The record of Plummer Thrasher, World War veteran, outdistances that of the romantic story of Jesse James. The different distance is that between horses and automobiles, Jesse corralled the horses rapidly and in great numbers, and Thrasher loses little time getting his automobiles.
Saturday afternoon—about mid-afternoon—Thrasher completed his year sentence on the No. 6 road gang here and was released. A few hours later, according to Chief B. O. Hamrick, he drove a Ford Coupe belonging to another man away from the Eastside section of town.
Apparently, he headed for South Carolina, for Monday morning Chief Hamrick received a wire from W. T. Ashbury, auto inspector there, stating that Thrasher had been arrested and in addition to the Ford had picked up a Buick automobile there.
His freedom was short and promises to be over. Local officers have the idea that South Carolina authorities will prosecute Thrasher there on the charge of stealing the Buck. Whether or not he will be returned here remains to be seen.
Got Several Before
Thrasher is charged with having stolen several cars on other occasion. At that time, he had not been released from the gang but was a trusty, and took enough freedom to take several cars and a long journey, only to be nabbed later and returned here to complete his sentence.
Thrasher’s original sentence here had to do with several liquor charges, it is said. About one year ago, while serving his term, he was made a trusty. Shortly after receiving this privilege, he left the gang and made his way to the home of Walter Henry. There he took the Henry’s auto and headed for Virginia. Reaching Martinsville, Va., according to officers, he abandoned the Henry car and took up with a Ford couple. He came to Charlotte in this car, left it there and got another, officers say. The car taken in Charlotte [was] abandoned near Atlanta, and at Gainesville, Ga., Thrasher is said to have hired a U-Drive-It car and headed back to Carolina. He was caught at Greensboro with the last car and returned to Shelby to complete his original sentence.
His latest escapade adds to one of the most unusual criminal chapters in the history of the county. It will be remembered that Thrasher played an important role in the Lee Cody trial in connection with the holding up of the convict camp by robed men, Thrasher going on the stand as a witness for the state.
Officers and others here state that Thrasher is an ex-service man and served during the World War. Many are of the opinion that he is off mentally, considering the futility of his many escapades.
From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., July 28, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-07-28/ed-1/seq-1/
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