Population Greater Kings Mountain City Limits 10,320 7,206 Baga Mountain In dartrod *» IMS Buga Menatola city directory cUnauo. 11m dty UmiHi flgura la tnm Um Dal tad StotM eaaaas of Ittd. Kings Mountain's Reliable Newspaper VOL 70 No. 7 Established 1889 Kings Mountain, N. C., Thursday, February 19, 1959 Seventieth Year PRICE TEN CENTS Vote Likely On Four-Year Terms At May Election Values Of Appraisal Group Accepted By School Board Hitch Remains On Acquiring JCansler Plot The dWy board of education unanimously accepted Monday the appraisal committee report for needed property adjacent to West school, agreeing to pay the aggregate $7984 at which a three man team valued the four want ed tracts. One major .hitch to completion of the transaction, remained. (Property owners, either verbal ly or toy letter, had agreed to ale l of Kings Mountain; and two brothers, H. W. Gamble of Kings Mountain arid J. J. Gamble of Shelby. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Rev. Fhank Blalock, R?v. N. S. Hardin, and Reiv. Boyce Huffstet ler conducted the final rites. Manet Wins City Insurance Fight; One Agent To Write All Coverage B. F. Maner, Kings Mountain insurance agent, apparently won his long fight Tuesday night for a one agent, commission share arrangement on the city’s insur ance coverage. The city commission voted In favor of the Maner plan, first presented more than a year ago, after considering as an alter native placing of all coverage with one agent on a bid basis. In the alternative plan, no a gerat would have been allowed to bid if he could not supply all of the city’s required coverage. Present at the session were A gents Madge P, War lick, Wesley Bush, Helen Hay, John George and Maner. Under the Maner plan, one a gent will be designated as the city’s agent. He will split com missions with other agents on a formula to be agreed upon by all city agents. Mayor Glee A. Brid ges named Miss Hay, whose a gency is the senior Kings Moun tain insurance agency, as chair man of the Insurance group and asked her to report on the group’s share agreement at a special session March 3. Principal objection was voiced Jury Declares Shuf ord Death Was Accidental William Charles (Billy) Shu ford, 14-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Tolly Shuford, died by strangulation, due to accident, a coranor’s jury ruled Tuesday. The Shuford youth was found hanged to death at his home February 9. Jury Foreman George W. Manuey rendered the verdict af ter the jury had deliberated a bout 20 minutes. Testifying at the hearing were John Gamble, high school physi. cal education teacher, Mrs. Clyde Bennett, who had driven the boy home from school, and Police Officer Paul Saunders, who had answered the call to the Shuiord residence. Mr. Gamble said he’d noticed the Shuford lad at least four times during the February bas ketball class. "As far as I could ' tell he was very normal. He played well. There was no de pression indicated,” he testified. Mis. Ben net said the Shuford lad was a frequent passenger from school and that she had let him out at the comer of Kings and Sims street about 3:45 Feb ruary 9. She said Shuford and her son chatted in normal fashion and she could "see no difference from any other time”. Conversa tion had concerned basketball and other school activities. She said the, Shuford youth had re marked, "I hope I don’t see those spots in front of my eyes tonight”. As she stopped the oar, her son told Shuford he’d see him that night, at a scheduled junior bas ketball game. The Shuford boy had replied "o. k.” Mrs. Bennett said she didn’t see the Shuford German police dog. Officer Saunders said he ans wered a call to the Shuford resi dence about 5:30 p. m. on Febru ary 9. When he arrived, he found the Shuford dog barring his way in the house, called to Mrs. Shu ford to hold the dog. She did and Saunders was told to go up stairs where he found the body of the boy hanging by a rope from his bedroom door. Saunders exhibited articles of evidence and described the situ ation as he found it. He said the room was in order, the boys clo thes on the bed and his shoes together “as If he had put them there”. A stout wooden-bottom chair was nearby and upright. Coronor J. OUie Harris told the jury no bruises were found on the body except an old one on the hand. He said his examina tion and that of Dr. Kenneth Mc Gill determined that the lad died of strangulation. To a juror’s question, Coronor. Harris said It was possible the boy's neck was broken. -ftr if*-"’" The Coronor instructed the jury it could render ope of three verdicts: that the boy died of strangulation due to a lisuicide, 2) murder, or 3) accident. He said the verdict must be unani mous. Other members of the jury were Oarl P. Finger, Grady Ho ward, Harold Coggins, Claude Hambrighit, and T. W. Grayson. The Shuford youth was an “A” student of the ninth grade, a Boy Scout and troteibonist in the high school band. by Mr. George, who said his com pany doesn’t write fidelity bonds, which would eliminate him from bidding on or writing the cover age, and who also contended the city could save money on a bid basis. Mrs. War lick said she ascribed to the package underwriting but felt the work was worth the full commission, minus any Share ar rangement, no matter who wrote the coverage. Mr. Maner contended that the city will get better coverage for its money, and more complete coverage, with one agent hand ling the full account. He said it is possible a company which sustains a major loss would re fuse to re-write under a bid ba sis. Previously the commission had agreed to put its coverage into five classes including fire and extended coverage; fidelity bonds; fleet comprehensive and public liability; volunteer fire men’s life and accident; and workmen’s compensation. Mrs. War lick told the board the fidelity bonds would have (ComtkmmI on Page MghtJ GARLAND STILL TOMMY ELLISON LUTHER BENNETT Still Enters Mayoral Race; Ellison, Bennett Lock Horns Bridges, Still Are Opponents Fourth Time Familiar names will appear on the city ballot in May. Ex-mayor Garland Still will oppose Mayor Glee A. Bridges for the fourth time in the May voting, and T. J. (Tommy) Elli son will seek to regain the Ward3 commission seat from Incumbent Luther Bennett. Ellison posted his $5 filing fee Saturday, while Still and Ben nett filed Monday. Only other candidate in the field through Wednesday after noon were Ross Alexander, seek ing a second term as Ward 1 commissioner, and Mrs. F. A. (Boots) McDaniel, seeking elec tion to the city board of educa tion for the first tame. No candidates yet seek the other three city commission posts. However, Boyce Gault, Ward 2, Ben H. Bridges, Ward 4, and R. Coleman Stroupe, Ward 5, are expected to seek re-election. Former Mayor Still is seeking the mayor’s seat for the sixth time. He was successful only once, in 1951. He ran second to Mayor Bridges in 1953 and 1957, trailed badly in his campaigns of 1949 and 1955. He is a mem ber of St Matthew's Lutheran church. When he paid his filing fee, Mr, Ellison made good his state ment at the 1957 oath-taking ceremonies. He had commented, ‘Til see you in two years.” An East Kings Mountain grocer, El lison has many years of service on the commission. He served in the position from 1947-51, return ed in 1953 for four more years after losing to Ollamd Pearson. He is a member of Grace Meth odist church. Comm. Bennett, seeking a sec ond term, is an employee of Bur lington Industries Phenix plant and a member of the board of directors of Kings Mountain hos pital. Like Mr. Ellison, he is a member of Grace Methodist church. Candidacy rumors were still sparse. C. H. (Cat) Houser was listed as a possible candidate for Ward 1 commissioner, and Fleete McCurdy as a possible candidate for the schol board post J. R. Da vis is vacating. D. L. Saunders was still talk ing about entering the mayor’s race, but hadn’t Wedesday af ternoon. Some speculated that Grocer Charlie Blalock might of fer for mayor and others men tioned J. Lee Roberts, who sought the top spot two years ago, inter ested in a re-run. The voting will be conducted on May 12. Deadline for filing for office is 15 days prior to the voting. Of the candidates recently fi led, only domm. Bennett made a statement He said, “I am an xious to continue the broad pro gram of capital improvements this administration has followed during the past two years, in cluding Street improvements, wa ter line and sewer installations and other basic needs. I also fa vor a much broader city recre ation program and will continue to support programs to increase the city’s recreational facilities." Merchants Banquet Set For March 16 Annual employer . employee banquet of the Kings Mountain Merchants Association will be (held Mardh 16th at 7 p. m. at the Woman’s club. > Date of the event was set at a meeting of the board of di rectors on Tuesday. Installation of new officers is a feature of the banquet. Mis. Mauney Is Elected Mrs. Aubrey Mauney of Kings Mountain Was one of the eight new directors elected to the Board of Directors of Boys Home of North Carolina, Inc., Lake Wac oanxaiw, North Carolina, at the Executive Committee of the home which was held in Sanford, Feb ruary 8. Mrs. Mauney has long been ac tive in church and civic circles of North Carolina. Other new directors elected alt this meeting were: J. E. Schidl, Canton; Robert E. Lee, Lenoir; Dr. John R. Bender, Winston Sa lem; Wayne Simpson, China Grove; Daniel A, Bland, Raleigh; Manley I. dark, Lawndale; Phil G. Sawyer, Jr., Elizabeth Oiity. Boys Home is supported by ooBvtrtlbuitions from church groups, fraternal organizations, business firms, Individuals, Lions, dvitans, Rotary, Klwanis, Ex change, DeMoiay, Jaycees. Cm tan Cottage was completed and dedicated on August 17, 1958, housing 16 boys and their House mother. Lions plan to start con struction of their cottage in the spring. Heart Sunday Canvass Set Kings Mountain area citizens will be asked to contribute to the Heart Fund drive during Heart Sunday activities this weekend. Mrs. Jack White, who is sper irttending this Sunday\ phase of the drive, said volunteer workers Would be caMing on citizens dur ing the afternoon in an effort to provide funds for research to im prove techniques in treating heart ailments. The house-tahouse canvass will be held from 1 o’clock until 3 p. m. with these volunteers assist ing in the drive: Mrs. dyde Brid ges, Mrs. Gene Timms, Mrs. M. C. Amos, Mrs. Burweli Nolan, Mrs. Wilson Griffin, Miss Annie Roberts, Miss Naomi Edens, Mrs. Joe Hard, Rev. S. T. Cooke, and Miss Sara Toms. J. C. Bridges, chairman, noted that area citizens contributed more than $3000 to this fund last year. He urged workers to com plete their solicitations as quick ly as possible. City Hall Office Being Renovated Wie City HaiH business office is getting a new dress. Carpenters moved in Monday morning to begin work. Which wiU include a new Weltex ceiling, birch wainscoting, new cabinets and drawer space, and finally a new coat of paint. The window bars will be replaced with glass. Baxter Payseur is doing the re furnishing job. Meantime, the city office group Is utDtftftring the tax connector's office across the hail. Guterma Out, Roach Is In At Scranton Hal Roach, the film producer, has assumed the chairmanship of Scranton Corporation, parent company of Craftspun Yams, Inc., succeeding A. L. Guterma, resigned. Guterma resigned last week end after being indicted by the Securities and Exchange com mission for alleged violations of the SEC reporting requirements on personal stockholdings in F. L. Jacobs company, which owns controlling stock in Scranton, the Wall Street Journal said Mon day. Carl H. Swan, of Kings Moun tain, Craftspun president, said the accession of Roach as chair man of Jacobs and Scranton is the only management change and will not effect Craftspun op erations. He termed Mr. Roach “highly respected.” Guterma reportedly is a Si berian native who, since World War II, has been in this country and specialized in obtaining con trol of companies and pyramid ing them into a diversified in dustrial empire. He obtained con trol of the Jacobs firm, auito parts manufacturer, then the Scranton Corporation, major lace producer. Subsequently Scranton, and Hal Roaich Studios bought the 446 station Mutual Broadcast ing Company chain. Guterma and the Jacobs com pany got into trouble with the SEC last summer on failure to file reports on time and the stock was suspended from trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The Wall Street Journal said that Guterma was arrested when the SEC learned he had purchas. ed an airplane ticket to Turkey. Guterma denied the allegations. The SEC charged that Guterma had borrowed money from indi viduals and others and pledged 98,000 shares of Jacobs stock as collateral. In December, the SEC said, the lenders began selling this Stock. Guterma’s failure to report the transaction was a vio lation of the law, the SEC char ges. Guterma is free under $5,000 bail but his movements are in structed to New York City, West chester county, Long Island, and Connecticut. Hearing is scheduled in the U. S. District court Thursday. City Tag Sales At Brisk Pace City auto license tag sales boomed last weekend and Mon day penalty date arrived for mo torists failing to buy and display the new city tag. A total of 1479 bad been sold through Monday, and estimates were Hunt about 1600 had been sold through Wednesday. Mean time, postal card notices from the police department were going out (to oar owners who hadn’t yet bought tags. Check was made from tax list ing records. It was estimated Tuesday that about 200 ear own ers haven’t yet bought their 1959 Sixth Ward. Staggering Proposals Are Shelved BY MARTIN HARMON Citizens likely will approve or disapprove four-year city elec tive terms at the May election. The staggered term proposal has been shelved. The Ross Alexander proposal for six wards and six city com missioners is dead apparently, as his motion to divide Ward 5 at Mountain street failed to ob tain a second. These actions were taken at Tuesday night's special city board session. Voting on the four-year terms will occur at the May election, if the General Assembly adopts necessary legislation. Mayor Glee A. Bridges said he had conferred with a North Car oMna League of Municipalities attorney via telephone and had been informed the General As sembly could enact legislation to add the question of terms to the May ballot. Should the citizens approve, the officials they elect the same day would serve for four years. Under the Mayor’s plan ap proved by the city commission Tuesday night, voters would have opportunity to say “yes” or "no" on two propositions: 1) I approve a four-year term for the mayor of Kings Moun tain. 2) I approve a four year term for the five ward commissioners of Kings Mountain. If the voting takes this form, it would be possible for the vo ters to elect in May a mayor for a four-year term and a com mission for two years, or vice versa, a mayor for two years and a commission for four. Disapproval of both proposi tions would mean that the pre sent election system, where all elective officers get two-year terms, will be maintained. The board’s action culminates a month’s consideration of pro posals, initially adopted unani mously by the commission, to lengthen terms of office to tour years and to stagger the terms of office. When the commission sat down two weeks ago to for malize the action into a proposed legislative act, the commission ers were unable to reach agree ment and decided to call a pub lic hearing to get citizen react ion. The hearing was held last Thursday might and showed a wide variance of opinion. Some 25 citizens were present. “Crip” Dixon, saying he was asked foy a commissioner to sound out sentiment, said, ‘Talks like the administration but would prefer to vote on the change. Generally, people are pretty well satisfied with the way it is.” IT. W. Grayson, opposing the change proposal, said, “It has al. ways been my feeling that if a commissioner does a good job, people will return him to office.” Carl P. Finger, after inquiring about the proposal, remarked la ter, “I like the staggered term. It means these $50 guys will make $50 every four years In stead of two”. W. Gurney Grantham, a form er city commissioner, said he’s heard considerable support for creating a sixth ward, and C. T. Carpenter, Jr., interposed, "It looks like a four-ward deal would be simpler.” Mr. Grantham laughingly re plied, “It looks like political jobs never decrease, Just Increase.” Comm. Alexander commented, “I am in favor of splitting Ward 5, but I will go along with either six wards or four wards.” To a question from Mr. Finger on his feelings about the Ward 5 split. Comm. Stroupe replied that i\e had no particular feeling. After the Thursday hearing, the board moved into routine busiixss and took no further ac tion concerning the election change, re scheduling it for the Tuesday session. Kiwanis Club Sets Heart Fund Auction The Mings Mountain Kiwanis olulb will conduct an auction Wednesday via Radio Station WKMT, with all proceeds to benefit the Mings Mountain Heart Fund. Merchandise, to be auctioned. Is being donated by Kings Mountain area merchants. The auction will be held from 2 o’clock until 5 p. m., a club spokesman said.