| Public parade
Yen, We’re Guilty
When the board of directors of Eco
nomic Improvement Council met June
1$ to discuss other business, Robert H.
Mathes demanded an audience. He
wanted to air his grievances over being
displayed by the Neighborhood Youth
Corps.
In so doing, we are informed, The
Chowan Herald was the target of one
of the Mathes attacks. So, we are here
to set the record straight for all of those
who meander along the Public Parade.
When the deputy director was arrested
here in early August, 1968, we were
surprised. After talking with Roy Lowe,
EIC director, we were reassured time
would take care of everything.
When on February 18 Mathes was in
Chowan County District Court on two
speeding charges, we again contacted
Lowe and John T. Biggers. They again
said time would take care of everything.
The following letter speaks for itself:
May 22, 1969.
Mr. John T. Biggers, Director,
Neighborhood Youth Corps,
Economic Improvement Council,
Edenton, N. C. 27932.
Dear Mr. Biggers:
During the past several months the con
duct of one of your employees, Robert H.
Mathes, has caused much unfavorable con
versation about the entire EIC program in
the Northeastern counties of North Carolina.
Because of his repeated appearances in
Chowan County District Court, his past rec
ord has become public knowledge and is
certainly not what is desired of those who
are directing youth programs.
In addition to the attached copy of his
record on file with the N. C. Department
of Motor Vehicles, he was tried here on
August 8, 1968, for carrying a concealed
weapon and discharging firearms inside
the Town of Edenton. It was said in his
defense at that time that he had “just had
too much to drink” and was not fully aware
of the seriousness of the offenses.
On February 18, 1969, Mr. Mathes en
tered pleas of guilty to two charges of
speeding within the Town of Edenton. At
that time the solicitor read in open court
the attached record.
Those who 'believe in the work of EI,C
find it quite difficult to defense against
public attacks when a man like Mr. Mathes
remains on the payroll. In his position he
acts as guidance director and counselor to
the youth of Northeastern North Carolina.
Can a man with such a record effectively
perform these duties? I hasten to answer
this in the negative.
At a time when law and order, as well
as the morals of our country seem to be on
trial, the best talent should be sought out
to fill positions of responsibility within the
various programs. So long as people like
Mr. Mathes continue to be associated with
such public programs, those of us who want
to support you find it increasingly difficult
to do so. In my position as newspaperman
I have heard numerous people express the
same opinion.
With all good wishes and kindest per
sonal regards, I am
Most cordially,
L. F. AMBURN, JR.
If we, therefore, are to be judged guil
ty of anything it would be of omission
rather than commission. Public expos
ure of the Mathes record, of which EIC
knew nothing, could have saved the pro
gram $7,732 —a lot for the affluent, not
to mention the poor—and quite a few
red faces.
At times, when dealing with certain
people, kindness can prove to be painful.
Right now it is extremely painful for us
as well as EIC to admit our second
thoughts were not sufficient to handle
the matter.
Minimum Wage?
A handsome young farm lad walked
into a local office with his father. The
dialogue went something like this:
Question: “You work for your
Daddy?”
Answer: “I sure do.”
Continued on Pig* Four
1 i ‘S*—^
1 /;•;■ z y s^saas*™
I II // >'y/Sk^
Mbil?ii 'I - jSt£'
ABOUT READY FOR PICKING—Track fanning k becoming non and men popular
in Chowan County and thk U the tfano of year growaw nap the harvest. A. C. Griffin,
one of the pioneers in thk endeavor in Chowan, is shown hen in Ms watermelon patch
when melons an about ready to he picked. Tuesday afternoon Griffin was consid
ering a picking Friday. Ripe melons and vegetables don't take a holiday.
EIC Defending Position
In Ex-Employee Attacks
Economic Improvement Co— " Inc.,
the anti-poverty agency in * ° orth
eastern North Carolina count; em-
O i
broiled in its first major cont o J, y.
tO if} -
It apparently came about .5 Z i a
Neighborhood Youth Corps dt % Z di
rector ran afoul of the law and £ ast
record was exposed and his pos, \ © /as
not funded in the program t'f -V ng
June 1. Roy Lowe, EIC direc id
the series of events is a matter o. :i
--dence.
Robert H. Mathes, 32-year-old Negro,
who was deputy director under John
Biggers, has protested his dismissal, even
to the point of writing President Rich
ard Nixon. The Civil Rights Division
of the federal government has already
investigated the matter as well as state
officials.
Mathes publicly attacked several EIC
workers at a June 19 meeting of the
board of . directors. At that time a mo
tion passed which authorized payment
of. Mathes’ salary for June, July, Au
gust and September. When there was
no money in the budget for payment of
the $178.50 per week for these months
Lowe asked the board to reconsider.
The board on June 24 rescinded the
earlier motion. Mathes was paid for 30
days after he was dismissed, plus 15j4
days accumulated leave.
Lowe said the harsh statements by
Mathes on June 19, including one relat
ing to suit being brought against EIC,
were made to frighten the board into
meeting his demands. “It apparently
had its affect,” he said.
The director said Mathes had repeat
edly been advised that his conduct was
hampering his effectiveness with NYC.
On August 22, 1968, Biggers wrote
Mathes that he was being placed on pro
bation pending action by the EIC Per
sonnel Committee.
On September 23, the deputy director
Erie Haste Gets
Banking Position
HOBBSVILLE T. Erie Haste, Jr.,
young Hertford merchant, has been
named to the board of directors of the
Bank of Hobbsville. Announcement was
made this week by L. W. Hathaway,
board chairman and president of the
bank.
Mi' «MF
T. E. HASTE. JR.
He is a former resident of Edenton
and has lived in Hertford for the past
10 years. He is immediate past presi
dent of the Albemarle Area Develop
ment Association, a charter member of
Perquimans Chamber of Commerce, is
an active member and past presidnet of
Hertford Rotary Club, Hertford Jay
cees and other community organizations.
He is a Mason.
Haste attends Holy Trinity Episcopal
Church where he is a past vestryman.
The director attended the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where
he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta
fraternity. He is married to the former
Patricia Howard of High Point and they
have three children.
Haste, with his
father, operates the
Hertford Hardware
& Supply Co., Inc.,
in Hertford and City
Marina in Elizabeth
City. He is well
known throughout
Northeastern North
Carolina.
was informed no action had been taken
and he was given “the choice of either
resigning” or “having all minutes of the
discussion concerning your situation in
cluded in and becoming a part of your
permanent personnel file.”
Biggers said ranking officials of NYC
had advised him there was no need for
a deputy director in his program. He
said they told him counselors would be
of more value and cost less. “All we
were trying to do was do the most for
the program at the lowest possible cost,”
Biggers said.
After Mathes was involved in inci
dents in Edenton early in August, 1968,
he was transferred to Elizabeth City.
Lowe said the “childlike” attitude of
Mathes had caused EIC much embar
rassmnet and unnecessary work. “As
far as we are concerned, Mr. Mathes is
no longer connected with EIC in any
capacity,” Lowe stated firmly.
Volume XXXVI—No. 27.
Troy Toppin New Chowan Sheriff
Chowan County got a new sheriff
Thursday afternoon and the county ABC
Board lost a veteran officer. It came
about at a called meeting of Chowan
County commissioners where Troy Top
pin was elected sheriff.
Sheriff Toppin, 49, of Route 1, Eden-
a in B
Sheriff Troy Toppin
Electrician Faces
Counts For Calls
An Elizabeth City electrician nas been
arrested and charged with making obs
cene calls to a local woman. He faces
similar charges in his hometown.
Police Chief J. D. Parrish said Joseph
Earl Todd, 23, was arrested last Thurs
day in a telephone booth in Elizabeth
City while talking with an Edentonian.
Todd posted SSOO bond for his ap
pearance in Chowan County District
Court.
Chief Parrish said the local depart
ment had been advised on several oc
casions of obscene calls being received
here. Through the cooperation of Nor
folk & Carolina Telephone Company,
the chief said the calls were traced to
Elizabeth City.
While the suspect allegedly talked
with the local party, the lines were lock
ed open. As the Elizabeth City police
man approached the booth Todd occu
pied, the suspect hung up. However,
since the lines had been locked open the
policeman was able to talk with the lo
cal woman and verify the call.
Todd admitted to police that he had
made several calls to women in Edenton,
Hertford and Elizabeth City, according
to Chief Parrish. Each time he would
identify himself as “Dr. Williams” and
say he was making a medical survey,
then ask personal questions, the chief
continued.
Bloodmobile Visit
The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be
making its first visit to Edenton in sev
eral months July 9 and a new Jaycee
chairman hopes old records can be
broken.
All who have donated a gallon of
blood or more over the years are asked
to come to the National Guard Armory
July 9 between the hours of 11 A. M.,
and 5 P. M., give more blood and re
ceive Red Cross pins.
John (Pete) Ward, chairman, said
Continued on Pag* Four
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Edenton, Cnowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, July 3, 1969.
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT Os MOTOR VEHICLES
DRIVERS LICENSE RECORD CHECK FOR ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES :
aiam* AMf , inn _„ OHMAUX OPERATOR ORfRATOR OffRATOt 1
NAM* ANO AOORCU UCfNtt MUMMt RAC* MSTBCTION MUI DATE DUFUCATI OAT* ITERATION DATE SEARCH DATE
k2I E pEPRT N ST K " 4IHtS LA6L9TS NEGRO NONE 20 68 HLA ™F> 09 22 72 EES. 11.1969
LLI2 CITY, N.C. 09 22 }5 MALE ,
MTH DAT Vi CHAUFFEUR MTM OAT Yt MTM DAT V* MTM OAT TR
■RTM DAK SU RfSiaCTION CHAUFUUR CHAUFFEUR CHAUFFEUR PAGE inn Mg
COO* ISSUE DATE y>UFUCATE DATE ESPTRATION DATE __
MAH DATE EFFECTIVE DATE SUSPENSION
DATE EUOiKE FOR NATURE OF RECORD OCCURRENCE CONVICTION COURT COURT
OF SUSPENSE OF SUSPENSION REINSTATEMENT OR OR DATE DATE LOCATION TYPE
MTH PAY TR MTH PAT TR MTH_BAT VR REVOCATION REASON FOR SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION MTH DAT TR MTH OAT TR
CASF CLFARED-UL6O 10 24 6fl
PICK-UP NOTICE SFRVED-NQ LICENSE 10 20 6ft
09 20 6b 09 25 66 10 24 68 SUSPENSION POINT SUSPENSIGN-P POINTS-
G.5.20-16A-5
SPFEOING 70/60 08 26 6ft 08 29 6ft|FDFNTDN SUPFRIOR
ACCIDENT 03 22 6ft
, SAFF MOVEMENT VIOL 03 12 67 03 23 67 ELI/ CITY DISTRICT
SPEEDING 70/55 12 30 66 01 17 67 PLYMOUTH RECORDERS
CASE Cl p ARcD-OL6O 05 26 66
05 25 65 05 19 65 05 IS 66 REVOCATION DRIVING UNDER THE INF LUENCfc-
G. S. 20-1 7-2
LICENSF PICKED UP BY COURT 05 18 65
Gk WHILE INTOX 03 25 65 OK IP 66 NFw TON RECORDERS]
SPEEDING 65/55 06 16 56 09 24 66 BOONE SUPERIOR
! |
I CERTIFY THAT TOE F'“< - I'lG IS A ™Ufc
C r PY OF THE DR'S ER S*- C UiZ REy-CV 0 OF
I
EMPLOYEE'S PAST RECORD EXPOSED—Robert Mathes, a farmer employee of Eco
nomic Improvement Council, had his lengthy record with the N. C. Department of Motor
Vehicles exposed when he objected to his position with the Neighborhood Youth Corps
was omitted from the new program. Other charges do not appear on this copy ot the
record.
ton, was immediately administered the
oath of office by Mrs. Lena M. Leary,
clerk of Superior Court. His first of
ficial act was to re-appoint Glenn Perry
as a deputy and jailer.
The term Sheriff Toppin is in expires
in December, 1970.
The special session of the commission
ers came only a matter of hours after
the funeral of veteran Sheriff Earl Good
win. Sheriff Toppin had served under
Mr. Goodwin for more than seven years.
He had been ABC officer since 1956.
County commissioners paid tribute to
the excellence of service of the late
Sheriff Goodwin in an ordered resolu
tion of respect to his memory.
The new sheriff told newsmen he was
“grateful for the vote of confidence”
manifested by the commissioners. He
said the late sheriff was an “outstand
ing sheriff ... a good teacher.”
“It will be a big job to fill his
shoes ...” Toppin declared. He pledg
ed to do his best and called for the co
operation of the people of the county.
Sheriff Toppin is active in the Ruri
tan Club, having served as president,
and is presently commander of Edward
G. Bond Post No. 40, American Legion.
Dividend Is Voted
A 100 per cent stock dividend will
be paid to stockholders of Peoples Bank
and Trust Company of record June 26.
The stockholders on last Wednesday ap
proved the recommendation of directors to
increase the authorized capital stock of
the bank from 400,000 to 1,000,000
shares of $5 par.
The total shares outstanding will be
494,716 including the Harrellsville bank
merger and the 100 per cent stock divi
dend.
It is expected that the new shares
will be mailed early in July.
§!§§■ mi a / >jL .
HOSPITAL ACCOUNT GROWS—The ex-
Ira community assort to lid tfaa Chowan
Hospital Building Fund got additional sup
port this waak in tha fora of a chock from
Saabrook Blanching Corporation. C. B.
Smith, last, ganaral manager, hands tha
chock to R. Graham While, building fund
chairman. Tha Saabrook contribution was
in tha naxna of employees. Moca than
$50,000 has bean raised toward the fund
and industrial firms have played a major
role In this effort.
Single Copy 10 Cents
N. J. George
George Gets Post
For Auto Dealers
RALEIGH N. J. George, president
of George Chevrolet Co., Inc., Edenton,
has been appointed to serve as Chowan
County Area Chairman for the N. C.
Automobile Dealers Association, accord
ing to an announcement by NCADA
President George W. Lyles, Jr., of High
Point.
George succeeds J. Eugene Perry, al
so of Edenton.
George will act as liaison officer be
tween new car and truck dealers in this
area and NCADA and the National
Automobile Dealers Association. He
will be responsible for promoting the
various programs and activities of
NCADA and NADA, and will head a
county-wide membership campaign for
both organizations in the fall.
Control Os Firm
Mayor George Alma Byrum has pur
chased controlling interest in Quinn Fur
niture Company of Edenton, Inc. Par
ticipating with Mayor Byrum in the pur
chase of stock held by five persons war
W. L. (Bill) Norvell, Jr., of Ahoskie.
Norvell will manage the store. He is
expected to assume his new duties here
around July 15.
Stockholders selling their interests in
the firm were: M. M. Perry, Mrs. Rod
ney Byrum, O. G. Whaley, Mrs. Helen
W. White, and Mrs. Thelma C. Wilkins.
Those retaining stock are: Mrs. Dan
Reaves, Mrs. Murray Byrum and Mrs.
Louis George Wilkins.
Norvell, 30, is territory manager for
Westinghouse Appliance Sales. He is
married to the former Jean Francis of
Edenton and they have three children.
Mayor Byrum said no immediate
changes in personnel are anticipated.
Speaking of his purchase, Mayor By
rum said the Quinn firm is one of the
major retail businesses in Edenton. “It
has been managed by people with high
integrity and leadership in the com
munity,” he said. “I feel very fortunate
to buy interest in a company which has
been very successful and enjoyed a fine
reputation in the retail furniture busi
ness.”
For the past seven years, Mayor By
rum said, he had worked closely with
Norvell. “He is known to be a young
man with ability and initiative,” he said.
“He will be an asset to this communi
ty,” the mayor added.
Whaley, secretary-treasurer of Quinn’s,
CnnttiHinl m P«fi Tom?