Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-05-25
Raleigh, May 14th, 1922.
Mr.. ]. C. Leigh,
Hamlet, N. C.


Dear Sir: L&5
acknowledge your letter of May
18th with reference to charges made
against Mr.. C. C. Shores while Fed
eraI Prohibition Agent.
Some time in May, 1920, the morn,
ing paper of Wilmington carried a
sensational news item, stating that
the United States Custom House OF
that city had been robbed of several
cases of whiskey, and that an auto
mobile with Mr.. Shores license
number was seen leaving the Gus
tom House in the night time and
was watched until it crossed the
Cape Fear river.
AS soon as this report reached my
office, Immediately instructed Mr..
]. w. Montague to proceed to VII.
mineton and make a thorough and
impartial investigation OF the
charges.
When Mr.. Montague first reached
Wilmington lie called me over the
phone and stated that the gossip
was being circulated by the Blind
Tiger Element" that Mr.. Shores had
removed the liquor and disposed OF
it. He asked for assistance In the
investigation which was immediate
ly given him.
Mr.. Montague's final report, how
ever. showed that there was not a
scintilIa of truth in the charges. The
facts brought in the final report was
as follows:
MIR. Shores had seized a large
quantity of liquor and had placed
it in the Custom House and tele'
graphed me for instructions as to
it's disposition, and that | had tele'
praphed him to destroy it immedl
atelv. The records in the Western
Union office will show that he also
received a wire from his wife about
$50 D. m. stating that his mother
was very sick and not expected to
live.
The report further showed that
Mr.. Shores hurriedly summoned
three respectable witnesses and Went
to the Custom House a little after
dusk. put the whiskey into his au-
tonobile, carried it to the outskirts
of the city and destroyed it in the
presence of the same witnesses and
then he left the city for his home.
The facts were further brought
out that the newspaper story was
inspired by the lawless element OF
Wilmington, led by one A. b. west,
who fed the city before MIR. Monta-
que completed his investigation toi
the deliberate purpose of destroying
the confidence Of the law abiding
peopie III Mr.. Shores integrity, as
an officer.
A. b. West to this writing has
never been captured.
Mr.. Mcntague's report completely
exhonerating Mr., Shores to the com,
plete satisfaction OF the law-abiding
people Of Wilmington, me, as his
superior officer and the Prohibition
Department Of the United States at
Washington.
In conclusion ] want 70 add per
sonalIv that MIR. Shores was esteem
I'd by me and the Supervisor OF the
Southern Division (Which comprises
ne States of Virginia, North and
south Carolina. Kentucky and Zen.
nesseel AZ one Of the most capab'e
e,,erretic, loyal and faithful ofIieel
IA the employ Of the DIVISION. Mr
shores displayed the greate:s. cour
a , II The discharge Of his duty am
Is ane raid where danger was an
t Il, 4, regardless Of the section
, 81, 81 Il be far or near, his ser
vices we're always requested.
Titne afser time know he left ~ z
family when they were sex Y
assist his fellow Officers Il pflial5ssse
desnsradoes u tho har 81 Rs's'lee.