Hellraisers Journal: Sid Hatfield, Matewan Police Chief, and 19 Citizens on Trial in Mingo County for Killing of Gunthugs

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Quote Sid Hatfield, re Evictions per R Minor, Lbtr p11 , Aug 1920———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday January 26, 1921
Williamson, West Virginia – Trial of Sid Hatfield and 19 Matewan Men Set to Start

From Indiana’s Logansport Pharos-Tribune of January 25, 1921:

TWENTY MEN GOING ON TRIAL FOR THE KILLING
OF MINE GUARDS AT MATEWAN
—–

FRIENDS AND FOES MEET IN WILLIAMSON, W. VA.,
AS POLICE CHIEF AND 19 CITIZENS FACE COURT
—– 

Matewan Trial Sid Hatfield etc, DRWGs, Bismarck Dly Tb p2, Jan 27, 1921

(N. E. A. Staff Special.)

WILLIAMSON, W. Va., Jan. 26.-Friend and foe rub elbows here, as miners and Baldwin-Felt guards assemble for the trial of Sid Hatfield, chief of police at Matewan, and 19 of his fellow citizens charged with killing seven Baldwins in a street battle.

Five Baldwin-Felts detectives engaged in the same battle will be tried under change of venue at Lewisburg, Greenbrier county, in April.

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Hellraisers Journal: Twenty-Four Men Face Trial for Part in Battle of Matewan; Life is Grim in Miners’ Tent Colonies

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Quote Sid Hatfield, re Evictions per R Minor, Lbtr p11 , Aug 1920———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday December 15, 1920
Matewan, West Virginia – 24  Charged with Murder of Gunthugs

From The Washington Times of December 12, 1920:

Mingo Co WV, 24 Face Trial, WDC Tx p12, Dec 12, 1920Mingo Co WV, 24 to Trial w Sid Hatfield Part I, WDC Tx p12, Dec 12, 1920[There follows a long account of the Battle of Matewan.]Mingo Co WV, 24 to Trial w Sid Hatfield Part II, WDC Tx p12, Dec 12, 1920

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Hellraisers Journal: Widow of Mayor Testerman, Now Mrs. Sid Hatfield, Center of Attraction at Williamson Courthouse

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Quote Sid Hatfield, re Evictions per R Minor, Lbtr p11 , Aug 1920———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday September 16, 1920
Williamson, West Virginia – Bride of Sid Hatfield Main Attraction at Court

From The Seattle Star of September 15, 1920:

Sid Hatfield Bride, Stt Str p14, Sept 15, 1920

Mrs. Sid Hatfield [Jessie Lee Maynard Testerman Hatfield], wife of Chief of Police Sid Hatfield, of Matewan, West Virginia, under indictment for the killing of Albert Felts, mine detective, in a street  battle last May, is said by many to be the prettiest woman in Mingo county. She was the widow of Mayor Testerman, shot, it is charged, by Felts. She married Hatfield shortly after Testerman’s death. It is said that this was the dying wish of the mayor. Mrs. Hatfield accompanied her husband to court at Williamson and was the center of attraction in the crowded court room during the preliminary hearings of Hatfield’s case.

———-

[Emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Twenty-Three Miners and Citizens of Matewan Indicted for Murder of Baldwin-Felts Gunthugs

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Quote Mother Jones Princeton WV Speech Aug 15, 1920, Steel Speeches, p230———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday September 15, 1920
Williamson, Mingo County, West Virginia – Sid Hatfield Among Those Indicted

From The Bismarck Tribune of September 13, 1920:

Mingo County UMW, Sid Hatfield n 22 Indicted,   -Bismarck Tb p2, Sept 13, 1920

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Hellraisers Journal: U. S. Troops in Mingo Co. with Mission to End War Between Union Miners and Operators’ Gunthugs

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Quote Mother Jones, Doomed, Wmsn WV, June 20, 1920, Speeches Steel, p213———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday August 31, 1920
Mingo County, West Virginia – U. S. Troops Arrive to End Mine War

From the Baltimore Sun of August 30, 1920:

U. S. TROOP BATTALION TAKES
OVER MINE AREA
———-
Soldiers From Camp Sherman, Ohio, Arrive
At Scene Of Clashes In West Virginia.
—–

WILL HOLD 50-MILE “FRONT”
—–
Riot Equipment Carried-Trials Of Those
Accused Of Killing 10 Men At Matewan
To Be Held September 6.
—–

(By the Associated Press.)

Mingo Mine War WV, US Troops to Arrive, WDC Tx p1, Aug 29, 1920
Washington Times
August 29, 1920

Williamson, W. Va., Aug. 29.-A battalion of United States Infantry, numbering between 400 and 500, under command of Col. Samuel Burkhardt, Jr., arrived here this morning from Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio.

A detachment of soldiers will be stationed at each mine in the strike zone from Kermit East to Delorme, a distance of 50 miles, it was announced.

Colonel Burkhardt was met by T. M. Davis, adjutant-general of West Virginia, representing Gov. John J. Cornwell, who yesterday asked the Government for troops because of disorders in connection with the coal strike in the Mingo Field during the summer. They visited a number of points in the district and mapped out distribution of the troops. Of the 65 mines in the district 20 or more have remained open during the strike, according to operators.

The troops were armed with regulation riot equipment, including rifles and machine guns, and carried one-pound cannon. Five trucks. one ambulance, and several motorcycles were also unloaded from the troop train.

The situation throughout Mingo county was reported quiet today. Martial law has not been proclaimed yet in the strike district, nor will it be, Colonel Burkhardt said, until occasion for such action arises.

The residents of Matewan and Williamson are said to have been relieved considerably by the arrival of the United States troops, owing to the frequent disturbances in the region during the strike. Their presence was welcomed particularly, according to local authorities, in view of the approach of the trials of 24 men indicted for the killing at Matewan May 19 of seven detectives, the Mayor of the town and two other men in a battle between miners, citizens and private detectives.

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Hellraisers Journal: Sid Hatfield and Nine Others Arrested at Matewan, Taken to Williamson, and Charged with Murder

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday May 26, 1920
Matewan, West Virginia – Chief of Police Sid Hatfield Arrested

From The Wheeling Intelligencer of May 25, 1920:

Sid Hatfield Plus Arrested, Whlg Int p1, May 25, 1920

MATEWAN, W. Va., May 24.-Sid Hatfield, chief of police of Matewan, Mingo county, and nine others were arrested today and taken to Williamson, where they were arraigned before Judge James Damron of the circuit court, charged with the murder of L. C. Felts and other Baldwin-Felts detectives in the recent Matewan riots.

They waived examination and were released on bond in the sum of $3,000 each.

Among the men arrested with Hatfield were: Reese Chambers, Clare Overstreet, Charle Kiser, Douglas Mounts, [Ed] Chambers, Ezra Fry, Billy Bowmen and two others.

The men were taken to Williamson by Jackson Arnold, chief of the state department of public safety, and other members of the state constabulary.

Other arrests are expected, as fifteen warrants have been issued for miners. Warrants have also been issued for the four surviving detectives who are alleged to have participated in the battle.

———-

[Emphasis added.]

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