The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-05-16


fires, and was useless. He said tn,
people of his area We're entirel,
opposed to the man in charge.
Other members of the Boart
considering Mr.. Duvall a capable
businessman, and likewise knowinf
nothing about the situation othel
than it was in Mr.. Duvall's area
agreed Fundamentally, and stuck
by, with single exception. The
Board simply failed to appropriate
anything for this work, and the
program ended.
Mr.. Duvall had consistently
opposed this program and any APP.
preparation for it, until after he
went on the payroll of the West
Virginia Pulp & Paper Co., and in
the next month, approved an an.
preparation in 1853. At that time
Mr.. Duvall had led Carl D. Mann
of Manns Harbor, former County
Commissioners to believe the lob
of Fire Warden would be his. In
fact he promised it to MIR. Mann
in return for his previous political
support, and that support had been
no small item, for Mr.. Mann, dur
ing several terms of County Com
missioner, had been the most pop
ular member, and always carried
highest number of votes on the
ticket.
There were some other appli-
cants for the job of course, but
Mr.. Mann felt assured of this Job,
and said Mr.. Duvall had told him
all along he would get it. During
the fall of 1858, shortly before the
appointment was made, Mr.. Mann
said Mr.. Duvall picked him up
near the ferry wharf, and took
him home, telling him he wanted
to talk to him. Mr.. Mann told the
story soon afterward, and has re-
peated it several times since. :.
Mr.. Duvall told it this wav
says Mr.. Mann:
Now Carl, this job is coming
up, and you know | have gone to
a lot of trouble to work up the
appropriation, as some of the
Board were against it. But l think
that the fire warden is about the
only thing we can do for the tim
Der company, for they pay a lot
OF taxes and are entitled to some
thing. Since 1 have gone to so
much trouble, and it couldn't have
been worked up except for me, |
think you ought to be willing to
give me a little subsidy out of
each months check. Others are
willing to do this.
Mr.. Mann said he was so dis
gusted, following all the promises
and assurances previously given
nm by Mr.. Duvall, that he got
out OF the car at once, and left
him without talking to him further
Did Duvall Get His Subsidy"
Shortly afterward, in December,
1858, Frank T. Hemilright, an
other citizen of Manns Harbor
was given the job. 1t was noted
that he immediately transferred
MS trade to the Duvall store.
Neighbours told that Hemilright
mad let the cat out of the bag by
saying he was paying $25 a month
to Mr.. Duvall.
A large part of the money paid
out for the Fire Warden program
is paid back to the county in state
and Federal grants. 1t can be seen
that graft in such instances is
considered a grave offense. Just
how much there is to the story
about Frank Hemilright may be
seen in the fact that the talk got
so strong, the superiors from Ra-
leigh came down and investigated
and in the further fact that Mr.,
Hemllright took his trade over to
another store.
He later told this reporter that
his superiors told him he didn't
have to trade with anyone, nor to
pay anyone for their support, and
further that Mr.. Duvall had no
power, either to hire or to fire
him.
Mr.. Duvall evidently figured he
had lost something. He got inJ a
great stew and wanted to get Mr..
Hemilright fired from his lob. He
even went so far, as to visit some
men whom he had disliked and
bitterly fought for many years,
begging them to use their political
Influence in Raleigh to get Hemil-
right discharged. This looks like
ne figured he had lost something.
But his appeal availed him moth
ing.
|. We could cite many instances.
which in our belief disqualify him
for the place he now holds, but
we believe the two here mentioned
should call for his retirement. How
any man will so flagrantlv violate
the trust that has been given him,
is beyond our understanding.
Truly he has been flying far,
while winds are fair, and feather
ing his nest at the expense of
the taxpayers.