The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-12-19
CRANK RUNNING
TRUE TO TYPE
Revelations IN Latest Case But
Indicate Sickening Con-
ditions Existing

which pressure should be
brought TO bear, was revealed
in the case of Kceney Crank,
jitucy driver, who was heard
Monday in the Chamber of
Commerce rooms, in Connec-
ton with 4 15-yGar-old girl
with whom he is charged with
having improper relations, to
determine whether his license
should be revoked.
Crank. who is i married man. has
been paying too much attention, 1t
/ is alleged, to Il young 15-ycar-old
/ Girl who is already charge Of the
Juvenile Court here. The girl is 4
pretty little wiSp of creature in
knee skirts who looks aS if She
should be still playing with dolls,
within sight of her mother. Friday
night. Il week ago. an Elizabeth City
policeman took her home. after she
had been caught in Il car with Crank.
The girls father is dead, but her
mother is living, and the mother had
asked the police to look after her
daughter. who seemed to have be
come infatuated with the jitncy driy-
cr.
The mother and girl were present
at the hearing Of the charges against
Crank. The girl was frightened at
her apprehension, and in tears de-
med any immoral intimacy with the
driver. Crank insisted that he had
never driven her anywhere that she
had not paid her own fare. except
on two occasions. The mother and
the grandfather Of the girl testified
that the girl was frightened. and that
she and Crank had the story AL
fixed up" The girls mother said
that she had warned Crank u month
ago to cease his attentions to the
girl: their relations She said, had cX-
.Stcd for several months and had
caused her much concern, for her
daughters wcll-being.
The case was heard before Mayor
W. Ben Goodwin. City Manager J.
. Is. Fcrcbec, and City Clerk John II.
Snowdcn. Crauk's lawyer, VI. +.
Simpson. found tcchnic&lity in the
law which apparently left the May
or out Of the matter. If this holds.
the power to revoke Crauk'S license,
will rest entirely with J. l.. Fcrcbcc
and John Snowdcn, and these two
citv officials will find themselves i'll
an embarrassing position before the
public.
Mavor Goodwin. himself 4 man OF
some picty. was known to be hostile
70 questionable conduct on the part
Of men who hold license to operate
iitncy's in Elizabeth City. 1t is
worth something to men who. are
heard Oh such charges, to have him
well out of the way. The others who
heard the charges have not commit
ted themselves. and their decision
WAS reserved for later hour.
THIS and similar charges agains
the drivers of Elizabeth City'S Jit-
nevs should be cleared up and vii
have to be. before the calling car
command any respect from the pub
lie, One begins to wonder just ho"
far immortality extends among tho
tribe. and those who properly con
durt themselves have to remain un
der the stigma 1t was only lew
DAYS ago that Edgar Williams, III
for 4 hearing on disagrccablc charges
limited mt the affair that was hcar'
YESTERDAY. Williams told the wei
fare board. that he could tell it o
worse things than had ever beer
brought against himself; things tina
: wouId make Elizabeth City sit u
and take notice; prove that thcr
we're iitney men worse than himself
and that the facts would no douO
como TO light in Il very few days
Things came to light, and El'zaDel'
City is awaiting the result.