Prohibition Agents Raid Home of Gordon Benton, June 1924

Home of Gordon Benton Raided—One of “Big Six”. . . 85 Gallons of Corn Liquor and 175 Empty Five-Gallon Cans—Benton Was in North Wilkesboro Last Week

The following by L.J. Hampton dated from Yadkinville, June 15th, appeared in last week’s Elkin Times:

Eighty-five gallons of corn liquor and 175 empty five-gallon cans, some of them with the odor or liquor upon them, were found in a little out-house adjoining the kitchen of Gordon Benton’s home near Dellaplane in Wilkes County Saturday by Prohibition Agents R.L. Lovelace, Randall and Kennedy.

The liquor and cans were confiscated by the prohibition officers. Benton’s wife first asked the officers not to search any too closely about the premises, but seeing their determination not to leave any stone unturned, she made some excuse or other and left. She was seen running through the woods nearby and that was the last glimpse the officers had of her.

Benton is known to prohibition officers as one of the “Big Six” in the liquor game. Federal agents direct from Washington here on a secret mission are said to have shadowed the Benton home at various times within the past several months. Officer Lovelace, the local enforcement officer on the job, has also been keeping a close watch on the premises. The raid and the quantity of liquor captured Saturday is a distinct feather in Lovelace’s cap.

Lovelace was “tipped off,” it was said, to the effect that Benton was at home and the officers watched the house for several hours before they swooped down upon it. The “tip” proved to be a mistake, but now with a warrant in their hands every deputy marshal in the state is on the watch for Benton.

Benton is said to have made what is commonly termed a “killing” in the illicit liquor traffic and is accounted one of the wealthiest men in the game. He is said to own two Lincoln cars and nine others altogether, all of them Buicks and Hudson speedsters except one Ford car. The Hudson speedster captured about three weeks ago with over 100 gallons in it, after a race along the Boone Trail, is said to have been the property of Benton. Sylvester Sparks, a negro, was captured with the car. A white man made his escape from the car before the officers could overtake it.

From the front page of the North Wilkesboro Hustler, Wednesday, June 25, 1924