G.M. Wilkerson Who Took $4,000 and the Widow Hartline and Her Sons, Fled to Mexico, Leaving Behind His Wife and Five Children, May 29, 1921

Eloping Couple Crossed Border. . . G.M. Wilkinson Left Wife and Five Children to Elope With Widow

Statesville, May 28—Ex-Sheriff J.M. Deaton has returned from a trip through Texas, including Houston, San Antonio, Sanderson, El Paso, and Juarez, Mexico, in pursuit of G.M. Wilkerson of Marion, who is wanted in this state for embezzlement. Mr. Wilkinson was in the employ of Connelly & Teague of Taylorsville, from whom it is alleged he took more than $4,000 in cash and eloped with Mrs. O.A. Hartline of Waynesville, and her two little sons, aged five and nine year, leaving his own wife and five children in Marion. Wilkinson, Mrs. Hartline and her two little boys left Salisbury on a fast train on the night of Tuesday, May 3, and passed across the Mexican border about the 10th of the month, according to information secured by Sheriff Deaton on this trip.

Mr. Deaton had in his possession a letter written by G.M. Wilkinson to R.H. Priestwood of Frederick Hall, Va., father of Mrs. O.A. Hartline, and a letter from Mrs. Hartline to her father and mother. The letters told of the affection each had for the other which led to their decision to leave the country together. The letters bore the postmark of Sanderson, Texas, but investigation showed that the elopers handed the missive to an officer at that point to be mailed as they were passing through on the Sunset Limited. Mr. Deaton had a photograph of Wilkinson and experienced no difficulty in tracing him from New Orleans, on through Houston, Texas, Sanderson, and to El Paso, where the Mexican consul and detectives reported that the man, woman and two children had passed over into Mexico on the 10th of May. Wilkinson and his companion are safe in Mexico as long as they want to remain, unless the authorities consider them undesirable citizens.

From The Charlotte News, Sunday morning issue, May 29, 1921