Letter from Dorsey E. Phillips to Alexander B. Bielaski, 27 May 1918

Department of Justice
Bureau of Investigation
Federal Building
Wilmington, N.C.

May 27, 1918.

A. Bruce Bielaski, Esquire,
Chief, Bureau of Investigation,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:-

I desire to acknowledge receipt of Bureau letter MLC file no. 72030, dated the 22nd inst., enclosing photostat copy of letter from Governor Bickett. With reference to the 2nd paragraph of your letter in which you state that you would be pleased to know how the Governor became acquainted with the fact that I had accused him of playing politics, I desire to state that it is a mystery to me as I made no such statement in any report I made on Pitt or Pamlico County. The letter in which I said the Governor had played politics, and cited cases had no bearing on the Pitt County Report, and was written April 15 while my report which the Governor referrs to was made April 30, and May 1. No one to my knowledge has seen the letter written April 15 as I did not even talk the matter over with the U.S. Atty. If a copy of this letter was sent the Provost Marshal General I can then account for the Governor being advised of my statement as there are several North Carolinians in his office, one of whom was Director of Military Enrollment previous to his appointment as Lieutenant, and assignment in Washington. It is unfortunate indeed that the Governor obtained this information as I realize that it may be embarrassing to the Department, and naturally will handicapp me somewhat to have him him objecting to my remaining in North Carolina, and I respectfully request that the Governor be requested to give the source of his information as to his statement that I had accused him of playing politics in my report on Pitt County. I desire to state here that in all my reports to the Bureau on any case I have always based my facts entirely on truth and have not colored them, as it is my policy to do this irregardless of who may be involved.

With reference to the case of J. J. Laughinghouse, I desire to state that the U. S. Attorney has officially informed me that he is going to present this case to the Grand Jury the first week in June. He has further informed me that he considers that a true bill will be returned against Laughinghouse.

Very truly yours,

Dorsey E. Phillips
Agent in Charge.

DEP/MP