The FraikMn Times
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday
Serving All Of Franklin County
Phone GY6-3283
Ten Cents
Louisburg. N. C., Thursday. March 20, 1969
(Twelve Pages Today)
100th Year-Number 10
Lions Hear
Brown Tell
Abouf Pueblo
James H. Brown, a retired Navy
captain and a math professor at Louis
burg College, gave the local Lions a
report of the Pueblo, a ship that was
apparently stolen at sea by North
Koreans.
Captain Brown's report was taken
from a letter written by U. S. Navy
Admiral Thomas H. Moorer. Admiral
Moorer's idea was to "reassure the
American people that the Court of
Inquiry is being conducted in a
straightforward, legal and objective
manner." He referred to the Court of
Inquiry as only a "fact-finding body.
It simply records the facts and makes
recommendations to the Commander
in-Chief of The Pacific Fleet." Such
recommendations might include pro
cedures or improvements. The idea is
to do justice and protect the rights of
individuals," he said.
"The question is whether or not
Commander Bucher, who was in
charge of the Pueblo, committed any
offense under the Uniform Code of
Military Justice. Bucher was required
not to permit any foreigner to search
his ship nor permit anyone aboard his
ship to be removed, as long as he could
justifiably resist," Brown commented.
"Admiral Moorer asks Americans to
be patient, not to prejudge, and to
maintain trust and confidence that the
procedures used in developing the
facts surrounding the piracy against
Pueblo are being carried out by ex
perienced men of great integrity who
have only the welfare of our country
at heart," Brown added.
After this report by Captain Brown,
there followed a period of questions
and answers.
Only one visitor was present: Col.
E. L. Watson.
Rain-Slick 561 Wreck Scene
Members of the Louisburg Rescue Service ire shown above freeing one of the three victims of a Tuesday afternoon accident
on ?NC-561 four miles east of Louisburg. The station wagon went out of control on the rain-slick highway and ran down an
embankment. Three women employees of Louisburg Sportswear were in the vehicle at the time. All three were transported to
Franklin Memorial Hospital and two were admitted for further treatment. Mrs. Dorothy Pendergrass Ayscue. 32. and Mrs.
Margaret Ayscue were admitted and Mrs. Barbara Bailey was treated and released. Photo by Clint Fuller
The Monument:" Heroism Is Never Lost"
Sitting in the middle of Louisburg's
Main Street is a structure of rock,
marble and bronze that is seldom ever
really seen. Although hundreds pass by
it daily and it sits on the highest point
in town, The Monument is perhaps to
big, it is often missed.
In recent days, for some unex
plained reason, more and more people
are asking how it came to be. Perhaps
those who, for the many years have
Three Charged With Jury
Tampering In Franklin Case
The foreman of the jury that found
former Franklin Accountant Lee Mur
ray guilty of embezzlement last Octo
ber 25, has been arrested along with
two other men on charges of jury
tampering. The arrests of Jack Lin
wood Turner. 39, Route 1, Creed
moor, who headed the panel. Crowell
Perry Strickland. 44, Rt. 2, Louisburg,
brother-in-law of Murray and Badge
Thomas Goss. 27, Route 1, Creed
moor. an employee of Strickland's was
made Tuesday in Wake County. All
three are free on $500 bond.
A Wake County Grand Jury
brought in bills of indictment against
the three men Monday and all three
surrendered to Wake County Sheriffs
officers Tuesday afternoon after hav
ing been notified by Granville County
Sheriff J. C. Cash and Franklin Sheriff
William T. Dement of the charges.
The indictments charge the three
with "willfully and feloniously con
spiring to comiptly influence the ver
dict of a juror by the payment of
money." According to tne inaicimenis
Turner, is foreman of the jury, agreed
to accept $500 to influence the verdict
in favor of Murray. According to
reliable reports no money changed
hands but SBI agent Billy Crocker and
District Solicitor W. G. Ransdell de
clined to comment on details of the
charges.
Ransdell was quoted as saying that
the bills of indictment were presented
in Wake County because the alleged
"conspiracy was hatched in Wake
County." Strickland lives in Franklin,
Turner lives in Granville County and
Goss reportedly lives just inside Wake
County near the Granville line. Rans
dell successfully petitioned the court
in the Murray case to draw a jury from
outside Franklin County saying the
state could not get a fair trial here
because of Murray's popularity in the\
county. The jury was selected from \
Granville County and served on he
case here in Louiaburg for ten days.
Consumers Council Holds
Kick-off Meeting Here
At a Consumers Council meeting
held at The Murphy Houae in Louis*
burg Wednesday. March 19, it was
announced that Mrs. Ralph Beasley of
Louisburg would serve as Franklin
County Membership Chairman (or the
Council which is in the process of
getting organized in this area.
Region Two Chairman of the North
Carolina Consumers Council, Mrs Ju
lian Porter of Severn, presided at the
meeting. In attendance were local citi
zens and representatives from the ten
county region which includes Edge
combe. Franklin, Granville, Halifax,
Naah, North Hampton, Vance, Warren
and Wilson counties.
Mrs. Uef Valand of Raleigh, who
recently represented North Carolina at
the National Consumers Council meet
ing held In Waahington, D. C? was
featured speaker at the local meting.
She explained that the N. C. Consum
ers Council la a voluntary, non-profit,
non-partisan cltlzena working for con
sumer service and consumer protection
through education, research and legis
lation. Membership includes indivi
duals and organizations. Mr*. Valand
told in detail what the N. C. Council,
which has been in operation for five
months, has already been doing for
consumer*; and she spoke of future
goals.
As county membership chairman,
Mrs. Beasley will soon be contacting
area people in the interest of local
consumer organization, through mem
bership. active participation, and sup
port of leadership.
As consumers, we are bound to
gether with common interests in mak
ing our dollars go further and in
getting better values through strength
of unity. With area organization get
ting underway. Franklin County citi
zens now have the opportunity to join
the growing voice in behalf of consum
ers interests by becoming active mem
ben of the Council.
Educational information will be
provided to council members who will
be encouraged to express opinion on
consumer protection plans. _
Franklinton
Sets Easter
Holidays
(FRK. B.Wi) Mr. R. B. Gordon,
superintendent of Franklinton City
School*, announced this week that
Easter Holiday will be observed in the
local schools Friday, April 4 through
Tuesday, April 8.
Previously April 3 had been sche
duled as a holiday but because of the
day lotf on February 17, there will be
school on Thursday, April 3.
By Clint Fuller
( - Times Managing Editor
((known the history of The Monument
are passing from us or maybe it's more
that the new generation is curious. It is
encouraging, whatever the ration, that
some want to know more about the
history of the community in .which
they live.
The Monument has stood where It
now stands for nearly 55 years. It was
unveiled 49 yean following the end of
the Civil War. It was dedicated, with
great fanfare, on a bright Wednesday
afternoon in the Spring of 19X4. Al
most ironically, before this com
munity was to be swallowed up in
another bloody war, it paused to pay
honor to those who had fallen In its
last tragic conflict.
How did the idea start? Who
knows. Or who is to ever know how
monuments begin or who decides or
when? It is known that Dr. James E,
Malone was named, however unof
ficially, as a one-man committee to
look into some appropriate memorial
for fallen Confederate soldiers. How
far he had gotten with the idea is now
lost to history. But. from Dr. Malone
himself comes the story of what must
have been the first contribution. In all
likelihood, it prompted him or others
to move toward The Monument as we
know it today.
An unnamed widow entered the
doctor's office one afternoon suffering
from "an awful looking sore on the
side of her face and neck". The
woman had lost her husband and three
sons in the war. The lllneas lasted for
quite some time and the woman re
turned twice each week for treatment.
Then she failed to meet an appoint
Service
Interruption^
Elcctrlc service will be interrupted
Sunday afternoon, March 23, between
1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the com
munity and surrounding area* of
Youngsville, Pocomoke, Flat Rock
Church, New Hope and sections along
U. S. 401 and N.C. road 1100.
Roy A. Burch, Carolina Power &
Light Company district manager,
said that the interruption was neces
sary to allow crews to inatall new
equipment at the company's Wake
For eat substation.
If weather conditions do not permit
the work to be done Sunday after
noon, It will be re -scheduled for a later
date .
ment ana sne was lost lor mree weens.
Then one day she came back. She
told the doctor she had been cured
and taking a slightly soiled hankerchief
from her pocket she began to untie the
knot in the end. From here she took
two old one dollar bills. Telling Dr.
Malone that this was all she had, she
offered it to him in payment for his
services. He refused to accept. She
insisted.
"No, mam", the doctor said. "You
have given too much already". She
continued to insist.
Finally, out of desparation, Dr.
Malone took the two dollars and even
though the woman objected, he told
her he would use it to begin a fund to
* build a monument in honor of Her
husband and three sons and all other
county men who had given their lives.
Thij was about 1884. It took thirty
years, but the memorial was finally
erected. By then the two dollars had
grown to $5.60 with interest. What
transpired in the interim, like the "old
lady" with the "sore face", will remain
a mystery.
If waiting had been long and even if
memory of those who died had faded,
it failed to dampen the spirits of those
5,000 hearty souls who converged on
Louisburg by 10 o'clock on that May
13, 1914 for what was billed as the
greatest day since the centennial.
They came. Veterans, widows, or
phans. townspeople, farmers came.
The Governor and Franklin's own fu
ture Governor, and dignitaries from all
over, came. And four little girls did the
unveiling.
The procession gathered in front of
the courthouse. The Third Regiment
Band led the parade. Directly In back
of the band rode Governor Locke
Cralg and with him rode Judge Charles
M. Cooke, Sheriff Henry C. Kearney
and Rev. George M. Duke. Following
See MONUMENT Page 5
Public Hearing On
Natural Gas Held
Some thirty, persons attended a
public hearing here Wednesday night
on the question of granting a franchise
to bring natural gas o the Louisburg
area. The meeting, held in the Louis
burg Armory, was presided over by
Mayor V. A. Peoples, who told the
group that no decision would be
reached then. He explained that the
law requires that approval be given at
two consecutive regular monthly meet
ings of the Town Council.
Industrial Development Director
Ken Schubart addressed the group and
read three letters concerning the mat
ter. His first letter from Seaboard
Coastline Railway stated that. "Louis
burg and Franklin County are at a
distinct disadvantage by not having
natural gas." The reference was to
industrial development.
A second letter, from he State
Department of Conservation and De
velopment. stated, "Lack of this fuel
will prohibit a number of firms from
giving consideration to your area."
And a third letter, from Carroll Single
ton and Associates of Henderson and
Raleigh, told of a recent prospect -a
candy manufacturer declined to locate
here. "The principle reason for rejec
tion was that natural gas was not
available," the Singleton letter stated.
Schubart told of the desire for
natural gas by the J. K. Rishel Furni
ture Company which recently an
nounced a decision to locate here. He
said that Rishel had discovered "a
considerable, difference" in bids
opened in Durham last week pointing
out that the bid including use of
natural gas was much lower than some
others.
He disclosed that Rishel had con
tacted W. Hughes Boland, Raleigh area
manager for Public Service Company
of North Carolina, to inquire about
the service. Boland could not assure
the firm that his product would be
available because of the cost factor.
Schubart reported. However, he add
ed. ^ishel is willing to accept an
agreement which would insure natural
gas service by 1971-72 and to use
bottled gas until that time. The dates
are these set by the,, gas firm for
completion of the line from Stem to
Franklinton to Louisburg if the fran
chise is granted by the Town of
Louisburg within the next few weeks.
J. H. Talton. Chairman of the In
dustrial Development Commission,
reiterated Schubart's sentiments in
telling the group. "In our experiences
in industrial development work,' the
great majority of the industries wish
ing to locate require natural gas. If we
could get this franchise it would be _a ,
great help to industrial development."
Mayor Peoples asked for any other
statements and was in the process of
adjourning the Council meeting to the
Council Room upstairs when 11. C.
Taylor. Jr.. Louisburg hardware and
furniture dealer, asked for a show of
sentiment from those present. "If it is
not out of order. I would like for all
those in favor of this franchise to
stand." All present, except town of
ficials and a bottle gas dealer, stood in
favor of the granting of the franchise.
Following the public meeting,
which lasted around twenty minutes,
the Council moved to its regular meet
ing room to discuss the matter. Coun
cilman W. J. Shearirt said he could be
quoted as favoring the granting of the
franchise following the public hearing.
No other officials made any public. ?
but the general concensus at the hear
ings Avas that the Council would act
favorably on the matter.
County To Participate In Plan
To Meet Teacher Shortage
The administrative school units of
Frankllnton City and Franklin, Gran
ville, Vance, and Warren counties have
an opportunity to participate in the
North Carolina plan for attracting and
qualifying teachers to meet the critical
teacher shortages, under Part B, Sub
part 2, of the Education Professions
Development Act. The State Plan was
approved, and North Carolina has been
allotted $329,952.
The administrative units are eligible
to submit a project proposal for train
ing prospective teachers. The purpose
of the act is to attract into teaching
persons in the community who have
college degrees but who are not cur
rently serving as teachers. They will be
provided, through intensive, short
term training programs and subsequent
in-service training, with qualifications
necessary for a teaching career. For a
local person to be eligible to make
application to participate in this pro
gram he must have a college degree
and must not have been employed
during the last six months in teaching.
Applicants must be willing to take an
intensive study course Tor 6-8 weeks in
Henderson this summer without cost
to the applicant.
In-service training will be continued
for applicants during the school year
and in the summer of 1970. With this
additional training and a year's teach
ing experience, it is hoped that a
person will be able to qualify for a
class "A" teaching certificate for the
1970-71 school term. This will depend
on each individual case according to
his needs. Plans are to pay applicants a
stipend per day during the summer
(raining period.
The administrative units will plan
to submit a joint project proposal if
personnel in the area are interested
and file an application with he local
superintendent of schools. The state
has he right to reject or approve the
project. Interested citizens are asked
to complete the form which appears in
this paper and return to their local
superintendent by Tuesday. March 25,
1969.
Eastern Star Officers Installed
Pictured above are the principal! In Tuesday nlght'i OES installation. L. R. - Mr*. George West, instilling marshal. Mrs
Jerry Rowe, worthy matron; Mn. John Godfrey, installing chaplain; Mn W. J. Bowen. installing organist: H. B. Shearin, Jr.,
Worthy Patron and Mra. C. 0. Renn, installing officer. (See story, page 2)
. J ?? . "?