A heartwrenching story was reported from Williston on this day in 1924. The Williston paper reported that the sheriff’s office had received a curious letter from the United States governmen, and charged with the task of locating its authort. The letter, addressed to President Coolidge, was scrawled in pencil in childish handwriting and asked the President to please “arrest the men who are selling liquor to my daddy.” The letter had passed from the office of the President to local authorities. Aides of President Coolidge returned the letter to Williams County authorities in hopes that the young author of the communication would be found. Although caught in the midst of prohibition at the time, North Dakota, like many other states, faced its own problems with bootlegging and illegal liquor sales.

Source:
The Fargo Forum and Daily Republican (Evening ed.). April 29, 1924: p.1.

--Jayme L. Job

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