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The Hoke County News- Establi bed The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXVIl NO. 33 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA S5 PER YEAR THURSDAY. DECEMBER 21. 1972
Around Town
By Sam C. Morris
Miss Mabel McDonald called after the
paper came out last week and said her
telephone had been ringing all day
concerning aid for the family I wrote
about in this column.
She said that beds, mattresses, bed
linen and many other things had been
donated by the people of the county and
that now the family was sleeping warm
and had also received many articles of
clothing.
Miss McDonald also said that the man
was working and that the Social Services
department would continue to give aid to
this family.
It was hard for me to believe that 24
hours after the paper hit the streets that
this family had been taken care of. Maybe
the true spirit of Christmas is really in
Hoke County.
1 would like to thank the readers of
this column for coming to the aid of this
family
A letter from Laurie Telfair received
last week is too long to print but will
quote a few paragraphs that I think will
be of interest to her friends in Hoke
County.
"Sorry I haven't written, the letter
from Elaine made me feel guilty. It's not
that 1 don't think about you. Every
Monday when I get the News-Journal, I
mentally compose a letter back. 1 just
never seem to get them written.
"Its gTeat to get the N.J. and keep up
with the people bac 'home'. 1 am glad to
see them prosper and am sorry to read of
the misfortunes that occur.
"I was sorry to see Elaine leave so soon
but you seem to have found a winner in
Kay. She really is on top of things-and
the headline 'Alas, Poor Hamlet, They
Played Not Well'just can't be beat.
"Finally 1 have landed a terrific
part-time job. a copy reader on the day
copy desk of The World Herald - a huge
paper. It is fantastic experience-if I
survive. Mr. Morris and Mr. Dickson can
well appreciate my problems at
ediiing-me with my lack of ability in
spelling and inclination to careless
mistakes. It should do wonders for me -
if 1 last. In the first woek I've done more
wrong than right. The first day was a
disaster. The only headline 1 wrote that
wasn't changed came back too long and
had to be done over.
"It was two degrees today when we
were putting up the outside decorations.
Last week it was -7 and we've had a
bli22ard already. Everyone says this is
going to be a much worse winter than
usual. Wouldn't you know it? 1 will
probably freeze before spring.
"Well that's about it for now. Keep
those papers coming folks-it's my last
touch with reality. People who live by
choice in climate like this can't be
entirely sane.
"Have a nice Christmas and New Year.
Love,
Laurie"
Thanks Laurie and I can't believe you are
still around with that kind of weather.
To all my readers and to Lib, Lucy
Gray, Margaret Ann, Laurie, Carol and
Elaine, may you have the best Christmas
yet. Keep in touch, everyone at the office
thinks of you always.
Local Offices'
And Businesses'
Holiday Hours
Holiday closings for offices and
businesses in the city and county are
announced.
The food Stamp Office will close for
the week from Dec. 25 through Dec. 30.
City Offices close noon Dec. 22
through Dec. 26.
County offices are closed Dec. 25 and
26.
Clerk of Superior Court office closes
Dec. 25 and 26.
The Post Office and federal offices
close Christmas Day only.
Most stores in downtown Raeford will
be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
through I riday. Saturday's closing time
has not been determined. Stores will close
Christmas Day and reopen Dec. 26.
Social Services office (welfare) is
closed Dec. 25 and 26.
Both banks. Southern National and
Bank of Raeford. will close Dec. 25 and
26
The News-Journal business office will
remain open all day Dec. 22 and until
noon Dec. 23 in order to accept gift
subscriptions. The office will close
Christmas Day.
Messiah Choir's
Christmas Day the Bank of Raeford
will sponsor the re-broadcast of the
Messiah Choir of Independence, Mo., in
its 56th annual performance ofTrederic
i
Claim Ruling Not
Affect Rape Case
Last week's order by the state Supreme
Court that the death penalty in a
Johnston County case be changed to life
imprisonment has led to speculation
concerning the validity of the death
sentence meted out in the Junior Lee
Washington rape case here last month.
In the Johnston County case the
choice of recommending life
imprisonment instead of death was the
responsibility of the jury. Connell Carroll,
convicted of first degree murder and
armed robbery in a December 1971
slaying, received the death sentence when
the jury did not recommend life in
prison.
In last week's decision the state high
court ruled the death penalty cannot be
imposed in North Carolina under present
law which permits juries to decide
between life and death for the
defendants.
No Bearing
Solicitor Jack Thompson, prosecutor
in the Washington case said the recent
decision of the state Supreme Court has
no bearing on the Hoke County case.
"The Raeford case is totally different
from the Carroll case." he told the
News- Journal. "In the Washington case
the jury was given no choice in the
sentencing only in the innocence or guilt
of the accused." continued the solicitor.
Thompson feels North Carolina must
restore the death penalty either by court
decision or legislative action. He said the
high court's ruling in the Washington case
will indicate how to write new legislation
if it is needed.
Not Playing Around
Concerning stories reporting the Hoke
County case as purely a test case
Thompson stressed, "We are not playing
around with a man's life. I sincerely feel
the defendant in this case deserves the
death sentence."
The solicitor explained the confusion
over the constitutionality of the death
penalty stems from th? wording of the
North Carolina statute in relation to the
June 29 ruling by the U.S. Supreme
Court.
Local Broadcast
Handel's "Messiah."
The hour-long performance,
uninterrupted by commercials, begins at
noon on WSHB.
Thompson reports the state statute
says the penalty for rape is death but if
the jury sees fit it may recommend life
imprisonment.
The nation's highest court ruled the
death penalty as it was being carried out
in the United States was unconstitutional
because it allowed arbitary executions by
giving the jury a choice between life and
death sentences.
Heard Both Cafces
Judge Coy F.. Brewer, who presided at
both the Washington and the Carroll
cases, points out the high court has not
ruled on capital punishment when the
death sentence is mandatory.
He feels the U.S. Supreme Court has
struck part of the North Carolina statute,
leaving the portion which says the
punishment for rape is death.
Jury Charged
It was on this basis he charged the
Washington jury, "This (life or death) is
not your decision to make. You will
return a verdict of guilty as charged or
innocent. If the verdict is guilty the
sentence will be death in the gas
chamber."
Judge Brewer agrees with Thompson
the recent slate Supreme Court ruling will
have no affect on the Washington case.
Attorney General
Commenting on the state Supreme
Court ruling in the Carroll case Robert
Morgan, state attorney general, said on
radio station WRAL in Raleigh, "The
decision handed down by the high court
states that in this particular case (Carroll)
the state was without authority to
execute the death sentence for first
degree murder.
"It did not say the entire death penally
statue is unconstitutional It did not rule
out the death penalty in North Carolina.
"As applied to the case in question the
See RULING. Page I 1
Sales Tax Collections
The November report from the State
of North Carolina Department of
Revenue listed the net collection in Hoke
County for the local one percent sales
and use tax as S12.682.38.
This figure reflects a downward trend
in recent months. It is S25I below the
October collections and SI ,257 leu than
the amount listed in the September
report.
Need Early
N-J Items
News items for the Dec. 28 and Jan 4
editions of The News Journal should
reach the N -J office as soon as possible.
The earls submission of items is
requested because even though the N J
will close Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. printing
days will still be on Wednesdays.
Leonard Decision
Up To Assembly
The 1973 general assembly will receive
a recommendation to close the Samuel
Leonard Training School in McCain,
announced James M. Paige, commissioner
of Youth Development, at an I 1 a.m.
press conference in Raleigh Wednesday.
Yule Gifts For
Local Patients
Mrs. Richard Neeley Patients Service
chairman for Hoke County and other
volunteers are assisting the Mid - State
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease
Association with Christmas presents for
sanatorium patients from this county.
The gifts will be taken to local people
in Gravely Sanatorium in Chapel Hill and
McCain Sanatorium in McCain over the
Christmas holidays.
The Mid ? State Association, which is
composed of 12 counties including Hoke,
is arranging thorugh volunteers in the area
for all sanatorium patients to be
remembered during Christmas.
Special Christmas activities planned for
both institutions include a visit from
Santa Claus on Christmas I've.
Liye Nativity At
Raeford Church
A living tableau of the traditional
Nativity Scene will be presented again
this year by members of the Senior High
and Pioneer f ellowships of the Raeford
Presbyterian Church.
This annual presentation is offered to
area citizens as a Christmas "Present"
from the young people and their leaders
in the church.
The Rev. John C. Ropp. minister,
announced the Scene may be viewed by
automobile passengers on l: din borough
Avenue. The presentation is Saturday
from 7 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 7 to
7 .30 p.m. and 8:15 to 9 p.m. On Sunday
the young people leave tb-j Scene at 7: ? J
p.m. .o participate in v' istma.- I've
Communion Service with the
congregation, then return at
approximately 8:15 p.m.
Assisting in planning and staging are
Mr. and Mrs. JerryCoza and Mr. and Mrs.
Harless Wright, adult advisors for Senior
High fellowship; and Miss Betty Smith
and Miss flizabcth Johnson, adult
advisors for Pioneer fellowship. Many
others gave time and talents in helping
with details.
Depicted in the still-Scene tableau will
be the Baby Jesus. Mary. Joseph, the
angel, wise men and shepherds. Special
lighting and costumes have been arranged
foi this event, and appropriate music with
natation of the Christmas Story from
Luke Chpt. II will be heard in the
background
Ik
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/ CANT BELIEVE ITS THE REAL THING - Wide eyed Utile grl sits under huge
tree at KinlAhlay Inc. 's first annual Christmas party and wonders if she's dreaming
She knows one thing for sure, Christmas is crunchv when it comet from the box o)
car ante I com In her lap. IPhoto by Jesse Peoples)
In his statement to the press Paige said
this recommendation will be made by the
Board of Youth Development with
provisions that staff posrions be
transferred to other schools within the
system in order to upgrade and further
develop programs in the remaining
schools.
A recommendation will also be
submitted to convert the Richard T.
Fountain School at Rocky Mount into a
diagnostic unit to serve eastern North
Carolina.
There are absolutely no plans to
recommend closing of any other schools,
said Paige.
He further stated that 712 students
from the eight Youth Development
Schools will be granted home visits during
Christmas Holidays. In addition 174
students will be released from the schools
to return to community living.
Christmas holiday home visits will be
increased this year from the usual five
day period to 11 days. This is the largest
number of youngsters to ever be granted
home visits during a holiday season. This
will not only provide the students an
opportunity to spend Christmas with
their families but will also help in
determining readiness for return to
community living, stated the
commissioner.
In a telephone interview with the
News-Journal Paige stressed the
recommendations were the result of
studies by the Board of Youth
Development but the final decision on
whether to close the McCain facility will
have to be made by the General
Assembly.
The board made the recommendation
based partly on the steady decrease in
population at Youth Development
Schools throughout the state.
The board is also asking the assembly
for ten group homes, frequently called
half way houses. At this point there is no
decision as to posable location or funding
of the group homes. Details of the
See Sf HOOL. Page 1 I
Crash Kills
Local Man
A 20-year-old Raeford man was killed
in a head-on collision on a rural paved
read near the Irongate County Club in
Cumberland County at 6:55 p.m.
Saturday.
Bruce Graham. Rt. 1, Raeford, died
instantly from multiple injuries when his
car veered across the center line and
slammed into the front of anothei
vehicle.
Graham apparently was traveling at a
high rate of speed and skidded on a curve
less than a half mile from the country
club, reports State Highway Patrolman l;.
M. Roberts.
A witness reportedly saw a second
person in Graham's car just before the
accident but investigation indicates the
report was in error.
Injured in the second car and taken to
Cape Fear Valley Hospital were Lebron
Hdward Lee, 29. his wife and two
children.
Funeral Service
Funeral services for Graham were held
Monday in the Second Baptist Church by
the Rev. Louis Jolly. Burial was in
Raeford Cemetery.
Surviving are his mother. Mrs. Mary
Graham. Raeford: two sisters, Mrs. Nellie
Wilkes. Raeford. and Mrs. Susan
Manstein. Chicago. 111.; two brothers,
Billy and Tommy Graham, Raeford; and
paternal grandmothei, Mrs. Mary
Graham. Lumber ton.
Mill Holds First
Party For Young
More than 1.500 people attended
Kint-A-Way Inc.'s first annual children's
Christmas party at Gibson School
gymnasium Saturday
A thousand gift bags containing toys,
games, candy and gum were distributed
to guests up to 12 years old.
Dominating the gym was a towering
20-foot tree which measured 25 teet in
diameter. It was lighted with 600 bulbs
and decorated with garlands and icicles.
Santa greeted and talked to youngsters
near the tree. The Hoke High School
Chorale and Children's Choir rendered a
selection of Christmas tunes.
Committee chairmen were I red
Williams, corporate personnel director,
and Dick Lovette. personnel manager.
Others were Dennis Teasley. Richard
Pascal and Jerry Hall, decorations;
Preston Black, mechanical service; Phil
loxworth. safety. Carl Dooley,
electrician, and Mis. Lynwood Moon,
table decorations.
This week Knit-A-Way will present
employees turkeys, fruiti, nuts and
candies.