Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-01-27
GREAT EXCITEMENT
IN v VA. COURTROOM
Trial of Sid Hatfield For
Killing Detective Felts
May l9
% HELD FOR MURDER
One of Defendants Armed With l'iS-
tol-.All Who Attend Trial Here
after to be. Searched.

Williamson. w. Va. Jan. 2I.--A
fi,rore was created in the courtroom
here Yesterday afternoon when,
after an adjournment had been
taken in the case Of Sid Hatfield and
% other defendants, charged Win
murder in connection with the death
of seven Baltlwin-Feits detectives
Nav 10 in a gun battle 1T Matewan,
Prosecuting Attorney Wade Bronson
appeared before Trial Judge K. z.
Bailey and informed him that one
of the defendants in The courtroom
was armed with pistol
\ He was seen switching the weap-
on from one pocket ., another, the
prosecutor declared. b; Tom Felts,
head OF the Baldwin-rclts agency,
whose two brothers were among
those who died in the bloody duel IT
Matewan.
The court made no effort To as""r,
tain the identity of the defendant
CARRYING the gun. bui announced
that every man enteriLG the court-
room tomorrow must submit 10
search.
This will no; be permitted, Judge
Bailey said. Il now give orders 10
the deputy shcriffs thar before they
permit anyone 10 enter the courtro@'a
tomorrow there must be a thorough
search for concealed weapons.
wish TO state right now that If any
weapons are found o. any defend
ants will evoke MS bail bend ami h'
will be placed in Jail during III" re-
mainder Of the trial"
It was reported afterward that
the defendant seen with pistol was
Sid Hatfield A bitter feud exists
betxee? Hatfield and Tom Fe!ts 2ni
since the latter's arrival here he has
been closely guarded, never appear
inp in tic streets unless surrounded
tv guards. The feeling. that blood,
she'd may result durinsfthe trial was
Increased by the courtroom gunTla!,
and Col. Herman Hall. commanding
the infantrymcr patrollinc the
streets. has issued rev orders 20
his command to keen strict wactn
for the first sign of trouble.
Although the gun incident was IA"
outstanding feature OF the OPENING
Of the trial. another incident, not al
torether unexpected. was the failure
Of many Of the States witness 20
nut in an appearance. Ore hunfrri
and eighty had been summoned TO
appear. but only 70 We're on hand
when court convened. a number OF
the witnesses appeared when the al
tcrroon session convened. but more
than 50 are still absent. Judge BalleJ
suggested issuing warrants 1or
them, but Prosecuting Attorney
Bronson said the State could Ses
along without them.
Hardly had the trial opened when
Judge Bailey declared forfeited the
$4,000 bond Of B. r. Page, the negro
defendant among the % Page due
-
not appear il court ani II caplas was
issued for mis- arrest.
The opening move Of tn: d@1en =
was made by Attorney John J. Co.
niff, who asked that the indictments
be ouashed on the grounds that =
member of the, grand jury which N
dicteG Hatfield ard the others was
not a resident Of Mingo county. \
second petition alleged the same j.
ror, Bert Shunate. was formerly IN
the employ of the Williamson Coal
, Operators Association and that n
visited Matewan after the shooting
and made an investigation, for the
operators, ;nterroeating witnesses
and made d report. These same op-
| orators, it is claimed. have engaged
private counsel, who are assoclatS
with the prosecution, and are paying
! their fees and expenses. Judge
Bailey announced he would render /:
! decision when court coaTenes tomor'
row.