Volume 14 , Issue 23

Elias Hatfield Killed In a Tunnel By Train

In The Bee, 12 January 1905, we find that Elias Hatfield, Noted for his connection with the Hatfield-Mccoy feud, is dead. Elias Hatfield was killed in a tunnel near Earlington, Kentucky, on a sunday as he was walking through the tunnel when a train overtook him. His body was mangled. That it wasn't a rifle ball which killed him is surprising. None of the Hatfields probably ever expected to die in any other way.

Elias Hatfield was released from jail two years ago after serving part of his sentence for killing Sheriff H. E. Ellis, one of the McCoys. That was one of the last murders of the famous feud, and it was one of the few for which a Hatfield was ever convicted. Since getting out of prison Elias Hatfield has been living near the place at which he was killed.

Elias hatfield was one of the hatfield brothers. Their father was "Devil Anse" Hatfield, the leader of the clan. Among the other brothers were "Cap." Hatfield, famous for his break from jail some years ago and subsequent recapture. Then there was John, Troy and Ellison Hatfield. They were all wanted for the Ellis murder, which occurred in 1897, but they got away. Elias Hatfield was the youngest of the brothers, but he had as many murders to his credit as any. He was only 17 at the time of the Ellis murder. He was a good shot and had all the other characteristics of the family, even a hatred for the McCoys.

The Hatfield-Mccoy feud started long before the civil war. Local history has it that a dispute over ownership of some hogs engendered the strife. There have been many fights, but perhaps the most famous was on account of Elias. he was accused by one of the McCoys at a reunion of the two families of having stolen money, and his brother, Ellison, defended him. Ellison Hatfield and Talbot McCoy were in a duel when another McCoy shot Ellison. The came a bloody battle, which resulted in the Hatfields seizing three of the McCoys, taking them over the line into the McCoy's own state, Kentucky, tying them to trees and shooting them full of holes. It was in 1882 when the Hatfields thus wiped out the insult to their younger brother.

The father and the other brothers were still alive as of 12 January 1905. The only one of the brothers who was ever shot by the McCoys was Ellison, and that was the fight over Elias back in 1882. Reports have had this feud patched up numberless times, but in that region few deeds of violence ever occur which are not ascribed to the hatred of the two families, dating back two generations. -- Bluefield, W. Va., Cor New York Sun.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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