Henderson daily dispatch., 1938-05-06
OTHERS VIEWS
SAYS CORRESPONDENT WAS
IN ERROR.

10 the Editor:
I am writing this letter in regard
to articles which have recently APP
peared in various papers throughout
North Carolina written by Mr.. Henry
Averill, newspaper correspondent in
which he made attacks upon me and
others.
On April 9th he had an article
appearing stating that the present
Board had been dominated by me and
that Mr.. Thomas j. Murphy had been
merely a figurehead under my con-
troll. He also stated that Mr.. Muir
ply would have .ceen made a laugh
ing stock but for the fact that Ra-
leigh newspaper men have hearts. In
answer to this, l wish to say that
there has never arisen but three con-
trOversial issues in this office between
Mr. Williams, member of the State
Board, and myself. Mr.. Murphy voted
with me on two of these occasions
and with Mr. Williams on the third
occasion.
1t is true that Mr.. Murphys health
has broken in the past few months
and that he is incapacitated now by
the infirmities of old age and an au-
tomobile accident the result of which
Mr. Murphy has not received for his
services but about one-third of the
compensation that has been paid to
Mr. Williams. T. j. Murphy needs no
defense before the people of this State
who have known him for many years
as man of ntegrity-charitable and
courageous, and Mr. Averill is the
first to assail him during his sixty.
seven years of useful service to his
State and to try to make him tho
laughing stock. which he referred to
Mr.. sAverill well knows that this Of.
flee has been kept open at all times
to newspaper men and the public, and
that he is at liberty to be present at
all Board meetings or hearings, and
to refer to all records. The State
Board has never gone into executive
session to keep out anyone. Further
more, Mr.. Averill is the only one Of
the Raleigh newspaper men who ha,
cast reflection upon our policies.
In another article written by Mr
Averill on May End which appeared
in several afternoon papers, he states
that Mrs. Edna j. Armand, Executive
Secretary to the Board, told him that
/ was writing all distillers who adj
vertise in the afternoon papers which
he represents to -OycOtt same because
| did not like certain articles written
by him with reference to the Liquor
Boards activities and its head. That
statement is not true and I am en-
closing signed statement by Mrs. AL
mand and attested by Miss Ella Webb
and Mr.. Carl S. Wester, who are en-
ployed in this office and were wit
resses to this conversation, which viii,
speak for itself. l would appreciate
your printing this statement.
Mr. Ave~ill mas continuously writ
! ten articles which would lead people
20 believe that n continuous friction
, existed between this Board IN COM
" Eoaids. That IS not true and /
would welcome any statement of facts
from him to the contrary citing any
! instance in which l have used tic
tatorial methods in enforcing he lat~7
Control Act that was no. written i'll
same.
1 realize that 1 should not enter in
to a controversy with him as his blsi-
ness is writing, but | cannot refrain
from answering such gross misrc-
resentation OF facts and 10 not CON
template answering any more Of lis
articles.
Yours very truly,
N. C. BOARD OF ALCOHOLIC
CONTROL,
By: Guitar Moore, Chairman.
RALEIGH Nav T. 1898