- journal
Tht Hoke County News- Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOL. LXVJN0.51 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA $4 PER YEAR 10c PER COPY THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1971
Around Town
By SAM C. MORRIS
Neil McKeithan of Aberdeen was by
the office last week and picked up a
couple of papers that had a picture of the
1915 baseball team. He was in the picture
and named all the players and also the
older group of spectators in the
grandstand. Neil is a brother of John D.
and Annie McKeithan of this town. As we
have stated before it is always good to
talk with oldtimers about Hoke County
and Raeford.
Another visitor to the office last week
was Rufus Dickson, Paul's uncle and a
native of this section of the state. Mr.
Dickson is over ninety years old and is a
lawyer in High Point. He said he was just
returning from Wrightsville Beach to High
Point after a few days vacation. He
certainly didn't look like a man nearing
the century mark and he also looked in
the best of health. It is always a pleasure
to see Mr. Rufus because he always has
high praise for the paper and what his
nephew and yours truly wTite about.
We understand that Ken McNeill has
gone on a diet of catfish stew. We haven't
heard much of catfish stew since the
death of John McGoogan, but it seems
Ken has a taste for it. Full details can be
obtained from Bert Pope, drum majorette
of the local high school band.
There is still time to sign up for the
Raeford Lions Club golf tournament
which will be held at the Arabia Golf
Course Saturday and Sunday, May 1 S and
16. Contact either Doug Wallace or Don
Steed and they will fix you up for play in
the tournament.
In talking with Representative N.L.
McFadyen this week he stated that at the
present time it was impossible to say
where the ?xou.-ty woulu be in the
Congressional, Senatorial, or State House.
There are numerous bills before the
committee and what they will come out
with is still awaited by all the legislators.
We do know that in the Senatorial district
that we are in with Cumberland, that the
1970 Census put the district population
above what the courts call right. So we
can expect to either move away from
Cumberland or be joined by another
county to give the district three senators.
We would like to remain with the same
district we are in now, Congressional,
Senatorial and State House. Only time
will tell.
fhe new column Speak Up has brought
forth the opinions of many citizens. Also
they didn't just agree or disagree but
offered reasons for the opinions they
gave. Also many have sent in questions
they would like to have the people give
an opinion on. So send in or bring in your
slip. You do not have to sign the slip and
it costs nothing.
Sr. Citizens
Plan Luncheon
The Senior Citizen Friendship Club
bvill have a covered dish luncheon at the
Raeford Methodist Church on May 4 at
12:30 p.m.
All members are urged to attend and to
invite other senior citizens as their guests.
DEATH ON A JOYRlDt - A 19-year-old St. Pauls man was killed and four persons Injured when this '63 convertible left the road
on a curve, hit an embankment and flipped end over end, landing on Its top. According to the investigating officer, the driver was
looking over hit shoulder Into the back seat when the accident occurred.
Girl Charges Teacher With Sex Offense
One Arrest Made
In Stabbing Death
A former Raeford resident is being
held in jail on a murder charge following
the stabbing death Friday night of Ernest
Louis Bratcher, 21, at the Adult Club
near the Raeford city limits.
Leon McPhaul, who Deputy Harvey
Young said is originally from Raeford but
who is now staying in West End, was
arrested Monday morning in Moore
County.
Bratcher died shortly after he arrived
at Cape Fear Valley Hospital while he was
being treated for a stab wound in the
lower abdoman. He was taken to the
hospital by Dennis and James Bratcher.
The stabbing occurred about 10:45
Friday night.
McPhaul is being held without bond
pending a hearing in district court on May
7.
Three other men were also arrested
over the weekend in connection with
another cutting here.
Glen Chavis and Johnny Scott are
charged with engaging in an affray and
Glen West is charged with assault with a
deadly weapon with intent to kill.
Chavis was admitted to Highsmith
Hospital with knife wounds following a
fight at the Tasty Freeze about 7:45
Saturday night. Deputy Young reported.
Chavis's condition was described by
Young as not "critical.".
The three are free on bond pending
trial and a hearino in HittrW mnri
Abernethy And Maynor
Head Professional Groups
Don D. Abernethy and Gerald D.
Maynor have both been named recently
to leadership positions in professional
organizations.
Abernethy, county school
superintendent was elected president for
1971-72 of the superintendent's division
for District Ten of the North Carolina
Association of Educators at a district
meeting in Lumberton last Thursday.
Maynor, a guidance counselor at Hoke
High, was appointed chairman of the
Human Rights Commission for the North
Carolina Personnel and Guidance
Association for 1971-72 at the state
convention in Winston - Salem.
Maynor and Bobby Locklear, both
counselors at Hoke High, also attended a
special session on human rights at the
national convention April S at Atlantic
City, NJ.
Parker Revival
Parker United Methodist Church on
Highway 401, north of Raeford, will hold
a revival meeting May 2 - 7.
The Rev. J.K. Kinkle of Laurinburg
will be the guest preacher with the
Central Trio and the church choir
providing the special music each evening.
The public is invited to attend these
services, which will begin at 7:45 each
evening.
Man Killed
In W reck
One man died and four were injured in
a wreck near Bowmore Saturday
afternoon.
Jerry Wayne McNeill, 19, of Rt. 1, St.
Pauls, was killed when the convertible he
was driving left the road, struck an
embankment on a curve, and flipped end
over end, landing on the top.
McNeill was pinned in the car,
according to E.W. Coen, Highway Patrol
Trooper who investigated the accident.
The other four passengers were taken to
Scotland Memorial Hospital but Coen
said their injuries were not believed to be
serious.
The accident happened about S p.m.
on a rural road in Bowmore near
McQuage's Store. One of the passengers
told the patrolman that the occupants of
the car were all laughing and playing and
that McNeill was looking in the backseat
when the car left the road.
This was the ninth traffic fatality in
the county this year.
Jury Finds Men Guilty
Of Night Club Shooting
After a trial in Superior Court that
lasted the better part of two days, a jury
returned a verdict of guilty for Joe Walter
Lowery and Robert Graham, who were
charged with shooting into an occupied
building.
Judgment was to be passed sometime
Wednesday by Superior Court Judge
Thomas Cooper.
The jury returned the verdict Tuesday
afternoon. During the deliberations, they
returned once to the courtroom to have
the charge of aiding and abetting defined
by the judge.
Attorneys for the two men indicated
they would appeal the verdict.
Lowery and Graham were accused of
shooting into a night club near Raeford
one night last summer. Several other
persons were arrested and charged
following the incident but were released
after & finding of no probable cause was
returned in a district court hearing. Two
men were injured during the shooting.
The Lowery - Graham case is the only
case to be heard by a jury so far this
session. Judgments have been entered in
several guilty pleas however and several
cases have been remanded back to district
court.
Jim Bright Boahn was given an active
sentence as a youthful offender after
pleading guilty to driving under the
influence. Boahn, 18, was appealing a
district court conviction for DUi.
Four cases of violation of prohibition
laws against Louise M. Morris were
remanded back to district court and she
was ordered to comply with the district
court judgment.
The state took a nol pros on four
liquor law violation cases against David
Kelly, who had compiled with his district
court judgment.
Prayer for judgment was continued
until the August term for George
Hollingsworth and Bertha Hollingsworth,
who pleaded guilty to liquor law
violations. They were appealing a district
court verdict.
Lawrence Shaw, Jr., appealing a driving
under the influence charge, was ordered
to comply with the district court
judgment.
Prayer for judgment was continued for
five years upon payment of court costs
by William James McLean, who was
charged with issuing a forged check. A
forgery charge was nol prossed.
The state took a nol pros with leave
against Willie Kelly who was charged with
assault.
Director Says
Social Services Cost Less
Than County Budget Shows
The budget request presented to the
county commissioners for the department
of social services amounted to SI24,025,
Miss Mabel McDonald, director of the
department, said.
Miss McDonald objected to the figures
listed for the social services department in
the county budget, saying that no
participation was shown by the state and
federal governments.
The county budget lists a total social
services allocation of S204.676.
"The difference comes in the way Mr.
Lester presents the figures and the way I
do," Miss McDonald said. "He
understands his bookkeeping system and
I don't, but these are the figures I
presented to the county commissioners."
The budget presented by Miss
McDonald included requests for:
County's
Part Total
Administration S 30,264 5110,023
Public Assistance
^including Medicaid) 82.450 657,082
Aid to Blind 3.411 15,337
County Programs 7.900 7,900
Totals SI 24,025 5790,342
If the state takes over Medicaid, the
:ounly's share will be reduced by
547,368 for a total of S76.657, Miss
McDonald said. To this figure, however,
in additional $2,183 must be added for
increased welfare costs already ordered
by the state board, so the county's total
:osts for social services if the state takes
aver medicaid is expected to be S78.840.
Figures included in the county budget
now open for inspection at the county
manager's office are:
Administration S 109,904
Public Assistance 90,572
General Assistance 4,200
Total S204,676
T.B. Lester, county accountant as well
as county manager, explained the
difference in figures. The total social
services costs is budgeted at $204,676, he
said. Of this amount, 5124,025 will be
provided by the county durinc this fi?<-al
year, if the state doesn't take over the
Medicaid costs. The remainder of the
money will be paid to the county for
social services by state and federal funds
and from other resources, such as
previous years taxes. However, the entire
amount must be shown on the budget,
rather than just the county's share, he
said.
W Cr*T!A1 CEDVircc D 1
Speak Up
Those who voted two weeks ago on the Speak Up question concerning the Vietnam
war were overwhelmingly in favor of an immediate cease ? fire and an immediate
withdrawal of American troops and equipment.
As one reader included on the ballot, "When the pitcher of milk has gone sour, you
might as well pour it out."
Speak out is a new feature that asks a question of local, state or national interest.
You vote and we'll tabulate the results and publish them two weeks later. In addition,
we'll send copies to local, state and national representatives. Deadline for ballots each
week is Wednesday.
This week's question concerns that old bugaboo -? liquor. The legislature, after
defeating a statewide referendum on liquor ? by ? the ? drink, is toying with the back
door approach of allowing referendums through local bills. Statewide or local, the
people would be able to vote on the matter. Here is a question regarding mixed drinks
in general.
Question: I am in favor of selling liquor by the drink in those cities or counties in
which it is approved by a majority of the voters.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
No opinion
The second part of the question was submitted by a reader.
Question: By outlawing alcoholic beverages, theie would be a fewer drunken
drivers, alcoholics and related problems.
Strongly agrtfe
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
No opinion
Now for the results of the Vietnam question:
I am in favor of an immediate American cease ? fire in Indochina
Stongly Agree 15
Agree 3
Disagree 4
Strongly disagree 1
No opinion 4
Thus, by a margin of 17 to 5, those who voted approve the an immediate cease ? fire
in Indochina. One person explained "Except, of course, for necessary protection of
our troops. But stop offensive shooting and particularly promiscuous bombing."
Those who disagrfed said the president should be supported in his policy. One
person pointed out that the president is still commander ? in ? chief. Another said "I
think we should stand by the officials that we elected and uphold their decisions."
And a third said "he favored going along with President Nixon on this."
The results were similar on the second question.
I am in favor of the immediate withdrawal of all American troops and equipment
from South Vietnam.
Strongly agree 14
Agree 6
Disagree 5
Strongly disagree 1
No opinion 2
Those who favored withdrawal outvoted those who disagreed 19 to 6.
Usually those who favored the first part of the ballot, also favored the second, but
not always. One person opposed a cease fire but supported immediate withdrawal and
mother supported a cease-fire but opposed an immediate withdrawal. One ballot was
marked "no comment" as to the cease-fire and disagreed with immediate withdrawal
One reader posed the question "Is President Nixon 'timing' Vietnam so he'll be out
in time for the 1972 election --- but so the votes will be counted before the ARVN
Army collapses?"
With the small number of ballots, it is unfair to draw many conclusions about
apinion on Vietnam in Hoke County. So, if you have an opinion on future questions.
Speak Up.
Judge Co operS ets
Bond At $5,000
A Hoke County High School teacher
was fired by the school board Monday
night and was arrested and jailed the same
night on a charge of carnal knowledge,
Alfonso Willingham, a freshman
football coach and teacher of
introduction to vocations, was dismissed
by the school board following a public
hearing at the Board of Education
building. He was accused of having sexual
relations with a 15 ? year - old student at
the high school. About 50 persons, many
from Fayetteville, attended the meeting.
He was arrested immediately after the
hearing and was taken to Hoke County
jail.
The grand jury met Monday afternoon
and returned a true bill of indictment on
a charge of carnal knowledge. A capias
was then issued for Willingham's arrest
and bond was set by Superior Court
Judge Thomas D. Cooper at $5,000.
Tuesday morning, the Rev. David Darnell,
pastor of First Christian Church in
Fayetteville, and two members of the
church, acting, they said for themselves
and several more members, posted the
bond
Solicitor Jack Thompson, who also
attended the school board hearing, said
that Willingham would probably be tried
at the next term of Superior Court, to be
held sometime in August.
Carnal knowledge, he explained,
pertains to sexual intercourse with a
minor between the ages of I 2 and 16 who
has not previously had intercourse.
Consent is not a factor in the charge, he
said.
Willingham was suspend- j from
teaching on April . 2 by county
superintendent D.D. Abernethy. The
board met Monday night to consider the
findings of investigations made by Raz
Autry, Hoke High principal; Ph.l Diehl.
attorney for the school board; Sheriff
D.M. Barringtoi , several of the Hoke
High teachns and the Rev ~ >omas
Walker, a local minister.
Charles Hostetler, attorney for
Willingham, cross - examined the
witnesses for the school board and
presented evidence to refute the charges.
In addition, several witnesses who
testified to Willingham's good character
were presented. These included the Rev.
Mr. Darnell and about 30 members of his
church, Hoke High teachers Miss Carol
Condos, Glen Langdon, and Billy Colston
and student Cathy Bounds. Willingham,
teaching his first year at Hoke High, was a
football player at Fayetteville State
University. He did his student teaching
here last year and his wife. Mrs. Betty
Willingham, teaches at Hoke High. A
Fayetteville resident, he is a deacon in the
First Christian Church of Fayetteville.
Most of the witnesses who appeared in
behalt of the tall, handsome black man
were white.
Delores Bratcher, a 15 ? year ? old
tenth grader, accused Willingham of
haying sexual relations with her in an
office in the Gibson building gymnasium
last Nov. 3.
She reported the incident that day to
her home economics teacher and to her
former pastor, yet the story did not come
to the attention of principal Ra/ Autry
until four months later. The reason for
this, according to testimony given to the
school board, appeared to be tangled in
leelings of racial and solidarity and
distrust of whites.
The girl, the teacher to whom she
confided, the pastor and the accused
teacher are all Negroes.
Mrs. Gloria Williams, who testified to
the school board, summed up the leelings
that resulted in their silence.
"Mrs. Foster called me that night and
said she had promised a student that she
wouldn't tell, but she had to tell
someone," Mrs. Williams told the board.
"The first thing Margie said was 'I can't
go to Mr. Autry with this. I'm black and
he's black and the first thing they are
going to say is that's what happens when
you throw a bunch of niggers together."
"I know too that Mr. Autry doesn't
like gossip and at first I didn't entirely
believe Delores. I thought she may have
been imagining something she wanted to
happen, not something that happened.
"I though that either she was crazy or
Mr. Willingham was crazy and that
someone should see about someone," she
See TtACHfcR, Page 7
City Bonds
Are Sold
Water and sewer bonds amounting to
$140,000 issued by the city of Raeford
were sold Tuesday to J. Lee Peeler &
Company, the Local Government
Commission announced.
The bonds were sold at an interest rate
of 6.0702 per cent at an average maturity
rate of 10.18 years.
Three bids, with interest rates ranging
from 6.0702 per cent to 6.2126 per cent,
were made on the bonds.