Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-10-20
DEATH OF FEUD|ST
RECALLS TRAGIC
EPISODE
Passing of Harrison Hatfield in
MoundSviIIe Prison. Was
Robbed by Postmaster Now
a Fugitive,
Morning journal Bureau.
613 Munsoy Building.

wi ~ - 49, 100
The recent death of Harrison Hat
field. the aged member Of the family
of famous feudists of that name, in
the penitentiary at Moundsyille. West
Virginia. recalls one of the most in
teresting and tragic cases with which
the inspectors of the postofhee depart
ment have ever had experience. The
narrative of his loss Of s2.S54 and re-
covery of part of it and the conse-
quence of the original loss and partial
recovery reads like fiction, although
stern fact.
Hatfield lived near Horsepen in the
mountains Of West Virginia. lie had
deposited $2,S54 in the Guyan valley
bank ut Logan. West Virginia. I'm
able to write. he asked Alexander II.
Trent. postmaster at Horsepen, to
draw a check for that moun and
direct the bank TO forward the money
by registered mail,
Hatfield called repeatedly for the
registered letter, but when it arrived,
on April "a, 1907, he was not present
at the postofhce. He had called about
half an hour before the arrival of the
mail. but having been accompanied by
am intoxicated friend who required as
sistance to keep him on his mule,
Hatfield could not wait for the mail.
When he left the %postofice he re-
questcd the postmaster to take the
letter. when it came. 10 his home for
safekeeping, fearing that it would not
be properly protected from fire if lfet
ta tn. ,,nCtAfGga nh, A.g ~ & ~ ar-
sured him tina the letter would be
placed IN a |fircproof safe in the post
office and receive ample protection.
About two o'clock on the morning
following the building in which the
postofhce was located was burned, the
contents of the safe alone having been
saved. These were found to consist
Of stamps and money belonging to the
postofhce, to Trent Individually and
to, outside persons. The letter adj
dressed to Hatfield. however, could
not be found. The postmaster said
thatit had been placed with the ordi-
nary mail in the postoffce. on April
26 a postofhce inspector was notified
of the burning of the %pOstoffce and
the loss of the letter. Another in
spector was detailed to accompany
him through the mountains to Horse
q m horseback,
one OF the ispectors had for inves-
tigation at this time a case based up
on a complaint that Trent had secured
a typewriter from II concern in Chi
cago by fraudulent representations.
and whom the postmaster's house was
searched the machine was found.
A flor n1uIfnr .vgt,ane Vrp.nt ffnaI1,F
admitted the truth OF the charges. He
was arrested and transported on a
mule to Williamson. West Virginia,
where he pleaded guilty to the charge
OF having used the mails 10 defraud,
ana was later. released on bond. Sub
s%equently Alexander H. Trent and his
+. Marian Trent. were indict-
on the charge of having stolen the
registered Hatfield letter. Alexander
IL. Trent confessed. Propositions were
soon made looking to the rcfunding Of
the money. with the result that Trent
produced from u jar hidden under his
the sum of $1,2S0, which with
paid by his sureties was secured
by the Inspector. on April /, 1905,
while still serving sentence for the
fraudulent use of the mails, Treht
escaped from Jail and is now a fugi-
tive from justice.
Harrison Hatfield. the owner of the
letter, became temporarily in
sane from worry over his loss and
subsequent citation at the recovery Of
of the money, and poisoned his
wife. an Indian. He was convicted
of murder and sentenced to life i'm
.prisonmcnt in the penitcntiary at
Moundsvillc, where ne died not long
ago.
Garrison Hatfield was one Of the
family of Iiatfields 50 prominent
q few ycars ago in connection with the
Mccoy Hatfield fcud. virtually a civil
var along the West Virginia and Ken
lucky border, that disrupted several
counties for years and attained a place
ln national history. Hatfield. better
known as old Hatchcd.' was a lead
or in this ana in one of their raids
through Kentucky had one of his eyes
out. All the original members of
This family possessed large areas OF
land. from which they have realized
considerable money.