The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-17

pot stabbed him 10 Times, n then slip
ped and foil, with Deacon Ellison on top
Of him. The deacon grabbed a heavy
stone, and in another ome would have
crushed McCoy's head to o jelly, but at
that mo1nent Farmer Mccoy shot him in
the back, and then dropping his revolver
ran up the road.
Then the con5tables asserted themselves,
piacing Farmer, who had been captured
by Elias Hatfield and Talbot, under arrest.
They also arrested Randolph Mccoy, Jr.,
a mere Toy, who was accused Of stabbing
Deacon Ellison in the legs during the
fight. The prisoners were taken to John
Hatfield's house, while the wounded man
was taken care of by a neighhor. The
news Of the shooting of Deacon Hatfield
brought a dozen Eatnelds to John Hat
fields house, but the McCoys disappeared
and made no attempt to reSAue the pris-
oners.
The next day, while the constables were
taking the prisoners to the Pikesville Jail,
they were met by "Deyil Anse'' ard a lot
Of other Hatae1ds, who ordered the con
stables to take the prisoners to Blackberry
creek. On the way there Devil Anse''
tool the prisoners away from the con
stables, tied them together with ropes and
dove them into West Virginia, where they
were placed In schoolhouse for safe keep
ing.
There Devil Anse' told the prisoners
that if Deacon EliisonNd died of his injuries
they would be put TO death. A lot of the
Mccoy women folks came and pleaded for
mercy, but tDeyil Ansen drove them all
away. The prisoners suffered torture
while in the schoolhouse, for the ropes
that bound them were on SO tight that the
blood could not circulate.
When the news of Deacon Hatfeld's
death was brought to Devil Anse, 2 be
conveyed it to the prisoners, and they
broke, down and wept. That night the
Hatfelds drove them down the road, still
bound with ropes, and over the line into
Kentucky. Farmer Mccoy, who had
tainted, was restored topoo~nseiousness and
then the march was resumed until the spot
selected by aDevil Anse'' was reached.
Here the prisoners were thrown to the
ground, then raised on their knees and
tied in that position to some bushes. Tai
bot Mccoy, who had asked to be allowed
TO face his e-xecutioners, was turned the
other way, while Farmer was made to look
into the weapons OF his murderers. The
IVY AtNlidOAPH WAS tlCSi 1dCiLB blc bti1tf1c,
and then Devil Anse'' yelled to Wall
Hatfield that all wa ready and that he
was to give the word when to fire.
"Take aiml Firel'' yelled Wall, and
every man discharged his weapon. Tai
bot and Farmer were killed Instantly. No
shot was fired 40 tho boy. His punish
ment was to see his relatives die.
After tho shooting the Hatfields started
back for West Virginia, bnt they hadn't
gone far when one of them objected to
leaving the boy Randolph alive. It was
dangerous, ho said, as the boy knew every
ono Of them and might send them all TO
the r~allows.
ssGo back, them said "Devil Anse. !"
And this man went back and blew tho top
OF thelad sahead of with shotgun. Back
in West Vsginia "Eevil <Ansep gathered
his men around him and maSlo them all
swear a solemn oath never to reveal the
nights doings unazs penalty OF dash.
TIE iaost remarkable thing about the
feud asit stands today is tie uEseilllng
ness Of the West Virginia authorities to
punish any Of the IiatlclGs ftr their
crimes, fearing to reopen tha feud.