Charge of Occupying Room for Immoral Purposes Ends with Quick Marriage in Police Station, March 11, 1924

Quick Marriage of Mrs. Grissom Very Expensive. . . Ceremony in Court. . . Young Window Loses Share in Husband’s Estate Through Matrimonial Venture; Becomes Mrs. W.J. Blanton Jr., Pleaded Guilty Charge of Improper Conduct

Greensboro, March 6—Marriage in the police station here last night of Mrs. H.A. Grissom of this city and W.J. Blanton Jr. of Atlanta cost the young window about $7,500, it is estimated, as a clause in her former husband’s will provide that she forfeit half of his estate in case of remarriage. The estate is estimated at about $15,000. This morning in Municipal court Mr. and Mrs. Blanton pled guilty to charge of occupying a room for immoral purposes and paid the costs.

They were arrested in a hotel here at 9:30 last night by policemen, after the policemen had followed them some time. The policemen said that the couple were partially undressed.

H.A. Grissom, who was druggist here and a member of a prominent family, disappeared in January, 1923, and his body was found in Thomas Creek, seven miles north of Jacksonville, a month later. His car had evidently gone into the creek where a bridge was missing. His wife and child had gone to Florida with him, but he set out back home alone in his car, and they were to follow by train. His disappearance caused a sensation here, as did later developments in the case, when a woman was arrested in Florida in connection with his death but released. His body was found in the creek by a man going down on a raft of logs and was brought here for burial.

A clause in his will states that when the child arrives at the age of 25 he is to have one-half of the estate and the widow to have one-half of the estate, “provided she had not remarried, and if she had married, to turn over and give to my said child my entire estate after deducting all lawful charges and expenses.”

The couple were registered at the hotel as “Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Blanton, Atlanta, Ga.,” police said, and when arrested claimed they had been married in Raleigh, but telephonic communication proved that untrue. Then it was said Mrs. Grissom said they had been married in Durham, also proved untrue by telephone. There was some trouble about arranging bond after the couple were married in the police station by F.T. Gordon, night desk sergeant, who is also a preacher, but it was finally arranged. The bride kissed the groom after the ceremony. A trip was made in the night to the register of deeds to get marriage certificate and a physician came up and gave the physical examination.

From page 5 of the Wilson Times, Tuesday, March 11, 1924