Mrs. Francis Takes Judge's Suggestion and Leave the County to Avoid Year in Jail, July 28, 1926

Mrs. Francis Again Passes from Limelight—Another Court. . . Woman of Many Trials and Much Publicity Is Gone Again—Maybe for Good

Jessie May Francis, center of many Shelby court scenes, is gone again. This time with the Superior Court urging her to keep moving. And so another finis is written to the county’s most sensational court case. Several have been written already. If Jessie comes back, and no one predicts anymore on what she will do, more will be written.

Tried a good time back in recorder’s court on three counts, including trespass, vagrancy and other charges, an appeal was entered to the sentence given by Recorder Mull. The appeal was to have been heard at the last term of Superior Court, but the woman attended the first day and skipped. Brought back a short time ago by officers, as the instigation of her bondsmen, it is understood she has been in jail. Taken into the court Monday afternoon she was dressed as becomingly as ever and as usual was the center of gaze for the court room. On the appeal she was submitted by Horace Kennedy, one of her attorneys. Judgment in one of the counts was suspended with capias to issue upon motion of the solicitor, and after informing her that she had been enough worry and cost to Cleveland County, Judge Webb hinted that she should move on. The particular sentence being: “That the defendant be imprisoned in the county jail for 12 months. Capias to issue July 27 if found in the county.” Meaning that if the woman was in Cleveland County Tuesday or any day thereafter, for a time indefinite and not mentioned, that she would be arrested and started on her sentence.

The verdict apparently came as a relief to Mrs. Francis, judging by her smiles as she left the court room and prepared to leave the county. It is generally understood today that she is gone. Where? No one seems to know and the affair is regarded as a closed incident—unless she bobs up again.

Information here is to the effect that her husband also has been working in Asheville for some time, and it was stated about the court house Tuesday that Francis also plans to sell out and leave the county for good to make a fresh start somewhere else following the tragedy of his life here.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Wednesday, July 28, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-07-28/ed-1/seq-1/