The New York herald., 1921-02-13
GIRL IMPERILS KIN
TRIED FOR MURDER
May Chambers Testifies to
Plot Alleged Against Her
Father and Brother.
AGED FEUDIsT FORGIvING
Dramatic Scene in Trial Of
Slayers of Detectives Who
Evicted Miners.

Special Despatch to TIE NEW YoRK HERALD
WILLIAMSON, w. Va. Feb. ia
dramatic scene. in which 4 daughter
went on the stand and gave evidence for
the Commonwealth which may result IN
the death penalty for her father and
brother, was witnessed this morning IN
the Circuit Court before Judge X. ID.
Bailey. during the trial of Sid Hatfield
and his eighteen associates, who are
charged with murder in connection with
the staying of Albert Felts during the
gun battle at Matewan.
It was when May Chambers, 20.
telephone operator at Matewan. took the
stand and told of overhearing conver-
sation which passed between Sid Hat
efiid and Tony Webb. a deputy sheriff.
She Is the daughter of Reese Chambers
and a sister Of Ed Chambers. who are
on trial.
IT heard Sid Hatfield cay that they
would kill all the detectives IN the
town." Miss Chambers said.
Tho girl was called for the purpose
Of establishing that there was a con-
spiracy to slay the detectives and that
IL had been determined to do so several
hours before the shooting took place.
It is contended by the defence that the
accused men killed the detectives IN
self-defence.
Tho testimony was given after John
Mcdowell, one Of the detectives who
survived the gun battle. had testified
that he had seen Reese Chambers. father
of the girl. firing with his rifle into the
crowd of detectives.
No Signs OF Recognition.
There was a tenseness In the crowded
court room when Miss Chambers was
called. AS she entered the room she
glanced for a moment in the direction
Of her father and her brother. who were
in the group of defendants. but no sign
of recognition passed between them.
After seating herself In the witness
chair she turned her back to the de-
PENDANTS and, facing the jurors. she told
them OF what she heard while listening
In
The aged father, one Of the survivors
of the feudal war between the Hatneld
and Mccoy clans. being one of Devil
Anse Hatfield's constables. sat unmoved
while his daughter was testifying against
him.
They got her 10 say that" the father
said at the end Of the session as he was
returning to the county jail. They
have turned her against me. they Will
not permit her to talk to me. tried to
speak to her several times. but they VIII
not permit her to do SO. May Is a. good
girl and I harbor no Ill will against her
for what she did.
1.-THE Chains got her TO do that. Mays
mother died when she was young girl
and l was doubly interested in her after
her mother left US. I wanted her to
grow up a good woman. ] guess l was
a little too strict with her. g l loved
her and wanted to throw protection
around her.
"She was headstrong and finally she
left home. She went to the Chains
Our families--tho Chains and the Cham
bers-never got along we'll together. and
after they got May with them they
turned her against ME and the brother.
But May is a good girl and am proud
OF that for her mothers sake. am not
angry toward her. Everything is going
70 turn out all right and am not afraid
OF the outcome"