The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-25
FORMER MATEWAN
POLICE CHIEF IS
PUT UNDER BOND
Sid Hatfield Charged With AS
sauIting Superintendent of
Stone Mountain Coal
Corporation

by Associated PreSS
Williamson, w. Va, May 24-Sid Hat
w. Va, appeared at the sheriff's office
here today and furnished bail for his
appearance in court to answer to
charge of assault He is charged with
assaulting P. j. Smith, superintendent OF
the Stone Mountain Coal corporation at
Matewan.
Hatfield accompanied on the trip from
Matewan by Deputy Sheriff Medley
Crun came to Williamson at the inst,
cation of Sheriff A. c. Penson He said
that he had come voluntarily when ne
Vas informed that a warrant had been
issued for his arrest.
Hatfield told Sheriff Penson that he had
furnished bond for his appearance on the
same charge before a magistrate at
Matewan, but said that he was willing
to give bond here if he would be re-
leased from it after the hearing at the
mining village.
1t was the first time since the county
was declared under martial law by Gov
ernor E. F. Morgan that Hatfield had
been in Williamson. Many persons were
at the railroad station when the Matewan
train arrived but Hatfield succeeded in
reaching the courthouse before he was
recognized.
Fire believed by the authorities to have
been the work of incendiaries, destroyed
the store of the Lynn Coal and Coke
company at Lynn, w. Va, today. The
loss was estimated at from, $4,000 to Sl5,-
900, officials of the Williamson Coal-Ope-
rators association said. The fire was the
only untoward act reported from the
trouble zone along the West Virginia
kentucky border
CONGRESS MAY ACT
Washington, May 24.--An inquiry by
Congress into the situation in the Tug
river district along the West Virginia
l<entucy border appeared probable to-
night, upon the instruction by Senator
Johnson, republican, California, OF a reso-
luton directing the Senate education and
labor committee to make such an lnvesu-
cation. The resolution, placed before the
Senate Immediately on its converting TO-
day was referred to the education and
labor committee, which will meet Thurs
day to act on the proposal. Senator
Kenyon republican, Iowa. chairman OF
the committee later said that while he
had not ascertained the views OF otnef
members. he, himself favored the resolu-
ton.
Belief that the resolution would be ap-
proved by the Senate was expressed oy
Virginia. both of whom told deiesa-
ttion of United Mine Workers from their
state that they would support it.
The United Mine Workers urged the
inquiry as a measure to prevent re-
crudescence of the warfare of ten days
ago. Mine operators from the disturbed
region several days ago asked Senator
Sutherland to use his Influence to brihg
about some sort of a congressional in
vestigation. The third party affected by
continued violence-the property owners
of the district-Senator johnson said IN
presenting his resolution, favored an IN
CURRY.
The resolution as offered by Senator
Johnson would direct the full education
and labor committee or subcommittee
composed of it's members to make the
investigation. 1t recites that conditions
of violence at present exist along the
border between West Virginia and Ken
lucky, that for a long period in the past
in the coal fields of West Virginia there
have been disturbed conditions which
have led to turbulence and bloodshed"
and that these conditions ARE menace
to orderly democratic government and
the general welfare Of the people living
in the territory affected"