Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-14
GIRL WITNESS PUT
UNDER CROSS-F|RE
Elsie Chambers, Who Testified
for State, Unfriendly
to Family
FIRST SHOT CRUX OF CASE

Williamson. W. Va, Feb. l4.-Elsie
Chambers daughter of Reese Cham
hers. a defendant who was on the stand
Saturday as witness for the state in
the trial of Sid Hatfield and eighteen
others for the murder of Albert Felt
during the battle between miners and
detectives nine months ago. was re-
called to the stand today. She is n
telephone operator and was on duty at
the Matewan exchange the day of the
battle.
Miss Chambers testified she had heard
May Chain. also telephone operator.
call Anse Hatfield, a hotel proprietor,
10 tell him of telephone conversation
she overheard between Sid Hatfield. one
of the defendants. and Tony Webb. Mt
the time chief deputy to former Sheriff
Blankenship. of Mingo county. Hat
field was to have been q witness for the
state in the present trial. but was shot
and killed while sitting on the porch of
his hotel last August.
She testified the conversation was to
the effect that Hatfield asked for war
rants for the Baldwin Frlts detectives
who were Pvicting miners. from company
houses, and added that they would not
get out Of town alive.
On cross examination the defense
brought out that Miss Chambers was
not on friendly terms with her family.
She admitted that she had not lived at
the house of her father. Reese Cham
rrrS. for four years, but resided with an
aunt.
Relief Map Sed a. Evidence
4 relief map eight feet square Of
tho town of MatCwan had been brought
into the courtroom prior to the arrival
OF Judge Bailey. 1t shows every store.
house. the railroad station the tracks
and even the poles and trees. 1t will
he used during the trial
Edward B. Raigucl an engineer of
Huntington. w. Va. vino was the first
witness called. testified that the map
was made under his direction and
supervision. II is based on the scale
Of ono inch for every eleven feet.
States counsel then pointed out the
different buildings and the streets which
figure in the testimony. Particular at
tontion was pSid to Chambers hard
ware store. in front of which the gun
battle started.
The Cruz OF the Case
Who fired the first shot:
This is cruX of the case in which Sid
Hatfield and his fellow defendants
Connection with the shaving # Detective
Albert Felts. The trial will develop
hrce versions as to who fired the shot
hat opened the gun battle in which
fcn lives we're lost.
The state says Hatfield fired the shot.
The defense contends Albert Fct~ fired
and that his bullet killed c. {. Tester
AL 10, l.. I,.,,,
ion. \ witness called before tn" grand
ury testified Isaac Brewer fired the
iirSt shot.
Brewer is expected to 20 on the wit
ncss stand for the state. Tie was in q
,licted with Hatfield and the other de
endants. but i alleged that he was
ranted immunity upon his promise tc
urn states evidence. When the cast
vas called for trial the states ATTORNEY
sked that the indictment against hT
,e noIe pressed The court permitted
his to be done.
Detective Didn't See shot Fired
If it is established that one Of the
electives fired III" first shot. thCr
here would be n foundation for thu
ontention Of tho defendants that they
cgan shooting in self defense. rs the
latc admits the detectives were arme,
18th rifles and that there were more
lan dozen Of them on tn" scene IA
ne time. If II is proved that Elattiel,
rcd the first shot then the self dct"ns'
Ca is shattered.
During Saturdays examination o
ohm Mcdowell. one of tn" Detectives
no survived the gun battle. IN "ftor
as made to have him tell. if po>sblC
II" fired IN" first shot.
He stated hc couldn't tell. ns he wa
pmc distance away from Hatn"ld. Trs
'rman and Albert FeitS, who w"r" con
erSing together about IN" warrant f.
iuthed's arrest when the shot ran2
ut lie voiced his impression thar d!
az fired from inside Of hardware
ore at the entrance Of which Hatfield
.cSterman and Fclts We're standing.
The only one Of the defendants tina
IrDoweII iucriminalcd was Rec,
'bambcrS lie sad be saw Chamber
re into the crowd Of drt"rtivr> viii
j. rifle. Direct as this testimony is
docs not have any direct bearing OF
10 case. as III" defendants are brnl
"icd for tho murder Of F"lr~. MrDow