Letter from James O. Carr to Dorsey E. Phillips, 14 June 1918

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
OFFICE OF
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY.
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA.
WILMINGTON, N.C.

June 14th, 1918.

Mr. D. E. Phillips,
Special Agent, Department of Justice,
Wilmington, North Carolina.

Dear Sir:

I am returning your file in reference to the irregularities of the Pitt County Exemption Board, involving the suggested indictment of J. J. Laughinghouse, former chairman.

It appears that Mr. Laughinghouse has violated the law and if he was still chairman of that board, or a member thereof, I would advise proceeding against him at once.

I enclose copy of a letter from Mr. F. M. Wooten, Government Appeal Agent of that county, to Major Jno. D. Langston, Aide to the Governor, with reference to this situation, the same being dated May 10th.

Since the writing of this letter and the indictment of Eugene Lupton, Sheriff of Pamlico County, the sheriff of Pitt County has made raids on deserters and has had to shoot one down and arrest his father for harboring him. This case, together with the facts mentioned in the letter of Mr. Wooten of May 10, are resulting in reducing Pitt County to normal conditions, and the improvement seems to be very marked.

I also understand that the great majority of people of Pitt County have repudiated Mr. Laughinghouse and are strongly supporting the enforcement of the draft law.

In this situation I am of the opinion that it would be unwise to take any legal action against Mr. Laughinghouse at this time, but to postpone same indefinitely, awaiting further developments. However, I will pursue the wishes of the Department in this respect.

Respectfully,

J. O. Carr
United States Attorney.

(Enclosure)