51st YEAR, NO. 43 EIGHT PAGES
CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES, MO RE HE AD CITY AND BEAUFORT, N. C.
TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1962PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
Coast Guard to Build Dock
For Chilula at Fort Macon
President Calls
SOS Chamber
Session at Hotel
• Coffee Meeting Set
For 8 Tomorrow
• Boards Accepts
DuBois' Resignation
Dr. S. W. Hatcher, president of
the greater Morehead City cham
ber of commerce, has called a
coffee meeting for 8 a.m. Wednes
day at the Hotel Fort Macon to
discuss chamber finances.
It’s an SOS meeting, and each
chamber member is invited.
J. A. DuBois, manager of the
chamber, presented his resignation
at a special meeting of the board
of directors Thursday night. His
resignation becomes effective when’
a successor is obtained.
It was announced that Mrs. John
Jones Jr., chamber secretary,
would not be able to work during
the summer months. Thursday will
be her last day.
Dr. Hatcher commented on the
seriousness of the financial con
dition of the chamber. Since Jan.
1, $7,122 has been collected in dues,
of which $2,081 was used to pay
1964 bills. The budget for this year
is $30,600.
He said that the. chamber’s sup
ply of brochures and literature
was gone and brochures to answer
at least 500 inquiries are needed
at once.
WilHam Davies, finance chair
man, noted that last year at this
time $11,000 in dues had been col
lected.
A. B. Cooper said that he could
not understand the lack of support
at « lime when the county is ex
periencing a record boom in tour
ist business, most of which is
directly traceable to chamber ad
vertising.
Attending the meeting, in ad
dition to those mentioned, were
George Phillips, Ben Alford, Frank
Cassiano, W. E. Baugham, Gar
land Scruggs, Elmer. Willis, J. C.
Sherrill, and W. i>. Derrickson.
Beach Board Meets
Friday with S. A. Horton
S. A. Horton, owner and manager
of the Atlantic Beach water system,
informed the beach board of al
dermen at a special meeting Fri
day morning that he has an op
portunity to sell the water system,
but wanted to give the town first
refusal.
The board considered the pro
position and told Mr. Horton that
if he has a buyer, he should pro
ceed with the sale.
Earl H. Willis Dies
Following Truck Crash
Earl Haywood Willis, 53, route
I Morehead City, died at 3:35 p.m.
Saturday at Morehead City hospital
of injuries in an auto accident at
II a.m. Friday. The accident hap
pened on highway 70 three miles
east of Beaufort.
State trooper R. H. Brown, who
investigated, said Willis was driv
ing a 1962 Chevrolet tpn-and-a-half
truck owned by the Carteret coun
ty board of education. He was
headed west on highway 70 towards
Beaufort.
Trooper Brown said Willis was
rounding a curve that here to his
left and the two right wheels left
the pavement just as he entered
the ceurve. The truck skidded along
the shoulder of the road, then ab
ruptly shot into the opposite lane
of traffic.
Jack Nicholson O’Neal, route 2
Beaufort, was going east in a 1955
Chevrolet pickup and struck the
right front of Willis’s truck broad:
side. O’Neal saw the trucks would
hit and fell over in the seat.
The trooper said Willis was flung
fhrmigti the left door and onto the
pavement, landing on his head.
He suffered a skull fracture and
died without regaining conscious
ness. *
“In my 14 years of investigating
accidents I have never seen an ac
cident that pointed out more dear
Bids will be received until 2 p.m*
Eastern Daylight Time, Thursday,
June 21, 1962, for a wharf and other
facilities at Fort Macon which will
cost between $350,000 and $400,000.
Completion of the work will mean
that the Chilula, now docking at
the state pprt, Morehead City, will
be berthed at Fort Macon, a short
distance away, with other Coast
Guard vessels.
The size of the Chilula has dic
tated its using a berth other than
those provided at the Coast Guard
station. Growth of the state port
has forced the SPA to eye jealously
the space occupied by the Chilula.
Among those instrumental in
working out an arrangement
whereby the Chilula might continue
to berth at Morehead City and the
premium docking space made
available for commercial vessels
were D. G. Bell, commanding of
ficer of the Fort Macon Coast
Guard Reserve unit and former
general assemblyman from Car
teret, and Lt. John Riddle, com
manding officer of Fort Macon
group, who will be transferred
July 1 to Charleston, S. C.
Lieutenant Riddell expressed the
hope that contracts for wharf con
struction and other facilities can
be awarded locally. The bids call
for a 300-foot concrete wharf,
access ramps, and shoreside
facilities including a water treat
ment plant, well, storage house,
pump, road and parking space.
Contractors wishing more in
formation should contact lieutenant
Riddell. Bids will be submitted to
the Commander, Fifth Coast Guard
District, 301 Crawford St., Federal
Building, Portsmouth, Va.
The Coast Guard will also in
vest, at Oak Island, $150,000 in a
new bulkhead, pier and dredging.
Oak Island, located near South
port, is in the Fort Macon group.
•There is a possibility that more
funds will be spent at Fort Macon
in 1963 in buildings, dredging and
new docks.
Not only is Fort Macon impor
tant from an active status stand
point, but its Reserve unit has
grown. It is one of the few, if not
the only Coast Guard Reserve unit
in the country, whose men receive
active duty training “at home.”
Commander
Picks Up Awards
Lt. John Riddell, USCG, com
manding officer of Fort Macon
group, Morehead City, returned
Wednesday from a conference at
Fifth Coast Guard headquarters,
Portsmouth, with three safety
awards.
One award was for the best
improvement in the “average ac
cident frequency rate” in 1961
among Coast Guard personnel; the
second was for the best improve
ment in “average accident fre
quency rate” among civilian per
sonnel employed at Fort Macon,
and the third was for an accident
free record among civilian per
sonnel for the year 1961.
The awards were in the form
of certificates.
ly the fact that seat belts save
lives,” the trooper commented.
“Had Mr. Willis been wearing a
seat belt he would have been held
in the truck cab and probably not
been injured at all."
The trooper said that the- truck
was not damaged anywhere except
at the point of collision on the
right front.
O’Neal suffered severe lacera
tions on both kneecaps and remains
confined to Morehead City hos
pital. Coroner W. D. Munden ruled
the death an unavoidable accident.
Willis’s funeral service was con
ducted at 4 p.m. yesterday in the
Franklin Memorial Methodist
church by the Rev. Louie Lewis,
Marshallberg, and the Rev. Seldon
Bullard, pastor of First Free Will
Baptist church, Morehead City.
Burial was in Bayview cemetery.
Willis had been employed by the
county board of education for about
33 years and for a number of years
was treasurer of the Franklin Me
morial Sunday school. He was
known throughout the county as
“Settin’ Hen.”
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Leah
Gaskins Willis; one son, LL Ray
mond Earl Willis, USA, Fort Gmrp
bell, Ky.; one daughter, Betty Ruf
fin Willis of the home, and one
sister, Mrs. Walter Smith, More
head City.
»—--—
Elks Get Trophy
At High Point
• l. G. Dunn Wins
District Office
# State Elks to Meet
At Morehead Nov. 8
Morehead C(ty-Beaufort Lodge
No. 1710 was honored by a trophy
given by the State Elks association
at its spring meeting in High Point
Thursday for “the greatest par
ticipation in the Elks National
Foundation for the past year.’’
Donations to the foundation are
used for philanthropic and chari
table causes, such as medical re
search and scholarships. North
Carolina lodges have contributed
more than $125,000 the foundation
since its inception in 1928.
The Foundation now has over
ten million dollars and the income
only is used in its work, which
comes to over one half million
dollars a year.
Elected to the post of vice-presi
dent for the eastern district of
North Carolina was L. G. Dunn,
past exalted ruler of Morehead
City-Beaufort lodge. Mr. Dunn will
be responsible for the operation
of 11 lodges located in the eastern
part of the state.
The state association is com
prised of 41 lodges. During the past
year, under Mr. Dunn’s adminis
tration, the local lodge built a new
building and increased its mem
bership by 70 per cent.
Also confirmed at the meeting
was the choice of Morehead City
for the state meeting Nov. 8, 1962.
Approximately 300 Elks are ex
pected to attend.
C.L. Kessler
Will Speak
To Legionnaires
> Navy Capt. Charles L. Kessler,
director of Virginia’s selective ser
vice -system and a former polar
explorer, will be the guest speaker
when American Legion post 46 of
Morehead City installs its officers
Friday night. The meeting will be
gin at 7 p.m. in the legion hut west
of Morehead City.
Captain Kessler enlisted in the
Marine Corps in 1922 and served
C. L. Kessler
. . . polar explorer
until 1928. He returned to active
duty in world war II as a Navy
lieutenant and became director of
Virginia’s selective service sys
tem in 1960. He represented the
Marine Corps, on RAdm Richard
E. Byrd’s North Pole expedition
in 1926 and was with Admiral
Byrd on his first South Pole ex
pedition in 1928-30, when Little
America was found.
Leslie C. Watson of New Bern,
sixth district commander, will be
the installing officer. Officers to be
installed are Robert Reed, com*
mander; Joe DuBois, vice-com
mander;- William E. Wade, second
viCe-commander; Walton Fulcher,
finance officer; Luther Hamilton
Jr., service officer; Josiah Baliey,
historian; George W. Ball, chap
lain. Appointed adjutant is Walton
Fulcher and as sergeant-at-arms,
Lester Halj.
Miss Anne Marie Lewis, oratori
cal contest winner, will be present.
'Mo' Voted — Did You?
Mrs. N. W. (Ma) Taylor, Beau
fort, was taken to the polls at the
courthouse Saturday morning by
her granddaughter, Mrs. Clifford
Fleet whose home is in Richmond,
Va. Mrs. Fleet, has been staying
with Ma for some weeks.
C. Z. Chappell, with Mrs. Fleet’s
help, escorted Ma, who will he 102
years of age in November, up the
courthouse steps.
Law did not permit her to vote
in her car.
In the courthouse she was given
Election Officials Make -
Correction on Vote Tally
Quite a rushing-about took place*
Sunday to get straightened out
some alleged errors in the report
ing of returns from Morehead pre
cinct No. 1.
The errors involved 666 votes
reported for sheriff Robert Bell as
opposed to an authenticated 606
votes; and several changes in votes
on commissioners, including Gas
ton Smith, Edwin Salter and Dom
Femia.
According to Osborne Davis,
Beaufort, a member of the county
board of elections, the final vote
reported by phone from Morehead
No. 1 was 606 for Bell and 93 for
Thomas. Later the registrar,
Stamey Davis, phoned about mid
night, Mr. Davis said, and re
ported that there was an error on
the Bell vote. It was 666.'
This disturbed supporters of Mr.
Thomas. Jimmy Howland, Republi
can judge at Morehead No. 1 pre
cinct, was contacted and said that
officials at the polls signed ab
stracts giving Bell 606.
Charles Willis, chairman of the
board of elections, Mr. Davis, Mr.
Howland, and Stamey Davis, regis
trar, then visited both Beaufort
and Morehead post offices to get
the mailed abstract on which the
registrar had reported 666 for Bell.
They finally located it in the out
side mailbox in front of the More
head City post office. Wade Pelle
tier, assistant postmaster, gave the
abstract to the elections officials.
It was opened in the post office
lobby, and in the presence of the
registrar, the two members of the
county board of elections, and Mr.
Howland, the sheriff’s vote and
the Democratic commissioners’
votes found to be in error were
changed to conform with the' fig
ures on the forms signed by the
judges of the election in Morehead
precinct No. 1.
The elections officials then went
to the Morehead City municipal
building where the ballot box was
See ERRORS Page 3
Two Face Charges
Following Fracas
Charges were pending yesterday
against Eddie Smith and Andrew
Sliinka, Cherry Point, after Smith
allegedly beat up Dijrwood Martin,
Liberty, N. C., in a motel room at
Atlantic Beach.
Deputies C. H. Davis and Billy
Smith said that the two then ran
sacked the room, taking clothing
and money in Martin’s wallet.
Smith and Shinka say that Martin
invited them into the room. Mar
tin denies that an invitation was
issued. Martin was treated at
Morehead City hospital.
Smith was picked up at the motel
and Shinka later by military police
men.
a place at the big table where the
pollholders were working.
Mrs. Fleet went over the ballot
with her. The names of the var
ious candidates were pointed out
to her. Ma can see and read well,
but the long list of names on the
ballot momentarily confused her.
Ma voted only for those people
she knew. She would have no part
of people %he didn’t personally
know. And that was quite a pro
blem because Ma knows EVERY
BODY at least a little bit!
Summer Workshop
Will Open June 18
“Enrollment in the Carteret
Choral club summer workshops
was so successful that we will
start with a bang,” Mrs. Charles
HasSell, director, reported yester
day.
The six-week arts and crafts
workshops will open June 18. Ad
ditional registrants will be ac
cepted up to that time. Persons
may register by writing Mrs.
Hassell, 811 Ann St., Beaufort,
or phone PA8-4294.
Coast Guard Recovers Body
Of Rocky Mount Fisherman
Motorist Cited
After Collision
William E. Boyd, route 1 More
bead City, was charged with having
improper braked, after the oil
tank truck he was driving hit the
rear of a 1961 Falcon with trailer
at 11:05 a m. Tuesday at Bettie.
According to state trooper W. J.
Smith Jr., Boyd was driving a
Gulf truck owned by P. H. Geer,
Morehead City. Both Boyd and the
Falcon, driven by Melvin Thomp
son, Otway, were headed east.
The Falcon was towing a two
wheel trailer. The officer said it
slowed for a car in front that was
making a turn. Boyd told the troop
er that he applied his brakes but
they didn’t hold.
The impact knocked the trailer
into the rear of the Falcon. Dam
age to the car and trailer was es
timated at $300 and to the tank
truck $25.
Cars Hook Bumpers
A minor accident Tuesday was
reported, to the Morehead City
police. Two cars hooked bumpers,
causing minor damage.
Pearlie Wilson Ebron, route 1
Morehead City, was driving a 1954
Chevrolet east on Arendell near
8th street, when a 1959 Mercury
driven by Larry Newell Garner,
Beaufort, passed in the adjacent
lane and hooked bumpers with the
Ebron car.
How It Stacks Up
(Returns on the Democratic
primary appearing below are
from all 27 precincts; returns on
Republican primary from 16 pre
cincts. All returns are unofficial.
Official tabulation by precincts
will appear in Friday’s paper.)
Sheriff
DEMOCRATS
Candidate. Votes
Robert L. Bell .2,911
Ralph Thomas . 2,273
Edgar Hibbs ;. 677
REPUBLICANS
Elmer D. JVillis . 220
A. B. (Tom) Garner 90
Meredith Gillikin . 67
(Republican returns are unoffi
cial, from 16 precincts.)
Commissioners
DEMOCRATS
Candidate Votes
Moses Howard 3,071
W. R. Hamilton . 2,836
C. Z. Chappell 2,810
Dorn Femia . 2,563
Rudolph Mason .2,291
Gaston Smith .2,265
Tommie Lewis .2,094
Edwin Salter 2,028
Aaron Craig ... .1,833
Joseph R. Guthrie .1,660
Wallace Hill . 840
W. E. Guthrie 831
T. C. Cobb 628
L. J. Dupree . 610
Roosevelt Dixon . 507
Charles Hudgins . 415
REPUBLICANS
Headen G. Willis . 357
Kenneth Wagner . 351
Gordon Hardesty . 347
Gerald Murdoch . 292
Roy T. Garner . 237
Clifford Tilghman ;. 235
Ray Gordon Lewis . 192
James F. Hux . 186
Register of Deeds
DEMOCRATS
Candidate Votes
Odell Merrill 4,005
Berkley Willis .1,392
REPUBLICANS
Ruth T. Richardson . 2#)0
John N. Miller 161
Congress
Candidate Votes
David Henderson 2,841
S. A. Chalk Jr.1,920
Constable
Morehead Township
Buck Newsome . 482
W. E. Cottingham ....... 121
Linwood (Chuck) Hall . 114
Beaufort Township
Ronald Smith . 675
Warren T. Willis . 502.
James Laughter . 138
* The Coast Guard recovered the
body of Curtis Justice Tucker, 27,
Rocky Mount, at 8:45 a m. Satur
day after Tucker had fallen off the
end of Fleming’s pier, Bogue
sound. The body was found close
to the pier by the 30-footer from
Fort Macon Coast Guard station.
According to Archie Fleming,
owner of the pier, Tucker was fish
ing with his brother, Ely Tucker
Jr. Somehow, he lost his balance
and toppled into the water at about
4:30 a.m.
His brother jumped in to try -to
save Curtis, but Curtis allegedly
panicked and got a death grip on
his would-be rescuer who almost
drowned. Mr. Fleming said that
had it not been for a skiff in the
immediate area, which picked up
Ely, there would have been two
drownings.
Coroner W. D. Mundeh, who rul
ed the death an accident, identi
fied the men in the skiff as James
Shepard, Wayne Eubanks and Bob
by Alphin, all of LaGrange.
Tucker’s parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Tides at the Beaufort Bar
Tide Table
HIGH
LOW
Tuesday, May 29
4:18 a.m.
4:58 p.m.
10:46 a.m.
11:24 p.m.
Wednesday, May 30
5:20 a.m.
5:54 p.m.
11:37 a.m.
Thursday, May 31
6:17 a.m.
6:45 a.m.
12:17 a.m.
12:27 p.m.
Friday, June 1
7:09 a.m.
7:33 p.m.
1:09 a.m.
1:17 p.m
More Than 6,000 Go
To Polls Saturday
Ralph Thomas, Democratic candidate for sheriff, who
polled 638 votes less than sheriff Robert L. Bell, will call
for a “run-off” or second primary, to determine who will
be the Democratic candidate in November, he or sheriff
Bell.
That was the word from close supporters of Mr. Thom
as yesterday. Sheriff Bell got 2,911 votes (unofficial re
turns) to Mr. Thomas’s 2,273, and'
Edgar Hibbs’ 677. Those who would
like to see Mr. Thomas as sheriff
also said that Mr. Hibbs would ask
his supporters to vote for Thomas
in the second primary, which
would occur the latter part of June.
Mr. Hibbs, contacted by THE
NEWS-TIMES yesterday, said, “I
can take no position. I sent word
to both sheriff Bell and Mr. Thom
as to that effect.”
Democratic commissioners poll
ing the highest number of votes
were Moses Howard, Newport; W.
R. Hamilton, C. Z. Chappell, both
of Beaufort; Dom Femia and Ru
dolph Mason, both of Morehead
City.
Charles C. Willis, chairman of
the county board of elections, said
yesterday afternoon that it appears
that there will be a run-off among
commissioners C. Z. Chappell, Dom
Femia, Rudolph Mason and Gaston
Smith.
Mr. Willis said that the total
number of votes for commissioner
must be divided by five (number
of vacancies to be filled on the
board), then divided by two to
determine a majority. If after the
June vote, things remain as they
stand now. Democrats would vote
in November on two candidates
from Beaufort, two from Morehead,
and one from Beaufort.
In the past, the positions have
usually been controlled to put one"
commissioner each on the board
from Beaufort, Morehead, and
Newport, and the other two from
“downeast” or east of Beaufort.
This is the biggest shake-up. jt»
hit the county political scene in 20
years. Mr. Howard and Mr. Chap
pell are members of the county
board at present. The other three
are new. Mr. Femia was consid
ered as one of the slate run by the
incumbenls. He was running in
place of S. A. Chalk Jr., who did
not seek re-election.
Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Mason
were running on the “March for
Democracy” ticket.
More than 6,000 persons went to
the polls, one of the heaviest votes
recorded in a primary. The com
bined vote for all six sheriff can
didates, Democratic and Republi
can, according to unofficial re
turns, was 6,238. Total vote in the
Presidential election of 1960 in the
county was 9,757.
Ballots cast in the 1958 primary
See VOTING Page 3
E. J. Tucker Sr., and another bro
ther had accompanied Curtis and
Ely here on the fishing trip, but
were not on the pier when Curtis
fell over, the coroner said. The
Tuckers are from route 3, box 139,
Rocky Mount.
The Coast Guard got a call to
^he pier at 5:15 a.m. After the
body was found, it was taken to
the Coast Guard station and turn
ed over to coroner David Munden.
Manning the 30-footer were Al
pine Quinn, BM1; R. E. Brannon,
EN2, and Allen Hughes, SN.
The funeral service for Tucker
Was conducted at 4 p.m. yesterday
in the chapel of Johnson funeral
home, Rocky Mount, by the Rev.
Marvin W. Murphy. Burial was in
Memorial Park cemetery. Rocky
Mount. - t
Surviving are his parents and
five brothers, Sam, Steve, Bud and
E. J. Jr., all of Rocky Mount, and
Ray, stationed in Germany with
the Army.
Migrant Minister
Arrives Here Friday
Thomas Fulton, migrant minister,
arrived in the county Friday night
and started work Sunday night,
according to the Rev. J. P. Mans
field, chairman of the county mig
rant ministry committee.
Mr. Fulton is a student at Inter
denominational Theological semi
nary, Atlanta.
An employee of the US depart
ment of agriculture for seven years,
he will be working here six to
eight weeks among migrant farm
hands.'
►-:-—
Two Groups
Give Scholarship
• Harriet Whitehurst
To Study Art
• Funds to be Raised
At Dinner June 2
In cooperation with the County
Wildlife club, the Veterans of For
eign Wars auxiliary, Beaufort, will
provide a scholarship for a student
to study art during the summer
workshop in Beaufort.
Recipient of the art scholarship
is Harriet Whitehurst, a junior at
Beaufort school.
The money will be raised at a
benefit dinner Saturday night, June
2. The wildlife club will provide
the turkey for the dinner.
Profit exceeding the amount of
the scholarship will go to the 6tate
VFW Ottis N. Brown scholarship
fund for children of veterans and
the VFW National home for or
phans and widows.
Plans for the above projects were
made at the auxiliary meeting at
the post home Thursday night.
The auxiliary is seeking dona
tions of paperback books, records
and comic books to be sent to the
veterans’ hospital. Persons having
such items to donate may call
PA 8-4951 if they’d like them pick
ed up, or deliver them to 123 Front
St.
Mrs. Betty Mathis and Mrs. Julia
Basden were elected delegates to
the department convention at Wil
mington June 7-10. Alternates are
Mrs. Ruby Peterson and Mrs. Cora
Lee Pratt.
Letters from the Carteret Choral
club and Girl Scout troop 299 were
read. It was announced that there
will be draping of the charter in
memory of the late Lucille Cauley,
axuiliary member, at the next
meeting. ,
Mrs. Rachel Parker, a new mem
ber, was initiated.
The door prize was won by Mrs.
Winnie Nelson. Mrs. Frank Nance,
president, presided.
Sleepy Burglar
Jailed Saturday
Frederick C. Hooper, Cherry
Point, was jailed Saturday morn
ing after lie was discovered asleep
at 2 a.m. ip the Wyatt and Hawes
cottage, E. Boardwalk, Atlantic
Beach.
Beach police chief Bill Moore
said that Hooper was discovered
by officer William Earl Wilson of
the beach police department who
had been called to the vicinity to
investigate a complaint that some
youths were “messing around a
house.”
checked houses and saw
that the front screen was ripped
from the Wyatt and Hawes cottage.
Then be went to the front and
found the front door open. Upstairs
he found Hooper in bed.
Hooper later told police that he
had climbed up on the front porch
roof and gotten in through a second
floor window. He has been charged
with breaking and entering and
damage to personal property total
ing $16.20.
Fish Fry Held
The Beaufort Merchants associa
tion entertained at a fish fry
Wednesday night for men
the Pivers Island laboratory
and their family. Over 200
attended. The merchants
the affair a big success.