The Washington times., 1920-05-20
S[EUTHS FLEE
TOMOUNTA|NS
Private Detectives Precipitate
Outbreak BY Staying
Matewan Mayor.
TEN KILLED; FIVE WOUNDED
Towns Anger Famed to White
Blaze BY Pitched Battle
In Streets.

MATEWAN, w. Va, May 20
With the arrival of two companies
of State constabulary from Charles
ton today, Matewan is quiet again
after the battle in its streets last
night between Baldwin-Fetts detec-
tives and police and citizens, during
which ten persons were killed and
five wounded, two probably fatally.
More Troops Ordered.
Although only two companies OF
State troopers have arrived here. In
private detectives. who are said to
have precipitated the fight by slay-
ing Mayor Cabell Testerman when
he questioned their authority 20 evict
families of discharged miners from
company-owned houses. Seven detec-
tives were killed in the ensuing bat
tel, and the others are said to have
fled to nearby hills.
Besides Mayor Testerman and the
seven detectives, the known dead are
Ira Mullins, an alleged strike agitat-
or, and an unidentified boy.
The slain detectives are L. c. Felts
and Albert Felts. both of Bluefeld:
e. o. Powell, A. J. Bower. J. w. Fer
guson. B. B. Higgins, and c. 3. Gun
ningham.
AnEered By Evictioss.
The wounded include detectives,
miners, citizens and police of Mate
wan.
The trouble arose late yesterday
afternoon when force of mine de.
tectives from Williamson began the
eviction from company houses of the
families OF miners.
According to the police. eight fanii-
lies had been turned out when Mayor
FISHERMAN approached the leader of
the detectives and demanded by what
authority their action was taken.
While they were talking, the police
say, the detective fired from his coat
pocket, killing the mayor. whereupon
the detective himself was killed by
a policeman. The shooting then be-
came general citizens. miners, police,
and detectives participating.
shot Reading Warrant.
Another version has It that the
hghting started when Mullens, the al
legged strike agitator. approached AL
bert Felts and asked IL he carried
warrant for his arrest. Felts replied
in the affirmative, according to this
versino, and was in the act Of read
ing the warrant when Mullens shot
and killed him. Detective Ferguson
1T is said, then killed Mullens. and the
killing of Ferguson by an unidentified
miner followed.
According to the police story, Mayor
Testerman was he man talking to
Felts. They say Felts fired without
worning, shooting from his coat
pocket. Almost instantly, they say.
Felts himself was killed by "Sid"
Hadfeld, chief of police of Matewan-
Immediately after the shooting be-
came general, numbers of persons
who had gathered at the Norfolk and
Western station to see the detectives
leave for Kenova joining in the fray.
The crowd closed in about the de-
tectives, who, the police say, turned
and ran. Some of them broke for the
open country, while others, reaching
the Tug river, attempted to swim to
safety. Here, il is reported. three OF
them we're shot and sank In the
stream.
Take Bodies to Depot.
The bodies of the dead were taken
to the Norfolk and Western Rail-
road station, preparatory to moving
them to Williamson. where is located
the nearest undertaking establish
mcnt.
Some excitement was created at
midnight when the rumor spread
through the town that large party
of Baldwin-Felts men were on the
way from points in southern West
Virginia and would arrive here in
the morning.
For a time IL was thought that Or
ganized parties OF miners would meet
them. but the news that Colonel
Jackson Arnold, commander OF the
state police. with the constabulary.
would arrive about tho same time.
quicted the situation somewhat.
Dismissed Miners Union Men.
Matewan is in Mingo county. IL
is n non-union district adjoining the
Guyon Valley district, where serious
trouble resulted several months ago
when attempt were made by union
organizers TO invade tho district. Tho
families whose eviction started tho
battle yesterday were those OF miners
who were dismissed when they joln-
ed the union.