“White Lightning Feud”
Part 1: The Rabid Dog

White Lightning Feud Series: Part 1

NOTE: This is the first in a series of articles reprinting prior published information on the White Lightning Feud.

 

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...

 

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            Wholesale destruction has been caused by a rabid dog which was the property of John H. Tuggle. Before the dog could be destroyed, he bit a fine bull and several cows belonging to Rev. J. T. Davidson, some stock of Thomas H. Tuggle, and a mule and some hogs of William Ramsey. He also bit a mule belonging to J. H. Tuggle. The owner finally was able to kill the dog. All the animals that were bitten have since died.

— Guardian-Journal,

August 28, 1878

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The Assassination

of W. W. Maddox

            We presume most of our readers have heard of the assassination of William W. Maddox on Tuesday of last week. The facts in the case, so far as known, are briefly as follows: On the day above-mentioned Mr. Maddox came to town to transact some business, and on the return home late in the evening he was shot by someone concealed by the side of the road, about two and a half miles from town, just this side of Mrs. Tuggle's place. Tuesday night a [traveling peddler] passed and saw someone lying in the road and drove around the man but did not stop thinking it probable that the man was only drunk. He related the circumstance, however, when he reached town, but nothing definite was known until Wednesday morning when the report of Maddox's assassination was brought in. Dr. Turner, the coroner, at once summoned a jury and went out to investigate the matter. The body was found lying in the road. About twenty-five buckshot had entered his body, most of them passing through the left shoulder, neck, and head. The place by the roadside where the assassin had [hidden] himself was found, and from the indications he had remained in waiting for his victim for several hours and had prepared for sure work by trimming the limbs out of the way so as to have a clear view to the road. The coroner kept the jury in session for several days, summoned all the witnesses from whom it was even suspicioned (sic) that something might be drawn, had the district attorney present to question the witnesses, but nothing was discovered which promises to lead to the apprehension of the party or parties who perpetrated the bloody deed. It was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination, and it is hoped that the guilty party will yet be discovered and brought to justice. If such horrible crimes can be committed and the perpetrator go undetected and unpunished, the life of no member of the community is safe from the assassin's bullet. It behooves the community to use every exertion, to leave no stone unturned, to apprehend and punish the guilty.

—Louisiana Weekly Journal, page 3

June 13, 1888

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The Police Jury met last Thursday and offered a reward of two hundred and fifty dollars for the arrest and conviction of the assassin of W. W. Maddox and also petitioned the Governor to offer a reward. We approve of the Police Jury's offering a reward, but we think it would have been better to have offered a larger reward.

— Louisiana Weekly Journal, page 3

June 20, 1888

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POLICE JURY PROCEEDINGS

The Police Jury of Claiborne Parish met July 1, 1888. Among business conducted was the following item:

$250.00 REWARD

            Be it enacted by the Police Jury of Claiborne Parish, that in addition to the reward offered at the June session of the Police Jury on June 14, 1888, there be and is hereby offered an additional reward of Two Hundred and Fifty dollars for the apprehension and conviction of the murderer or murderers of W. W. Maddox, who was killed on or about the fifth day of June, 1888, in the Parish of Claiborne. And that the Governor of the State be and he is hereby requested to offer a similar reward for the same purpose, July 8, 1889. (signed) T. A. Watson, President, Police Jury; (attest: J. R. Ramsey, Clerk, Police Jury

— Louisiana Weekly Journal, page 1

July 17, 1889

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ARIZONA VS. D'ARBONNE

Homer Defeated Badly by

D'Arbonne but Arizona

Defeats the Visitor

            A good deal of interest was manifested in baseball circles last week. The approaching entertainment by the Claiborne Agricultural Fair Association on the 4th and 5th instants brought forth challenges from various amateur clubs, and on the 4th two games were played.

            The first game was played in the morning between Homer and D'Arbonne, the victorious club to play Arizona in the evening. It was near a walk-over for D'Arbonne as the score will show—21 to 5 in favor of that club.

            As evening approached interest in the National game was at fever heat, and everyone appeared anxious to be present at the first twirl of the willow.

            About 4 o'clock game was called by the umpire, B. A. Bridges, and the following players given positions:

            Arizona—J. E. Madden, C. M. Harris, Hamp Tuggle, A. B. Nicholson, C. A. Parker, Luther Robinson, Wm. Johnson, T. M. Harris, J. W. Minnifee (sic).

            D'Arbonne—G. L. Jordan, Geo. Bridgeman, Drayton Freeman, Ed. Goodson, Geo. McKenzie, J. D. McKenzie, Sim McKenzie, Walter Price, Jim Simmons.

            From beginning to end this game was very interesting, and as fast as the many pretty plays were made by each side, a round of applause followed. Arizona, however, came up here to play ball and proved the assertion she had made, that they were ball tossers and the champions. The score at the end of the game was announced: Arizona, 13; D'Arbonne, 11.

NOTES

            Ed. Goodson makes a first-class first baseman.

            Hamp Tuggle holds third with a "death grip." Nothing passes and no basket needed.

            There was no "razzle dazzle and get up de line" coaching. It was conspicuous by its absence.

            The Homer boys are a little disfigured but still in the ring. Practice, boys, is what you need.

Guardian-Journal, page 5

July 19, 1890

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            An unfortunate shooting scrape occurred in this town last Thursday afternoon in which Mr. J. D. Tuggle was painfully, though we hope not seriously, hurt. Mr. Tuggle, who lives 4 miles east of Homer, has mounted his horse and started for home about 6 o'clock, and as he was passing the hardware store of Denman and Co., was fired upon three times with a double-barreled shotgun in the hands of Mr. J. H. Ramsey. The first and third shots did not take effect, but the second inflicted painful wounds on Mr. Tuggle's back and arm. Mr. Ramsey was arrested by the sheriff and constable and placed in the parish prison.

            Numerous reports are in circulation as to the cause of the shooting, but we refrain from making comments and think the courts are the proper place for such things to be settled.

            Both of the parties are well-connected and have many friends in the parish.

— Guardian-Journal, page 5

October 8, 1890

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            Judge Barksdale was in [Homer] last Saturday for the purpose of investigating the case of the State vs. J. H. Ramsey, charged with shooting J. D. Tuggle with intent to kill. Ramsey was admitted to bail in the sum of twelve hundred dollars. He has not yet made his bond, but we learn expects to do so today.

— Guardian-Journal, page 5

 October 15, 1890

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THE KILLING OF PROFESSOR J.H. WILLIAMS

            Last Saturday at about 12 o'clock, Prof. J. H. Williams was killed on the front gallery of the hardware store of Messrs. Denman & Co. by the discharge of a shotgun in the hands of Mr. J. D. Tuggle who was standing in front of the store of McCorkle & Bro. when the gun was discharged. Tuggle did not intend to hit Williams. He shot at John H. Ramsey, but missed him and hit Prof. Williams who chanced to be standing near where Ramsey was at the time the shot was fired. One shot passed through Ramsey's coat sleeve, but his person was not hurt in the least. When the gun fired Ramsey ran through the store  of Denman & Co. and made his escape. Prof. Williams was hit in the leg, thigh, and side with a number of buckshot. He was carried to the residence of Dr. Frank Henry where he boarded and medical assistance summoned. His wounds were pronounced fatal, and he died in a few hours. Prof. Williams was a comparative stranger in Homer and was engaged in teaching a dancing school. He was a harmless, polite, and gentlemanly man, and his death under such circumstances is a sad one. Prof. Williams was sixty-six years old.

            It will be remembered that J. H. Ramsey shot and wounded J. D. Tuggle a few weeks [ago] in this place with a shotgun.                                             ......to be continued

NOTE: Bill Hightower and Jimmy Dean researched this article.