Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Jan. 21, 1954, edition 1 / Page 1
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1 ews-Journa. VOH 3 it OS CUAADIAK of iiBi&rr Ml The Hoke County News The Hoke County Journal VOLUME XLVI1I; NUMBER 34 THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1954 RAEFORD, N. C. 10c PER COPY $3.00 PER YEAR II ll nee voice or vs-v- zfcLUnda By The Editor You know, if Judge T. O. Moses had left the sentences on E. J. Hollingsworth and Wilbert Arnold like he started to week before last, he could have expect ed1 them to get off a lot lighter in Superior Court on their appeals, judging by what happened in the November term of Superior Court. In that term of court, you will remember that some of the peo ple Judge Moses sent up there with stiff sentences came out with much lighter ones, with the Sup erior Court judge in the same breath taikink about the "ring of bootleggers around Raeford." Maybe by deciding to let those two fellows off with fairly heavy fines and sentences suspended on condition of good behavior Judge Moses did the best tl-.ing. At least he knew that would stick, since the appeals were withdrawn at the same time. I am still of the opinion that ine judge snoum have heard the facts which caus ed him to change his mind from the witness stand or at least in the courtroom during a regularly scheduled session of court. In answer to this he says that a ses sion of recorder's court is not technically adjourned until the next one starts, and is thus able to act on cases at any time dur ing the week. Well, it's about time they started technically ad journing it when they leave on Tuesday or Wednesday. Sec in this morning's paper where Judge Clifton Moore has paid his filing fee to run for the Superior Court seat he is now holding by appointment. In hold ing court here this week, includ ing a trial carrying a death sen tence, he has made a fine im pression on everyone from all that I can gather. On the bench he is a pleasant, courteous man, but firm and fully in charge of the situation at all times. It is pre dicted here that he will become known as one of our abler Sup erior Court judges. The trial and conviction of Charlie Gales for the first degree murder of his wife has made this session of court a big one. For the first term in a long time court will be held all week, and then they will not get through . . A big part of the tragedy of the whole Gales affair was the four children sitting on the front row in the courtroom Tuesday and Wednesday hearing over and over again how their father beat th?ir mother to death with the barrsl of a double-barrelled shotgun. Of course, they saw it with their own eyes, and so can probably never forget it anyway, even if they arc small. Judge Moore was careful to tell those who have them in charge not to bring them to court today. At least they did not have to hear their father sentenced .c die. Jim Prevatte, Robeson County man who practiced law here for a year or so before the war and who has since become a success ful attorney in Southport, appear ed in a case here on Tuesday af ternoon. Doesn't look much older, except you can see right through liis hair. As I am not in the running In the March of Dimes jailhouse un popularity campaign I will still not have to tell who the fellow was that said he would spend $100 voting for one of us others to keep from winning. That thing can get serious, though, as I feel that the key might get lost wiirn they get one of us boys behind those bars. Rumor from Hoke High School that Principal W. T. Gibson is their man must not have been true, as ha didn't win, place or show this week either. The thing closes February 6 and the winner (?) goes to Jail on t'le 8th. Local Boy Gets Eagle Badge Tuesday Night Joe Thomas McLcod, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. McLeod, received his badge as an Eagle Scout here Monday night at an impressive district court of honor held at the high school. Joe, who had his 16th birthday last month, is the third Hoke County boy to become an Eagle, the highest rank in Roy Scouting, since 1946. The other two were Lawrence McNeill, Jr., arid Leon Cameron. The court of honor was pre sided over by Fred Kendall of Laurinburg, advancement chair man of the western district of (he Cape Fear Area Council. The dis trict includes about 15 Boy Scout troops in Hoke, Scotland and part of Robeson counties. The presentation of the Eagle Scout badge was made by J. W. Turlington to Mrs. McLcod, Joe's mother, who pinned the badge on her son. A certificate and letter from national Boy Scout head quarters were presented at the same time to the Eagle's father. The ceremony was impressive ly staged with members of the local troop lined up on the stage in the light of three candles. The 12 parts of the Scout law were then recited by 12 boys, each lighting another candle as he said his part of the law. Young McLcod has been active in the local troop for several years and last year attended the National Scout Jamboree at the Irvine ranch in California. Twenty-one merit badges are requir ed for the rank of Eagle, along with recommendations from Scout and community leaders. Neill McFadyen and Joe Mc Leod were awarded merit badges at the court of honor, along with several awards to Scouts from other towns. Several boys were also received into the Raeford troop. v Hoke Girls Beat Red Springs, Whiteville i As Boys Win, Lose The high-flying Hoke High girls basketball team added two more victories in the past week to bring their string to 11 with out a loss for the season. On Fri day night they beat Whiteville here and on Tuesday night, again on the home court, they got the best of Red Springs high. The boys beat Whiteville on Friday but were outclassed by Red Springs on Tuesday. Against Whiteville Friday night the local girls, paced by Claud ine Hodgin and Ina Scull, led the visitors 22-19 at the half and went on to win 47-37. Against Red Springs on Tuesday night the Hoke girls decisively out classed the visitors, beating them 49 to 33. Hodgin and Guin were high scorers in the contest and Humphrey led the loser. On Friday night the Hoke boys handed Whiteville a 57-35 lick ing in a district conference en counter that saw the local boys dividing up the scoring honors. Jimmy White and Lacy Koonce each had 12 points, Johnny Bob bin and Roger Dixon each had 10 each and Guard Jimmy Bracey had 8. Against Red Springs on Tues day night the Bucks were out classed from the beginning, trail ing by 16 points at half-time and losing the game by 12 points, 43 31. Dixon was high point man for the Bucks. The Hoke junior varsity team beat Red Springs 42-20 in the opener. All three Hoke teams play Clinton teams here Friday night in what are to be the last home games for a couple of weeks. The Jayvees will start the action at 6:30 in the local gym, followed by the girls and then the varsity boys. Town Board Meets To Improve System A special meeting of the board of commissioners of the Town of Raeford was held at the town hall on Monday night with all members present and Mayor Al fred Cole presiding. The meeting was held for the purpose of dis cussing the cost and advisability of installing new and larger wa ter distribution lines in various parts of town" where they are needed with Richard Moore, con sulting engineer, who has made a survey of the situation. After hearing a report from! Moore on what was needed and where and the approximate cost the board voted to make water line installations on Main Street and on Fifth Avenue. On Main Street the new line will begin at the McEachern residence at Sev enth Avenue and continue north ward to the city limits. On Fifth Avenue the line will start at Main Street and run east to Ste wart Street. In addition to giving water ser vice to these sections these lines will make it possible for fire hydrants to be installed and will thus lower the insurance rates for residences affected. The board also took up the drainage problem in the same general scc'ion of town, deciding to close the open drainage ditch in the block north of the high school between Main and Magno lia Streets and also between Main and Stewart Streets, both blocks being between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The board also decided to em ploy a special attorney to Close out delinquent tax accounts. -n Carol Smith Will Give Concert Carol Smith, young contralto who will open the second half of the season's concert series at Flora Macdonald college on Wed nesday evening, January 27, .t 8:15, emerged during the 1951 52 season as one of the most im portant of the younger genera tion of American singers. At her New York debut on December 6, 1951, the critics of the city's wo leading newspapers were singu larly unanimous in their evalu ation of her talents. "One of the most beautiful voices to be re vealed here in many a mo n", wrote the New York Times. "One of the finest young contraltos heard here for many seasons," seconded the Herald Tribune, During the 1952-53 season, she made a sold-out tour of more than 70 engagements, which in cluded 12 performances with R leading symphony orchestras, pnd four orchestral appearances in New York. "She is someone verv special", wrote one reviewer, while another hailed her as "A star on the way up". 311 Hoke Farmers To Cooperate In 1954 Conservation Hoke County farmers are co operating with the Federal Gov ernment in an effort to conserve soil and water resources, accord ing to R. J. Hasty, Chairman County ASC Committee. On November 6, 1953, the init ial closing date for farmers to re quest Federal Cost-sharing under the 1954 Agricultural Conserva tion Program, 311 Hoke County farmers had indicated their in tention to cooperate in the pro gram. These farms requested $66,298.55 Federal assistance says Hasty. The county was allocated only $31,939.00 to be used in shar ing with the farmer part of the cost of carrying out needed con servation practices. Mr. Hasty points out that the establishment of legume and grass vegetative cover as a part of land-use ad justments and initiating systema tic crop rotations is an important part of the 1954 ACP. He reports that farmers have requested cost sharing for more earth moving practices than any previous year. (Continued on back pace) March Of Dimes Campaign Rolls; Benefits Planned Interest Up In Jail Gag March of Dimes committee members of the local Junior Chamber of Commerce this week reported that interest seemed to be high in the campaign for funds to hit what is hoped will be the final blow at infantile paralysis. They said that practically every community in the county was making plans or had already made them for benefit shows, dances and suppers for the drive, and that great interest was being shown in the contest to sec which of ten Raeford characters goes to jail on February 8. The go to jail cintest, in which votes are cast at 10 cents each for the March of Dimes for one of the men, each of whom has agreed j to be locked up in the county jail if he is high man when the votes' i are finally counted on February 6. He is to be locked up on Feb ruary 8. Tally of the cash in the boxes of each candidate, which are located at the two drug stores in Raeford, this week showed that up to now most of the crowd of villains are running neck and neck. Red 'Scarfacc" Scarbarough and Robert "Babyfacc" Gatlin were holding a slight edge over the others, with Harry "Costello" Greene, Alfred "The Ripper" Cole and W. T. "Prof" Gibson running close behind. Basketball Tuesday In Raeford next Tuesday the Kiwanis Bloomer Girls will play the American Legion Dolls and the Lions club will play the Jay cees in a doublcheader event for the benefit of the drive at the high school gymnasium. Allendale Barbecue There will be a barbecue sup per at Allendale community house for the benefit of the drive on Thursday night, January 28, starting at 5:30 p. m. Fiddlers Convention The Stonewall committee, which had a benefit supper on Wednesday night and cleared over $400, will have an old time fiddlers convention at the Mil douson school on the night of Wednesday, Feb! 3, starting at 8:00 o'clock, for the drive, charg ing 50 cents per person. Supper At Wayside The Wayside committee will have a barbecue and chicken supper on Thursday, January 28, at the Wayside community house, starting at 5:30 p. m. Three Square Dances The Blue Springs community will have three square dances at the schoolhouse for the drive. These will be on the Friday nights, January 22, 29 and Feb ruary 5. Supper At Antioch The Antioch community will have a supper for the March of Dimes at the Sunday school building of Antioch Presbyterian Church on the night of Friday, February 29. Serving will start at 6 no o'clock. The Elk Restaurant contributed $18.65 received for coffee last Friday. The Chatterbox will run a special plate on Tuesday night, January 26, and will contribute half the receipts for this to the drive. (Continued on back page) 4-H Achievement Day Next Mon. Night The annual Achievement Day program of the 4-H Clubs of Hoke County will be held in the high school auditorium next Mon day night, beginning at 7:30. The program, the only county-wide 4-H Club event during the year, was postponed from January 14 because of the illness of the county farm and home agents. The program is held annually to recognize the boys and girls in the county who do the best work In 4-H projects, and will In clude presentation of prizes for these and refreshments and rec reation. The public Is invited. Raeford Chamber Of Commerce Directors Name 1954 Officers The Raeford Chamber of Com mcrece board of directors held their first meeting of 1954 at the Bank of Raeford Monday after noon and elected officers for the year, planned a membership drive for February, and discussed ac tivities by which the Chamber could increase its service to its members and the community. After considerable discussion it was unanimously decided to ask the membership of the Chamber to agree not to contribute to or take "ads" in any sort of fund raising projects until these had been approved by the Chamber of Commerce. Applications for approval in earh case would be made to the secretary, who would refer them to a special commit tee for approval. Where approved the solicitors would be given a I card or letter stating that the project had the anproval of the chamber, but that this approval jn no ,..nv rnnsiituted nn en- dorsomcnt of the project. Ways and means of placing automobile license plates on sale in Raeford were discussed and action was directed to have this done by the time next year's plates come out. Function of the Chamber office as a credit re porting center was also discuss ed and is to be further investi gated. A committee was also ap prointed to investigate and see that peddlers and other market ing their wares in Raeford pay proper privilege license fees so as not to be allowed to unfairly compete with permanent local establishments. New officers for 1954 were elected as follows, Paul Dickson, president and J. W. McPhaul, vice-president. Jake Austin was reelected secretary and W. C. Phillips was reelected treasurer. Harvey Gobeille and Tom Mc Bryde were retiring president and vice-president, respectively. n Chest X-Ray Unit To Start Here Friday The chest x-ray unit which has been touring the county for the past two weeks will start a stay of two weeks on Main Street in Raeford tomorrow. It will be here tomorrow and Saturday, Tuesday through Saturday of next week and the week after, and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs day of the following week, Feb ruary 11, being its last day here. The unit is being made avail able to people of the county through efforts of the TB asso ciation, the county health depart ment, the State board of health and citizens of the county. Health Department officials report that record numbers of people in the county are taking advantage of this quick, painless way to be certain they do not have tuber culosis. Those that do have the bacilli, however, find it out this way early enough for treatment to be effective. Some eases of heart trouble have also been dis covered by means of chest x rays. No undressing is required and confidential report is made to each person taking an x-ray. 0 Plans Are Made For ; Little League Ball A group of interested men met at the courthouse Monday night and made plans for operating the Abcrdecn-Raeford Little Baseball League again this summer. About a dozen from Raeford and Aber deen were present and league of ficers were elected. C. L. Tyson of Aberdeen was elected president of the league and Dr. Julius Jordan of Raeford was chosen vice-president. John Sloan of Aberdeen is secretary and Charles Morrison of Raeford is treasurer. The local teams will be spon sored by Robbins Mills and the Kiwanis Club and in Aberdeen the teams will be sponsored by Robbins Mills and the Aberdeen Junior Chamber of Commerce. CHARLIE GALES IS SENTENCED TO DIE FOR WIFE'S MURDER 5 Criminal Cases Are Handled In Superior Court Four criminal cases in addition to the trial of Charlie Gales for murder were heard in Hoke County superior court this week before Judge Clifton Moore of Burgaw. Only one of these was a jury trial, the others being pleas of guilty. Civil cases are being tried this afternoon and more are set to be heard on Friday, al though the jury was dismissed at noon today. Vann Green, colored, was found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon by a jury on Monday and was sent to the roads for a j'ear. S. M. Jacobs, Indian, was sent to the roads for two years on two counts of violating the prohibition laws. Elijah Locklear, Indian, went to the roads for two years on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. James Erwin Hadley, colored, pled guilty of assaulting James McDonald with a knife, leaving a scar from the top of his head through his ear to his lip. The affair took place at a cafe near the Sanatorium. Ho was sentenc ed to one year on the roads and the judge reconsidered and said that if Hadley would get up $200 and costs by today he would put his on probation instead of the roads. He paid $115 on Wednes day. The grand jury asked continu ance of the murder charge against Eddie McCrimmon and Robert Rogers, both colored, as they had not heard two important wit nesses. Both cases in which man slaughter was charged following wrecks were continued to the next term. Archie T. Ferguson, white, was brought back into court under a judgment from August, 1953, at which time he got a sentence of six months, suspended on con dition that he pay $15 weekly to ward the support of his two minor children.and on which ac count he was $90 behind. Court found that Ferguson was unable to pay $15 a week and continued the case until the April term, giving him until that time to pay the $90 and ordering him to start April 24 with payments of $8 a week and continue them until the children are each 18 or until there is a different court order. Mrs. Louise L. Ferguson, mother of the children, expressed dis pleasure with the court's ruling in a manner that Judge Moore considered contempt of court. He ordered her to pay a $10 fine, and when she could not sent her to jail. It was paid and she got out in about 30 minutes. u Grand Jury Finds Things In Good Shape The Hoke County Grand Jury, in session at the January term of superior court this week, report ed to Judge Clifton L. Moore that things in general around the county are in good condition. They reported that the records of the mayor of Raeford and Mrs. Helen S. Barrington, justice of the peace, were in good order. They reported on inspections of the courthouse, jail, county of fice building, the McLauchlin school, Hoke high school and Up church high school, and said that all were in good order. They also said Patrolman D. G. Surratt re ported to them that the school buses of the county were In ex cellent condition. The grand jury reported that according to the county sanita rian condition of toilet facilities at the Raeford theater will be improved in a few days. Execution Set For March 12 After hearing Charlie Gales tell him "Don't have any mercy, I've got what I want," Judge Clifton L. Moore passed his first sen tence of death at 10:50 a. m. to day, ordering that Gales die by gas on March 12, 1954 for the murder of h' wife. Gales was tried here on r'uesclay and Wed nesday at the regular term of Hoke County superior court for beating his wife to death in a cotton patch on the farm of James Oldham about five miles south of Raeford on October 1, 1953. The case went to the Hoke County jury, gathered by special venire, at 4:15 p. m. on Wednes day, and the ve.dict of guilty of murder in the first degree with out recommendation of life im prisonment was returned just 30 minutes later, at 4:45. Gales is 39 years of age, and had returned only about two weeks from a six months road sentence for assault ing his wife when he killed her on October 1. The State offered testimony by James Oldham that Gales had come to his cotton field where Gales' wife and children were picking cotton for Oldham at a bout 2:00 o'clock on October 1; that Gales asked -his wife, Lu cille, if she had sent for the law and that she said she had not; that Gales then made a motion toward her and she ran behind Oldham; that Gales then left the field. Oldham said that Gales return ed to the field a little later with a suitcase in one hand and a gun barrel in the other; that he call ed to her and she wouldn't come; that Gales chased her around, telling Oldham to stay out of it or he'd brain h,im; that he flung a bottle and his cotton sack at him, but couldn't do more be cause he had recently been sick; that Gales caught his wife, hit her on the legs and then chased her further and knocked her down; that she called for help and Gales told her only the Lord could help her and and that he would give her a minute to get right with God; that Oldham saw Gales beat her over the head six or seven times with the gun bar rel and leave her dead. He said that Gales walked off, saying there were three more he wanted to get. The State contended that the facts as given by Oldham were substantially the facts in the case, and offered testimony by Mrs. Oldham, Corporal Jackson of the Highway Patrol, Deputy Sheriff. J. C. Wright, G. R. Lane, Deputy Sheriff H. M. Meeks, and Dr. J. W. Buffalo of the State Hospital in Raleigh, where Gales had been examined from November 23 to December 15. Their testimony was to the ef fect that Gales had had trouble with his wile before and had been to the roads for it, that he had admitted killing his wife and was ready to take his medicine, that he was in his right mind, that he was of lower than average mentality but had not been co operative on tests in Raleigh. Defense tried to show that Gales was insane, offering testi mony to the effect that his mo ther and her brother had been insane and that "he had not been like other people" most of his life. Defense also tried to show that Gales was under the influ ence of drugs given him for head aches at the time he killed his wife, and that he had not known what he was doing. Witnesses by which these contentions were produced were Dr. E. C. Womble, who had prescribed for the head aches, Florence Gales, sister of the defendant, Furney Howard, cook at the jail, D. W. and R. H. Gales, brothers of the defendant Serving on the jury which re turned the verdict were C. H. Marks, M. L. Sides, D. E. Cam eron, J. T. McFadyen, T. S. Hen ( Continued on back page)
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Jan. 21, 1954, edition 1
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