Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-28
Devil ANsE' HATFIELD
FIGHTING LAST BATTLE
Former mountain Fcudist Dying
From Infirinitics OF Age at
Peace With Men.
OF BITTER EEUD
Hatficld-NiCCoy Vendetta Lasted for
Years, and Cost Lives of Large
Number of Members of Both
Fountains.

HUNTINGTON. w. VA. Sept Or
"Dcvil !Ansc" Hatfield, eighty four.
leader Of the HATFIELD clan in the Hat
field Mccoy feud is believed to he
lighting his last battle. and indications
arc :hc veteran !cudIs; will not
die with his boots on" rs ALWAYS
had been predicted. on account Of his
advanced years il Is not believed he
Will recover.
1t was Devil Anse" who led his
four sons in dofyins the authorities
for many years, h.: Tor quarter OF
century he mas been most peacc-
fUl citizen, keeping out OF trouble and
holding tho rcspcct Of his neighbors.
II was fcw days after a pistol
duel ~ Cannelton. W. Va. when two
of his. sons Troy and Elias, were shot
and killed. that Hatfield embraced
religion and was baptized. since that
ii,ne ieadns an upright Christian
Since tacn some Of tho natnelds
and McCoys have sat down together
IN the same sunday school. Tho ma
tied of the HatfeIds for the McCoys
has boon forgotten.
The Hatfield Mccoy feud. known
as the most bloody or all tho Ken
ttucky mountain vendctias began in
1850 whom Floyd Hatfield who lived
on the West Virginia side OF tho Tug
Fork River. tributary of the Big
Ssndy, drove half a dozen hogs out
town.
Beginning of Feud.
Randolph Mccoy, from the other
sde Fl i2s rtyen happened to ride
tho piss as belonsins to the Mm nC-Trs
accused Floyd Hatfield of Stealing
them. Sad feeling was caused but
he affair was settled reaceably in
court.
Some months later members Of thc
rival factions met by accident and
after the passage OF a few heated re-
sam Mccoy killed stanton Hatfield
The case came TO trial and Mccoy
was acquitted.
lSS2. when friend and relative OF
both CLANS ran for Office in Pike Coun-
". Kentucky. iiathclds and McCoys
thor candidate
An seemed ncaceffui and Kentucky
suddenly a Mccoy walked up TO
Hatheld and demanded payment OF an
Threatening glanccs passed between
the enemies. In an instant pistols
cleaned and n pitched battle ensucd.
Ellison Hatfield was fatally wounded.
own hands captured three McCoys
and. assisted by gang OF followers
, ,icI Them 10, TO an old nut in the woods
"cport from tho bedside OF his wound
ed kinsman.
Three Prisoners Slain.
When after three days. news came
Of E!lison's death. a mock trial was
held and the defendants. mono Of
whom vas really guilty, were taken
ou', tied 10 pawpaw bushes and made
the targets OF rifles.
After this occurrence a Mccoy was
prepared 10 kill 4 Hatfield on sight.
Matters were by no means improved
when Governor T.. w Wilson refused
10 honor acquisitions made for tho
capture OF Hatfield and his sons by
Governor Euckncr, Of Kentucky.
Sin feet OF devil and $50 pounds
Of he'll" was he description given OF
Anderson Hatfield by his enemies. 1t
Can who ut tho instiga ton Of
lis father burned the Mccoy home 10
tho ground and killed old Randall
McCoys daughter.
For long time tho fcud ragged
along the Kentucky West Virginia
border between the McCoys. OF Ken
lucky and the TIaticids, OF West Vr-
ginia.
IN recent years Devil Ansc- was
inveiclcd into the movies and for a
short time h" was the vaudeville
stage. lie loved his mountain home
:owever. and seldom straycd far
away. Despite the fact that the Me-
Coys were constantly cunning for him
no lived IN ri nlb aern