don don june august sheriff west_virginia commander sheriff fierce opponent received hundreds thousands dollars coal operators return violent suppression union notable anti union measures came battle blair mountain organized effort prevent armed miners crossing assembled force thousands local townspeople sheriff deputies national forces successfully prevented advance miners federal troops intervened forced disperse result actions hero operators enemy miners arrested connection sentenced years prison release important figure coal industry moved west_virginia wealthy known figure death early life born june near town present day west_virginia sixth children father sheriff grew town logan related family west_virginia great aunt wife years studied preparatory department taking college courses graduate attended teaching married eventually children survived adulthood years later appointed tax elected sheriff time elected county clerk sheriff sheriff known boss best known citizen authority extended far aspect public life reportedly controlled judge jury county according attorney general west_virginia powerful employed approval vast power attracted attention operators paid unions operators large payments paid expenses sheriff department exact payments unknown special commission ordered governor found received payment year return keeping union estimates bribes paid range high evidence suggests possibility higher figures historian reports annual salary year net worth excess suggesting received bribes annually operators directly paid salary deputies ensuring control department favorable treatment bribes owners result favors stationed deputies railway station guard union organizers suspicion entering county union organizer deputies force leave arrest beat case chief clerk union organizer threatened gun hit head forced leave county incident realizing mistake paid compensation faced consequences actions shooting anti union activities successfully aroused anger officials established record violent unpleasant confrontations union officials outside incident september entered office charleston west_virginia drunk armed vice president local union asked leave responded revolver shot chest caliber pistol later cleared criminal wrongdoing grounds action self defense expressed remorse shooting later remarked happens man carries toy pistol son bitch liable old second shooting incident walked sheriff office logan word shot chest walked blocks bullet lodged chest inches heart incident constituent walked office gun drawn reportedly said don gon shoot dead reached desk pulled pistol said ahead hop hell man left firing shot conflict unions pronounced august september strike beginning led increasing violence southern west_virginia including growing violence led declaration martial law congressional investigation circumstances area began accomplished little miners hero killed august agents steps murder funeral tensions erupted southern west_virginia miners assemble shortly death large group miners began assemble south charleston prepared march south free fellow miners imprisoned martial law decree violent acts path march miners directly causing fear declared armed mob cross prepared stop miners crossed preparations regarded contempt miners took cry hang don sour apple tree leaders miners later testified central aim march kill sheriff don faced oncoming army place plans forming early summer formed small army volunteers composed deputies guards members middle class begun train june established large weapons including machine guns erected slopes august turned fire town logan calling army morning members volunteer army assembled slopes addition land forces established small air force composed rented private owners use reconnaissance initial skirmishes august august forces miners officials managed tensions area convinced miners home recalled troops told defense rights forget miners dispersed attempted arrest group leaders attempt escalated shootout miners died suddenly rebellion clear major battle coming battle reorganized enlarged forces volunteers state arrived join army governor west_virginia helped recruit men join forces sent unofficial national guard unit join governor morgan named colonel national_guard ordered command forces officially passed command army remained popular perception clear battle imminent printed drop miners ordering time disperse effort produced results sides prepared conflict long dropped battle erupted hot warfare served second command helped organize forces day september fighting intensified left lines establish second line defense town logan case miners broke line day equipped pipe bombs tear gas dropped miners inflicted casualties aftermath day september battle ended federal troops general arrived army went home hero eyes coal operators role stopping march operators regarded hero miners placed blame regardless role events remained sheriff battle began round arrest number leaders miners leaders arranged arrested jurisdictions stay hand including official called general miners surrendered jail trials eventually transferred jurisdictions prisoners passed hands incident politics arrest battle went normal work sheriff arrogant believing position involved number illegal ventures including operation increasingly important party celebrity status battle frequently present state capitol attended member west_virginia delegation months later illegal activities led arrest deputies arrested violation act implicated trial tried convicted violation act federal courthouse west_virginia october given maximum sentence years prison ordered pay fine judge case took special precautions protect witnesses potentially violent nature appealed verdict upheld april sent federal atlanta served term prison lost influence political opponents took power release prison moved charleston retained influence lobbying coal industry later life moved purchased number properties including built home lived semi retirement rest life later days trained dogs known wealthiest men familiar figure city suffered heart attacks later life eventually died august hospital surgical procedure legacy house logan known served logan public library years listed national_register_of_historic_places
Don Chafin