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CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
See., ■
Virgini, ^
“Building ConMnonicative Bridges
In A Tri-IUcial Setting’*
POST OFFICE BOX 1075
PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY
ULUME 9 NUMBER 8
PEMBROKE, N.C. 28372
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
SHELIA LOCKLEAR BECK
AWARDED $375,000 IN
“WRONGFUL DEATH” JUDGMENT
AGAINST CP&L
Local Attorney Dexter Brooks leads Legal Effort
PEOPLE
AND PLACES
AND THINGS
the, PfiLElGH-Friday. February 13. 1981
thouse, Idis remember for Shelia
*i]| be i:lclear Beck as a Wake County jury in
■ h 6, :;eigh awarded her a $375,000.00
lyisane.gment against Carolina Power &
Jyer. .it Company under the North Carolina
ongful Death Statute. The action
out of the death of her husband.
-yl Ivan Beck by electrocution: Beck
also the son of Ms. Beulah Hardin
: of the Saddletree Community.
leek’s body was found by a search
ily near the home of his mother in the
pdletree township on July 2. 1978. He
9 been missing since approximately 5
. the previous day when he walked
1 the nearby woods.
. e was found lying under a guy wire
.ached to a CP&L pole with severe
,^ms on the palm of his right hand and
n soles of his feet. As there had been
¥ electrical storm in the same area the
Yjy lhat he was found many believed
m he had been struck and killed by
jhtning.
ortunately for the family, however,
me did not believe he had been killed
lightning, including Ronald Ham-
^nds. formerly a longtime, first class
. esman with CP&L. Hammonds, also a
Uident of the Saddletree Community, is
a farmer and a member of the
l^vbeson County Board of Education.
s soon as Hammonds saw the scene of
lo'ath he described the fatal pole as a
' leath trap.” based upon his previous
periences as a linesman with CP&L.
Because of suggestions by Hammonds
any photographs were taken of the pole
id scene before it was later altered by
t
ee
firm of Locklear, Brooks & Jacobs
retained
Eventually -the family retained the
Pembroke law firm of Locklear. Brooks &
Jacobs to prosecute a ‘wrongful death’
action against CP&L.
The case was of particular interest to
Dexter Brooks, a member of the firm,
who handled the case. Brooks, inter
estingly enough, earned a degree with
high honors, in electrical engineering
from N.C. State. Brooks grasped the
significance of the case immediately,
noting with clarity the negligent actions
and omissions of CP&L.
In another ironic twist Brooks is also a
first cousin to Ronald Hammonds and
has strong ties to the Saddletree Com
munity. His mother is Ms. Lela Ham
monds Brooks, a native of the Saddletree
Community.
The two first cousins spend countless
hours re-constructing the case, pain
stakingly putting together the case
against CP&L, For instance, the exist
ence of lightning on the fatal day had to
be explained and negated as even the
autopsy report suggested death by
lightning rather than by electrical
power (actually lightning is electricity).
The research, over a period of months,
included interviews with neighbors of the
deceased, meteorologists, airport towers
and computer analysis of weather data
and satellite photos. The services of an
electrical engineer with experience in
power transmission and distribution had
to be secured; apparently this was not an
easy task given CP&L’s influence on the
engineering community.
In spite o^ the death CP&L never once
contacted the family of Daryl Beck with
expressions of sympathy or settlement.
Although discussions were held between
Brooks and attornies for CP&L. no offer
to settle the case was ever made by the
power monolith.
Brooks eventually contacted the Raleigh
law firm of Thorp, Anderson & Slikfin for
assistance because of the tremendous
expense of preparing a case against such
a large corporation with seeming unlim
ited legal help and also because of the
power company’s hard line stance. Anne
Slikfin was a classmate of Brooks at the
UNC School of Law in Chapel Hill and
Bill Thorp is a renowned civil trial
practitioner.
After suit was filed, the trio engaged in
extensive discovery, motions and depo
sitions as they meticulously built their
case, which included restructuring the
entire work and inspection history of the
particular fatal power line.
Still CP&L refused to settle the case;
instead they retained the services of
Howard Manning, a prominent Raleigh
attorney to defend the case for them.
In another ironic twist Manning also
represents the St. Pauls, Red Springs
and Fairmont Boards of Education in the
celebrated Robeson School Discrimina
tion suit. Brooks, of course, is the
attorney for the Robeson County Board
of Education.
The trial finally began on Monday,
February 2, 1981 in Wake County
Superior Court before Judge A. Pilston
Godwin and ran for two weeks.
CP&L attempted to show that Daryl
Beck was negligent in causing his own
death and discounted his worth to his
family by citing his lack of formal
education. CP&L also introduced statis
tics involving homicide and vehicular
accidents among the Indians.
Arguments to the jury started on
Thursday. February 12, with Brooks
making the first presentation.
Brooks in a long, sometimes colorful,
presentation used Indian history and
philosophy and his electrical engineering
background to argue the family’s theory
Baptist Student Center Groundbreaking Feb. 27
by Gene Warren
PEMBROKE-Ground-breaking cere-
lonies for a $210,000 Baptist Student
Nentertobebuilt this spring across from
'Pembroke State University will be held
wriday. Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. with top
Nignitaries of the N.C. Baptist State
convention taking part,
■ Among them will be Cecil Ray of
Valeigh. executive secretary-treasurer of
the Youth and Campus Ministries for the
Baptist State Convention; W.R. Wagon
er of Thomasville. president of the N.C.
Baptist Children’s Homes; J. Dewey
Hobbs of Marion, president of the
General Board of the Baptist State
Convention; and Robert Hickman of
Bladenboro. vice president of the N.C.
Baptist Men.
Alsoon the program will be Dr. English
Jones of Rowland, chancellor emer-
1 he N.C. Baptist State Convention; itus of Pembroke State University: Tony
llames Y. Greene of Raleigh, director of Brewington of Pembroke, superintend-
Studylng the architect drawings for the
$210,000 Baptist Student Center to be
built across from Pembroke State
University beginning in March arc these
three ministers: (left to right] Tony
Brewington, director of missions for the
Burnt Swamp Baptist Association; Win
ston Hardman, Baptist campus minister
of Pembroke State University; and
Lawrence Hardy, pastor of Berea Baptist
Church at Pembroke. All three will be
among those on the program for
ground-breaking ceremonies, scheduled
Friday, Feb. 27, at 3 p.m.
ent of missions for the Burnt Swamp
Baptist Association; and Lawrence Har
dy of Pembroke, pastor of Berea Baptist
Church.
The 4.000-square foot, one-story build
ing will be located adjacent to the Burnt
Swamp Baptist Association building on
property owned by the Baptist State
Convention. The building is expected to
be completed this summer with volun
teer help being utilized.
Chancellor Paul R. Givens of Pembroke
State University says, "We are very
excited about this new Baptist Student
Center as an addition to campus life.’'
Winston Hardman, in his third year as
the first full-time Baptist campus minis
ter of Pembroke State University, is the
man who got the project off the ground.
He says the new Baptist Student Center
"will greatly enrich campus life and help
students spiritually, mentally and phy
sically."
The building will be equipped with a
chapel and conference room plus a 54x24
foot carpeted room with large sofas and
two fireplaces. There will be a kitchen
where large meals can be served. It will
have a porch provided with rocking
chairs. It will also have a patio area for
cookouts and recreation.
The energy-efficient building, which is
designed by John McCulloch of Char
lotte. will also be equipped with an
efficiency apartment for a couple who
will reside there and be responsible for
the building.
as to how the death occured and to
CP&L’s contention. Anne Slikfin argued
the perspective of a mother, noting that
Beck was survived by a at the time of
death seventeen year old widow and an
eleven day old daughter.
After an argument by Manning. Bill
Thqrp argued that the gross negligence
of the power company called for punitive
damages in order to force the large
corporation to become more conscious of
the safety of the public.
After deliberating less than three
hours, the jury returned a verdict for
$200,000 in compensatory damages and
$175,000 in punitive damages. It is
believed that this is the largest jury
award ever to a Robeson County resident
and the largest award ever of punitive
damages by a Wake- County jury.
Dexter Brooks calls trial Two Weeks of
“Intense Mental Combat'’
Dexter Brooks, the young Indian
'attorney who spearheaded the defense is
well known locally for his work in the
landmark federal' case which broke
double voting in Robeson County and the
case which forced the reapportionment of
tlue county commissioner districts,
thereby resulting in the election of a
third Indian commissioner.
Brooks is also considered the founding
father of Lumber River Legal Ser
vices in Pembroke, a particularly effect
ive advocate for poor people in the area.
Since becoming an attorney Brooks has
earned a reputation for competence in
the area of civil law in a series of cases,
including the now celebrated case
brought by a white, non-resident land
owner against the town of Pembroke -
Alfred W. Cook.
Brooks, along with Arnold Locklear and
Arlie Jacobs, his associates, have
brought the law firm of Locklear, Brooks
and Jacobs to a position of prominence in
Robeson legal circles.
Brooks, when querried about the case,
would only respond that he considered
the trial two weeks of "intense mental
combat." and referred us to the family
for further details.
Because of the efforts of Brooks and his
associates it appears that Shelia Locklear
Beck and her daughter Rekelle will have
a relative happy ending to a sad story
that began with the death of their
husband and father.
FAMILY REUNION PLANNED
The, family of the late Edmond and
Mary Lowery Jacobs is planning a family
reunion on April 5. 1981 at the Saddle
tree Jaycee Hut in Lumberton. NC.
This invitation is being extended to all
the decendants of Edmond and Mary,
The family is requesting that each one
attending bring a covered dish. Lunch
will begin at 1 p.m. followed by a
program and fellowship.
For further information call Betty
McGirt at 919-739-5593 or Doris Brooks
at 919-521-2061 or Mary C. Brewer at
919-521-2189 or Geraldine Clark at 919-
521-4303.
FREE INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE
Lumbee River Legal Services is
participating in the Internal Revenue
services Volunteer Income Tax Assis
tance (VITA) Program. The VITA
program is designed to help lower
income, elderly, handicapped and non-
English speaking individuals in filing
their income tax on Form 1040A and the
basic Form 1040. This service is being
provided at the offices of Lumbee River
Legal Services at East Main and Second
Street in Pembroke on Monday. Tuesday
and Wednesday nights from 5:00 p.m.
until 8:00 p.m.
NORTH CAROLINA’S HIGH
SCHOOL DROPOUTS
The high school dropout rate in North
Carolina’s public schools declined slight
ly over the previous year, according to a
recent report from the State Department
of Public Instruction.
Some 70.862 students graduated from
North Carolina’s high schools in 1980.
An estimated 7.8 percent (or approxi
mately 28.090) dropped out during the
1979-80 school year.
There were approximately 72.464 grad
uates in the Class of 1979. Eight percent'
(about 29,431 students) were estimated
to have dropped out during the 1978-79
school term.
The drop out rate was 7.9 percent in
1976-77; 7.5 percent in 1975-76; and 8.5
percent in 1974-75.
Tickets
still
available
Office space for Hardman and
secretary is also provided.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ’
his
Tickets are still available for a chance
to win a 200-lb. hog. Tickets are $1.00
each and may be purchased from the
students of Pembroke Senior High and
Pembroke Junior High. The drawing will
be held Monday. Feb. 23, 1981 at
Pembroke Senior High School.
This drawing is only one of many
projects undertaken by the concerned
parents of Pembroke Senoir High in an
effort to raise funds to purchase an
activity bus for the school.
A previous drawing was held Feb. 9,
1981. The hog was donated by Dial
Farms. Paula Brooks was the winner of
the hog.
The student who sells the most tickets
for this drawing will be presented a
$25.00 Savings Bond.
For more information interested per
sons may contact Roy Maynor. Jr.,
principal of Pembroke Senior 'High or
Buddy Bell at Pembroke Junior High.
GOSPEL SING PLANNED
A gospel sing will be held Thursday.
Feb. 26, 1981 at 7:30 p.m. at Scotland
Senior High Auditorium in Laurinburg.
The sing will feature Teddy Huffman and
the Gems, the Cathedral Quartet, and
the Lowery Trio. The event is being
sponsored by the Northv'iew Pentecostal
Holiness Church.
STRIKE AT THE WIND BONANZA
A drawing will be held at the Carolina
Indian Voice February 28, 1981 at 11
a.m. The drawing will be to determine
who the lucky winner of $500.00 cash,
first place; $150.00 in cash, second prize:
and third place $100.00 in cash.
The drawing is sponsored by Strike at
the Wind and is an effort to raise money
for the local outdoor drama.
Information on tickets may be gotten by
catling 9191-521-2489.
SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL CLINIC
TO BE HELD
The Robeson County Officials Associ
ation will hold its first softball and
baseball clinic on Sunday, Feb. 22. at 2
p.m. at the Robeson County Recreation
and Park Commission Office on Eliza
bethtown Road in Lumberton.
This is the first of three clinics and in
order to qualify to umpire softball and
or baseball for the summer of 1981, all
umpires must attend these clinics. If you
are interested in joining the association
and umpiring this summer, make plans
to attend this first of three important
clinic meetings.
Named
to EEO
Post
in Hawaii
Barbara Frederick, the Deputy Equal
Opportunity Officer in Hawaii (DEEOO),
assumed the position at CINCPAC as
Management Analyst/ DEEOO on 20
October 1980.
As the DEEOO, she is tasked to
provide leadership in the administration
of the CINCPAC EEO program.
Prior to coming to CINCPAC, Barbara
worked as a management analyst at NAS
Barbers Point. She has a total of 16 vears
Federal service which have included
various positions at Midway Island.
China Lake, California, Guantanomo
Bay, Cuba and Corpus Christi, Texas.
Barbara is a native of Pembroke. NC
and the daughter of Mrs. Sarah Jane
Oxendine Locklear. She is married to a
Naval service member and they, have two
very active teenagers.
FIRST AMERICAN
SHOWCASE,
INC. TO MEET
FEBRUARY
20,1981
Pembtoke-Organizers today announced
plans to hold the first annual meeting of
First American Showcase. Inc. on
Februrary 20. 1981.
The organizational meeting will be
held at Big Mo’s Goal Post Restaurant
located on Highway 74 approximately 4
miles from Pembroke.
The first venture of the fledgling
organization was to raise monies via a
successful fund raising dinner to send
'Darnell Locklear to Hollywood. Califor-
The venture was successful! Locklear
returned from Hollywood after a two
week stay and is now acting as general
manager of "Strike at the Wind," the
popular outdoor drama about Heniy
Berry Lowrie and his fellow Robesoni-
ans before, during and after the Civil
War,
Locklear made many valuable contacts
in Hollywood and hopes to pursue his
career in the entertainment industry.
The first annual meeting will be
devoted to electing permanent officers,
adopting by laws and charting a
direction for the organization in the
years ahead.
Bruce Barton, editor of The Carolina
Indian Voice, is presently serving as
temporary chairman of the organiza
tion.
All those who attended the fund
raising dinner for Camell Locklear and/
or bought tickets are eligible to
participate.'The meeting is also open
to anyone who is interested in artistic
expression, especially in the Indian
communitv.