Category: History - Other

Kentucky's Famous Feuds and Tragedies Authentic History of the World Renowned Vendettas of the Dark and Bloody Ground

Origin of the feud.--Fight near the Hatfield Tunnel.--Killing of Bill Staton.--Killing of Ellison Hatfield.--Butchery of the three McCoy brothers.--Murder of Jeff McCoy.--The tell-tale bloody lock of hair.--Quarrel of the Governors of Kentucky and West Virginia.--Official corr...

Chapters

16. Part 16

While people in town entertained their own opinions as to the guilty parties, but refused to express them, the Cockrells openly charged Hargis with complicity and of having hire...

17. Part 17

Jett's record previous to these assassinations was bad. Twice he had been accused of rape, had repeatedly been confined in jail on various other charges, for shooting at persons...

3. Part 3

"When Val Hatfield was sitting by them with a double barreled shotgun in his lap, the boys were lying on something on the floor, tied together with a rope. I fell on my knees an...

11. Part 11

Many theories were advanced in explanation of this singular action. Some attributed it to fear. Those better acquainted with the temper and make-up of the French clan scouted th...

6. Part 6

The banks of the Ohio river were lined with armed men for many miles to prevent his escape into that State. It was generally believed that he would be apprehended within a day o...

2. Part 2

We believe it germane to the matter under discussion to add that not only feuds, but mobs and the like, are, and ever have been, the direct outgrowth of a lack of confidence of...

10. Part 10

As the Tollivers were coming back, Boone Logan commenced firing. He was at once deserted by the men with him, but continued the fire which was returned by the two Tollivers, Cra...

8. Part 8

The factions charged each other with insincerity, of secretly maintaining armed bands and preparing for renewed hostilities. Within a few weeks after the compromise at Louisvill...

5. Part 5

Eight or ten days thereafter, Frank Phillips and eighteen others went again into West Virginia in pursuit of the remaining parties, belonging to what is known as the Hatfield cr...

15. Part 15

Dear Sir:--From a full investigation and inquiry into the condition of the affairs in Breathitt County, I am fully satisfied that the civil authorities cannot hold a circuit cou...

9. Part 9

Nearly all of the parties who were thus driven from the county, were men of wealth and business capacity. Removals continued. The magnitude of the exodus may be realized by exam...

13. Part 13

Neither is this fear groundless, as is shown by the fact that more than twenty men have been killed in the French-Eversole feud, most of them being shot from ambush. This is the...

14. Part 14

Smith was then under sentence of death at Jackson, Breathitt County, for the murder of Dr. John E. Rader. As is usual with doomed felons, he became converted and sought to wash...

7. Part 7

The event referred to was the vacancy created on the bench of the Court of Appeals as the result of a tragedy enacted upon the streets of the capital of the State, at Frankfort,...

12. Part 12

Please write me and send by way of Manchester, as I shall return that way, and if I do not receive your letter here, can get it on the road. If you order the guard to go with me...

4. Part 4

After his son's fatal attempt to escape, old man McCoy grasped a double-barreled shotgun, sprang from the door, discharged both barrels with telling effect into the gathered cla...

1. Part 1

Origin of the feud.--Fight near the Hatfield Tunnel.--Killing of Bill Staton.--Killing of Ellison Hatfield.--Butchery of the three McCoy brothers.--Murder of Jeff McCoy.--The te...

18. Part 18

The prosecution of the slayers of Marcum, Dr. Cox, James Cockrell, Judge Hargis and Ed. Callahan was prompt and energetic. It shows a return of a more healthy public sentiment....