The week before, having already been elected Rotarian Young Man of the Year for 1955, Dan R——was named it for ’57, too. The suspect’s wife has taught third grade here for six years. Within one hour of arriving at Big Elk Mall, Raleigh, Dan R——was handcuffed and already on his way to prison. Arrest came swiftly for the beloved local church and business leader.

Executive Officer with J & L Realty/Insurance of this city, Dan R——, of 211 Elm Avenue of Falls, was caught in the Men’s Room of Raleigh’s new J. C. Penney Department Store. According to authorities, he was apprehended while “making sexual-type suggestion-advances” to and “having sustained manual contact with” a 15-year-old boy “at the urinals of the new Penney’s rest-room facility, 2:32 p.m., Saturday.”

The father of the boy propositioned chanced to occupy a booth in that same bathroom. He was planning to take a faulty camera to the repair shop there in Big Elk Mall. The father also happened to be an off-duty detective (still carrying his service revolver).

The resultant photographs are, according to a reliable source who asked not to be identified, “conclusive and pretty damning.” No sooner had flashbulbs cooled than the boy’s father himself made a dramatic arrest. The suspect was then marched in handcuffs the full length of Raleigh’s newest luxury shopping facility. Photos are now in the hands of capital police, said Raleigh Sheriff’s Department spokesman Red Furman. He would indicate only that young Mr. R——was being held for “Corrupting a Minor,” “Soliciting,” and “Indecent Exposure.” Other charges are being considered. A printed statement on this case ended, “The snapshots prove past any shade of doubt—some touching was definitely involved.”

Mrs. Dan R——would make no statement when reached by telephone at home after not answering their door all day.

But Reverend Elmo “Mo” Haines, of New Hope Road Methodist, pastor to the once-popular young couple, went on record. His single comment ran, “This is just not the Dan I know. Dan rates among the finest young gents I have fellowshiped with or ministered to, ever. I am sure there is an explanation. I don’t yet know what it’s going to be. We do just pray for the R——family, and for Dan especially. Despite this being such a true and total shocker, we remember that, in the end, all things work together for the Glory of God.”

The hearing is slated for Thursday at noon.

V. Stakeout: Crime Scene Pix

There was once a brand-new J. C. Penney store. It dignified an early shopping mall in glamorous Raleigh. It was built prior to four-lane highways. Achieving the state capital meant a tough three-hour drive from manicured and clubby little Falls.

While Dan’s children made fast work of their Jumbo-Tub popcorn in the dark mall theatre (then known as just Cinema Twins, not yet today’s extravaganza of bad choices), the R——kids’ dapper father—with time to kill—purchased golf balls (used and new, old for practice, new for real for-keeps games).