This resulted in seven detectives being killed along with the mayor of the town. The mine guard thugs the feisty, saltytongued old union activist was referring to were agents of the baldwin felts detective agency of roanoke, va. During this, the town sheriff sid hatfield sided with the miners in a gun fight against detectives from the baldwin felts detective agency. Velkes interest in the detective agency began at a young age as he listened to older relatives recount the exploits of the agency. The railroad detectives were not involved, but it was the baldwin felts detective agency who threw the miners out. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Union propaganda and overzealous reporting have created a lasting impression that the detective agency was a. Hes written many magazine articles, including the abcs of retail investigations published by loss prevention magazine in 2005. The baldwinfelts detective agency was a private detective agency in the united states from the early 1890s to 1937.
The baldwin felts agency was headquartered in roanoke and in bluefield, wv. Originally, the company provided investigative services to railroads for train robberies and other crimes. It occurred on may 19, 1920 between local coal miners and the baldwin felts detective agency. Principal ground work for this book lies in the famous battle of matewan, where sheriff sid hatfield and his deputies shoot it out in the streets with the agents of baldwinfelts who were trying to evict miners from their homes in retaliation for labor organization actions. Baldwin, owner of the baldwin felts detective agency. The true story of the baldwin felts detective agency. Union propaganda and overzealous reporting have created a lasting impression that the detective agency was a group of criminal thugs. Overview the west virginia and colorado coal mine wars of the early 20th century was a tumultuous time in history. In this era, good private detective agencies had resources to investigate a crime that vastly exceeded the resources of smalltown sheriffsand, in many cases, exceeded the resources even of the biggest. The baldwinfelts detective agency was one of several private detective. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Bc plans events to celebrate appalachia bluefield college. Before it was over, three west virginia counties were in open rebellion, much of the state was under military rule, and bombers of the u.
Lengthiest murder trial in wv history begins appalachian. Felts who is the cofounder of the baldwin felts detective agency along with his brother. Sep 21, 2017 the detective agency brought into the case was the baldwin felts agency in bluefield, west virginiaa substantial and professional agency. The baldwin house in bluefield was the home of william gibboney baldwin, the founder of the baldwin felts detective agency. Mann ii, a railroad police agent and firearms instructor who discusses. Most widely held works about inc baldwinfelts detectives. Baldwin, senior member in the firm, was a native of tazewell county. This book shines a light for the first time into the intrigue surrounding this controversial figure. Echols and baldwin were jointly tried and convicted for killing three 8 yr. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency john a. The baldwin felts detective agency was created in the 1890s by william gibboney baldwin under the name of virginia and west virginia railroad detectives. Baldwin felts also played the leading role in bringing the violent participants of the feud between the hatfields and mccoys to justice.
Jan 28, 2019 when nonunion miners in mingo county, wv went on strike for the right to join the united mine workers in the spring of 1920, mine guards from the baldwin felts detective agency evicted miners from their companyowned houses. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency by john velke. Most of what has been written about the baldwinfelts detective agency has concentrated on their work for the coal mine operators during the first 25 years of. The agency was founded in the early 1890s by william gibbony baldwin. In 1910, the name of the agency was changed to the baldwin felts detective agency, headquartered in bluefield, west virginia. John and his wife dani have been married for 35 years and have 5 children. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency by john a velke book. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency by.
At the center of this saga is charles everett lively, perhaps one of the deadliest of the undercover agents of the baldwin felts detective agency. Wealthy coal operators have hired the baldwinfelts detective agency to protect their fortunes and crush the rebellious miners by whatever means necessaryno matter how violent. The baldwin felts detectives total revenue at that time was based on strikebreaking. The true story of the baldwin felts detective agency by john a velke book. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency paperback january 1, 2004 by john velke iii author 3. Baldwin was from my own home county, tazewell county. The baldwinfelts detective agency was a private detective agency in the united states. Mar 25, 2015 three separate book readings and discussions are scheduled for the celebration, including 1 a reading with dr. Rob merritt, author and bc professor of english, tuesday, april 7 at 7 p. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency paperback january 1, 2004 language. Ellie cline arrives in west virginia the talk and envy of the town, hanging on the arm of john havers, top lieutenant to tom felts of the baldwin felts detective agency. Baldwinfelts detective agency deadliest fiction wiki fandom. Stories of baldwinfelts agency mcdowell county 1950. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency book.
In 1912 west virginia, star ving coal miners are arming themselves and threatening to strike. In the early 1900s, the baldwin felts detective agency played a brutal and bloody role in the union strikes and violence that took place in both matewan, west virginia, and ludlow, colorado. Yohos book nine lives about baldwin felts detective agent. Johns first book, a nonfiction account of the baldwin felts detective agency has been optioned to a hollywood production company. The battle of matewan also known as the matewan massacre was a shootout in the town of matewan in mingo county and the pocahontas coalfield mining district, in southern west virginia. The miners are reluctant to bring the imported workers, both black and italian into their union, a cause not helped by c. This building holds the jail cells and secret office of the baldwin felts detective agency. Wvu libraries browsing west virginia history onview. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency by john. Watch the mine wars american experience official site.
The end of the baldwin felts detective agency came soon after the deaths of the partners baldwin in 1936 at age 75 and felts a year later at age 69. He is the author of two nonfiction books, the true story of the baldwin felts detective agency and the recently released textbook prove em innocent. Second, as the references show, the baldwin felts detective agency was notorious for its use of violence against labor union supporters. The baldwin felts detective agency was a private detective agency in the united. Browsing west virginia history onview wvu libraries. Baldwinfelts detective agency wikipedias baldwinfelts. Most of what has been written about the baldwin felts detective agency has concentrated on their work for the coal mine operators during the first 25 years of. The baldwin felts detective agency was one of several private detective. The one contributed chapter is the guns of the baldwinfelts detective agency.
The true story of the baldwin felts detective agency by velke, john a. As ruthless as they were effective, the baldwin felts detectives were loved by the mine owners, but universally feared and hated by the coal miners and. Charles everett lively was perhaps one of the deadliest of the undercover agents of the baldwin felts detective agency. Most of what has been written about the baldwin felts detective agency has concentrated on their work for the coal mine operators during the first 25 years of the 20th century. Apr 25, 2017 the mine guards of baldwinfelts detective agency repeatedly shut down miners attempts at unionization with everything from driveby assaults of striking miners to forcing men, women and children. Asking for a balanced view of the baldwin felts agency s work would be similar to asking for an article on nazi deathcamp guards to talk about the good work the gestapo did. The true story of the baldwin felts detective agency paperback january 1, 2004 language.
The true story of the baldwin felts detective agency john a. He can be reached at jvelke at proveeminnocent dot com. Yohos book nine lives about baldwinfelts detective agent. This book is worthless, except to surmise how far powerful groups will go in an attempt at rewriting history. Resuming our look at the history of mercer county, courtesy of kyle mccormicks the story of mercer county, charleston publishing co. Baldwinfelts detective agency wikipedia republished wiki 2. Lewis stood in downtown bluefield, just down the street from the headquarters of the baldwin felts detective agency, and announced the umws intention to organize every mine in southern west virginia. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Oct 08, 2019 collins dives into the lesserknown coal mine wars and tells the untold story of the women of appalachia. Members of the agency were central actors in the events that led to the battle of blair mountain in 1921 and violent repression of labor union members as part of the coal wars in such places as the pocahontas coalfield region of west virginia, the paint creekcabin creek. The true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency. It began in the small railroad town of matewan when mayor c. The baldwin felts detective agency was a private detective agency in the united states from the early 1890s to 1937.
Most widely held works about inc baldwin felts detectives. The mine guard thugs the feisty, saltytongued old union activist was referring to were agents of the baldwinfelts detective agency of roanoke, va. Clear minded free thinkers will realize this, others, unfortunately, will not. The baldwin felts detective agency was a private detective agency in the united states. Buy a cheap copy of the true story of the baldwin felts. Baldwin, retired us air force, is the greatgrandson of william g. Smokeless fuel company smithing and other sales, 19141922 boxes 4344 6. Testerman and police chief sid hatfield sided with striking miners against agents of the baldwin felts detective agency, who attempted to evict the miners from companyowned housing. Every major labor movement in the usa was attacked in the 20th century. In 1920 the campaign shifted to mingo county, during which a notable event was the matewan massacre on may 19, 1920. This book helps correct that and sheds some light on what is for many, an undiscovered subject. Jun 02, 2008 jellybean since you started this thread and apparently have an interest in the baldwinfelts detective agency i would be happy to send you a complimentary copy of my book, the true story of the baldwinfelts detective agency. The baldwin felts detective agency played a controversial role in the early years of the coal industry of southern west virginia, enforcing.
The coal companies hired the baldwin felts detective agency to start evicting and assaulting the unionizers. In a time when state and national police agencies had not yet been formed, william gibboney baldwin and thomas lee felts created a firm of private detectives that became widely known and respected among law abiding citizens, and despised and feared by criminals and rabble rousers of all sorts. Among the agency s best clients were the owners of the coal mines of west virginia and colorado. December 1996, damien wayne echols and charles jason baldwin v. There was also a large engine men strike on the railroads in 1922, that resulted in some violence. Smokeless fuel company sales managers correspondence, 19141915, undated boxes 4042 5. After twelve baldwin felts men arrived in matewan, chief of police sid hatfield encouraged townspeople to arm themselves. As controversial an agency as ever existed, the organization does have a place in this history of southern west virginia mining. The true story of the baldwin felts detective agency john. Madrid to toler 5 ways to travel via plane, taxi, and car. The true story of the baldwin felts detective agency by john velke iii at isbn isbn private results 1 8 of 8 the true story of the baldwin felts detective agency by john velke iii and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint.
Baldwin s oldest son, william gibboney baldwin, was founder and principle of the baldwin felts detective agency. In 1900, he joined the baldwin detective agency as a partner who could provide legal advice to the firm. During a street battle, mayor testerman, seven baldwin felts agents, and two miners were shot to death. Nov 06, 2020 it was the time of the baldwin felts detective agency, a privately owned quasipolice force charged with keeping unionized coal miners in line, sometimes by violent means. Velke iii author of the true story of the baldwin felts detective agency. The name later changed to iron and coal police of west virginia, then to baldwin s railroad detectives, and next to baldwin s detectives.
Their accomplice, jessie misskelley, confessed and implicated both echols and baldwin in the murders. The agency was created in 1890 and was known for their involvement in many violent coal mine wars in west virginia. Baldwin house almost heaven west virginia wv tourism. Hatfield became a hero to the miners, but he himself was gunned down on august 7, 1921, which further inflamed the situation. Lively, a spy for the company within the union, who tries to goad the miners into violence and secretly informs the baldwin felts detective agency of the red kenehans presence. The west virginia mine war of 192021, a major civil insurrection of unusual brutality on both sides, even by the standards of the coal fields, involved thousands of union and nonunion miners, state and private police, militia, and federal troops. The baldwinfelts detective agency played a controversial role in the early years of the coal industry of southern west virginia, enforcing. Baldwinfelts detective agency project gutenberg self. Baldwinfelts detective agency wikipedia republished. A coal miners granddaughter in the baldwinfelts house the. The baldwin felts detective agency was one of several private detective agencies like pinkerton, that performed many freelance security and detective tasks, including strike breaking. In 1997, after spending more than 30 years researching, velke published his book, the true. The local sheriff, sid hatfield, tried to arrest the baldwin felts men, and in the gunfight that followed, the prounion mayor, two miners, and seven of the baldwin felts people were killed.
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