GAIL DRAKE: The infamous ‘Hog Trial’ of 1878

“Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.” — Ecclesiastes 7:9

“Floyd, that thar hog is mine! It’s got two slits in the left ear. That’s my brand! And I’m aimin’ to get back my property,” shouted Ran’l McCoy. He had just ridden by Floyd Hatfield’s farm in Tug Valley and saw some hogs in Hatfield’s hog pen.

And thus began, reputedly, one of the most bitter family feuds in American history, a feud that spanned more than 40 years.

The McCoy family lived on the Kentucky side of Big Sandy River, a lower-middle-class family that lived off the land. Their leader, Randolph “Ole Ran’l” McCoy, ran a 300-acre farm.

The Hatfields lived in Mingo County on the West Virginia side of the river and enjoyed more wealth and political connections. Their leader was William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield. One of 18 children born to Ephriam Hatfield, Anse was known as an expert rider and marksman and was so fierce he could take on the Devil himself (the origin of his nickname). Both families had political allies.

The Civil War broke out, and Anse headed up a local militia, then joined the Confederate Army, as did most of the McCoys. One stray McCoy joined the Union: Asa Harmon McCoy. Asa survived the war with a gunshot wound but was murdered on his way home by a vigilante group called the Logan Wildcats. Devil Anse was a prime suspect but was later confirmed being sick at home. No warrants were ever issued.

The next hostility occurred 13 years later, in 1878, over the ownership of a hog. Floyd Hatfield owned the pig, but Ole Ran’l claimed the notches on the pig’s ear were his markings. The matter was taken to the local Justice of the Peace, Judge Hatfield. Several different writings describe the trial but with differing details. Some identify the presiding judge as Matthew Hatfield, others “Preacher Anse” Hatfield.

Some accounts state that the judge called a jury of 12: six Hatfields and six McCoys. Other accounts note that, by statute, a magistrate court jury was only six persons. In any event, Judge Hatfield ruled based on the testimony of Bill Staton, a relative of both families, and restored the pig to Floyd Hatfield. Poor Bill soon met his fate, killed by McCoy brothers Sam and Paris. They were later acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.

In true Romeo and Juliet style, a few years later Roseanna McCoy met and fell in love with Devil Anse’s son, Johnson, aka “Johnse,” and left with him to live with the Hatfields. Roseanna returned home for awhile, but then Johnse was arrested by McCoy officers on outstanding warrants for bootlegging. Roseanna rode through the night to alert Anse, who organized a rescue party, surrounded the McCoys and took Johnse back to West Virginia. It appears “Romeo” then had a change of heart and did not return to pregnant Roseanna/Juliet. Instead, he married her cousin, Nancy, also a McCoy. Broken-hearted, Roseanna died, as did her baby.

The violence continued when Devil Anse’s brother, Ellison, was killed in a drunken fight on Election Day 1882. He was stabbed 26 times by three of Roseanna’s brothers — Tolbert, Pharmer and Bud — then finished off with a gunshot. Hatfield constables arrested the brothers and headed to Pikesville for trial. Anse’s vigilantes took the prisoners by force to West Virginia. They were tied to paw-paw bushes and their bodies riddled with bullets.

Twenty Hatfields were indicted but evaded arrest. The McCoys took their cause to Sheriff Cline. (Sheriff Cline had lost a lawsuit against Anse over the deed to thousands of acres). Anse tried to ambush and mistakenly killed two relatives, the Scotts. Days after the Scott killings, Constable Hatfield broke into the house of a McCoy family and flogged the wife. Other McCoys jumped into the fray and were shot and killed.

The feud peaked with the “New Year’s Day Massacre” in 1888. Several Hatfields surrounded Ran’l McCoy’s cabin and fired on the sleeping family, then burned the cabin down. Ran’l escaped and hid in the pig pen. Several children escaped into the woods, but two sons and daughter Alifair were killed, and his wife Sarah was beaten.

A few days later, Sheriff Phillips organized a posse of McCoys to track down Anse across state lines. A battle ensued at Grapevine Creek, and eight Hatfields were arrested and indicted for the murder of Alifair. At this point, the state governors intervened due to issues of due process and illegal extraditions, and appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that even if a fugitive is returned illegally, no federal law prevents them from being tried.

The eight Hatfields were tried in Kentucky and found guilty. Seven got life imprisonment, and “Cottontop” Mounts was executed in a public hanging. The feud trials continued until the 1901 trial of Johnse.

In 1979, Hatfields and McCoys united on “Family Feud,” a game show styled after their history and competed for cash and a pig. On June 14, 2003, they formally gathered to execute an official truce, signed by more than 60 descendants, that initiated an annual festival of marathons, games and country food.

So: Was the pig worth it?

While it is right to fight for principle and protection, some things are not worth feuding over. The wise control their anger, seek reconciliation, and de-escalate situations before they explode beyond repair. Sometimes the pig ain’t worth it. Just give ‘em the pig and get another one.

Gail Drake practices probate, adoption, mediation and children’s law in Albany. She is a frequent — and popular — contributor to The Albany Herald.