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VO y 2 MBER 10 THURSDAY, MARCH 8. 1990 25? PER COPY
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[WITNESS TO JIMMY EARL 1
Ml _i ?
CUMMINGS KILLING FOUND DEAD I
I """ I
More than three year* after Kevin Stone killed Jimmy
Earl Cummings, the only eye-witness to that shooting,
Dariene Hunt, was found dead. An autopsy performed in
Lnmberton determined that drug use was not a (actor in
Ms. Hunt's death. Prior to the autopsy, however, Sheriff
Hubert Stone had stated that she died of an apparent
overdose. The autopsy shows that Ms. Hunt died of a
cerebral hemorrhage that was caused by a ruptured
aneurysm, according to the sheriff.
Sheriff Stone has said that the investigation into the
death which occurred Thursday, March 1, will remain
open and that they are awaiting lab results that will
determine drug levels in Ms. Hunt's blood stream. The
sheriff further stated that he has requested the State
Bureau of Investigation assist his office in the
investigation.
Ms. Hunt was the girl friend of Jimmy Earl Cummin gs.
Cummings was shot to death on November 1, 1986 by the
- sheriff's son. Kevin Stone.
Just recently the county agreed to an out of court
settlement in the "wrongfal death" suit , filed by
- Cummings family. The insurance company for Robeson
' County has agreed, reportedly to pay M6J0O to the
Cummings family.
Stone has been quoted as saying!he did notlknow the
identity of the victim until after the investigation began.
"In fact, the name didn't even ring a bell until someone in
the office mentioned it," he said. Some people have
questioned Stone's involvement in this particular case in
view of the fact that Dariene Hunt witnessed the killing of
Cummings by Kevin Stone. Many people have asked
individually and collectively why the district attorney for
the county has not indicted Kevin Stone in the killing and
gone before the Grand Jury of Robeson County to seek a
true bill of indictment Kevin Stone was cleared of any
wrong doing in the Cummings death by a Coroner's
Inquest which found that the death was accidental or in
self defense. In view of the nature of that inquest and the
recent settlement of the "wrongful death" suit many
questions remain unanswered.
At the time of the Cummings killing, drug charges were
filed against Darlene Hunt Some charges were dismissed
by Judge Charles McLean in Fairmont District Court in
January, 1987. McLean found no probable cause to try
Ms. Hunt on charges of possession of drug paraphenalia
and manufacturing marijuana. He ordered her bound over
on charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver
marijuana, felonious possession of marijuana, simple
possession of cocaine and simple possession of marijuana.
She later received a probationary sentence for these
charges. Kevin Stone testified at the hearing for Ms.
Hunt although he did not testify at the coroner's inquest
Det Jimmy Mayans of the sheriff s department sttogedlji
was the first officer on lire scene after the shooting of
Cummmgs. He also testified at Ms. Hunt's probable
cause hearing. The only testimony heard at the
hearing was relative to the drug charges against Ms.
Hunt Judge McLean would not allow any testimony
concerning the shooting of Jimmy Earl Cummings.
Neither Kevin Stone or Darlene Hunt testified at the
coroner's inquest which supposedly cleared Stone of any
"wrongdoing" in thp Cummings death.
Voters at Smiths Precinct to Meet March 1 5
A meeting of vote^ of the Smiths Precinct will be held
Thursday, March l6, 7:30 p.m. at Oxendine School.
Mitchell Loddear, Precinct Chairman, encourages all
voter* of the Smiths Precinct to attend. All Democratic
candidates are alao invited.
Oxendine Wins Honors
as Photographer
Pembroke David Uxcndine, who will
return as Artistic Director at "Strike
at the Wind" for the 1990 Production
8eason, recently won the grand prise
in a photo ad contest in lift
Magazine.
Oxendine, who takes many of the
photo* for "Strike at the Wind"
entered the contest in New York City
where he lives with his strife Bethann
The photo was to depict your
interpretation of Kahluia ad New
York. Kahluia is an impor ed drink
from Mexico.
David said that he purchased a
bottle of th? niswtuct and he and his
wife went to a subway ear. He
positioned Beth an n with the bottle of
Kahluia a bowing out of her shoulder
bag. Meanwhile, she was listening to
her Walkman and was reading a
magazine that featured an ad of
Kahluia on the bark cover.
David said that he thought the idea
was creative but never expected to
win the grand prize. The grand prize
included hie choice of $2800 worth of
Nikon camera equipment
The photo will be featured in the
April edition of lift Magazine in
the New York Metropolitan area.
d
company
Seeking
Indian
Actors
Fin cannon and Associates Casting
Company is holding an open casting
call for all ages of Native Indians to
be in the T.N.T. upcoming television
movie "The Lost Capone" to be
filmed in Wilmington. NC. "Hie Lost
Capone." a drama set in the early
1900's. has a scene that involves an |
Indian Tribe. Pam Plummer of '
Fin cannon and Associates announc
ed today that the casting session
would be held on Tuesday, March 13
from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the
ftrfomting Arts Center located on
the campus of Pembroke State
University.
"We are looking for all ages to
participate." said Plummer. "From
very young to even the oldest,
everyone is urged to attend. No
experience is necessary." David
Hiaggard, Administrative Director of
Strike at the Wind, seemed hopeful
that the company would have a large
number of participants.
If interested, residents should
bring a recent, polaroid-aised photo
graph of themselves to the easting
call to attach to information card
provided, if applicants do not have a
photo, a photographer will be there
to take one for a $2 charge to cover
cost of fUm.
CALL 919-521-2826 TO
SUBSCRIBE TO THE
CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
JAMES H. OXENDINE: ONLY INDIAN IN
630TH BATTALION WHICH FOUGHT IN
FIVE MAJOR BATTLES IN EUROPE
by Gen* Warren
Li less than two months, it will be 46 years since Nazi
Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies in
World War H Hie date of that surrender. May 7, 1946.
For James H. Oxendine, a '88 graduate of the Indian
Normal School of Robeson County (which evolved into
tan broke State University), those days in Europe left an
indelible imprint
Oxendine, 72, who now lives in Mint Hill, HNC (just
seat of Charlotte), waa a communications sergeant for
"B" company in the U.S.'s 630th Tank Destroyer
Battalion. As such, he was on the telephone on a
continuing basis with the company commander. He took
part in five major battles .in Europe?beginning with
Normandy and following with the battles of northern
France, teh Ardennes (which included the "Battle of the
Bulge"), the Rhineland, and Central Europe.
"In our battalion, whose mission was to destroy
90-millimeter tanks, I was the only Indian," said
Oxendine, who grew up in Pembrroke and is a first cousm
of PSU Chancellor Joseph B. Oxendine.
Oxendine added, "Hie 28th Infantry Division, of which
we were a part, lost more men and had more battle
casualties thirn any outfit in World War IL The first night
of the 'Batle of the Bulge,' we lost 89 of the 120 in our
company."
For his service to his country, Oxendine was the
recipient of six medals: the European Campaign Medal
with five bronze service stars, the American Theatre
Campaign Medal, the American Defense Service Medal,
the Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and a
special medal from France.
He is from a family of four brothers who served
America well in World War IL Simeon Oxendine of
Pembroke, who died at age 69, flew 50 missions over
Germany as tail gunner and won the Distinguished Flying
Cross. Earl Oxendine, 66, of Charlotte was also a tail
gunner on a bomber, flying over "the Hump" in Burma
' in the Far East. Jesse Oxendine. 63, also of Charlotte,
was with thd 82nd Airborne Division in "the glider
infantry; vgptpg action at Cologne, Germany, and
occupying Berlin after |he war oaded.
James Oxendine, who spent 28 years in analytical
chemistry in the Oak Ridge, Tenn., Nadbnai Laboratory
before retiring, tells of the severity of the weather in the
"Battle of the Bulge." ? -
"It snowed for 28 straight days," he claims, "ft was th
the worst weather that area at the Hurtgen Forest had
ever seen. If we had not held at Bastogne, the Germans
wouldh ave gone all the way to the coast, in my opinion."
Oxendine said it was important that Gen. George
Rstton's forces arrived in time to help, but emphasised
the importance of the 28th Infantry Division's holding
until he arrived.
Oxendine also spoke about how important it was that
the weather broke and planes were able to fly in supplies.
"If they hadn't been able to fly in supplies, we might have
lost the battle for sure," said Oxendine.
Oxendine spent 58 months in the service. His outfit
advanced beyond Nuremberg before being commanded to
pull back so the Russians would have the honor of taking
Berlin.
Those years of danger have great meaning to the
servicement who went through them, and James
Oxendine is no exception. He and the members of his
battalion have biannual reunions. They hare met in
Gatlinburg, Tenn., Charlotte, 8evannah, Ga., and
June they plan to meet in in Cordele, Ga.
"We hap 625 in our battalion, and 140 ware at our '88
reunions," said Oxendine.
Not only do they meet, but Oxendine and others
returned to Europe in '78 hnd '78 to retrace their battle
routes of World War H "Earl, Jesse and I are planning to
return together to Europe in the near future," said James
Oxendine. "We want to visit Berlin while we are there."
James, Earl and Jesse are the sons of James C.
(Sonny! Oxendine, who served for 10 years as mayor of
remoroKe.
Does James see any danger in the reunification of East
and West Germany? "No, I think it would be a wonderful
thing," replied James. "But it might be an issue if the
Germans want to go back to the boundary lines of World
War L There are certain parts of Germany which do not
have the allegianee to pre-World War II Germany that
others do." ' '
Because of the tremendous defat that Germany
suffered In Wodd. War JL Oxendine doesn't think a
unified Germany has to fie feared aa an aggressor again.
He oaadudad, however, by saying: "I think the
Japanese are much more dangerous than the Germans."
He referred to Japan's "buying up" this country ss s real
threat
Jam** H. OjmmMm a* a 71-year-oid m feint* today
Jamil H Oamdma at m eommmmtcationi tingmmt m
Earope during World War D.
Gospel Sing and Spring Revival Planned
Prospect United Methodist Church will hold a go*pel
ting on Saturday. March 17 beginning at 7 p.m. The
featured group* will be the Prospect Mixed Quartet,
Prospect Community Men. the New life Vocal Band from
Hope MOM; and the Scott Sisters of Lumberton.
Spring revival wiD begin on Sunday, March 18, and
run through March 23rd with service on Sunday
beginning at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. thereafter. The
Rev. Robert L Man gum. pastor of Prospect UMC and the
Rev. Bill James Locklear, pastor of Ashpoie and Pleasant
Grove UMC will be the evangelists.
Nursery will be available.
The public is invited to attend.
Chancellor Joseph Oxtnchn* |te/f |
of PSU %uu presented am "Oxen
dm*" sweat shirt with an Army
xnsrgma on th* front of it at th*
meant Army ROTC Spring Forum at
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