Charles Manson and the Rodeo Gal

The story of feisty Ruby Pearl

Charles Manson crossed paths with a lot of interesting people during the late 1960s. Most of those who found themselves in conflict with Manson wound up worse for the experience. Just ask Bernard Crowe, who Charlie shot in the aftermath of a botched robbery. Or those kids, who are spending their lives behind bars because, high on acid and speed, they committed a series of brutal murders at Manson’s command.

But one person that went head-to-head with Manson and survived, was a former rodeo queen named Ruby Pearl. Ruby not only spoke her mind with Charlie and others, but she also testified against him at trial.

Ruby Pearl was born Pearl Stella Oliver on May 18, 1912 in Sandstone, Minnesota (Pine County, north of Minneapolis). Her father was Dalton G. Oliver, originally from New Jersey, and her mother (the former Stella S. Hillard) hailed from folks born in Ohio. Both the Oliver and Hillard families descended from British immigrants.

A photograph of ‘Ruby’ Pearl Oliver as a young woman

Delbert and Stella had nine children born between 1904 and 1926. Pearl was the sixth child born, and the third of four daughters.