Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Denison Press
Friday, February 23, 1951
pg. 4

DEATHS
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at Bratcher-Moore chapel for Mrs. Ruby Lucile Baugus, 25, who was fatally stabbed here Friday night. The Rev. E.A. Manley conducted the services and burial was in Layne cemetery.
Mrs. Baugus was born in Needmore, Oklahoma, September 15, 1925. She was reared and educated in Denison. She was married to Otis Baugus at Sherman, March 30, 1950. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church.
Survivors include her husband; her mother, Mrs. Ollie Brown, Denison; three daughters, Cheryl, Revina and Voncille Cherry of Denison; two brothers, Russell Brown, Ft. Worth; Luther Brown, Sherman; three sisters, Mrs. C.O. Clevenger, Sherman; Mrs. Jim Wieger and Mrs. J.D. Brownlee of Denison.

The Denison Press
Friday, February 23, 1951
pg. 1

KNIFE-SLAYING HUSBAND WAITS ACTION G. JURY
Otis S. Baugus, charged with slaying his wife with a home-made butcher knife last Friday, languishes in the Sherman jail awaiting action of the grand jury slated to meet next week. Efforts will be made by the prosecution to have the case pronounced unbailable and will push charge of murder with malice aforethought to a speedy trial. The death penalty will be sought, it is declared by the state.
Baugus, who is 26 years of age and who had been married only a few weeks to his wife, Ruby, a widow with three children, satisfaction to arresting officers on learning he was successful in his efforts to slay his wife. He was arrested at a nearby cafe from where he had word sent to officers to come and get him, stating to the party who phoned officers that he had just killed his wife.
Facts developed later showed Baugus had made a deadly butcher knife from parts of a saw with two pieces of steel for a handle welded together on the blade. Witnesses said Baugus kicked in the front door of the house where his wife made her home, which was wit her mother, Mrs. Olive Brown, 413 S. Scullin. Brandishing the butcher knife the mother stated, Baugus made for his wife, dragging her to the front door and slashing at her as he dragged her. One of the knife thrusts entered her heart bringing instant death, it was pronounced by examining physicians.
The slaying was done in the presence of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Brown, and the three children of his wife by a former marriage.
Baugus had been employed at the Denison Mattress factory but was recently let out, the management stating the reason being he had caused disturbances.
Baugus posed for a picture while being finger-printed at the city jail where he was placed in confinement pending being sent to the Sherman jail. The warrant for his arrest was issued by Judge C.B. Carroll, justice of the peace.
The grand jury will meet next week and the case will be carried before it at once, according to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Hal Rawlins. Bail will be denied Baugus if the state can prevent it, it is declared.