Volume XXXVI—No. 3.
Two Suspects Surprised
° C-
Safecrackers Bound Ever
Two Virginia men charged with burg
lary and the possession of burglary tools
are being held in Chowan County Jail
in lieu of $20,000 bond each, following a
preliminary hearing Tuesday in District
Court.
The defendants are Thomas Spencer
Cox, 36, of Portsmouth, Va., and Robert
Leroy Prince, about 35, of Chesapeake,
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TOOLS OF TRADE—When Edenton po
lice surprised two safecrackers at M. G.
Brown Company early Saturday morning
they found several "tools of the trade."
The cutting equipment is shown at right
while the other burglary tools were in the
bag at left. Charged in the crime are
Thomas S. Cox, above left, and Norman
L. Prince, right. Both are from Virginia.
Dickerson Moves Office To Chowan
Dickerson, Inc., of Monroe, one* of
North Carolina’s biggest building con
tractors, has leased property at Edenton
Municipal Airport and established a new
eastern area office. The office was mov
ed from Ahoskie.
C. B. Durham, executive vice presi
dent, recently signed a lease for the old
fire station property at the airport. The
property is being leased from the Town
of Edenton with revenue going to Eden
ton Airport Commission.
A considerable amount of work has
already been done on the building and
grounds. The building has been convert
ed into office, shop and storage for the
Dickerson operation in this section of
North Carolina.
W. B. Gardner, town administrator
and chairman of the Industrial Com-
Hospital Bids Set
Bids on the new 61-bed Chowan Hos
*fJ a j will be opened early in March, pri
marily due to efforts of Rep. Walter B.
Jones in getting the project released by
the Department of Health, Education
and Welfare.
Thomas Surratt, hospital administra
tor, said the N. C. Medical Care Com
mission announced today that the
stepped-up release of the project by the
federal agency is expected on or before
February 3.
Local hospital officials were earlier
advised it would probably be early in
March before HEW released the project
for bids. It was then that Rep. Jones
began pushing for an earlier release so
the project could proceed on schedule.
Surratt, who is heading the project for
Chowan County and the hospital, said
construction should begin by April 1
and the new facility should be ready for
occupancy by September, 1970.
The hospital has $1,708,000 in local,
state and federal funds for this project.
“We are pleased with this news of
an early release of our project for bids,”
Surratt said today. “It will enable us
to maintain a rigid schedule and if it is
maintained occupancy should be realized
by September, 1970.”
The administrator was high in his
praise for the cooperation of Rep. Jones.
|f‘Rep. Jones has been extremely helpful
and is the early release
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THE CHOWAN HERALD
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Va. They were arrested * Saturday
morning at M. G. Browi % o pany on
West Queen Street. "S'?
Cox was arrested insidt j § building.
Officers testified that Pi SSIV.C fled the
building, went over a fence but was ap
prehended a short distance from the
scene.
Judge W. S. Privott raised the bond
after finding probable cause in a brief
hearing. Their bonds had been $5,000
each. Solicitor Wilton Walker asked for
an increase in the bond due to the seri
ousness of the crimes.
Questions asked officers by Prince
during the hearing indicated that he was
attempting to keep from being placed in
side the building.
However, Sgt. H. J. Lupton said he
saw Prince inside the building and later
saw him flee through a back window.
Patrolman W. S. Clements testified
that while on routine patrol at about
1:15 A. M., Saturday he found a window
broken on the east side of the office
building. He said a handbag was outside
the window. He called for assistance
and Sgt. Lupton responded.
Patrolman Clements said one subject
left the building and Cox was found in
side once the door was opened by Tom
Cross, an employee. They found, in
addition to Cox, burglary tools and dam
age to two safes.
One of the safes had been opened.
Sgt. Lupton said he saw Prince run
to the front door, then turn and run to
the back of the building. He saw the
defendant come out a window and run
through the lumber yard.
By this time Patrolmen G. W. Mi
zelle, and Tom Miller had arrived. They
gave chase and apprehended Prince.
Police Chief J. D. Parrish directed
the investigation after being called to
the scene shortly after the break-in was
detected.
mittee of Edenton Chamber of Com
merce, hailed the Dickerson move as a
forward step for the community. “We
are excited over the future of this com
pany in our area and it will mean a
great deal to us,” he said.
“Dickerson is a giant in the building
trade and we are fortunate to have the
area headquarters here.”
Continued on Page 4
J. J. Long Dies
Funeral services will be held at 11
A. M., today (Thursday) for Joseph J.
Long, 109 West Church Street, who died
Tuesday in Chowan Hospital following
a short illness. He was 94.
The services will be held at Edenton
Baptist Church, where he was a mem
ber. Rev. R. N. Carroll and Rev.
George B. Holmes will officiate.
Burial will be in Beaver Hill Ceme
tery.
Mr. Long, the father-in-law of Rep.
Walter B. Jones of the First District ,was
a native of Perquimans County, born
October 29, 1874, son of the late Wil
liam P. and Mary Wood Long.
He was married to the former Corinne
Gatling, who survives.
' Mr. Long was retired from the U. S.
Postal Service, having worked for 30
years with the post office.
In addition to his wife, surviving is
one son, Joseph J. Long, Jr., of Raleigh;
Mrs. Jones of Farmville and Washing
ton, D. C.; three grandchildren; and
three great-grandchildren.
Williford Funeral Home is in charge
of funeral arrangements.
_FOH SPEDlC—Spedic Vending Service. Inc* now occupies new hsedqusrtsH in the Industrial Park, lust off U. S.
it norlh. W. P. Jones, extreme right, k shown with other Spedic employees in front of the new structure. Left to right are:
Knapp Brabble, Joe Forehand. Clifton Beaman. Larry Layden. Joe Arndt. Jerry Wilson, Ray Evans. Carl Keater and Mrs. Wilma
Hare. Spedic was previously located on Water Street
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina 27932 January 16, 1969.
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SPOTLIGHT ON JAYCEES—Mayor John A. Mitchener, Jr., center, has proclaimed
next week as Jaycee Week in Edenton. Shown going over plans for the week with
Mayor Mitchener are Wallace Evans, right. Jaycee president, and Bill Bunch, chairman
of activities. Highlight of the week will be a Bosses’ Night banquet, at which Tme
the coveted DSA will be presented.
Ehc Pitbltc parade
Where's Bunting?
Bunting, bunting, who has the bunt
ing?
This is the question again being asked
by several of the ladies along The Public
Parade. They need it for decorating.
It appears that several years ago some
bunting was made. Somehow it got lost,
in the same manner as clippings for the
scrapbook, etc. It is agreed that it must
be in someone’s attic.
Okay, you blue bloods, muster up
enough courage to look and see. This is
one time we rejoice in being a newcomer.
The bunting was misplaced before we
arrived.
Unpopular Industry
At least one industry in North Ca
rolina didn’t fare too well during 1968.
A recent report showed that 606 il
legal moonshine distilleries, 439,799
gallons of fermenting mash, 24,278 gal
lons of untaxed liquor and 175 vehicles
were seized. A total of 628 persons
were arrested in connection with these
seizures.
The distilleries seized were capable
of producing 22,034 gallons of “deadly
lead salts saturated” moonshine each day.
“Poison illegal whisky may cause blind
ness, paralysis or even death as long as
a year after it has been consumed,” it
was reported.
Some of the seizures were right here
in Chowan County. Those who are en
gaged in this unpopular industry —so far
as the government is concerned —must be
ever on the alert. Experienced agents
are dedicated to a campaign to blow
them up .
The Signs Are Good
May we be among the first to con
gratulate Spedic Vending Service, Inc.,
upon occupancy of their new building in
the Industrial Park. At the same time
we want to welcome Dickerson, Incor
porated to meander with us along The
Public Parade.
While the signs don’t call for a break
in the frigid weather, they do point to
a healthy- business climate. The signs
are good.
For “Spec” Jones and Spedic, moving
into a permanent home is a real mile
stone. It was late in 1955 that the firm
Continued on Page 4
Aldridge Speaker
For Jaycee Event
A past president of North Carolina
Jaycees will be keynote speaker here
January 23 as Edenton Jaycees climax
Jaycee Week with a Bosses’ Xight-DSA
Banquet. The event begins at 7:30 P.
M., in the Jaycee Community Building
on Base Road.
Irvin Aldridge of Yanceyville will be
principal speaker, according to Bill
Bunch, banquet chairman. Aldridge ser
ved as state Jaycee president several
years ago. He is well known to local
club members.
A feature of Bosses’ Night will be the
announcement of Edenton’s outstanding
young man for the yaar. A committee
is canvassing churches, businesses, clubs
and organizations to determine which
young man —21 through 35 —has con
tributed the most to the community dur
ing the year. Bunch said nominations
will be accepted through Monday.
Bosses’ Night is an annual feature of
Jaycee chapters throughout the nation.
It is dedicated to the bosses who support
Continued on Page 4
March On Disease
The annual Mother’s March and a
commissioned meat products sale this
week highlight activities of an intensified
campaign in Chowan County to raise
$1,500 for the March of Dimes.
W. B. Gardner, Jaycee committee
chairman, said the local funds drive will
receive a percentage on Jesse Jones pro
ducts sold in local stores Friday and
Saturday.
Also, he announced that the Mother’s
March, conducted by Edenton Jaycettes,
will be conducted Sunday. Mrs. Sarah
White is chairman of this activity and
local citizens are asked to respond gen
erously when a volunteer knocks on their
door Sunday.
Spedic Moves To Industrial Park
A third firm has now located in the
Industrial Park, north of Edenton.
Spedic Vending Service, Inc., recently
moved into a new building in the park,
joining Seabrook Blanching and Townson
Pallets.
W. P. (Spec) Jones, president and
Single Copy 10 Cents
Board Asks
More Funds
For Schools
Chowan County commissioners met
Wednesday afternoon to consider a re
quest from Edenton-Chowan Board of
Education for $54,400 in capital outlay
funds so bids can be awarded for con
struction at two schools.
Due to the time of the meeting, it
was impossible to have a report in this
week’s newspaper.
School board members voted unani
mously Monday night to request the
funds from the county since bids on an
addition to John A. Holmes High School
and a new cafeteria at D. F. Walker
High School totaled more than funds
available from a state school bond elec
tion.
It was expressed that the board could
not in good conscious ask Federal Judge
John Larkins for more time to plan for
further integration of the schools unless
every avenue of possible revenue had
been explored.
The board is under court order to pre
sent, during January, a plan for integrat
ing the grades seven through 12 for the
1969-70 term. The building program
will affect any plan considered by the
board, it was noted.
When the bids were tallied last Thurs
day afternoon, they amounted to $336,-
96*7. The board has some $282,800 in
state funds available. Both the Holmes
and Walker work was considered one
project for bidding.
Dr. Edward G. Bond, chairman, sug
gested that maybe the board could sepa
rate the two and build the Holmes pro
ject first. He said it would be necessary
for board members to set priorities since
the bids were in excess of money avail
able.
X. J. George said he would put pri
ority on the Walker cafeteria since some
students must eat lunch at 10:35 A. M.
“They even have to bring snacks for the
Continued on Page 4
Money At Home
One local contractor was low bidder
and it was a near miss for another on the
two projects under consideration by
Edenton-Chowan Board of Education.
The low bids on the project totaled
$336,967.
Milon L. Stilley submitted the low bid
on the electrical contract at $34,800. The
bids ranged as high as $43,480.
Fred C. Gardner Co., Inc., of Eliza
beth City, was low bidder on the general
contract at $209,684. The bid of Eden
ton Construction Co., Inc., was $210,345,
cr $661 above Gardner. However, the
local firm gave a completion date 40
days earlier than the low bidder.
Other low bidders were:
Casework: X. C. Seating Company of
Liberty, $15,386.41.
Kitchen Equipment: Fadel's, Inc., of
Charlotte, $6,933.
Plumbing: Lenoir Plumbing & Heat
ing Co., Inc., of Kinston. $18,523.
Mechanical: Henry Baker Heating
Company of Wilson, $50,839.
general manager of Spedic, said the vend
ing service serves seven Northeastern
North Carolina counties from the Eden
ton facility. A branch is maintained in
Murfreesboro, serving three additional
counties.
Edenton Construction Company was
general contractor for the 5,000 square
foot building. It includes storage, main
tenance and office space for Spedic.
Mrs. Wilma Hare is bookkeeper, Carl
Keeter is warehouse manager, Knapp
Brabble is ope itions supervisor, and Joe
Forehand, mechanic. Routemen working
out of Edenton are: Clifton Beaman,
Larry Layden, Joe Arndt, Jerry Wilson
and Ray Evans.
These routemen serve Chowan, Per
quimans, Pasquotank, Tyrrell, Washing
ton, Martin and Bertie counties.
Marshall Mansfield is resident mana
ger in Murfreesboro. That branch serves
Hertford, Northampton and Halifax
counties.
Spedic is a division of Automatic Ser
vice Company with headquarters in Jack
sonville. S. V. Bowen, Jr., is president
and board chairman of Automatic Ser
vice, a firm operating in North Carolina,
South Carolina, Virginia and Texas.
Conti mi *d on Pag* 4