North Carolina Newspapers

f S CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES ?* | 45th YEAR, NO. 91. TWO SECTIONS FOURTEEN PAGES MOREHEAD CITY AND BEAUFORT. NORTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1958 PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS Rape Trial Enters Fourth Day Today Fire Destroys 6ray Residence Family Wat Visiting At Maysville When Tragedy Struck The Heber Gray home, loeated ^ost of Morehcad on property for merly used as an airport, was de stroyed by fire at 1:15 a.m. Sun day. The five - room recently - built I house was valued at approximately $5,000. The fire was discovered by Ver non Smith, who lives nearby. He and three other men, James Sty ron, Cecil Lynch and Coolidge Rus lell rushed to the home and found that fire was eating through the wall at the back, just above the containers of bottled gas. ?Mr. Smith said he believes the - fire may have started around the gas stove. The Gray family was visiting in Maysville at the time. Mr. Smith and his companions did not know that. They broke open a bedroom window so they could get in to rouse anyone in side. Mr. Smith's wife, Lcttic, tele phoned the Morehcad City Fire -Department, but the house was /destroyed before firemen got there. The Grays arc in need of bed ? ding and clothing, according to Sam Adlcr of the county Salva tion Army committee. They have three boys, 8, 10 and 12. The family is living now in a home next door owned by rcla tives who have moved to Kinston. Neighbors have helped find them ??eds and a bit of furniture. Persons who have donations for the family may take them to Ad ler's store, MoreY.ead City, and the contributions will be delivered to the Grays. Council Pledges Fair Assistance At the meeting of the County /Vfcriculture Workers Council Thurs % day afternoon at the farm agent's office, R. M. Williams, secretary, was requested to write a commen datory letter, on behalf of the council, to the county fair sponsor, Legion Post No. 99. Mr. Williams was requested to pledge the council's aid for an even bigger and better fair next year. / * The council program during the Jpast year was evaluated. Members 4 said they felt the council aided in coordinating their efforts, offered fellowship and a better understand ing of the county's agriculture problems. Member were asked to bring to the December meeting a list of goals they think should be sought (^during the coming year. At that meeting a program committee will also be appointed. In addition U Mrs. Delfido Cor dova, chairman, who presided, and Mr. Williams, the following were present: Harry Venters, Fred Knott, both of the form agent's of fice; David Jones and Howard Garner of the Soil Conservation Service, Mrs. Floy Garner, home agent; C. S. Long, vocational ag riculture teacher at Newport, and Mrs. David Beveridge, vocational home economics teacher, Beaufort. Three Injured In Car Pile-Up Three persons were injured Thursday night in * three car-US mail truck pile up about eight miles west of Morchead City, on Highway 70. They were Horace I-ee Tyler o ( Havtlock, treated at ^the Morehead City Hospital, and ? Jtwo Cherry Point Marines, Bobby I/. Brown and llarley F. Quillcn. who were treated at the Cherry Point dispensary. State Patrolman J. W. Sykes, who investigated the accident, said that the mail truck had pulled off the road due to engine trouble, , I and that driver Clarence West brook of Orcensboro had displayed warning flares. When Leroy Chaissons, Cherry Point Marine, slowed to pass the truck, Mr. Tyler's car ran into him. Before Tyler could get out of his car to Inspect the damage, a third car rammed into Tyler's car. * The car backed up and sped [ , J away, but was found a short time later parked in Havclock. A scarch L of Marine barracka found both | (juillan and Brown nursing cuts I and bruises. Brown, who allegedly was driv ing the car, has been charged with hit and run and careless and reckless driving. He la being held in the county jail. Bond was aat at $500. I Conifer Tows in Trawler ! | i jf.it, B i ^ ^ Photog by Jerry 'Schumacher An unidentified Coast Guardsman aboard the Conifer watches the Fish and Wildlife trawler George M. Bowers wallow in the wake of the Conifer, which is towing her in. For the story of the rescue, see Jerry Schumacher's column on the editorial page. The Bowers is still al Fort Macon awaiting repairs. Judge Chester Morris Highly Praises Grand Jury's Work Judge Chester R. Morris dismiss ed the grand jury Friday morning with high praise. "You've gone about your duties as grand jurors should,'' the judge declared. "I compliment you for it. 1 wish grand juries everywhere would take t|me to do what you have done." Foreman of the grand jury was Thomas L. Noe, Yaupon Terrace, Morehead City, for whom the judge said he had high personal esteem. The grand jury made two note worthy recommendations: 1. That the county representative present a bill to the state legisla ture enacting a law that would pro hibit any county official from pur chasing any property sold by the county for taxes or procuring any unclaimed properties for personal gain. 2. "That this court take imme diate action" concerning the wreck ed ship, Omar Rabun and other ob structions in Calico Creek, More head City. Termed 'Menace' The grand jury said that the boats arc a mcnacc to navigation in the crock; the boats arc liable to break loose and drift into docks at the Morchcad City Yacht Basin; they arc a fire hazard and boats arc unable to be moved under their own power in ease of emergency. The grand jury especially com mended Miss Gcorgic Hughes, wel fare superintendent and her staff, for the work they arc doing. Referring to H. L. Joslyn, county superintendent of schools, the jury said, "We wish to thank our super intendent for the wonderful job he has done for the past ten years he has been in officc." Also com mended were teachcrs and principals throughout the coun ty. Vandalism Noted It was recommended, however, that the sheriff be instructed to work out some way to protect the Atlantic School from vandalism. The prison camp at Newport was termed to be in excellent condition. The superintendent and his staff were commcndcd for care of the inmates. County offices were inspected. Itcpair, painting and replacement of equipment was suggested. It was particularly recommended that the ceiling in the courtroom "be re paired as soon as practicable as it appears to be in a dangerous con dition." Resurfacing Needed It was recommended that the bridge at North River be resur faced. It was noted that the county superintendent of schools has an "overall plan" to overcome a ma jority if not all of the repair needs at schools throughout the county. Members of the grand jury, in addition to the foreman, were Ray mond Lewis, Cornell Garner, Har vey Taylor, W. T. Salter, Alonzo Salter Jr., i^on E. Fodrie. Eugene Quinn, C. W. Garner, Yancey Barbour, Mancy Suiter, J. B. Rice, C. C. Land, R. T. Mun dine, L. C. Smith, Mrs. Elizabeth Garner, Charles Broadhurst and Roy Eubanks. They were dismissed with the judge's "personal and official thanks." Cecil Morris, Atlantic, Heads Outer Banks , Committee Cecil Morris, Atlantic, was named chairman Friday night of the Carteret County Hurricane Re habilitation Committee at a meet ing at the courthouse. Appoinled as executive secre taries of the committee were Joe Mason, Atlantic, for the eastern part of the county, and Joe DuBois, Morehcad City, for the western part of the county. Presiding at the meeting was Moses Howard, chairman of tho county board of commissioners, who called the committee meeting. Mr. DuBoia showed a chart of the outer banks, explaining that hurricanes and northeasters during the past three years have made in roads on the banks which nature has been unable to repair. Elevation Low In addition to inlets which have been cut through, the elevation of the banks has been reduced to the point where persons standing on the soond side can look across the banks and see the ocean. Ira Morris, Atlantic, pointed out that just a 2-foot tide breaks over the outer banks area in many places. Mr. DuBois said that per sons in counties neighboring Car teret. especially those bordering on Pamlico Sound, realize that the only way to prevent flooding of their towns and farmland is to "seal the outer banks." Mr. DuBois reported that Dare County has organised an effective committee devoted to saving the banks and that New Hanover and Brunswick Counties arc building jetties. "Carteret hasn't lifted a finger," he declared, "and we've got M miles of outer banks, the most valuable property in the county." Valuation of Atlantic Beach and Money Island, about two miles of Rogue Banks property, ig on the I Lax books at $10 million valuation. I almost a third of the entire valua lion of the county, he pointed out. i Mr. DuBois said that out of 64 i letters sent to outer hanks property | iwners seeking their cooperation >n preservation of the banks. 23 re- : plied. None said they would per- | tonally undertake building of i ;roins or jetties; eight said they I would build sand fcnces, 11 said hey would plant grass; IS said t hey would join their neighbors; 21 | laid laws should be enactcd to pro- t libit grazing, and 22 want legisla- I ion to prevent removal of dunes, t Mr. DuBois reported that J. Mor- t on I)avi>, owner of property on 1 he banks, informed him that in i 1948 he planted pine seedlings in- \ iide a fence and they grew 7 feet > ligh in three years. Outside the ence not a bit of vegetation grew wcausc cattle ate it. , llarry Davis, Raleigh, who also j >wns outer banks property, report- ( ?d that his attempts to grow grass . verc fruitless because cattle gob , >led it up. Estimate Made r Mr. DuBois said that according I 0 estimates by Gray Massed, en- 1 [ineer, a complete program of ( Miter banks conservation ? sur- r ray, building ol groins, planting a oa oats, building sand fences and I lood control ? would coat $10 nillion. c James Smith, Salter Path, said it places in his section, an ordinary t Ide sweeps over the whole bar- c 'ii*r. I Mr. Ilassell reported that he has c itudled charts of the outer banks ivcr since the first chart wai t nade by early settlers. Through d he years, he said damage to the I tanks has been repaired by nature, a bowing that tbe banks will build ? back if they are not pounded con tinually by storms. lie said the charts did not indi cate, however, the loss in eleva tion of the banks due to incessant pounding. David Yrnmans, Harkers Island, .aid the tide washes through two places between Shackleford and Barden's Inlet. Portsmouth Island oo. he said, is cut up. Cecil Morris reported that he has .ried for several years to get peo ple to take action on preserving he banks. "I don't think there's tec n any greater problem in my inic," he commented. He ven tured the opinion that the irregu arity of shrimp catches this year may be due to the rush of salt water ocean tides into inland lounds and crccks. Inland Cities Affected New Ilern, he continued, had waist-high water in the streeta dur ng the so-called "coastal storm'* .wo weeks ago. "If nothing is done ibont the banks, Pamlico Sound vill soon be a bay." He suggested that Mr. Howard lame a committee to confer with egislators with a view to having aws enacted and money appro bated to preserve the banks. "We iced state backing before there's iny hope of federal backing," Mr. Harris pointed out. Dr. L. J. Duprce reported on Tosion problems at Cedar Point. Mr. Howard invited Mr. Morris o present his plans for functioning if the Carteret County Hurricane lahabilitation Committee to the ounty commissioners. Attending the meeting, in addi ion to those mentioned, were An Irew Ennctt, Cedar Point; Henry )avis, Harkers Island; Ralph Neal ind Eugene Moore, Manhtllfcarg; ind Don Morris, Atlantic. isk Board Gives Order to Collect Delinquent Taxes County commissioners yesterday authorized Eugene Moore, tax col lector, to take necessary legal steps to collect back taxes on personal property. "If you've got to tow in automo biles or take (tossession of other personal property. su**h as TV sets to get the money, go ahead and do it," the commissioners declared. Thcv ordered Mr. Moore to fur nish Sheriff Hugh Salter with the necessary information so that the papers can be served on delinquent taxpayers. The board also authorized Mr. Moore to turn over to the clerk of court necessary information for fil ing judgments against persons who have not paid their 1051 or 1955 ad valorem taxes. $2Sfl Sri Up At the request of Cecil Morris, chairman of the County Hurri cane Rehabilitation Committee, the board approved expenditure up to $250 to finance a plotting of outer banks property and expenses for J. A. DuBois, committee secretary. Determination of who owns what lands on the outer banks is neces sary. Mr. Morris explained, before a right-of-way can be obtained so that prison labor might be sent to the banks to build necessary bar riers to catch sand. Mr. Morris said it is particularly important that sand be anchored between Drum Inlet and Ocracokc. He said that the Lassiters of Char lotte, owners of about 12 miles of outer banks in that vicinity, will be asked to turn their land over to the state so that conservation work can be started. Gray Ifasscll, engineer, was ask ed to make the map showing areas of land ownership. He reported that at two places the sea is now washing through Shackleford Ranks ? this has occurred siocc last tail's hurricanes. > ^ Road Request George Creech, Wildwood, ap peared before the board and re quested that the state put belgrade rock on the Airport-Arthur Road (as Alvah Hamilton, county attor ney. called it). The road, 1.4 miles, runs through the former Arthur farm north of Highway 70 and west of Morehead City. The matter was referred to the State Highway and Public Works Commission. Irvin Davis, clerk to the board, reported that the state has return ed the petition on the Lockhart Road becausc in one section the ( right-of-way is only 40, not 60 feet. Commissioner Odcll Merrill ask ed whether the county attorney had inquired about the state's responsi bility on maintenance of Craven Avenue in Highland Park. Mr. Hamilton said that he would take the matter up with Maynard Hicks, road commissioner for this district, the latter part of this week. To Write Letter The chairman of the board. Moses Howard, suggested that the board write a letter to the gover nor, thanking him for his help in mosquito control in the county. Commissioner Skinner Chalk sug- 1 gested that the board study the j employee survey made by the Km ploymcnt Security Commission re cently. The meeting ended at 11:30, an; unusually short meeting for the county board. Ail commissioners were present except Walter Yco mans. Housewife Leaves Curb, Hits Car A Morehead City housewife. Mrs. Connie Willi* llall, drove her 1?.V> Oldsmobile from the curb into the aide of a IKS Pontiac driven by Willie J. Lewis, Greenville. Thifrs day afternoon, according to More head City police. Mrs. Hail told Set. Joe Smith, who investigated, that she pulled away from the curb and didn t sec Mr. Lewis's car. Damage to his car amounted to only about $23, but Mra. Hall's car had an esti mated $130 damage. Sergeant Smith said no charges were filed. Tide Table TMes at Ike Beaafort Bar HIGH LOW Tuesday, Nov. 11 3:5$ a.m. 10:11 a.m. I 4:13 p.m. 10:2$ p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 4:4$ a.m. 11 :05 a.m. I 3:08 p.m. 11:11 p.m. | Thursday, Nav. 15 3:33 a.m. 11:35 a.m. 5:53 p.m. 11:55 p.m. FrUUy, Nov. It $'.30 ?.m. 1:38 pan. 13:42 p.m. Photos toy Boh Seymour Frank Bovctte, on trial for his life, loaves the courthouse with Deputy Sheriff Bobby Bell, right. The "balloon" by Deputy Bellas head is a light in the haU of the courthouse. State Officer Visits Lions i A. L. "Chuck"- Kline, Lions de puty district governor from (irifton, was guest speaker at the Morehead City Llona Club meeting Thursday night, lie was accompanied by Don Casey, secretary of the Orifton club. Mr. Kline said that the trip was "originally" planned so that he could give the Lions a pep talk. Their recent performance in the i White Cane drive ami their con tinued support of blind case work I ers deserved a pat on the back rather than a pep talk, he said. Oscar Allred, publicity agent, re ported about 20 members present, tnowden Thompson, Beaufort, was a guest. Firemen Go to Miami To Bring Back Fire Truck Morehead City fire chief, Vernon Guthrie, and Fireman John Par ker left for Miami Sunday morn ing to pick up the new fire truck. The truck has been on display at the fire chiefs convention. Mr. Parker, who will be driving theh truck back, hopes to get to Morehead City by Friday. It was believed last month that the truck would not be ready in time to be on display at the con vention. When it gets here, it will be placed at the new fire sub-sta tion. Manteo Mystery Witness Prolongs Proceedings The case of Frank Boyette, on trial for his life for al leged rape of 13-year-oIi Amanda Elizabeth Harrell, Morehead City, goes into its fourth day today. Court re cessed at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon with the announce ment by Harvey Hamilton Jr., defense attorney, that he had to send for two more witnesses, one at Manteo. Elizabeth burst into terrifying, hysterical tears just 15 i minutes after the resumption of tne< i trial in Beaufort courthouse yester- I | day afternoon. I The court was brought to a sliiv- i I ering standstill. Fiancee Testifies t The outburst came with toe in- J | trod'iction of evidence that Fliza . both hud aided Boyettc in the at- ' ' I. nek The witness was Miss Lois ; Rrickhouse, Royctte's fiancee, who j testified that Flizabeth had told j hrr, "1 helped Frank pull off my i clothes." | At that Klizabeth started sobbing on her frail mother's shoulder. Then a following witness, Mrs. Hallie West, more explicitly said that Klizabeth had told her, "I helped Frank pull off my pants." | With that Elizabeth let out agon ized tears. Ji'dge Chester Morris directed co'irt officers to remove Klizabeth I from the courtroom. Helped by i Sheriff Sailer and surrounded by her brother, (Jenc, two sisters and | her mother, she was taken to an antc-room. Cries Continue Her cries pierced through the oaken door, pervading the stilled courtroom. For a few minutes Judge Morris paced the floor, then he ordered a doctor to be sent for. That was about 2:20 p.m. Court did not resume until 3 o'clock after Dr. Theodore Salter had adminis tered to the girl and quieted her. Trial Opens The key figure in the case, Eliz abeth, a physically immature girl, was the first witness placed on the stand at 11:10 Saturday morning by Robert Rouse Jr., solicitor. Wearing a pink gingtwi dress, pink aweator, with her browft hair tied in a pony tail, the c|)U4 sat tensely, waiting the first ques tion. Her face was devoid of make up She looked like an average sev enth grader. After telling her name and stat ing that she attended Morehead City School, there were protests from both the defense attorney, Harvey Hamilton Jr., and the jur ors that they could not hear what she was saying. Despite admonitions by the judge and Mr. Rouse, the girl did not speak loud enough to be heard. At that point the judge requested a public address system. Testimony was deferred 20 miiiutei? until a public address system was set up, with the microphone in front of the witness stand. Klizabeth testified that she had attended school at Wilmington and ? in Florida before her family moved | to Morehead City last April. Relates Story i At the request of the solicitor, 1 she then told the following story of i events on the afternoon of Friday, I June 2?. | She said that she and her 15 year-old sister Marie were "down I See RAPE CASE, Page I Court Sidelights Wednesday, Thursday, Friday passed ? and finally Saturday morning about 10:45 the last ? (he 13th juror ? in the Boyettc ease was okayed by both the slate and the defense. The 12th and 13th jurors arc 0. K. Duval and Melvin L. Ay cock, both from Jones County. On Friday, when it became evident that the last two jurors could not be found in Carteret, Judge Chester R. Morris called for a venire of 30 men from Jones. One hundred fifty-one jurors were examined to find those 11 men. A. H. James; clerk of Su perior Court, says that Jury in the Boyette case Is costing the county (ITS a day. Add to that the cspease of summoning all those who did not get on the jury, and the coat of this trial Is going to take close to a thousand dol lars nut of the court coffers. Evidence in favor of a new courtroom ceiling was presented during the trial. Cooper Hamil ton waa busily writing while his brother waa questioning a wit ness when a piece of plaster whlucd down right by his ear. It waa about 4 inches long and an inch wide. You can look up through holes in the courtroom ceiling and see daylight. The late Dr. Bonner would dcscriba the roof aa having holes Mg enough to throw a cat throu^i. As II thai weren't eHS|i, a wayward wasp Saaday afternoon dived at Harvey Hamilton's Iwad. lie Jumped quickly enough to acare it off. An lS-year-oid boy, who laid he'd never been in court before, learned a lesson Sunday after noon. lie waa sitting In the back of the courtroom smoking. The judge ordered him brought before the bar. "Don't you know you're not supposed to smoke in open court?" the judge asked. The boy shook his head. "Well, get a chair up here by me and you come up here and sit down and we'll show you how a court operates." The boy went up and sat down by the judge. A most uncomfortable lad be was too. Then about 10 minutes later the Judge told him to go back in the courtroom and tin no more. No spectaUrt were allowed la the courtroom Saturday daring the testimony of Elisabeth a ad Marie Harrell. But Sunday. when the Judge allowed the pubik to be admitted, there were about TS to It* la the courtroom through out the day. Hocause Frank Boyctte, de fendant, was unable to employ an attorney to defend him, Har vey Hamilton Jr. and bia brother, Cooper. Morehcad City attorneys, were appointed aa defense coun sel by Judge W. J. Bundy, resi dent Judge of this district. Twenty Voters Select Own Candidates Twenty voters took time to write in candidates in the election Tues day. Seven wrote in Charles K rouse I for constable of Morehcad City township. [ Other persons receiving write in votes in the race for constable | were George Dunn and Mack Ed wards, two each, and John Baker, ! Lest a Willis, Bill Styron, ami Ward Ballou, one each. Warren Alligood received two votes from Morehcad 2 precinct for state senator Claud Whcatly got one vote from Morehcad I and one from Newport for state sen ator. J. R. Sanders got a vote for house of representatives from Morehcad 2. C. Z. Chappell, chairman of the county board of elections, esti ! mated that about 2<M> person in the county voted a straight Repub lican ticket on Ihc county ballot even though no Republicans were listed on the ballot. A sergeant stationed in Wash ington called Mr. Chappell the day after the election and asked him to please send him a ballot so he could vote ! IB Christmas Seals Mailed Out Mailed throughout the county over the weekend were the Christ mas seals distributed annually by the Carteret County Tuberculosis Association. Accompanying the four sheets of seals was a letter from Stanley Woodland, president of the Carteret County Tuberculosis Association. Sheets arc a dollar each. Proceeds from the sale of seals help fight TB and finance research for a TB preventive. Officers of the TB Association, in addition to Mr. Woodland, arc Dr. John Morris, vice-president; Mrs. W. I. Loft in. secretary and chair man, and James II. DaVis, treas urer. This year is the 50th for the an nual Christmas seal sale. Cash, Pens Taken From Drug Store Beaufort policc were continuing Investigation yesterday of the theft at Bell's Drug Store. The store was entered Saturday night sometime between 9 and 10 o'clock and $30 taken out of the two cash registers. In addition to the cash, between U) and SO Parker pens were stolen. Policc Chief Guy Springlc and As sistant Chief Carlton Garner, who investigated, said entry was gained l>y breaking out a window at the hack of the store. Chief Springlc obtained fingerprints. F. R. Bell, owner of the store, left when the store dosed at 9 p.m. When he returned an hour later to Fill a prescription, he noticed that Ihe money Was gone and callcd the policc. Marsha 1 1 berg Fire Truck to be Ready In Two Weeks The Marshallbcrg Progressive Community Club decided at a meeting Saturday night that mem bers of the club will solicit funds from Marshallbcrg cilizcna to fi nance renovation and repair of Ihe Marshallbcrg fire truck. They hope to have the fire truck ready In two weeks. The Marshallbcrg Women's Club will sponsor a barbecue supper in about two weeki. It waa an nounced, and the Community Culb plana to sponsor a Thanksgiving dance at Smyrna High School. John Valentine, dob president, lays that they hope to have the band that appears on the Waahlng ton TV station for the dance. The dub met Saturday night at Ihe home of Leon Thomas, Mar ihaHbcrg.