Battle of Matewan--The Pocahontas Jury

 

Battle of Matewan

A shootout between coal miners and the Baldwin–Felts Detective Agency

Date

May 19, 1920

Location

Matewan, West Virginia, United States

 

Resulted in

A setback for miners' rights until the early 1930s when the Government finally recognized American labor unions. Eventual passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933

 

 

The Matewan Massacre trial was held in Pocahontas County after a change of venue from Mingo County. The jury's impact on the trial was significant:

• The trial lasted 9 weeks, which was the longest murder trial in West Virginia's history at the time.

All 19 defendants, including Sid Hatfield, were acquitted of all charges related to the deaths of the Baldwin-Felts agents.This acquittal by the Pocahontas County jury was seen as a major victory for the miners and their unionization efforts.

 

Mingo County was considered pro-union, so moving the trial helped ensure a fair jury.

 

However, when the remaining charges against some defendants were tried again in Pocahontas County, one juror refused to convict, allegedly having been bribed by union supporters. This resulted in a hung jury and the defendants being acquitted again.

 

The Pocahontas County juries' refusal to convict the miners involved in the Matewan shootout was a blow to the coal companies and their use of private detectives to suppress unionization. It emboldened the miners' cause and was a factor leading to the Battle of Blair Mountain later in 1921.