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Out of the‘Blue?
it had been almost two decades since
a life sentence! was imposed in Chowan
County Superior Court for murder. It
is coincidental that the last such trial
was also during the September Term.
Court records show it was Septeihber
16, 1953, that a man was sentenced
by Judge Chester Morris to two life
sentences for the first degree murder of
his wife and another man.
It is also coincidental that Judge Wal
ter W. Cahoon of Elizabeth City was
then District Solicitor and prosecuted
the case. Judge Cahoon wore the robe
in Thursday’s sentencing.
What isn’t coincidental is the su
perior investigation by Edenton Police
Department which turned up an abund
ance of. evidence against Denny Junior
Freeman. Solicitor Herbert Small has
a great deal of respect for the law en
forcement officers along the Public Pa
rade and throughout Northeastern
North Carolina. He was extremely free
with his commendations following last
week’s exhausting trial.
“They did a splendid job,” the popu
lar solicitor noted. “Why, they even
turned up more evidence and witnesses
than was needed for a conviction.”
In all, Solicitor Small had listed 21
states’ witnesses. He used only 13 of
them—some unwilling while not hostile.
The work of Capt. Harvey Williams
and Patrolman G. W. Mizelle, who were
almost eye-witnesses to the crime, is
indicative of the hard work Edenton’s
“finest” turn in, day after day.
To paraphrase a familiar slogan:
“You can sleep well tonight because
Edenton policemen are wide awake”,
is a good way to express the valuable
service these men contribute to our
community.
Lots Os Tootin'
Well, we spent the first couple of
days this week meandering in the
» great (?) state of Mecklenburg partici
pating in a Uniform Relocation Sem
inar. Some 150 housing and redevelop
ment officials from the two Carolinas
were in attendance.
Ed Waddell, a former educator who
got smart and became a relocation ex
pert in Charlotte, had put together the
first such seminar. The topic was a
new relocation act which feeds every
federally assisted project from the same
spoon.
Everything was run, run, run except
the moonlight cruise on Lake Norman
(without moonlight) on Buck Teague’s
Outrigger. .However, _we- did have .a
few minutes to glimpse at the Char
lotte Observer. A casual glimpse at
this voice of liberalism is about all a
ebuntry journalist should be exposed to.
In Monday’s edition they had three
stories, including a “News Analysis” on
activities in Ayden. Now for those
meandering along the Public Parade
who aren’t too familiar with a “News
Analysis," it is where a reporter is al
lowed to editorialize in his story—a new
baby of the gliberal press.
Featured was the black agitator who
sometimes uses Edenton’s zip code.
For, only he could be childish enough
to demonstrate in Ayden when the in
cident occurred in Grifton and the State
Highway Patrol office is in Greenville.
But with the help of a few innocent
children he will do these unreasonable
things anywhere .anytime and for any
reason.
But back to the seminar. We were
invited to participate because of the
successful efforts of Edenton Housing
Authority to use housing development
funds to purchase mobile homes as
temporary relocation resources. The
fact that the Jocal authority, within
which we are active, managed to save
some $75,000 not to mention get a 100-
unit project off dead center, had caught
Continued on Page 4
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Visitors From Brazil —“Agricultural Cooperative: Policy, Man
agement & Development'’ is the topic of an extensive study tour the
tJ. S. Department of Agriculture and cooperating agencies are cur
rently sponsoring for a group from Brazil. The group visited
Edenton Thursday to view the work of Albemarle Cooperative As
sociation. Miss Maria Magalhaes, an attorney with the govern
ment in Brazil, is shown with Guy Whitfield, left, Washington
County extension chairman; Jack Parker, area livestock specialist;
Marcus McClanahan, ACA executive director; and Melvin Howell,
Farmers Home Administration executive in this area.
'''' IS. ■ ' ' i'. i ' f ‘ ' 1 '■ v',
Council Seeking Beautification Grant
Finance Group Turns Back On Waff Property Proposal
County Ja 1
Work Top.c
At Meeting
Improving Chowan County’s historic
jail to meet state requirements took
another important step forward Monday
morning when Chowan County Com
missioners authorized Atwood Skinner
Associates to proceed with preparation
of specifications and advertise for bids
to complete the proposed new addition.
Mr. Skinner attended Monday’s meet
ing and rehearsed what his firm had
done thus far. He informed the Com
missions that it was decided to erect
the new addition to adjoin the present
jail to the north rather than on the east
as at first suggested. This, he said,
would be far more convenient and prac
tical for several reasons.
The cost of the proposed addition
is estimated to be $29,700, of which
$19,000 would be for the new addition,
SB,OOO for equipment and $2,700 for
fees. The building is ex
pected to occupy 950 square feet and
will meet the requirements of state
authorities. Hie goal is to have the
project completed by the first of the
year, but Mr. Skinner expressed the
opinion that it may be a little later.
AADA Supports
Agency For Role
The annual meeting of Albemarle
Area Development Association will be
held in Elizabeth City this fall. Lloyal
Phillips, co-publisher of The Daily Ad
vance, will serve as banquet chairman.
Phillips was appointed to head the
planning group Thursday night at the
monthly AADA board meeting at Eden
ton Restaurant after Elizabeth City was
designated as the site.
At the same time, Charles Harrell of
TJCTtford, named Erie Haste, Jr., also
of Hertford and a past AADA president,
to head the nominating committee for
a new slate of officers.
Tom Hobgood, N. C. State University
community development specialist, re
ported that area judging will take place
November 8-10. Also, Hobgood report
ed 50 active organized communities in
the 10-county Albemarle Area.
L. F. Amburn, Jr., asked for AADA
support to the designation of Albemarle
Regional Planning & Development Com
mission as the lead agency for state
and federal programs in the region.
•His motion was seconded by Dr. Bruce
Pettyway of College of the Albemarle
and passed unanimously.
The directors called on each county
Continued on Page 4
Chowan Fair Opens Here Tuesday
Chowan County Fairgrounds will be
the center of activity in the Albemarle
Area next week with the opening of
the annual agricultural fair. W. A.
Perry, president, Chowan County Fail
Association, said there is evidence that
this can be the most successful fair
(weather permitting) in the more than
I
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Volume XXXVII—No. 35.
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, September 16, 1971
Freeman Convicted; Gets Life Term
A Chowan County Superior Court
Jury has convicted Denny Junior Free
man of murder in the first degree in
the April 30 slaying of George Thomas
Smith at Pickwick Billiards on South
Broad Street. The jury deliberated
only 25 minutes and returned the ver-
Practice Date Set
Albemarle Choral Society starts week
ly rehearsals Monday at 7:45 P. M., at
St. Paul’s Parish House. At the first
session there will be a read-through of
the Christmas portion of Handel’s
“Messiah” to be given in December
with a string accompaniment.
For the eighth year the choral group
will be under the direction of Dr. Clif
ford Bair. Mrs. Bair will accompany
the choral group.
All interested high school students
and adults are invited to participate in
this area activity which is made possi
ble by the College of The Albemarle.
20-year history.
Joseph Byrum is fair manager and
R. E. Leaiy is secretary-treasurer. The
fair association is connected with Ed
ward G. Bond Post No. 40, American
Legion.
Formal opening of the week-long run
will be 3 P. M. Tuesday. The fair will
officially close at 12 midnight Saturday.
The David B. Endy Shows will be on
the midway with some 15 thrill rides,
concessions, shows and free acts. There
will be plenty of entertainment for
every member of the family, a spokes
man stated.
The Carol Jones Show will be fea
tured nightly, at no charge. Also, a
talent show for individuals, duets and
trios but no band groups will be
held. Those in the community inter
ested in participating in the talent con
test should contact any member of the
Legion post.
Student Days will be Tuesday and
Wednesday. A free bicycle will be
awarded on each of the days. Another
special feature will be a special pur
chase price for tickets for rides.
Exhibits, educational, community and
industrial, will be judged for prem
iums, as well as agricultural entires.
Nearly $3,000 it premiums will be giv
en at the fair.
Applications for exhibit entries can
be secured at the fair office up until
4 P. M. Monday. All exhibits must be
in place and fully installed by 6 P. M.
Monday and judging starts at 9 A. M.
Tuesday.
Byrum noted that judging in the va
rious departments will be in two divi
sions, adult and juniors.
Cpnter Hill Extension Homemaker’s
Chib will again operate the concession
stand which is an annual project at the
county fair. As in past years on sale
will be the goodies from Center Hill:
Single Copy 10 Cents
diet with a recommendation for mercy.
Judge Walter W. Cahoon sentenced
Freeman to life imprisonment. In an
almost automatic move, Defense Attor
ney Walter Oakey of Hertford gave no
tice of appeal to the State Supreme
Court. Freeman was ordered held in
Central Prison in Raleigh awaiting out
come of the appeal.
Freeman stood erect, with no sign of
emotion, as Judge Cahoon pronounced
the mandatory life sentence. The only
comment by the presiding jurist came
moments later when Freeman asked
Oakey to request credit for time held
in jail pending trial. Judge Cahoon
nodded to the defendant saying, “That
is now automatic.”
The jury of eight women and four
men apparently reached their decision
on the first ballot. Each answered in
the affirmative when polled by Mrs.
Lena M. Learv, clerk of court, at the
request of Oakey.
Freeman, pleading self-defense, testi
fied that he didn’t mean to shoot Smith
after they argued about the defendant
dating Mrs. Smith. The Smiths were
separated. “I just wanted to keep him
in the poolroom,” Freeman stated from
the witness stand.
Among those to testify for the de
fense was Mrs. Virginia Smith, widow
of George Thomas Smith. She related
an incident April 24 at the apartment
house in which she, her mother and
Continued on Page 4
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Jfrs. Gladys White Pete Thompson
Edenton Town Council will seek a
federal grant for downtown beautifica
tion, including new sidewalks, possibly
brick. However, council has rezoned
the Waff property on Edenton Bay
rather than purchase it as a continuing
part of waterfront improvement.
These decisions were made Tuesday
night during a lengthy session at the
Municipal Building.
Council action on the downtown pro
ject followed Thursday night’s public
hearing where sentiment favored an ex
tensive beautification program. But in
an unexpected move, councilmen voted
to have merchants participate in the
project only to the tune of one-half the
cost of sidewalk construction.
A request will be made for a 50 per
cent grant to cover the entire project.
The town would pick up the tab for all
over the property owner’s assessment.
W. B. Gardner, town administrator,
said there should not be much change
from original cost estimates. This
would mean the $5.50 per front foot
merchant assessment could stand, if, as
Gardner put it, “the prices hold up.”
Council instructed the administrator
to secure additional engineering infor
mation to support the request for fed
eral assistance in the project.
The decision to re-zone the Waff
property on the waterfront from resi-
Continued on Page 4
National Honor
For Mrs. White
Mrs. Gladys White, home economics
extension agent in Chowan County for
the past two years, will receive the
coveted Distinguished Service Aw’ard
at the National Association Extension
Home Economics meeting in Miami, Fla.
October 1.
Mrs. White has distinguished herself
as an outstanding home economics ex
tension agent, developing an excellent
home economics program in housing,
arts, and crafts. Using her skill, she
has taught numerous workshops in re
upholstering, drapery making, mattress
making, and interior decorating.
Mrs. White was instrumental in con
ducting a house furnishings workshop
for a four-county area attended by over
200 people.'”"’”
Leadership to 4-H and Extension
Homemakers has been provided by Mrs.
White in a very unselfish and untiring
manner. As a result of her efforts 490
Extension Homemakers in 27 clubs and
1,000 4-H members in 17 clubs in both
Chowan and Pamlico counties have been
helped to have a better way of life.
Mrs. White is particularly skilled in
making those she works with feel suc
cessful. She shares enthusiastically her
time and talents with her clientel.
Mrs. White has a B. S. degree and
has completed post-graduate work at
N. C. State University and UNC at
Greensboro. She actively participates
in National and North Carolina Asso
ciations of Extension Home Economists
serving on piany state committees. She
is also affiliated with American and
North Carolina Home Economics Asso
ciations. She is a member of Epsilon
Sigma Phi and the Adult Education As
sociation. She is past vice president
of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority.
Mrs. White and the four other North
Carolina Extension Home Economists to
receive the Distinguished Service Award
will be in Miami September 25-Octobei*
1 for the national meeting.