Individual Details
Milton Harrison FURR
(March 8, 1901 - October 8, 1974)
Four to Tell of Virginia Murder
Hearings Set for Next Week in Hatcher Case
Probe Takes New Turn
Following the reported confection by Milton Furr, 20 years old of near Leesburg, VA, that he shot and killed Irving Hatcher, 45-year-old produce dealer, as he emerged Saturday night from Mitchell's store, a special hearing before three magistrates has been called at Leesburg for early next week, when young Furr, who is out on $1,600 bond, and his father, Charles Furr; uncle Alexander Furr, and cousin Lewis Furr, who are in jail, will give their versions of the tragedy. The parties are known in this county. Mrs. Raymond Belmont said to be a daughter-in-law of August Belmont, of New York, for whom Milton worked and who gave the bail for his release when he was first arrested, indicated yesterday that she would surrender her employee to the police, in view of the developments. Although the coroner's jury which investigated the shooting rendered a verdict that Hatchet came to his death at the hands of Milton Furr and that the killing appeared to be an act of self-defense. Subsequent investigation by Commonwealth's Attorney Cecil Connor and Sheriff T. W. Edwards lends credence to the allegation of Hatcher's friends that the shooting was premeditated and plotted by the Furrs with whom the dead man was known to be on distant terms.
The Daily News, Frederick, Maryland, April 20, 1922
Old Family Feud Leads to Killing In Middleburg, Va.
Four Arrested Charged With Murder of Merchant -- Youth Confesses.
LEESBURG, April 21. A rumor that a woman member of either the Hatcher or Furr families was the cause of the feud that sprang up between the two and which culminated Saturday night in the filial shooting at Middleburg of Irving Hatcher, was being investigated by authorities working on the case here tonight. According to the story in circulation trouble arose between Hatcher and the Furrs over the woman last January. Residents of Middleburg recalled tonight that that in the same month, Hatcher and Lewis Furr engaged in a bloody fist battle, the cause of which was not made known. Much of the mystery that so far surrounds the killing of Hatcher is expected to be removed at the preliminary hearing to be given the accused Furrs here next Monday or Tuesday. The hearing will be conducted by three magistrates of the county and will take place in the Leesburg courthouse. The date of the hearing depends on when Wilbur C. Hall, counsel for the Furrs, returns from Richmond, where he is sitting with the state legislature, of which he is a member. Hatcher, who was well known Washington, where he did most of his trading, was shot through the body just above the heart, as he stepped from the general store conducted by William Mitchell, dying almost immediately. Three other members of the Furr family, Charles Furr, the boys, father, and his uncle and cousin, Alexander and Lewis Furr, are being held the county prison here, charged with complicity in the shooting. All, with the exception of Milton, protest their innocence, but they are being held as the result of information supplied by residents of the town in which the tragedy occurred, after an indignation meeting held by the 4000 residents of Middleburg last night, in which they denounced the release of the "confessed" slayer and swore out warrants for the arrest the others. A feud "of long standing," between Hatcher and the Furrs has been brought to the fore by the authorities investigating the slaying and with it they are placing on exhibition numerous encounters involving the man who was slain and those who are being held in connection with the crime. The Hatchers and Furrs have been enemies of long duration, authorities and townspeople declare, and it was generally stated that Saturday night's affray was "merely the fanning of the spark of hatred into a dangerous flame." Recently the "ill feeling" sprang into action when Lewis Furr and Hatcher engaged in a fist fight, after vilely denouncing each other. Sheriff T. W. Edwards, of this county, said. There were no lights in Middleburg other than those in the few stores and houses. The actual scene of the tragedy was in the general store conducted by William Mitchell. It was from Mitchell and the few who were in the store at the time that Sheriff Edwards, of Loudoun county, gathered facts regarding the shooting.
The Bee, Danville, Virginia, April 21, 1922
Fathers and Sons Face Jury Today
MIDDLEBURG, VA Oct. 18. With the empanelling of a jury today, all is in readiness for the opening tomorrow of the trial of four men accused in the death of Irving Hatcher, a commission merchant, who was shot as he stepped from his store here on April 15. Two fathers and their sons are indicted on a charge of murder. One of the sons, Louis Furr, the first to be brought to trial, will face the jury at 9:30 o'clock tomorrow morning. The others who will stand trial are: Charles Furr, father of Louis; Milton Furr and his father, Alexander Furr. At the time of the shooting it was revealed that a feud existed between the Furr on occasions members of the two families had come to blows. The police at that time declared a shooting was a result of the feud. Although Milton Furr surrendered and stated that he had fired the shot, the other members of the family were arrested and later indicted by the grand jury.
The Bee, Danville, Virginia, October 19, 1922
Hearings Set for Next Week in Hatcher Case
Probe Takes New Turn
Following the reported confection by Milton Furr, 20 years old of near Leesburg, VA, that he shot and killed Irving Hatcher, 45-year-old produce dealer, as he emerged Saturday night from Mitchell's store, a special hearing before three magistrates has been called at Leesburg for early next week, when young Furr, who is out on $1,600 bond, and his father, Charles Furr; uncle Alexander Furr, and cousin Lewis Furr, who are in jail, will give their versions of the tragedy. The parties are known in this county. Mrs. Raymond Belmont said to be a daughter-in-law of August Belmont, of New York, for whom Milton worked and who gave the bail for his release when he was first arrested, indicated yesterday that she would surrender her employee to the police, in view of the developments. Although the coroner's jury which investigated the shooting rendered a verdict that Hatchet came to his death at the hands of Milton Furr and that the killing appeared to be an act of self-defense. Subsequent investigation by Commonwealth's Attorney Cecil Connor and Sheriff T. W. Edwards lends credence to the allegation of Hatcher's friends that the shooting was premeditated and plotted by the Furrs with whom the dead man was known to be on distant terms.
The Daily News, Frederick, Maryland, April 20, 1922
Old Family Feud Leads to Killing In Middleburg, Va.
Four Arrested Charged With Murder of Merchant -- Youth Confesses.
LEESBURG, April 21. A rumor that a woman member of either the Hatcher or Furr families was the cause of the feud that sprang up between the two and which culminated Saturday night in the filial shooting at Middleburg of Irving Hatcher, was being investigated by authorities working on the case here tonight. According to the story in circulation trouble arose between Hatcher and the Furrs over the woman last January. Residents of Middleburg recalled tonight that that in the same month, Hatcher and Lewis Furr engaged in a bloody fist battle, the cause of which was not made known. Much of the mystery that so far surrounds the killing of Hatcher is expected to be removed at the preliminary hearing to be given the accused Furrs here next Monday or Tuesday. The hearing will be conducted by three magistrates of the county and will take place in the Leesburg courthouse. The date of the hearing depends on when Wilbur C. Hall, counsel for the Furrs, returns from Richmond, where he is sitting with the state legislature, of which he is a member. Hatcher, who was well known Washington, where he did most of his trading, was shot through the body just above the heart, as he stepped from the general store conducted by William Mitchell, dying almost immediately. Three other members of the Furr family, Charles Furr, the boys, father, and his uncle and cousin, Alexander and Lewis Furr, are being held the county prison here, charged with complicity in the shooting. All, with the exception of Milton, protest their innocence, but they are being held as the result of information supplied by residents of the town in which the tragedy occurred, after an indignation meeting held by the 4000 residents of Middleburg last night, in which they denounced the release of the "confessed" slayer and swore out warrants for the arrest the others. A feud "of long standing," between Hatcher and the Furrs has been brought to the fore by the authorities investigating the slaying and with it they are placing on exhibition numerous encounters involving the man who was slain and those who are being held in connection with the crime. The Hatchers and Furrs have been enemies of long duration, authorities and townspeople declare, and it was generally stated that Saturday night's affray was "merely the fanning of the spark of hatred into a dangerous flame." Recently the "ill feeling" sprang into action when Lewis Furr and Hatcher engaged in a fist fight, after vilely denouncing each other. Sheriff T. W. Edwards, of this county, said. There were no lights in Middleburg other than those in the few stores and houses. The actual scene of the tragedy was in the general store conducted by William Mitchell. It was from Mitchell and the few who were in the store at the time that Sheriff Edwards, of Loudoun county, gathered facts regarding the shooting.
The Bee, Danville, Virginia, April 21, 1922
Fathers and Sons Face Jury Today
MIDDLEBURG, VA Oct. 18. With the empanelling of a jury today, all is in readiness for the opening tomorrow of the trial of four men accused in the death of Irving Hatcher, a commission merchant, who was shot as he stepped from his store here on April 15. Two fathers and their sons are indicted on a charge of murder. One of the sons, Louis Furr, the first to be brought to trial, will face the jury at 9:30 o'clock tomorrow morning. The others who will stand trial are: Charles Furr, father of Louis; Milton Furr and his father, Alexander Furr. At the time of the shooting it was revealed that a feud existed between the Furr on occasions members of the two families had come to blows. The police at that time declared a shooting was a result of the feud. Although Milton Furr surrendered and stated that he had fired the shot, the other members of the family were arrested and later indicted by the grand jury.
The Bee, Danville, Virginia, October 19, 1922
Events
| Birth | March 8, 1901 | Fauquier County, VA | |||
| Marriage | January 3, 1925 | Leesburg, Loudoun County, VA - Pauline Virginia GRAY |  | ||
| Occupation | 1940 | state highway laborer - Loudoun County, VA | |||
| Death | October 8, 1974 | Leesburg, Loudoun County, VA |  | | |
| Soc Sec No | 226-42-4481 | | |||
| Burial | Union Cemetery, Leesburg, Loudoun County, VA | |
Families
| Spouse | Pauline Virginia GRAY (1903 - 1967) |
| Father | Charles Chapman FURR (1875 - 1923) |
| Mother | Louisa FURR (1879 - 1945) |
| Sibling | Mary Elizabeth "Mae" FURR (1903 - 1983) |
| Sibling | John Thomas FURR (1907 - 1963) |
| Sibling | Claudia FURR (1910 - 1952) |
| Sibling | Clarence FURR (1910 - 1992) |
| Sibling | James Edward FURR (1914 - 1976) |
| Sibling | Woodrow Wilson FURR (1918 - 1960) |
| Sibling | Walter Chapman "Boots" FURR (1922 - 1970) |
Notes
Death
Milton H. Furr, 73, of 27 Wilson Ave. in Leesburg, died Tuesday at the Loudoun Memorial Hospital. Mr. Furr was a native of Middleburg. He retired as a superintendent from the Virginia State Dept. of Highways in 1966. Survivors include two brothers, Clarence Furr of Middleburg, and James Furr of Ligonier, Pa.; one sister, Mrs. Mae Dunbar of Middleburg, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Muse-Reed Bange Funeral Home in Leesburg. Burial will be in Leesburg Union Cemetery.Northern Virginia Sun, Arlington, Virginia, October 11, 1974
Endnotes
1. Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR8D-8HR : 29 January 2020).
2. The Washington Post, Washington, DC, October 8, 1974.
3. Virginia Death Certificates, 1912-1987. Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 11 November 2020.
4. United States Social Security Death Index.
5. findagrave.com.