Seaside Attorney
HEILIG UNDER EVALUATION
Handling Return Of Client Files
BY ERIC CARLSON
A federal judge has ordered a psychiatric examina
tion of Harry L. Hcilig Jr. and a state judge has appoint
ed a Seaside lawyer to oversee the practice of the Sunset
Beach attorney who rccenUy pleaded guilty to wire
fraud charges.
U.S. District Court Judge Charles E. Simon has
committed Hcilig to the Federal Correction Institution in
Butncr for a psychiatric examination at the request of
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Harris. The examination
could take up to 90 days to complete.
"There arc some questions that need to be answered
regarding his ability to enter into a plea agreement,"
Harris said.
Meanwhile a representative of the N.C. State Bar ap
peared in Brunswick County Superior Court last week to
ask that a local attorney be appointed trustee of Heilig's
practice.
After hearing testimony from several of Heilig's
clients who had been unable to obtain their files from his
office. Judge Giles Clark declared Hcilig "disabled" and
appointed Edmund A. Liles "to protect and conserve the
practice until all known clients have secured other legal
counsel or have chosen to pick up their files."
Fern E. Gunn, deputy counsel for the state bar, said
the action was taken under the organization's discipline
and disbarment procedures. She said she could not com
ment on whether or not any effort was underway to dis
bar Hcilig.
Many of Hcilig's clicnts had contacted the bar asso
ciation to say they needed their files to proceed with cas
es. Others needed files to avoid exceeding the statute of
limitations in their cases. Gunn said.
Heilig gave power of attorney over his affairs to a
friend, George Matthews, Gunn said. In court last week
Matthews said Heilig had asked him to change the lock
on his office door and to refuse access to the files.
"1 started getting calls at home and disturbing mes
sages on my answering machine," Matthews told the
court
Matthews said Heilig had tried to get a Shallottc at
torney to take over the practice, but the request was re
fused. Lilcs was chosen as trustee because his office is
located across the highway from Heilig's office on N.C.
904 in Seaside Plaza. Liles was not previously associat
ed with Heilig.
Since he was appointed trustee over the almost 300
files, Lilcs said about 10 to 15 of Hcilig's clients have
come to his office daily to retrieve their files. About half
the clicnts told Lilcs they already had paid Heilig for le
gal services. Lilcs is advising them that in order to pro
ceed with their cases they will need to hire another
lawyer.
"In some cases these people will have to start all
over," Liles said.
These clients will have to take legal action to get re
paid, said Lilcs, who finds himself in a similar situation.
Because he is technically handling Heilig's practicc in
his absence, Lilcs would have to go to Heilig first to get
paid for his services, which he admitted would be "high
ly unlikely."
Liles said that while it was part of his "duty as an at
torney" to accept the trustee appointment, he will be par
tially reimbursed for his services by the bar association.
Lilcs is also responsible for reluming funds from
Heilig's trust account to their rightful owners.
Hcilig's former clients can come for their files
Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thurs
days from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 5
p.m.
Heilig, 62, and his wife, Beverly, pleaded guilty in a
Columbia, S.C., federal court to conspiracy to commit
wire fraud. In February the two were charged in a seven
county indictment with conspiring to defraud a convict
cd murderer by promising to buy him out of prison for
S80.000.
In entering her plea, Mrs. Heilig told the court her
husband had threatened her on two occasions and she re
quested that his S50.000 bond be revoked. There was al
so testimony that Heilig had threatened another witness
in the case, Harris said.
As a result, the judge revoked the bond and Heilig
was taken into custody. Shortly thereafter, Heilig began
to complain of chest pains and was taken to the hospital.
"He had what appeared to be a heart attack," Harris
said.
After a brief stay in the hospital, Heilig pleaded
guilty to the wire fraud charge May 27. Harris said he
expecLs the Heiligs to be sentenced within two months.
They could be sent to prison for as long as five years.
Under federal sentencing, the Heiligs would not be eligi
ble for parole until they have served their full term.
Harris said the fact that Heilig is a lawyer makes it
more likely that he will receive a stiff sentence. Federal
judges use a points system for sentencing that recom
mends harsher treatment of those who have "abused a
position of authority in the commission of a crime,"
Harris said.
"Mr. Heilig certainly violated the trust of Hansel
Butler," he said.
In September 1990, Butler had just begun serving a
life sentence in Conway, S.C., when the Heiligs told him
they could buy his way out of prison by paying bribes to
public officials, the federal indictment said. They of
fered to do the job for S30.000 in legal fees and S50.000
to be paid to "commutation officer" in the governor's
office, to the sheriff of Horry County, S.C., and to a pro
bation officer in Brunswick County.
In carrying out their schcmc, the Heiligs contacted
Butler about 47 times by telephone, a violation of feder
al law. They later learned that one of their co-conspira
tors was an FBI agent.
Harris said the investigation has found no evidence
to suggest that any public officials took part in the con
spiracy.
CALABASH ACRES. CLARIDAY WOODS EYED ~
Zoning Hearings Draw Big Crowd In Calabash
BY ERIC CARLSON
About 50 Calabash residents
turned out for two public hearings
on proposed zoning changes last
week, voicing concerns about one
request to expand a commercial area
of Clariday Woods and another plan
to prohibit mobile homes in parts of
Calabash Acres.
Most of those aucnding the hear
ings before the town board of com
missioners Thursday were owners of
mobile homes in Calabash Acres
who supported a proposal to allow
such housing in the subdivision
north of N.C. 179.
However not everyone agreed
with the idea. In a letter to the com
missioners, William T. Walsh, who
could not attend the meeting, said
mobile homes should not be allowed
in the area. Mobile homes were pro
hibited by restrictive covenants
when the lots were first sold in
1966, Walsh said.
Bui several mobile home owners
said they were unaware of the deed
restrictions when they bought lots in
Calabash Acres. TTiey expressed
concern that a zoning change would
prohibit them from replacing their
homes in the event of a fire.
"I bought my lot wilh a mobile
home already on it," said R.C.
Graham. "1 wouldn't have been in
terested in it otherwise. 1 can't af
ford to build a house on it. You're
saying that if 1 get burned out I
couldn't replace it? 1 think that's un
fair to me and to everyone else in
there."
Other mobile home owners in
Calabash Acres expressed similar
concerns.
In the end. Commissioner Ray
Card asked for a show of hands, ask
ing whether the dividing line be
tween areas allowing stick-built
homes and mobile homes should be
along N.C. 179 or further south
along Mcars Avenue. By a wide
margin, those al the hearing chose
N.C. 179.
At the beginning of the hearing
on Clariday Woods, Commissioner
George Anderson told the audience
that a second hearing would have to
be scheduled because of an error in
the map published with the notice
announcing the public hearing. The
map mistakenly included 10 lots in
the area shown to be considered for
rezoning.
Tom Tucker, who owns part of
the land proposed for commercial
zoning in Clariday woods, spoke in
favor of the change. He said the area
should be rczoncd because the adja
cent property is commercial and ex
panding the zone would allow a
more appropriate use of the land.
The land has been for sale.
Tucker said, but he hits been unable
to find a buyer because the property
is bordered by commercial land. He
said the zone change would make il
more attractive to a prospective buy
er.
"I would think you'd rather have
it commercial than to have mobile
homes lining the entrance," Tucker
said. "I want the property to look as
good as y'all do."
Herb Metcalf, a resident of
Clariday Woods, spoke in opposi
tion to the zoning change. He said it
would open the door to too much
commercial development.
"If we let them get away with this
now, what's going to stop them
from buying lots in the middle (of
the subdivision) and turning it into a
shopping center," Metcalf said.
The commissioners said they
would set a new public hearing on
Clariday Woods at a later meeting.
No action was taken on the pro
posed Calabash Acres change.
Hours Changed At Trash Sites
Brunswick County has extended ihe hours at its two convenience sta
tions to give residents more flexibility in when they dump their garbage.
Hour;, for convenience stations located on Oxpen Road near Holden
Beach and N.C. 904 at Seaside have been extended on Mondays, Fridays
and Saturdays.
The stations are now open 1 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 7
p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday and 10:30 am. to 7 p.m. Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday.
County officials plan to build two more convenience stations next fis
cal year at Winnabow and on N.C. 21 1 near Midway Road.
Hours have not changed at the county transfer stations located near
Ocean Isle Beach, Lcland and Southport. They arc open Monday through
Saturday from 8 am. to 4:30 p.m.
The three temporary recycling drop-off sites at Northwest Township
Park. Town Creek Township Park and Waccamaw Township Park are
open 7 am. to 1 1 pjn. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 1 p.m. on
weekends.
Completes E
Private Anthony J. Cotton has
completed basic training at Fort
Jackson, S.C.
Cotton is the son of Agnes Allen
of Shallotte and L.E. Cotton of
Marrero, Louisiana. He is a 1990
graduate of Abbeville Senior High
asic Training
School, La.
During the training he received
instruction in drill and ceremonies,
weapons, map reading, tactics, mili
tary courtesy and justice, first aid
and Army history and traditions.
Red Cross Honors Brunswick Volunteers Today
Approximately 20 volunteers
from Brunswick County will be
among those recognized today at the
annual meeting and recognition pro
gram of the Cape Fear Chapter of
the American Red Cross.
Also, new officers and members
of the chapter's board of directors
will be installed.
The meeting at the Scottish Rite
Temple in Wilmington is open to all
persons who have contributed to the
Cape Fear Chapter during the year.
Brunswick County volunteers who
will be recognized include Grace
Angermayer, Mary Bellows, Gerta
Campen, Arlyne Fetterer, Sidney
Grove, Helen Hudson, Agnes
Jamieson, Ernestine Jonard, Shirley
Lewis, Mrs. Shirley Motley, Millie
Murrow, Avolene Nubcl, Mollie
Richards, Ed Robinson, Jean Robin
son, Jackie Slocketl, Nettie Welchcr,
Mary Young and Mrs. Eddie Wilson.
Also, Debra G. Adams, Mike Al
derson, Jeffery Amdt, Patricia W.
Bressler, Jack D. Brown Jr., Tammy
Brown, Betty K. Cheers, Carter J.H.
Childs, Patrick J. Connoughton,
James C. Criscoe, Ellen S. Dorsett,
Thomas H. Florkiewicz, William H.
Ford, Jesse Gidlcy, Richard A. Gra
ham, Shirley Hewctt, Kathleen Ja
cobs, Jeremy Jones, Lillie King,
Douglas A. Ledgcll, David E.
Lloyd, Joe H. Lowry Jr., Dana D.
Mauldin;
And, Richard J. Mazzarell, Fran
cis H. McGce, Tina W. Miller, Don
na J. Moore, Susan M. Morgan,
Deborah Newman, Helen Poller,
Keith O. Sawyer, Robin A. Schus
ter, William N. Sherrod, Grady
Sillings, Diana C. Smith, Pearl W.
Stanley, Mike D. West and James E.
Wheeler Jr.
Also, Cecil Logan, manager of
Brunswick County's Office of
Emergency Management, represents
Brunswick County on the Cape Fear
Chapter American Red Cross Board
of Directors.
The local chapter serves residents
of Brunswick, New Hanover and
Pender counties.
Coastline Has New
Business Number
Coastline Volunteer Rescue
Squad has changed its telephone
number to 842-7770.
This number should be called for
any non-emergency needs, including
transports from Coastline's service
area to doctors and hospitals.
All emergency calls should be
made by calling 911.
L. Bookworm
A full line of your favorite books-new
& used. Southern authors, children's'
books, Inspira
tional and lots of
cookbooks as well
as seashore reading
on shells, Jlsh and
wildlife.
SUMMER HOURS
10-9, 7 DAYS A
WEEK
Located at the
bridge to Holden
Beach
SUNDAY N.Y. TIMES
DAILY WALL STREET JOURNAL
FAX AND COPYING j
Month Of May Was Cool And
Rainy
When people crack open the
National Weather Service record
book 100 years from now, last month
will show up as one of the coolest,
wettest Mays in recent history.
The month tied for the fifth
coolest May, and was the sixth wet
test May since the weather service
started keeping records in 1871, ac
cording to the monthly report from
the Wilmington office.
Southeastern North Carolina re
ceived nearly twice as much rainfall
last month than it normally does.
The 7.55 inches measured at New
Hanover County Airport was a
whopping 3.33 inches above aver
age.
The weather service recorded
2.96 inches of rain May 29, which
scl a new record for that date.
Officials also measured 3.71 inches
on May 29 and 30, the greatest
amount of rainfall in a 24-hour peri
od during the month.
According to the report, the
weather service recorded at least a
trace of rain on 22 of the 31 days in
May. The area received at least one
half inch of rain on seven days.
Coupled with earlier totals, this
has been the fourth wettest spring on
record, according to the weather ser
vice.
The average temperature last
month was 66.9 degrees, which is
m
3.8 degrees below normal. The high
est temperature was 93 degrees May
24, and the lowest reading was 48
degrees May 6.
Average wind speed for the
month was 7.9 mph. The strongest
wind gust was recorded May 7 when
a thunderstorm produced a gust of
39 mph.
The weather service reported
there were 12 clear days, 10 cloudy
days and nine partly cloudy days
during May, allowing the area to re
ceive 62 percent of the possible sun
shine.
The highest sea-level pressure
reading for the month was 30.31
inches May 21, and the lowest read
ing was 29.73 inches on the third.
Mobile Office
The mobile office of U.S. Rep.
Charlie Rose will visit the new
branch post office at Sunset Beach
Wednesday, June 17, from 9 a.m.
until noon.
Anyone who has a problem with a
federal agency or has questions or
opinions aobut federal legislation is
"o Visit Branch
invited to visit the office and meet
with a representative of the con
gressman's office.
This is the first stop at the new
post office for the mobile office.
The post office is located in Sunset
Beach on N.C. 904 north of its in
tersection with N.C. 179 at Seaside.
Calabash Insurance Agency
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CHOICENTER"
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Hwy. 17 N., Shallotte, 754-5147
EVERYDAY
FIDDLER'S SPECIAL
Includes fish, shrimp, deviled crab, clam strips, French fries,
cole slaw andjiush^puppies. BUY 1
id hush puppies.
$8.95
GET 1 FREE
Sunday L vine hi Bnffet
Served 1 1:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Open Sunday evenings, too!
SANDFIDDLER
,S^^s?ESTAURANT _ 68
HWY