The
Times
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday
Serving All Of Franklin County
Tel. GY 6-3283 Ten Cents Louisburg. N. C., Tuesday, November 26. 1968 (Eight Pages Today) 99th Year-Number 81
Much To Be Thankful For
Thanksgiving is a time to count one's blessings. It is also a time to
offer thanks for every single one. Blessings come in many sizes, shapes
and forms and many of us, busy with
what we deem to be the pressing pro
blems of the day, often miss many which
should be counted among our most
important blessings.
In 1910, it was written that, "During
the past decade, Louisburg has made
remarkable progress .... that as to
municipal advantages, it posses all the
natural and acquired facilities that are to
be found anywhere in the country in the
most progressive town of its popula
tion."
The population was then 3500
--"Composed of the very best class of citizenship" and while it has not
moved, was located "37 miles distance from Raleigh and 27 miles
distance from Henderson" and served an area of fifty miles.
The people of that day were counting as community blessings, in
addition to the above named, such things as the approach of "Another
railroad trunk line"; a new hospital, which was "Only a matter of
constructing the building"-all other things being in readiness and a new
building at Louisburg Female College "to releave the overcrowded
conditions." It was added that "the work of building good roads goes
steadily on."
Cars, telephones, electricity, televisions, modern medicine, schools,
comfortable houses and store dressed turkeys were not counted among
Gerald Wrenn Shows How Thieves Entered His Shop.
"They Came Through Here"
the blessings of those living here in 1910.
Nevertheless, on that Thanksgiving Day, they held services in the
local churches and gave thanks.
On Friday night, following, there was a community dance, staged in
the Opera House sponsored by the German Club with "music furnished
by Levin's Orchestra of Raleigh. This, too, one would suppose was
some sort of testimonial that all was well and that for that condition
and the blessings of the time, the people were grateful.
There appeared at Thanksgiving, a writing, author unknown, entitled
Thanksgiving Plums, which bears reading today.
"Make others happy and be happy yourself.
Be thankful. Your blessings have been many.
Be considerate of others as well as yourself.
Hide your grief and display your
smiles.
If you have but little, partake of it
gratefully.
Let the joy in your heart bubble up
like a spring.
If you are short of water, don't guzzle
beer.
As you feast on the fat of the land
remember the giver.
" ? " ? T Manifest your sympathy by acts as
well as words".
If the Pilgrims and those living here in 1910 found so much to be
thankful for, can we today, not find as much or more?
Local Man Fatally Injured
Charles Ray Spencer, 36, Route 3,
Louisburg man, was fatally injured
here Monday when a car beneath
which he was working rolled off two
cement blocks crushing his chest. The
exact time of death has not been
Franklinton
Parade Plans
Announced
J. J. (Red) Johnson, President of
the Franklinton Township Chamber of
Commerce, has released plans for the
annual Christinas parade to be staged
Thursday night, December 4, at 7 p.m.
The complete text of the Johnson
release follows:
The Franklinton Township Cham
ber of Commerce will sponsor their
eighth annual Christmas Parade at 7
p.m. on the 4th of December, 1968. It
will be marshalled by the local Ameri
can Legion Unit 52.
If you are interested in entering a
float or other entry please contact the
Chamber of Commerce at Box 326,
Franklinton, N. C. or by calling
494-7353.
Children are urged to enter decorat
ed bicycles and their pets. If you wish
to enter either please contact Lonnie
House at 494-2341 and give him your
age also. The judging will be according
to ages this year.
Our local Woman's and Garden
Club will judge for prizes to be award
ed for both the parade and decora
tions.
Home decorations will be judged on
December 23, 1968. Anyone outside
of the town limits wishing to have
their homes entered for judging should
contact the Chamber of Commerce.
determined. "Spencer was discovered
beneath the car by a small daughter
when the child arrived home from
school shortly after 3 p.m.
The Louisburg Rescue Service was
called at 4 p.m. and aided in freeing
the body. His wife, Mrs. Virginia Med
lin Spencer, was taken to Franklin
Memorial Hospital suffering from
shock by the Service. She had been
called home from her work at Sports
wear plant by her daughter.
Funeral services for Spencer, a car
penter by trade, were conducted today
at 3 p.m. from Piney Grove Methodist
Church, conducted by the pastor. Rev.
Walker Pettijohn. Burial followed in
Oakwood Cemetery.
Surviving in addition to his wife are
four daughters. Margaret Ann, Terry,
Carolyn and Donna, all of the home;
his father, James K. Spencer, Sr., of
Rt. 3, Louisburg; four sisters, Mrs. H.
T. Faulkner of Henderson, Mrs. Billie
Pernell of Warrenton, Mrs. Roger Hunt
of Triangle, Va. and Faye Spencer of
the home; three brothers, James Spen
cer. Jr. of Rt. 3, Louisburg; Everette
C. of H&rtsville, S. C. and Ernest T. of
Rt. 3, Louisburg.
No Marketing
Order Says DA
Washington, D. C. ? The U. S.
Department of Agriculture today re
commended that no further action be
taken toward issuing a proposed Fed
eral marketing agreement and order
for flue-cured tobacco. However, the
recommended decision provides for
the possible reopening of a public
See TOBACCO Page 4
Thugs Hit Three Local Businesses
Thieves have entered three Louis
burg businesses in the past week with
two robberies netting over $1300 in
merchandise. One would-be robber
was caught inside a South Main Street
store last Friday night.
The rash of breakins began last
Wednesday night when the Record
Shop on West Nash Street was entered.
Police Chief Earl Tharrington reports
that someone apparently entered the
establishment through the front door
by prying the lock open. He reports
that the owners of the business esti
mated the loss in records and tapes at
nearly $300. No arrests have been
made in the case, but Tharrington said
his department Is continuing its invest
igation.
Shortly before 9 o'clock last Friday
night, Tharrington working on "some
information received" caught a Negro
man, identified as 25-year-old James
Henry Washington of Louisburg, inside
the Thomas Woods Store on South
Main Street. Tharrington said he was
assisted later by other member* of his
force. He also reported that Washing
ton made his entrance through a rear
window, using a grubbing hoe to break
the glass and to cut the screen.
Since the establishment is outside
the town limits, Tharrington said he
turned the matter over to Chief De
puty Sheriff David Batten. The
Sheriff's department has charged
Washington with breaking and enter
ing.
The heaviest haul came sometime
Saturday night when thieves cut a hole
in the ceiling of the Hobby Shop on
West Nash Street, entered the 18 by
14 inch opening and made off with
$1,024.40 in merchandise. The rob
bers also took the time to engage in
vandalism inside the shop. Heavy dam
age was done to one of the miniature
auto race tracks. Wires were cut on the
larger track and other minor damage
was suffered. Gerald Wrenn, manager
of the Shop, reported that he is not
covered by insurance. He says the
thieves took the "most expensive
items", leaving the cheaper things. He
speculates that someone did it that
knows something about the hobby
business. Tharrington says his depart
ment is investigating this breakin. but
gave no report of any progress at this
point.
Patrol To Step-Up Holiday Efforts
Raleigh - The North Carolina High
way Patrol has announced plans to
step up its traffic law enforcement
activities during the four-day Thanks
giving holiday.
Col. Charles A. Speed, commander
of the Patrol, said today that every
available trooper will be on the roads,
"with orders to find and arrest those
motorists who annually make the
Thanksgiving holiday one of the dead
liest periods of the year on our high
ways."
Speed said special efforts will be
made to apprehend drinking drivers
and speeders. "We know that these
people are responsible for most of the
accidents and most of the deaths and
injuries. We want them off the high
ways. and we are certain that all
responsible motorists are behind us in
this desire."
All mechanical and electronic aids
available to the Patrol will be in
operation throughout the holiday.
Speed said normal patrolling, VAS
CAR, radar and speed watches would
be employed on all heavily travelled
routes to detect speeders, and that
Breathalyzers would be conveniently
available to all troopers for testing
See PATROL Page 4
Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Gupton Views Dynamite
Damage With Store Owner Jack Collins.
Blasts Rock White Level,
Cedar Rock Area
Dynamite blasts rocked the White
Level and Cedar Rock areas Sunday
night around 9 o'clock, according to
reports from Franklin Sheriff William
T. Dement, who reports four blasts
were heard by people in the areas.
Sheriff Dement says he knows
where two blasts occurred, but is still
searching for the remaining two. One
was found near the Rock Quarry in
Cedar Rock and the second was found
at Jack Collins' Store in White Level.
The Collins' Store suffered exten
sive damage to the front porch of the
building, the glass windows and nearby
gasoline pumps. The dynamite was
apparently thrown from a car. landing
at the foot of the porch, which is built
a few inches from the ground.
An unidentified man and his wife
were reportedly passing along the high
way in front of the Collins place just
as the blast occurred. Neither were
injured.
Dement said he is being assisted in
the investigation by the State Bureau
of Investigation.
Murray Friends
Confer With Judge
A delegation, representing friends
of Lee Murray, met briefly here Mon
day morning with Superior Court
Judge Leo Carr of Burlington. The
group petitioned Judge Carr to change
an active sentence imposed on Murray
in October to one of probation.
Judge Carr told the group that the
matter was out of his hands; that his
judgment had already been recorded
and suggested that the proper move at
this point would be to go before the
State Board of Paroles.
Former Recorder's Court Sudge \V.
F. Shelton acted as spokesman for the
group of nine men, representing larger
groups in both Franklin and Wake
Counties. He told Judge Carr that the
group was not raising the point of
Murray's innocense or guilt in the case
and said the group was satisified that
Murray had received a fair trial, but
that they were acting to help a friend.
Judge Carr. received the group in a
friendly spirit, according to reports
and explained some of the things
leading to his decision in the case, lie
said he appreciated the concern of the
group and others in the county over
the matter and realized Murray's pop
ularity in the communities.
Shelton told the -Judge that the
group would not ask him to recom
mend a parole to the State Board, but
asked if the Judge would agree not to
oppose such. The Burlington jurist
replied that he was not willing to make
See MURRAY Page 4
Blinded By The Sun
Picture above shows scene of early Monday morning accident on East Nash Street. Ralph Winstead. w/m, o Bunn rammed his
1962 Pontiac into the rear of a parked Carolina Power and Light Company truck, according to reports. Winstead was taken to
Franklin Memorial Hospital suffering head injuries. Reports say he was blinded by the early morning sun which poses a traffic
hazzard at this point and which was credited as the cause of a similar accident there last week.