The FraiifeMn Times
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday
Serving All Of Franklin County
Phone GY6-3283
Ten Cents
Louisburg, N. C., Thursday, March 27. 1969
(Ten Pages Today)
100th Year-Number 12
Little Jackie's Father,
Grandparents Lived Here
The tragic death of little Jackie Stone, 13-year-old Wallace, N. C. school girl at
the hands of a kidnap-slayer has shocked this area as well as other parts of the state.
The child's father, Leon Stone, a Wallace radio announcer, lived here with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Whit Stone following World War II. The Stones lived near
Sandy Creek Baptist Church on NC-561 at the time. The child's paternal
grandmother, Mrs. Irene Nelms Stonejiow lives on Route 1, Henderson. Mr. Stone
died several years ago.
Jackie's mother, the former Reba Woodlief, is a niece of the late A1 Woodlief.
Louisburg automobile dealer, who died in August, 1953, following an automobile
accident in Wake County. She was the niece of Mr.
and Mrs. Graham Nelms, Route 2, Louisburg and has
other relatives in the county.
Her grandparents moved to Franklin County from
neighboring Vance in 1946 and Jackie's father re
turned here following his release as a prisoner of war
in 1946. He left Louisburg to work at White Lake, N.
C. where he met his wife. He also worked as an
announcer in Oxford before moving to Wallace about
eight years ago.
The child's body was found Wednesday night in
five-feet of water following a massive search by several
hundred people.
| Police Chief Earl W. Whitaker said the girl's body
was found not far from where her pocketbook had
been discovered.
The highway patrol had closed all roads in the
1 immediate area to press the search for the girl's body
'after the purse was found containing pictures and
l other identification.
^ ^ ^ ? The spot was a rural area about 14 miles north of
Jackie Stone Wallace. ?*
A dog turned up the pocketbook and Its owner flagged down a highway trooper,
R. M. Johnson, who relayed word of the discovery. Officers converged on the scene
to press a search that had involved an estimated 400 law enforcement men and
volunteers.
Meanwhile, a suspect picked up shortly after the girl's disappearance, was
questioned at an undisclosed jail in a neighboring county, according to officers.
Police said the girl's body was found in a small creek off a rural paved road about
14 miles north of Wallace. The area was off N. C. 11 running between Wallace and
Kenansville. ?
Two highway patrolmen, J. S. Briley and Harry Pridgen, found the girl's body at
a bridge spanning the creek. The scene wits about a mile and a half from the area
where the pocketbook was found in the yard of a residence.
Briley reported that the girl was clothed except for her shoes.
Later. Briley said when he returned from the scene to Highway 11, hbout 50
lortd residents had gathered at the intersection. Briley stepped out of his patrol car
and said, "I want you to do me a favor. We appreciate all the help you folks have
given us. We found the girl's body in the water in the woods."
A newsman said some of the persons at the intersection, some who had been
waiting more than an hour, appeared stunned. Several teen-age boys who had
assisted in the search broke into tears.
Police Chief Earl W. Whittaker said he was told by younger sisters of Jackie that
the girl was picked up by a man Tuesday as they walked home from school.
He said the girls told him a stranger in a black and white car pulled beside them
and asked, their names. The girls said the man then told Jackie her mother had been
injured and he would take her to the hospital to see her.
The girls said they were told to go home, that only Jackie was wanted at the
hsopital.
They said^they found their mother at home.
Mrs. Stone telephoned police. Authorities broadcast a description of the car and
searched through the night. "We were out there all night last night," said one
deputy, "checking everything that we know how to check." The man was picked up
for questioning about 5 p.m.
Two ponds near Wallace were dragged early Wednesday.
V
Man Killed, 16-Year-Old Girl Held
A 16-year-old Negro girl was jailed
in Oxford Monday about noon in
connection with the slaying earlier in'
the day of her common-law husband',
Willie Andrews, 34.
Sheriff J. C. Cash and Coroner
Grover C. Saunders had not completed
' their investigation at noon Monday.
Authorities said the shooting oc
curred about a mile off 96 on the
Evans farm, in the vicinity of Poco
moke, near the Franklin County line.
\ around 9 a.m; '
The girl, identified as Clara Mae
Mangum. was said to have walked
about ona mile in a drizzle to the
Michett's Supermarket to report the
shooting and to reqjiest that authori
ties be notified.
The death weapon was described as
a sawed -off .22 .calibre rifle without
\
stock.
Sheriff Cash said the girl had sus
tained cuts in her right arm during a
scuffle which the girl said followed
argument earlier in the morning.
She was quoted by Cash as having
said she got out of the grip of An
drews. crawling under the stove pipe,
to get into another room, where she
found the death weapon. She told
officers Andrews had been drinking
and "wanted to fight when drunk."
Cash said no charge had at noon
been made against the girl and that she
was in temporary custody for quest
ioning. He indicated that a charge
would be preferred later in the day.
The body of Andrews, who was a
sawmill worker, was removed to
Franklinton to await burial plans.
Three Hurt In Accident
The scene below shows results of an accident which occured last Saturday
afternoon around 3 P.M. on NC-56 when the car flipped over several time* a few
miles east of Louiilbuig. Plcturedst right shows a coat belonging to one of the car's
occupants which was thrown some distance into a nearby tree. Three persons were
treated at Franklin Memorial Hospital for what were believed to be minor injuries.
Ernest Perry, c/m/24 of Newport Newt. Va. and two employees of the hospital.
Bertha Mae Hicks, c/f/21 and Mary Battle, cft(2l, both of Rt. 4, Loulsburg were
transported to the hospital by the Loulsburg Reseue Service.
Staff photo by Clint Fuller.
"To The Moon First"
Project Halted In Franklin County
Until ' a few years ago. it was a
common expression in this part of the
country. "It's harder than putting a
man on the moon" or "There'll be a
man on the moon before so-and-so is
done". Although there is no record of
such, one can imagine that some citi
By Clint Fuller
Times Managing Editor
zens of Franklin County must have
uttered a like phrase in connection
with improvements to the county's
primary highways back then.
If one did. he is likely to be getting
SAME OLD BUMPY STRETCH
So, What Else Is New?
Rishel Awards Contracts
The J. K. Rishel Furniture Com
pany lost no time in awarding con
struction contracts after Monday's
ground breaking ceremonies here. Re
liable reports indicate that company
officials are extremely pleased at the
reception received here Monday and
that the overall attitudes expressed
optimism for the future of the com
pany and local relations.
Bids totaling more than $918,000
were awarded to contract Tuesday in
Durham by representatives of Rishel.
according to S. Kenneth Schubart,
Director of Industrial Development for
Franklin County.
The General building and plumbing
contract was awarded to the J. M.
Thompson Company of Raleigh and
the electric wtfk was awarded to
Bryant Durham Electric Company of
Durham. Comfort Engineering Com
pany , another Durham firm, was
awarded the heating and and air-con
ditioning contract. Fire protection
contracts was awarded Viking Pro
tection Company of High Point.
The price of the work does not
include steel to be used in the ttruc
ture. This is being purchased under a
different arrangement and the steel is
expected to be placed on the site by
April 4.
Armed with information that the
Loulsburg Town Council is looking
with favor at a natural gas franchise,
Rishel awarded contracts Monday call
ing for the use of natural gas in the
Louisburg plant. Although gas lines are
not expected until 1970-71, the firm
had said earlier it would uae bottled
gas until the lines could be run to the
plant.
The Board of County Commis
sioners are expected to formally adopt
a resolution at its next meeting to
finance the $155,000 water line pro
ject to serve the new plant. Schubart
says that with Tuesday's contracts, the
steel, land, water line, machinery and
fixtures the new plant is likely to
represent an investment of around $2
million.
Questioned about the outflow of
optimism following Monday's success
ful ground breaking ceremonies, Schu
See RISHEL Page 6
Rep. Speed
Improving
At Duke
Sixteenth District Representative
James D. Speed It reported retting
comfortably in Duke Hotpltal, where
he wat transferred Tuesday from
Franklin Memorial Hospital.
The lawmaker'i wife reported to
The Timet Wednetday night that
Speed la tuffering from pneumonia
and It expected to remain at Duke for
recuperation. She tald Speed't doctors
have been mo it encouraging and that a
number of people have called to In
quire about the Leg lalator'i condition.
She expressed her appreciation to all
who have called.
ready now to say. "I told you so".
Undoubtedly, there will be a man
placed on the moon before Franklin
gets its first primary highway construc
tion project in 19 years.
The culprit this time, however, is a
new nemlsis. Locals have long since
learned that politicians on the state
level had some little thing to do with-,
the continued put-offs. But. this time,
except for the lack Of planning and the
fact that any road improvements in
Franklin were due years ago. the old
bug-a-boo cannot be faulted. The of
fender now is inflatioif.
So. while man flies to the moon
and the honorables ponder more taxes
in Raleigh, travelers must continue to
manipulate the curving, patched and
pitiful stretch of NC-39, US-401 north
of Louisburg.
In the allocation of the state bond
money to the' 14 Divisions across
Tarheelia. each received its share based
on primary road mileage. However, in
order to give the Highway Commission
members some flexibility - among
other things - funds were not alloted in
this manner to the counties within the
Division. Had this been done Franklin
would have had enough to complete
the NC-39, US-401 project all the way
to the Vance County l|ne with enough
left over to have celebrated with an
outdoor barbeque. With 1S5 miles of
primary highway ?? second largest in
the Division - Franklin's share - had it
been based by county as it was done
by Division - would have been
$1,734,140.00.
For the now halted project, Frank
lin was allocated $750,000. Even cut
ting back some six miles of the pro
ject, there are not enough funds to do
more than the five miles from Louis
burg to Ingleside.
now, the sale ol ]>bu million worm
of road bonds is stalemated. Bond
buyers don't want to invest with only
four percent return on the investment.
State Treasurer Edwin Gill has asked
for the interest rate to be raised.
This is easier said than done. The
people must vote on the issue. Legis
lation was introduced in the General'
Assembly a couple of weeks ago by
Rep. Fred M. Mills, Jr. of Anson
County raising the maximum interest
rate to five percent. In the snail-paced
law-makers haven, the measure still
crawls along. Once it is passed, as
suming that it or a bill like it will be,
the matter must go to the people for a
vote.
This leads to a whole lot of ponder
ables. How much interest is enough?
Will the legislature pass any such bill
before it adjourns? How do you sell it
to people such as Franklin citizens
who have had their fill of the highway
thing?
Man on the moon before NC-39 is
completed? There may be one on
Mars.
Rescue Service
Needs $1,000
David Minnich, Chief of the Louis
burg Resuce Service, reported today
that the Service needs $1,000 more in
its drive to raise funds for a new
Rescue unit. Minnich said thq new
truck will arrive in about three weeks.
The ' unit costs $9,100, said Min
nich, and the Service has raised all but
$1,000. Members of the Service will
man a stand on the corner of Nash and
Main Streets Friday afternoon and
Saturday to accept donations, he said.
The Service collected $S01.32 on
the corner last Saturday, and Minnich
expressed his appreciation to everyone
who donated. He said anyone who
would not be passing the fund-drive
stand could mail their contribution to
the Service, P. O. Box 352, Louisburg,
N.C. 17549.
Mayor V. A. Peoples
Peoples
To Seek
Third Term
Louisburg Mayor V. A. (Tommy)
Peoples has announced his intentions
to seek a third term and is expected to
officially file for reelection today .
Mayor Peoples, who served as a
member of the Town Council in the
1963-65 term, was first elected Mayor
in 1965 in a close contest with former
Council member Robert Hicks. He ran
unopposed in the 1967 municipal elec
tions.
In making his announcement, the
Mayer stated, "If it is the wish of the
voteis. I will be happy to continue to
serve as Mayor. I have no so-called
political promises to make. I only
hope, if elected, to continue the pro
gress our town is making in its many
fields of service to our people."
Peoples. 41, is a television-radio
dealer here and is married to he former
Joyce Strother. They have two sons,
A1 and Larry and three daughters,
Vickie, Susan and Deborah. Mayor
Peoples has served a senior member
and Chief of the Louisburg Rescue
Service and as a member of the Louis- -
burg Fire Department.
He is active in the Louisburg Bap
tist Church where he has taught a
Sunday School class for several years.
During his tenure as Mayor, Louis
burg has seen ninety-five percent of a
new lighting project completed and a
continuing updating of its electric
system. Peoples points to the con
tinuing project of paving streets and
sas that the town now has less than
four miles of unpaved streets in he
entire system. Main street and Justice
Street were repaved in 1967 from state
Dona money.
A capital reserve fund, now totaling
around $58,000 has been established
for the tontinuing updating of the
municipally owned electric system and
a like fund has been set up for the
purchase of a new fire truck. Mayor
Peoples explains that he electric sys
tem improvements are financed from
the reserve fund and does not require
additional taxes. Since 1964 the sys
tem has been moved from one of 2100
K.W. to 41(H) K.W. and the next move
is expected to be upwards to a 7200
K.W. system.
The Mayor will become the fourth
to file in the mu nicipal elections sche
duled for May 6. Incumbent Town
Council members G rover C. Harris, Jr.,
George T. Bunn and Jonah Taylor
have already paid their filing fees and
Harris and Bunn made public an
nouncements of their intentions.
Other members of the Council who
have not yet announced their plans
are: Mrs. Breattie C. O'Neal, W. J.
Shearin, and H. D". Jeffreys.
Franklinton Man Arrested
From The Oxford (N.C.) Public Ledger
Two van-type truck*, loaded with
whiskey making apparatus, were seized
by enforcement men in Oxford around
midnight Thunday, and one of the
drivers was arretted and charged aa the
second made a get away under cover
of darkneas.
ABC Chief Arthur Ray Currin, who
was called into the caae after two
night-prowling shWiffs men iMcame
suspicious of the contents of a truck
whoae driver they were queationing,
slid the value of the two trucks and
the cargoes they carried waa around
$4,000.
Participating in the round up were
Deputies H. T. Brame and Alien
Thomeraon, who first spotted two
trucks on the entrance drive of Oxford
Implement, near the southern out
skirts of the city; Police Lt. Arch
Wilkins. Police Patrolman Joe Hall, "
Police Patrolman Henry Royster and
Chief Currin.
The action began around midnight
when Thomeraon and Brame pulled
See ARRESTED Page 6
School Fire Nets *
Little Damage
An early morning Ore In the Louis
burg School cafeteria resulted in minor
damage to a bake oven today, accord
ing to reports. A milk dellveryman
discovered the smoking unit ahortly
before 5 a.m. thla morning.
It was believed that the unit had
been left on overnight. A pen inside
the oven had melted. Minor smoke
damage was noted, but lunches are to
be aerved aa usual. It waa said.