The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-04-15
SIX PERSONS KILLED
IN A RACE Clash
NEGRO WHO STARTED TROUBLE
is TAKEN TO AUGUSTA FOR
SAFE KEEPING.

MILLEN, Ga.-Joe Ruffin, a negro,
and his four sons, who were riding in
a Buick six, preciptated a shooting
ARRAY near the Carswell Grove
church in the northern part of this
(Jenkins) county this afternoon
about 2 o'clock, which is known to
have cost the lives of six persons.
Tonight there are hundreds of per-
sons at the scene of the trouble, both
whites and negroes. Both sides ap-
pear to be we'll provided with arms
and ammunition.
List of Dead.
The known dead:
W. C. Brown, county policeman.
7. H. Stephens, night marshal of
Millen.
Edmond Scott, a negro.
John Holloway Ruffin, negro, and
two of his brothers.
Rush to the Scene.
Immediately followingl the first re-
ports of the shooting J. G. Perkins,
chairman of the board Of county
commissioners, and Sheriff E. M.
Johnson, went to the scene of the
trouble.
They found that Brown had been
shot dead, while Stephens, after being
shot had been beaten by negroes un-
til his head was almost pulp.
First reports of the shooting plac-
ed the name of Joe Rutfin, a we'll
known negro of considerable means,
in the casualty list. Joe Ruffin, how
ever, was located by the officers and
was placed under arrest and taken
to Augusta for safe keeping. Three
of Joe Ruffin's sons were left dead
at the scene of the trouble. Louis
Ruffin made his escape, but officers
are hunting through the woods of
jenkins county for him and for 9TH
ers who may be implicated in the
trouble.
Boisterous From Liquor.
According to patched up stories of
the trouble of this afternoon the
sheriff found that the officers who
were killed were called to the scene
because of reports that blind tiger
liquor was turning a church meeting
into a rioUous scene. The negro
church is the largest of its kind in
the county.
The crowds of negroes were gath
ering rapidly during the morning and
early afternoon. The congregation
appointed Edmond Scott, also a ne
gro, to go 30 Waynesboro and bring
a preacher to the scene. Waynesboro
is fifteen miles from the scene of the
disturbance.
Returns With Preacher.
When Scott returned to the church
he found the highway cOngested, it is
claimed. He had been made marshal
of the day by the negroes and he in
turn ordered the two white officers
to clear the way.
The white officers found that Scott
was armed. They arrested him and
were carrying him away when Joe
Ruffin and his four sons appeared on
the scene in their car and the shoot
ing began.
County Policeman Brown was kill
ed instantly as was the negro Scott.
Although Stephens head and body
were covered with bruises he lived
for two hours.
Town Is Excited.
The scene of the shooting is in a
sparsely settled section of the coun-
! ty, but negroes came for miles
around, driving in their automobiles
and in their buggies, or walking.
News of the shooting has caused
much excitement here.
County Policeman w. C. Brown
was a prominent member of the
Knights Of Pythias lodge. He had a
fine record as an officer, a story in
the Macon Telegraph recently show
ing the remarkable success that he
had had in running down blind tigers.
He leaves a wife and six children.
Night Marshal T. H. Stephens
leaves a wife and four children.