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Although discernibly contrived, this story tells the tale of Lamar Couch, a local drunk who, on New Year’s Eve, was detained for public drunkenness. Conveniently, Lamar’s crime occurred simultaneously with the dedication of the Worry Rock. Hapeville Town Clerk C. McNeil Leach (most likely in league with publicity hound Courtland Gilbert) recognized this an opportunity to capitalize upon the story of the newly dedicated Worry Rock. Leach gave Lamar the choice to pay a $10 fine for his bad behavior, or two hours penance upon the Worry Rock. Lamar chose the rock. On Tuesday, January 4th, 1938, from two pm until four pm, Lamar served his sentence. Leach’s terms for the punishment were specific. He demanded that Lamar sit upon the rock without a pillow for the entire first hour.

 

It’s practical to assume that either Gilbert or Leach tipped off The Atlanta Journal Constitution as to Lamar’s unusual sentence. Surely it was no coincidence that a reporter from the journal showed up in Hapeville to photograph Lamar upon the Worry Rock. The reporter even came prepared with an ice 

pack, urging Lamar to hold it atop his head for the photo. Lamar agreed, but only after suggesting the reporter pay him for the favor. Over the next two hours, Lamar sold to several reporters the privilege of photographing him seated upon the rock wearing the ice pack on his head. These photos appeared all over the country, and most notably, one of them appeared in a spread in the February 7th, 1938 issue of LIFE Magazine. 

 

In addition to making some dough off the photographers, Lamar also placed his own hat upon the ground to collect donations from sympathetic passersby. Not only did Lamar avoid paying the $10 fine by choosing to sit upon the Worry Rock, he collected a total of $15.62 for his efforts. “Looks like I made a profit.” He gloated. 

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