North Carolina Newspapers

THE ONLY PULITZER. PRIZE WINNING WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN THE UNITED STATES 74eT, "Jxifaote "Tabor City — The Town With Λ City Future" VOLUME vn. NUMBER SI TABOK C1TT. N. C. WEDNESDAY. JULY 14. UM A YEAS Se A COrv I State Board Whitewashes A. E.Powell J r. County Bus Drivers Receive Certificates Safety award certificates are in the process of being distributed in Columbus County to school bus drivers who successfully complet ed the 1953-54 term by conforming to prescribed safety rules and reg ulations. The awards are presented an nually by the Safety Division, N. C. Department of Motor Vehicles, and the N. C. State Automobile Association, the South's largest Motor Club. Qualified drivers in this state travel some 220,000 miles daily to haul more than 400,000 school children. Congratulations were offered the winners by John G. Frazier Jr., president of the Automobile Association, and Edward Scheidt, Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The winners in Columbus Coun ty include: From Hallsboro School at Halls boro: Rhone E. Sasser, Hallsboro; Lloyd D. Baldwin Jr.. Rt. 2, White villc; and Wesley C. Jones, Bolton. From Nakina School at Nakina: Joe Blockmon, Rt. 4, Whiteville; Dorothy Ann McKeithan, Rt. 4, Whiteville; Dale Chestnut, Nakina; and Harry Long, Rt. 3, Tabor City. From Evergreen School at Eever green: Tommie W. Edwards, 1 yr., Boardman; George B. Nance, 1 yr., Rt. 2, Chadbourn; Bennie J. Mer ritt, 2 years., Rt. 1, Whiteville; Ronald R. Hedgpeth, 1 yr. Rt. 2, Chadbourn; Claudette D. Fields, 1 yr., Boardman; Wesley O'Brine Suggs, 1 yr., Boardman; Louis C. , Ransome Jr., 1 yr., Rt. 2, Clarkton; and Edgar Buffkin, 2 yrs., Rt. 2, From Cerro Gordo School at Cerro Gordo: Willie Strickland, Rt. 2, Tabor City; Robert L. Blp.okwell, . Cerro Gordo; Charles H. Richard A son, Rt. 2, Tabor City; Rudolph Green, Cerro Gordo; David Ken neth Green, Cerro Gordo; Dorothy Faye Knight, Cerro Gordo; and Charles Dan Harrelson, Cerro Gordo. From Acme-Delco School at Del co: Fitzhugh Williams, 1 yr., Bol ton; Bobby L. Babson, 3 years., Delco; Paul Fowler, 3 years., Del co; Charles S. Lennon Jr., 1 year., Delco; Albert Truesdale, 1 yr., * Delco; Horace L. Reaves, 1 yr., Delco; and Mike Rawls, 5 yrs., Bolton. From Chadbourn School at Chadbourn: Joseph F. Pruett Jr. Rt. 1, Chadbourn; Archie Neil Clewis, Rt. 1, Chadbourn; Leroy Goins, Rt. 2, Chadbourn; Herbert L. White, Rt. 1, Chadbourn; Curtis L. Ward, Rt. 2, Chadbourn; Har old Hughes, Rt. 1, Chadbourn; Henry J. Tuton, Rt. 1, Chadbourn; * Esta Mae Nobles, Rt. 1, Chad * bourn; and Houston D. White, Rt. 1, Chadbourn. From Tabor City School at Tab or City: Billie Smith, 1 year., Rt. # 3, Tabor City; Liston D. Ward, 1 year., Rt. 3, Tabor City; Travis Wright, 1 yr., Rt. 1, Tabor City; Bobby Lee Norris, 2 yrs., Rt. 2, Tabor City; Halford D. Mills 1 yr., Rt. 1, Tabor City; Olin Levett, 3 yrs., Rt. 2, Tabor City; Boyce Way A land Ward, 1 yr., Rt. 1, Tabor City; and Dale Brooks Mills. 1 yr., Rt. 3, Tabor City. From Williams Township School at Whitfville: Jack Anderson, 2 years.. Clarendon; Edna Pearl Norris, 1 yr.. Clarendon; Rachcl Rebecca Gore. 1 yr., Clarendon; James Albert Harrelson, 1 yr., Clarendon; Cora Mae Dew, 1 yr., Clarendon; Dorothy Mary Stanley, 1 yr., Clarendon; Keith Edward % Stanley, 1 yr., Clarendon; Carlton Cartrette, 1 yr.. Rt. 3. Whltcvllle; (Continued On Back Page) Television Repair Service Opened Here S. A. Hatley, Jr., son of Rev. and Mrs. S. A. Hatley of the Iron Hill community, has opened a radio and television repair service at Collier's Gas Company here. The new business will be known as Hatley Television and Radio Serv ice. Hatley has been in this type business for a number of years in Monroe, N. C., but he is a native of Columbus County. He was born at Iron Hill and lived there and here in Tabor City until 1938. He attended the Tabor City schools. He received his schooling in television and radio at the Cleve land Training Institute in Cleve land, Ohio and the DeForest Training Institute in Chicago. He is a Navy veteran of 29 months sen-ice in both the Pacific and Atlantic during World War II. In Monroe he has been a second lieutenant with the Civil Air Pat rol in which he served as com munications officer. He is also a licensed pilot with a great number of flying hours to his credit. Hatley is married to the former Sue 'Baldwin of Monroe and they have one child. They have already moved to Tabor City. Approach Signs To City Erected Another phasf in the Finer C:ir 1 olina Projects for Tabor City «•«ac^ed the final stages Friday j afternoon when city employees 1 b"«an the erection of a beautiful ' new approach sign to Tabor City just outside the city limits on Highway 701. The other of the two signs will be placed at the city limits on the Lcris Highway in the immediate future. The signs arc of shingle-type natural wood with a clear varnish finish. The lettering shows up rjuite distinctly against the natural wood background. "They will last from five to ten i vears if properly cared for and varnished regularly," said Dr. James, overall chairman of the Finer Carolina Projects in Tabor City. Mayor Horace Carter stated. "They are the flhest approach signs that 1 have ever seen placed outside a city." Dr. James stated that it would be nice if the signs could be light ed at night, but that funds were not available at the present. An alternate project was begun Monday when Atlantic Coast Line employees began the removal of two side tracks through the center of town from Third Street to Sev enth Street. The removal of these tracks will provide a much wider street and relieve the crowded oarking I facilities in front of the Ritz Tiiea I tre and the W. F. Cox Company. Mrs. R. L. Watts and Mrs. Geo rge Evans and eon. Stevie, of Rockingham were guests of Mr;,. W. M. Fipps and Mrs. Lou Watts, last week. λ. Ε. Powell's Election Checks Show Huge Increase Since 193S Α. Ε. Powell, Jr. Chairman of the Columbus County Board of ^ Elections, who was accused of var ious election irregularities before the State Board in Whiteville yes terday, received more than 11 times as much money for carrying on last May's democratic primary as did his predecessor W. C. Oliver for an election in 1938. There's no dougt in the minds of most persons that things have changed drastically sine· 1038 but there is considerable «peculation § as to whether the economic situa tion has increased salaries by II times. TIM urinates (f (he Cauuty Cmm ■Μηι «α public ΠΙ· la White ville, slww that Pawell received MiHsi IMIJI. TIM efcaefca were «r mm to Im UM. Ik* MM •how ill·! for Aagart .1, IMS, Oliver cot 815.00 tor his services u chairmtn of the County Elec tions Board. Paralleling the chairmen's checks, tho records show the Board of-County Commissioners appropriafed $1,210 for an electldn in 1938 against only $900 in 1950. In December 1938, Oliver re ceived $48 and his 71 election Judges and registrars got 1825.72. In June 1990, Powell drew $488.85 and his 105 assistants got $2,418.85. Oliver got a cheek for $45 In April 19$$ for Ms elect!·· Job, whereas the records sho^v PswsH received $481.89 hi Wsvsibsr off 195$. In December 1952, Powell's 12$ election assistants draw checks' totaling $$41140. After listening to conflicting1 testimony lor more than four hours, the State Board of Elec tions took less than 10 minutes to reach their decision that A. Elmo Powell, Jr., chairman of the Board of Elections in Columbus County, was not connected with any irreg ularities during the May 29 Prim ary. "The decision of the board is unanimous," said .J. Hampton Price, chairman of the State Board. "We do not feel that Mr. Powell has been connected sufficiently with these charges to warrant his dismissal." More than 150 persons endured the heat in the Columbus County Courthouse to hear the testimony of witnesses for both sides in the climax of a crusade against dirty politics in Columbus County wag ed by W. Horace Carter, editor of The Tribune. Members of the State Board of Elections were J. Hampton Price of Leaksville, chairman; J. E. Hill of Denton; H. A. Mattox of Mur phy; John Dawson of Kinston; and J. E. Holshouser of Boone. Execu tive secretary Raymond C. Max well of Raleigh was also present. One of the most damaging wit nesses against A. Elmo Powell, Jr., was Mrs. Margaret Moyers of Whiteville who testified that Mr. Fowell had ta!;e.i tl.c registration books from her home after regis tration had closed and returned them the morning of the May 29 Primary. "Nine names were written into the registration book in handwriting other than my own" testified Mrs. Moyers. She staled that Powell had tak en the books "to count the number of Negro people registered." Mrs. Moyers was unable to state whether the books had been taken by Powell two days alter the leg islation had closed or two days after challenge du.v. A discrepancy noted in the addi tion of names in handwriting oth er than Mrs. Moyer's wis that she had written ir names below those ι of ihe people registered by some one else. ever had the books during the proper period of registration and I've never permitted any other person to write the« names in the book," said Mrs. Moyers. Another incident of significance was the voting of Mrs. John Dwy cr who was also registered at a member of the Republican Party. Mrs. Moyers refused to permit Mrs. Dwyer to vote in the Demo cratic Primary but finally did so after Elmo Powell. Jr.. overruled and said she was eligible to vote." It was brought out that Mrs. Dwyer had never changed her I party affiliation and that it was ! done without her knowledge or consent. Other witnesses who testified that they had observed irregular ! ities by A. Elmo Powell, Jr. in i eluded Paul B. Avant of Chad bourn, A. B. Ward of Bolton, Mil dred H. Moore and Noel Dunivant of Whiteville. Robert Sehulken, attorney for W. Horace Carter, Uttempted to prove through testimony of wit nesses that A. Elmo Powell, Jr. was clostly connected with the ir regularities. Paul Avant stated that he had seen Mr. and Mrs. Titus William son enter the courthouse and vote after Irvan Cook, register, had announced that the polls were closed. Too. Mr. Avant told the State Board that he had observed Elmo Powell, Jr. talking with a man on the ccu?·house steps the afternoon of the first primary and that the man hnd several ballots in his hnnd. Mrs. Moore and Mr«. Dunivant testified that they had observed Mr. and Mrs. Williamson voting after tNi polls had been closed. Another strong link in the chain of testimonies was that of Α. Β Ward, reeis'rar at Bolton who re signed his position prior to the May 29 primary due to the manner in which the election procedures were being mishandled. Mr. Ward testified that A. Elmo Powell, Jr. advised him to register 10 Indians on May 17 (two days after the books were closed) In order "to save trouble." "Mr. Powell told me that he had called Raleigh and they said it was all right for me to register them." stated Mr. Ward. This slatoment was neither den ied nor admitted by A. Elmo Powell. Jr., when he took the stand in his own behalf. Prior to the noon recess, two witnesses were presented on be half of A. £ Powell, Jr., lij Me attorneys J. K. Powell, W. H. Powell, and J. B. La·, ft, Mr. and Mrs. Titus Williamson t (Continued OA Back Page) Lack Of Funds Closes Program Due to lack of necessary funds the Tabor City Summer Recrea tion Program will close July 23.« At present there is $194.15 in the treasury for the program which will cover expenses for the fol lowing two weeks of operation. The program, which has been such an important asset to the town, began its fourth week of operation Monday. It is now being carried out on a full time basis with the 6-10 age group meeting from 9-12 a. m. and the older group from 9:30 11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p. m. daily. The Community Playground, whert the younger group meets, has been equipped recently with four new swings and see-saws. These were constructed and paint ed by Jimmy Rogers during his leisure time. Enrollment in the 6-10 age group has nearly doubled since they have been meeting during the morning hours. "They get along with each other much better and are more active and interested in the morning hours," stated the director. Active games still head the list as the most popular event on the playground with spatter painting and story telling running a closc second. Stories are also read each morning from books which were secured from the school library. Refreshments are provided by the mothers of the participants each morning, which is quite a treat for the children. Last Wednesday morning the group attended the special Kiddie's Show at the Ritz theatre. The older group has been handi capocd the entire summer due to their lack of equipment, however they have taken this in stride and are participating in the limited number of games with a great deal of spirit. Jimmy Rogers, director of the group, stated that the attendance I had dropped off during the hot days, duo to what he believed to be the mothers fear of the parti cipants getting too hot. Rogers said that "we are careful not to let them get overheated and make them take rest periods frequent ly." All children are urged to take advantage of the two remaining weeks of the program. Kape Charge Lodged Against Local Men Two local men, charged with raping a Ιβ-vcar-olri girl from Mullins, S. C., were released this week from the Marion County Jail on $2500 bond. M. C. Lovett. 20, of Norton, S. C. (near Gre^n Sea) was released Monday aft»· r<>jn while Elton Prince, 30, ot '« atvj* City was re leased late Sunday evening. A preliminary hearing for the two men will be held within the next few days. Marion County Sheriff J. Leon Casque said today that the two men were charged with criminal assault on a 16-year-old Mullins, S. C. girl on the night of July 2. Both men were arrested this past Saturday morning at 5:30 by Marion County Deputy Sheriff Charles C. Wiggins and Tabor City Police Officer Leamon Sing. According to Sheriff Casque, the assault took place on a country road about three miles north of Nichols, S. C. Officers said the girl had been badly beaten prior to the alleged criminal assault. In a statement to the Tribune. Prince denied any implication in the criminal assault or the beating. According to Prince, he had been with Lovett and the unidenti fied girl but had parted company with them at 11:30 p. m. the night of the attack. "I let both of them out in Tabor City at 11:30 p. m. and went home. I knew nothing about any crim inal assault until officers arersted me Saturday morning." said prince. Charges against the two men will probably be aired In the Oc tober term of Superior Court which opens in Marion County the third week in October. Rainow Girls Take Swim Course Fifteen members of the Tabor City Rainbow Girls Assembly and their two leader» 'completed a Leam-to-Swim course, which was conducted at Lake Waccamaft, Friday. July 11. The course was sponsored by the Columbus County Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Whiteville Civitan Club. "It was one of the most success ful courses conducted this year," »tated Lee J. Greer, instructor In charge. Hard work and excellent atten tion attributed to the fact that all members of the class learned to swim. Those attending the course were: Mrs. Mae Young. Mrs. Marrnret Soles, Margaret Anne Soles, Macel Cox, Joan Cox, Sue Cox, Judy Morris, Shclba Jean Spivey, Pr # Grainger, Dixie Grainger. Iris Vadddl Fay· Cox, Janice Rob erta, Billy Young, Dtanna Harrel ιοη, Neida Gaskin, Betty Gaskln, Dean Gaskin. Le Verne Gaakin ind Mabel Hodges. The class enjoyed a picnic sup 1j»V· unon completion if tte swimming course. Μ Thompson Denies A story appearing in the Mon day edition of the Whiteville News-Reporter stated that Mr. W. Avery Thompson of Halls boro, chairman of the County Democratic Executive Commit tee had stated he was not a party with W. Horace Carter in bringing the election irregular ities to the attention of the State Board of Elections and that Thompson had accompanied Carter to Raleigh for the sole purpose of introducing him to members of the Board. Yesterday. Mr. Thompson told a Tribune reported that the News-Reporter story was in error and that he was definitely interested in the matter. "I feel it my duty as a citizen to support this cause. We owe it to ourselves to want clean politics and it is my moral duty to be a party to this hearing." said Thompson. Thompson sat with Carter and Attorney Robert Schulken dur ing the hearing. In one incident it was proved that Thompson had an active part in the securing of an affi davit from Mr. A. B. Ward of Bolton. ' However, Thompson did state that he was not acting on behalf of the County Uemocratir Exe cutive Committee and was bas ing his actions solely on his desires as a private citizen. inree iteieased 3a Charges Of Impersonation Charges of impersonating an of ficer and receiving money under false pretenses against Buck Watts. 20, Horace Watts. 21. and Clifford Fowler. 19. were nol prossed with leave Monday afternoon In May or's Court by W. Horace Carter. I Other cases tried Monday in cluded George Fuller, disorderly conduct, paid costs; Ston (-Fuller, disorderly conduct, paid costs; Thourghood Wright, public drunk enness. paid costs; Lois Wright, public drunkenness, paid costs; ι Paul Bellamy, public drunkenness, paid costs; J. W. Greene, public drunkenness, paid costs; Rufus Fairwcll, public drunkenness, paid costs; James Bryant, public drunk enness, paid costs; William R. Gore, spinning wheels, paid costs; and Carlysle Lynch, public drunk enness. paid costs. ''GAME OF THE WEEK" The Wblterllle Leafs with an 11 game winning streak will play the anbeaten Elisabeth ton n Red Sex In the Strawberry League's "Game ef The Week" at American Legte· Flekl la Whtterttle. Friday 1·, at S p. m. The Whttevtlle etat will try te he the first ef the mm te break the wtaatag streak ef the ef the Berry Leacve. AN EDITORIAL . . . Dow· Bat A prominent baseball coach once made the classic remark "You got to win a few, lose a few and some gamea are going to be rained out." Just such a philosophy ex presses our feeling following the whitewashing the State Board of Electons gave A. E. Powell, Jr., in Tuesday's hear ing into election irregularties. If Mr. Powell is truly the good character that hia witnesses say he is, if no election irregularities have occurred in Columbus County during his 14 years as Chair man of the Board, if he has not and will not name the poll holders specifically to favor his chosen candidates, if he has moral courage, and if he keeps all voting and registra tion within the bounds of the law, then what more could be asked? It is not the man alone that our crusade has been launched against. It's the evils that have existed in the elections during his 14 years in office. We have lost in the first round. The conflicting testi mony certainly would cause a jury to have doubts as to the guilt or innocence of the accused. But how any human being under oath can say black is black and another say that black is white is beyond our comprehension. It is hard to accept as fact the proven point that for every truthful man born, a liar also comes into being. We cannot swear that all the witnesses for the prose cution told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. We can only say that if they didn't, we are ashamed of them. Our whole purpose in asking for the hearing was to bring cleaner politics and elections into Columbus County. But the inconsistence in relating incidents is proof that there's a long way to go before any semblance of respectability can h*» »ssiviatoH wifh ηηΐϊ«»- *■— lot Oat We can also say that only a smattering of the irregu larities could be investigated well enough to present to the board. Politicians still cling together regardless of the evil involved, it's difficult to get one politician to testify against another and in the long run, only the politicians have the evidence that can break up a machine of long standing througn hearings and court proceedings. There was another shock coming luesday. We had never realized there were so many blind and deaf citizens of Columbus County. When people swear that they have lived in the county for many years and have never heard any criticism of the elections, never heard anything against me character of A. fc. Powell, Jr., that's time to call the doctor. That's jamming a right big bite down a lot of throats, and it has to be bigger than ours to swallow it. We have never bet on a horse race. Tuesday's hearing was like betting on a white stallion when you knew in advance that a black filly was going to win. It was like drawing to an inside straight when the card you needed wasn't even in the deck. The State Board of Elections, as we insisted in our original complaint filed in Raleigh, should of its own motion investigate charges of irregularities in elections when affidavits are presented to it. The election laws gives them the expressed right to carry on such an investigation. Hut this election board was determined to whitewash Columbus politics, and we believe they would have done just that regardless of the evidence presented. They made it clear in Raleigh that they would do no investigating, and that the burden of obtaining evidence, and the cost of lawyer fees, telephone calls and travel was squarely upon the shoulders of the private citizen. They not only did no investigatng, but actually sought to dis credit the testimony of tne prosecution's witnesses at the Whiteville hearing. Instead of merely being opposed by the battery of lawyers for the defense, in reality we also had the five-man board to lick. Power politics is a difficult evil to combat. You have to realize in the beginning that the odds are against you. You have to confront yourself with the fact that political bosses love power and money and that anyone getting in their way will be trampled. A faltering political power will not let its grip loose without a struggle. And with just this in mind, we must tackle the problem. Yes, we have lost the first round. Where do we go from here? Back to the grass roots level we must go. The V people of Columbus County are the only ones who can do anything about evils in politics. Only when the people want maximum fairness, only when they want Christian principles applied, only when they want sober men and women with character in positions of trust, will real democracy and justice dominate the political scene in Columbus County. . YOU! YUU! YOU! When you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day, Then go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what the guy has to say. He's the fellow to pjease, never mind all the rest For he's with you clear to the end, And you've passed your most dangerous difficult test If the guy in the glass is your friend. You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years And get pats on the back as you pass; Rut your final reward will be heartache and tears If you've cheated the guy in the glass. SAME OLD STORY ... Second Primary Irregularities Fair Bluff Conversation Topic A host of second primary elec tion irregularities have bccome tho main topic of conversation on th" streets of Fair Bluff these days. Of the greatest concern, perhaps is the fact that a former Klansmar who was convicted and served a federal sentence was one of the election judges in both the first MISPLACED STORY Edward (lore did not write the story on the election Irregu larities In Fair Bluff that ap pear* ander Plreway Nrws on Page six. The Trlbnne regrets this error. and second primary. The fact tha the sheriff who helped send hin up was up for reelection make: his appointment seem highly un< ethical to a great number ο people. There was no question of hi interest" In the election, and h was by no means an impartial pol holder. Fair Bluff residents saj ι What makes them even mora die twibad is tha fact that at one tlm i during the noon hour he was the only official present at the polls, a citizen reports. .. Of course, (he citizen says he I had company practically all day. One gentleman. although not a poll holder. kept busily assisting those who needed "help" In voting. I The report says he voted several people who stood outside the booth while he went Inside, marked their ballots and then deposited them In the ballot bo«. Persons who observed the ballot counting think that was a little odd too. There seems to have been quite · few people mingling about the table and ballots apparently could have been handled by many ι persona. ι The clttsena say that the count waa neck and seek between Sgt ' Prtdgen and Sheriff Nance whan the first 4M ballets were ί···Ιι4 • but seme one hollered out "Jest • wait 'til you get te the bstt·· af I the bn." AM sure saongh the . voting waa pretty eae tfdei la Mm t (Continued Ob BMkTfcf·)*"0