Shoplifting A Major Worry To Local Merchants
By Laurie Telfair
Hit ii 16 yeari old. He it black. And he
was brought before District Court
itccuacd of shoplifting.
He ii typical of shoplifters in Raeford
except in one respect...he was arrested
and prosecuted through the courf.
Shoplifting is described by Raeford
merchants as a serious problem, vet few
persons are ever arrested or tried here for
the offense.
Clerk of Court E.E. Smith estimates
that fewer than a half dozen cases have
been tried in District Court during the
past year and he remembers only two
(uvenile cases for shoplifting.
Yet the manager of Mack's 5 &. 10
Store, Bob Riddle, estimated his store
lost S3,000 last year to shoplifters.
A self ? service shopping basket there
contained a collection of empty boxes
and cardboard holders of cosmetics that
would have cost about S5 if shoplifters
had not itolcn the make-up from them.
That represented only the missing
cosmetics from the put few days, Riddle
said.
"They are so slick," Riddle said. "I can
be standing there looking at someone and
they can still take something off the
counter and get aw&ywith it."
"They'll take anything that ahines,"
William Howell of Howell Drug Company
said. "They love sunglasses."
All age groups - children, teenagers
and adults - are involved in stealing from
stores, most of the merchants said.
However teenagers are the ones most
frequently caught.
"We never catch the adults," Howell
said.
Children go for the nickel and dime
items. Riddle said, but adults will take
more expensive goods. Several merchants
told of small children who had taken
items from their store and had been made
to return it by the parents.
Raeford police chief, L.W. Stanton,
said that usually children under twelve
who are caught stealing are turned over to
their parents. Juvenile petitions are
usually taken out on those over twelve,
although children under twelve could be
sent before juvenile court. Teenagers 16
and older and adults are prosecuted in
District Criminal Court.
Shoplifting is a misdemeanor which
carries a fine of not more than S100 or a
iail term of not more than six months or
both. A person may be arrested in ajltore
as soon as he conceals an item or tqu to
leave the store without paying f# it.
Under the old shoplifting law, the person
had to leave the premises before he could
be arrested.
Shoplifting is not confined to any
particular racial or economic group,
merchants say. While they estimated that
more black teenaged boys are observed
shoplifting, youngsters from white,
middle-class families in Raeford are also
sometimes involved.
The problem of dealing with offended
wu described by one merchant. "It's eery
ticklish when you start dealing with other
Dde's children. On the otnsr hand, I
t want to let them go unpunished but
1 also hate to arrest them and have them
go to court and have a record against
them for the rest of their lives."
In a recent incident in his stod
involving two young white bova, he
explained that he deJded to handle it by
talking to the boys rather than by having
them arrested or by calling their parents.
"1 felt like maybe in this case just
talking to them would be enough," ht
said.
Most of the merchants questioned said
they relied on watching customers to
control shoplifting. However, several
people will come into a store together
and split into groups to divide the
attention of the salespeople, merchants
said.
Riddle said he had moved his iewelrv
behind glass and had drilled holes to
install pins behind the doors of his
security esses t6 keep the doors from
being opened.
Several merchants indicsted they had
rather fst the shoplifter to pay for the
item than to prosecute him.
H1 can't afford to spend a day up in
court every time I have a shoplifter."
Riddle said. "I'd rather he pay me for the
item."
However, Riddle said lie did intend to
prosecute shoplifters in an attempt to
reduce his losses.
Ed McNeill of Home Foods, told of an
incident in which a customer told him he
had Ken a man put a wrapped chicken
under his coat. McNeill approaclted the
other customer and asked him for the
chicken. It turned out lie had asked the
wrong man, but that customer also had a
chicken under his coat, McNeill said.
Most of the people he catches
shoplifting run from the store, McNeill
laid.
Merchants frequently give chase when
they we tlielr foods leaving the Mure.
Riddle tuid of chaeing one boy to
(Jpchurch School, through lite school
building and ecroea the playground. The
boy outran him, but dropped the
merchandiie. Riddle laid.
J.I. Hubbird of Collini alio laid he lied
clrased culpriti who liave fled hit More
with goods.
Several mcrchanti tuggeited taking
co-operative meaturci to try to euro
thcfti. Both Howell and Riddle laid they
were going to proiecute ihoplifteri
caught in their store and suggested that
all merchant! in town try to prosecute as
a means of discouraging shoplifting.
Hubbard said that Collins scaled their
shopping bugs as a meant .of controlling
thefts and suggested otltcr merchants
staple or tape their bugs closed before
customers left tire store.
e <:Ylew6 - journal
The Hoke County Newt- Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXVI NUMBER 6 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA $4 PER YEAR 10c PER COPY THURSDAY, JUNE 18. 1970
Hoke County School Superintendent
Appears Before Senate Committee Wed.
Around T own
BY SAW MORRIS
Below is the letter received from John
A. Mclnnis of Japan. The advertisement
he refers to is here at the office and
anyone interested can drop by. and look
iT over. We appreciate the letter very
znuch and hope our readers will also.
Dear Mr. Morris,
At the time my brothet Daniel and I
visited your office in late August last year
I am afraid that 1 gave the wrong idea
about building in Japan.
Most of the structures for homes were
about 2 stories in height, while office
buildings were 8 or 10 stories. This has
been changed by building laws and now
office buildings are up to 36 Stories, 40
stories, and now a hotel building is being
built to be 44 stories. Apartment houses
are being built higher, and this has caused
many landowners to think of razing the
old structures and take advantage of the
permission to build higher structures on
the scarce building sites. I am sending you
some photos to show some of the new
structures.
I came across an ad in the December
issue of Best's Insurance Review. It may
be too late to be of help to anyone, on
the other hand some of your young
readers might find some hope of
assistance in getting a good education for
the field of insurance. I have read that
outstanding actuaries get from S30.000
to S40.000 per year. If you think that
this information could be of any help
please use it. Your courtesy in doing this
will be appreciated.
I am very happy to receive The
News- Journal and wish that I had kept
See AROUND TOWN. Page <)
Food Freezing
Program Tues.
Are you always pleased with the foods
you freeze? Miss Nita Orr. Extension
Frozen Foods Specialist. N.C. State
University, will present a program on
freozing foods Tuesday, June 23rd, 2
P.M. In the kitciien of the County Office
Building. She will discuss principles in
freezing, what to do wlien freezer goes
off and foods to freeze for picnics and
camping. There will be lime for quostions
and anewors. The public is invited.
Judge Joe Dupree Named
In $53,000 D
Judge Joscpl*-Dupree wfifbefcjfp^rtng
in court at a defendant Friday morning
instead of presiding over District Court
Itere as usual.
He has been named with three others
in a SS3,000 damage suit by the
operators of a Fascttcville book store.
Fayetteville police chief, L.B Worrell,
Charles G. Rose. Ill, District Court
solicitor and Doran J. Berry, solicitor of
Superior Court, have also been named in
the suit.
A hearing has been set for 10 a.m.
Friday before U.S. District Judge
Algernon Butler in hit office in Clinton
on a motion for a temporary remaining
order that would prohibit the arrest or
seizing of property of Charles W. Shinall
and Dennis L. Bryant, owners and
managers of the Fayetteville Adult Book
Store.
The civil action was filed June 12 by
attorneys for Shinall and Bryant and the
papers were served on Judge Dupree at 11
a.m. last Monday.
A motion was filed at the same time
for a temporary restraining order, a
preliminary injunction and a permanent
injunction against the arrest and property
seizure by the four defendants.
The book store operators arc asking for
actual damages suffered before the
injunction, which they estimate at
S3.000, and in addition, SSO.OOO in
punative damage from Judge Dupree and
Chief Worrell.
Shinall has been arrested three times
since he opened the book store on
Donaldson Street in the latter part of
April. The first arrest came on April 23,
the suit states, when he was charged with
"purposely, knowing and recklessly
disseminating obscenity by possessing for
the purpose of sale and selling an obscene
magazine."
Shinall was tried in District Court
before Judge Dupree who found him
guilty and who ordered a pre-sentencing
See DUPREF., Page 9
Tentative City Budget
Set At S459.686.04
A tenlativc budget of 5459,686.04 was
adopted Monday night by the city at a
special meeting of the city council.
This is a decrease of S9.070.02 from
last years budget of 5468,756.06.
However the tax rate was raised 5c for
each 5100 valuation from 51.30 last year
to 51.35 this year in order to balance the
budget.
City manager John Gaddy explained
that the reduction in the total amount of
the budget can be attributed to the
consolidation of all the city's monies
from all sources, including surplus and
interest.
'This year, the total projected surplus
will be partly used to balance the
budget," he said. 'The purpose of heavy
equipment, building new offices and the
cosl of material and maintenance is also a
factor in reducing the surplus."
"A 13 per cent reserve of money
receivable from the tax levies is also being
maintained, compared to a 10 per cent
reserve last fiscal year."
The new budget provides for a 5 per
cent blanket raise for city employees.
The reserve in the water and sewer
fund will largely be used this year to
update the water system, Caddy said.
The budget for the general fund totals
5229,633.39. Appropriations include
566,577.75 for general administration;
541,547.53 for police department;
5 1 5,537.80 for the fire department;
5103,495.31 for public works, streets,
sanitation and cemetery; S2.475.00 for
the library.
The debt service fund totals
5109,613.00. S51,000 will be used for
bond principal payments and S58.487.50
will be used for bond interest payments
Fiscal agency fees total SI25 50. The
debt service is included in the
appropriation for the water and sewer
fund.
The water and sewer fund total is
S 230.05 2.65
Revenues arc anticipated at
S229.633.39 This includes current years
property and poll tax, S 144.553.24,
privilege license tax. S5.000; prior year's
taxes SI2.892.32; tax penalties and
interest. S2.000; state taxes S22.833.99;
Powell Bill street fund, S20.000,
miscellaneous revenues. S22.353.84 and
permits and other. S65.I87.83.
Water and sewer charges are
anticipated to be S219.052.09 and
connection fees arc expected to total
SI 1.000.
Booster Club
Meets Monday
The Booster Club will make plans for
next year at a meeting Monday night at 7
jt Hoke High School.
Committees will be appointed then and
future projects will be open for
discussion, president Charlie Hottcl said.
New Minister
Arrives Tue.
The Reverend John C. Ropp and
family arrived in Raeford Tuesday. Mr.
Ropp will deliver his first sermon on
Sunday. June 21 at the 11:00 o'clock
Morning Worship Service, on the subject.
"The Church of the Living God". He
moved from the Kingston Prcsybtcrian
Chur.'h. Conway. S.C.
On June 28 at 8:00 o'clock. Mr. Ropp
will be installed as pastor of Raeford
Prcsybtcrian Church, by a Commission of
Faycttcville Presbytery. Dr. Cheves K.
Ligon. Executive Secretary of
Fayetteville Presbytery will preside and
llie Rev. Douglas F. Kelly, who has served
as Assistant Pastor of tltc Raeford Church
for the past year, will deliver the
installation sermon. Tltcy will be assisted
in this service by the Rev. W.C. Neill.
pastor of Bethcsdo Presbvterian Church.
Aberdeen, and Elders itulph Barnhart,
William B. Saunders, of Soutltcrn Pines,
and John Luther McLean. Lumbcrton
Funeral Today
For G.F. Koonce
G.F. Koonce, retired Hoke County
farmer, died early Wednesday morning at
Highsmith ? Rainey Hospital at the age of
<32.
Funeral services will be held Thursday
at 4 p.m. at Galatia Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by two daughters, Mrs.
Ferman Martin of Fayetteville, and Mrs.
Charles Johnson of Winston ? Salem;
three sons. Herman, Stanley and Clarence
Koonce. all of Raeford; ten grandchildren
and 11 great ? grandchildren; one brother.
D.D. Koonce of Hoke County; two half ?
brothers. Jarman and James Koonce and
one half ? sister, Mrs. Bessie McMillan, all
of Cumberland County.
Demos County -Convention
To Convene Saturday At 1
The Democratic county convention
will be held Saturday at I p in. at the
Courthouse.
Election! will be held for the officer!
of the County Executive Committee, the
member! of the State Executive
Committee, and delegate! and alternate!
to the biennial Congresaional District
Convention and to the biennial State
Convention.
One member will be elected from the
county to the itatc executive committee.
Approximately eleven delegate! and
alternate! will be elected to the
Congretiional Diitrict Executive
committee, the Judicial District
Executive committee, the State
Senatorial District Executive Committee
and the House of Representatives District
Executive Committee.
According to party rules,
rep-es?ntatives elected from the county
to the committees should reasonably
reflect the make-up of all registered
Democratic voters in the county as to
age, sex and ethnic background.
A bernethy Reports On Steps
/
Toward Total Integration
D. D. ABERNETHY
Census Says
County Lost
110 Residents
Hoke County lost 110 residents during
the past ten years, according to
preliminary figures announced this week
by the district Bureau of Census.
The preliminary count for the county
is 16,246. The previous census listed
16,3 56.
The figures came as a surprise to local
officials, who had expected the
population to increase.
"1 think the count is inaccurate,"
Harold Gillis, secretary of the Chamber of
Commerce said.
County manager T.B. Lester said that
over the past few years, the tax rolls had
increased.
"Of course this doesn't indicate the
number of people in a family," he said.
D.D. Abernethy, county
superintendent of schools, said that the
scnool population had increased slightly
each year. There are now 4,850 students
enrolled in grades 1-12 in Hoke County.
The estimated population for the
county by the N.C. Association of
County Commissioners is 17,456, Lester
said.
An accurate head count of the county
is Important because revenue for beer
sales and any sales tax that may be passed
In the next ten years will be based on
population. The fee for such services as
the Institute of Local Government and
the county commissioners organisation is
also based on population.
Post office officials in Raeford began
casing the cards which were collected by
the census takers to determine which
addresses had been missed, Postmsster
Charlie Morrison said.
The list of missing cards will be turnod
over to the census office, he said, and
census takers should than visit the
addresses which were missed In the first
canvass
Donald D. Abernethy, superintendent
of county schools, appeared before the
Senate Select Committee on Equal
E;'.uc tiorval Opportunity , WtdlMMlgy
morning to testify on integration in Hoke
County schools.
"Integration is working well. We have
had no racial disturbance," he told the
committee. "I attribute moat of the
success to the positive leadership of the
school board, who, once the decision was
made, never reneged, even privately on
its commitment...! share the conviction
oT the school board that our schools now
offer equal educational opportunity to
every student and the schools are better
than ever before."
The committee is headed by Sen.
Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota.
Also on the committee are Senators
John L. McCletlan, (Ark.); Warren G.
Magnuson (Wash); Jennings Randolph,
(W. Va.); Thomas J. Dodd, (Conn.);
Dunicl K. Inouye, (Hawaii); Birch Bayh,
(I nd.); William B. Spong, Jr., (Va.);
Harold E. Hughes, (Iowa); Roman L.
Hruska, (Nebr.); Jacob Javits, (N.Y.);
Peter H. Dominick, (Colo.); Edward W.
Brooke, (Mass.); Mark 0. Hatfield, (Ore.)
and Marlow W. Cook, (Ky.)
Abernethy was the only North
Carolina school superintendent scheduled
to appear before the committee. He
planned to remain in Washington through
Thursday.
Julian Bond, Negro member of the
Georgia legislature, testified at the
committee hearings on Monday.
Abernethy related the background of
integration in the county.
"The history of Hoke County is not
marred by any serious racial disturbances,
even though the races were segregated in
schools as well as other community
activities." Abernethy told the Senators.
"In fact, until recently, the races were
segregated three ways. Hoke County
operated White schools, Negro schools
and an Indian school. Most community
activities are still segregated."
Abernethy said " I came to Hoke
County in 1964 as principal of the only
white high school in the county. At that
time, no integration had taken place. In
addition to the white high school, there
were two other schools serving white
students. Both of these schools were
located in Raeford. One of them housed
grades 1-4; the other, grades 5-8."
"Negro high school students attended a
large union school, just outside of town.
Additionally, three elementary schools
located from three to nine miles from
Raeford all had black pupils. All Indian
students attended one union school about
six miles outside Raeford. Three
See StN'ATb, Page 9
Clyde E. Upchurch
Suffers Heart Attack
Clyde E. Upchurch, who it in hit late
seventies, suffered a severe heart attack
last Friday at lite Upchurch coltaae on
Boguc Sound. He is Improving and it at
Carteret General Hospital in Morehead
City. With him at the time of hit attack
were Mrs. Upchurch and General and Mrs.
Robert Hill of Southern Pines. Gen HiU la
a retired army doctor.