Hatfield-McCoy feud??

Question

I'm reading an essay on the Hatfield-McCoy feud in the book "Kentucky through the centuries."
I'm trying to figure out how the feud finally ended? I read on several geneology sites and wikipedia. I can't seem to find anything about what actually made the families decide to end their feud.

Another thing I can't seem to find any information on, is what the role of the local judicial system was, aside from the hangings in 1891.

Anyone have any idea about this? Please do not direct me to wikipedia, I've already read the whole thing there about this feud, I just can't find any info one these two things.

Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.

Answer 1

The anger over time subsided. Time, like it does with many feuds, killed it off.

The various parties that were the most involved and angry got old and died. Some of them realized how stupid they had been and regretted the loss of life.

The feud for a while was supported by the popular interest coming from news stories made about it at the time. Eventually people became disgusted by the entire matter and stopped caring.

Answer 2

At least you haven't had to hear it all of your life like I have. I'm a McCoy and I know some Hatfield's. We're still feuding, just not over that stuff anymore haha! One of the Hatfield girls and I both dated the same boy at the same time 10 years ago and now she is currently dating and living with my other loser ex. No hard feelings on my side but I think she's still a little bitter. OH WELL! :)

Answer 3

What was the role of the local judicial system in the Hatfield-McCoy Feud?

Answer 4

The feud ended when the remaining McCoys moved to Kentucky.

Answer 5

They did not end their fued, the government and death did.
I pulled some info from the listed website for you.

Fall of 1878-Floyd Hatfield accused of stealing Randall McCoy's pig

Bill Staton shot by Paris & Sam McCoy (acquitted @ trial)

1880-Rosanna McCoy and Johnse Hatfield ran off together
(never married)

In August, 1882, three of Old Randall's sons, Randall, Jr. (Bud), Pharmer and Tolbert, attacked Devil Anse's younger brother, Ellison Hatfield. According to many accounts of the incident, the attack was apparently unprovoked. They stabbed Ellison 26 times and then Pharmer McCoy shot him in the back . The Hatfields ambushed the posse that was taking Pharmer, Tolbert and Bud to jail and held them in a school pending Ellison's recovery or death. Devil Anse had said if his brother lived he would allow Pharmer, Tolbert and Bud to proceed to trial. If he died he would seek retribution. Ellison lived for 3 days after the attack. After he died, The Hatfields dragged the three McCoy brothers across the Tug River, tied them to paw-paw bushes and shot them to death. Devil Anse was the prime suspect until it was determined that he was at home in bed ill when the 3 McCoy brothers were killed.

Soon after this incident, the Hatfields broke into the home of Mary McCoy Daniels and whipped Mary and her daughter with a cow's tail. Even though she was married to a Hatfield relation, they thought she was leaking information to the McCoys. Her brother, Jeff McCoy, tried to seek revenge for the whippings. He was promptly shot to death on the banks of the Tug River.

Things wouldn't end there. Before it was over 13 would die. It was quiet for almost five years. That's when an enterprising lawyer who had lost some land dealings with Devil Anse Hatfield would convince the Kentucky Governor to reopen the case of the deaths of Tolbert, Bud and Pharmer McCoy and appointed "Bad" Frank Phillips to bring the Hatfields to justice.

The Hatfields were eventually tired of being on the run and thought if they eliminated Old Randall McCoy, there wouldn't be anyone to testify and bring them to trial. In an attempt to eliminate Old Randall and any other witnesses, on January 1, 1888 the McCoy's home was raided by the Hatfields. The raiding party consisted of Johnse Hatfield, Ellison "Cotton Top" Mounts (a suspected illegitimate son of Ellison Hatfield), Valentine "River Wall" Hatfield, Selkirk McCoy and several other Hatfield sympathizers. They set the McCoy cabin on fire and waited outside with rifles.

When the New Year's Day raid was over, Old Randall's son Calvin and daughter Alifair were dead and his wife, Sarah, had been savagely beaten. According to the newspaper articles of the time, Sarah's bloody head had been frozen to the ground with her own blood. When help arrived the next morning, Old Randall's daughter Adelaide was found sitting on the floor cradling her dead brother's head in her arms. On the bed was the body of her dead sister, Alifair, and her unconscious mother. The February 16, 1888 article in the Ironton Register stated Adelaide had "gone stark raving mad."
In all 9 men were arrested and brought to trial for the killing of the McCoys. Among them were Johnse Hatfield, Ellison "Cotton Top" Mounts (a suspected illegitimate son of Ellison Hatfield) and Selkirk McCoy. The governors of Kentucky and West Virginia battled over extradition and other aspects of the case. It was eventually resolved by the United States Supreme Court. The men responsible for the deaths of the McCoys were convicted of their crimes. They were sentenced to death by hanging, (Ellison "Cotton Top" Mounts), or prison terms. Some were later pardoned (Johnse Hatfield) and others, such as Valentine "River Wall" Hatfield, would later die in prison.

Roseanna's old lover Johnse McCoy was convicted and sentenced to prison. In a twist of fate, Johnse's wife, Nancy McCoy, divorced him and married Frank Phillips, the special officer appointed by the Governor of Kentucky to arrest the Hatfields for the killing of the three McCoys who had killed Ellison Hatfield five years before. Johnse would later be pardoned after he saved the life of the Lt. Governor, William Pryor Thorne. Thorne was at the prison for an inspection and was attacked by an inmate. Johnse slit the throat of the inmate thereby saving the Lt. Governor.

What was the fate of Old Randall and Devil Anse? Old Randall died of burns from a fire in the home of his nephew on March 28, 1914. He was 88. Devil Anse would live another 7 years after Old Randall's death. He died on January 6, 1921 of pneumonia at the age of 80.
The Hatfield & McCoy Feud resulted in what is today described as the perception of the hillbilly - they were depicted as barefoot, overall wearing country bumpkins. What we've failed to remember is that these were real people who suffered real tragedy. Their story is truly tragic. Men and women were killed and lives were forever changed due to the feud.