Newspaper Page Text
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VENIN VF
By Quimby Melton
The presentments of the Feb
ruary grand jury have been re
leased and are published today
In the Griffin Daily News, offic
ial organ for Spalding County.
These presentments are not
as lengthy as they sometimes
are. The duties of a grand jury
include a thorough investigation
of all county affairs, inspections
of jail, county works camp, and
many other functions of county
government. However, this part
of their work is seldom called for
in a February term. It was for
tunate for the grand jurymen
that this was not required this
term for they had many char
ges against individuals to inves
tigate, some resulting in indict
ments and some in no bills —
enough to keep them busily en
gaged.
Personally Good Evening is
glad that the grand jury found
time to call attention to the fine
service of many. In the present
ments they praised Judge John
McGehee, Solicitor General An
drew Whalen, Sheriff Dwayne
Gilbert ana his deputies, and
Chief Leo Blackwell and the city
police force for their effeciency.
They well deserve approbation
by the grand jury.
There was one item in the
presentments that we wish ev
eryone would read, ponder and
resolve to help solve the pro
blem mentioned. This Is the ten
dency of some to dump trash
and garbage on, and alongside,
the streets and highways of the
community.
— * —
There probably has been no
news to “break” recently that
has brought on more comment
that Former Alabama Governor
George Wallace’s announcement,
Wednesday, that he had selec
ted Former Georgia Governor
Marvin Griffin as his “interim”
vice presidential running mate.
The word “interim” Is interest
ing. The dictionary defines "in
terim” as “a temporary or pro
visional arrangement.”
Why was an “interim” selec
tion of a running mate by for
mer Governor Wallace political
ly wise?
It has been explained that this
selection was announced to com
ply with laws in some states,
that specify the name of a pre
sidential candidate cannot be list
ed on primary ballot unless the
name of his vice president run
ning mate is also listed. There
are at present four states that
have such a provision; they are
Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
Nebraska, and Virginia. So, in
those states, which hold primar
ies before long, the names of
both former Governors Wallace
and Griffin will appear if they
see fit to enter these primaries.
Candidate Wallace plans later
on to hold a third party conven
tion to nominate candidates. It
may be that Former Governor
Griffin will be chosen by the con
vention as Wallace’s running
mate; or it may be that some
one else in some other state will
be chosen. That’s where the "in
terim” steps in.
Former Governor Griffin sum
med up the situation when he
said:
"I told the governor (Wallace)
mat he could put up my name
and then decide in his own good
time what he wants to do.”
“I will be a vice presidential
candidate, an advisor, a speak
er, a hand-clapper, a fund raiser
or a petition toter if it will help
this great cause.”
Realtor Said
Tapped For
Parole Post
ATLANTA (UPD- Informed
sources said Gov. Lester Mad
dox later today will nominate
Atlanta attorney and realtor Jo
seph G. Maddox — apparently
not a relation of the chief
executive — to the controver
sial Georgia Pardon and Parole
Board.
Although the governor would
not confirm it immediately, he
did say he would announce’ his
newest appointment to the
board at a 2:30 p.m. news con
ference.
He described the appointee as
an attorney, a realtor and a
former military court judge who
was in charge of 20,000 prison
ers of war during World War
11. I
The governor said he sent all
his other appointments, with
the exception of the Pardon
and Parole Board, to the Sen
ate today for confirmation.
Witness Tells Jury
Os Finding Body
By ROGER DIX 1
Ronald L. Smith, 23, who is
charged with murder in connec
tion with the death of Charles
Vaughn, a 22-year-old college
student, went on trial this mom- (
ing in Spalding County Superior
Court.
Court convened at 9 a.m.
Judge John H. McGehee an
nounced there would be a few
minutes delay.
He returned to court at 9:15
a.m.
Reuben Garland, chief coun
sel for Smith, asked for a mis
trial on grounds that he was not
afforded time to confer with Ca
rol Jean Cone Smith, a witness
in the case.
Judge McGehee overruled the
motion.
Mr. Garland said in a previous
written motion that it was nec
essary to confer with her to
prepare a defense, and that de
nial of the right to see her “is a
denial of the right of the defen
dant to assistance of counsel set
forth in the Sixth Amendment
of the Constitution of the United
States.”
The written motion also stated
that the sheriff had refused Gar
land the right to visit with her.
It said that Tom Lewis, who is
counsel for Carol Jean, had also
refused permission.
Judge McGehee said that Gar
land was given permission to in
terview Carol Jean.
His order appeared on the bot
tom of Mr. Garland’s written re
quest.
It said:
“Hie above motion having
been presented to me at 10 p.m.
on Feb. 14, 1968 after court had
adjourned for the day, it is or
dered that Carol Jean Smith be
brought to the Spalding County
courthouse on the morning of
Feb. 15, 1968 and that counsel
for the defendant be allowed to
question her in the presence of
her counsel.
“It is further ordered that
there shall be no harassment by
anyone of this defendant.”
The judge said in court that he
had granted Mr. Garland an in
terview with Carol Jean and
that an interview was held.
He overruled Mr. Garland’s
motion for a mistrial.
Mr. Garland asked for additio
nal interview time.
The judge granted Mr. Garland
30 additional minutes to Inter
view Carol Jean.
“I want to be fair with you,”
Judge McGehee told Mr. Gar
land. “I will grant you 30 minu
tes more to interview her.”
However, the judge said the
interview must be in the pre
sence of Tom Lewis, Carol
Jean’s counsel.
Mr. Garland then requested a
two hour interview. It was de
nied.
Carol Jean was interviewed
in a room at the court house. Mr.
Lewis was present.
It lasted approximately 30
minutes.
The jury was called in at 10:12
a.m.
Ail jurors, including two alter-
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Standing
Guard
DAILY NEWS
Daily Since 1872
nates, were seated in the jury
box.
Some of the state’s witnesses
were called by Sol. Gen. Andrew
Whalen. They were sworn.
Mr. Garland requested that
Carol Jean take the oath with
other witnesses. The motion was
overruled.
The first witness was Charlie
Vaughn, father of the victim.
He left the witness stand at
10:40 a.m.
Mr. Garland did not question
Mr. Vaughn.
Diane Norton, of Atlanta, was
called to testify.
She said that she and Charles
were to be married on Sept. 1
of last year.
She was also questioned about
an automobile rim.
She said that she saw Charles
paint a rim. “It was red when
he got it,” she said. “It did not
match those on his car so Char
les decided to paint it,” she
said.
Diane said she watched Char
les paint the rim “a sort of
green” and put dirt on it so it
made it appear to be the color
of the others.
Mr. Garland did not question
Miss Norton.
Willie McCard was the third
witness.
He told of finding a body on a
trash dump off Dutchman road.
He and his wife had gone
there to look for scrap iron.
He said he smelled an awful
odor as soon as he arrived at
the treash dump.
He testified that he found the
body a short time later.
He testified that he went to a
home nearby and used a tele
phone to call the sheriff’s office.
Mr. Garland questioned Mr.
McCard briefly about the loca
tion of Dutchman road and the
treash piles.
Deputy Franklin Pitts was call
ed.
He told of answering the call
to Dutchman road.
He said that Mr. McCard and
his wife accompanied him to the
site where the body was found.
Mr. Garland did not question
Deputy Pitts.
Det. Capt. Ronnie Irvin was
the last witness called before
court adjourned for lunch.
Det. Irvin identified pictures
made at the scene where the
body was found.
He also testified that he re
covered an auto rim from a st
ream leading from number
three mill pond in East Griffin.
Mr. Garland questioned Det.
Irvin about the auto rim.
A jury of 12 men was selected
here Wednesday night.
In addition, two alternates
were selected in the event some
thing happens to one of the orig
inal jurors and he can not com
plete his duty.
The alternates will remain
with the jury all the time. They
will stay with the jury until it
retires to the jury room to con
sider a verdict. The alternates
will be confined in another room,
and if needed, will take a seat
in the jury room.
MACHINE GUNNER frame a line of United Nations tanks on guard near Pan
munjon, where representatives of the United States and North Korea are contin
uing talks over the captured American intelligence ship, Pueblo.
GRIFFIN
Griffin, Go., 30223, Thursday, February 15, 1968
Selection of the Jury began at
8:30 p.m. and lasted one hour.
The jury was sworn at 9:40 p.
Continued on page two
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(Griffin Daily News Staff Photo)
Mrs. Eubanks, Dora Peavey, Mr. Eubanks, Larry Lawrence look at “Charcoal”.
INSIDE |
Hospital. Page 2-
Stork Club. Page 2-
About Town. Page 2.
Funerals. Page 2.
School News. Page 3.
Editorials. Page 4.
Television. Page 4.
Billy Graham. Page 4.
Military. Page 5.
Woman’s Page. Page 6.
Reardon Report. Page 7.
Marijuana. Page 7.
Social Circle. Page 7.
Georgia News. Page 8.
Wallace-Griffin. Page 9.
Sports. Page 10.
Bruce Biossat. Page 11.
Ray Cromley. Page 11.
Commentary. Page 11-
Viet War. Page 12-
Want Ads. Pages 14, 15.
Train Wreck. Page 16.
Weather:
FORECAST FOR GRIFFIN
AREA — Cloudy and continued
cold tonight with rain ending.
Friday partial clearing and con
tinued cold.
LOCAL WEATHER — High
today 42, low today 33, rainfall
.02 of an inch; high Wednesday
55, low Wednesday 22; sunrise
Friday 7:24, sunset Friday 6:26.
Chihuahua Saves
Four From Fire
Budget Battle Avoided
Compromise Reached
On Teacher Pay Hike
By DON PHILLIPS
ATLANTA (UPD—The House
planned to put the final touches
on Gov. Lester Maddox’s bud
get and send it to the House
for action today, but a last min
ute compromise on teacher sa
laries has avoided a major
budget battle.
House and administration
leaders agreed Wednesday to
give teachers the full $558 aver
age pay raise Maddox promised
them, but to delay it three
school months until Dec. 1.
The same arrangement would
hold true for college professors
who have ben promised a 10
per cent increase.
The appropriations commit
tee was expected to quickly ap
prove the compromise despite
opposition from committee
chairman James "Sloppy”
Floyd of Trion.
Gov. Lester Maddox not only
Vol. 96 No. 39
agreed to the compromise, but
said he had originated the idea
months ago, only to be told it
was not fiscally sound.
“That’s a proposition I made
back in the early fall,” Mad
dox said. “Now they have de
cided to go along with my sug
gestion.”
State Budget Director Wilson
Wilkes estimated the compro
mise proposal would save about
$8.2 million, approximately the
same amount that would have
been saved under a House plan
to cut teacher salary Increases
to S4OO.
House leaders decided the
governor’s original $874.5 mil
lion budget would have to be
cut by at least S3O million to
form a “cushion” to avoid a
tax increase next year.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the
appropriations committee
agreed to cut $1 million from
the Maddox 1968 - 69 budget,
but added $500,000 to the cur
rent budget to fight fire ants.
Debate on the fire ant ques-
19 Cars Derail
In Newnan Mishap
NEWNAN, Ga. (UPD—Police
said today that 19 cars, most
of them tankers, had piled up
in a derailment near busy U.S.
34 that leads through this city.
There were no injuries in the
derailment of the Atlanta-West
Point Railroad train but a mo
torist ran his car into the
wreckage and suffered injuries
serious enough to cause hospi
talization.
“We don’t know whether the
derailment was caused by a
collapsed bridge or if the de
railment caused the bridge to
collapse,” said Police Lt. Tom
Vickery. It occurred shortly be
fore midnight.
Vickery said the derailment
had caused traffic to be re-rout
ed but that the railroad hoped
to clear up the wreckage by
nightfall.
While 19 cars were derailed,
95 other cars in the long,
north - bound train remained
standing.
Vickery said malodorous
fumes from a sulphur tanker
had caused some initial concern
that the car might have been
loaded with deadly chemicals.
tion, including a film slide dem
onstration by the department of
Agriculture, w’as stormy and
confused.
The committee first voted to
give $1 million to fire ant eradi
cation, but after a controver
sial quickly called recess voted
to reconsider its action. It then
killed not only the $1 million
proposal, but proposals of $500,-
000 and $200,000.
Again, the committee voted to
reconsider and then voted $500,-
000 for the pesky South Geor
gia ants. All the money must
be spent before the current fis
cal year ends July 1.
The cuts approved at Wednes
day’s meeting were:
—5150,000 for the Legislature.
—5235,000 for raises for Su
perior Court judges and solicit
ors.
—5175,000 for a study of coun
ty tax digests.
—58,500 for the office of Co
ordinator of Highway Safety.
—5480,000 for the state Plan
ning Department.
The motorist injured at the
site of the derailment was
James E. Hinson, 43, of New
nan. He suffered cuts about the
face and chest and a back in
jury.
Country Parson
J -TsW abac
“Most people are good and
would be happier if someone
would challenge them to
prove it,”
‘Charcoal’
Gave Alarm;
House Burns
By JAMES STEWART
Four people were saved from
a burning house on the William
son-Hollonville road early Wed
nesday morning when they were
awakened by their jet-black chi
huahua dog named “Charcoal”.
Mr. and Mrs. James Eubanks,
her brother, Larry Lawrence, 20,
and a friend Dora Peavey, 18,
of St. Augustine, Fla., who was
visiting the Eubanks, escaped
the flaming house.
They said they were awaken
ed by the dog barking and sc
ratching outside their bedroom
window of the six-room frame
dwelling.
Mr. Eubanks said when he aw
oke he heard popping at the back
of the house in the area of the
bathroom and kitchen. He went
to investigate and found the
house was on fire and about to
cave in.
He said he kicked in Larry’s
bedroom door. Larry ran outside
and began moving the car and
truck in the yard. The paint on
the car was scorched before he
could get it moved. The front
porch of the house also caved
in while he was moving the car.
Mr. Eubanks ran to the gas
tank in the yard and cut off the
gas supply to the house.
By this time, the house was
ready to cave in.
Mrs. Eubanks said the house
would have caved in on them if
they had been in it five more
minutes.
Mr. Eubanks said the chihua
hua sleeps at the back of the
house in the area where the fire
started and apparently was al
armed by the blaze.
Mrs. Eubanks said she had
had “Charcoal” since he was
a small puppy. The dog is two
years old.
Mr. Eubanks and Larry are
mechanics and work at Davis
Motor Co. in Fayetteville.
Mrs. Eubanks said she had
worked but had quit to have an
operation and was dismissed
from the hospital about Christ
mas.
Mr. and Mrs. Eubanks said
they did not have time to save
any of their clothing or any of
the household items.
“We barely had time to get
out the door,” Mrs. Eubanks
said.
The cause of the fire, which
destroyed the house about 2:15
Wednesday morning, has not
been determined.
Country Club
In Pike County
To Get Loan
The Atlanta office of the Far
mers Home Administration has
granted preliminary appro
val for a $150,000 40-year five
percent loan for Old Town Coun
try Club. The funds will be us
ed to purchase 155 acres of land
and to construct a nine-hole
golf course, together with prac
tice fairway and green, a 3,000
sq. ft. clubhouse, a swimming
pool, nature trails and general
recreation area.
The club has an option to pur
chase 155 acres of land on High
way 18, 1.5 miles west of Zebu
lon.
At the present time the club
has 120 members from Pike,
Spalding, Lamar and Upson Co
unties.
A meeting of the membership
will be held at the Pike County
Elementary School in Zebulon,
on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 7:30
p.m. The permanent board of
directors will be elected.