State of North Carolina
Department of Attorney-General
Raleigh

Sept. 5, 1919.

Governor T. W. Bickett,
Raleigh, N.C.

Dear Governor:-

I have your request that I advise you in reference to the letter of Mr. J. F. Newell of Charlotte, N. C., to you under date of Sept. 3rd in which letter Mr. Newell appeals to you to originate some machinery of the law by which the recent unfortunate disturbance in Charlotte may be investigated and the truth ascertained.

The law-making body of the State, acting under the Constitution has prescribed certain methods of investigation and has conferred upon certain officers the duty to make such investigation.

It seems that in Mecklinburg County the coroner of the city is very ill and so is the clerk of court. There remains the grand jury which was in session at the time of this occurrence and also the solicitor.

Neither the constitution nor the statute laws of the State confer upon you any power to originate any investigation or to devise any machinery upon which any investigation can be made. The most that you can do is to call the matter to the attention of the Solicitor of the District, but it is evident from the letter of Mr. Newell that the Solicitor is fully advised of the situation in Mecklinburg County.

While I quite agree with Mr. Newell that such disturbances of the public peace and order as occurred recently in Charlotte should be fully investigated to the end that all persons who violate the laws of the State should be made to answer for such violations, yet it must be manifest that the truth will be more accurately ascertained when the public is less excited.

You, of course, have no power to change the laws of the State or to originate new methods not authorized by the laws of the State.

Yours very truly,

James S. Manning,
Attorney-General.

M/H.

Enc.