Banker’s Blunder: Thomas Sentenced for Fraud

Roswell, NM – November 21, 1903 – In a gripping trial that captivated the city, W.L. Thomas, a prominent local banker, was found guilty of obtaining $200 on a fraudulent check from the First National Bank of Roswell. The jury delivered their verdict after a mere 35 minutes of deliberation, leaving little doubt as to Thomas’s culpability. This morning, the court imposed a fine of $200 and costs, and Thomas was remanded to jail until the fine was paid.