Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-08-06
'JOHNSE" HATFIELD'S
BLOODY CRIMES


The blood blotted trail or Johnse'
Hatfield stops before prison bars.
Another Of the desperate gang OF
murderers and outlaws that has in
fected the Kentucky border of the
State has been coralled and is in the
grip of the relentless, outraged law.
In his human moments his eyes look
out upon moving shapes of murdered
men and murdered women, and muir.
dered children. He secs a scaffold.
In his human moments, his ears ring
with the groans of victims slaughter.
red, with curses and curiously I'M.
couth prayers. He hears the swing.
ing of trap.
The facts leading up to the cap
ture of this distinguished murderer
are interesting. The story of his
taking is thrilling. The characters
in the episode are "Johnse' Hatfield,
brother Of the courtly criminal
"Cap,' and son of the paradoxical
desperate, "Devil Anse,' who, by
the way, is one OF the Gazette's most
valued subscribers; his pal, "Awk'
Damron-probably a contraction for
awkward; Doc Ellis, prominent
timber man, worth about $4,000,
with home at Gilbert, in Mingo
county, and logging camp at the
mouth of popular branch just across
the river in Kentucky; and lastly,
though next to 'Johnse," the most
interesting of the quartette, Deputy
United States Marshal Dan W. Gun.
ningham-that man of iron nerve
and terror to evil,doers, who has
been up against the Hatfield gang
for many years and has brought q
NUMBER OF tucm TO justice.
DAN SCENTS TROUBLE.
AS may be readily supposed, Dams
name is on the Hatfield blacklist,
and he has been marked by the gang
for slaughter. Dead men tell no
tales. There is probably no man
alive today who can give more valu.
able testimony against these pictur-
esque pests in human form than this
self-same detectiYe. Consequently
when he received letter from his
friend Doc Ellis asking him to come
to his camp at the mouth of Popular
creek, on urgent business, Dan 8
trained instinct scented trouble and
his experience told him that the
Hatfelds were in it. But he took
his life in his hands, as he has done
so often in times past, and went. He
was back in Charleston again last
night carrying as trophies of his
trip IS IS Winchester bullet, SO
Smith & Wesson cartridge, devil
ish looking dirk, SIX inches long, and
an inch wide, and very bad head
ache. The three first articles be will
present to the State Historical. So
ciety. The last he will keep-until
he can get rid of it. 1t is curios-
ity in the way OF headache, re.
markable both for size and tenacity,
but the Society does not want it.
SWORN TO KILL HIM.
Cunningham had been up in Wy
oming tracking a man wanted 10
Parkersburg for felony. He missed
him there and came home. Here he
heard that his man was in Mingo
and Sunday he set out for that in
teresting little county. Not finding
the game he was after he decided to
60 over to Ellis camp, which decis-
ion be Immediately acted upon. This
was on Monday. There Doc Ellis
told him that "Johnse' Hatfield had
sworn to kill him and was preparing
to follow up his unrighteous VOW
with immediate action. Now, how
Doc Ellis came to be placed in this
uncomfortable predicament the rec
ords do not show. 1t cannot be said
that the Hatfelds had anything par.
ticular against Doc Ellis but it seems
that he is one of number of good
citizens who do not love the gang
and they had it in for him, were GO
ing to give him summer outing in
eternity, as "Johnse" declared in
other words. The citizens of Logan
and Mingo counties, particular the
latter, have grown terribly tired of
these gangs of desperate men who
roam the ranges attired principally
in Winchesters, cartridges and dirks,
and while they have nothing against
the Hatfelds or their friends. who
remain at homo and attend to their
business, or when they travel, go
about as non-combatants, the Mingo.
lians have arrived at a sort of I'M
written agreement that it is their
opinion that the time has come when
every Hatfield or member of the
Hatfield gang or of any gang, going
about the country armed to the
teeth, must be dealt with according
to the laws of civilized communities
So unanimous are the citizens or
this point that the desire amounts tc
almost az organized effort.
At any rate, the name of Doc Eli.