Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-31
FOUR DIE IN A Fight
Attempt to Arrest Member OF
the Hatfield Family Re-
suits in Battle.
Two OF the Hatfields. a Detective
and His Companion
Killed.
Arrest Was Prompted by Re.
yenge-Details Of the
Bloody Affair.

| Mattewan, w. Va, March 31.-Four
men, two of them members of the IA
nous Hatfield family of feudists one a
detective inspired by the desire to
ayenge the murder of two brothers and
cousin by arresting one of the Hat
fields, the other volunteer who was
assisting the detective, were killed in a
battle in the cabin of Thompson Hat
field.
While the detective, his deputy and
the two Hatfields were fighting for life
in small room little girl, the daugh-
ter of one of the Hatfelds, rushed into
the room with double barreled shot
gun and emptied both charges into the
detective, who was already fatally
wounded, blowing his head off.
The scene of the battle was on Black
berry Creek, in Pike county, across Tug
river from here, in the heart of the wild
country which has been the battle-
ground of the Hatfields and McCoys for
years.
John Rutherford. revenue officer
and detective, had sworn to be revenged
on the Hatfields. His two brothers
were killed in street fight with Cap"
Hatfield on election day in 1896. Hem
derson Chambers, cousin, on that day
pursued Hatfield after the killing, and
he. too, was killed in fight few miles
out of town.
Since that time John Rutherford has
been relentless in his efforts to even up
the score. He has hunted down the IL
licit stills of the Hatfields, arrested sew
eral members of the clan, and, when
ever a warrant has been issued for any
OF the feudists, or a reward offered for
capture he has made 1t his business
to track the fugitive. The rewards
were minor considerations. Rutherford
sought revenge.
Recently q warrant was issued for the
arrest of Ephraim Hatfield All efforts
to capture him proved futile. He was
supposed to be in hiding at the home of
MS father. Thompson Hatfield, and
rutherford determined TO take him,
dead or alive. He enlisted in his aid
Harry Watts, keeper of the Palace ho-
tel at Williamson. and one of the most
fearless men in the mountains, who was
opposed to the feudists and aided
Whenever the opportunity offered In
causing their arrest
The two men left Williamson FRIDAY
and proceeded rapidly to a point near
the cabin of Thompson Hatfield. They
evidently lay in wait until they whre
certain that Ephraim Hatfield was In
the house.
The Hatfield family, large one. was
seated at the breakfast table when the
TWO orncers threw open the door and
commanded Ephraim Hatfield to sur
render. fierce struggle followed.
hphralm Hatfield sprang across the ta-
pie. grappled with Rutherford, who shot
MIN. thompson Hatfield leaped into
the little lean-to adjoining the cabin.
grabbed rifle and opened fire nm
rutherford and Watts.
In moment the cabin was FIJI, 30
smoke. The women and children f,ad
Ephraim Hatfield broke away from tho
detective, grabbed revolver and
joined in the firing.
Al that point one of the little sisters
OF Ephraim Hatfield shot Rutherford,s
head off with shotgun
Inc battle continued a minute LONGER
then the firing ceased and the women
ana children fiocking back into the
ROOM found the four men dead in a
heap on the floor Their bodies wera
r1ddled with bullets and the floor u,as
deep in blood.
ne only witnesses of the struggle
We're the wife of Thompson Hatf,eId
and the children. Mrs. Hatfield tells the
story OF the fight, giving the details of
the slaughter of her husband and bro
Their calmly.
Thompson Hatfield was brother of
Devil Anse," whose fame in the feud-
IS. nghts was greater than that of the
oehers OF the family. Saturdays bat
Tie caused much excitement here. at
Williamson, and in the McCoy- Hatf,eId
families thru Pike and Mingo counties
There is a belief that the quadrunle
killing Will lead to further feudal trou-
bic, as both Rutherford and Watts have
many friends and relatives who may