* WEATHER *
Partly cloudy, warm and windy
Tuesday with Mattered shower*.
Tuesday afternoon and over East
Tuesday night. Wednesday partly
cloudy and not as warm.
- The ZMII Wes-M
THE RECORD
IS FIRST
VOLUME •
TELEPHONES SI 17-3118
DUNN, N. C., TUESDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 8, 1956
FIVE CENTS PER COPY
——
NO. 84
PRETTIER THAN COW - BELLS — A dam
HcLt smarter than any cow - bell — and just the
thine f be wearing in Dunn these days — fat a
Brand Slab license tag. At the t'ountry Style
Dance Friday night, Virginia Allen oi Raleigh.
(center) and Dickey Bam (left) and Rath Ten
pie (right), both of Dunn, proudly «howed their
allegiance by donning the tags. Gulfpride Service
Station had them (or sate. (Daily Record Photo
by Ted CraiL)
MYERS CAN'T FIND LAWYER
Ousted Prof Faces Hearing
JhsiM
<mis
JhinqA
B* HOOVr* ADAMS
A BUNCH OF MESS. FROM
WOLVES TO PRESBYTERIANS
A nursing career calls for the
performance of ah sorts of varied
and sundry duties, but Mrs. Bill
Young of the Dunn Hospital staff
had a new experience the other
night It was right after Jim
Thornton’s Broadslab Drag . . .
After leaving the dance, somebody
apparently took on too much spirits
and proceeded to the back yard of
the local hospital and opened the
doors to die rabbit cages. ^ A
number of rabbits are kept at the
local institution for experimental
purposes . Somebody reported the
Incident to Mrs. Lawrence in time
for her to keep all but one at the
rabbits from escaping. . She and
Hughle Whitehead, an orderly, ran
the one loose rabbit down and re
turned him to his cage . .Never
under-rate the crack legal team of
Everett* Lassiter Doffermyre and
Havid Kirkland Stewart—partku
k larly when it comes to court cases
involving big dough . The suit of
the Erwin youth involving “chang
ed personality" as the result of an
auto accident last week was one of
the most unusual ever tried in Har
I Can tinned on Page Tvs)
j The firing of Campbell |
College's professor of mod-!
jern languages, John Myers,
i came on so swiftly, once the
move was started, that he
| still had some exam papers
to grade when his ouster
was made public.
This morning he was finishing
odds and ends from his association
with the college. He also was con
sidering bow to get a lawyer to
represent him in his encounter
with the House Un-American Ac
tivities Committee, scheduled to
hear him and other witnesses on
March 12 In Charlotte.
I No lawyer he has contacted, My
ers said today, has been willing to
represent him. “They’re free with
their advice," he said, 't>ut they
| send me from one to the other. If
I were an ax murderer, I imagine
they'd wade through blood to get 1
, the case.” *
Plain-spoken on every subject ex
cept his politics. Myers has a slow
way of speaking. He chooses each
word as though he were lining up
a long putt. Yesterday morning,
before the news of his firing be
came public, he explained how he
felt about going before the com
mittee.
"I'm walking into the lion's den.”
The probing would not be a new
experience, though, he stated. “I've
already had a lot of practice in
answering—or not answering—
questions.” This was apparently a
reference to his appearance before
the college directors on Saturday.
Out of that meeting came the de
cision to fire him because of “per
sistent refusal . . to answer any
iContinaed On Page Eight)
NVl MKICiLY ACCORDING TO EMILY POST
2 Receptions, One
Baby, No Wedding
LOS ANGELES <IP> — Edith Mitchell, 38, testified to
day at her suit for temporary support of her infant daugh
ter that she and salesman Vernon Simpson had two wed
ding receptions but were never married.
miss Miicneu wcusm oimpson i
ctf fathering the lS-month-old child <
but the salesman in a counter- t
action contends that* the child was
conceived by artificial ineemina- ,
tiOQ. C
"If anyone ia the father, it ie (
>r ManueJ De J. Castillo, or a':
onor of his choiceSimpson con- j i
ended In his action.
In testimony at the temporary j
upport hearing, Miss Mitchell de- ,
lared she and Simpson went to. <
(Continued on rigs Two)
Soy Beans
Land Three
In The Soup
Three men have been given fines
md suspended jail sentences for
charges arising out of the theft
it seven bags of soy beans (valu
ed at $28 50) from Johnson Cotton
5o.
El'A-ood Vann, who had entered
i plea of not guilty, received the >
rtif'est sentence—$75 fine, court (
;osts, and six month* o nthe roads ,
suspended. (
Clhnus Eason, indicted with Vann, ;
lied guilty and 90-<lay sentence was j
suspended on payment of $50 fine
md costs. Paul Colvin, who also
pled guilty, was given a similar fine ,
md suspended sentence.
L. C. McCullough, Route 5, who
idmitted leaving the scene of an j
accident and operating on the left ,
land side of the road was fined $25 ,
md costs with 90 day sentence
m the roads suspended.
In a whisky case, Louis Hardy
Strickland of Dunn has filed notice
hat he will appear his conviction.
3triekland. who had entered a plea
* nolo contendere, was given 12
nonths suspended on payment of
1200 fine and costs for possession
if the apparatus for making white
lightning. Appeal bond was set by
Judge H. Paul Strickland at $300.
Harold Collidge Strickland of 304
1st St. Dunn was convicted for the
second time of drunk driving. Also
found guilty of possession of tax
paid whisky on which the seal had
been broken, he was given 6 months
on the roads suspended on payment
of $200 fine and costs. The court re
commended his license be revoked
for 3 years. Strickland gave notice
at appeal and bond was set at
1300.
Other cases in Dunn Recorder s
Court yesterday:
Cicero Watson, 1108 Appealton
3t.. Baltimore, abandonment and
ion-support, pled guilty, 12 months
suspended on condition he pay $50
ler month for his wife and five
ninor children.
Johnnie H. Turner, Port Bragg,
>osses«ion of non-taxpaid whisky
id Illegal fireworks, pled guilty.
>ix months suspended on payment
'o $10 fine and costs.
Leroy Dickinson, Port Bragg, no
rperator's license, pled not guilty,
onvicted and given SO days sue* *
(Centtnued On Page Pent)
Benson Denies
Agriculture .
On The Rocks
CHICAGO (IP) — Secretary
of Agriculture Ezra Taft
Benson will say tonight that
“political sniping for my
scalp” will not stampede
him into ill-advised efforts
to solve the farm problem.
Benson said agriculture is "not
on the rocks ' and is not “depres
sion -bound"
"Whoever says it is. is rendering
the cause of the fanner a disser
vice, and is simply not telling the
truth," he said.
Benson, in a speech prepared for
delivery at a meeting of the Na
tional American Wholesale Oro -
crs’ Association, admitted farm •
ers have been caught in a price
squeeze and said this “has caused
political panic in some areas.”
"1 want to do, and I will do.
everything that i* sound and fair
for all our people," he said.
“FRANTIC THINKING"
“But when fm urged: Do any
thing! rm appalled. That kind of
frantic thinking contributed largely
to the problems we face today.
“Attempts are being made to
place agriculture on the political
auction block,” he said. “American
agriculture is neither Republican
nor Democrat—its welfare must
not be sacrificed on the altar of
partisan politics.
“Tor mv part. I pledge that I
will never knowingly advocate or
support any policy or program
which X believe is not good far
farmers and fair to all of our
people—regardless of political pres
sure," Benson said.
The secretary blasted the at -
tempt to tie rigid 90 per cent of
parity price supports on basic com
modities to the Senate farm bill j
lie said rigid supports were pri-1
marily the cause of agriculture*
plight today.
BACHELOR’S CHOICE-The
Bachelor Society of America—
5000 strong—has selected their
Bachelorette Queen of 1055.
She’s lovely Betty George, New
York musical comedy singer.
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was
last year's bachelors’ choice.
Godfrey Now A
Deputy Sheriff
LEESBURG. Va. W-^Arthur God
frey. TV showman, flier, and some
time Navy man, ha* become a
weekend deputy sheriff, It was re
vealed today.
Sheriff Roger S. Powell of Lou
don County said Godfrey was sworn
in Saturday as a regular deputy,
was issued a crome-plated badge
and will get a nominal aalary.
+ Record Roundup +
CONCERT DATE CHANGED —
the Community oncert Association
>( Campbell ollege is announcing: a
hange in date of East Carolina
Ihoir Concert from March 17 to
tfarch 34 it S p. m in D, Rich '
luditonum at Campubell College.
PLA INVIEW PTA — The Plain
lew PTA will meet in the School
ludltortum Monday night, March
2, at 7:30. Mrs. Johnson’s Home
Economics Class will give a dress
eview. Afterwards, Supt. J. . Den
ting will discuss with patrons the
imposed county wide bond issue,
ill patrons are urged to be present, j
ON WATERWORKS — In Fay
etteville on Friday water-worts
operators of Eastern Carolina form
ed a professional organisation and
elected officers. A Dunn man, Jim
my Bayies, was elected secretary
treasurer. Attending from here, be
sides Bayles. were Joseph Jackson,
Percy Walton and Joe T. Jackson.
E. R. King of Qoldsboro was elected
president of the group, to be called
“Municipal Water Operator’s As
sociation.” Next regtn'ar meeting
is May 4 at Goldsboro.
LUCKY FLASH — Major George
i Con tinned On Page Eight'
EXISTING FUNDS MAY COVER IT
Welfare Requests
Special Grant
The Harnett County W<
that funds for hospitalization
dren and adults may run out
terday discussed wilh the cou
ity of an additional grant of
Miss Davie Jo Lumsden, acting
superintendent, said that the coun
ty now has responsibility of 11
children and 23 adults in boarding
care and no doubt there will be
emergencies to ariae in the four
nonths left in the fiscal year. She
estimated that hospitalization needs
For this period would require $500,
Joarding care for adults $2,150; and
’or children $900
However, In the discussion. Coun
y Auditor H. D. Carson, Jr pointed
Hit that several refunds had been
eceived from State welfare funds
ind that, with money In a miscol
r-neous acccount, and residues from
>ther welfare funds which ore not
■xpeced to use all money aippro
iriated, he believes there will be
•nough to finish the year.
i
<
i
i
t
\
t
s
c
t
c
c
ll
c
11
f
U
If are department, fearful
and boarding care of chil
before the year ends, yes
nty commissioners possibil
$3,500 from county funds.
Last year the county had to let
nore than a thousand dollars worth
f bills go unpaid untU after the
tew fiscal year began and that
rtoney was added to the new year’s
re! fare budget.
The welfare superintendent said
bat perhaps with the coming of
rarm weather and beginning of
arming operations she hoped for
xne surplus in the fund for food
rders .which might be diverted to
ie three needs mentioned earlier.
Auditor Carson volunteered to go
ver budget figures with Miss Lum
en, giving her the benefit of his
i test computations. The auditor
stimates around $9000 is left for
oarding care and hospitalization
>r the four months of March,
prtl, May and June.
Wanted To Die,
Begged Police
To Kill Him
PHILADELPHIA (If) — A:
demented man, who want
ed police to kill him because
he “didn’t have the nerve to
commit suicide," held a
priest and two policemen as
hostages during a five-hour
ride of terror before he was
overpowered today.
No on* was Injur®*, however,
during the wild ride or in a brief
scuffie in which the man was cap
tured on the lawn of his home in
a housing project.
Joseph Madera, father of two
children, telephoned the Philadel
phia Daily News last night that
he had a fight with his wife over
his unemployment and that he
wanted to die.
He told reporter George Thomp
son that he didn’t ' have the guts”
to kill himself but that he bad
"figured a way out.”
“I have three guns." he said.
‘•“I’m going to Reyburo Plaza and
start shooting’ U I hit a couple of
people, the cops win shoot me.
"Come on dpm to the Plaza and
you can have the whole story.”
ASKS FOR PRIEST
Thompson started questioning
Madera on the telephone in the
hope of quieting him. Madera said
he had "trouble getting work" dur
ing the past two years and re
cently was find from his Job hi a
restaurant.
As Thompson was urgtnr him to
“think of the kids, don’t make
them sorry," Madera hung up.
Thompson notified police but Ma
dera caded back again and told
him to “come on down to the plaza
and bring along Dr. Pogal of the
Philadelphia General Hospital. He
knows about me.”
‘Oh. buddy” Madera added,
bring along a priest, too.”
The Rev. John J. Lynch of St
John’s Church. Detective Ed With- i
erspoon and Patrolman John Bra
dy were sent to the plaza. Just
across the street from City Wail
As the priest and the two pohee
men approached, with Thompson
and several reporters behind
Madera suddenly pulled out two re
volvers and fired two shots over
their heads. He then ordered the
trio inside Witherspoon's automo
bile.
He told Witherspoon to drive to
the home of Mareda’s mother-in
law in the northeast section of the
city. During the wild ride, ha held
one gun at Wlthrespoon’s bade and
the 'other pointed at Brady and
the priest
TRAILED BY POLICE
Patrol cars throughout the area
were alerted to trail the fugitive
car and use their inter-automobile
radios to keep it under surveOsnce.
They had orders, however, to “stay
away from that car but keep it in
sight."
Other policemen telephoned Ma
dera's mother-in-law, told her of
the situation and ordered her not
to go to the door if Madera «p-,
peered.
Madera made Witherspoon drive
around the block once before slop
ing at his motherin-law’s home.
He then ushered the three hostages
in front of him to the door but
Continued •> Pam Sts)
^ . k- ■?>^
PURDOM AND MISS CHRISTIAN
LINDA CHRISTIAN IS "OTHER WOMAN"
Edmond Purdoms
Wife Gets Divorce
HOLLYWOOD «P> — Ac
has won an Interlocutory div
husband fell out of love wit
with “an actress’’ when he at
Mrs. Anita Purdom, 28, also won
custody of the couple's two chil
dren, Lillian, 3, and Marina, 1 1-3,
when she appeared before Judge
Edward R. Bn0d yesterday in
nearby Santa Monica.
The former ballerina testified
her 29-year-ok! husband, after
meeting a certain actress at a
party, disappeared from home and
slipped back in through a window*
t$r Edmund Purdom’s wile
>rce decree on telt8f»fty Be?
h her and became involved
tained success in Hollywood,
the next morning.
Mrs. Purdom did not mention
actress- Linda Christian in her tes
timony, but later told reporters
outside the courtroom the actress
Purdom met at the party was Miss
Christian.
Purdom and Miss Christian were
constant companions following the
British actor's separation from hi*
(Continued On Page Eight)
Improvements hor
Judge, Prisoners
Prospects for better- accommodations for judges in
Hameitt County and also for those on the other side of
the bench — that is the prisoners — appear to be in the
making.
County commissioners yesterday
heard the two widely separate re
quests In a short session which
adjourned before noon.
LAW LIBRARY
State Senator Robert Morgan
and Oienn Hooper appeared before
the commisioners in behalf of the
county bar association. They ask
ed. and promptly received, permis
sion to use three rooms In the court
house tar judges chambers, a con
ference room, and a law library
for all attorneys in the county.
Plans cail for linking the small
ante room West of the courtroom
with the present grand jury room,
and the room at the head of the
stairs, now vacant, into one suite
of rooms.
(Centinned On Page Seven)
Had Lively
Bout With
Jail Bedding
It took a Jury only a few min
utes to convict Frank K. Ralph bt
208 East C..Street, Erwin, of tear
ing up four blankets aha two mat
tress covers in Dunn jail.
Ralph, ordered to pay $30.10 for
damages, and another $100 and
court costs for drunk driving, gave
notice of appeal. Judge H. Paul
Strickland set bond at $200. - *|
(Continued on Page Flee
■■ -
76 Stills And What
Did They Get—Caught!
A steady, systematic war on bootleggers in Harnett i eye Township. Raids we made o i
County is continuing, the monthly report of Sheriff C. R. “»*• different dates, with tour smls
Moore shows today. seised In one day, Feb. 21.
During February, Che county's
six rural policemen, working as a
unit in rtioet instances, were reepoo-*
sitae for arrest of six men captured
in raids on illegal liquor stills. Of
ficers captured a total of 18 stole,
IS condensers, 157 gallons ef whis
key and 4450 gaQene el hear.
Mien captured ta —i Itit grt 1
manuiaciurer oi wmsaey were Hu
bert James Bowden, Paul McLean,
Jack Bryant, Walter Wildams, John
It Oodwtn, and Jeaae Lee Freeman.
Bxactly half of the officer*’ mon
thly bootleg “booty", or eight stll*,
were located in Anderson Creek
township. Four stills ware found
In Averasboro Township, three In
Stewart’s Creek and one In Bubo*
Officers responsible for
on tbe
a.
E.