1887 Farmerville Shootout costs lives of Judge James E. Trimble & Attorney James A. Ramsey Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Timothy D. Hudson, 12/2001 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= ================================================================================= The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, December 24, 1887, page 2, column 3 ================================================================================= ================================================================================= SHOT DEAD. Two Prominent men Shoot Each Other to Death in Farmerville, Louisiana. FARMERVILLE, LA., Dec. 20. - A most unfortunate personal difficulty happened here at about 5:15 o'clock this evening, by which two of our most prominent citizens lost their lives. There had been bad blood between Judge J.E. Trimble and James A. Ramsey for some time, which had been added to by a personal question involving the veracity of one or both. They met this evening at the front door of J. Stein Co.'s store. Hot words were spoken, and both, from all accounts, drew their weapons. There were some five or six shots fired, and Judge Trimble and Mr. J.A. Ramsey were seen to fall back dead. Both gentlemen leave most estimable families, and the affair throws gloom over the community. There was a large crowd present at the shooting, and it is a wonder that no one got struck from a stray bullet. Colonel Ed. Jones, brother of Collector Jones, had a hole torn in his coat and shirt by a stray bullet. The difficulty grew up as follows: At a mass meeting held at Farmerville on the 8th of November, Mr. Ramsey made a speech in which he sharply criticized [sic] the Farmerville Gazette for publishing injurious statements concerning Gov. Nicholls' official conduct, and when proofs of their falsity were presented had refused to make correction. The Gazette, of which J.E. Trimble was editor, in its next issue, assailed the moral character of Mr. Ramsey. On the eighteenth of November, in the Farmerville Advocate, Mr. Ramsey published a card signed by a number of citizens of Farmerville, certifying to his high moral rectitude and integrity, and at the same time he announced the fact that by reason of his conscientious scruples he was prevented from appealing to the dueling code to wash out the affront put upon him by Editor Trimble. The matter seems to have remained in this condition until the two men had a chance meeting on Monday evening, when the fatal altercation took place. Immediately after the shooting was over the coroner impanelled [sic] a jury and held an examination over the body of Jas. A. Ramsey, and after taking testimony of witnesses and rendered the following verdict: That said Ramsey came to his death by pistol shot from the hands of J.E. Trimble. The coroner and jury then proceeded to hold an inquest over the body of Judge Trimble, and after examining several witnesses, a verdict was held over until this morning and was then rendered as follows: That said J.E. Trimble came to his death by being shot by parties unknown. The bodies of the dead men were removed to their respective home after the coroner's inquest. In examining Ramsey's remains, it was found that he had received one shot near the hip and another in the heart, which caused immediate death. There was a also a pistol found in his pocket fully loaded without any of the chambers discharged. Judge Trimble was shot in both arms and on the left side of his head in the temple, and produced death almost at once. Both men fell after being shot in close proximity to each other. Judge Trimble's revolver contained two empty chambers, which had discharged during the fight. The funerals of the deceased took place this afternoon, Trimble being buried by the Knights of Honor and Ramsey by the Knights of Pythias. Our best citizens attended the funerals. Judge Trimble was editor of the Gazette and a lawyer. He leaves a wife and seven children to mourn his loss. Mr. Ramsey was a prominent lawyer, a deacon of the Baptist church, and president of the Baptist church. He leaves a wife and two young children to mourn his loss. Both men are sadly missed by the community at large as well as by their relatives. =========================================================================================