Following complaints by citizens that he had been guilty of disloyal utterances, J.S. BOWERS, a merchant at Hampstad, in Pender county, was taken into custody today by United States authorities yesterday and lodges in the New Hanover jail on charges of violating the espionage act.  He was unable to give bond in the sum of $500 for his appearance Monday noon at a hearing before United States Commissioner A.S. WILLIAMS.

Complaints made by citizens at Hampstead were made to District Attorney J.O. CARR several days ago.  It was stated that BOWERS had repeatedly declared that the United States had no right to send troops to France and had made other criticisms about the conduct of the war.

Special Agent Dorsey PHILLIPS and Deputy Marshall A.L. KELLY went to Hampstead yesterday morning to investigate the complaints and spent the greater part of the day interviewing people of the community.  They found that BOWERS, whose wife is said to be living in Wilmington, had come to the city and would return on the afternoon train.  They stopped at Scott’s Hill and when the train, leaving this city at 3:05, reached that point, BOWERS was taken off and brought to the city.  A warrant charging him with violating the espionage act had previously been sworn out.

BOWERS is about 50 years old and has been running a store at Hampstead for several years.  He is said to be of German descent.  When taken into custody yesterday afternoon, he demanded to know the names of those who had preferred charges against him, but had no further statements to make.

Source: Pender Chronicle, 18 April 1918, page 1.