Memorandum to: Major John Laws, From: Lieutenant L. J. Lance, Subject: Incident Involving Possible Racial Overtones, February 27, 1968

Н Р-736 В RALPH L. HOWLAND COMMISSIONER JOE W. GARRETT ASST. COMMISSIONER of ^fortfy (Carolina department of (jHHoior jiiate JHtgbfmtg patrol COLONEL CHARLES A. SPEED COMMANDING MAJOR THOMAS B. BROWN COMMUNICATIONS 6 TRANSPORTATION MAJOR EDWIN C. GUY ENFORCEMENT Hq. , Troop A Greenville, N. C. 27 February 1968 MAJOR EDWARD W. JONES TRAINING » INSPECTION MEMORANDUM TO: MAJOR JOHN LAWS FROM: LIEUTENANT L. J. LANCE ' У ■ У - RE: INCIDENT INVOLVING POSSIBLE RACIAL OVERTONES On Thursday, 22 February 1968, during a court trial in Elizabeth City Recorder’s Court, a subject known as "Beefy” Layden, who operates "Beefy’s" Drive-In, 909 W. Ehringhaus Street, Elizabeth City, was appearing as a witness and dur¬ ing the cross examination, it was revealed that he did not and would not serve negroes at his eating establishment. Upon further questioning as to why he would not, he stated that they (the negroes) acted like a herd of cattle. This statement caused some stir of obvious resentment in the courtroom, and unconfirmed information since then reveals that further resentment is possibly building primarily at the negro college there. There hasn't been any trouble as yet; however, under the circumstances, this office is reporting the incident in com¬ pliance with recent instructions regarding the involvement of the Good Neighbor Council. LJL : рас