Criminal Justice Matters: Rufus Ross, John Nichols, 1928, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: November 1, 1928 Winn Parish Enterprise

Negro Is Killed By White Man Oct. 25

Rufus Ross Claims That He Shot John Nichols, Negro, In Self-Defense

Trouble between John Nichols, negro, and Rufus Ross, who lives on Marble
Quarry Road, resulted in the death of the former on Thursday, October 24, at
Tannehill.  The white man, who claims that he shot the negro during an
altercation, is now out on bond, and will be brought before the Grand Jury,
which will convene Monday.

The body of John Nichols was found by children of Mrs. Jim Box, at 12 o'clock,
Saturday, October 27.  Deputy Sheriff Clayton C. Taylor and Coroner Fittz
were notified.  It was found that the negro had been shot once in the right
shoulder, twice in the arm, and had been wounded slightly in the head by shots
from a single barrel shot gun.  Coroner Fittz decided that Nichols had been
killed about 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon.

After the discovery of the body on Saturday, Ross came to the sheriff's office
and told Clayton C. Taylor he had killed Nichols.  He claimed that he had shot
Nichols in self defense.  A pistol said by Ross to have belonged to Nichols,
was found near a stump where the negro had fallen when he was fatally wounded,
Deputy Sheriff Taylor said.

Ross said that he and Nichols had been having trouble lately and that when
they met on Thursday, the negro cursed him, and told him that he (Ross) did
not have the nerve to shoot him.  When the negro reached for his gun, he shot
him, Ross said.

Nichols was about 45 years old.  He was making ties at Tannehill for A. P.
Burton.  Ross is about 28 years old.