Circumstances of Death

Prohibition Agents Charles Alexander and Marion King, accompanied by Deputy Sheriff J. H. Roebuck, were preparing to raid an illicit distillery in the Free Union section of Martin County, NC.  As they walked through the woods, Agent Alexander suddenly became ill and returned to his vehicle, leaving the others to continue with the raid.  Approximately one hour later, when the agents returned to their car, Agent Alexander was missing.  They searched and found him lying in a nearby field, but he had already died.  An autopsy determined that Agent Alexander died from heart failure caused in part, by job related stress.

Background

Agent Alexander's personnel file contained very limited information.