Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey (left), Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone (right), and Bienville Parish
Sheriff John Ballance volunteered to speak during the recent DART Radiothon
broadcast November 6 on KPCH 97.7 fm, about the positive impact DART has had in
their communities with domestic abuse and what communities could do to help
their departments put a stop to domestic violence.
D.A.R.T. Radiothon Raises Over $15,000
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The 5th Annual
DART Radiothon held November 8 from Super One Foods Grocery in Ruston was a
great success according to Chairperson Pam Dance. The goal was to at least top
last year's total of $14,000 and to raise at least $1,000 in each of the four
rural parishes served by DART (Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson, and Union). So
far Claiborne Parish has raised $1,100 and money is still coming in. The total raised this year for all five parishes including Lincoln
Parish exceeded $15,000. Dance said, "We really had no idea how it would
turn out with all the tragedies that have been happening around us." The Radiothon is a very important fundraiser
for DART since losing some of their grant funding the past several years. It
has helped keep rural offices open. Dance also noted that all the money raised
in Claiborne Parish stays in Claiborne Parish.
Sheriffs from
three parishes, Ken Bailey (Claiborne), Mike Stone (Lincoln), and John Ballance
(Bienville) went on the air from KPCH 97.7 fm during the Radiothon. They
addressed a number of issues concerning domestic violence such as howshot their
communities could help deputies in their effort to stop domestic violence. They
spoke of the impact DART had had on their communities over the past eight years,
how domestic violence was handled before DART and how it is handled now. They
talked about law enforcement training seminars offered by DART and the
importance to their officers.
Anyone
interested in making a donation to DART can still do so. Checks can be mailed
to Claiborne DART, 300 Murrell Street, Homer, LA 71040, or you can drop off
your donation to the local office. If you have questions, please call Mary
Ellen Gamble at 927-2818.
New Hospital Debate Continues
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
For the past
month, citizens of Claiborne Parish have been discussing whether or not to
build a new parishwide hospital. The idea was first proposed to the Homer Town
Council on October 3 by Doug Efferson, administrator of Homer Memorial Hospital.
He explained how the HMH Board of Directors were faced
with a decision of whether to renovate the existing facility or use the money
to construct a new hospital.
The Board
looked at two proposals to renovate the hospital—one estimate was for $3 million,
the other $5.2 million. The cost to build and equip a new hospital is estimated
at $15 million. Efferson said they could provide health care at the present
hospital for a year...maybe two, maybe five, but he asked, "Is this where
we want to provide healthcare fifteen or twenty years from now?"
Efferson said
the Town of Homer does not have the tax base to build a new hospital, but the
parish does. The Board is looking to get what is best for Claiborne Parish—not
Homer, Haynesville or Athens.
At the October
3 meeting.of the Homer Town Council, Efferson presented a draft ordinance that
would transfer the ownership and operation of the hospital to the only
parishwide hospital service district, HSD No. 3. The ordinance includes a list
of 12 requirements that must all be approved before any transfer could take
place, which includes payment in full of the $2.4 million bonded indebtedness.
Besides approval of the Homer Town Council, the Ordinance would require
approval by all three hospital service districts, the State Attorney General,
and the State Bond Commission.
Community
meetings to discuss building a new parishwide hospital will be held Thursday,
December 1 at Mt. Olive Christian School in Athens, for Tuesday, December 6 at
the Lisbon Civic Center, and for Thursday, December 8 at Summerfield High
School. All meetings will begin at 6:30 PM.
Claiborne Home Health Applauded
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Doug Efferson,
administrator of Homer Memorial Hospital, introduced Kathy Dodson, director of
Claiborne Home Health to members of the Homer Lions Club. Claiborne Home
Health, which is operated under Homer Memorial Hospital, was recently ranked
"Highest In Patient Satisfaction In Claiborne Parish"
by the Home Health Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) for the
period between December 2003 and November 2004. Efferson said, "I was so impressed. I wanted her
to present the information to the Lions Club." He wanted the Lions to see
the outstanding job she and her staff were doing to care for individuals who
are homebound.
There are about
30-40 different home health agencies in Claiborne Parish. Efferson said,
"(Claiborne Home Health) had the highest patient satisfaction survey
score, on average, than any other provider of home health in Claiborne
Parish." Their program is run so
efficiently and patients are so well pleased.
Homer Lion Fred
Lewis said, "I've had the pleasure of dealing with this organization and
they are everything the lady says they are. They are professional, caring human
beings, and they are there to help you." He added, "You'll get more
care than you ever believe you could get."
Homer Junior High Project Hits Snag
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
School
Superintendent James Scriber told school board members the estimated cost to
renovate the old gymnasium at Homer High was $650,000, compared to the cost to
build a new metal building behind the new junior high of $750,000. Additions
and renovations to the old gym would require dressing rooms and bathrooms for
boys and girls, two coaches' offices, two outside exits, new stairs, new
elevator, new basketball goals, redoing the gym floor, new windows, and a new
cooling system. This would not eliminate the problem with the four classrooms
located under the gym. The benefit of renovating the old gym is that QZAB funds
could be used.
A new metal
building for a practice gym would include two dressing rooms, two bathrooms and
a tile floor, but no bleachers. The cost for a new gym would also include a lot
of dirt work and possibly a retaining wall because of the steep slope at the
rear of the new school building.
Scriber went
through the list of assets and liabilities, explaining what funds were still
available and how much was still owed on the Homer Junior High project.
Additional costs include the security system estimated at $80,000, the cost to
purchase the Hollenshead property and dispose of the house at $75,000, and the
estimated cost to construct the library at $350,000. Scriber agreed to check
with Hugh Parker on a price for constructing one building that will house both
a practice gym and a library.
Christmas Festival To
Feature Elvis Impersonator
A Full Day Of
Fun For Entire Family
In conjunction
with the 2005 Claiborne Christmas Festival, "Elvis" (Todd C. Martin
of Monroe) will perform at Homer City Hall on Friday, November 25 from 6-8 PM.
Tickets are $10 and concessions will be sold. An "Elvis Look Alike
Contest" and "Elvis Sideburn Contest" will also be held. Prize
is $100. The 2005 Claiborne Christmas Festival will be held all day Saturday,
November 26, from 9 AM-3 PM in downtown Homer. The Christmas Parade will be
held at 1 PM. Activities include over 40 food & craft vendors, face
painting, magicians and clowns, live choral music, performance by the Extreme
Country Band, games for children, rock wall climb, train rides and Screamin
Demon, horse drawn buggy rides, Oreo the 2000 lb. bull, Smokey the Bear,
Officer Ollie & Friends, and the lighting of the Courthouse Square at dusk.
For more information, call Dale Tully at 927-9009, or 927-4837 after 5 PM.
Haynesville Awards Safety Jackets
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Mayor H. U.
"Mutt" Slaid and members of the Haynesville Town Council recognized
all town employees, police officers and firefighters at their regular meeting
Thursday, November 17. Safety award jackets were presented to each employee and
to the mayor and council for the excellent safety record in the year 2005 and in
recognition that the workmen's comp total for last year was only $301.50.
Wayne Yarbrough
and Jerry Cronin, representatives of Risk Management Inc., attended the meeting
and congratulated the Town on its safe record. Cronin said, "It is
excellent in today's time when municipal governments are strapped for money.
Anything you can do to keep cost down is good."
Mayor H. U.
"Mutt" Slaid expressed his appreciation for the cooperation of the
police, fire and work crews. He said, "We appreciate the fact that they
were that careful."
Christmas Memory Tree
In Memory Of—Given By
Luther "Coy" Morgan Jr. -
Brandi Taylor
Jessie Leon Johnson - Joshua, Cadero
Johnson
Sylvester Winzer - Joshua Cadero Johnson
Eva Lewis Sumlin - Joshua Cadero Johnson
Fred Smith - Melissa, Keith & boys
Howard G. Moss - Melissa, Keith &
boys
Lura Roberson - Melissa, Keith &
boys
John E. Smith - Melissa, Keith &
boys
Mary P. Smith - Melissa, Keith &
boys
Earlene Huntington - Don & Bea
Grimes
Vernon Huntington - Don & Bea Grimes
Sam Tyler - Don & Bea Grimes
Ruth McKnight - Don & Bea Grimes
Mack McKnight - Don & Bea Grimes
Bill Grimes - Don & Bea Grimes
Randall Harmon-David & Jeanette
Eldridge
Dewell Ray Harmon-David & Jeanette
Eldridge
To purchase a light for the Christmas Memory Tree, send $5 with
name of person (indicate whether in "memory" or "honor")
and who the gift is from to Claiborne
Parish Christmas Festival at 400 West 3rd St., Homer, LA 71040 or take to Miss
Lizzies For more info, call 927-9009.
Henry Tuggle's Dying Statement:
"Tom Kinder shot me
. . ."
White Lightning Feud Series: Part 7
NOTE: This
is another in a series of articles reprinting prior published information on
White Lightning Feuds.
|
Historical Series Chronology
Resposes have been favorable to this
historical series. Additional material continues to come to light. This means
the series will be longer than originally expected; therefore, we are including
a brief chronology of past articles:
- Part 1 (printed 10/13/05) - J. H. Tuggle's rabid dog bit several livestock and other animals; W. W. Maddox assassinated by unknown person and rewards totalling $500 offered for arrest and conviction of the killer; J. H. Ramsey wounds J. D. Tuggle near Denman and Co. Hardware in Homer...
- Part 2 (printed 10/20/05) - Near Denman and Co. Hardware in Homer, J. D. Tuggle shot at John H. Ramsey, missed, and killed Professor J. H. Williams; W. W. Ramsey died and Hamp and Henry Tuggle were wounded in a shootout between the jail and Knighten's saloon in Homer...
- Part 3 (printed 10/27/05) - J. D. Tuggle and I. N. Glover died when ambushed by unknown assailant about three and a half miles toward Summerfield...
- Part 4 (printed 11/10/05) - Murray Tuggle, Hamp's 15-year-old son is shot and wounded; continuation of Dosia Williams' account of Hamp Tuggle's stay at Loyd Hall...
- Part 5 (printed
11/10/05) - Murray Tuggle, Hamp's 15-year-old son is shot and wounded; continuation of Dosia Williams' account of Hamp Tuggle's stay at Loyd Hall
- Part 6 (printed 11/17/05) - Henry Tuggle killed in field in presence of his three children. Link Waggonner shoots a Mr. Holland, then flees to Texas...
- Part 7 (printed 11/24/05) - Waggonner-Kinder grudge; Henry Tuggle makes dying statement that Tom Kinder shot him; Coroner's jury determines Tom Kinder shot and killed John Ferguson, a black man; Tom Kinder shoots at A. K. Clingman...
|
* * * * *
(continued from last week)
We also learn
that Henry Tuggle, who was recently shot and killed in his field at Cotton
Valley, made a dying statement to the effect that he saw and recognized the man
who shot him and that it was T. D. [Tom] Kinder of [Claiborne] parish. We do not know whether or
not a warrant has been sworn out for Kinder. So far as we know he has not been
seen in this vicinity since the shooting. Both of these crimes were committed
in Webster Parish.
Later.—We learn that the report that Mr. Holland was dead is a
mistake. At last account he was still alive, and it was thought that he might
possibly recover. We trust that such will be the case.
We also learn
that Mr. T. D. Kinder has been in the Dykesville neighborhood for some days
looking for Waggonner.
— Guardian-Journal, page 3
November 23, 1892
(NOTE: Our
research shows that Tom Kinder of Claiborne Parish and Abraham Lincoln (Link)
Waggonner of Webster Parish had a long-running grudge. John Agan, who produces
a weekly column "Echoes of Our Past" printed in the Minden
Press-Herald, has written: "Waggonner tacked a note to a tree in the
center of the [Minden] community bearing the following message: `I am not here
to harm a living soul, except Tom Kinder...if he continues to haunt me, I will
make it lively for him as I stand six foot in my stockings, wear a number nine
shoe, and cover every inch of ground on which I stand.'" Agan also wrote
that when Waggonner fled to Arkansas after shooting Mun Newsom [a Webster
Parish resident], Waggonner was captured and held in the Homer jail. While
there, a mob "knocked a hole in the jail wall and attempted to kill
Waggonner....the outlaw Tom Kinder [was a member of the Homer mob and] a former
Sheriff and United States Marshall [and] had been banned from law enforcement
for his fondness for killing prisoners.")
* * * * *
Rumors from the Seat of War
We learn that
the man Holland who was shot near Dykesville by Link Waggonner some weeks [ago]
is still alive. His arm has been amputated, and it is thought that he will
recover.
It is also reported that a band of men are still on the scout
for Waggonner. It is said that he has been seen in the community several times
within the past week.
[As to] the
dying statement of Henry Tuggle that it was Tom Kinder who shot him, we learn
that Mr. Kinder is able to establish his whereabouts at the time the shooting
was done and can show that he was not at or near the place where Mr. Tuggle was
shot.
— Guardian-Journal, page 3,
November 30, 1892
* * * * *
Mrs. Frank Gill
of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, has been among her Homer friends for several days past.
— Guardian-Journal, page 3
July 5, 1893
(NOTE: We
include this deceptively
insignificant detail because it connects with an item from Part 4
of this series: "...friends of Hamp Tuggle advised him to leave, which it
is thought, he did; also Frank Gill, the barber, and Joe Clingman, friends of
Tuggle." The brief report of Mrs. Frank Gill's Homer visit indicates that
Frank Gill and his wife apparently relocated to Mt. Pleasant, Texas, after the killings
of John H. Ramsey and an unnamed negro plus J. D. Tuggle and I. N. Glover, all
between March and August, 1891. Likely Mrs. Gill came back to Homer for a July
4 holiday visit with old friends. Parts 4-6 of this series cover Dosia Moore's
account of Hamp Tuggle's absence from Claiborne Parish while staying at Loyd
Hall Plantation near Cheneyville.)
* * * * *
Early Sunday
morning last [August 20, 1893] the body
of John Ferguson, colored, was found in the road dead near Cainey (sic)
bridge on the Trenton road about one mile from town. He had been shot in the
back with buckshot and twice in the breast with a pistol. The shooting is
supposed to have been done about nine o'clock Saturday night, as guns were
heard in that direction at that time, and the dead man was seen going in that
direction just before the guns fired.
It is the same
old story. The place where the parties stood concealed behind the fence was
found. There were two parties, one on each side of the road, and two tracks
were found leading off from the place. These tracks were followed for some
distance, and back in the woods a half mile from the place the shooting was
done, a place was found where the parties had camped, apparently for several
days. This is what was found by the sheriff and the coroner and his jury. The
coroner's jury up to yesterday morning was still holding over trying to obtain
more evidence.
John Ferguson
lived on Mrs. Hamp Tuggle's place. When he left town Saturday night he had some
letters and some other mail matter for Mrs. Tuggle. This was missing from his
person when he was found, as was also some tobacco which he had purchased in
town Saturday evening. (NOTE: Hamp Tuggle's 15-year-old son Murray had been
shot only a few days before this—August 12. Our research indicates Hamp Tuggle
was at Loyd Hall near Cheneyville from late August, 1893, until late February
or early March, 1895. It also seems Hamp made brief visits to Claiborne Parish
from time to time, undoubtedly to spend time with his wife Sallie and
17-year-old daughter Maud.)
Every
law-abiding citizen will condemn such crimes. It is the duty of our officials
and of all good citizens to exert themselves to the
utmost to put down such crimes by discovering and punishing the perpetrators of
such deeds. The parish will become unfit for civilized people to live in if
these assassinations are permitted to go on unchecked and unpunished.
----------
There are
plenty of people who can tell what ought to be done to put down crime in this
parish. What is wanted is action—somebody to do something and something that
will count. Where are the men who will do it?
----------
When the report
of a gun is heard nowadays, the first thought in many people's minds is, who is
killed now?
— Guardian-Journal, page 3
August 23, 1893
* * * * *
The coroner's
jury summoned to investigate the killing of John Ferguson, colored, which
occurred Saturday night a week ago, after investigating the case until the
following Wednesday, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased came to
his death from gunshot wounds inflicted by T. D. Kinder, aided by an
accomplice. Wednesday night the sheriff summoned a posse and went out to
Kinder's place for the purpose of effecting his
arrest, but he was not found and consequently was not arrested. We presume the
grand jury now in session will investigate the case.
----------
Mr. T. A. Smith came into town Monday and reported that
he saw Tom Kinder and another party sitting on a log in Beaver Swamp. Deputy
Sheriff Brown, Constable Bailey, and Tom Hamilton at once went out to the spot
in company with Mr. Smith. Investigation disclosed the fact that the parties
Mr. Smith saw were Mr. J. W. Johnson and Tilry Carter who were out squirrel
hunting and had sat down on a log to rest.
— Guardian-Journal, page 3
August 30, 1893
* * * * *
As Others See It
In commenting
on the last chapter of Claiborne anarchy, the Shreveport Times makes use of the
following language. The
comments of the Times may be taken as a mild reflex of the
opinion that is entertained of Claiborne affairs away from home. It is as
follows:
"Claiborne
is one of the best and most prosperous parishes in north Louisiana. Before the
terrible Ramsey-Tuggle feud began it was renowned for the peaceable and
law-abiding character of her people generally. Since [June 15, 1888] when the
assassination of Bill Maddox, a friend of the Ramseys, took place some three
years ago, murder has run riot and pandemonium has reigned among a people who
are by instinct and education a peace-loving and law-abiding community. The fact
seems to be that the two factions of desperate men so terrorized the people
that they were afraid to say or do anything to put a stop to the murders which
followed in rapid succession until the men, white and black, had been killed.
"The only
two men of the opposing factions now left are Tom Kinder and Hamp Tuggle, both
fugitives from justice, hiding in the brush armed to the teeth, hunting each
other like Indians or wild beasts.
"This last
chapter of the bloody vendetta ought to, and no doubt will, arouse the people
of Claiborne, make them rise up in their might, and rid their parish of these
men who have so long defied and paralyzed the strong arm of the law. They owe
it to themselves, their parish, and state to at once and forever put an end to
such horrible deeds in their midst.
"It seems
to have come to that pass that either the peaceable and law-abiding citizens
must get out and give their fair land over to
desperadoes or, as far as in their power lies, wipe this blot from their
parish."
— Guardian-Journal, page 2
October 25, 1893
* * * * *
Another Chapter in Our Record of Crime
Saturday
morning last [October 21, 1893] between eight and nine o'clock the town was
thrown into a blaze of excitement by the report that Mr. A. K. Clingman had
been attacked in his own house by Tom Kinder. The report proved to be true, but
fortunately Mr. Clingman was not hurt.
On Monday
morning of last week Kinder met Mr. Clingman in the road just beyond the
Methodist parsonage and gave him a general abusing and threatened to kill him.
On Friday evening Kinder was seen about the nursery and probably was then
looking for Mr. Clingman.
On Saturday
morning Kinder came to the nursery and inquired of one of the men where
Clingman was. The man would have told him had not Kinder gone on to state that
he had come to kill him. When Kinder made this statement, the man informed him
that Mr. Clingman was in a part of the nursery where he knew [Clingman] was
not. When informed that Mr. Clingman was in the nursery, Kinder said he was glad
of it as he did not wish to kill him in the presence of his family. As soon as
Kinder started for the place where he had been informed Mr. Clingman was, the
man hastened to Mr. Clingman and informed him of what had occurred.
Notwithstanding the warnings Mr. Clingman had received, he made no preparations
for a murderous assault, but he at once hastened to the house and commenced to
prepare some shells. He did this by removing the wads from the shells loaded
with bird shot and replacing them with buckshot. This was hastily and
imperfectly done. There were only six shot to the shell. By the time the shells
were barely made, Kinder made his appearance at the side gate and inquired for
Mr. Clingman. He was told that he was there and would be out in a few minutes.
Mr. Clingman walked out on his front gallery, took deliberate aim.......to
be continued.
******
Note: Bill
Hightower and Jimmy Dean researched this series of articles.
