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The FrifMn Times
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday ' S.rving All Of Franklin County
Your Award Winning County Newspaper
READ
"COMMENTS ON
FRANKLIN COUNTY"
PAGE 4 TODAY
Tel. Gy6-3283
Ten Cents
Louisburg, N. C., Tuesday, September 19, 1967
(Eight Pages Today)
98th Yeor-Number 61
Homes In
County Hit
Sheriff William T. Dement reported
that two homes In the county were
entered In the past few days and that
both robberies are about solved.
A 25-year old Negro laborer and
ex-convlct Is being sought In connec
tion with the robbery of the home of
Loulsburg College Athletic Director
Russell Frazler In Harris Township
sometime during the weekend.
A .22 rifle, some frozen food and
between $25 and $30 In cash were
reportedly taken from the Frazler
home. Most of the stolen goods have
been recovered and a warrant for
Leroy Reese, charging breaking and
entering and larceny has been Issued.
The man Is believed to have fled the
state.
Around $300 was stolen from the
home of Jarvls Carlyle, below Pilot
last night. Dement reported that his
department has recovered part of the
money and that an arrest Is expected
today In the case.
Driving course
To Be Held
At Franklinton
(Frk. B. W.) The Franklinton Res
cue Squad held Its regular meeting
at the Fire House on Friday evening
at 7:30 o'clock, with A. J. Perkln
son presiding.
The Squad, along with local Woman's
Club and Lions Club, will sponsor
a Defensive Driving Course on No
vember 7,9, 14 and 16 from 7:30
P.M.-9:30 P.M. at the Town Hall.
Plans were made for ten members
of the Rescue Squad to take the course
or be responsible for 10 people to
enroll In the classes.
In order to purchase equipment, the
Rescue Squad has First Aid Kits on
sale. The members have the kits
available for sale.
Xj.- -4su
Road Runners Flee , Leaving
> ? t ? <
Their Booze Behind Them
Last Thursday was a bad night lor
booze and for road runners. Officers
captured over 200 gallons of the former
but lost two of the latter.
State Trooper James Byrd, making
a routine check of a pick-up truck
on the Pocomoke Road three miles
west of Frankllnton, grabbed 174
gallons of Illegal whiskey but lost the
driver when he scampered Into the
nearby woods.
Loulsburg police officers Larry
Gilliam and Earl Smith, also making
routine checks, noted a 1961 model
Pontlac failed to dim lights on the
Blckett Boulevard by-pass and gave
chase. Officers also noticed that the
back end of the car was heavily loaded.
The chase ended, thirty miles later
when the car quit on NC-56 after
a chase which took officers Into Nash
County and back Into Franklin.
The driver also escaped by running
Into nearby woods. Both Incidents
are being Investigated.
Governor Offers State
\
Aid To County Authorities
> *
County school officials said today
that they have received no word from
Governor Dan K. Moore on his pub
lished statements that he would offer
Franklin County assistance In tracking
down alleged nlghtrlders In the shoot
ing, last Wednesday night, into the
homes of two Negro families In the
county.
Sheriff William T. Dement was called
last Wednesday night around 9:15 P.M.
to the home of Rev. Luther Coppedge
In the Justice Community, following
what was described as a shotgun blast
into the Coppedge home. An outdoor
light was shot out at the home of
Herbert Patterson on the River Road,
three miles east of Loulsburg at about
the same time.
Dement and deputy sheriff Dave Batten
are Investigating the Incidents and
SBI and FBI agents have visited the
scene of the Coppedge shooting.
Rev. Coppedge was one of eleven
Negro plaintiffs who charged the County
Board of Education with discrimination
and, following a two-year court case,
the freedom of choice plan was knocked
out last month by the court.
Governor Moore Issued a statement,
which appeared in last Friday's dally
Following Council Meet
Some Get Raises, Some Do Not
The Loulsburg Town Council, meeting
here last Friday night, passed a motion,
which according to reports was In
approval of recommendations of a
three-man salary committee. How
ever, reliable sources have said the
motion as passed, was not the original
recommendation of the committee.
The proposal called for salary In
creases for all town employees, rang
ing from $2 to $10 weekly, except
town office personnel, firemen and
four of the seven-member police force.
The police chief was recently granted
a raise In pay, a veteran officer
was made assistant chief and given
an Increase in salary and the newest
* member of the force was given an
increase. Four other members were
not Included In the action passed by
the Council last week. None of the
three paid firemen were Included.
None of those excluded have mage
' any statements on the matter pub
licly, but dlssentlon Is being noticed.
Town sanitation personnel went out
on strike a few weeks ago, holding
out for more pay. Three of those
later returned to work and two others
were replaced, according to reports.
CouncUmen Jonah Taylor, Hubert
Jeffreys and Grover Harris were mem
bers of the salary committee.
P.T.A. To Meet
The first Parent-Teacher meeting
of the school year will be held at
Loulsburg High School on Thursday
night, September 21st, beginning at ?
7:30 P.M.
Mrs. M. M. Person, Jr., president,
announced today that as has been done
In the past, an "open house" will be
held following the business me' ting, so
that parents may meet the teachers.
During the business session, the
budget for this year will be discussed,
as well as the Harvest Festival.
The band, under the direction of Mr.
Watson, will play at the close of the
meeting.
Mrs. Person urged that all patrons
of the school make an effort to attend
this meeting.
Editor Is Tarheel Of The Week
Times' Managing Editor Clint Fuller
was featured as Tarheel of the Week
In Sunday's Issue of the Raleigh News
and Observer. The article, written by
Charles Craven, Staff Writer, with a
photograph by Lou Krasky, gave a bio
graphy of Fuller and told of his efforts
to draw attention to read needs In
Franklin County.
Fuller was quoted as saying, "We
don't claim to have brought road Im
provements to our county, but we do
claim to. have brought attention to our
needs."
The article said that Fuller is not
the "prototype of a small town news
paper editor. "He looks and acts like
a working newspaperman: possessing
the necessary measure of sophistica
tion, a world of practicality and a
tough shrewness," Craven wrote. He
added, that Fuller, "won't let a wrong
go unnoticed."
Several of Fuller's editorials were
quoted In the article, Including remarks
on the General Assembly's actions in
"making everything In sight" a un
iversity and a more recent reference
by Fuller to the County Commissioners
not putting everything In the minute
book. \
Craven wrote that due to Fuller's
Interest in "varied views of an Issue,"
there appeared at times, on his editori
al page, columns written by "purveyers
of a kind of die-hard, radical reaction."
He added, "But the paper's editorials
themselves have the mark of reason."
Fuller's literary style was referred
to as "airy" and "lucid" and his ed
itorial manner wasdescrlbed as "hard
hitting" and "piquant." Craven wrote
that Fuller had brought Franklin
County, "better roads, a sharper a
wareness of public issues, and a live
ly and searching newspaper." \
The feature page article also refer
red to Fuller's service as a member
of the County Board of Education and
quoted the editor as saying, "It's a
thing that concerns us all" In relation
to recent desegregation moves In the
? county.
Craven said, "And In final summation,
qualities of intelligence, education, tal
ent and ambition got Clint Fuller what
he wanted? a place In the sun ot North
Carolina journalism."
The article also mentioned that Fuller
was selected Man of the Year In 1986
and was awarded the top spot In editor -
al writing by the North Carolina Press
Association last January and that his
newspaper was named number one In
the country in community service by
the National Newspaper Association.
newspapers to the effect that he was
pledging state resources to the county.
The Governor stated, "If anyone be
lieves he has demonstrated courage,
Intelligence or devotion to any prin
ciple by firing Into the homes of
others, while he himself Is hidden
under the cloak of darkness, he is
either a fool, an unthinking fanatic
or a vicious thug, or all three com
bined. The state will lend every
assistance to Franklin County author
ities in this situation."
Sheriff Dement said his department
is continuing the investigation into both
incidents. He said, this morning, there
was nothing new to report concerning
his investigation.
Market
Prices
Steady
Prices on the Loulsburg Tobacco
Market held steady on sales last Thurs
day and Monday. William Boone, Sales
Supervisor, reported the market sold
on the two-day period, 776,202
pounds (or $504, 585.64. The average
for the two-day sales was $65.09.
This is slightly lower than the aver
age for Tuesday and Wednesday of last
week when the average was $65.78.
Average for opening day and the follow
ing two days was listed at $68.01.,
Flue-cured tobacco prices were un
changed to slightly higher Monday on
the North Carolina Middle Belt, strong
er on the Eastern North Carolina Belt
and generally firm on South Carolina
Border North Carolina markets.
The Federal - State market News
Service said most grade averages on
the Eastern Belt made gains ranging
from $1 to $3 per hundred pounds
over Thursday's levels. Many vari
egated leaf and smoking leaf grades
rebounded strongly and were up $2
to $5 per hundred.
Quality of marketings improved on
the Eastern Belt as sales contained a
smaller proportion of nondescript
grades. More smoking leaf and lugs
also were on the floors.
On the Border Belt, about two-thirds
of the grade averages showed vari
ations from prices paid last Thursday.
Tied grades on the Border Belt were
Court Clerk, Board Members Have Words
Board Acts To Set
dp Bond Election
The Board of County Commissioners,
meeting here In special session Monday
afternoon, approved a motion to apply
to the Local Government Commission
for pe r m lsslon to call a $200 ,000 County
Courthouse Bond election. On motion of
Commissioner Richard Cash and se
conded by Commissioner George Har
ris, procedures were set In motion for
a public hearing on October 2, and a
vote on November 25. The bonds would
finance expansion of the current court
house facilities, mainly In preparation
for the coming new court regulations In
1968.
In connection with the calling of an
election, differences between the board
or some members and Clerk of Court
Ralph Knott were uncovered. Knott ap
peared before (he board requesting that
a letter, which he presented to each
individual member, be made a part of
the minutes.
THB" letter ^explained that the re
sponsibility for providing adequate
space for county officials rests with
the commissioners and that Knott un
derstood that a bond vote was to be
called. "I have been Informed that one
or more of you gentlemen have publl
cally made the statement that I, among
other county officials, have been in
strumental in persuading you to call
for the bond election," Knott stated in
the letter.
"It has also come to my auemion
that the board would not have called
the bond election had It not been (or
the Insistence of myself and several
other officials of the county," Knott
said.
"I want to state here and now,"
Knott's letter said, "that I have not
and am not requesting you to call for
a bond election for courthouse Improve
ment. I do, however, respectfully re
quest you gentlemen to provide my
office with adequate space In order
that the citizens of our county can
receive the kind of service they de
serve."
As the board members, minus Com
missioner Brooks Young, who was ab
sent, read the letter, Knott began to
explain his reason for writing It. He
said, "I am not going to be the brunt of
this thing. I am not going to have the
bond issue put on me."
Faulkner, in reference to Knott's
claim that some of the members, of
the board had tried to place the reason
for the bond issue on him, said, "If I
did this sin, put my name In there. I
haven't even been to town. . .to any
body."
Knott added, "I don't want It to be
said that Pm the cause of you calling
generally bringing $1 and 92 more
than untied. Quality of offerings Im
proved as less nondescript was on the
warehouse floors. Volume of sales
continued extremely heavy. Price sup
port for untied tobacco was not avail
able on South Carolina markets ex
cept for Lorls and Mulllns.
On the Middle Belt, gains were chief
ly $1 and $2 per hundred. Quality
of marketings Improved as larger per
centage of better grades was offered.
Sales consisted principally of fair and
low grades of leaf and lugs and low
smoking leaf.
one," In reference to the election.
Cash, at this point, said, "I said It
looked like you wrote that editorial in
the paper." The reference was to an
editorial In last week's FrankllnTlmes
In which Editor Clint Fuller called on
the commissioners to support the bond
Issue If they called one. Fuller, pre
sent at the meeting, told Commissioner
Cash, "I can assure you that nobody
writes my editorial but me."
As Knott continued his explanation,
Commissioner Harris stated, "As far
as I am concerned, you didn't worry
me" Into calling for a bond vote.
"This letter simply sets out my
position and I would like for It to be
made a part of the record. This Is
county business and I am a county '
official and I think It should be placed
In the minute book," Knott said.
Faulkner said he had no objections to
the letter being placed In the record.
Cash stated "It'll be alright to put In
the minutes that Ralph Knott appeared
before this Board and approved the
bond election. We can't put 4,000 In
there." Cash, Just before the meeting
closed shortly before 7 P.M., seconded
Faulkner's motion to make the letter a
part of the minutes.
At one point, radio news director
Asher Johnson told Knott, "Give me a
copy and I'll make It a public record."
Joins Law Firm
Nelll Archibald Jennings, Jr. ofLum
berton was sworn In as a member of
the bar this morning by Resident Su
perior Court Judge Hamilton H. Hob
good.
Jennings has Joined the Loulsburg
law firm of Yarborough, Blanchard,
Tucker and Yarborough.
The Jennings will reside In Louls
burg and Mrs. Jennings will be asso
ciated with the county welfare depart
ment.
Knott said, In reference to the com
missioner referred to In bis letter,
"The man knows who he Is. I don't
have to point my finger at him." Cash
stated, "I, for one, don't appreciate
your coming back here and putting
pressure on us."
To this Knott replied, "Whether you
appreciate It or not, if I ever have
anything to say to you, I always come
back here and say It to you."
After the Clerk had left the room
and after lengthy discussion, the Board
agreed to place the letter In the min
ute book.
In the late stages of the meeting, an
Informal discussion of the bond Issue
took place and Times Editor Clint
Fuller, after being reminded of his
editorial, asked the four Commiss
ioners present if they Intended to
support the bond Issue now that they
had, in effect, called one.
"I Intend to Support It fully. I do
not Intend to support a farce. If
you, the leaders of this county are going
to lead and back this move you have
taken, It can pass," Fuller said. Each
of the Commissioners said they would
support it. Commissioner Harris
stated, "If everybody doesn't get to
gether, it isn't going to get across."
Cash said he would support It "100
per cent". Faulkner said he would
not have voted to call the election
if he did not Intend t o support it.
The Chairman E. M. Sykes did not
make any statement, but indicated that
he will support the Issue. Young
was not present.
Lonnle R. Shuping, local CPA was
called before the Board to discuss
checking in procedures of the county
deputy tax collector and stated that
the audit of the tax department, as
prepared by him, did not cover out
side collections by the collector, but
showed only that moneys turned in to
the tax office were accounted for.
Small Group Attends
Union Rally Here
Thirty persons attended a rally here
Thursday night of the Amalgamated
Clothiers Workers of America, held
In the county courthouse. One report
said that of these only eighteen were
employees of the Sportswear plant here.
The firm employs some over 200
people.
The rally, publicized by handbills last
week, was called to explain the union's
position In the current effort to gain
an election at the local plant. The
ACWA Is attempting to become the
bargaining agent for Sportswear em
ployees.
A union official, Identified as Rachel
Barnes, told the group that usual pro
cedure In cases of this sort call for
an election 21 days after a petition
Is granted. The union asked for the
election in a hearing held here August
23. The official said she expected
to hear "any day" that the election
had been granted.
Cheerleaders Toss Footballs
SEE FOOTBALL STORY PAGE 8
Featured speaker at the rally was
another union official, Identified as
Eula Gill. She spoke of her experience
with unions and management and re
ferred to Sportswear as Campus, which
she explained was the parent company.
She said In her 35 years experience
as union representative, "We settle
our grievances, for the most part, In
a fair and equitable way."
She said It was the purpose of a union
to promote better wages and better
working conditions. She compared the
union as an organization, with the Med
ical Society, the Bar, and the Chamber
of Commerce. In speaking of man
agement she stated, "They want to
keep you down while they get taller."
She also asked the group, "Have we
made any promises?" And answered
her question by saying, "We have made
no promises. We have only pointed
out what other workers have gotten
through their union."
"Choice of a strike," she said, "Is
yours." "On strike our members are
supported financially, and I mean
supported financially? all bills are
paid," she added.
A third ACWA official addressed the
gathering briefly. He was Identified
as Wilbur Reynolds and said he would
be visiting most of those present, later
In their homes.
The hearing, held here, last month
before Miss Clara Whitesids, federal
NLRB hearing officer, wa* to determine
which of the employees at the local
plant would be allowed to vote In an
?lection. It Is understood that the
granting of an election Is almost a
certainty In cases where petitions are
properly filed. At that time, Miss
Whiteside told The Franklin Times,
the decision by the regional director
of the National Labor Relations Board,
would probably be forthcoming within
one to two weeks following a September
5 deadline for further filings by the
plant. The two-week period ends today.
Some criticism was voiced by oppon
ents to the unionisation of local
workers, last week of the Board o t
County Commissioners lor granting use
of the courthouse tor the rally.
Some criticism was voioed at the
County Commissioners, last week, by
opponents of the union tor allowing the
rally to be held in the ooorthous*. Op
ponents disclosed that the Town of
Louisburg had denied use of the Armory
tor the meeting, however tows officials
have sot given any public statement on
the matter.
V