Robbery Turns Out to Be Story Rose Concocted to Keep HIs Wife From Finding Out He Got Drunk and Lost Money, Jan. 22, 1924

Misrepresented Facts in Robbery? Rose, Alleged to Have Paid Out Some of His Money and Had Purchased Pint of Whiskey and Was Looking [for] More When He Lost Money or Was Robbed

J.W. Rose, a farmer residing near Wilson, who was supposed to have been held up and robbed of $135 about dusk on Friday evening, misrepresented the facts of the case according to the story he told the local police.

Chief Dorsey and Sheriff Glover, having investigated the case, report that they attempted to locate the negro, William Runner, who was with Rose at the time the supposed holdup was said ot have happened. Mr. Mercer, Rose’s employer, it is said, told them that he left home with $146, and, after paying several accounts and buying cotton seed hulls and other supplies, went to look for some liquor.

Rose, it is said, purchased a pint of corn whiskey for $4, and the man from whom he purchased the liquor said if he would go to his house, he would sell him a pint of apple brandy for $5. Rose went to the negro’s house and the negro relieved him of the money in some manner. Rose told Runner he lost the money but did not say how.

Runner stated he and Rose invented the story to keep Rose’s wife from finding that he got drunk and lost the money.

From the front page of the Wilson Times, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 1924