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M3SSZ N C
SAMPLE
Scout
Chtrakc* County's Bosl Buy' '
Volume 77- Number 27 Muiphy, North Com lino Jonuory 26, 1967 10 Pofles This Week
FIRE DESTROYS TWO BUILDINGS,
Credit Association
Gathers Information
The Merchants Credit Ass
ociation of Murphy, Inc., Is
now compiling Information to
begin operation as a local cre
dit bureau. It will assemble
credit information for its
Gray CUarad
It Haifa Death
DUCKTOWN - -After del
iberating three and one-half
hours Monday night, an all
male jury returned a verdict
of not guilty in the case of
Tom Gray, 45, who was ch
arged with murder in the slay
ing of Winston Hyde last
September.
Gray plead self-defense
and said he cut Hyde with a
knife after finding Hyde and
Gray's wife in a parked car.
The defendant said Hyde got
out of the car and hit him as
he (Gray) approached the veh
icle.
Gray said he "didn't know
how many times" he cut
Hyde. He testified that he was
afraid of Hyde because "he
was a bigger man than me."
Hyde died at the Copper Ba
sin Hospital from 17 knife wo
unds.
Rimco Honors
Employees
Rimco Manufacturing Corp.
paid tribute to its employees
who have been with the firm
five or more years with a
dinner last Saturday at the
Milton Inn in Blalrsville.
Two officials from Rimco's
New York Office, Bob Conn
ors and Marcel Noe, attended
the dinner and paid tribute to
the employees who were ho
nored. The two toured the
Murphy plant Sunday morning
and expressed pleasure with
the operation here.
W.D. Towns on, Merle Da
vis and Herman Edwards were
among the local guests att
ending the affair. These three
men are credited with playing
important roles in the loc
ating of the Rimco plant here.
Edwards, in his remarks to
the group, said "Rimco was
the turning point in our econo
my in Cherokee County." He
said the quality of work turned
oid by local employees of
Rimco made it evident to other
industries that the local labor
force could adapt to training.
Employees with five years of
service are E.L. Stiles,Char
les Dale, Ernest Davis, Rich*
ard Mashburn,Edna Rose,Ch
arles Bates, Carl Green, Billy
Millsaps, June Kephart,
Frank Pace, Lura Moore, Ma
nervy Crowe, Frances Mason,
Hazel Craig, Tommie Dietz,
Mary Blrchfield, Reathel
Sneed, Robert Coffey, Charles
Wells, Jimmie Wilson, Boyd
Pullium, Horace Hembree,
J ames Allison, Bruce Zimm
erman, Howard Johnson, Wa
yne Palmer, Franklin Barnett,
and Doris Rogers.
Plant manager Peter J. Mc
Keon told the group he was
looking forward to holding a
dinner for ten-year employees
In the near future. The local
plant began operation in No
vember, 1959. He presented
pins and gifts to those who
had not received them before.
members and will exchange or
sell credit information to
other credit associations.
The Association was formed
by the Murphy Chamber of Co
mmerce. Its 'expenses, th
rough July 1, are beingpaidby
the Chamber and all members
of the Chamber are automati
cally members of the Associa
tion until that time. Business
firms that are not members of
the Chamber can join the Ass
ociation upon payment of a
912.50 fee.
The immediate goal of the
Association is tocompilecre
dit information from Cherokee
and Clay Counties. There is a
long range goal to gather in
formation from Towns, Union
and Fannin Counties in Ge
orgia, Polk County in Tenne
ssee and Swain County.
Further information on the
Association 's available by
contacting Max Blakemore,
president of the Chamber of
Commerce.
Murphy Native
Pilot Averts
Plane Tragedy
Capt. Richard W. Mclver,
a native of Murphy, was the
pilot of a United Air Lines
Viscount that rammed into a
heavy snowplow while making
an instrument landing on a
snow-covered runway last
Thursday at Norfolk, Va. Mun
icipal Airport.
Mclver was not injured. Se
ven of the 46 passengers ab
oard the Washington to Nor
folk flight were treated for
minor injuries. The snowplow
driver was seriously injured.
The pilot saw the snowplow
as he touched-down on the run
way and tried to take off ag
ain to avoid hitting it but was
not successful in this effort.
The belly of the four engine
tin hoprop aircraft was ripped
open almost two-thirds of the
distance from the nose to the
taiL
Investigators said Mclver
prevented a potential disaster
by attempting to take off again.
They credited his skill and ex
perience with the saving of
many lives.
Mclver joined United short
ly after World War II and has
been with the air line since
then except for another tour
of military duty in the Korean
War. He now lives in the sub
urban area of New York City.
Student Withdrawn
From H.O.School
Mrs. Helen Hancock has
withdrawn her 16-year-old dau
ghter, Gwendolyn, from
Hiwassee Dam High School
and enrolled her at a Fannin
County, Ca. high school.
The action was taken Mon
day because, according to
Mrs. Hancock, Gwendolyn was
upset" over what she ter
med "continued harra
ssment" from school
officials.
A controversy has continued
for several weeks over the
clothes Miss Hancock wears to
school. Her mother wrote to
Gov. Dan K. Moore asking
protection" for students at
the school.
WAYNE PALMER (left) receives ? pin in recognition of five years' service at Rbnco from
J. McKeon. Looking en ere Doris Rogers, Frances Mason, and Faye Radford.
i BtalrovUle.
Tbey also roc* Used five-year pins at a dtnoer Saturday MJk at the Mil ton Ian In
LAST FRIDAY'S FIRE BEGAN on the second floor of the Gibtos Building. J Ins photo wis made
before flames spread to the adjoining Murphy Hardware Co. building.
THE TOP FLOOR of the Murphy Hardware Co. building became engulfed in flames which
leaped into the pre-dawn sky. At this point the blaze had not reached the lower floors.
"Pea Patch Jim" Phillips
Dies In Andrews At 96
(Editor's note: The Scout
expresses its thanks to Bob
Barker of Andrews for the
historical information in the
following story.)
James Wiley Phillips, be
tter known as "Pea Patch
Jim", died last Friday after a
brief illness in District Mem
orial Hospital. The 96-year
old "Pea Patch" was
believed to be either the sec
ond or third oldest resident
of Cherokee County.
He acquired the name "Pea
Patch" to distinguish him
from three other Jim Phillips
who were'Jiving in Valley
town Township. The others
were "Fiddlim Jim", "Tioga
Jim", and "Dancing Jim".
Phillips was the first rural
mail carrier to work out of the
Andrews Post Office when the
route was established in 1906.
He held the position for two
years.
One of the most colorful st
Citizens Bank & Trust
Records Banner Year
Local business conditions
influenced a record year for
the Citizens Bank & Trust Co
mpany with all time high in
total resources, deposits and
net earnings. This bar.ner year
for the Consolidated Bank of
the Citizens Bank ATrustCo
mpany was reported to its
stockholders by W. Frank
Forsyth, President, on Friday
afternoon. The meeting v*as
held in the bank's offices in
Andrews.
The bank's total resources
at the end of the year were
$22,779,900.80.This was an
increase over 1965 totals of
$3,759, 113.02, or a 19* inc
rease. Substantial gains were
made in the deposits of the Co
nsolidated Bank as deposits
rose to a total of $20,331,295.91
an Increase during 1966 of
$3,649,977.31.
Expenses for the year were
up 29% and Net Operating
Earning increased 27% over
1965.
Capital, Surplus and Undivi
ded profits increased
$175,950,45, making a total of
capital lunds $1,435,362.58
The bank had a total Reserve
for losses on loans of $577,
719.42, which is not included
in the capital accounts.
During the latter part of
1966 the money market was
very tight, and although it ex
tended to Southwestern North
Carolina, the bank loans and
discounts were up $2,012,298.
96, an increase of 22%, which
pointed up the fact that the
bank was able tomeetthecre
dit needs of its customers
and although adhering to
sound banking practices, was
able to promote the growing
Southwestern North Carolina
area.
Lee B. Nichols of Andrews
was elected a new member of
the Board of Directors to rep
lace Z.B. Conley who resigned
on account of ill health. All
directors were re-elected,
lhey include: Percy B. Fer
ebee, W. Frank Forsyth, W.
D. Whitaker, Thomas C. Day
James B. Ferebeejl, E. Rae
Moore, Peyton G. Ivie, J.
'Smith Howell, Patton Phill
ips, W.A. McGlamery, Rob
ert V. Weaver, W.D. Town
son, Boyd Sossamon, W. Paul
Holt, Jr., Jennings A. Bryson
Dan M. Allison, Sr., John T.
Gill, Ted Jordan, Ted Phlll
ips.
The directors voted to inc
rease the bank's annual divi
dend to 60? per share, pay
able 15* each quarter.
The directors also re-el
ected ill the bank officers.
orics about "Pea Patch"
concerned his hiding-out of a
confessed murderer, George
Maney. Maney admitted kill
ing Thad Sherill on Mountain
Creek in Graham County on
J une 22, 1898. The sheriff had
to disperse a lynch mob which
formed in front of the jail
and then took Maney, tied on a
horse, to the Cherokee County
jail at Murphy for safekeeping.
Maney soon broke out of the
jail and hid out in the mount
ains until January, 1899, when
he gave himself up, almost
dead from galloping consump
tion. Another Graham County
mob formed and removed him
from the Murphy jail. He was
hanged at the Upper Valley
River covered bridge
"Pea Patch" lat Andrews
around 1917 and spent 40years
at Benton, Tenn. where he wo
rked as a watch repairman
and gunsmith. After he return
ed to Andrews in 1957, he
freely admitted that he had hid
Maney out after his escape
from the Murphy jail.
During his stay in Benton, he
made a weekly trip to LXick
town to repair watches, clocks
and guns. After repairing a
clock for two women at Isa
bella, he was asked to dig a
few potatoes. "Pea Patch"
couldn't believe anyone could
grow potatoes in the barren
soil of the Copper Basin and
was astonished to uncover
Irish potatoes as big as a
man's size 12 shoe. The wo
men explained the patch was
fertilized with blood from a
Copperhill slaughter house.
Phillips was the oldest son
of the late John Wiley and Sa
rah Ann Smith Phillips. He was
preceeded in death by two
wives, Mrs. Ruth Me
adows Phillips and Mrs. Cora
Williams Phillips.
He is survived by a sister,
Mrs. Ida Phillips, and sev
eral nieces and nephews;
Grant and Gordon Phillips of
Ahdrews; Quinton Phillips of
Charlotte; Grant Crawford of
Frankfort, Germany; Hilda P.
Ensley of Andrews; Clara Bell
P. Womack of Asheville;Sam,
Dewey and Lewis Sharp of
Robbinsvllle; Dee Sharp of
Waynesville; Mrs. Winnie
Sharp Hensley of Robbinsvllle
and Mrs. Norma Sharp
Hooper af Long Creek, Graham
County.
Services were held Sat
day in the chapel of Ivie Fti
eral Home with the Rev. "
Ellis and the Rev. WUdon <
officiating. Nephews served"
pallbearers.
Burial was in the _
Family Plot in Valley Rlvftr
Cemetery.
THREATENS BLOCK
Two buildings onlennessee
St. were destroyed last Friday
morning by a fire that threat
ened an entire block of the
Murphy business district.
Murphy volunteer firemen
were called to the scene sho
rtly before S a.m. and battled
for over four hours to contain
the fire to the vacant Gibbs
Building and the Murphy Hard
ware Co. building.
The fire, which started
inthe Gibbs Building's second
floor and spread to the top
floor of the Murphy Hardware
building, was first noticed ab
out 4:45 a.m. by Bill Johnson
Hiwassee St., Murphy.as he
was enroute to work. Johnson
turned in the alarm. Charles
Hyatt saw the fire from his
home at about the same time
and drove uptown to deter
mine where it was.
The Andrews firemen were
called to the scene to assist
the Mkrphy fire fighters.
The cause of the fire is not
known. It has been established
there was no electricity inthe
Gibbs Building.
The Gibbs Building was built
around 1936 and was owned by
Betty Grantham of Atlanta.
The Murphy Hardware
Building was built around 1906
The first and second floors
were used by Murphy
Hardware Co., owned by H.A.
Mattox. The third iloor was
owned bj Cherokee Lodge 146
AFAAM.The Masons and Or
der of the Eastsrn Star used
the floor for their meetings.
Mayor Cloe Moore issued a
statement saying "I would
like to take this opportunity
on behalf of the property ow
ners of the Town at Murphy
to express our appreciation
and thanks to the fire chief
and members of the Murphy
Volunteer Fire Department
for fighting the fire so vig
orously. We would also like
to thank the Andrews Volun
teer Fire Department for co
ming to Murphy to assist us."
SCOUT Photos BY JACK OWENS
FIREMEN PLAY STREAMS OF WATER on the Murphy Hardware structure, which at this
point is afire on all three floors, in an effort to save Moore's Jewelery.
Citizens Ask Election Of
School Board, Odd Number
Of County Commissioners
Several hundred Cherokee
County residents have signed
petitions asking for popular
election of school board mem
bers and a change in the pre
sent set-up of the county Co
mmissioners. The action was
started by the Cherokee Co
unty Republican Executive Co
mmittee.
Two petitions have been dr
awn up and are being circu
lated in the county. They are
Town Accepts
Wimpey Bid
The Town of Murphy has
accepted the bid of Wimpey's
Bulldozing and Trucking to
g rade and gra vel the new park
ing lot on the former Odum
property on Central St.
Wimpey submitted a bid of
J2,937.SO. Charles Coleman
made a bid of $3,179.00. The
bids were opened at City Hall
on Tuesday morning.
Work on the lot must be co
mpleted within 30 days. The
town, ptans to pave the lot
later.
The Town Board has not
made a final decision on how
the lot will be used to raise
revenue.
Wagon Train
Mooting Sot
A meeting has been set
for Friday night at 7 at the
Murphy Power Board Build
ing to discuss the possibi
lity of a 10th anniversary wa
gon train coming to Murphy on
the Fourth of July.
It Is believed that the wagon
train, which would make a
three-day trip from Teilico
Plains, Tern., may betted in
with the annual Jaycee Water
Festival which Is held the
same weekend.
AH persons interested in
the wagon train are urged to
attend Friday's meetlqg.
entitled "Petition for School
Board Election" and "Peti
tion for Equality". They are
addressed to Sen. Mary Faye
Brumby and Rep. Wiley A.
McGlamery.
Mrs. Brumby and McGlam
ery are asked to introduce
"legislation changing the me
thod of selecting members of
the Board of Education of the
Murphy City Unit and the Ch
erokee County Unit from the
present method whereby the
members are appointed by the
legislature to a
system wherby the citizens
of each respective unit have
the right to elect" theboards.
The petition points out that
the Andrews Board of Edca
tion is elected by the people
and says "we....feel that it
Stsdio Maaogtr
Attends School
Scout Studio Manager Weav
er Carringer is in Spartan
burg, S.C. this week to attend
a portrait photographer's
school under the direction of
Harry White, manager of BAB
Stuidos.
Carringer, who servedfor
almost four years as The
Scout's compositer, has been
in charge of the studio since
late last summer.
Carringer is also taking
short courses In commercial,
aerial and press photography.
He said he spent Tuesday
"up in the air" receiving
trainlitg in the taking of aerial
photos.
Racrtatioa 6roip
ToMeetTaesday
is highly inconsistent that die
Murphy and Cherokee County
Soards are appointed by the
Legislature....these Board
members are always selected
from one political party, of
ten with total disregard for
qualifications or ability to
serve on the Board."
The petitioners note that
"quality schools are the
basis for the attraction of
industry and progressive
growth in the county.
The "Petition For Equa
lity" asks Mrs. Brumby and
McGlamery to "institute leg
islation to correct the inequ
ality in the local law dealing
with the Board of County
Commissioners."
The signers of this petition
seeks to have the Board chan
ged to an odd number of mem
jers to avoid the present dou
ble vote of the chairman.
The Board elected in Nov
ember consists of three mem
bers of each major party and
the Democrats are able to
control it through the extra
vote g; /en to Chairman W.
T. Moore.
A spokesman for die group
circulating the petitions said
they will make the papers av
ailable for citizens to sign
until February S.
Traffic Deaths
In State Down
RALEIGH? Highway fat
alities in North Carolina are
running slightly behind last
year's pace.
The Motor Vehicles Dep
artment released figures
showing 87 traffic deans in
the state through Monday i
rnitjg.