Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1957-02-20
Horny Sheriff's Department
Is Now Under Investigation
By-W. Horace Carter

Department arc IN progress and
If misconduct IS revealed suffi-
CENT to warrant indictments
there WIN PROBABLY be whole
sale swapping of badges for
prison numerals.
In the rumor stage for sew
cral weeks, il is now an cS-
tabliShcd fact that private
detective is now making an
investigation and is reported
to be gathering evidence re-
lating to the crimes of extor-
ton, threats and bribery and
this newspaper is informed
that there is probably surfi-
cient information TO warrant
the securing of indictments.
Sheriff John Henry and SON,
of his deputies are apparently
aware OF the Investigation and
in recent weeks, gambling AMI
illegal alcoholic traffic, parti-
cularly IN the beach area, hav.
quieted down noticcably.
Another investigation by fed
eral agents is also underway.
Some persons allegedly
guilty of paying off to stay
in business" have expressed
personal fear IN testifying in
court or in signing affidavits
although some sworn state
ments are now in the hands
of investigators.
1t is a known fact by inveSti-
gators and som" of the public
that slot machines have been
operated and Illegal sale of
whiskey and other alcoholic
drinks mas been rampant thro-
ughout the beach area and other
sections for months. No less
than - different firms have
federal licenses to operate slot
machines in Horny but State
law makes such operation illcg-
al. Since the Investigations be-
gan, those operations, even
where federal licenses have been
issued, appear to have quieted
down while the heat is on.
Many persons have expressed
n re. .ctance to teStifying to the
2: essence or gambling devices in
public places in direct violation
of existing laws.
The private investigation WAS
at least partially prompted by
entry Of new pinball and juke
box company into Horny county
last October. Until that time
four concerns, namely, Modern
Music Company, Keels Music
Company, Andrews Music Com
pany and Harley Owens were
distributors for all such mach
ines in Horny. In October the
Horny Music Company was org
anized and a great number OF
establishments, particularly the
choice locations, suddenly push
ed the machines they had in
operation aside and put in ma
chimes from the new firm.
This wholesale change away
from the old distributors was
not all voluntary as some of
the firms had done business
with the music companies for
years and had no dissatisfac-
ton. The old distributors thus
investigated the reasons for
the change Of heart of some Of
their clients and were told
that pressure was being
brought on them.
The owner of one firm doing
business with the said distrib-
utOrS in a sworn statement said.
81 was approached by (name
available but withheld) with a
message from a deputy sheriff
of Horny County by the name of
name available but withheld)
who said that there would be
a man around to my place of
business (name withheld) to see
me to ask me about chang
ing from my old juke box owner
and operator to another juke
box owner and operator he
stated that IL I refused to com
ply with the request, that pres
sure would be brought upon me
and my place Of business would
thereafter be closely watched
by the sheriff's department"
It. On December Z, a man
by the name Of Buffkin OF
something came to see me jus,
as the message conveyed about
my location (indicated) and aft
CT having received this message
from the sheriffs department
on December S, naturally I wen
along with the plans TO change
my machine from one operator
to another after a minor discus.
sion concerning my old juke boz
Operator and his services to me
performed. | was afraid and die
not want any trouble with tn,
Law Enforcement agencies oil
the County for I have Away.
been law abiding citizen"
The second threat came
Saturday December 8 around
1870 p. m. before I had