Sheriff Mercellus P. Robertson

Mercellus P. Robertson

Sheriff Mercellus Robertson and Patrolman Sonny Vaughn, of the Burlington Police Department, were shot and killed by two escaped convicts while responding to a burglary-in-progress at a service station at the corner of North Church Street and Trade Street.

Both were met with gunshots from the darkness as they entered the station. A third officer returned fire through a window killing one of the convicts as they tried to escape through a back door. The other convict escaped.

Both convicts had escaped from an Anson County Prison Camp on October 22, 1938.

Sheriff Robertson was killed on his second day in office. He had previously served with the Burlington Police Department for eight years.