Goldonna Tragedy, Natchitoches Parish Source: August 28, 1903 Southern Sentinel Submitted by: Greggory E. Davies 120 Ted Price Lane Winnfield, LA 71483 gedavies@iAmerica.net ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** GOLDONNA TRAGEDY. Walter Kennedy Succumbs To Shots From Weaver's Gun. The tragedy enacted at Goldonna on Wednesday of last week came to an end Saturday evening last by the death of Walter Kennedy, one of the participants in the duel. An eye witness to the affair said that Weaver had finished switching with his train and was at leisure when Kennedy asked him for an explanation of some remark Weaver had made. Weaver's reply was a shot from a .44 Colt, the ball striking Kennedy in the left side below the heart. Kennedy drew his gun and they both fired but missed. Then Weaver threw his right arm over Kennedy's shoulders, fastening his arms so he could not raise them. In this position Weaver fired several times till Kennedy unbreached his gun. After unbreaching Weaver's gun Kennedy fired, striking Weaver in the back. This caused Weaver to slacken his grip and Kennedy got loose. As he did this he shot Weaver twice in the breast and shot at him again as he fell to the ground. Kennedy then walked to a nearby store and called for a doctor. Both men were physical giants and full of courage, but in combat, with modern implements of death, they are dead, and have eternity in which to meditate on the rashness of their deeds. (Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, LA.) &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Subj: Grant Natchitoches and Winn Prs. Date: 98-02-18 11:03:10 EST From: jcraven@iamerica.net (Jan Craven) To: pbeaubou@iamerica.net CC: lafamtree@aol.com &*&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& From: jcraven@iamerica.net (Jan Craven) To: pbeaubou@iamerica.net CC: lafamtree@aol.com Why don't you combine some of these files. I hate these little tiny files.....personal pref. titling these things are hard!! Gregg let ME do it on many. We are fixing that, aren't we Peggy? Jan ***Needs a title**** &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Subj: Grant Date: 98-02-18 11:37:30 EST From: jcraven@iamerica.net (Jan Craven) To: LaFamTree@aol.com (Gaytha Thompson) Gaytha. This thing was FULL of tabs!! Spank that boy!! I took the tabs out but at the end of this message is Gregg's original. You can do whatever you want to it. I just didn't feel like lining all that stuff up. Sorry. I'm not much help today!! Jan >Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 22:49:50 -0600 >From: "Greggory E. Davies" >Organization: home >To: jcraven@iamerica.net, Wpgha@aol.com >Subject: Grant > >-- >Greggory E. Davies >120 Ted Price Lane >Winnfield, LA 71483 >gedavies@iAmerica.net >From the Congressional Record, House of Representatives, 44th Congress, 2d Session, >Ex. Doc. No. 30, "The Use of the Army in Certain of the Southern States" (pg. 436) > >Headquarters Post of Colfax, LA. >May 29, 1875 > >Second Lieutenant Geo. D. Wallace, >Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, District of Upper Red River, Shreveport, La: > >Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith the list of persons killed and wounded in the parish of Grant, Louisiana, and comprising a few names of those killed in this vicinity, in the tontiguous parish of Rapides. These names comprise those furnished in my report in February lats; the same were also furnished to Major G. A. Forsyth, A. D. C. to the Lieutenant-General, commanding Division of the Missouri. It was impossible to procure the names at an earlier date, as I was compelled to rely on persons over whom I had not control, and was obliged to wait their pleasure and convenience. I am unable to procure data from the upper portion of the parish, as those persons on whom I could rely for such information are afraid to trust to the perils of travel in the "piny woods." > >No. Name Date Place Remarks > 1 Jessie McKenzie, colored April, 1873 2 ® miles from Just before > Colfax, La. riot. > > 2 More Reed, colored April 12, 1873 " " Colfax riot. > 3 William Williams " " " " " > 4 H. M. Elzy " " " " " > 5 Meredity Elsy " " " " " > 6 Frank Jones " " " " " > 7 Jack Nely " " " " " > 8 John Carter " " " " " > 9 Mack Brown " " " " " > 10 Shuck White " " " " " > 11 Burney Brandon " " " " " > 12 Kit Smith " " " " " > 13 Alex. Tilman " " " " " > 14 Lank Pitman " " " " " > 15 Kendray Nelson " " " " " > 16 Guymo Nelson " " " " " > 17 Sam Samuel " " " " " > 18 Bully Ellis " " " " " > 19 Clay Murphy " " " " " > 20 Tody Hunter " " " " " > 21 Adam Kimball " " " " " > 22 Philip Harrison " " " " " > 23 Alex. Randolph " " " " " > 24 Warren Bullit " " " " " > 25 October White " " " " " > 26 Dun Wilkins " " " " " > 27 Jim Bazzo " " " " " > 28 Elias Johnson " " " " " > 29 Ashel White " " " " " > 30 Eli Jones " " " " " > 31 Tom Forster " " " " " > 32 Murphy Forster " " " " " > 33 Isaac McCullough " " " " " > 34 Eli McCullough " " " " " > 35 Spencer McCullough " " " " " > 36 Washington Madison " " " " " > 37 John Hall " " " " " > 38 Charles Embry " " " " " > 39 Lewis Palmer " " " " " > 40 Toby Shelden " " " " " > 41 John Randolph " " " " " > 42 Ocu Ruben " " " " " > 43 Henry Mathews " " " " " > 44 Mathew Irwin " " " " " > 45 John Simmons " " " " " > 46 George Clay " " " " " > 47 Clinton Real " " " " " > 48 Jesse Brown " " " " " > 49 Sam Kane " " " " " > 50 Sam Howard " " " " " > 51 Charles Simpson " " " " " > 52 Philip Feals " " " " " > 53 Nick Cotton " " " " " > 54 Peter Jackson " " " " " > 55 Dick Doe " " " " " > 56 Jerry Grow " " " " " > 57 William Sacks " " " " " > 58 Henry Swan " " " " " > 59 Henry Clap " " " " " > 60 William McClawn " " " " " > 61 Henry McClawn " " " " " > 62 Wall. Maxton " " " " " > 63 Jerry Clark " " " " " > 64 Matt. Parker " " " " " > 65 Joy Hemp " " " " " > 66 Jerry Washington " " " " " > 67 Shadwick Johnson " " " " " > 68 Isaac White " " " " " > 69 Robert Dudley " " " " " > 70 Harry Williams " " " " " > 71 Jerry Taylor " " " " " > 72 Cuffe Laines " " " " " > 73 Carry Johnson April 8, 1873 Hadnot Settlement Incident to Colfax riot. > > 74 Charles Sumpter April 13, 1873 Colfax, La. Colfax riot. > 75 Henry Blaine " " " " " > 76 Andrew James " " " " " > 77 Robert Love " " " " " > 78 William Brown " " " " " > 79 Adam White " " " " " > 80 Dick Peterson " " " " " > 81 Warren Williams April_, 1873 Rapides Parish, La. Incident to riot > 82 Charles Russell April 13, 1873 Colfax, La. Colfax riot. > 83 Peter Palmer April, 1873 Grant Parish in John Luer's > Ringwood plantation. > 84 Joe White 1872 Grant Parish Three miles from Colfax. > > 85 Jeff. Roper April, 1873 Rapides Parish Opposite Colfax > > 86 George Barnes 1872 " " Near Cotilo. > 87 George Shorter 1873 " " " " > 88 Hamp. Bullitt October 1873 Near Colfax, La. On Bayou > Dara. > > 89 Fountain Shaw April, 1873 Grant Parish Piny > Woods > > 90 John Bonner April 13, 1873 Colfax, La. Riot; mortally wounded. > > 91 Sam Love 1874 Grant Parish, Between > Piny woods. Montgomery > and Colfax. > > 92 Edware Ware 1873 Grant Parish No reason > known. > > 93 Mil. Robinson April 1, 1873 " " Oh his way to > Colfax. > > 94 Tony Williams Nov., 1873 " " }For > 95 Charles Vincent Nov., 1873 " " }alleged rape > 96 Tom Milton Nov., 1873 " " }of > 97 Hamp Harrison Nov., 1873 " " }Miss LaCour > 98 Van Moses Nov., 1873 " " }while in > 99 Alex. Randolph Nov., 1873 " " }custody of > the sheriff. >100 Alfred Frazier Dec., 1868 " " >101 _____ Jack " " " " >102 D. W. White** Oct., 1871 Colfax, La. >103 Volsam Cox 1871 Grant Parish >104 Andy Johnson 1871 " " >105 Jeff Yawn** Nov., 1873 Colfax, La. Killed by > colored > militia > >106 Frank Forster Aug., 1874 Grant Parish Piny > woods >107 Jim Cox " " " " " >108 Needham Waters** Oct., 1874 Grant Parish > 18 Unknown colored April 13, 1873 Colfax, La. riot Bodies buried > not identified > 15-20 Unidentified " " " Colfax, La. riot Between 15- > 20 were shot on the banks of the river and their > bodies thrown > in the river; > not included in the names. > > ______ Harris** " " " Colfax, La. riot > ______ Hadnot** " " " " " " > Salis Parris** " " " " " " > >List of Wounded > 1 Flam Williams April 13, 1873 Colfax, La. Colfax riot. > 2 William Brown " " " " " " " > 3 Joe McFeel " " " " " " " > 4 Curry Webb " " " " " " " > 5 Jesse Curry " " " " " " " > 6 Sam M cKinkley " " " " " " " > 7 Jules Clark " " " " " " " > 8 Fred Clark " " " " " " " > 9 Sam Smorthy " " " " " " " >10 Kay Irends " " " " " " " >11 Charles Williams " " " " " " " >12 Dan Gordon " " " " " " " >13 Frank Forster " " " " " " " >14 Ben Brimmer " " " " " " " >15 Levi Nelson " " " " " " " >16 Abe Mitchell " " " " " " " >17 Buttice Elsey " " " " " " " >18 Henderson Draw " " " " " " " >19 Makin White " " " " " " " >20 Richard Reed " " " " " " " >21 Wood. Gubeville " " " " " " " >22 Martin Jones " " " " " " " >23 Cuffe White " " " " " " " >24 Charles Field " " " " " " " >25 Gilbert Noble " " " " " " " >26 Henry Spotville " " " " " " " >27 Buttice Mills " " " " " " " >28 Oshum Buttice " " " " " " " >29 Henry Taylor " " " " " " " >30 Mole Suter " " " " " " " >31 Dan McCullum " " " " " " " >32 John Adams " " " " " " " >33 Henry Williams " " " " " " " >34 Flem Peters " " " " " " " >35 _____ Moses** " " " " " " " >36 About 10-12 whites " " " " " " " >46 William Ward Nov. 7, 1873 " " " " >47 Charles Morse ** " " " " " " " > >**= white > It will be seen that at least one hundred and five (105) colored and three (3) white s were killed in the Colfax riot, or in connection therewith, in April, 1873, and about forty-five (45) wounded. This does not include those said to have been thrown into the river. > > Respectfully submitted. > > Ed. L. Godfrey > First Lieutenant Seventh Cavlary, Commanding Post. > >(The above copied and submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, LA) &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Subj: Reconstruction...read this first!! Date: 98-02-18 11:55:43 EST From: jcraven@iamerica.net (Jan Craven) To: pbeaubou@iamerica.net CC: lafamtree@aol.com, gedavies@iamerica.net Peggy and Gaytha. and Gregg I guess you need to check with Gregg before you put these Reconstruction files I just sent you up. He had told me to hold them. What you say, Gregg. Can we go ahead and start getting them up? Would somebody disable the tab key off that boy's computer keyboard??? Jan Nugent/Brunson slayings, 1936, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Gregg Davies, Winnfield, LA ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** >From the April 24, 1936 Winnfield News-American Sheriff W. L. Nugent, Dpty. D. L. Brunson of Grant Parish Are Slain By Walter Johnson In Cattle Dipping Dispute Slayer Flees Into Lake Iatt Swamp, Is Sought By State and Parish Authorities DOUBLE FUNERAL FOR OFFICERS THURSDAY A double funeral for Sheriff W. L. Nugent and Deputy D. L. Brunson, who were killed Tuesday near Colfax, was held at the Colfax Baptist Church Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. Interment of Nugent was made at Liberty Chapel cemetery north of Dry Prong and interment of Brunson was made in Bethel cemetery. Nugent had served two terms as sheriff of Grant Parish and was re-elected Tuesday in the general election. Brunson had served as deputy eight years under Nugent. Father of Johnson Held Walter Johnson, 41, Aloha farmer who fled into the impenetrable Lake Iatt swamp was charged with murder Wednesday for the slaying of Sheriff W. L. Nugent and Deputy Sheriff D. L. Brunson late Tuesday. His father, 84-year old Sam Johnson, was arrested and spirited away from Colfax to an unannounced jail. He will be held under $ 1,900 appearance bond as a material witness in the case. Meanwhile, state police and local authorities armed with guns, tear gas, bombs and bloodhounds combed the densely-wooded section north of Colfax where Walter Johnson was arrested and _________ escaped following the shooting. Shotgun Slugs Fatal New light was thrown on the case when Dr. J. H. Sandifer, Grant Parish Coroner, announced that both Nugent and Brunson were killed by No. 6 buckshot slugs fired from a shotgun. Walter Johnson at first was thought to have fired a .30-.30 calibre rifle. This led officers to believe that another person might have been concealed in the woods, with Walter Johnson when he opened fire upon federal range riders as they attempted to load his cattle into trucks for dipping. It was possible, however, that Johnson had used two weapons, they said. "Judging from the range of the shots," Dr. S. L. Calhoun, Rapides Coroner said, "Nugent received two wounds in the head from one discharge of the weapon and Brunson's wounds were received from three different discharges." While 18 state police and sheriffs of three parishes aided in the search, the manhunt progressed slowly due to the inaccessibility the swampy area. Rains Obliterate Trail Heavy rains the night before rendered Johnson's trail virtually cold to bloodhounds, transported there earlier in the day from Angola prison farm. Brig.-Gen. Louis F. Guerre, head of the state police, who is directing the search, stated that his men expected to capture the fugitive within a short time. When captured, officers said, Walter Johnson will be immediately taken to a jail outside Grant Parish for safekeeping. Feelings are more than high in Colfax and mob action was feared should he be returned to that town. Sheriff U. T. Downs of Rapides, Sheriff Bryant Sholars of Winn, and Sheriff Henderson Jordan of Bienville, headed posses of local citizens in scouring the area. They located a truck belonging to Johnson on a country road about one-half mile from the scene of the shooting. Bloodhounds were unable to pick up the trail from this point, however _______. The shooting, which was the worst crime in the history of Grant Parish, followed months of dissension between certain cattlemen and officers over enforcement of the tick eradication law. Had Opposed Dipping Claiming that dipping sickened cattle, Johnson and his father had repeatedly refused to allow their stock to be dipped. An order from the eighth district court ordering the younger Johnson to show cause why he should not be kept from interfering with officers was served by Sheriff Nugent Tuesday morning. That afternoon, in company with the federal range riders the two local officers attempted to load several of Johnson's cattle on a truck to transport them to the dipping vat. Walter Johnson opened fire on the range riders with a rifle. He was hidden some distance away in a wooded area. It was when Brunson and Nugent attempted to capture Johnson from the rear that they were shot to death. Hearing the shots, but unaware of what had happened, the range riders awaited nearby for an hour before advancing into the woods. They found the two bodies. Walter Johnson had escaped. Nugent, former clerk of court, was to begin his ninth year as sheriff of this parish. He is married and father of 10 children. Brunson also is married and father of three children. A double funeral was held in the Colfax Baptist Church at 10 o'clock Thursday morning, the Rev. D. L. Goodman, pastor, officiating. From the church, the funeral party proceeded to Bethel Chapel where Deputy Brunson was buried. A few miles further Sheriff Nugent was buried at the Liberty Chapel. Sheriffs of the neighboring parishes were active pall bearers, and which included Sheriff Bryant Sholars, Winn, Sheriff Bill Payne, Natchitoches, Sheriff U. T. Downs, Rapides, Sheriff Floyd Jones, Red River. (The above submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish.)