Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1921-01-08


historic fued between the Hatfield and
Mccoy families in the mountains of West
Virginia and northern Kentucky. Shot
at from ambush and in hand hand
combat scores of times with the McCoys
he has always predicted he wo0d live to
die a natural death, as he now has at the
age of so, without bearing any marks of
battle.
Was Crack Shot.
Devil Anse" had reputation as a
crack shot, that was known throughout
the mountain regions of the two states,
and at the age of 70 he could shoot a
squirrel out of the tallest timber He
often turned the trick for admirers, with
the old rifle that he carried ready for
action at all hours, and with which dur
ing the early SOS he would shoot on
sight any member of the Mccoy family.
The celebrated fued of the Hatfield
family with the McCoys was started over
some hogs, one of the Hatfields winning
lawsuit that was brought to determine
their ownership. Soon after that a
brother Of Devil Anse" was shot and
wounded in more than Is places by one
of the McCoys The fued then started
and did not end until the few remaining
McCoys went over into Kentucky, where
they now reside.
None bad Man" Traits.
Devil Anse'' had none of the attri-
butes of the bad man. in his character.
He always was recognized as a loyal
friend of the many with whom be was ac-
quainted. Numbered among those who
believed he had been right by the posi-
tion he took during the fued days, were
the late Judge John j. Jackson. known
as the Iron Judge" who was appointed
to the federal bench by President Lin
coin, and former Governor f. w. Wilson,
the former protecting Hatfield from cap
ture when he had been called into court,
and the latter refusing to honor requisi-
ton of the governor of Kentucky, for the
arrest Of Devil Anse" on a charge of
killing some particular member of the
Mccoy family.
Detectives, real and alleged, had ar
ranged for the capture of Hatfield,
spurred by reward, after they had seen
to it that he was indicted on charge
of whisky selling. in 1883. Judge Jack
son was on the bench at the time and
was informed of the danger that awaited
the accused man. Judge Jackson sent
word to Hatfield that if he would ap
pear in court without an officer being
sent for him, the court would see that
he had ample protection until he re-
turned to his home in Logan county.
Judge Aided Anse.
Hatfield appeared and was acquitted
of the charge against him. Some of the
detectives pounced upon him soon after
he left the courtroom, but Judge Jack
son summoned all of them before him,
and threatened to send them all to Jail,
directing special officers to see that nat
field vas permitted to recah his home.
After Hatfield was well on his way,
Judge Jackson told the detectives that
if they wanted their man they would have
to get him.. just like the McCoys had
been trying to do for a number of years.
They never went.
"Anse" Hatfield spent the last Is
years of his life quietly and peaceably on
small farm he owned in Logan county.
He raised good many hogs and but sell
dom left his community. Once he was
prevailed upon by some enterprising
amusement manager to go on the vaude-
vile stage. He made all preparation to
do so but abandoned the idea when an
old indictment was produced, which had
been quashed on condition that the old
mountaineer agree to remain at home the
rest of his days.
Hatfield was born in Logan county,
West Virginia, but then in the domain of
the Old Dominion, in 1871. a short dis
tance from the old cabin in which he died.