The first woman to serve on a jury in Robeson County- Miss Katie Lee Regan, youthful girl of Howellsville township-went into the jury box of the Robeson County Superior Criminal Court Saturday as the Court neared the close of the first week of a scheduled two weeks term.

Miss Regan, a  great granddaughter of Joseph Regan who introduced a bill in the legislature of the General Assembly of North Carolina to establish Robeson County, was the objective of all eyes as she sat to hear the case of the State versus the local men- Ken Council, Bracy Britt and Roy Wilkins-charged with stealing a tire.

Attorney T.A. McNeill, former solicitor of the ninth judicial district and local lawyer,said that Joseph Regan introduced the bill and when Colonel Thomas Robeson, representative of Bladen County, agreed to the bill, the county was named Robeson in respect to the Revolutionary War leader from Bladen County.

Miss Regan, however,was disappointed when the Court directed a verdict of not guilty as to Ken Council following the presentation of the State's evidence. 

Britt and Wilkins entered a plea of nolo contendre to receiving stolen goods, knowing them to be stolen at the time of receiving, at the close of the State's evidence.  Both men were given 12 months, suspended upon payment of one third of the costs and placed on probation for three years.

All three men pleaded not guilty to larceny.

Two women were summoned to serve on the jury, Sheriff E. Clyde Wade said.  Mrs. J.L. MacLauren was the other woman.  Mrs. MacLauren was not called to serve, however.

Miss Regan said she was "all ears" and was interested in the Courts and their proceedings. She is employed as a bookkeeper at Raylass Department Store  and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan C. Regan.