FIREMEN AT STORE; RUFFIN BEING TREATED FOR BURNS AND ARRESTED.




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Background: A NEGRO YOUTH WAS CHARGED WITH ARSON OCTOBER 3 AFTER A GASOLINE EXPLOSION DESTROYED A SMALL GROCERY STORE IN A NEGRO NEIGHBOURHOOD IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.THE YOUTH - JOHN RUFFIN - CONFESSED THAT HE HAD BEEN TRYING TO SET FIRE TO THE STORE BECAUSE HE WAS ANGRY AT ITS WHITE OWNERS.RUFFIN WAS POURING GASOLINE IN THE STORE WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE PREMATURELY FROM A HOT WATER HEATER.RUFFIN RAN FROM THE STORE AS THE GASOLINE BLAZED UP.SECONDS LATER THE STORE WAS DEMOLISHED BY AN EXPLOSION.

THE POLICE SAID THE DESTRUCTION OF THE STORE HAD NO CONNECTION WITH THE SERIES OF UNSOLVED RACIAL BOMBINGS THAT HAVE TERRORIZED THE NEGRO COMMUNITY IN BIRMINGHAM.