The West & Kimbrell Clan. Richard Briley's Book the Nightriders- "The Inside Story of the West and Kimbrell Clan". It is said that they were the most notorious, largest and most fearful criminal outlaw gangs that ever operated in the State of Louisiana, Mississippi, and East Texas. Some of our family members may have had to deal with, or try and sidestep, these outlaws on their way to Texas or just in everyday life. The Clans committed cold blooded murder. I can remember hearing some of the accounts of their deeds over the years. They are said to have burned one of the Courthouses down in Winnfield, destroying a lot of the old records. There was, for a long time, a tree in Winn Parish, Atlanta, La. that had a sign nailed to it "John West Died Here". They where said to have been captured and executed there by the law. The Following are some actual articles from Newspapers of that time. The Ouachita Telegraph September 13, 1866 Page 2, Column 4 We learn from a letter from Hon. E. E. Kidd, of Jackson parish, published in the North Louisianian, that recently a dead body was found in Winn parish which answers pretty well to the description of Lieut. Butts, who, it has been alleged, was killed in Jackson parish. Lieut. Butts had gone to Natchitoches, it seems, aided with money and means by some of the best citizens of Jackson; and upon his return through a country notoriously infested with Confederate deserters who espoused the strong side when they saw the Confederacy waning, he is supposed to have been foully murdered for his horse, a very fine one, and his money. Not only Jackson and Winn parishes disown such characters, but every community abhors them, and has reason to dread them as they prey upon all alike. Our people do not travel through these infested districts alone; but Lieut. Butts presuming too far on the protection which he thought his uniform would afford, has doubtless pain the penalty of his recklessness with the forfeiture of his life. He is represented to have been a good officer and had the people's confidence, which in these corrupt times renders his loss a greater affliction to the people he served than to those who will moan loudest over his fate. The Ouachita Telegraph Wednesday, January 13, 1869 Page 4, Column 1 HOMICIDE IN WINN PARISH We clip as follows from the Natchitoches Times of the 26th ult.: On Monday last, Brig. Gen. N.B. McLaughlen, commanding U.S. Cavalry in This vicinity, went over into Winn parish, accompanied by an orderly Sergeant only, to investigate the circumstances connected with the murder of Hal Frazier and another colored man, an account of which was given in our columns last week. While going along the road in the vicinity of the murder, he accidentaly met Wm. Kimball; one of the two brothers charged with the unprovoked murder of a colored man at Gunney's ferry in 1866. On seeing Gen. McLaughlen, Kimball fled and was pursued by the General, both being on horseback. After being pursued for a short time, Kimball was thrown from his horse while attempting to cross a creek bottom or morass. He rose up immediately, and protected by his horse, began to fire at Gen. McLaughlen, at the same time demanding his surrender. The General returned the shots, and after the third or fourth round, wounded Kimball in the face. Gen. McLaughlen escaped unhurt, but his horse was shot in the neck. Kimball then cried out that he would surrender; but when Gen. McLaughlen approached him; he jumped on his horse and again took to flight. He was again pursued; and as he fled, fired again at his pursuer, but without effect. Gen. McLaughlen returned the fire, and killed Kimball, who died instantly. Young Kimball was in company with his father when first seen. The Orderly seargent was left with the father, and young Kimball, was pursued by Gen. McLaughlen alone. Old Mr. Kimball was not molested nor did he take any part in the resistance offered to the authority of the General; though we are informed that after the body of Kimball was carried home his family and friends made some war-like demonstrations, which, however, did not result in attack. Being alone, General McLaughlen very prudently retired, and returned to this parish. These are the circumstances related to us. We do not vouch for their absolute accuracy, but they are believed to be in the main correct. As Gen. McLaughlen has been arrested, and the matter will undergo a judicial investigation before Judge Osborn on Tuesday next, we forbear comment. NOTE: The Ouachita Telegraph, Wednesday, January , 1869 Page 3, Column 1 relates: "Gen. McLaughlin, who was arrested and examined for the killing of Kimball in the parish of Winn, has been discharged." The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, May 28, 1870 Page 2, Column 1 Mystery and Retribution in Winn Parish. The recent lynching of a number of desperadoes, murderers and robbers - nine in all - in the southeastern portion of Winn parish has led to the disclosure of a number of bloody deeds which hitherto were enveloped in a mystery that defied the sharpest and closest scrutiny of the law. These men, headed by a man named West, have been operating as highwaymen with unvarying success ever since the close of the war, and perhaps before its close, and have sent unheralded and unprepared into eternity the soul of many an innocent victim, stimulated thereto solely by an ungodly greed for gain. Among these victims, it now turns out, was a Lieutenant Butts of The Federal army, whose unaccountable disappearance in 1866, while en route From Natchitoches to Vernon where he was detailed as a Bureau agent, excited At the time the virtuous indignation of the people of Jackson parish, and was the cause of calumny in Northern prints upon the reputation of that people, the New York Tribune taking the lead in the work of denunciation. Mrs. West and a man named Dean, one of West's accomplices, now clear up the mystery of the Lieutenant's death. He was killed by West not far from the Saline Mills in Winn parish. Information had been conveyed to West that the Lieutenant had drawn $2,700 at Natchitoches, and this sum West desired to obtain and did obtain from the Lieutenant's person after his murder. West, Dean and another man overtook Butts on the road, and to allay suspicion told him they were hunting cattle. Riding on, they came to a point near where there is a fine spring. Butts was induced to turn off to the spring to get some water. - While drinking from the spring, West deliberately shot the unsuspecting man through the head. His bones were some time after discovered, but until now the manner of his death was a profound mystery. Still another victim of these fiends was a Texan named Jones, who had been to Alabama and was returning home. Going, he had shared the hospitality of West, and returning, in compliance with a pressing invitation, he spent another and his last night on earth with West. He had told West the object of his journey east, (which ws to collect some money) and West set the snares into which his confiding victim, weeks after, so unsuspectingly fell. Mrs. Jones subsequently made diligent search for her husband, Traveling over the route he had traveled, but no ingenuity could trace him on his return beyond West's house. The reason is now made plain. It is also stated the same band murdered the families of two movers, said to be from Franklin parish, not leaving of the two families, composed of men, women and little children, a single soul living. It is thought West died in the possession of $30,000, the accumulated earnings of fifteen years of crime, and that the half of his dark deeds will never be told. The good people of Winn have displayed a comprehension of the rights of society and of the majesty of the law which puts to shame the rulers of our State.