THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 59, No.7 US PS 428-080 _Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C. Thursday, February 15,1990_ 30 CENTS
swmts
Pirates take Gates
Page 6
FARM
Try kohlrabi
Page 9
FEATURE
Black history noted
Page 4
Briefs
Restoration group
plans meeting
The annual dinner meeting ot the
Perquimans County Restoration
Association will be held at Perqui
mans Center on Feb. 24, beginning
with a reception at 6 p.m. Area rep
resentatives to the General Assem
bly and their wives have been
invited, and are expected to attend.
The speaker for the evening will be
former Senator Melvin R. Daniels
who was in Raleigh at the time ma
jor appropriations were secured for
the restoration of the Newbold
White House.
All members are urged to attend
as the Harvey Award will be pre
sented to an outstanding public offi
cial who, in the judgement of the
PCRA executive committee, has
served in the tradition of John Har
vey who was called the “Father of
the American Revolution in North
Carolina.” His mother, bom Eliza
beth Coles, lived in the Newbold
White house as a girl.
During the dinner a portrait of an
early Perquimans County Newby
will be unveiled. Henry Rood, Jr.,
local artist and picture conserva
tor, has recently restored the por
trait. The Newby portrait will be
hung in the David Newby Cottage
with the hope that there is some dis
tant kinship as “Newby” appears
early in the county history.
The general membership will
have a preview of the works of art
by local artists Mildred Whitley
and Nat White, as well as many
other works by Rood. The public is
invited to the opening of the Art
Show on Sunday, Feb. 25, from 1:30
p.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is no
charge.
The price of the annual reception
and dinner is $7.50 per person. Res
ervations are necessary and may
be made by sending a check to
PCRA, P.O. Box 103, Hertford, NC
27944, or calling the site at 426-7567
before Feb. 20,1990. , . .
Police report
The following is a report from the
Hertford Police Department as of
Feb. 12.
On Jan. 29, an accident on Eden
ton Road St. near Wynn Fork Road
occurred. A 1985 Chevrolet truck
operated by Joseph Bunke Perry,
Jr. stopped at the stop sign on
Wynn Fork Road, then proceeded
into the intersection. The Perry ve
hicle struck a 1979 Ford operated
by Devail Marice Skinner that was
traveling south on Edenton Road
St. No citations were issued.
; A 1972 Dodge truck operated by
• Matison Jay Mansfield pulled out
from Covent Garden St. onto Mar
ket Street, striking a 1986 Nissan
stationwagon operated by Kim
berly Caroline Keyser on Feb. 5.
The Nissan was traveling east on
Market St.
Keyser and her mother, Joan
Keyser, a passenger in the vehicle,
were transported to Chowan Hospi
tal with class C injuries.
Mansfield was cited for a safe
movement violation.
Audrey Bunch Perry, driving a
1985 Chrysler, pulled Out of a park
ing space on Market St. and struck
an unattended 1988 Toyota owned
by Annie Lou Campbell.
Shelma Clay Miller, 34, of 329 Mar
ket St., was arrested on Feb. 2 and
charged with disorderly conduct.
On Feb. 3, Manuel Miller, 27, of
329 Market St., was arrested and
charged with assault on a female
and disorderly conduct.
' Charlie Ferebee, 60, of Lot 28
Dogwood Trailer Park, was ar
rested and charged with possession
with intent to sell and deliver co
caine and felonious possession of
cocaine pursuant to a grand jury
indictment.
On Feb. 12, Roy Hall, 23, of Route
1, was arrested and charged with
communicating threats.
Connie Leary Jernigan, 24, of
Wynne Fork Court, was arrested on
Feb. 23 and charged with shoplift
ing from the Family Dollar Store.
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Mistrial declared in Felton capital murder trial
Jurv deadlocked after deliberating six hours
By JOE SOUTHERN
The Dally Advance
Edenton—After little more than
six hours of deliberations the jury
became deadlocked and a mistrial
was declared Tuesday in the capi
tal murder trial of Claude A. Fel
ton, Jr.
Felton, a deaf mute, from Perqui
mans County, was being tried for
the August 1988 beating and stab
bing death of Sarah Ann Jones and
the shooting death of her daughter
Falinda Brooks.
The trial lasted a little over two
weeks, including a five-day week
end recess for one of the jurors to
attend the funeral of her husband.
The 12-person, all-white jury stood
permanently locked with a 7-5 vote
favoring a not-guilty verdict jury
foreman J. D. Elliott said after
court was adjourned.
“The prosecution had not proven
its case beyond a reasonable
doubt,” Elliott said. “We tried
hard...we worried about this case.”
Elliott said the jury began locked
at 9-3 favoring a not guilty verdict,
but eventually became deadlocked
at 7-5.
“I’m disappointed,” Assistant
District Attorney Nancy Lamb
said. “We’ll have to try it again.”
District Attorney H. P. Williams,
Jr. said another special session of
court would have to be scheduled,
and he did not know when it would
happen.
Defense attorneys William T.
Culpepper III and Samuel Dixon re
fused to comment about the case.
Dixon did say, however, that Felton
did understand what had happened.
The trial began on Jan. 22 with
the selection of the 12 jurors and
one of the three alternates. The
next day the panel of prospective
jurors was exhausted without the
two alternates being selected. The
next day a new panel was brought
in, the alternates were selected,
and the trial began. The prosecu
tion used two full days and two half
days to present its case. The de
fense used several hours to present
its case, relying heavily on the
state’s lack of ability to prove its
case beyond a reasonable doubt.
On Jan. 30, after having spent
three hours in deliberations, juror
Annette Downum was notified of
the death of her husband. Rather
than declare a mistrial, Judge
Frank Brown recessed the trial to
give Downum the time for the fune
ral and to return to deliberate.
The trial resumed Tuesday at
9:30 a.m. The jury went back into
deliberations. At 11:15 there was a
knock at the door, but no one came
out of the jury room. At 11:34 there
was another knock. This time the
jury returned and reported it was
deadlocked. Brown urged the jury
to return and to try and break its
deadlock.
After the jury had gone back into
deliberations, Culpepper made the
first of his two unsuccessful r^\
quests for the jury to hear additio
nal instructions.
“This is a capital case and Mr.
Felton is put on trial for his life. I
just believe in light of the jury’s di
lemma it is now in...it is appropri
ate for the court to give the
additional instructions as I have re
quested,” he said. “It could be they
have reached a decision regarding
the capital offense, but are unable
to render a verdict.”
The jury had been given instruc
tions by Brown about rendering a
verdict of guilty of first-degree
murder, guilty of second-degree
murder or an acquittal. Culpepper
had requested the jury be given in
structions for verdicts of lesser
charges such as manslaughter.
At 12:35 p.m. Brown called the
jury back to see how it was progres
sing. Elliott reported that tne dead
lock remained, and that it seemed
unlikely it would be broken. Brown
asked the jury if anyone disagreed
with Elliott. Hearing no dis
agreements Brown dismissed the
jury and declared the mistrial. Cul
pepper tried one more time to have
his motion heard, and Brown den
ied the request.
Newbold-White House to re-open March 1
From news release
The Newbold-White House and
Perquimans Center will reopen to
the public on March 1, with guided
tours from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. da
ily except Sunday.
While no major projects have
been undertaken during the win
ter, several interesting additions
have been made to the furnishings
of the house. The North Carolina
Society CDXVII Century has
given a beautiful pencil post bed,
with curtains and a corn shuck
mattress to be added. Elizabeth
City preservationist, Fred Fear
ing, gave a huge cypress tray
which was once used in hog kill
ings in salting meat. He also do
nated a mortar and pestle like the
one used in grinding maize in The
Lost Colony. Carlton Boyce has
given antique heart pine quilting
frames, to remind visitors of the
quilting parties which were once
such an important part of the colo
nial social scene.
Archaeological work by site
manager, Steven Allen, assisted
by volunteer, Ruth Sexton, has
been rewarding. Jean Newbold
Griffin gave them permission for
work on a 20-foot strip of land
which she owns adjoining David
Newby. Artifacts found reveal
that a 40-foot post and beam build
ing, with ground laid floor joists,
was once located there. Other arti
facts include broken clay pipes,
glassward, Indian and Delft pot
tery. Work has also been done to
locate and mark the seventeenth
and eighteenth century dependen
cies on the site.
Volunteers June and Nelson
Watkins have begun work on lay
ing out and developing a kitchen
garden behind Perquimans Cen
ter. In addition to the ususal herbs
and garden vegetables, this gar
den will also grow some “remem
brance” with both roses and
rosemary.
Special events planned for 1990
include an art show and reception
for Perquimans artists Henry
Rood, Mildred Whitley, and Nat
White, beginning at 1:30 p.m. and
closing at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb.
25. Their work will also be shown
from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on
March 1,2, and 3. This show is free
to the public.
Other events are the April 21
walking tour of Hertford, tenta
tively called “The Arts, Gardens
and Homes of Hertford, with the
first ever Front Porch Art Show.”
Attention will be focused on Hert
ford residents with roots in Per
quimans which go back several
generations. They have returned
to live in Hertford to prove that
Thomas Wolfe erred in nis famous
novel, “You Can’t Go Home
Again.”
They have come home, and are
making valuable contributions to
the cultural, educational and so
cial life of the Albemarle area.
Several of their homes will be
open for viewing, with one artist
creating a gallery to show works
which span half a century. A
unique feature of the walking tour
will be die art displayed on front
porches along the tour route, most
of it by “Sunday Painters.”
These homes and gardens have
never been opened to the public
before, but are being shown to
raise funds for North Carolina’s
oldest house, Newbold-White, also
Photo courtesy ot Lucille Winslow
The huge fireplace was the focal point of the Great Hall at Newbold
White. Note the 17th century chairs and leaded casement windows.
Delft plates and pewter charger and candlesticks adorn the mantel.
being shown as part of the tour.
Luncheon at the new Perquimans
Center is included in the $10 price
of the tour and will be served from
11a.m. to 2 p.m.
The annual fall fund-raising ef
fort will be made with JOLLIFI
CATION V, scheduled for October
5, and will celebrate the week of
Harvest Moon.
In addition to the people who
have been “repatriated” to Hert
ford, many have moved back to
rural Perquimans. Some have
come back to land which has been
in the family for generations, and
others have purchased waterfront
sites on the beautiful rivers and
creeks. And then, there are those
who have never left home.
Mrs. J. Emmett Winslow, cur
rently serving as president of the
Perquimans County Restoration
Association said recently, “We
hope that these people, and other
Perquimans citizens will join in
these efforts. These events are vi
tal to the operation of the site. We
have to raise every penny of our
$35,000 budget locally, and it now
appears that we will nave at least
a $10,000 deficit. So, I hope that ev
eryone will promote these fund
raisers, and will join the Perqui
mans County Restoration Associa
tion in its efforts to preserve the
truly wonderful heritage of Per
quimans County’s past.”
Commissioners prepare to renovate Blanchard building
By SUSAN HARRIS
Editor■ __
The bidding process for the Blan
chard Building renovation should
begin in the spring, according to
Murfreesboro architect Shurley
Vann, who drew the plans.
Vann met with the county com
missioners last Monday to review
with them his latest drawings. Hie
first floor will be remodeled to
house the offices of the budding in
spector, sheriff’s department, wa
ter department and magistrate, as
well as a 30-seat commissioner’s
room.
The second floor will serve as the
county’s second courthouse. An ad
dition to the back of the building
will encase the stairs and elevators
leading to the courthouse.
The floor of the first story of the
building will be torn up and re
placed with a concrete slab. The
second floor will be reinforced and
a fire resistant ceiling added.
Before voting on whether to pro
ceed with the project, commis
sioner Thomas Nixon expressed his
view that the building should be
torn down. Nixon said that rather
than renovate the Blanchard build
ing, a new facility should be built.
County manager Paul Gregory
and Vann said that their research
indicated that the cost of new con
struction hovers around $70 per
square foot, while renovation costs
are around $40-50 per square foot,
which will save the taxpayers thou
sand of dollars.
Vann also said that a structural
engineer had tested the building.
The engineer said that the building
could handle the renovations
planned with a few minor adjust
ments, which are called for in the
plans.
The commissioners chose the
plan they preferred and authorized
Vann to begin work on the final
drawings so that the bidding proc
ess canbegin as soon as possible.
Conservation update
Floyd Mathews updated the com
missioners about the projects in the
county under the direction of the
conservation office. Mathews said
that $367,464 has been appropriated
for cost-share projects, of which
Perquimans will receive $63,665.
Projects constructed have in
cluded two critical seeding areas,
two animal waste spreading sites,
one solid waste water system and
five animal waste facilities. There
are 10 more water control struc
tures that should be put in soon.
Mathews told the board that the
solid waste water system is a pilot
on Ed Nixon’s farm. There was
once run-off on the property,
according to Mathews. But with tne
construction of a lagoon, sprinkers
and pumps to handle the waste,
there is now no run-off.
Electoral changes
Gregory told the commissioners
that Mike Crowell, the Raleigh at
torney hired by the county to assist
in the electoral change process,
wrote a chronological schedule of
events that took place concerning
the proposed electoral changes.
Crowell sent the information to the
U.S. Justice Department as re
quested, and included news articles
and other written documents.
Crowell asked the Justice De
partment to extend the filing period
if they approve the electoral propo
sal. Unless the Justice Department
advises differently, tne May pri
mary will be held under the old sys
tem. The filing deadline was Feb. 5.
Other business
In other business, the board:
approved the employment of
Todd Tilley as full-time dispatcher.
heard a complaint from Ella
Mae Brickhouse concerning the
handling of her property taxes.
reviewed with building inspec
tor Aubrey Onley his annual report
for 1989.
designated the tri-county land
fill as the county’s scrap tire dispo
sal site.
endorsed the Head Start Pro
gram.
agreed to petition the state for
road maintenance at Snug Harbor.
approved the Champanoke
Farms Subdivision.
agreed to a tax release for
property leased to Beech Springs
Trucking, provided that the com
pany who owns the equipment pays
the taxes.
approved marking reserved
parking spaces for county employ
ees who work at the courthouse.
Ptwtooourtesfyol Perquimans Conservation Committee
Ginger O’Neal, secretary for the Perquimans Conservation Commit
tee, and Sammy Soil Saver (Nan Laughton, secretary, Chowan
County) tell students about ways they can conserve soil.
' . ' . /■ *
Poster contest time nears
From news release
The five counties in the Albe
marle District are once again par
ticipating in the Conservation
Poster Contest. The contest has
been held through the schools in
Chowan, Perquimans. Pasquotank,
Camden and Currituck counties for
the past 36 years.
Secretaries from each district of
fice have been visiting the schools
with slide shows, Sammy Soil
Saver puppet shows, photos and
other materials helping to encour
age students in grades four through
six to think about their natural re
sources. Over 2,000 students are ex
pected to participate in the contest.
Posters are presently beingpre
pared through Feb. 16 with first
and second place winners being se
lected in each grade. These win
ners then go on to the five-county
competition to be held in Hertford
March 6.
Carroll Williams, supervisor for
the Perquimans County Soil and
Water Conservation Committee,
serves as chairman for the District
Contest. “The educating of oar
young people in the early years
about conservation of our natural
resources is a challenge we take se
riously,” Williams said. “Hope
fully, through our efforts, students
will realize that the future of these
resources lies in their hands,” he
concluded.
Small rural
schools need
help badly
By SUSAN HARRIS
Editor _
The Perquimans Board of Educa
tion last Monday night viewed a vi
deotape contrasting the facilities
and programs at Northern Durham
High School with those at North
ampton West High School.
The video is being used by mem
bers of the Small Rural Schools
Consortium in their efforts to se
cure an education for the students
they represent equal to that of stu
dents in larger, more affluent sys
tems.
Programs, facilities, supplies
and course offerings at the Durham
County school far surpass those at
Northampton West. The Durham
facility is well-maintained, offers a
wide variety of academic and voca
tional courses and contains a 26,000
volume library.
The Northampton County school
is much different. The building is in
poor repair. Classrooms are very
small. The shop teacher said that
only one piece of his power equip
ment is in working condition. Stu
dents were shown using books with
pages missing. Administrators and
teachers say that they are unable to
offer many of the courses they
would like due to budget restraints.
Statistics compiled by the consor
tium show that in Northampton
County, a one cent hike in taxes
only generates about $34,000 at 100
percent collection. Durham County
collects approximately $720,000
with a one cent hike in taxes.
The consortium is trying to get
parents and citizens in die counties
it is working for to form support
groups. These groups will launch
letter writing campaigns and be
asked to help formulate plans to ob
tain more funding for rural school
districts.
Perquimans will join forces with
Camden County on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.
at Camden Middle School. All par
ents and education supporters are
urged to attend the meeting. The
second session will be held in Per
quimans County.
Perquimans superintendent
Mary Jo Martin has been involved
in the consortium since its incep
tion. “All we can do is try,” she told
board members about the consorti
um’s efforts.
Clifford Winslow said that those
interested in working for equalizing
programs and facilities in North
Carolina’s schools must raise the
awareness of the legislators.
Although not nearly as great as
those at Northampton West, Per
quimans has facilities needs. The
high school roof is in disrepair.
Both Winfall schools must have
new septic systems. Teachers are
holding classes in converted clos
ets.
Administrators in the smal
school systems say they must have
help raising money. “Small school
systems cannot generate those
funds,” Dr. Martin said when dis
cussing how to fund capital pro
jects.
Dr. Martin is encouraging par
ents to attend the meeting in Cam
den.
Committee of 100
plans meeting
Perquimans County Committee
of 100 will bold its annual meeting
on Monday, Feb. 36, at Angler’s
Cove Restaurant. Social hour will
begin at 6:90 with dinner at 7:30.
Members and guests are welcome.
Tickets are $7.50 and may be picked
up at the Perquimans County
Chamber office.