The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-06-03
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PASTOR FAVORS BUILDING
HATTERAS ISLAND JAIL

PASTOR FAVORS BUILDING
HATTERAS ISLAND JAIL
To the Editor:
Since the controversy has riser
over the need of a jail for Cape
Hatteras Island, / would like tt
| continue the discussion by adding
my views. First let me state thai
l am writing this from my owl
conscience and not at the Request
of some neighbor. l also have
many friends in all the commu
mites on this island and l am pre-.
JUDGED to no one community. l dc
not feel that your Editors Note
in answer to DIR. Tharp's letter me-
the issues at all but rather raised
new ones. No person that l know
demands that a Jail be built al
Buxton. Cape Hatteras embraces
several communities and | think
you were the one that raised the
question: "Why spend $4,000 fol
Jail at Buxton y"
There is no doubt but what you
have the popular side in this mat
ter for by nature people dislike
jails and taxes, and locations OF
amounts have little influence over
their attitudes. However, Biblical
history and secular history sug-
gests that popularity does not
prove question right.
l have worked very closely with
the children of this Island over
the past three years and l have
found that the real bitterness that
you spoke about is found mostly
in the hearts of people least con-
cerned with the welfare of the
children and not all of the trouble
makers live on Cape Hatteras Is
land. Why bring the school issue
to bear on this subject? Are you
trying to become a party to keep
ing the wounds from healing?
Jails are made for the lawless,
local or outsider; we have quite a
few of both. Never did the law
abiding citizen have to fear seeing
his name in Mondays lineup.
Many of those that break the law
need help. When person is drunk
or under the influence OF drugs
thew need immediate restraint "
save them from serious trouble or
someone else from serious injury
Since everyone given to evil haDltS
doesn't conduct himself as
gentleman, the hospital where our
,,,onoen and children go for treat
mont is no place for detention
cali At least not as near as the
nresent brick structure IS. Manteo
IS a long drive from many points
on Cape Hatteras even with a
bridge. At night is when most
trouble occurs. Who's gong 10
natrol or serve the public wnile
an offender is being transported 10
Manteo? ~
If the location of the jail WIN
oonee ill-will then locate 1t on
neutral property. l don't th!nk
everyone is going to be tlghting
to get this project as their own
Naturally those that lnhaolt tne
iail will have ill-will. Cooling Of
tenders is not an act OF love.
..Training a child in the way ne
should go" takes in more tnah
making excuses for or keeping MN
ont of the clutches of the Officers
Training sometimes involves un-
pleasant restraint.
There was a little irony IN the
fact that your answer to Dr.
Tharp's letter appeared just oppo-
site DR.. Peck's complaint. Ii Dare
County is going to attract and
hold the type of people to make
her proud of her citizens we must
face our shortcomings and intelll-
gently seek a solution to our prob
lem. The Church can't help until
people see their need. Some folks
don't see their need until brought
face to face with reality, some
times that is behind bars. Some
never see, but some will. Fear and
adherence of a Jail is good
thing, it sort of makes people want
to stay out. l say the very pres
ence of a Jail would change the
thinking of a lot of our young peo-
pie and quite few of our adults
Let US resolve to stick to facts
explore this situation, and come tc
reasonable conclusion and ther
do something to salvage the repu.
tation of Dare County, not just
locally but far and wide.
Sincerely,
Robert E. Rayle Jr., Pastor
Buxton Assembly of God Church
| Buxton. N. C..