Subpoena for Sam McCoy (1882)
18 Thursday Feb 2021
Posted Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud
in18 Thursday Feb 2021
Posted Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud
in15 Monday Feb 2021
Posted Fourteen
in13 Friday Nov 2020
Posted Italian American History
inTags
Appalachia, crime, Ethel, genealogy, history, Logan Banner, Logan County, murder, photos, true crime, West Virginia
27 Tuesday Oct 2020
Posted Battle of Blair Mountain, Logan
inTags
Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, Bilton McDonald, C.S. Minter, crime, Don Chafin, F.O. Woerner, F.R. Remlinger, F.S. Schuster, First National Bank, Fulton Mitchell, H.C. Hill, history, justice of the peace, labor, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mine Wars, Naaman Jackson, sheriff, Sidney B. Lawson, true crime, United Mine Workers of America, W.S. Bradshaw, West Virginia
From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this item dated September 9, 1921 about the “armed march” on Logan County by union miners:
TROOPS END GREAT CONFLICT
CITIZENS MEET TO SEND THANKS TO SISTER COUNTIES WHO SO NOBLY HELPED
The war is over!
With the arrival of federal troops Saturday and the relieving of the boys along the battle sector Sunday morning Logan citizens started to regain rest which has been denied for two weeks. All Sunday afternoon special trains were speedily filled up and started on their way with tired but happy men, for their homes up and down the county and to our neighboring counties who so willingly came to our help at a time when days looked very black for the future of our beautiful county.
Every man a volunteer and every one ready for action as soon as he arrived in Logan. Logan will never forget the sacrifice made.
Monday evening in answer to a call issued, the circuit court room filled with citizens of Logan to give thanks and offer resolutions to those helping us and to the counties who so nobly responded to our calls for help.
The meeting was opened by Clarence McD. England and Naaman Jackson, president of the First National Bank was elected chairman. Committees were immediately appointed to draw up the resolutions. During the time the committees were preparing the resolutions several impromptu speeches were made. The speakers included Attorney Lilly and Chafin. Mr. Chafin emphasized the fact that it was due to Kanawha county’s failure to properly cope with the situation at the time when it could have been handled without bloodshed that it become necessary for Logan to mobilize an army under arms to protect its rights as a county. He brought forth rousing cheers when he stated that Logan county has a sheriff who had made the statement that “they shall not pass” and now they could say “THEY DID NOT PASS!” The fighting parsons were called for. They were the Reverends Coffey and Dodge.
Rev. Dodge said we had taught the rednecks the meaning of “Love” as it had been taught to him when a child–that of the application of a slipper to a part of his anatomy. He said it was in this manner he preached the meaning of the word and felt in this way Logan had showed her love for those who were fighting under the red flag through ignorance but who have now laid down their arms to resume the more peaceful pursuit of “live and let live.”
Justice of the Peace Fulton Mitchell was called on for a speech relative to the treatment received at the hands of the enemy when he and his three companions were captured and held for more than a week. His remarks were of the same content as will be found in another column of this issue.
In due time the resolutions had been prepared and read to those present and were speedily adopted and have been sent to the counties specified.
They are as follows:
Logan, Logan County, West Va.,
September 5, 1921
To the Officials and Citizens of our Neighboring West Virginia Counties, and the Western Counties of Virginia, whose Aid and Counsel was so Freely and Generously given to us at the time of the threatened invasion of our boundaries:
GREETING:
The representative citizenship of Logan county, West Virginia, in mass meeting on this day assembled, do hereby earnestly and publicly express to you and each of you, our sincere and hearty thanks and appreciation for the substantial, timely and very valuable aid and assistance rendered to our county and our citizenship during the recent attempted invasion of our boundaries by a misguided and hostile mob, imbued with the spirit of anarchy and fighting under the red flag.
The value of the help brought by the men who came to us from your counties cannot be overestimated. The organization was soon perfected and proved effective in holding back the invaders.
While your men were with us they showed fine courage and devotion to duty; their bearing was always that of courteous gentlemen, and the citizens of Logan county most heartily thank you and your gallant men for the splendid help given.
We hope the occasion will never arise when you will need similar assistance, but, if such a crisis should occur, our men will be found ready to respond.
Respectfully,
REV. W.S. BRADSHAW
F.S. SCHUSTER
F.O. WOERNER
C.S. MINTER
DR. H.C. HILL
Resolutions Committee.
The foregoing resolution was unanimously adopted at a mass meeting held in the City of Logan, September 5, 1921.
NAAMAN JACKSON, Chairman.
F.S. SCHUSTER, Sec’y.
In mass meeting assembled at County Court House in Logan, September 5th, 1921:
The citizens of Logan county–
RESOLVED: That the actions and efforts of the Logan county officials as well as those of the loyal men and women, are most heartily commended and approved, and it is further
RESOLVED: That the final results of such are most gratefully acknowledged and appreciated, and be it
RESOLVED: That a copy of these resolutions be printed in our local newspapers.
DR. S.B. LAWSON
F.R. REMLINGER
BILTON McDONALD
Committee.
08 Sunday Mar 2020
Posted Cemeteries, Tom Dula, Women's History
inTags
Ann Melton, Appalachia, cemeteries, crime, Elkville, genealogy, history, James Melton, Laura Foster, Melton Cemetery, North Carolina, photos, Tom Dula, true crime, Wilkes County
Ann Melton, a married woman, was involved in a love triangle with Tom Dula and her cousin, Laura Foster. Up this way to Melton Cemetery, Elkville, Wilkes County, NC. 7 January 2020
Anne Melton was charged with the Laura Foster murder, but was cleared by Tom Dula’s note shortly before his execution. Melton Cemetery, Elkville, Wilkes County, NC. 7 January 2020
Ann Melton died a few years after Tom Dula. A Foster descendant suggested that I not put flowers at Ann Melton’s grave, but I did anyway. 7 January 2020
Sources disagree as to Ann Melton’s cause of death. Family members recently placed this headstone. 7 January 2020
16 Sunday Feb 2020
Posted Tom Dula
inTags
Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, crime, Elkville, history, justice of the peace, Laura Foster, North Carolina, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Pickins Carter, Tom Dula, true crime, Wilkes County, Wilkes County Jail, Wilkesboro
The Wilkes County Jail was built in 1859. Here’s our guide showing us the jail cell on the lower floor. 8 January 2020
All three cells have the original doors, wood, and iron bars. The keys still operate the door! 8 January 2020
The jail was used until 1915, when it was converted into apartments. It was scheduled for demolition in 1968 but a local group saved it. It began operation as a museum in the 1970s. Here’s the lower floor cell before restoration… 8 January 2020
This way to the two cells upstairs… 8 January 2020
Was a knife like this one used to kill Laura Foster? 8 January 2020
In June of 1866, Justice of the Peace Pickins Carter wrote the warrant for Tom Dula’s arrest from this desk in Elkville, NC. 8 January 2020 For more info, go here: http://www.kronsell.net/the_story_3.htm
No known photographs of Tom Dula exist, but here is one local artist’s rendition of him. Photo by Mom. 8 January 2020 For information about the fake Tom Dula picture, read this article: https://www.statesville.com/news/local/joel-reese-column-who-s-the-soldier-in-the-photo/article_48eb0f0c-4c93-11e8-8455-abac2bbbaf82.html
Through these bars is Tom Dula’s jail cell. 8 January 2020
Looking inside of Tom Dula’s cell… 8 January 2020
Tom Dula’s jail cell… 8 January 2020
Inside of Tom Dula’s jail cell with the guide. Photo by Mom. 8 January 2020
Inside of Tom Dula’s jail cell… 8 January 2020
Tour happening! Photo by Mom. 8 January 2020
Side window inside of Tom Dula’s jail cell… 8 January 2020
Looking out of the front window inside of Tom Dula’s jail cell… 8 January 2020
30 Friday Nov 2018
Posted Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud
inTags
Alex Messer, Anderson Ferrell, Appalachia, Blackberry Creek, Bud McCoy, Cap Hatfield, clerk, crime, Devil Anse Hatfield, Doc Mayhorn, Elias Hatfield, Elijah Mounts, Ellison Hatfield, Floyd Hatfield, G.W. Pinson, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, James McCoy, Joe Davis, Joe Hatfield, Johnson Hatfield, Kentucky, Logan County, Mate Creek, Mathew Hatfield, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Pikeville, Plyant Mayhorn, Preacher Anse Hatfield, Tolbert McCoy, Tom Mitchell, true crime, Valentine Wall Hatfield, West Virginia
The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is James McCoy’s deposition regarding the affair:
COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C
Bill of Exceptions
FILED Sept. 1889
G.W. Pinson, Clk
The Commonwealth then introduced as a witness James McCoy who proves that he is brother to Tolbert, Randolp (sic) Jr. and Pharmer McCoy. Saw them Aug 9, 1882 on Mate Creek in the state West Va. Saw them on Blackberry Creek on Election day. Jo Hatfield, Mathew Hatfield and Floyd Hatfield had charge off them on that day. First saw them next day at Rev. Anderson Hatfield about 12 o’clock. They were tied arm and arm and all tied together. Saw several persons there. Saw Defendants there. They had guns. I think Rifle guns. Soon after I got there Bad Ance formed a line and said let all Hatfield men or friends fall into line. Deft. fell in to line. Doc had a gun. Am not sure that Plyant Had any gun. Ance said when the Prisoners were brought out we will take charge of them now. The whole crowd then went down Blackberry Creek toward the river. Witness went along about 1 ½ miles. Ance said to me I had no business further down and I stopped. Ance further said that he had a notion to tell the officers along that he had no further use for them. I went to Mate Creek in West Va. where my brothers was in a School house Wednesday Aug 9th 1882. I saw Bad Ance, Cap, Jonce Hatfields Defendants Doc & Plyant Mayhorn, Alex Messer, Tom Mitchell and some others. Defendants had guns some times. I left there about 3 o’clock p.m. Went down to mouth Mate Creek staid a few minutes at Sam Simpkin’s. Then went to Asa McCoy’s at mouth Sulphur. I saw Wall with a papers. Do not know what it contained and heard Wall call for signers. Saw Plyant walk up to Wall but can not say whether he signed it or not. Saw Plyant with Wall & Elias Hatfield and Elijah Mounts that evening late at the mouth Mate Creek. They went up river. Saw them again just after dark pass down by the mouth of Sulphur. I was there and they had not been gone by perhaps 20 minutes when I heard a volley of guns or pistols fired on the Ky side of the river about ½ way between Mouth Sulphur and Mate Creek but on the opposite side of the river from Sulphur. My brothers was dead when I found them. Anderson Ferrell went with him to find them. Found on the Ky shore short distance from river in a sink or flat all tied together and to two Paw Paw Bushes. Tolbert had one hand over his head. Made an examination of my brothers and found Pharmer shot 16 times. Randolph with the whole top of his head shot off. Six or seven shots in Tolbert. We removed them in a sled. They were all burried (sic) in one coffin. Elias Hatfield had a gun as they passed me at the mouth of Sulphur there was one horse in the crowd was considerably excited at times. The officers had the boys in charge for murdering Ellison Hatfield. There were a great many men along who had guns that are not indicted. There was six or seven guards and some that were not guards along with my brothers. I do not know where any one objected to my brothers being brought to Pikevill or not. I can not tell all the parties who had guns. Ellison Hatfield died about 2 ½ or 3 oclock Wednesday Aug 9, 1882. The men who taken the corps of Ellison Hatfield to Elias Hatfields was a part of the men he had seen at the school house. My brothers were found dead in Pike County Ky. Wall Hatfield is the brother of Ance, Elison & Elias Hatfield, and the father in law of the defts. When I saw my brothers at Rev. Anderson Hatfield’s there was also present Ance, Cap, Johns, Wall & Elias Hatfield. Carpenter, Dan Whitt, Messer, Murphy, Mose Christian and defts. When I found my brothers dead they were tied together and to two paw paw bushes. When Wall, Elias, & deft. Plyant Mahorn found me near the mouth of Sulphur at dark they were passing from the direction of Joe Davis’ at mo. Blackberry and going in the direction of the mouth Mate. From Jo Davis’ to mouth of Sulphur is about ½ mile, and from Sulphur to mouth Mate is about ½ mile. From the point where my brothers were found dead in Pike Co Ky is _____ in WVa immediately opposite is about 125 yards. As soon as they passed me near the mouth of Sulphur I ___ my horse pulled some grass and fed him, went back and sat down on the porch, and the firing directly began. I think it was 20 minutes after they passed until the firing began. I think I heard 50 shots. After the volley ceased there was one loud shot.
***
Written in the margin: Soon after this I went down to Ferrell’s and ___ Simpkins and myself went and found my brothers.
24 Monday Sep 2018
Posted Culture of Honor
inTags
Appalachia, crime, feuds, history, Huntington Advertiser, Jack Robinson, Knoxville, Robinson-Savage Feud, Tennessee, true crime, Union County, William Savage
Huntington (WV) Advertiser, 10 August 1899.
07 Friday Sep 2018
Posted Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan
inTags
Anderson Ferrell, Appalachia, Bud McCoy, crime, Devil Anse Hatfield, Doc Mayhorn, feud, feuds, G.W. Pinson, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, John Hatfield, murder, Pharmer McCoy, Tolbert McCoy, true crime, Valentine Wall Hatfield
The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Doc Mayhorn’s deposition regarding the affair:
COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C
Bill of Exceptions
FILED Sept. 1889
G.W. Pinson, Clk
Dock Mayhorn
I was at home in bed asleep when Walls boy come and said that Ellison had been cut shot and killed and that he wanted his horse ____ to him. We took the horse and went down to Wall at the mouth of Beech. Wall wanted us to go and help get his brother away from where he was shot. We did not know until we got down to Black Berry who had cut and shot Ellison. We then consented that we would go up and hear the trial, and ___ up the creek. I met Ans and th__ ____ the McCoy boys in charge in the ford above Rev. Anderson Hatfields house. I __ my horse out of the road and they passed on. I followed down to Rev. Anderson Hatfields They stopped there for dinner. I ___ my horse in the pasture ___ ____ walk to John Hatfields and got my dinner I was not present at Anderson Hatfields when the line was formed. After dinner I went to ___ my horse and as I started back to the house with my horse I saw the crowd moving down the road and down the creek. I went down to the mouth of the creek and stopped at the store house for ___ one ____ We then crossed the river and went down to Anderson Ferrills and staid there all night. I was up at the school house next day __ had no arms nor any pistol. either that day or the day before. I was not across the river with the crowd that killed the McCoy boys. I didn’t have anything to do with killing those boys nor did I aid or assist in doing so.
Examined
Clucl Murphy ____ me up his ___ and I _____
For more information about this incident, follow these links:
http://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/785?tour=55&index=3
http://wvpublic.org/post/three-mccoys-killed-hatfields-kentucky-august-8-1882#stream/0
http://hatfield-mccoytruth.com/2017/04/22/in-hatfield-country-blackberry-creek-in-the-1880s/
31 Friday Aug 2018
Posted Hatfield-McCoy Feud
inTags
Appalachia, Bill Staten, Bob Hatfield, Cap Hatfield, crime, Devil Anse Hatfield, Ellison Hatfield, feuds, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Howard Alley, Island Creek, Kentucky, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mingo County, Nancy Hatfield, Paris McCoy, Pike County, Randolph McCoy, Sam McCoy, Tolbert McCoy, true crime, West Virginia
From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this story by Howard Alley titled “The Hatfield-McCoy Feud” and dated May 10, 1937:
The Hatfield-McCoy Feud…
“Aunt Nancy” Hatfield, Widow of “Cap” Hatfield, Relates That Historic Feud Actually Started Over An Election Argument When “Uncle” Ellison Was Killed Following Argument With a McCoy
Much has been said and many volumes have been written about the historic Hatfield-McCoy feud which took place in Logan and Mingo counties in the latter part of the last century. Lecturers have said the feud started over a razor-backed hog, and novelists have written that it began when a McCoy married a Hatfield lass and deserted her after he learned that she was to bear him a child. Both theories have their foundation in tradition, but neither Hatfield nor McCoy close to the feud has been quoted as saying either was right. Yesterday the mystery was cleared up. Because it seemed so utterly preposterous that two solid, level-headed mountain families with the solidity of the English for a background could wage a ten-year killing spree over a razor-backed sow when the woods were full of the animals, and because it was equally as improbable that the feud started over unhappy marital relationships when it is an established fact that mountaineers let their offspring take care of their own home life, we decided yesterday afternoon to find out what event was the spark which actually set off the powder magazine of mountain passion which rocked the hills of this section for nearly a decade.
And in the warm sunshine of a late spring Sunday afternoon we sat on the porch of the late William A. (Cap) Hatfield’s rambling frame home on the upper stretches of Main Island Creek and talked to “Cap’s” wife, the last survivor of those who were closest to the Hatfield clan in the feud.
“Aunt Nancy”, who has survived seventy winters and admits that she is “young and has the ‘hang’ of it,” but “don’t think I can do it again”, gazed reminiscently out over the newly-turned acres of her husband’s creek bottom estate, and her eyes grew misty as she told us of the closing years of the last century when Hatfield and McCoy alike expected death at every bend of the creek.
“That feud didn’t start over no ‘hog lawsuit’ and it didn’t start over a Hatfield-McCoy marriage,” Mrs. Hatfield said in a tone that showed plainly her disgust for those writers who had written of the feud and by twisting the facts had capitalized on it. “I’ve got a red-backed book two inches thick here that one of my sons brought to me and said: “Read this, Ma, and you’ll find out why we fought the McCoys.’ I read it–two pages of it–and it’s layin’ in there now with dust on its backs. Not a word o’ truth in it.”
She grew repentant.
“But they have to make their livin’, I guess. You want to know how it started? I’ll tell you. The Hatfields was always a political family, and it was their politics which got ’em into this fight. If they hadn’t gone to that election in Pike county in August of 1882, ‘Uncle’ Ellison would never have been killed and Ellison’s brother, ‘Devil’ Anse would never have been drawn into it. But I’m gettin’ ahead of my story. The way it was, ‘Uncle’ Ellison Hatfield was an officer in Logan county in 1882 and was sent out to arrest Sam and Paris McCoy who was supposed to have killed Bill Staten, ‘Uncle’ Ellison’s brother-in-law. These boys warn’t sons of Randall McCoy, ringleader of the McCoys. They were just cousins. He got the two boys and brought them to Logan county jail in Logan and afterwards testified agin’ them in a trial. The McCoys were ‘sent up’ for the killin’. Then in August ‘Uncle’ Ellison went to Pike county to ‘work’ at the polls, and it was so ordered that he was working for a man that the McCoys were agin’. Well, the only thing that could happen did happen. One of Randall McCoy’s sons, just a little twenty-one-year-old shaver, started a argument with ‘Uncle’ Ellison, and Ellison, who was always too high tempered for his own good, slapped him down. The little feller bounced up, and Ellison slapped him down agin’. But this time he jumped on top of him, and ’bout the time he drawed back his fist, aimin’ to end the fight, a shot rung out and ‘Uncle’ Ellison toppled over. He weren’t dead though. He told his friends to call ‘Devil’ Anse, who come a runnin’, and the McCoys ‘cleared out.’ ‘Devil’ Anse took his brother home and he lived from that Saturday until the next Wednesday. Just before he died, he said to Anse: ‘Anse, I want you to give the McCoys the ‘law’.’ And that’s what ‘Devil’ Anse did. He gave ’em the ‘law’ as he knowed it–and that was just about the only law in them days–and lived to see the justice handed out. And, well, you know as much about what happened after ‘Uncle’ Ellison died as I do. I don’t want to add any more tales to the list.”
We took the hint, and willingly began to talk about the celebration of “Aunt Nancy’s” birthday last September when she fell off her back porch and was told by one of her sons that “she shouldn’t have been trying to turn handsprings at her age.”
“I wasn’t hurt bad enough to keep me from cuttin’ my birthday cake. And I gave Bob the smallest piece because he was so smart about me fallin’.”
Writings from my travels and experiences. High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water. Mark Twain
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