Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-19
TWO SLAIN IN FEUD
AMONG POLICEMEN
Factions in West Virginia
Town Stage Battle Over
Truck Light.


WILLIAMSON. W. Va. August
1.-Two factions Of the Williamson
police force met in the street early
today and a gun battle ensued. during
which two officers were killed.
d. w. Deerfield and Harvey Nc
C.uire were the victims Of the shooting.
Julius Lawson and James Kirkpatrick
surrendered to county authorities and
were placed in Jail.
Truck Light Opened Fight.
Strife in the police department had
existed for some time. one force
claimed 10 be the regulars" while
the others were known az the de
uosed" officers. The latter, however,
continued to function.
Deerfield and Mcclure, among those
"deposed" attempted today to tag
milk truck for not displaying light.
Lawson and Kirkpatrick. regulars
were present at the time. An argu-
ment ensued and the pistol fight
followed.
Williamson residents were stirred 10
high feeling by the climax Of the poll
teal differences between the two fac
tons. With both forces armed and
claiming police authority. county au-
thorities considered means of avoiding
further conflicts, either between them
or between sympathizers of the two
groups.
Policeman RiddIed.
Eye-witnesses Of the shooting re.
ported Lawson and kirkpatrick hred
first and Deerfield died without having
drawn his pistol. After MCGUIRE fell
witnesses said he fred once, INJECTING
4 slight flesh wound in Kirkpatrick
leg. Deerfield was shot but once
through the heart, but Mcclure was
caught in a cross fire between Lawson
and Kirkpatrick and was riddled with
bullets. Six ripped through his body
and others broke both arms.
The gun battle occurred on q main
street in front Of the office OF MS
Daily News, and was witnessed ~
Charles Edwards, a newspaper report
err, and Asa Savage, garage man,
They said Deerfield and Mcclure az
preached a milk truck, standing Wits
out lights in front of the newspapac
office, and were about to tag" it f6t
violation of an ordinance when Lave
son and Kirkpatrick appeared.
| The latter two questioned the aty
thority OF the "deposed" officers q
tag tHo ttuShS anu SuhPAe'J fAAsN|S
| followed.
Williamson, a southern West Vir.
| ginia town of $500 population, has
| had two police forces. one appointed
and sponsored by Mayor w. F. Hat
| field and the other named last June
by a resolution of other members OF
the city council.
Dispute Aired in Court.
| Deerfield and Mcclure. members Of
the police force for nearly two years.
were ordered removed from office by
| the councilmanic resolution, which
named new officers, including Lawson
and Kirkpatrick. Respective claims
of the two factions went before the
| State Supreme Court on petition of
| the regulars" for a writ to require
Mayor Hatfield TO recognize them.
| The court, however, sustained the
mayors demurrer to the writ, with
provision that the petition might
| be amended later.
Since the court action an argument
over the two forces earlier this month
resulted in the wounding Of Dewey
Boaz, one of the regular" officers,
with which Willard Hatfield, William
son postmaster, was charged.
Another outcome of the political
| differences was q strike last week
OF city f1remen because they received
no pay. Their failure to be paid was
caused by the refusal of the city clerk
to countersign their pay checks in re-
taliation for the mayors refusal to
sign a pay check for the clerks
| stenographer.