The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-23
THE RAMSAY-RUGGLE FEUD.
LIFE FOR LIFE BETWEEN FAMILIES
IN A LOUIsIANA PARISH.

LIFE FOR LIFE BETWEEN FAMILIES
IN 4 LoUIsIANA PARISH.
Six Mes Assaulted ana Two wounded IN
Tea Observation-Disclosures and Uawiil-
tag Spectators RiadieA with Shot
Hsstilities suspeaded Only Because
Moss OF the Principals Have Beea
Ether Killed or Disabled.
New ORLEANS. Aug. 22.-Ths Ramsey Rug
gle feud In Claiborne parish is thought to be
near Its end. for the simple reason that most
OF tho principals In 1t have been killed on. and
1t will be some time before the younger Gsnsr-
alton will be big enough to take hand In
avsnging tho murder OF their relatives. There
have not been quito SO many deaths In this
feud as In the famous siddell-Jonss feud In
the neighboring parish OF Catabeula, and
In some respects It Is not quite SO pic
turesous. but In mysterious assassin.
lions, It surpasses all the Louisiana feuds and
It makes the fair showing OF six murders and
two persons seriously wounded In ten months.
In AN afrair OF this kind. naturally. while most
OF the shooting was done by lying In wait Tor
the victims and firing from ambush on them.
some Innocent lookers-on were killed. The
Ramsays and RugRles we're not in the habit OF
looking around to see II anybody else was In
the range Of their guns. and tho result was
the staying Of three perfectly innocent and
uninterestsd bystanders.
Claiborne parish. in which this ieud has been
wsged. Is usually ono Of the quietest In the
State. but the last year has changed all this.
and It now has the greatest number Of muir
ders charged against It Of oil parishes In Lou
isiana. It was settled BY white farmers from
the Atlantic States. mainly from Georgia and
the Carolinss. and its people are generally
very religious and law abiding.
Less than year ago some Ill feeling arose
between the Ramsays and the RuGglss two OF
the most influential families In tho parish both
engaged in farming What the exact cause OF
the trouble WAS is not known. but It is thought
to have bsen a trihing matter about their
farms. Tho feeling. however. became more in
tense until John Ramsay was hoard to say one
day that he would give Joe RuRRle thrashnR
the next time he met him. BE did more than
this for few days afterward. when the two
men met on the main street OF Homer. the
seat Of justice OF Claiborne parish. he nearly
killed him. Ramsay had double-barrelled
shotgun. which he usually carried. Az soon
As Ruggle saw this he turned and fed but he
was not quito quick enough. for Ramsay dis
| charged both barrels OF tho gun at him. bring
| ing him down with load OF buckshot in his
right arm and back Ruggle managed to mako
| his way into store and escape further harm.
| From there he was carried homo. beloved to
be In dying conoition.
This frst encounter resulted In no death.
Ruggle was dangerously wounded. however.
| and was confined to his bed for six weeks.
strong constitution pulled him through. and
| by the end OF October he was able to get about
and take tho trip to Homer which he had been
looking forward 10 through all his sickness.
| He won't around with a shotgun we'll filled with
slugs He was evidently looking for Ramsay,
| for he walk cd through the main streets OF the
| town. and finally stationed himself near the
Court House whore everybody meets on court
days. As he did SO Ramsay appeared and
started walking toward the Court House.
not seeing his enemy. Rueglo stepped
forward. and when Ramsay was within
few yards Of him aimed and fred. He fired
Mas % ssFI IN %R9 ss
old gentleman Of So. who was standing on tho
shot went through him. At the time Of tho
sheseiors. di H not try 10 get ouf Of his ranes
Ramsay escaped to neghboring store aud
'D Ths afiair eress.d good d..l of excitement
II Homer. whose people did 1ot IKE the
sa lis Ss GA
ber OF them announced that II any moro affairs
5 pansS f. The
u hsys ss any similar fusade On shsstresss
IT. f. Fan. e T hsal1 e'sis
william RAMSAY VA Esa Sy, Hs%D IA ana
family asif and "s NOBODY Us: Was hurt in it.
H.. e Mss p5s or si
IDENTIFY not satisfied with the death 81 William.
sm nsat sSsr an IN
70 0n ,s u tho ass...ins stole M to the Enm.nz
Winchester rias. and had Climbed over into
the iron, yard whom servnnt discernsd hin.
who his
and duel was kept M between them for some
the thea afirs S The Sheriff exam"ed the mat sr
and found that TWO men were engaged ~ the
make way s With n tie entire family and that they
might have done so had they not been diseov,
Trough The Ssfi Isr vss
oId NJ Ramsay father 2, Johp Hnd william NJ =.
ohsr S SRs 81 h 2 bad This his Hfs
ened. was naturally very much srieved by tn -
passed FL BIS lie. and moving to place where
However. who h"d started Tho trouble AZ
his winEness to f4sreo h'Tb sinr
th that With him out Of, the way thore
would Of, less ike dssrarcs Of bd 5Mtnsr
< few DAYS sitsrward J. D. Rl9e!e. the hsnd OF
the Kugee family, and his friend; J. N. Glover.
Of q mile from Toner: They were, driving
quietly along the road at tho time. but were
chester rifle and a revolver close beside him.
just as tho wagon reached 2 bridge crossing
noticed a man hidden among the trees; He
shouted Look JOE" 10 his friend; q and ID
from several directions. Glover fell back dead
at once. rlddled with bullets. hnggle 'ell fer FIR.
ward and hung oyer the dash60 boar . InS
at rapid speed and ran half a mile before
they were stalled in the mud, II was then
boring, farmer heard HIN, shout as he saw the