Cruel Hoax Against Frank Townsend of Rockingham, Nov. 24, 1920

On Wednesday of last week Frank Townsend, colored, of Rockingham received a telegram from Winston singed by “Holland LeGrand,” stating that his son, Ludolphus was dead and for him to wire $60 if he wanted the body shipped home. Frank forthwith wired the amount to “Holland,” and the next morning sent another of his sons to Winston to accompany the body home. When the young man reached Winston he found that Ludolphus was not only not dead, but had not been sick—in fact, he was a very live man. There are quite a number of Richmond county negroes in Winston, and these began pointing their finger at Frank Wall as being the “Holland LeGrand” who wired and secured the money, though they had no direct evidence. Frank heard the rumors and indignantly denied same, showing his innocence by going to the chief of police and inquiring whether a warrant was out for him or not. The chief informed him that there was no warrant for this, but that he wanted him on another warrant charging him with disposing of mortgaged property in Wolf Pit township. He was locked up, and Sunday officer J.B. Reynolds went to Winston and brought Frank back to Rockingham on this charge. It is probable Frank Townsend will have a charge against him for the bogus death deception. (From the front page of the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Nov. 24, 1920)