The Washington times., 1922-04-19
DOVER AXE FATAL FEUD.
WHETTED is LAID To.
FOR DLA|R|CONSP|R
-Four Men. All Related. jailed at
Middleburg Despites Ones
Confession Of Guilt.
ay ss.ss o.vrssss.ssrs.

Ry staff Csvvssssrdert. s
LEESBURG. Va, April IL. "A
real murder mystery. growing osat
Of feud nearly . decade old,
today Is slowly uAfaveling itself
In the town Of MiddleburG, =
thrivin& village fiftesn milea fram
ae5 Bssr -. llS ~
Under arrsdk, charged ! with ysszx !
der, and feeling Is high In the
little town, where the fsud cul-
minated Saturday night in the
shooting to death Of Irving Hatch
er. forty-five years old, produce
dealer. Of Loudoun county. and
Washington. d. G.
stories Conflict.
Commonweaith Attorney cecp
Connor today admitted that the
testimony surrounding the shoot
ing of Hatcher was so disconnected
that he had found II necessary 10
call upon the citizenry of Middle
burg to aid In the solution OF the
crime.
Hatcher was killed at 10 O'Clock
Saturday night in front OF William
MitcheIi's store. Milton Furr,
twenty years old, later confessed to
the crime and was ordered held by
the coroner's jury
Further Investigation, however.
led the Commonwealth attorney 70
believe a conspiracy existed, and
he ordered Charles Furr. father OF
Milton, and two other relatives.
A farNAy nsxE "a
and charged them also with murder.
All four of the men were In Lees
burg Sunday attending the coroners
inquest. Milton Furr confessed. de-
clarinR he shot Hatcher. He was
sent to the county jail and Monday
was released In 81 500 bail. Aleck
Furr, Milton's cousin, who also was
in the hands of the authorities sun
day. was released
Citizens Incensed.
On Monday. however, feeling was
so high In Mlddleburg that an indig-
nation meeting was called and 4oo
citizens attended. They demanded
60 know of the Commonwealth attor-
ney why the two Furr boys were re-
leased. He told the citizens evidence
showed that Milton Furr shot in self
defense and that Aleck Furr had no
hand in the killing.
That same night at a coroner's In
quest testimony was given by peo-
pie of Middleburg which indicated,
according 10 Attorney Connor, that
the four members OF the Furr family
oonspired TO shoot Hatcher. The ar
rest of Aieck. Charles. and Louis
FUR was then ordered. These men
are In the county jail, while Milton
Furr is at liberty under bond.
Mrs. Belmont Goes Bond.
The four men win be arraigned be
fore Justice of the Peace w. p.
Taylor, of MiddIeburg, early next
week. hn-
Mrs. Raymond Belmont, daughter.
in-law OF August Belmont, OF New
York. furnished Milton's bond 1t
was said today that Mrs. Belmont,
due 10 the feeling In and around
Middfeburg, desired TO relieve herself
of the responsibility, and IL is ex-
.pected she win surrender the young
man to the authorities.
The trouble between Hatcher and
the Furr family In said TO have start
ed many years ago. but never reach
cd serious consequence until about
ten days ago. The two Furr boys.
Milton and Louis. II is said. visited
Hstcher's farm week ago Sunday,
and, II .is alleged. raised a rough
houae'' by firing off shots and using
profane language In the presence of
Mrs. Hatcher, wife Of the man who
was killed. W
Hatcher. who was not home at the
time, In said to have later upbraided
young Milton and declared sT1l kin
you n you come near my place
again" hh
Feod Grows Intense.
Charles Fun. father of Milton
Furr. accompanying the boy. and
fearing for the life Of his sor, went
10 Justice Tyler ON the same day and
Continued on Page a.eolumn Z. 3,