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Nestled within the heart of North Carolina's Piedmont lies Lexington, a town with a history so iniquitous that few dare to tell the tales. Discover how a veritably unknown young singer named Elvis Presley wiggled and gyrated his way through town and how the Jolly Black Widow claimed her third husband (and victim) in a string of doomed love affairs. It was here in Lexington that an obscene mail menace sent hundreds of depraved letters to wholesome families and, on a sleepy summer day, police seized nine barrels of illicit liquor only to have them stolen back and imbibed by the original owners that night. Travel with local author Alice Sink down the streets of old-time Lexington to view a city riddled with all manner of unsavory deeds.
Foreword Joe Sink 11
Preface: A Word from the Author 13
Acknowledgements 15
1 Now You Know
Elvis Presley: Our Mothers Were Shocked! 17
It Must Have Been the Coffee 22
Annie Oakley: Train Wreck That Changed Her life 26
This One Made It to the New York Times! 28
Carnival Men versus Diner Thief 30
Davidson Jury Does Not Believe Girl's Story of Attack 31
2 Amazing and True
Auctioning of Slaves on the Courthouse Steps 33
Wicked Contrast: Charlie Chaplin's Seriousness and Audience's Disappointment 34
What Caused the Courthouse Fire of 1865? An Incendiary? 35
Old Courthouse Strange Trial 36
Shabby and Deteriorated Wicked Appearance 37
Forgery of $3.50 Check 38
Child Labor in Nokomis Cotton Mill 40
3 Front-Page Sensationalism
Murdered by Dudley Moore 43
A True Story About Men Killing Each Other 46
"That Man Ain't Afraid of the Devil" 54
Woman Brutally Murdered 54
4 Believe It or Not
White Slave Trading 61
What Became of the Chief? 63
Assault with Attempt to Rape Eleven-Year-Old Girl 64
Liquor Responsible for Lexington Tragedy 65
Gold, Silver, Wood and Brass 67
Unexpected House Guests 68
Gold Blooded and Entirely Without Provocation 71
5 Straight from the Horse's Mouth
Pool Rooms: A Wastage of Money" 73
All Because She Refused a Bath 74
Against Their Will 75
Prostitution 76
Rattler Makes Front-Page News 80
Moonshine 80
Wild Drive through Lexington 81
Statutory Rape 82
Remembrances of Segregated Lexington 83
6 And the Beat Goes On
Shoplifting 87
Obscene Mail 89
Driver Is Charged with Embezzlement 91
Taxi Driver Arrested with Embezzlement of $9.20 92
Mashed Yellow Apple in Bank Robbery Bag 93
Wicked Polio Strikes Lexington 94
1903 Was a Very Wicked Year in Lexington 96
Mob Lynches Three 100
7 On the Lighter Side of Wickedness
Different but Interesting Reporting 105
Ghosts and Tramps 106
1926 Conspiracy 108
Sleazy Horse Trader and Trashy Sidewalks 108
Jug Breaking Concert: Swigging or Wholesome Fun? 109
To Our Creditors 110
Nothing New Under the Sun 110
Some Proposed Laws 110
He Had to Go Home 111
Hunter Leaves Obscene Note 112
Hundred-Dollar Penalty for Writing Too Much 113
Excessive Timidity 113
Appendix: Old Lexington Recipes 115
Bibliography 123
About the Author 127
Overview
Nestled within the heart of North Carolina's Piedmont lies Lexington, a town with a history so iniquitous that few dare to tell the tales. Discover how a veritably unknown young singer named Elvis Presley wiggled and gyrated his way through town and how the Jolly Black Widow claimed her third husband (and victim) in a string of doomed love affairs. It was here in Lexington that an obscene mail menace sent hundreds of depraved letters to wholesome families and, on a sleepy summer day, police seized nine barrels of...