Public parade
f Blooming, Etc,
Those of us who look for the historic
i tea pot on the Green to sprout forth
beautiful flowers this weekend better
prepare for a disappointment. It ain’t
gonna happen.
But about everything else in the com
munity is blooming, especially the
Blooming Tea Party being sponsored
> Saturday by The Garden of Eden Club
and Historic Edenton, Iqc.
There are still many who meander
along the Public Parade who haven’t
taken the Historic Edenton tour. Sat
urday will be the time to do it for you
can see the beauty of our historic pub
lic buildings as well as the flowers in
the standard flower show.
The hours are 10 A. M., to 5 P. M.
and the cost is so reasonable you will
feel as if you are stealing something.
Y’all come!
Growing And Progress
Paving and marking of the newest
off-street parking lot in downtown
Edenton was completed this week.
< There are now some 400 free off-street
spaces in paved lots.
The Town Council has- been alert
over the years to purchase available
space in various sections of the down
town area for off-street parking. The
investment, while considerable, is one
factor in continued increase in gross
retail sales along the Public Parade.
But while council has been progress
ive in this respect, the matter of im
proving on the congestion on Broad
Street has fallen on deaf ears.
A traffic engineering firm about a
year ago agreed to conduct an exten
sive study of the problem. They want
ed to sing, however, to the tune of about
SI,BOO. This is not necessary.
The abolishing of “U” turns at Broad
Street’s intersection with Water Street,
at the Confederate Plaza, would do more
to alleviate the downtown situation than
any single move. And this would only
take an ordinance passed by the council.
* • Edenton has grown up. We have
outgrown “U” turns on our busiest
street and, heaven forbid, we may have
grown to the point of more than one
one-way street.
The place to start, though, is dis-
Vbursing traffic either east or west at
the Plaza. There would be no invest
ment, save the inconvenience of some
for an adjustment period, but the divi
dends would be tremendous.
Has Solicitor Grown Weary?
An aggressive prosecution policy by
solicitors and tougher judgments by
jurists must be instituted if the crime
rate along the Public Parade and else
where is to be curbed.
Those who represent the State of
North Carolina in our courts of law must
share more than a little of the blame
for the utter disrespect for law and or
der. They must set the tone, and back
yup those charged with enforcing the
law, or we can expect nothing less than
more of the same.
There are many cases in the recent
session of Chowan Couny Superior
Court where Solicitor Herbert Small
"‘went soft”, accepted pleas to lesser of
fenses, etc., in an obvious attempt to
clear the unusually crowded docket.
The distressing thing is that this is com
pletely out of character for Mr. Small.
Like most court officials, the solicitor
is over-worked and under-paid. His ac
tions here recently indicate he is grow
ing a little weary.
Our officers who stay on the track
of lawbreakers deserve better than an
excuse of not enough time when cases
are disposed of without prosecution. New
legislation provides some relief for the
solicitor after December and maybe
things will pick up.
Continued on Pa gt 4
Robert Dail Elected Club President
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WHERE ONE DIED lke body of 15-year-old John Michael Lee, Route 2, Colerain, It shown under a blanket in the foreground
shortly after It was recovered from Pembroke Creek at 7:45 A. M., Sunday. Insert shows the 1570 Ford in which Lee and Jessie Wes
ley Hughes, IS, Route 2, Colerain, were riding when it went out of control, struck the bridge just behind the N. C. Wildlife office
and plunged into the creek. Hughes has been charged with manslaughter and reckless driving following discharge from Chowan
Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.
THE CHOWAN HERALD
%
Volume XXXVII—No. 16.
Clues Are Sought
In Bomb Incident
Investigators Wednesday began the second
day of search for clues into a fire bomb
hurled through a window of historic Cho
wan County Courthouse early Tuesday
morning.
While the homemade bomb did not ex
plode, glass was spread over more than
half of the courtroom, as was a liquid, be
lieved to be keros*no.
Sheriff Troy Toppin, Police Chief J. D.
Parrish and a detachment of five agents
from the State Bureau of Investigation
were on the scene shorUy after the crime
was discovered at 7:45 A. M. Tuesday by
Mrs. Edith Nixon, a courthouse mainten
ance employee.
Investigators had released little infor
mation at press time. They said the bottle
appeared to be a quart apple juice con
tainer stuffed with rags and paper towels
and a liquid solution. It was hurled
through a window on the east corner of
the back of the courtroom, just behind
where the judge sits.
There was much concern from citlsens
in the community about the seriousness of
the crime. The courthouse, built in 1767,
had great historic value.
Holmes Student
Picked For Post
Supt. Bill Britt of Edenton-Chowan
Schools annouced this week that Nancy
Twiddy of John A. Holmes High School
was among the finalists selected to at
tend the N. C. Governor’s School for
the Gifted in Winston-Salem this sum
mer.
* ■ Miss Twiddy, a
§g, member of the Jun-
I ior Class, has been
-3B an outstanding aca-
V ,yW demic student. She
was a student in the
Class for the Gifted
in the 7th and Bth
* B grades in language
Her activities include member and
Vice President of FTA, National Honor
Society, Tri-Hi-Y, Cheerleader, Church
Choir, YWA and class president of her
Sunday School Class.
She will participate in the area of
Social Sciences. She is the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Twiddy, Country
Club Drive, Cape Colony.
Edenton Jaycees last Thursday named
Robert P. Dail president for the forth
coming year. He will be installed along
with other officers later this month.
Dail succeeds Wayne Ashley.
Elected to serve with him were:
Woody Copeland, first vice president;
Knapp Brabble, second vice, president;
Graham Farless, secretary; , E C. Tcp
pin, treasurer; Garland A -¥f*~ jpsTMiTir
spending secretary; and RJmimP
state director.
Ashley becomes chairman of haft
board. Elected directors were Mbck
Privott, Henry Overton and Miles Rna
low, two-year terms; and David Parks,
one-year term.
Dail, 29, is an announcer-engineer for
WCDJ radio. He has been active in the
Jaycees here for several years as well
as numerous other community projects.
Dail is crew leader in Chowan Coun
ty for the 1970 Census and a candi
date for county commissioner as a Re
publican in the November election.
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, April 16, 1970.
Boyce Charged In Theft
Clyde William Boyce, 25, Route 3,
Edenton, has been charged with his
third vehicle larceny in little more than
two years. The last came just two
weeks after an earlier charge was drop
ped in Chowan County Superior Court.
Boyce is being held in lieu of $2,000
bond on charges of larceny of a pickup
truck on West Church Street Friday
night. The bond also covers his appeal
from judgments in two other cases grow
ing out of the felony.
Judge Fentress Horner sentenced the
defendant to 60 days, suspended upon
payment of S9OO in damages and court
costs for reckless driving. He imposed
an additional $25 fine and costs for a
no operator’s license count.
Boyce was arrested when the 1966
Chevrolet truck, owned by Quinn Furn
iture, struck a power pole at the inter
section of Mosley and West Queen
Street.
W. L. Norvell, Jr., a Quinn official,
was in pursuit of Boyce at the time of
the mishap. He had chased the truck
after being alerted as it was driven from
his home.
Boyce was charged in February, 1968,
for theft of a 1966 Chevrolet from
downtown Edenton_ Solicitor Herbert
Small took a nol pros (no prosecution)
in that case two weeks ago.
The solicitor allegedly told local po
lice they had a good case against Boyce
and the defendant could probably be
convicted if the court had time to try
it before a jury.
(There were some 80 cases on the
last Superior Court docket and only two
jury trials were held).
At the time a case was pending in
District Court against Boyce for theft of
a 1966 Buick from the home of Dr.
College Bus Rolls
ELIZABETH CITY—A community
college “first” for the state of North
Carolina will take place this week when
the College of the Albemarle Coaches
start their runs.
Three new busses will pick up COA
students in the morning and return them
Continued on Page 4
4 J/SUE OF T Y?
>Aiicipauties V f
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REGIONAL LEAGUE MEEIING Mayor George Alma Byrum, left, welcomed nearly
M municipal official* from this region Tuesday afternoon to a meeting of the N. C.
League of Municipalities. He I* shown her* with Leigh Wilson, league executive direc
tor, center, and Edonlon Town Administrator W. B. Gardner. Gardner is on the league
Single Copy 10 Cents
Richard Hardin in Edenton on August
23, 1969. The car was later wrecked in
Myrtle Beach, S. C.
District Court Solicitor Wilton Walker
Tuesday asked for continuance of this
hearing pending arrival of witnesses
from South Carolina.
In February, after a period of obser
vation and examination, officials at Cher
ry Hospital in Goldsboro found Boyce
to be able to stand trial.
SWINE OPERATION PLANNED Jack Parker, second from right. Albemarle Area
livestock specialist, met here last Thursday night with people interested in increasing
the swine operation here with construction of a sale barn. Left to right are: Roy Har
rell, N. C. Rural Fund for Development representative; Pete Thompson, county extension
chairman; Parker; and Harry Venters, county extension agent.
Farmers Discuss Expanding Industry
Chowan County farmers met last
Thursday night to discuss the need for
a feeder pig sale barn. Pete Thomp
son, county extension chairman, presid
ed at the meeting.
Thompson advised the group that
swine production is on the increase in
Chowan County and a feeder pig sale
barn would enable farmers to get top
prices for the pigs they produce.
Harry Venters, agricultural extension
agent, told the group that a building to
market feeder pigs could also be used
One Drowns
When Auto
Hits Bridge
An 18-year-old Bertie County motor
ist has been charged with manslaughter
and reckless driving following a fiery
fatal accident on West Queen Street at
Pembroke Creek late Saturday.
Warrants were served on Jessie Wesley
Hughes, Route 2, Colerain, shortly after
being released from Chowan Hospital
Wednesday morning. Hughes, saved
from the creek by a passing motorist,
had been hospitalized with minor in
juries since the 11:16 P. M. mishap.
The body of John Michael Lee, IS,
Route 2, Colerain, was recovered from
the creek at 7:45 A. M., Sunday by
members of Edenton-Chowan Rescue
Squad. The rescue squad, police and
fire officials, and members of N. C.
Wildlife Service, had combed the area
Saturday night and Sunday morning be
fore the body was found.
Witnesses said attempts to rescue Lee
shortly after the accident were unsuc
cessful. He was said to be a good
swimmer.
Police Capt. C. H. Williams, who in
vestigated, said the 1970 Ford being
operated by Hughes left skid marks for
more than 340 feet before hitting the
north corner of the bridge. The car
was some 75 feet from the bridge in
about 10 feet of water. Damage to the
vehicle was set at $4,000.
Timothy C. Hughes, Route 1, Merry
Hill, was in a car Hughes allegedly
passed on a curve west of Edenton Ma
rina. He jumped from the bridge and
saved the driver but was unable to save
Lee.
Madison Phillips, Jr., traveling in the
vicinity, saw the explosion from the gas
tank and went into the water to assist.
Funeral services for the drowning vic
tim were held at 4 P. M„ Monday in
Continued on Page 4
LL } i f ft
for 4-H events, adult swine shows, and
many other activities.
Extension agents from surrounding
counties attended the meeting and told
the group how a barn would benefit the
entire area.
Feeder pig production offers small
farmers an opportunity to increase their
income without renting or buying ad
ditional land according to Jack Parker,
area livestock specialist.
Roy Harrell, with XCRFD, reported
that the Albemarle Cooperative, Inc.,
was interested in building a sale barn,
but needed more time to investigate
ways to finance such a venture.
Thirty-five farmers attended the meet
ing. It was generally agreed by every
one that a livestock barn in Chowan
County would be of tremendous benefit
to the agricultural economy in the area.
Students Arrested
Three Bertie County students were
arrested at D. F. Walker School Tues
day afternoon on charges of trespassing.
They have been released on bond pend
ing trial in Chowan County District
Court April 21.
Records at Edenton Police Depart
ment show Lloyd Kenneth Lawrence,
17, and Howard Edward White, 18, both
of Route 2, Windsor; and William Car
roll Lee, 16, Route 3, Windsor, were ar
rested in the school.
School officials allegedly ordered the
trio to leave the school property. Later
a police officer told them to move off
Oakum Street near the school.
Then at 1:30 P. M., officers were
again called to the school where the
three were inside the main building.