The most diabolical crime ever perpetrated in this community was committed Saturday night, when Jim and Ed. Sharpe of Albemarle, twin brothers, and “American Rescue Workers”, and Alonzo Burleson, chauffeur for the Sharpe brothers, presumably doped and lured Misses Annie Gillespie, aged 19, and Liller Barkley, aged 16, away from their homes in new town presumably, to take them to the tent services at Rosemary, but instead they took them to a wooded point between Weldon and Halifax and at the point of a revolver criminally assaulted the young women.
Only one of the Sharpe brothers and Burleson were present when the first dastardly crime was committed. The bruits tried to force the girls to take whiskey, but they refused and at the threat of death unless she did Liller Barkley took some in her mouth and held it until there was an opportunity to spit it out.
When Sharpe and Burleson returned to pick up the other Sharpe brother, Liller Barkley jumped from the car and escaped.
The three men then escaped to Virginia with Miss Gillespie and were apprehended at South Boston and held for local police.
Chief Jackson went for the criminals and placed them in jail at Halifax for safe keeping, for local authorities feared their safety should they be brought here.
After reaching home Miss Gillespie told a gruesome story of her experience. She said after drinking a coca cola brought her by one of the Sharpe brothers her memory became affected, that she did not remember leaving home nor did she know that Miss Barkley had escaped. She said that she was threatened with death if she did (not?) promise to tell the officers that she hired them to take her to her home in Virginia.
The horrible affair should call a halt to the annoying nuisance of professional beggars that infests our streets for in nine cases out of ten the beggars are unworthy of alms. This nuisance could easily be stopped by an ordinance requiring all beggars and solicitors such as “rescue workers” to convince the mayor or city clerk that they and their cause is worthy, before they are permitted to beg or solicit alms on our streets.
We learn that these prisoners have been taken to the penitentiary at Raleigh for safe keeping, by order of Governor Morrison.
We heartily agree with our brother in regard to helping professional beggars. In nine cases out of ten they are really not objects of charity.
From the Roanoke Rapids Herald, as reprinted in The Roanoke News, Weldon, N.C., May 12, 1921
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