The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-15
Evidence introduced to
Show Hatfield Armed
When Killed
ARE shown
More Details Given About
Killing of Men at WEIGH
Courthouse
rBy Associated PressI

WEIGH, W. Va, Dec. 15,-Pistols
picked up from the spots where Sid
Hatfield and Ed Chambers were
standing when they were killed
here last August, and another
found In a search of HatfIeld's
body were introduced as evidence
today in Criminal court by Attor-
neys defending c. (. Lively, BUS
ter" Pence and William Salters, on
trial on murder charges.
Walter C. Mitchell, who was
chief OF police In Welch at the time
OF the shooting was the first de
Tense witness and identified the
pistols introduced while he was on
the stand. Mitchell testified that
he was walking toward the court
house when tho sound Of the shoot
Ing attracted his attention 10 the
court house steps. He said he saw
Ed Chambers and Butter" Pence
apparently shooting at each other
and then saw Hatfield and Cham
bers fall. Chambers, according to
Mitchell's testimony, had n gun in
his hand and was shooting when
Pence drew his weapon.
After the shooting stopped. Mitch
ell said, he pulled Hatfield's body
to the side walk level and then
went to the first landing on the
, steps. There he saw Pence pick up
two guns, one by the side Of Cham
bers and another where Hatfield
had been standing. At the direc-
ton OF County Physician H. G.
Camper, the chief searched the
body of Hatfield and in a pocket
found a .3S calibre pistol, he test1-
fled.
Under cross.examination he said
that the gun picked up from beside
Chambers body contained one load
ed shell and four empties.
The defense expects to show
that a signal was given by Hat
field and that before the shooting
man in the crowd called out "all
right we are all here" 1t was
brought out in arguments over the
admission OF evidence. These
statements were made by defense
attorneys after the jury was sent
out OF the court room while the
court ruled on admissability Of tes-
tImony by D. B. Watson, relating
| to conversations heard on the train
which brought to Welch 4 number
Of Mohawk. Judge Strother ruled
the testimony could not be admit
ted until other evidence linking 1t
10 the case had been brought out.
Lonnie Brown, who was stand
! lng on the steps facing In the
direction from which Hatfield and
Chambers approached, said he saw
them draw pistols and shoot. I'm
dor cross examination he ipsisted
that he did not hear any other
shooting until the two Matewan
mon fired. Mr.. Harmon said he
was standing against the wall or
the court house and that shots
we're coming in his direction from
the foot of the steps. He said two
bullets glanced from the wall and
struck him, one in the face and one
on the head. He moved away but
! could see dust flying as bullets
struck the wall,
Harry Franklin. a deputy sheriff
stationed in front OF the court
house to keep order after the
shooting. said that while on duty
there ne saw in the crowd 80 or
40 men whom he did not know, all
carrying pistols. Franklin said he
knew all the officers in the county
who were authorized to carry
weapons.
Eugene Fergerson. one OF the
Mohawk men who had been indict-
cd with Hatfield in connection with
a shooting at Mohawk, said he was
sitting on the steps when he saw
Hatfield and Chambers draw their
pistols. He testified that Hatfield
shot first.
Lloyd Robinson. another in
dicted in the Mohawk case, gave
testimony similar to FerEerson.