Wilmington, NC 05 - Murder On The ICW

rum ships would lie off the Carolina coast, then transfer their illegal cargo onto smaller vessels that would attempt to smuggle it into port. I remember reading about the case of the Albertine Adoue that was captured by the Coast Guard at Lockwoods Folly Inlet. They confiscated almost a thousand cases of bourbon, scotch, rum, brandy, even champagne. The cases were transferred to a sealed vault in the Customs House, but before they could be destroyed, eighty-eight cases had disappeared. Vanished."
    Binkie chuckled. "The federal agents would pour the liquor down the sewers in the alley at the rear of the Customs House and it would run into the Cape Fear River. I suspect there were days when the alcoholic content of the river was ninety proof !"
    Melanie smiled at the image.
    "You mentioned Officer George," I said. "Agent Randolph told me his little dog had been shot too. That really got to me."
    "Leon George was the head of our local rum running squad. A couple of years before he was killed he broke up a moonshine operation where they were using the galvanized metal tubs. Might have saved some lives. He was a popular local figure, admired and respected. Two thousand people squeezed into the church for his funeral and thousands more attended his burial."
    "So what happened, Binkie ? How was he killed?" Melanie asked.
    "Officer George and Marshal Sam Lilly had confiscated a still in an isolated, swampy area fifteen miles northwest of Wilmington. They were driving back to Wilmington with the still when they were ambushed on a lonely stretch of road by C.W. Stewart, a moon shiner , and his son Elmer. The agents didn't even have time to reach for their guns. The car's windshield was shot out, and both men were shot repeatedly, even after they were dead. It was a vengeful killing. George's pet Airedale was in the back seat. I don't know if he was a working dog or simply a pet George like to take around with him, but even so that was no reason to kill the animal. But the Stewarts shot him too, and that helped to turn public sentiment against them.
    "Leon George is buried out at Oakdale. His family had his body moved from Bellevue Cemetery to the family plot."
    "Do you remember anything about a federal agent disappearing, Binkie ?" I asked.
    "Seems to me there was a federal agent here lending a hand about '30, '31. He went out alone one day to investigate rumors of a still and never returned to the rooming house where he was staying. Everyone suspected foul play but his body was never found so there was no proof and no suspects. And no one knew where he was going."
    "He might have been the man we found," I said. "And it looks like Increase Boleyn was making moonshine."
    Binkie thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I'd only be speculating, but I will tell you what I know about Increase Boleyn. His ancestors had worked as mariners on the Masonboro Sound in the nineteenth century. His parents lived in Southport. They were "Sounders," people who made a living from guiding large cargo ships around the dangerous shoals that guarded the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Through thrift and hard work they accumulated the funds to purchase the small peninsula on the waterway that adjoined the property that later became Airlie. The property was conveyed to Increase Boleyn upon his father's death. Now Increase was an educated man who made wise investments, and later was granted a directorship at a local bank where he prospered. He built that lodge, and it was mighty fine. But with the crash of the stock market he, like so many others, lost his fortune.
    "There were rumors that he was bootlegging and moon shining, but he was never caught. The wealthy society folks in these parts had to be buying their alcohol from someone, why not from one of their own? And he had wealthy friends who owned yachts. The yachts would tie-up at Boleyn's dock and they very well could have been transferring illegal cargo. The agents couldn't be everywhere."
    "So do you think it was Boleyn who killed the agent, or ordered his death?" I asked.
    Binkie gazed at me with sad eyes. "Ashley, dear, it does seem likely."

24

    "I don't think I can face the inside of my house," Melanie said from the passenger seat in my Avalon. "I know I can't bear to sleep in my bedroom again. I'll picture Mickey dying there every time I go in it."
    On Saturday afternoon we were parked in the driveway outside Melanie's house, and I was encouraging her to accompany me inside