'Pig Iron Pete' Davis Nominated as Meanest Man in Neighborhood, Feb. 14, 1923

Tried to Poison His Neighbors’ Children

The Robesonian tells of a candidate for “the meanest man” title as follows:

“In disposing of the case against ‘Pig Iron Pete’ Welton Davis, Judge Davin sentenced him to 12 months on the roads on the charge of attempt to poison children, capias in this case to be issued after 20 days in Robeson county only. The other charges of attempt to injure children were disposed of by prayer for judgment being continued upon payment of costs in both cases. It will be remembered throughout the state that this man is charged with setting steel traps, baited with candy and bright colored pencils for his neighbors’ children, who he claimed had annoyed him, also that he placed poison on the candy so that in case the trap failed to spring and catch them, they would die when they ate the candy.”

From the front page of The Reidsville Review, Feb. 14, 1923