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Sid Hatfield | |
|---|---|
 Hatfield c. 1920 | |
| Born | William Sidney Hatfield May 15, 1891 or 1893 |
| Died | August 1, 1921 (aged 28 or 30) |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wound |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Smilin' Sid |
| Occupation | Police Chief of Matewan, West Virginia |
| Years active | 1919–1921 |
| Known for | Participating in the Battle of Matewan |
| Spouse |
Jessie Lee Maynard (m. 1920) |
William Sidney Hatfield (May 15, 1891 or 1893[1] – August 1, 1921), was a West Virginia law enforcement officer noted for his involvement in bitter labor disputes, on the side of labor, during the Coal Wars of the early 20th century.
Hatfield was police chief of Matewan, West Virginia during the Battle of Matewan, a shootout that followed a series of evictions carried out by detectives from the Baldwin–Felts Detective Agency.[2] He was indicted on murder charges stemming from the conflict and was shot on the courthouse steps by Baldwin-Felts detectives.
- ^ The 1893 date is usually given, and appears on his gravestone. However, according to the 1900 Census for Pike Co., KY, 0104 Magisterial District 5, Blackberry Precinct, he was born in 1891, and his sister Martha Alice in 1893.
- ^ West Virginia "The History of An American State"