Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-07-13
The Origin Of the Fatal Hatfield
Feud,

u
notorious Hatfield family, in Mingo
county, w Va, ]. s. Mitchell, of Boyle
street, Allegheny, who was brought up
with the Hatfield boys, and whose
brother II. B, Mitchell, resides at Will
hanson, W. Va, and married cousin
of the murdered, related yesterday at
ternoon the following story of the
deadly feud that has existed between
the Hatfield and Mccoy families since
1886:
4 The head of the notorious Hatfield
family said Mr., Mitchell, rs Ance
\ IIatheld. better known as Devil Ance'
TIatheld. He had six sons, Cap. John,
Elias.f Ellis. Bob and Jim, and lived in
tMingo county at the outset OF the feud
between his family and the Mccoy
family The McCoys resided lin Pike
tcounty, Kentucky. Just across the Tug
friver, which is the dividing line at
that point between the two states.
Early in 1886, one of the sons, Ellis
Hatfield, was engaged to Becky Mccoy
and he took her from her home for the
express purpose OF marrying her. In
stead OF doing so, he left her to return
to her home Her brothers, seeing the
disgrace that had been brought upon
their sister by Ellis Hatfield, swore
they would ayenge the insult.
"A short time thereafter, at a small
school house at Mill Creek, on the
Kentucky side, a series of revival
meetings was being held. The Mccoy
family was attending the meeting, and
on the second Sunday they noted the
presence of Ellis HATFIELD. His pres
ence so enraged the Mccoy brothers
that, after the meeting he was set up
on and stabbed several times.
"on Devil Ance' Hatfield learning
of the fate of his son, he set out, with
Bob Chambers and his sons, Cap. John
and Elias to capture the four Mccoy
brothers that were responsible for. the
stabing of Ellis Hatfield. The quar-
tet was captured by force, brought
back to Mingo county, w. Va, placed
in small og cabin and closely guard
ed to await the result of Ellis Hat
fields injuries. Ellis died that night,
and the four Mccoy brothers were i'm
mediately taken back to Kentucky tied
to some pawpaw bushes and shot to
death.
Not satisfied, Devil Ance' and his
companions went to the Mccoy home
and demanded the fifth son. Bob Nc
Coy, the father replied with a volley
OF shot, which resulted in Bob Cham
bers having his left hand shot of and
several of the Hatfield boys being
wounded. Young Mccoy, whom the
gang was after, was instantly killed
by jumping from an upper window OF
the Mccoy home.
Cap. Hatfield then entered the
house for the purpose of setting it, on
fire. Mrs. Mccoy, who was an invalid,
got out Of her bed and was tying one
OF her shoes with her foot resting on
the stove, when Cap. Hatleld entered
the house. The old lady remarked,
Cap, you wouldn't kill an old woman
like me?' to which he replied, Yes,
I'll kill you'll and forthwith shot her
brains out, and she fell across the hot
stove. Thus the feud continued, 40 or
30 persons being killed, until a few
years later the McCoys and Hatfields
made up, buried the hatchet, and be-
came friends.
Some time aftel the feud was prac-
tieally at an end, Cap Hatfield and two
OF his sons. aged respectively 16 and
lS years, were attending an election
at Mate Greek, in Logan county, when
they were met by three Radiford boys,
who were friends OF the Mccoy family.
They stil held a gTudge against Cap
Hatheld- but the latter tried to evade
trouble and started with his sons for
home All three carried Winchesters
on their shoulders, as is the custom in
that country, especially on election
day. AS the Hatflelds were leaving
they were fired upon by the Radifords,
and in turn opened fire, Cap Hatfield
killing one of the Radifords, while his
two sons killed the other two.
The Hatfelds were arrested and
placed in Jail at williamson, Mingo
county. Later they broke Jail, and
succeeded in resisting arrest, until
Cap Hatfield finally gave himself up
to his father Devil Ance' The father
received S2a8 which had been offered
by the county ana State for his cap
ture. Cap Hatfield were tried and
acquitted In the court at Logan county
for the murder of the Radiford boys,
and they have since lived quiet life
in MiEgo county.
In 1893, H. E. Ellis, who was muir
dered by Elias Hatfield, and John Hat
hebl got into a dffhculty over a lum-
Der deal in which Ellis got decidedly
the worst OF 1t. For revenge, he had
John Hatfield kidnapped over to the
Kentucky side, and arrested for being
implicated in the Mccoy family muir
der. John Hatfield was placed in jail
TO await trial Elias Hatfield sWore
that he would avenge the wrong in
fdcted upon his brother by Ellis.
ELLIS subsequently, became deputy