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The Hoke County News- Established 1928
i^ournal
^he Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME UX NUMBER 48
KAEtOHD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
$4 PER YEAR iO'PER COPY
THURSDAY, APRIL IS, 1965
DON’T CALL THEM “CITY SUCKERS’
Citizens Say Town Board '^Picked A Plum^
BY JIM TAYLOR
Property owners along East Prospect Avenue Extension charged
this week that the town board of Raeford “picked a plum" when
It annexed the area two weeks ago.
“This used to be a quiet neighborhood, like the newspaper
said,” one housewife commented, “but It Isn't quiet anymore,”
^ She referred to the unrest brought about by the annexation
' action. Most of the 12 families affected by the action have been
up In arms since the vote was taken.
Tuesday night, a dozen of them met with a newsman to voice
their objections.
In a nutshell, they feel they were made “goats” for the own
ers of undeveloped property on West Donaldson Avenue Ex
tension, which Is Immediately south of the Prospect Avenue
neighborhood and Included In the annexed area.
“It seems obvious that they are trying to sell the property
behind us,” said one homeowner. “1 understand no money
can be borrowed on the property unless It Is Inside the town
limits.”
They referred to Harold Glllis, Raeford realtor, as benefici
ary of the board's action. Clllls, contacted later Tuesday night.
said he owns no property In the annexed area.
“1 know It Is the law,” one woman complained, “but I don't
think any law Is right which permits five people to Impose their
will on a dozen unwilling property owners.”
“And we aren't even eligible to vote on the five,” another
said.
The annexation action was taken at the town board's April
meeting, held April 5 at 6 p.m., an nour earlier than the cus
tomary meeting time. The early meeting hour was set, the board
said, In order that the meeting could be concluded before re
vival services began at the Presbyterian church at 7;30.
The vote on the annexation proposal was three to none, with
Commissioners J. D. McMllllan and C. F. Klnlaw abstaining.
“We are not Impressed by their abstention,” one property
owner declared. “They did so, we believe, because they own
businesses In Raeford and the other three do not. They ob
viously knew the outcome before they abstained, so their action
didn't alter the outcome. And they didn't vote against It.
Some two weeks before the board's vote to annex property
a public meeting was held. The 12 property owners were polled
as to their willingness to be annexed. Nine voted against the
proposal, two for It, and one abstained.
“Why were we invited to the meeting to begin with,” one
citizen wanted to know. “We were Informed that we wouldn't
be taken In unless at least 51 per cent favored the move.”
“They told us the annexation was being considered because
so many people had requested It.” another said. “We haven't
been able to find them.”
“If you want to know the real reason for the annexation, just
watch the property behind us (on Donaldson) develop,” anoUier
homeowner said.
It is the principle, and not the action, which seems to have
angered the property owners most.
“We were sort of on the fence about the whole thing until
the town board rushed right Into the move without giving us the
opportunity to be heard further, or without trying to sell us
on the Idea. Its seems that they took action out of spite be
cause of our attitude at the public hearing.” one woman said.
“We'll never get over the sneaky way they went about It, ”
another declared.
As for the benefits the town offers, the town board can forget
it, the new citizens said.
They have town water. They built their own water system
and hooked on to town mains and pay 50 per cent more than the
town rate.
Four are connected to town sewers. The remainder don't
want to je.
“While they’re adding up all they have gained b> dragging us in,
they can subtract $150 times several. We won’t up onto town
sewers unless we have to.”
“If they are so anxious to extend their water and sewer lines,
why don't they run them to areas In town which don’t have them?”
one man asked. “There are unfilled promises In Raeford that
go back 50 years.’’
Most, Is not all, the residents lived In Raeford before they built
In the quiet neighborhood about 10 years ago.
We moved out here because we wanted to get out of town,”
several of them said. “Now we are back in again.”
Several are thinking of offering their homes for sale, now
that they are again technically city dwellers.
“I’d do It In a minute If 1 could find a nice place 12 or 15 miles
out of town.” one man said.
“We may be glad someday that we are In the town,” one wom.in
sighed. "But right now we feel nothing but resentment about the
way we were treated.
See CITIZENS, Page U
School Board Studies
Plans To Desegregate
mi
H,
CANCER CRUSADERS — Saturday will be Sword Day in downtown Raeford as solicitors In die
current cancer fund drive sell lapel pins emblematic of contribution to the 1965 Cancer Crusade.
Mrs. Betty Owens, left. Is chairman of the sword sale, and Mrs. A1 Bruketa, right. Is city
Crusade chairman. Little Klplay Bruketa came along for the ride, but proudly displayed a wooden
sword used for promotion purposes. The downtown drive will last from 10 a. m. to 3:30 p. m.
Lad Admits HE SURVIVES
Burglaries Klllfc Pluilgcd
The arrest and conviction
of a 14-year-old Indian boy
has cleared up a series of
break-ins at Mrs. Maude Cal
loway's store at Five Points,
Sheriff Dave Barrington said
today.
Juvenile Judge E. E. Smith
last week sent the youngster
I to training school for one year
after he admitted entering the
store three times since March
6, die sheriff said.
A good portion of the missing
merchandise -- cigarettes,
clothing, a small amount of
money and other items -- was
See BURGLARIES, Page 11
In Negro’s Eye
A Hoke County Negro who
said he became “provoked”
when his girl friend got after
him with a razor in a local
night spot Friday night alleged
ly plunged a butcher knife to
the hilt into the eye of an in
nocent bystander.
The victim, Clyde McMillan
of Raeford Rt. 1, reportedly
has lost the sight of both eyes
as a result of the stabbing.
He is in N. C. Memorial Hos
pital in Chapel Hill.
Patrolmen Have
Another Chase
Local officers have report
ed another high-speed chase
in which the driver was charged
with speeding 100 miles per
hour. It was the eighth such
charge during the pas’ month.
Highway Patrolman E. W.
Coen said he chased James
McNeill about 10 miles Sat
urday night before the, Hoke
Negro pulled onto a dead-end
dirt road and fled on foot.
Coen said the chase began
at Calloway's Station at Five
Points, continued north toHlgh-
way 211, then three miles toward
Raeford, 'then left along a rural
paved road until the driver
turned off onto a field road in
an apparent effort to elude his
pursuers.
By this time, Coen had been
joined in the chase by Patrol
man Joe Stanley.
Coen said McNeill crashed
into a truck belonging to Jim
my Bullard on the dirt roaoi.
McNeill escaped on foot, but
was traced through the license
.plate on his car and arrested
later at his home.
Coen said McNeill drove at
up to 100 miles per hour with
his lights off during a part of
the chase.
f
Meanwhile, two out-of-county
teenagers were fined $125 and
costs apiece Monday after being
convicted In Recorder's Court
of speeauig 90 miles per hour
on Highway 401 between Rae
ford and Fayetteville.
Lewis Devon Mlntz, 18, of
Laurlnburg, and Henry Wood
ard Denby. 16, of Fort Bragg,
also were charged with pre
arranged racing following ^elr
arrest March 13.
Patrolman Joe Stanley testi
fied that he clocked the twocars,
traveling bumper-to-bumper,
at 90 miles per hour between
Big Star Truck Stop and the
Cumberland County line.
See CHASE, Fage 11
Joe "June Bug" McLean
was charged with felonious as
sault, officers said, after he
admitted the stabbing, which oc
curred about midnight Friday
at George Hollingsworth's club
on “The Hill" north of Rae
ford town limits.
Deputy Sheriff Jesse R. Lee
said McMillan, who made the
trip to Chapel Hill with the knife
still Imbedded in his head,
identified McLean as his as
sailant.
••June Bug told us his girl
friend got after him with
a razor. He said •they' kept
picking on him and he became
upset, grabbed the butcher
knife, and struck out blindly,"
Lee said.
McMillan apparently was not
intended as a victim, Lee said.
McLean told him thee was no
trouble between them, he said,
Lee said the knife entered die
See SURVIVES, Fage 11
Nothing Less
Will Satisfy
U.S. Officials]
Hoke County commissioners
were told Tuesday night they can
expect total desegratlon of the
county’s public scxools within
the next two or three years.
The commissioners were on
hand for a board of education
meeting In which the board re
viewed and tentatively approved
Its plans for compliance with
the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The plans will be reviewed
again tomorrow morning and
will be sent Immediately to
Raleigh, thence to Washington
for federal approval.
Basically, the Hoke County
plan is to let students attend
the school of their choice next
season. If the plan is approved.
It will be advertised In the news
paper and each parent will re
ceive a notification that his
child may attend the school of
his choice.
“This Is merely a stopgap
measure that the federal
government will put up with for
two or three years at most,”
said W. T. Gibson, superinten
dent of schools. “It will be
satisfied, eventually, with noth
ing short of total desegre
gation.”
Actually, the county had but
two choices In setting up Its
program. It could assign pu
pils by geographic districts, or
employ the freedom of choice
rule.
Two weeks ago, the board of
education voted to abolish all
school districts In the county,
placing all schools under the
direct supervision of the board
of education.
Gibson explained that under
the freedom of choice policy,
a student may attend the school
of his choice so long as there
Is room for him at that school.
If there Is no room, then all
students who have applied for
admission to the school must
be assigned to the school near
est to them.
Gibson told the commission
ers he expects no appreciable
change in the present distribu
tion of students under the new
ruling.
“According to the principals
See SCHOOL, Fage 11
/
GUESTS—Hoke County Home Demonstration Club women
were Tuesday luncheon guests of J. L. McNeill at the North
Carolina Sanatorium at McCain. They are shown here with
Mrs. Mildred Furmage, director of nurses. In the group
are Miss Josephine Hall, Mrs. Marshall Newton, Mrs. Joe
Lovett, Mrs. Paul Heath, Mrs. Julian Barnes, Mrs. Stanley
Crawley, Mrs. Harry Daniels, Mrs. James McBryde, Mrs.
Tom Jones, Mrs. Delia Raynor, Mrs. W. B. Gllsson, Mrs.
J. M. Andrews, Mrs. D. J. Dalton, Mrs. Vance Baucom,
Miss Isabel McFadyen, Mrs. Earl Floyd, Mrs. N. F.
Sinclair, Miss Joye WalL Mrs. J. L. McNeill.
Two Stills
Destroyed
officers kept a nine-hour vigil
at a small liquor still near the
Hoke-Robeson line last week,
but no one showed up to operate
the still.
The officers took their sta
tions in the bushes at 3 a. m.
At noon, they came out of the
woods for a bite to eat.
When they returned an hour
See STILLS, Fage 11
Hoke Club Women
rr> Q • In Crash
1 our banitorium
BY LUCY GRAY PEEBLES
Hoke County has a million
dollar payroll which It takes
for granted. The Industry em
ploying thesepeople Is the North
Carolina Sanatorium.
J. L. McNeill, a member
of the board of directors of the
TERM BEGINS APRIL 26
Murder Case Tops Court Docket
Robert Arthur Bllllnger will
go on trial in Hoke Superior
Court April 26 on diarges of
slaying William Kesler McLean
during a night club brawl No
vember 26,
A charge of murder has been
lodged against Blllinger, for
mer truck stop employe who
allegedly fired into a crowd
at George Hollingsworth's club.
McLean was struck by a bul
let from a .25 caliber pistol and
died en route to a local doc
tor's office. A similar weapon
was found in Bllllnger's car
at the time of his arrest.
The case will go to die grand
jury at the beginning of the
court term, at which Judge
Hamilton H. Hobgood will pre
side.
First degree burglary char
ges against two Hoke County
Negroes also will be heard by
the grand jury.
John Willie Harris is accused
of breaking into Julian Barnes'
home at Rock fish while his fam
ily was asleep on the night of
January 23.
Harris allegedly was discov
ered by Barnes in a hallway ot
the home and held at gunpoint
until officers arrived.
Lewis McArthur is charged
with trylpg to batter down the
door at Luther Jackson's home
at Arabia several weeks ago
while Jackson, locked inside the
house, pleaded for McArthur to
go away.
Jackson testified at a prelim
inary hearing that his brother
finally arrived at his home with
a gun and they held McArthur
at gunpoint until officers ap
proached. McArthur then al
legedly ran, but was arrested
later.
Sixty-three jurors have been
drawn for duty during the one-
week term. They are:
Carson Davis Sr., Raeford;
M. V. Hedgepeth. Raeford;
Clyde Graham, Blue Springs;
A. S. Baldwin, Antioch; Den
nis W. Smith, Raeford: Hubert
Ellis Freeman, Raeford; Miss
Ellen Currie, Raeford; Wood-
row Hayes, Stonewall; Wilson
Earl Prince, Raeford:Mrs.Ce-
See COURT, Fage 11
institution, said the Hoke Coun
ty people should kno’* more
about the sanatorium. He is
doing a good job ui educating
a large number of citizens by
taking them group by group from
time to time to the McCain
hospital for a tour of the plant.
Guests going with him and
Mrs. McNeill Tuesday included
19 home d4;(nonstratlon club
women.
The group was lunched In the
new cafeteria aitd then taken
on a tour of one wing of the
building. They saw the labora
tory, the x-ray department, the
medical library and conference
room, the auditorium, the nev.
chapel, the store, the post of
fice and a patients’ wing.
Dr. \V. H. Gentry, associate
superintendent and medical di
rector; Mrs. Mildred Furmage,
director of nurses, and J. D.
Lennon, associate admims-
trator, conducted the tour. They
were assisted in explaining, the
functions of the section by the
respective technicians.
Lennon said that $1 1 2 mil
lion Is spent annualiy in opera
tion of the 450-bed hos; ital.
.Approximately $1 million ^oes
for salaries. He recounted that
See SAMTOKILWl, Fa.;e 11
A Georgia truck driver has
been charged with manslaughter
in the death of a 15-year-old
McCain youngster kili^ in an
accident Wednesday right on
Highway 401 bypass.
John D. Livingston, 15, was
fatally injured when a truck
driven by Robert Stallings of
.Atlanta rammed into the rear
of the car in which Livir^ston,
A Negro, was riding.
Highway Patrolman E. W.
Coen said the car. driven by
Mrs. Janie Harrington, 46, of
Wagram, had stopp^ to make
a left turn when the truck ram
med it from the rear.
Mrs. Harrington and Living
ston's moihcr. Mrs. Ruby Liv
ingston, were taken to a Fay
etteville hospital, where they
later were listed as in good
conditioa Other passengers in
the car were not serlouslyhurt.
Coen said the truck driver
was charged with failure to
decrease speed in time to avoid
an accident- .An inquest on the
.nanslaughter charge has been
scheduled for Monday by Cor
oner Frank Crumpler.
dtallings was placed under
$1.5'''C bond to Insure his ap
pearance In court here.