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Ellison Hatfield “Cotton Top” Mounts

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Ellison Hatfield “Cotton Top” Mounts

Birth
Logan County, West Virginia, USA
Death
18 Feb 1890 (aged 25)
Pikeville, Pike County, Kentucky, USA
Burial
Pikeville, Pike County, Kentucky, USA Add to Map
Plot
Unmarked Grave
Memorial ID
View Source
Illegitimate son of Ellison Hatfield and Harriet Hatfield, 1st cousins. Took the name Mounts when Harriet married Daniel Mounts in 1867. Described as dimwitted and possibly an albino, Ellison was a participant in the New Year's Eve massacre that occurred in 1888 when a group of Hatfields and their supporters attempted to murder Randolph McCoy. During the gun battle Randolph escaped, but his daughter Alifair and son Calvin were killed, and his wife Sarah severely beaten. Ellison was charged with murder and confessed, but after being convicted and sentenced to hang he tried to change his plea, stating he had only done so in expectation of leniency. During the trial testimony was given by one of the McCoy victims that Cap Hatfield was the actual murderer. There were also rumors that Ellison had been pressured and bribed to confess with the promise he would be rescued.

On 2/18/1890, he was hung in Kentucky's last public execution and buried in an unmarked grave within sight of the gallows. His last words were reportedly "They made me do it. The Hatfields made me do it".

On 12/25/1882, Ellison married Rebecca Justice, daughter of Jaob Justice and Elizabeth Ferrell - no record of any children.

~

Kentucky's last public execution was in Owensboro, in 1936.
Illegitimate son of Ellison Hatfield and Harriet Hatfield, 1st cousins. Took the name Mounts when Harriet married Daniel Mounts in 1867. Described as dimwitted and possibly an albino, Ellison was a participant in the New Year's Eve massacre that occurred in 1888 when a group of Hatfields and their supporters attempted to murder Randolph McCoy. During the gun battle Randolph escaped, but his daughter Alifair and son Calvin were killed, and his wife Sarah severely beaten. Ellison was charged with murder and confessed, but after being convicted and sentenced to hang he tried to change his plea, stating he had only done so in expectation of leniency. During the trial testimony was given by one of the McCoy victims that Cap Hatfield was the actual murderer. There were also rumors that Ellison had been pressured and bribed to confess with the promise he would be rescued.

On 2/18/1890, he was hung in Kentucky's last public execution and buried in an unmarked grave within sight of the gallows. His last words were reportedly "They made me do it. The Hatfields made me do it".

On 12/25/1882, Ellison married Rebecca Justice, daughter of Jaob Justice and Elizabeth Ferrell - no record of any children.

~

Kentucky's last public execution was in Owensboro, in 1936.


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