Outlaws, family feuds, and murder are the topics of a new non-fiction book by Wesley Harris, historian at the Claiborne Parish Library.

The paperback book focuses on two of the biggest troublemakers in northwest Louisiana in the 1890s—Link Waggonner of Webster Parish and Tom Kinder of Claiborne Parish.

Harris said he studied hundreds of newspaper articles and court records to piece together the story in the book titled, “Wild Boys: Outlaws Link Waggonner and Tom Kinder and the Policy of Violence in 1890s Louisiana.”

Waggonner and Kinder—archenemies—were believed responsible for numerous killings. They eluded punishment repeatedly, with juries often handing down acquittals despite strong evidence.

Kinder, once a deputy sheriff charged with tracking down fugitives, was heavily involved in the Ramsey-Tuggle Feud, a fight of several years between two well-known Claiborne Parish families and their allies. Kinder sided with the Ramseys and was accused of killing several of the Tuggle clan.

Most of Waggonner’s conflicts stemmed from the family’s belief it had been disrespected or slighted in some way. Harris explains an exaggerated sense of family honor was prevalent at the time as well as a “policy of violence” to deal with disputes and the ineffectiveness of the law to deal with criminals.

Harris said, “In many instances, I simply include the newspaper articles of the time to tell the story. Sometimes a news reporter was present when an event occurred; no need for me to retell the story when an eyewitness can tell it better.”

At one point, Waggonner and Kinder ended up in the Webster Parish jail at the same time. They asked the sheriff for Winchesters so they could shoot it out right there. The sheriff refused but their days were numbered, both destined to die violently within a day or one another.

Harris joined the library as historian in 2020 after a 40-year law enforcement career.

The book can be purchased at the library for $20, by mail for $25, or contact Harris at campruston@gmail.com.