Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-04-17

: which is a few miles within the West
Virginia line, over the border into Pike
County, and lay for Phillips there
Cunningham planned a counter-am-
bush, in which he enlisted Bill Napier,
an experienced hunter, and a young
man named Gibson, of less experience,
| but equal gameness. The marsha
know that any one of the Hatfield gang
would kill him Oh sight, but that if he
killed any of them, he must stand trial
for it, as the state administration of
West Virginia, was, for reasons of its
own, friendly to the Hatfields. 1t
looked like a dubious proposition, for
the three Hatfield men had Winches.
ters, but Cunningham determined to
have try at it. He picked out Eli.
son, the biggest and most dangerous OF
the trio, for himself, assigning Black
Elliott to Napper, and Mitchell to Glib
son. Concealing themselves behind
trees, they waited for their men near
creek Dottom, along which the bush
whackers We're sure to come.
When they came Ellison was in the
lead, walking along the bank. Gun
ningham stood close behind his tree,
with rock in one hand and his rife
in the other. The other two Hatfields
were distance behind, while Cunning
hams aids were further up The bank.
When Ellison was within a few yards
of Cunningham, the marshal moving
slowly around his tree to keep out of
sight, stepped on cracking twig. In
stantly the rife of the desperate was
levelled but before he could fire, the
rock took him on the chin and - way
cred for second. In that second,
Cunningham was upon him. At the
same moment Gibson opened fire and
Mitchell and Black Elliott fled back
along the creek bed pursued by Cum
ningham's assistants. who left him in
full confidence that he could handle
Ellison.
This proved to be big contract,
however The marshal had wrenched
away Eilison's gun by which time the
outlaw had recovered from his sur
prise, and began to put up furious
fight. The rock had struck him only
glancing blow, and had not impaired
his powers He was as big man as
his antagonist, and almost as strong.
AT Lne first wrench after they had
clinched both went over the bank. In
the rocky creek bed they struggled,
now in the water, now out of it; never
on their feet; the Hatfield tearing and
biting at his captor like a wild beast;
the marshal striving to get the hand
cuffs on his man. Endurance and con-
dition won the battle. Moonshine
whiskey is bad for the wind and when
Napier and Mitchell returned, empty
handed Ellison was tied and hand
cuffed, while Cunningham was wash
ing his bruised and bloody face in the
creek. Cunningham took Ellison
across the river to Kentucky, where
they found Bud Mccoy waiting with
twelve men. The McCoys called on
Cunningham to give up Ellison Hat
! field to them; and at that Ellison broke
down, cried and begged, and confessed
the murder of Allaphare Mccoy. Gun
ningham asked Bud Mccoy what he in
| tended to do with Ellison.
kill him and cut him up into inch
pieces"
Then you'll kill me first" said Gun
ningham, lifting his rifle.
After a consultation, Mccoy prom
ised to land Ellison Hatfield in iail
without maltreatment, promise
which he kept. Ellison was tried. con
victed and hung. The Hatfelds swore
that they would have Cunningham !
life if he ever came into their country
Within short time he gave them the
chance, by going after Ellick Messer
another member of the child-murder
ing expedition. Young Gibson went
with him. They found Messer near
the Hatfield settlement sitting on a log
with his rifle across his knees, and
captured him without fight. At the