February program: Murder on South Street

Dr. W.H. Wooten and druggist Monroe Jetton are buried near one another in the Davidson College Cemetery on North Main Street in Davidson. (David Boraks photo)

Davidson Historical Society presents its first program of 2026, "Murder on South Street," recounting the 1914 killing of a local doctor by the town pharmacist.

It's Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Davidson Town Hall.

Historical society president and local journalist David Boraks and society vice president Rachel Workman, who also leads the Ghosts of Davidson walking tours, will recount this story that made headlines across the South. It's a fascinating tale of high society, jealousy and friendships gone wrong set in downtown Davidson.  

Charlotte Observer headline from February 11, 1914.

"I first heard about this murder when I closed on my house on South Street in Davidson. The seller hinted at the scandal, and I couldn't help but chase the story," Boraks says. 

The story revolves around three people - physician Dr. W. H. Wooten, druggist Monroe Jetton, and Jetton's wife, Josie Shipp Jetton. On February 10, 1914, Monroe Jetton shot Dr. Wooten "in a fit of jealousy" after becoming suspicious about the doctor's relationship with his wife. A century after, some people in town were still reluctant to talk about it.

Boraks has written about the case for Charlotte Magazine. And Workman tells the story on her Ghosts of Davidson tours. (For longtime members, this is an updated version of our program from 2014.)

The program is free. It will be at Davidson Town Hall, 251 South St., Davidson, right in the neighborhood where the events of 1914 happened. Please register in advance at on our events page. If you're not already a member, you also can join the society. Memberships begin at $25 a year. 

And stay tuned for more programs this spring from Davidson Historical Society, including: 

• March 29, 4pm, location TBA - A pair of local experts will discuss the history of Lake Norman.

• March (date TBA) - Staff from Davidson College Archives & Special Collections will talk about how to protect family records, with an emphasis on photograph preservation. Includes a tour of the new Library Annex. This will be a limited attendance program for members only. Stay tuned for details and registration information. 

Davidson Historical Society promotes an understanding and appreciation of the history of Davidson, North Carolina and its surrounding area. The society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported by memberships and donations.