The FmlfiiiKrimes
Published Evary Tuasday A Thursday Sarvin? All Of Franklin County
Gy 6-3283 Ten Cents Louisburg. N. C., Thursday, June 26, 1969 (Ten Pages Tod^y) 100th Ye?r-Number 38
New Airport, Half Franklin
Scene above shows new Wake Forest Airport which is situated halfway into
Franklin County. The facility, owned by Frank Swett, Jr. of Wake Forest, while
privately owned is for public use, according to reports. The new field was opened
Sunday and will feature flight instruction, charter flights and other services. The
runway, which is half in Wake County and half in Franklin, is 2200 feet in length.
The airport Is located one mile south of Youngsville.
Photo by Ross Shuping, Courtesy of Wake Forest Airport.
Franklinton Mayor
Jailed For Contempt
Franklinton Mayor Joseph W.
Pearce spent several hours in county
jail Tuesday after being arrested on
charges of contempt of court. Pearce,
according to charges by Clerk of Court
Ralph S. Knott, had failed to file an
annual report as guardian of Pearce's
11-year-old daughter. Sheriff William
T. Dement arrested Pearce Tuesday
afternoon around 4 P.M. at Franklin
ton.
The Franklinton Mayor was releas
ed around 11 P.M. Tuesday night on
an order signed by Superior Court
Judge William Y. Bickett of Raleigh.
Bond was set at $1,000 and was
posted.
According to reports, the law re
quires that a guardian file with the
Clerk of Court, a written report
annually. Knott appointed Pearce
guardian of the estate of Jo Dorcas
Pearce on January 4, 1968 following
the death of the child's mother, who
at the time of her death was divorced
from Pearce. The report, according to
Knott, was due on January 4, 1969.
The charges against Pearce state
that he was served with "an Order to
file the account by Deputy Sheriff
John Deal on May 20, 1969 and to
show cause within twenty days as to
why he should not be attached for
contempt of Court and removed from
office as Guardian."
The charges also state that Pearce
appeared before the Clerk on June 18,
failed to file the report but asked to be
given until June 20 to do so. When
Pearce again failed to file the report on
June 20, Knott issued the contempt
order.
The Times has learned that papers
will be filed today by the Clerk remov
ing Pearce from the position of Guard
ian of his daughter's estate.
A hearing on the contempt charges
has been set for July 14 before Super
ior Court Judge C. W. Hall in Oxford.
Hart Is Youngsville Lions Prexy
Youngsville - Lion Earl Hart was
installed as President of the Youngs
ville Lions Club at a meeting held at
the community house Monday night,
June twenty-third. A long time mem
ber of the club, Lion Hart has pre
viously served as club secretary and in
various other capacities. Interested in
civic affairs, Mr. Hart has recently
been active in the Booster Club where
he has been serving as secretary, and
has given active support to athletic
events associated with the school.
Lion Arthur E. Hall conducted the
Installation Service. At present Tail
twister in the local club, Lion Hall has
served as club president and other >
offices of leadership. In District 31-G,
he was Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer
and has held other office* of responsi
bility; with an active interest in Lion
ism on all levels.
Officers installed with Lion Hart
were First Vice President Richard Tim
ber lake, Second Vice President E. J.
Pearce, Third Vice President W.
Tommy Mois, Tailtwister A. E. Hal).
Lion Tamer L. Jervais Phillip*. Secre
tary-Treasurer James T. Allen. Direct
ors are Davis Hill. J. K. Tharrington. J.
W. Weather, Jr., R. E. Cheatham and
C. R. Edwards.
Outgoing President Claude Edwards
spoke to the club expresdng apprecia
tion for cooperation of member* dur
ing hi* term of office.
Welfare Department
Now It's Department Of Social Service
A rose by any other name will moat
likely (till be subject to the punaten
and critic* but the Department of
Public Welfare, here and elsewhere in
the state, will become the Department
of Social Services on July 1.
Other than the name change, which
will appear on the building, stationary
and other articles of Identification,
things are expected to remain very
much aa In the past. Medlcade. a new
federally co-sponsored program is be
ing added here as elsewhere but this
has nothing to do with the change In
the name.
"The Image of an agency or a group
can be formed from what a person
sees, hears, or reads," says Mrs. Jane
York, Director of the Franklin County
agency. "Public Welfare has long been
associated with Its public saaistance
program only, or generally known to
many persons as the place to gat your
pension or dole," she continues.
She says, too often the agency la
viewed aa "A place that breeds depen
dency which in turn makee everyone's
taxes increase and depletea the labor
rmrket " Mrs. York explaina that any
program aa large as public weltsre will
continue to receive criticism and will
be abused to tome extent. "However",
she adds, "If each person In Franklin
County could work one month In the
agency, they would be amazed at the
many services available to all aoclo
?economic groups." "Public assi
stance", she says, "is only one key in
the wheel
The name change Is the fourth since
its beginning In 1868 when It was
called the Board of Public Charities.
It's duties, at that time were limited to
charitable and penal Institutions and
reporting annually to the Governor.
In 1917 and 1919, the General
Assembly rewrote the welfare laws and
established the state supervised and
county administered public welfare
program. The name was changed to
the State Board of Charities and Public
Welfare.
In 1937, in conformity with the
requirements of the Social Security
Act, North Carolina adopted legisla
tion making the State eligible for
Federal financial participation in pub
lic welfare programs. Again the name
waa changed, this time to the State
Board of Public Welfare. This has been
the name of the agency until legislative
action this month made the latest
change.
There are several valid reaaona for
thla action by the General Aaaembly.
Many states and the Federal govern
ment have changed the name of their
public welfare agenciea. Several yeara
ago the Welfare branch of the Federal
Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare waa changed to Social and
Rehabilitation Service.
Many legislators were of the opin
ion that the term public welfare had
became synonymous with the public
asalatance for the needy, a monthly
financial aid program to help certain
categortee of the poor to meet their
baaic necessities of life.
The recipienta of thla aid are re
ferred to almoat always aa welfare
recipient*, but the parent* who adopt
a child through the local welfare de
partment are not conaidered such re
cipient*
The financial aid prograrti, however,
1* only on* of the many pro grama
offered by the pubUc welfare and
many of ita service* are for all real
denta and not juat for the poor.
The name Social Service* more
See WELFARE Page 4
Annexation Views Aired
In House Hearing Today
A large delegation of Franklin citi
zens attended a public hearing in the
state legislative building this morning
on the controversial Louisburg annexa
tion request. The, hearing before a
House Calendar Sub-Committee chair
ed by Rep. Perry Martin, D-Northamp
ton, lasted a little over half an hour.
No decision by the Committee was
announced. _
Speaking for proponents of the bill
in general and the Louisburg Town
Council and Mayor particularly was W.
M. Jolly, town attorney. S. Kenneth
Schubart and David Daniel also spoke
in favor of the bill which was introduc
ed in the Senate by Senator E. F.
Youth Bound
Over In
Knifing Incident
A 16-year-old Negro boy waived
hearing before Dlitrict Judge Julius
Banzet last Friday and was bound over
to Superior Court on charges of felon
ious assault against a 15-year-old white
youth on the nnal day of achool.
Michael Evans of Route 1, Castalia,
was freed under a $2500 bond. The
charges stemmed from the alleged
knifing by Evans of Warren Boone at
Edward Best High School on June 3,
the final day of claaaet of this achool
year. Fifty-eight stitches were required
to close the wounds on Boone's back
and arm. The two youths, according to
Sheriff William T. Dement reporting at
the time, became engaged In an argu
ment on the ball field and a short time
later, Evans reportedly slashed the
Boone boy across the back and arm
with a pocket knife.
Griffin and which has already passed
the upper chamber.
Herman Spencer was chief spokes
man in opposition to the passage of
the bill. Mrs. Wilton rOay and Harris
Spencer also spoke in opposition.
Franklinton Town Attorney Bill
Pearce and Mrs. Richard Whitfield also
spoke in favor of the measure. Pearce
said he represented the entire Frank
linton Board and Rep. John Cburch
introduced a letter from Franklinton
Mayor Joe Pearce favoring the mea
sure.
Jolly told the Committee he could
not understand why anyone would
oppose the bill and related town ser
vices which would become available to
any section annexed. "They would
save more than the $80 per year tax",
he said. His assumption was, he said,
based on the 80 cent rate In Loulsburg
on a $10,000 tax valued property.
"Louisburg's Board ought to be
able to enjoy the same privileges en
joyed by Boards in 93 other counties,"
Jolly added.
Mrs. Whitfield said she felt that
Frankllnton's growth of what she des
cribed as only about 600 since the
turn of the century is "pitiful" and
added she felt if the bill was passed,
'the Franklinton Town Board will act
with wisdom".
Schubart commented on th^
growth of the county in industrial
development over the past few years
and said he favored the bill. He also
told the Committee that his "entire
Commission" favors the measure. "It
is a very important factor In locating
industry", he said, commenting on the
growth of the towns in the county.
Pointing out that some of his
"finest friends" were present In op
position, David Daniel said he felt
passage of the bill Is necessary "for
Loulsburg and Franklin County to
One In By 9 P.M.
Boys Lose Pool
Room Privileges
Two teenage boys had their pool
room privileges removed by Judge
Julius Banzet in Diitrict Court here
Monday, a third was ordered to be
home each night at 9 P.M. unlets he
held a written permit signed by his
parents and a fourth youth drew a
90-day jail sentence. -
Three of the boys faced charges of
damage to property after a bottle
throwing spree in which they allegedly
broke windows In Duke Memorial
Church in the Justice Community. The
fourth boy was charged with breaking
and entering a cabin on a lake in
Franklinton.
Judge Banzet ordered Robert Allen
Blake, w/m/17, to two years of proba
tion, not to go in any pool room in
North Carolina for 2 years and to
report to the probation officer at such
times as required by the officer.
Danny Marcus Smith, w/m/19, receiv
ed prayer for judgment for two years
and was ordered not to violate any
criminal laws of North Carolina for
two years and to- pay into the Clerk's
office the turn of $36.63 for damage
to property. He was alto ordered not
to go In to any pool room In North
Carolina for two yean, day or night.
Both youths were charged in the
bottle-throwing incidents.
A third youth also charged with
bottle-throwing and damage to pro
perty, William Herman Murray,
w/m/18, received a 90-day jail sen
tence. He appeal( 4 and bond was set
at $200.
Joseph Earl May, w/m/17, charged
with breaking and entering cabins on
the Ronda Gupton lake at-Frankllnton
received prayer for judgment for two
years, is not to violate any criminal
laws of North Carolina for two years.
Is to pay $15.00 for partial damages
and is not to be away from home after
9 P.M. at night without written per
mission of his parents. Two juveniles
were also charged In the breaking and
entering cases but were turned over to
juvenile authorities earlier.
See More District Court Page 5.
experience the kind of growth and
progress it deserves."
"Some of our best and finest
people live outside the city", Daniel
said. "How much could they bring to
make the town a better place in which
to live?", he asked and added. "I'm
afraid this is nothing more than a
dollar and cents issue."
Speaking against the bill,- Herman
Spencer told of building his home on
Jeffreys Drive and the expense of
improving the property and said there
are 23 wells in his neighborhood,
"some of which cost as much as
$2,000". He pointed out his under
standing of certain town charges and
listed them as $90 for water connec
tions; $25 and $40 for sewer connec
tions.
"If this bill passes -and I hope it
will not-", he said, "I hope there will
be an amendment to prevent the citi
zens from having to pay this additional
expense". He said that Senator Griffin
did not tell "a close friend in our
neighborhood" anything about his
plans to introduce this bill. "Seems
like a sneak on the park of somebody
Gay Products
Expansion
Announced
The Franklin County Industrial
Development Commission announced
Wednesday that Gay Products. Inc. of
Louisburg will build a 66,000 square
foot addition to its present facility in
Louisburg.
Clarkton Steel Company received
the bid on the building, which will be
used as edditional warehouse storage
space at present and hopefully, anoth
er production line in the future.
The building will cost approximate
ly $150,000 and will measure 220 x
300 feet.
Mr. Roy Workman, company presi
dent, states that this addition will
extend the production season. He fur
ther said that had it not been for
favorable local conditions and much
work and planning by leaders of the
community and the Industrial Deve
lopment Commission, this expansion
might never have taken place.
Special tribute was paid to Manager
Ed Ptttman and his local staff for
making this growth possible.
Sheriff
Gets Still
A 1600-gallon capacity still, located
3 Sniles north of Franklinton, was
desmived Tuesday morning by
SheriffVm(ficeri, according to reports.
No arrests w*temade and the still was
not in operational*! the time of the
raid.
Sheriff William T. Dement saSTTre
and Chief Deputy David Batten dis
covered the illegal operation. He re
ported the destruction of 1500 gallons
of mash and the confiscation of a gas
operated pump, several tubs and other
related material at the site.
somewhere". Spencer said> "The ma
jority in my neighborhood do not
want it." ? ? \
Mrs. Clay said "this hearing should
have been held in Louisburg. The
Town Council could have informed
us". She spoke of the privilege of
voting on the annexation question and
said, "Louisburg can grow now with
out this bill". She also questioned the
number of counties excluded from the
bill and Chairman Martin named them
from the law and they totaled seven as
had been reported by this newspaper.
Harris Spencer said he was not for
or against the bill when he took the
rostrum, but said he did not agree with
a Franklin Times editorial which said
"If it's good for 93 counties, it should
be good for Franklin County."
Rep. James D. Speed, D-Fnnklln,
was an interested spectator at the
hearings and passed out a prepared
statement which he read to the Com
mittee. In comments before reading
his prepared statement. Speed indicat
ed his opposition to the bill when he
explained that there had been so much
opposition, he had "been reluctant to
act" on the requests to have the bUI
introduced. In obvious reference to
the present law controlling annexation
for the seven counties excluded from
the bill in question, Speed said that a
vote would be "the democratic way of
doing things."
Speed also told the Committee,
"Opponents are 50 to one against
See HEARING Page 4
Suicide Ruled
In Death Of
18-Year-0ld
Sheriff William T. Dement reported
Wednesday that suicide has been ruled
in the death of Marvin Dale Murray,
18-year-old Spring Hope, Route 1,
carpenter. Murray reportedly shot
himself in the stomach with a .12
gauge shotgun around 1 A.M. Sunday
at the home of his step-grandfather,
Robert Morgan on Route 2, Zebulon
in the Pilot Community.
Dement said that Coroner James
Edwards made the official ruling Tues
day.
Funeral services were held for the
youth Monday at 2:30 P.M. from the
Hunt-Murray Funeral Home In Spring
Hope conducted by Rev. C. E.
Knowles and Rev. Reuben Moseley.
Burial followed in Spring Hope Mem
orial Gardens.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Marvin B. Murray of Spring Hope;
two sisters, Linda Gayle and Janet
Sue, both of the home.
First?
H. Darnell Tant of the Pine Ridge
section of the county reported Wed
nesday that he barned what is believed
Tovjje the first tobacco of the season
Tucs3?ViAccording to reports, Tant, ?
tobacco pader and fertilizer dealer,
barned 364 sticks from 2.2 acres. The
barning came 62 days following the
setting of the plant, the report said.
Brown Honored On Retirement
Archie Brown, Chairman of the Franklin County Welfare Board, Is pictured, right, being printed a plaque by Mia. Jape
York, Director of Welfare upon hltTetirement from the Board here Wednesday. Others shown, left to right are: La feme Gupton,
Miss Lucy Burt, Clyde Waiden and County Commissioner John House, all members of the Board. Brown who was named to the
Board in 1963 and made Chairman in 1964 has served six years. Under present law, he cannot serve longer. Mrs. York was high
In her praiae of Brown's services, saying, "He's been just marvelous".
Staff photo by Clint Fuller.