went to
law, and Hatfield was beaten. The dispute
was not settled by any means. All the
| relatives of the families took sides, and
the question was intensified.
Shortly after the trial "Bill' Stayton. a
nephew of Floyd Hatfield, son of a wit
ness in the case was found dead with q
| bullet in his person. Two of the numerous
Mccoy boys were tried for the murder
and acquitted.
Soon afterward Jonce Hatfield became
enamored of Rosanna Mccoy and kid
naped her. Matters went along with an
occasional death on either side until 1882,
when the hottest kind of hostilities began.
"Old Cap Hatfield became the leader of
the Hatfelds. Election day is always the
favorite time for a gun fight among the
Virginia mountaineers.
In 1882 there was an election in Pike eoun-
ty. In the early afternoon the inevitable
fight cropped out, this time between Eli
son Hatfield and Talbot Mccoy. When
the spectators came out from behind the
hind sundry trees from which they had
been peepfng, they found Ellison Hatfield
lying on the ground dead. Several of the
McCoys, including a 13-year-old boy. Ran
dolph Mccoy, were arrested and confined
in the log school house over night.
Next day the sheriff started through the
lonely mountain woods with the prisoners
for the Pike county jail. BY this time the
entire Hatfield clan had heard OF the death
of Ellison. They rallied Immediately
around ''Anse," the patriarch, and odd
Cap" his son.
They ambushed the sheriff, who had the
Mccoy prisoners in charge, and took mat
ters into their own hands. The sheriff was
released. but the McCoys were taken to
lonely log house in the mountains, where
they were tied so tightly with ropes that
their limbs were practically paralyzed.
on the following morning they were
marched over the border into Kentucky.
and tied in a kneelins position to some sap
lngs near the margin of the boundary
streams. There was no begging for mercy
on the part of the McCoys. They knelt
griInly, and sneeringly awaited their fate
Wall Hatfield stood in PLAIN sight on the
Virginia side of the river.
Are you ready?" he cried.
Yes" said "Old Cap and Anse and the
other Hatfields.
Take aim. Fire.
There was a rattle of rifles and two of
the McCoys fell limp on their ropes. They
were Talbot and Farmer Mccoy. The
young boy, Randolph, had not been hurt
He was there simply as witness to the
death of his brothers.
This shows the utter disregard in which
the HatiieldS have ever held the law. me
boy was mounted in front of Wall Hatfield
and the party started back for their mount
ain haunts.
on the way "Old Cap" suddenly called
halt That boy must die" said he "Anse"
sat silent, thereby conSenting. Wall Hat
field raised his voice in the boys behalf.
Some of the other Hattields did likewise.
1t was no use. ''Anse," the patriarch. and
"Old Cap ruled things with an iron hand
So the boy was killed and left lying by
the side of tbs road. OF course feeble at
tempts were made to capture the Hattields.
| hut without avail. Two years later jeff
| Mccoy captured by the Hattields and
shot dead in the presence of his sister.
1t seemed to be evident that the Hattields
had fully determined upon the eXtermina-
ton of their enemies. No further murders
took place. however, until 1888.
AN AWFUL MASSACRE.
On New Years night the Hatfelds. feel
| ing dull for want of something to do. de-
| termined to pay another visit to the Nc
Coys Late at night the house of Randolph
| Mccoy the leader of the faction, was sur
| rounded by a gang of Hattields.
| In the house at the time We're Randolph
Mccoy and his wife, his son, Calvin. three
daughters Ctliaphore. Addie and Fanuie),
| Cora, the orphaned daughter of Talbot, and
| Melvin. the son of Rosanna Mccoy
| The Hatfields were headed by "Old Cap"
| and Jim Vance They called on the NcCoys
! to surrender or have the house burned over
! their heads. The McCoys refused. Then
the heroism Of border women cropped out
| The Hatfields built a fire against the
house. Allaphore Mccoy. young woman
20 years old. heard the cracking of the
! flames She grabbed churn full of milk
and walked calmly out of the house to
| pour it over the flames. She was shot
dead before she could accomplish her OBJ
| ject.
The light blazed up. and several Hat
/ fields became visible. Old man Mccoy shot
Jonce Hatfield. killing him instantly. Then
| ne ran for the woods. escaping without
! injury Calvin Mccoy rushed from the
| house and was shot through the brain.
| The other McCoys were not injured
Throughout the entire feud "OId CAM
| Hatfield has borne a charmed life This
latest outbreak was in keeping with his
| former exploits. With two men shooting
at him. the old man killed three persons
| and escaped.
Hatfield is a very intelligent man. all
things considered, and is wonderfully
| shrewd as well.
The feud with the McCovs was settled in
!