W.J. Rutledge, 40, Kills Friend Who Helped Him Home, Oct. 18, 1926

Asheville, Oct. 18—Crazed with rum, W. J. Rutledge, 40, seized a shotgun from his home and fired directly at Latt Davis, 40, a neighbor and intimate friend who had just assisted him home, killing him instantly tonight about 7:15 o’clock. The shooting occurred in the hart of the city. A few minutes later he was arrested by Lieut. A. J. Smith of the plain-clothes squad, and admitted the killing. The officer states that Rutledge was drinking heavily.

From page 2 of the Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Oct. 21, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84026483/1926-10-21/ed-1/seq-2/