New-York tribune., 1921-01-30
Hatfield Denies
? Killing Friend
To Win Wife
One of FL Defendants in
Matewan Murder Trial
Asserts Mayor Testerman
Was Like Father to Him
Veniremen Fear Attack
OE $50 Examined Only 18
Have Been Chosen; Pros
ecutor Asks Gun Permit
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


WILLIAMSON, w. Va, Jan. o.
Breaking the silence he has main
tanned since his arrest, Sid Hatfield,
on trial here with twenty others for
the Staying of seven Baldwin Feltz
detectives at Matewan, to-day, in the
Mingo County jail, denied the truth of
the story sent broadcast that it was he
who precipitated the gun battle in the
little mining town in order that Mayor
Z. Z. Testerman. might be killed and
Hatfield win his beautiful wife. At
the same time Hatfield denied another
rumor to the effect that it was he who
Killed the Mayor and not the detectives
who were slain. Hatfield and Mrs.
lestermar were married two weeks
after her husband was killed.
Protesting his innocence, Hatfield
lntlmated that the charge would form
the base of the prosecutions case.
Yes, suppose they will attempt to
show that / killed Calvin Testerman
SO that | could marry his wife" Sid
SAID. but it's a lie and they know it.
NE kill Cal Testerman? Why he was
ike father to me. He was trying
TO protect me when he was killed. They
wanted to arrest ME and he stopped
them. That is when the shooting com
menced."
Jury Panel Still Uncompleted
While Hatfield was thus protesting
ms innocence, the Sheriff and his dep
t'es were striving in vain to empanel
additional veniremen, the two special
panels, one of 200 and the other of
oO men, having been exhausted early
IN the day with still two men to be
selected. And while this was going on
IN the courtroom officials of the United
NINE Workers Of America were hurry
ing to Washington to urge special
investigation of the Mingo County coal
strike while the trial is in progress.
Developments of the day were to one
polnt-that the men summoned for jury
service fear to serve and are adopting
any means to escape, fearing reprisals
should they be forced to serve and
then be parties to an adverse verdict.
Out Of $50 examined to date only
eighteen have been selected, and these
only tentatively. Two more must be
selected, then eight must be dropped
so that it is doubtful if the first wit
ness will be called before Tuesday. To-
morrow the Sheriff and his deputies will!
take to the hills with summonses for 100
men to appear in court Monday for
examination
Prosecutor Asks for Revolver
One of the Incidents of the day was
the request of former Judge Damron,
leading attorney for the prosecution
that he be permitted by the court to
carry a revolver. Some time ago Judge
Damron was shot from ambush, but
only slightly hurt. He desires to be
armed, he says, for protection.
Prosecuting attorneys were silent az
to Hatfield's charges that they would
base their case on his alleged killing
of Mayor Testerman.
II knew Mrs. Testerman before she
married Calvin Testerman," Hatfield
said. II knew her for fifteen years. I
was like son to Testerman, and had
access to his home at all times. They
say there was some difference between
Cal and me because was friendly with
his wife. That is lie. But it will be
just like these detectives to drag nv
wife into it. The. want to throw the
guilt Of the murder upon some one
else. I have been a thorn in their side
since the strike started. was an
officer at Matewan and / did my dutv. |
took the bull by the horns and would
not let them run me. | refused their
dirty bribc money and refused to do
their bidding. Let them try to prove
that | killed Testerman"