After an August 1882 election day fight, Randolph McCoy's son Tolbert argued heatedly with "Devil Anse" Hatfield's brother Ellison, and Tolbert and his brothers Pharmer and Randolph, Jr., stabbed Ellison. When Ellison later died from his injuries, the Hatfield gang captured the three McCoy boys, brought them back to Kentucky, tied them to pawpaw trees, and executed them here.