Charley Ruffin Pleads Self Defense in Killing of Charlie Thomas, April 1, 1924

Charley Ruffin to Face ‘Big Court’. . . Charged with Killing Charley Thomas, Another Negro, Late Saturday Night at Road Camp; Tried This Morning and Pleads Self Defense

Charlie Ruffin, negro, charged with the murder of Charley Thomas, another negro, was bound over to Superior court under $500 bond this morning by Justice of the Peace Rex Farmer.

Ruffin was apprehended by Sheriff O.A. Glover and Deputy Barnes in Saratoga yesterday morning and was brought to this city and placed in jail to await trial. The incident occurred at out 2 o’clock Sunday morning at a road camp in Saratoga Township.

According to witnesses, Thomas staggered into the camp with two knife wounds in his chest and neck, he entered one of the shacks and dropped dead. The two negroes had some words and Thomas is said to have attacked Ruffin when the latter drew a knife to defend himself with, and slew the former.

Ruffing was placed in jail to await trial at the next term of Superior court in default of bond.

From the front page of the Wilson Times, April 1, 1924