"Charles W.Scrutchin"(September 11,1866-July 14,1930)

Was born in Richmond Virginia,to Barbara Grafrene & William Scrutchin.The family moved to Georgia when he was 10,and moved again when he was a teenager to Spokane Washington,where he graduated from high school.In 1890,Charles,got his undergraduate degree-which he accomplished in three years--from the University of Washington.
He worked as a Pullman porter and hotel waiter in Detriot,Buffalo,and St.Paul,Minnesota before deciding to go to law school.After a failed marriage,Charles at 25 entered law school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.He graduated in 1893,relocated to Chicago,and began his practice under Edward H.Morris.
In 1894,Charles went back to Ann Arbor to get his his Master's degree and four years later arrived in St.Paul.There he became friends with two African American lawyers,Frederick McGhee & William T.Francis.Later,in 1898,Charles start practicing law in Bemidjii,Minnesota.
Charles married Laura P.Arnold in 1900,and like many of his professional peers,he grounded his practice criminal law.During his first year,he won an acquittal for a man charged with stealing 10 tons of hay.
One of his most dramatic cases was his representation of William Miller,one of the 11 accused African Americans circus workers who were charged with the rape of a white woman in Duluth.Three of Miller's fellows workers were hanged in what has come to be known as the Duluth Lynching.This happen on the night of June 14,1920,by a white mob of 5,000.Charles go an acquittal for Miller that resulted in the dismissal of the charges against the other dfendants.As a successful lawyer,Charles practice allowed him to purchase two homes and an office building in Bemidjii.He was a Republican,a Unitarian,a Mason,and a member of the Odd Fellows.
Charles died of  dropsy/apoplexy in Beltrami Minnesota.