The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-01
Victims We're to HayeAp
peared in Court There
Today
FIVE ARE ARRESTED. RI.
Shooting Took Place in
the Court House Yard,
Report

WEIGH, W. va, Aug. SD
Hatfield, chief OF police ot Mate
wan and Edward Chambers, d po
liceman OF that place, were Killed
In a gun fight in the court house
yard here shortly before noon To-
day. G. E. Lively, afpriyate detec
tive and four other persons were
arrested in connection with the
shooting.
Hatfield was arrested last week
in connection with the shooting up
OF the town Of Mohawk, w. va,
about a year ago and brought %
Welch where he was placed IN IAN
Chambers was also 70 appear Ii
court today in connec ction with the
trouble.
Hatfield was released on bail
and was with Chambers this morn.
ing when they became involved N
a quarrel with Lively and his
friends. In the shooting which foi
lowed Hatfield and Chambers were
killed.
Hatfield was chief ot police n
the little mining village Of Mate
wan in May 1918 and 1920 when d.
party Of detectives were sent there
to evict miners from houses of the
Stone Mountain Coal corporation.
He was charged with leading the
people OF the town Who battled
with the detectives as they vera
about to take attain To- Blnefield.
Ten persons were killed and Hat
field and Chambers and s2 otfers
were indicted for murder.
At the trial which was held at
Williamson early this year q. ".
Lively was one of the most i'm.
portant witnesses for the state. He
testified that he had gone TO Mnte.
wan soon after the battle and ope.
ming a store there had gained the
confidence OF many Of ttosh I1
connection with the shooting. He
admitted that he was IN the en-.
ploy OF a detective agency whbse
men had been killed in the fight
He closed his store at Matewan
during the trial which resulted IN
the acquittal Of Hatfield and his
men,.
Hatfield and Chambers ssnntets
ed down the street on the way to
the court house, They caught np
with number OF friends and TO-
gether were about to enter the
building when they met Lively
who also was accompanied by .
number OF friends.
According to persuns learby
Lively and Hatfield exchanged
greetings. They say something was
said which brought on o quarrel.
The argument waxed warm and
then the shooting began. None Of
those present could say who fired
the first shot SO quickly was II
done.
The next moment almost Hat
field and Chambers were stretch
ed on the steps Of the court house.
Hotfield with a bullet In his chest
and Chambers with one in his
head and one In the breast Lively
was arrested but no charge was
placed against him. AT first IL was
believed that other arrests had
been made but county Officials
said that Lively was the only man
taken into custody "a scoronet's In
quest will be held late today.
Many persons, here to attend court
and a large number OF citizens
rushed to the court house At the
first sound Of the firing and there
were reports that O number Of
them had been slightly wounded
but these were not confirmed The
sheriff and his deputies immediate
" took charg Of the situation and
had no trouble In handling the
crowd
It was stated by county offlciaia
that Hatfield had two pistols one
OF which contained emptysheils but
Chambers only had one gun. Some
Of the shells In II, It was declared.
MATEWArI; w. Va. Aug .-
Sid Hatfield who was Killed at
Welch today was only 26syears OF
age and was one OF the best known
men along the wWest Virginia
Kentucky border. he was born
here and after going towork In the
mines became an electrician. He
early became interestd In politics
and was mad chief OF polio OF
Matewan.
The tragedy at wetch today
makes Mrs. Hatfield q widow the
second time in less than two years.
After Hatiield's acuuttai at VIII
Hanson on the state charge thai
he played In the fight here he re.
tcontinuea On plEs tourl