The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-05-25

Judge Baum handed down a SEN
tence of 80 days on the roads, sus-
pended upon payment of $25 and
the costs of court.
The convicted man stated after
hearing the sentence, 81 do not
feel that / would be honest with
myself if l paid that fine L
will not feel that l can give forced
labor to any state, Germany, Rus
STA, Italy or the United States"
Appeal?
After the first trial Mr.. DeFe-
bio at first said he would appeal
the Courts judgment. Later, the
appeal to superior court was with
drawn, Mrs. DeFebio said.
The charge in the second case
against DeFebio was vagrancy;
the complaint read to the court by
Solicitor Martin Kellogg charged
the defendant with being idle,
without property and living upon
the earnings of his wife.
After reading the law on vag-
rancy to the crowded courtroom,
Judge Baum said that the evil
dence presented by the state was
not disprOven by the testimony
presented by the defense, that he
was therefore guilty of vagran-
cy and ruled that DeFebiO must
serve 3O-day road sentence.
Immediately after the second
trial, Mr.. and Mrs. DeFebio de-
clined to offer testimony (although
Mr.. DeFebio did read a brief pap
er which detailed his position as
regards the compulsory school law
and his theory of raising his chill
drenl in the Juvenile Court hear
ing postponed from last Friday.
Judge c. S. Meekins adjourned
the hearing once more, saying
that he wished to talk to the chill
dren before giving his decision.
By the time the third proceeding
was concluded in the clerks office,
it was 6:15 pm. The first trial be-
gan at 2 o'clock.
School Law Case
In the school attendance case,
the state called R. l. Leake, coun-
ty school superintendent, Principal
w. H. West and Mrs. Atkins of
Kitty Hawk School, Mrs. T. S.
Meekins, Jr, county welfare Off
ever, and Sheriff Frank Cahoon to
give testimony. Carl Salinger, who
is caretaker of the abandoned
Coast Guard Station near Duck
where the DeFebios had their
home, was called but did not ap-
pear to testify.
Questioning of the prosecuting
witnesses was brief. Mr.. Kellogg
elected from each of them testi-
mony to the effect that the chill
dren had not been in school dur
ing the time specified in the charge.
In cross-examination, Mr.. DeFe-
bio asked each witness the same
question: "Do you feel that school
is the only place that children can
learn?" All witnesses replied neg
atively.
Mr.. DeFebio called his wife,
Theo 7. DeFebio and David Stick
of Kill Devil Hills as witnesses.
Mr.. Stick replied affirmatively to
DeFebio's questions, 'Do you think
our intentions are sincere ?" and
retired from the stand when it be-
came clear that his testimony
would be useful only in the trial
OF the second charge against De-
Febio.
Mrs. DeFebio did not testify af-
ter the court ruled against DeFe-
bio on matter Of procedure.
DeFebio's Statement
After being sworn, DeFebio read
q statement which sought to clar-
ify his position in regard to the
school laws. sit is our desire that
our children apply the principles
Of God to everyday living" he be-
gan. Then he explained that he be-
lieved the children could best be
taught by the practical applica-
See DeFEBIO. PAGE Esehf