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<=lf\ewA - journal
The Hoke County News - Established 1928 The Hoke County Journal - Established 1905
VOLUME LXVII NO. 51 RAEFORD, HOKE COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA S5 PER YEAR THURSDAY, APRIL 24. 1975
Around Town
By Sam C. Morris
The Walkathon for cerebral palsy
Saturday, April 12 and sponsored by
the Raeford Jaycees was a big success
and has brought forth some comments
which I think should be made public.
? Of the 650 or more walkers
entered in the event only four failed to
finish. This is certainly remarkable and
speaks well for the younger generation
who made up most of the walkers.
Usually in an event like this some will
participate only for the fun or to join
the crowd. They must have had their
hearts in it because you don't walk
twenty miles just for fun. One man said
it could be a record for the number
starting and finishing. ,
- To Mrs. Leon Patterson who
walked the 20 miles after eight hours of
nursing Friday night and then working
eight more hours Saturday night. Being
a nurse she must have good reasons to
make the walk.
- To Chief of Police Leonard
Wiggins, who raised the most money,
and was feeling the results of the walk
last week.
- To Raz Autry, who took much
kidding about not finishing first and
being accused of riding part of the way.
Anyone that has watched Raz knows he
can walk 20 miles and play 18 holes of
golf afterwards, which he did.
- To Allen Edwards who finished
ahead of the Superintendent of Schools
but walked on egg - shells for a week.
- To all the walkers a hearty
congratulations, from the entire county
for a job well done.
The golf tournament put on last
weekend by the Raeford Lions Club was
a success according to the co-chairman
Richard Morgan and Bill McPhaul. They
report 129 golfers entered the
tournament and was won by David
Hendrix.
Harold Gillis, manager of the Raefor
- Hoke Chamber of Commerce, was b;
the office this week and stated that th
Annual Dinner would be he)d Monda
night. May 19 at the Gibson Cafeteri:
Tickets can be obtained at the chambe
office.
So as not to have a conflict, mark thi
date on your calendar. ?
The dinner held for the Librar
Building Fund was a success. It was hel
last Saturday night at the Gibso
cafeteria and everyone seemed to have
grand time.
The music provided by Walter Scull
Judi Daniels and A1 Thompkins was well
received by everyone. Thompkins had
the couples dancing at the close of the
night with his playing of old tunes.
Mrs. JM. Andrews reports that the
dinner cleared $2,000 for the fund. So
each event brings the goal of $100,000
nearer completion.
Mark on your calendar the date o
May 2. The kickoff dinner for 1971
Cancer Crusade will be held that nigh
at 6:30 o'clock at the Hoke Higt
Cafeteria and Gym.
The feature speaker will be Albei
Long, youth evangelist from Durban
who has been in Raeford a number c
times in recent years.
So make a date for a worthy cause
and a night of fellowship Friday, May 2
at 6:30.
First In State
GONE - A pretty spot in downtown Raeford was not so pretty after someone stole
a newly-planted Helerie holly from the yard at the A&R depot. Mrs. Truman
Austin, Raeford A&R agent andagardener herself, views with disgust the empty
hole left by the theft.
Robbing Heights Residents
Plan Community Action
A clean-up, fix-up campaign and a
neighborhood recreation program are
two of the goals of a group of Robbins
Heights residents.
John McNeill and James Peterkin are
mailing letters to the 1S5 families on
the six streets within Robbins Heights,
with hopes of forming a neighborhood
association.
"We want to get together and get
everybody interested," McNeill said.
"One person can't do it but everybody
working together can."
McNeill said he would like to see the
Robbins Heights park cleaned up and
repaired, junk cars removed from the
area and recreation planned such as Boy
and Girl Scouts, a women's Softball
league, and trips for the youngsters to
Carowinds, the beaches and fairs.
He has conferred with City Manager
John Gaddy on cooperation with the
city.
The meeting is tentatively planned
for early next month. Here is the text of
the letter to be mailed:
We the concerned residents of
Robbins Heights are planning to
organize a Community Action Program.
The purpose of this program is to
improve our community by updating
and maintaining the appearances of our
homes, yards, and streets. In order to
make this program a success we will
need the cooperation of all the residents
in the community. You will be notified
Lions To Hear
Marvin Wooten
Marvin Wooten, chairman of the state
utilities commission, will speak at the
civic center Monday at 7:15 pm.
Wooten, appearing as a guest of the
Lions Club, will meet with the Lions
earlier that evening.
The public is invited to attend.
by mail of the date, time and location
of the meeting so that we may get
together and discuss our goals.
Listed below are some of the topics
of interest to be discussed. These are
things that can and should be done by
the residents of the community with the
help of the city.
(A) Place trash and garbage in the
proper containers
(B) Remove hazardous and useless
storage buildings
(C) Notify the city of any abandoned
or useless cars
(D) Have the Robbins Heights Park
repaired and posted with the proper
signs (No Drinking Allowed on
Premises, No Littering, etc.) Make it a
safe place for our children to play.
(E) Post speed limit signs on all
streets in the community and do not
exceed that limit.
(F) Ask real estate agencies to repair
vacant houses and to maintain yard
upkeep.
(C) Report all stray dogs and cats to
the dog warden. "Enforce the Leash
(H) Sidewalks
(I) Parents: We would like to discuss
chartering buses so that we can take our
children to places of enjoyment, such as
Carowinds, the beaches, carnivals and
fairs.
In conclusion, we would like
everyone who lives in the area to attend
or send a member of the family to the
meeting. Maybe there is an idea that
you would like to contribute to help
our community grow. Please attend this
meeting. This is your chance to speak
up for what you want and would like to
see done to improve your community.
We DO need your cooperation and
interest.
Thanks,
Concerned Residents
of the Community
Luckie Pleads Guilty
To Double Murders
Jessie Leonard Luckie, facing trial for
the first degree killings of W.T. and
Mary McAllister, escaped the threat of a
Death Row cell Monday morning when
he entered guilty pleas to second degree
murder following a negotiated
agreement with District Attorney E.W.
(Ed) Grannis.
Superior Court Judge Hamilton H.
Hobgood sentenced Luckie to two
concurrent life terms, the maximum
sentence allowed by law for convictions
of second degree murder.
Luckie, 25, represented by public
defender James Little, stood calmly
with little expression as he was
sentenced. Luckie will not be eligible
for parole before 20 years.
In handing down the sentences, Judge
Hobgood ordered that he receive
psychiatric treatment while in prison, in
accordance with Little's request.
By a quirk of fate, Jessie Luckie
stood before Hobgood at the same time
the United States Supreme Court
convened to hear opening arguments in
the appeal of Jesse Fowler, a Death
Row inmate, which is challenging North
Carolina's mandatory death sentence in
capital crimes.
A veteran courtroom observer who
declined to be named hinted the
pending review of the state's death
penalty favorably affected Luckie'splea
bargaining.
Luckie was arrested and charged with
Jessie Luckie
Cases Added To Docket
In Wake Of Luckie Plea
An additional twenty two cases have
been scheduled for trial in the first week
of Superior Court beginning April 28,
according to a supplemental trial
calendar released by the clerk's office.
The original calendar published for
the April 28 week listed a much smaller
number of cases, when a long murder
trial for Jessie Leonard Luckie was
expected.
Scheduled for trial are James E.
Bordeaux, breaking entering and
larceny; Richard O. Taylor, driving
under the influence; James W. Bratcher,
driving under the influence and driving
while license revoked; Ledbetter Jacobs,
driving while license revoked, driving
under the influence, and driving while
license permanendy revoked; Dwight
McLean, assault with a deadly weapon
with intent to kill (AWDITK);
Thadious Jones, discharging firearms
into occupied property; Larry D. Bell,
receiving stolen goods; Luther Locklear,
AWDWITK; Warded Jones, forgery and
uttering; Allen Peavy, two counts of
assault by pointing a gun, and breaking
and entering; Verdell Hunt, Jr., breaking
and entering and larceny; Jimmy W.
Cagle, larceny; Frederick L. Stephens,
larceny; Rita Faye Chavis, forgery, and
uttering forged check;
Fred McLean, attempt to inflict
serious injury; Harold D. Jantes, driving
under the influence, and transporting
liquor in passenber area; Dwight
Locklear, uttering, and passing forged
check; Michael Scott, escape; James D.
Brown, escape; James L. Dennis, escape;
George Walters, Jr., escape; Phillip M.
Ryne, escape; Leavy Baker, uttering
forged check and forgery and uttering;
Jimmy Locklear, damage personal
property and ADW1TK; Daniel R.
Sullivan, larceny; Wardell Jones, two
counts worthless check, and passing
forged check.
Daniel R. Locklear, breaking and
entering and larceny; Tommy L. Barnes,
breaking and entering, credit card theft;
Jerry Scott, credit card theft, breaking
and entering; Earl Bullard,
manufacturing? controlled substance
(marijuana); and Joe Earl Maynor,
inadequate support.
Court will convene at 9:30 A.M. with
Judge Hamilton H. Hobgood presiding.
Merchants Pick Solomon
Raeford merchants elected officers
and made plans last week to give
Mother's Day gifts.
Under the program, sponsored by the
Rose's
Office
Here Friday
The mobile office of Congressman
Charles Rose will be in Raeford Friday
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the posi
office.
Rip Collins, adminislrative assistani
to Rose, will staff the office.
Raeford Merchanls Association,
customers will register their mother for
gifts and prizes to be given by the
association.
"Heretofore, we've offered something
for sale." said newly-elected president
Paul Solomon. "This is the first time we
are giving something away for Mother's
Day. It is like saying thank you for
looking first in Raeford."
In addition to Solomon, other
officers elected at the meeting last week
were Mrs. James Wood, vice-president;
Margaret Lane, secretary, and Theresa
McBryde, treasurer.
A program and film on tornados was
presented at the meeting by Bill Niven,
county civil defense coordinator and
Mrs. Mina Townsend spoke to the group
on the beauty pageant to benefit the
Hoke Music and Band Booster Club.
the murders after the bodies of the
couple were found sprawled on the
floor of their Blue Springs home,
riddled with bullets, last Oct. 19.
McAllister, a candidate in the county
school board election at the time of his
death, was a well known civic leader.
Mary McAllister was the manager of the
Scurlock School cafeteria.
At the time of his arrest, Luckie was
described as the boyfriend of the
McAllister's daughter, Ava, and had
fathered her child.
Miss McAllister, the state's chief
Witness, and Sheriff D.M. Barrington,
were called to testify before Hobgood
pronounced sentencing.
A petite woman wearing sunglasses.
Miss McAllister told the court Luckie
came to her home that night to try to
persuade her to continue seeing him.
Miss McAllister, who broke into tears
during her testimony, described the
shooting of her parents.
Little declined to cross examine Miss
McAllister or Barrington, telling the
court "it would serve no purpose."
"This is not to say we accept what
she says as truth," he said.
Addressing Judge Hobgood, Little
stated "She has not been thoroughly
candid with the sheriff and the court.
By her testimony it would seem he
(Luckie) had been trying to see her
constantly, when in reality, it was more
50-50."
Little asserted there was no
indication of any motive or
premeditation in the killings.
"Luckie called her parents Mama and
Daddy," he continued. "There is much
more than has come out in this case,"
he said. "Very seldom when you are
dealing with a homicide in which the
people know each other do you get the
entire truth in court."
Declaring "he (Luckie) has been a lot
of places and seen a lot of things,"
Little said the report from Dorothea
Dix Hospital where Luckie underwent a
diagnostic study termed Luckie "very
cooperative".
Before Monday's announcement,
Luckie was scheduled to be tried April
28, the opening day of a two-week long
Superior Court term.
A clerical error discovered last week
in one of the murder indictments
returned on Luckie last November
resulted in Hobgood's order to convene
the grand jury Monday, in order to
correct the information on the
indictment.
First scheduled for last January,
Luckie's trial was continued as he was
sent to Dorothea Dix Hospital for a
court-ordered pre-trial diagnostic study
to determine he was competent to stand
trial.
Returned to the Hoke County jail in
February, it was widely believed the
state would try Luckie for first degree
murder, with little chance of a
negotiated plea in the case which
attracted much public interest.
Little unsuccessfully fought for a
change of venue, arguing Luckie could
not get a fair trial from a Raefordjury.
Judge Hobgood last month ordered a
special venire following the pre-trial
motions and directed a jury pool of 200
Cumberland County residents be
subpoenaed for the April 28 trial.
Taxes Totaled
Local sales and use taxes for the
county amounted to $20,160.51 for
March, state revenue officials
announced.
The statewide total was
$8 86.040.20.
Protection Program Gets Underwav
When Joe Sucker drove away In his
just purchased 1969 foreign car, he
thought he had gotten a good deal. But
a closer look at his title showed that the
car was a 1968 model and a
consultation with a mechanic made him
doubt the mileage registered on the
odometer.
Assistant district attorney Randy
Gregory calls deceptive practices such as
this conusmer fraud, or white collar
crimes;- which he says is one of the
fastest growing areas of crime.
Working under a federal Law
Enforcement Assistance Administration
> grant, Gregory is setting up a pilot
program for the state within the district
attorney's office, to investigate and
prosecute commercial fraud, consumer
protection, environmental laws and
padlockings.
Gregory, who has been with the DA's
office since 1973, began setting up the
program in February. Richard W.
Jackson, formerly with the Cumberland
County sheriffs department, was
recently hired as investigator.
The grant for the 12th judicial
district, which is composed of Hoke and
Cumberland counties, is for a year, after
which time, the program probably will
be evaluated for other judicial districts
in the state.
Cumberland and Hoke were picked
for the initial project because of the
tremendous problems in consumer
protection, Gregory explained.
Some work within its four areas of
responsibility have been done already in
Cumberland, Gregory said, but so far he
has not begun any investigations in
Hoke. Friday he met with health
department workers to discuss
enforcement of environmental laws, and
Gregory said he has discussed with law
enforcement officers a more vigorous
enforcement of emission control laws.
"Traditionally, these areas (covered
under the grant) have not been
enforced. It takes tremendous time to
investigate complaints like that and
local law enforcement just doesn't have
the manpower," Gregory said.
As a result, Gregory said, spiall
frauds, deceptive advertising, consumer
ripoffs and similar crimes have largely
gone unpunished.
A problem with enforcing
environmental laws, Gregory explained,
is that many of the air quality control
laws are federal.
"But one of our tasks is to act as a
catalyst for other agencies," he said, "to
help them do what they already have
the power to do."
In addition, Gregory outlined other
goals:
?To try to prosecute cases that
haven't been prosecuted before due to
the lack of police power to investigate
complaints.
?Increase the public awareness of
consumer fraud, and consumer
protection laws as well as the other
areas served under the project.
"We want to make people feel they
can call and complain if they feel they
have been the victim of a violation of
the law." Gregory said. His number is
Fayettevillc 483-7349.
However, he warned that his office
would not be able to take every
complaint to court.
"We can't be the people's own civil
lawyer, that would defeat the purpose
of the program. Well look into every
complaint to see if any criminal laws
have been violated. But we've found
that sometimes in investigating for
criminal violations, that the complaints
seem to work themselves out."
Gregory said one of his main goals
wotdd be to catch fraud schemes at the
beginning before many persons were
victimized.
He recently issued a consumer alert
through newspapers - to beware of
fraudulent contractors operating in
Cumberland County who came to the
door with a story that they had just
finished a construction job nearby and
had some asphalt to dispose of. Gregory
said they would offer to pave a
driveway for a very low price per square
yard, do a shoddy paving job over a
large area and then demand a high
payment. The operators have apparently
left the area,he said.
Gregory said he hoped to spend more
time in Hoke County working with
agencies here. He also said he would be
available to speak to clubs or groups
here to explain the program.