The Washington herald., 1922-04-19
OLDFAMILY FEUD
BLAMED FOR MID
DLEBURC KILLING
Four Arrested Charged
With Murder of
Merchant.
YOUTH CONFESSES
Citizens Protest Release of
Boy on Bail Who Admits
Shooting to Police.
YOUTH CONFESSES


LEESBURG, Va. April 17.-Blood-
stained shades of the past and its
controversies are held responsible
Lfor the Staying of Irving Hatcher
10 years old. commissiop mer-
chant. IN MiddleburG. Va. Saturday
night. by the Loudoun County au-
thorities tonight.
Hatcher, who was well known in
his trading. was shot through the
body just above the heart, as he
stepped from the general store con-
Quoted by William Mitchell. dying
almost instantly.
Milton Furr. 20 years old. of Mid
Gleburg. Va. who. according to the
police, has confessed TO having fired
the shot which caused Hatcher's
death, is at liberty under $500
bond. supplied by Mrs. Raymond
Belmont. daughter-in-law of AN-
gust Belmont, of New York. en-
ployer of the boy.
Citizens Denounee Release.
Three other members of the Furr
family. Charles Furr, the boys
father. and his uncle and cousin,
Alexander and Lewis Burr, are be-
ing held in the county prison here,
charged with completely in the
shooting
All. with the exception of Milton,
protest their innocence, but they
are being held as the result Df in
formation supplied by residents of
the town in which the tragedy oc-
Cured. after an Indignation meet
ing held by the 400 residents of
Middleburg. last night. in which
they denounced the release of the
confessed" slayer and swore out
warrants for the arrest of the 9TH
ers.
\ fued "of long standing be-
tween Hatcher and the Furrs has
been brought to the fore by the
authorities investigating the slay-
ing and with it they are placing on
exhibition numerous encounters in
volving the man who was slain and
those who are being held in con-
nection with the crime.
Long Time Enemies.
The Hatchers and Furrs have
been enemies of long duration, au-
thorities and townspeople declare,
and 1t is generally stated that Sat-
urday nights affray was merely
the tanning of the spark of hatred
into a dangerous fisme."
Recently the "ill feeling" sprans
into action when Lewis Furr and
Hatcher engaged in "a fist fight,
after vilely .denounting each other.
Sheriff T. w. Edwards, of this
county. said
There are no lights in Middleburg
other than those in the few stores
and houses. The actual scene of the
tragedy was in the general store
conducted by William Mitchell. 1t
was from Mitchell and the few who
were in the store at the time that
Sheriff Edwards. of Loudoun County,
gathered the following facts re-
.garding the shooting:
Challenges to Fight.
shortly before 10 o'clock Hatcher
entered the Mitchell store and
seated himself upon a box. He had
just returned from tour of the
country side. during which he had
purchased the produce which he
was to carry to Washington the
next day.
As he entered. Charles Furr. who
had been in the store for some time.
told Mitchell that Hatcher was
cunning" for his son, Milton furr.
A few minutes later Alex Furr,
brother of Charles. entered the store
and taking a position in front of
Hatcher, applied fighting epithet.
Hatcher came back with a more vile
retort.
Alex Furr then picked up a beer
bottle. AS he did SO Hatcher drew
a knife and starting for the door
Continued Gu Page Tno.