Deputy Sheriff Burman Hatfield

Burman Hatfield

Deputy Sheriff Burman Hatfield was shot and killed from ambush while walking along the Norfolk and Western Railroad tracks between Panther and Mohawk.

Striking miners in the area had been involved in violent attacks against railroads, mine companies, and local law enforcement. Deputy Hatfield had been a miner but was appointed to be a deputy sheriff two weeks earlier. His house in War Eagle was burned down after his appointment and he was ambushed by several men as we walked along the tracks at about 8:00 pm.

Several members of the United Mine Workers of America who had been involved in organizing much of the violence and arsons were arrested between September 1921 and January 1922 and charged with Deputy Hatfield's murder.

Deputy Hatfield had only served with the McDowell County Sheriff's Department for two weeks.