The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-18
A HATFIELD CONVICTED.
ELIAS, JR, FOUND aUnTH OF M6R-
DER IN THE SECOND DECREE

May Bo Sent to Jail for Eighteen Years
with Another Trial to FoIlow-OtheR
BLENDERS of the Gang Indicted-Troy and
Cap at Liberty-omcers After Them.
WILLIAMSON. W. ya.-sspt. 17.-After being
out for five hours the jury trying Elias Hatfield
Jr.. for killing II. L. Ellis. a wealthy lumber.
man. at Gray on July 3 last. returned verdict
ofguilty OF murder in the second degree at IL
O'Clock last night. The prisoner heard the
verdict with composure. A number Of
his kinsmen. some OF them prisoners.
were at his side. Counsel for Hatfield
asked for new trial but II will probably DO re.
fused. Under the law OF West Virginia the
sentence may be from Ave to eighteen years
imprisonment. Judge Dooittle will likely i'm.
pose the maximum sentence as he is netting
out justice with a stern hand in his efforts to
break up this notorious clan. which for fifteen
years has infested this region.
When Elias. who Is only nineteen. has served
his sentence. he will be taEen to Logan county
to answer for killing John Kinney for which
crime he and his younger brother Troy. to-
gether with another brother. the notorious
Cap. were held pending trial at the time Elias
and Troy escaped from jaik year ago.
Since this escape until two months ago Elias
was fugitive from justice. After killing Ellis
he surrendered to Gov. Atkinson in person.
having cvaded and deled arrest for week.
He was defended by ex-Gov Wilson and Il. K.
Shumate. Prosecuting Attorney Stafford was
assisted by ]. s. Marcum and w. II. Thorn pson.
employed by the family OF Ellis. The sole plea
was self-defence. which could not be estab-
lished las 1t was proved that Hatfield wal aKgrss-
sor in the combat resulting In the killing. aud
that he and Bob his brother, in jail here, had
offered to man named Harvey. 500 to kill
Ellis. They bore a RrudGe against Ellis for
kidnapping their brother John to Kentucky
where he was wanted for murders done in the
Hatfield Mccoy feud and whore he was subse-
quently sentenced to life imprisonment. At
the time OF the death OF Ellis a paper was
found on Ellis soliciting funds to pay for the
capture and for conveying to Kentucky OF
other members Of the Hatfield band wanted
there on charges similar to that of which John
was convicted.
special grand jury. impaneled for the
purpose yesterday. indicted for murder Anss
and Bob Hatfield and John DlnRess. now in
jail here. and Cap and Troy and other m Members
OF the band still at large. Six months ago Gap.
the notorious leader OF this far-famed hand.
was released on bail from tho Logan County
Jail where he had been held pending trial for
murder. He forfeited his bail and has since
avoided arrest by lodging from one retreat
to another and by setting at defiance the off,
cer OF the law when he was surrounded by q
band OF his desperate kinsmen. Three OF them
we're captured on last Monday by Sheriff Hem
derson and posse. but Cap and Troy escaped
and are still at large. Officers. backed by
Judge Doolittle. are diligently seeking their
capture and 1t Is only question Of time before
they are apprehended.
Deputy Sheriff Moore OF Logan county
caught on an east-bound passenger train
Henry Harmon. member Of the band. as
ho was fleeing the county. He 10 wanted
for two murders. In case Bob and Anse
Hatfield are released on bail. this
week. it Is likely that the Kentucky authorities
will ba ready to take them to Kentucky. one
hundred yards away. across Tug river. to
answer there for the Mccoy killings. This
10 sure to result in further bloodshed
as the officers have no extradition papers and
the Hatfield kinsmen will oppose with arms
this process. known as kidnapping. which is
frequently resorted to along the border Of
these two States whore crime is 90 prevalent