FAISON — When Lacy Phipps found out he wasn’t going to be prosecuted for showcasing an elaborate gallows display in the front yard of his Duplin County home, he wasn’t happy.

“I am totally disappointed and it defeated me that they didn’t bring charges against me,” said Phipps Tuesday, sitting in a chair directly under six hanging mannequins labeled with the names of government officials. “This is provocation, and I am going to hang (the) Duplin County commissioners next... I am hoping they come up here and see this and say ‘damn, this has got to stop.’ I want the attention so I can tell my story.”

He chose the commissioners, Phipps said, “Because I pleaded with them to help me. I wrote them all kinds of letters — they never gave me the courtesy to just answer me.”

Late last week, District Attorney Dewey Hudson told The Sampson Independent that while the display is “distasteful” and “troubling,” no criminal charges will be filed against Phipps.

“I want them to come on and get me because this is provocation without hurting anyone,” said Phipps. “I would appreciate some people to come out here and take me to court for this. Ordinarily they would come out here and get me, but not with what I have to say ... they want to shut me up, and since voting time is around the corner — they won’t, which is what I am disappointed about.”

According to Phipps, the story begins with a purportedly sabotaged land survey back in 1900 from the late Judge Henry Stevens, one Phipps claims deliberately omitted two tracts of land.

“Henry L. Stevens III is the judge that caused me so much pain,” says Phipps. “This is my own opinion, but it has become clear to me that he has upheld what his grandfather ruled to begin with all those years ago. Basically, I purchased a portion of one of those tracts of land back in 1984. But I purchased the original tract of land back in 1963 — it is 13 and three-quarter acres of a 45-acre tract of land. The balance of the tract of that land is what is in dispute. It is descibed in the adjoining landowner’s deeds and no one can prove whose it is. Then I was sued for wrongfully cutting timber, and that is how all of this started.”

Phipps said when he purchased the 13 and 3⁄4 acres, it was from a 2,000 acre tract of land.

“This 2,000 acres of land has disturbed everyone,” he said. “That is why when I bought that 13 and three-quarter acres, the people who lived around here despised me — because I bought it. Everyone wanted that 45 acres of land, but when I bought my portion of it, unbeknownst to me, they hated me.”

And Phipps said that it has never stopped since.

It all came to a head when Phipps went out to mark the boundary of his land, he says he rightfully purchased ... he was sued. “What I am telling you people don’t know all about this, what I am telling you here, I haven’t told anyone. You are the only one. If this story gets out about what they have done to us about this land and the murder of my son and how it was covered up, it will tear Duplin County up. Because it goes all the way up to the top.

“In 1988, there was a case involving trespassing. I had a survey of my land done and it took a little portion of the land this other landowner claimed. Well, I put some posts up and they took them down. One day they were taking down the posts, and I went out there to stop them. It was a big tractor, and I got in his way and he pushed me with the tractor and knocked me down. I jumped up and slapped the other landowner. It went to court and my attorney said to me that they offered me a deal — if I gave him a quick deed for the land, the charges would be dropped; if I didn’t they would up the charge to a felony. I took the felony.”

As years went on, Phipps, who served time for that assault charge, says the feuds with his neighbors and government officials continued, leading to the tragic death of his son William, the father of two sons.

On Sept. 5, 1995, Phipps and his son were shot by a 7 mm gun in an ambush as they were returning home. Both were shot — Lacy survived, William did not.

Jimmy Coley was tried for the murder, but an Onslow County jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity in July 1996. Coley testified that he “didn’t remember” anything that happened from shortly before the murder until about noon the following day. A psychologist stated that Coley had a mental breakdown because the Phipps family was terrorizing his parents.

Phipps contends that Coley was not alone when he shot the bullet.

“Coley did not kill anyone,” said Phipps. “He shot me in the head, but he didn’t kill my son. There was no way one person was responsible for William’s death. There were two shooters that day ...”

To prove it, B.R. Phipps, Lacy’s 43-year-old son, pulls out documentation from the N.C. Department of Health in Chapel Hill that alleges that William was killed with a .30-6 bullet and not a 7 mm Remington Magnum as stated in SBI reports.

“They were after me,” says B.R., claiming that the person who shot his father and brother were actually gunning for him. “We got a letter of threat in March of that year. I was the one after the land.”

The murder, including autopsy and SBI photos, are on full display on the second floor of the gallows.

“We are not sitting here just making things up; we have transcripts to back it up,” said the elder Phipps.

Lacy Phipps said while there has been thousands of visitors to his display, and tons of media, he says that, until now, the story has not gotten out because of the attention the gallows brings.

“You know, we have had a bunch of media people out here, but you are the only one who has asked about the land,” he said. “They all do the stories and say its about the gallows, but there is so much more to this. Dewey is right, this has been going on for years, but it has never been told.”

Last week, Hudson told an Independent reporter that Phipps was “consumed with anger over his son’s death; he is consumed with hate and anger over losing some of his land years ago. He blamed everyone for losing his land, well he lost his land because he didn’t pay back the loan. This has been going on for years now — the lesson in all of this is that this is what can happen when you allow your life to be consumed with hate.”

But Phipps doesn’t think he’s crossed the line with the gallows. “No. I don’t know all the laws associated with the First Ammendment, but I tried purposefully not to damage anyone. I would never bring a threat against anyone, never. I know that bunch down there is seething right now. And I know that they are watching me and will get me for anything I do wrong.”

Phipps said he is not concerned with the fallout from his beef with elected officials.

“Without people putting a light on the wrongdoings, that is exactly what creates the corruption,” he said.

The 83-year-old Phipps says he has nothing against Hudson personally. “I knew him since he was a baby. I knew his father, his mother, a whole generation,” he said. “I traded at his daddy’s store — I have been around him all of his life. There is no animosity there, none. I know that he is doing his job. I have enough sense to know that he is doing what they want him to do...”

In the interview, Hudson also said that what Phipps was doing was not “patriotic.”

“Now Dewey says what I am doing is not patriotic, but it is,” said Phipps. “We have to pressure our system and we should not let it destroy itself because of the people who are in power.”

During the interview, Phipps smiles and waves as people drive by and honk. Visitors are free to tour the gallows, he says. And while he knows the mannequins swaying in the gentle breeze are bringing attention, Phipps said that it is something he knows will come to an end, perhaps sooner than later.

“I am provoking him,” admitts Phipps. “I know that there has to be an end to this, but I just can’t let it go. It is something I have to do. Maybe I really am obsessed with it, but I just don’t want anyone else going through what I have went through. It has ruined my life. I have no inheritance for my children. I have just this little bit here and I have to tell the truth.”

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.