50 Years Ago

Herald of April 3, 1969

Decline of the moral fiber of people has caused the increase in crime in recent years, according to Gordon Stroup, district attorney of Bedford County.

Speaking before the Cove Lions Club at its Farmer’s Night meeting, Stroup declared, “We have gone astray from the Christian ideals and have put too much emphasis on security and materialism.

The district attorney stated that criminal cases increased from 153 in 1947 to 183 in 1957 and 360 in 1967. “This increase has come about because of the change in the moral fiber of the people,” he asserted.

Mr. Stroup, wh...