The New York herald., 1921-08-03
WIVES SEE HATFIELD
AND AID SHOT DOWN.
at Mingo County
Court House Follows Attack
on Detective by Woman.

Special Despatch 70 THE NEW York HEsALD.
WEIGH. w. Va, Aug. 1.-The little
crowd which witnessed the staying of
Sid Hatfield, the stormy petrei" OF
Mingo county, and his buddy. Ed
Chambers. are beginning to talk to-day,
and details of the shooting are filtering
out.
These details indicate that II was a
battle Of mountain men fought on the
steps of the old court house here, but
the wonder Is how Hatfield dead
shot, or Chambers, equally quick on the
draw, did not bring down one or both
OF the men who drew on them.
Hatfield did not draw a revolver until
after he had emptied two weapons
through the pockets of his clothing. TWO
empty guns were found in the right
hand pocket OF Hatheld's coat when his
bullet riddled body lay off the landing
OF the steps leading to the court house.
Ten bullet holes were in Hatfield's
body, while there were eight in the
body OF Chambers.
Wives OF both men witnessed the fight
which made both OF them widows. Mrs.
Hatfield, q widow for the second time
as result of pistol fights.
Summoned to Welch to answer the
charge OF shooting UP Mohawk several
months ago, Hatfield and his wife and
Chambers and his wife We're ascending
a flight OF probably twenty-five steps 70
the first landing. The party stopped 10
talk for a moment on the landing and
the women paired off and began ascend
Ing the second flight Of steps, about ff-
teen in number.
c. L. Lively. private detective, who
was one OF the trump cards of the State
in the trial in Williamson last winter
for the Matewan shooting, was at the
top of the second flight Of steps. just
beside the door leading into the court
house. Loitering about the door in addi-
ton to Lively were four other private
detectives.
AS Mrs. Hatfield and Mrs. Chambers
passed Lively some remark was made.
and Mrs. Chambers quickly attacked
Lively with her umbrella. She beat him
over the head, and as he pulled away
from her the shooting began. Hatfield
nd Chambers, starting up the last flight
of steps, began shooting. Lively and
Busler Pence, 1t is said, began a cross
fire on the men ascending the steps.
Sid Hatfield dropped at the first shot
but raised up on one knee and with i
hand in the pocket of his coat on 4
right side began pumping lead tow
the man who had testified against t.ic
miners union when he appeare a. i
witness at the Williamson triai. lie
emptied one revolver. then another, and
when the ammunition was exhausted
drew forth a brace of revolvers from
his hip pockets and began blazing away
with them until he was silenced by a
shot from one Of the two men standing
at the top OF the steps.
When the smoke cleared away 1t was
found that Hatfield and Chambers were
both dead. Examined later, IL was
learned that Hatfield had been shot ten
times and Chambers eight times.
Immediately after the shooting Lively
and Pence were arrested charged with
the shooting. Three other men who
were lettering near the door OF the
courthouse also were taken into custody.
After a preliminary hearing before
Judge Founts to-day three OF the five
men arrested were released. Lively and
Pence were held on a charge OF murder.