North Carolina Newspapers

Watch the Libil on Tow Paper As It Carries the Data Whan Yoor Subscription Expires VOLUME XXXII—NUMBER 25 WHOLESALE MUR DER CONSPIRACY IS UNCOVERED r a ... , Washington Police Believe They Are On Track of Fiendish Plot 7 NEGROES* ARRESTED Conspiracy Consisted of Taking Out Insurance and Getting Rid of Insured Person While there is no connection be tween the two, people here learning of the two negro deaths in this coun ty yesterday afternoon naturally men tioned the murder conspiracy uncov ered in Washington this week. The WsShington Progress, of yesterday, has this to say of the murder con spiracy in that asction: "Following the murder Saturday night of Frances Hartsfleld, Neggrecs, county and city officers today are working an what they believe to be ona of the moat fiendish wholesale murder conspiracies ever originated ia this section of the state. At least eight or nine deatha already are be-| tiered to have taken place, with from seventy-five to a hundred more vic tims in prospect. "Matilda Redmond and Nathan Cran dall, alleged to be the arch-conspira tors in the plot, are being held in the coonty Jail, together with J. C. Cruder, Tiney Jefferson, Paul Jeffer son, Herbert Mitchell and Garfield Clemmons, as important witnesses. AH of the prisoners are negroes. Deputy Sheriff George H. Harris, whoi has made the arrests thus far, said this afternoon that a number of others wQI take piece within the next day or two. "The conspiracy is said to have coasiated of taking out numerous in surance policies on the lives of differ ent Negroes of the community and than getting rid of the insured either by means of poison or through some other agency. "Three years ago the Redmond wo man's husband died suddenly, and the general belief was that he had been poisoned. Mptilda carried a sizeable insurance policy his life. A little over a year ago, her nephew also died suddenly, and it was reported that he, toe, had been the victim of poisoning. His aunt alio carried a policy on his life. Three or four girls, living at the Redmond home, are said to have met sudden deaths. "Barly Sunday morning, the body of Frances Hartfleld was found on the railroad tracks a mile from Wash ington. Matilda had four policies on her, ranging from $75 to (400. She was arrested Monday. Her brother, Nathan Crandall, also was arrested and evidence Is piling up to indicate tfed he is the one who shot the Hart field woman. As a matter of fact, of ficers believe that the Redmond wo man and Crandall operated together; that she attended to the insurance and that he was responsible for the mur ders. following Matilda's arrest, Deputy George Harris went out to her home and, after making a thorough search dissevered a pile of more than seven ty-live insurance policies concealed in the mattress of her bed. News of tfie discovery spread through the city rapidly and many of the Negro resi dents are panic-stricken for fear that they are included among the list of prospective victims. Seldom beforr; has tha colored section of the city been so aroased over anything." Contractor Rushing Work on Warehouse • Removing trash and smouldered timbers from the lot, workiKen will start within a very short time the con struction of the new Planter* Ware house here, according to Superintend ent Fields, of the Jones Brothers & Co, contracting firm, Wilson. Mur ray & McCabe Co., local lumbermen, are placing the lumber on the lot rapidly, and with fair weather the con tractors plan to complete the work within a comparatively short time. |W ATT S I THEATRE I Saturday May 25 808 CUSTER in I "ARIZONA DAYS" I gK,IAL >nd COMEDY I Monday-Tuesday May 27-M WOMEN'S WARES;; with I Evelyn Brent, Bert Ly tell, Larry Kent and Others I MEWS AESOP'S FABLES I Shows at 7:15 and • P. M. Dally ■ MUSIC BY PHOTOTONE THE ENTERPRISE Only About Hal Payers Have Li A last-minute rush,- and a big one at that, was predicted yesterday by Mi. John D. Lilley, county tax super visor, who stated that hardly more than SO per cent of the property has been listed at this time. Much prop erty has been listed this week, the sup ervisor stated, but the takers have not been rushed only at times, it was point ed out. Mr. Lilley stated that he was not in a position to report on the list ings, hut gave as his belief that the valuation will be equally as large as it was last year, if not a little larger. The list takers here, Messrs. R. T. Griffin for the township and W. T. Meadows for the, town, stated that ap proximately 60 per cent of the prop SHERIFF'S SALE WILL BE LARGE ♦ Around 300 Tracts of Land Will Be Sold, According To Present Outlook • The sheriff'ii tax sale, just a little over a week off, will he one of the largest that has been held in this coun ty in a number of years, according to reports coming from the collector's of fice-today. "Very few people have set tled their tax accounts since the prop erties were advertised earlier in the mouth, and unless payments increase rapidly between now and Monday, June 3, around 300 pieces of property will be offered jpr sale," Deputy Grimes stated this morning. Approximately 10 per cent of the property advertised for sale the first Monday in June has been removed from the delinquent list. Taxes a mounting to around $17,000 remain un paid, and in conformity with the law, the accounts will be cleared at the sale Monday week. The local town tax list has fared lit tle better, if any than that of the county and with the two collectors selling next month, there'll he a busy time. —* BOY HURT BY FALLING TREE ♦ Tommie Gay lord, of James ville, Suffers Broken Leg In Accident Tommie Gay lord, son of Mr. and! Mrs W. B. Gaylord, of Jamesville, suffered a broken leg and other in juries when he was struck by a fall ing tree near his home Wednesday. The boy was rushed to a Washington hospital, doctor* there finding it neces sity to remove Several pieces of bone mashed by the tree. He was" re« moved to his home and is getting a long very well at this time. The boy, with his brother, was saw ing a tree in the woods, and when the saw jammed the two stopped and went for water. Upon returning the wind toppled the tree over just as young Gaylord reached the spot. He was knocked down, the tree falling on his leg. The boy suffered bruises al>out the face, but they were only minor ones. ' " ... ■' ■ • Program o/ Services at Presbyterian Church Sunday school, 9:45 a. m. Depart mental classes. Worship service, 11 a. m. Subject: 'Uamabas, the Man Who Understood." In a day and time ill which there seems to be little understanding be tween mother and daughter, father and son, employer an demployee, it is indeed refreshing, inspiring, and help-! ful to study the life of one of the great characters of our New Testa ment, a man who understood, and en deavor to draw from it lessons which are applicable to our own day and time. We delight in inviting all those who are interested in this subject to meet with us. We extend to all who are not affiliated with any church what ever a most cordial invitation to make our church your church. We want to know each of you, and we want you to know Christ. We meet each Sunday in the Wo man's Club. Come and meet with us. Z. T. PIEPHOFF. • Shrines Pass Through Here En Rroute to Convention Judging from the number of Rab bans, Priests and Prophets, guides, ceremonial masters, orators, marshals, captains, potentates and goodness only knows how many others that passed through here Wednesday and Thursday, the spring ceremonial and stated session of Sudan Temple held at Elisabeth City this week was un doubtedly well attended. Up until noon yesterday the Shriners, wearing their red caps, found their way to the convention, while yesterday afternoon the crowd started their homeward trip coming through here in an almost un | broken line. ;i * b Williamston. Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, May 24, 1929. erty owners had listed here, that the work had proceeded rapidly during the first three days of this .week. The property valuation in the town will show an increase according to Mr. Meadows, bdt the increase will be held down considerably as it is apparent that personal property is making a weak showing as a whole. "I-ast year wo had a one and one-halt million dollar valuation, and it is my belief that we will reach a point somewhere between $1,500,000 and $1,600,00 this year," Mr. Meadows stated. Very t£Av people listed their prop erty here yesterday, indicating a big rush lor next week, as the time for listing ends next Friday. IATTACK LAID TO BURGLAR • Authorities Puzzled by Al leged Attack on Young Couple Near Here ♦ Tuesday night about 11 o'clock, a burglar is alleged to have entered th« Carson Taylor home on the Biggs farm near Skewarkee and assaulted Mr. and Mrs. Taylor. According to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, a negro entered the home and struck Mr. Taylor in the mouth with an ax and then turned to Mrs. Taylor and broke her arm. They claimed that the burglar entered the house while they were sleeping and when Mrs. Taylor heard the noise and raised herself up in bed, he attacked them, knocking seven teeth and mash ing bady Mr. Taylor's mouth. The occupants stated they found the back door of the house open. Officers were called and a physician was sum moned to treat the wounds. Investigating the case, officers found no signs where one had approached the house nor any indicating that u person had left the dwelling. Mr. Tay lor's ax was found behind the dooh Officers are puuled over the hap pening, some doubting the statements and giving as their opinion that it was a family ditsurb&nce. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been married only a few months and both are very young. ♦ ' TRYING TO GET EARLY OPENING ! • Figures Will Be Submitted, Showing East Carolina Sells Most Tobacco Kinston, May 2J—The 16 markets in Eastern North Carolina last season sold 308,000,000 pounds of tobacco. This figure was announced today by the Eastern Carolina Chamber of Com merce. Georgia markets handled 84,000,000 pounds, and South Carolina markets about the same quantity. The Eastern Carolina markets sold more of the weed by 60,000,000 pounds than the other 27 markets in this State. Two Eastern Carolina towns sold near ly as much as Georgia and South Car olina put together. The 16 eastern markets handled more than 25 per cent of all the loose leaf marketed in the United States in 1928. The chamber of commerce will pre sent these figures to the United States Tobacco Association next month in an effort to secure an earlier opening date for the eastern be|t. The association will hold its annual convention at Old Point Comfort near Norfolk in June. Earlier opening will result in the iriarketing of hundreds of millions of ! pounds of bright Jeaf when it is in the best condition and growers will benefit to the extent of millions of dol lars as a result, it is claimed by J. Paul Frizzelle, president of the cham bei and other officers. • Shrine Patrol in Drill Here Wednesday • Eii route to the Shriners' conven '■ tion in Elizabeth City, the Sudan pa -1 trol stopped here and gave an exhi -1 bition drill on the main street here Wednesday afternoon, delighting a large number of spectators. The 30 men were exact in their march, and for 20 minutes they executed the com mands of their captain, George W. Al- I lee, who directed the drill aided only I by the use of a whistle. The mem bers of the patrol stepped off the 95 commands with a clocklike exactness. The main thoroughfare was cleared of automobiles from the cor ner of Smithwick to Harrison Broth ers' store, the Boy Scouts turning traf fic to the side streets. • Regular Services at Church of the Advent Regular services will be held in the Church of the Advent here Sunday evening at 8:00 o'clock, it was an nounced yesterday by the rector, Rev. Arthur H. Marshall. The public Is corrdially invited to attend. METHODISTS TO BEGIN REVIVAL NEXT SUNDAY —•— Rev. B. Duke Critcher To Be in Charge During Meeting SERVICE EACH NIGHT Services Will Continue Through First Sundsy In June, Perhaps Longer; All Invited to Attend ' The First Methodist Church begins it« annual evangelistic services next Sunday morning at 11 o'clock. Preach ing service Sunday evening at 8 o'- clock. There will be only one serv ice daily through the week, and that an evening service at 8 o'clock. In the past the Methodist church lias_always brought the most outstand ing ministers available for its revival services. This year it has been most fortunate in obtaining the services of Rev. B. D. Critcher, of Oxford. Rev. Mr. Critcher is a former resident of Williamston, and the churches of the city will take great pleasure in welcom ing him into our midst for this re vival. The pastor and congregation of the Methodist Church invite all the min isters and their congregations to join them in these evangelistic- services. A cityiwide invitation is extended to all church choirs to accept a place in the chorus through the revival. A song service will precede each preaching hour. A most cordial wel come is extended to all. The revival will extend through the first Sunday in June, and perhaps longer. BEGIN FORMING COUNTY TEAM —•— Meeting Held Here Last Night; First Practice Next Tuesday * Meeting here last night a number of young men from several parts of the county practically made complete the arrangement sfor a county base ball team to take part in the four county league recently organized. The undertaking was heartily endorsed by those attending the meeting, and its success is assured. The first practice will be held next Tuesday afternoon on the Hveretts diamond, every young man in the county being extended an invitation to attend and take part in the play. Mr. Bill Spivey, one of the leaders in the league's organisation stated this morning that present Indications point to a successful season, that the young men uttending the lust night meeting and other people throughout the county are very much interested in the play's success. Bertie was represented at a meeting" here last night, assuring the third tnetaber of the four-county league. Washington county dropped out and it, is understood that Ahoskie is con sidering entering. With Beaufort, Ber tie and Martin already entered and Ahoskie planning to enter, it to be lieved that play will be underway with in the next few days. Those attending the meeting last night from out of town include: R. E. Taylor, J. E. Johnson, J. B. White-* 1 hurst, Pete Bunting, "Spot" Rober son, Robersonville; Clarence Faulkner, Archie Roebuck and Dick Cherry, of Everets; Jimmie Brown and Carrol Brown, Jamesville. a T. Jones Taylor Is Very 111 in Hospital ■a T. Jones Taylor, prominent Edge combe County citizen and a popular figure here, is critically ill in a Rich mond hospital, suffering cerebral I hemorrhages. Mr. Taylor was taken suddenly Sunday morning when he fell unconscious at his home, near Bethel. He was removed Wednesday to a Richmond hospital where his condi tion is said to be grave. Mr. Taylor, a surveyor, visited here real often and is well known by local people. r Negro Found Dead in Bed Alter Funeral of Another m Returning home late yesterday, aft er attending the funeral of a friend, relatives of John Cherry, aged negro of Williams township, found him dead in bed, the man apparently dying of heart failure. Coroner S. R Biggs was called and the case was investigated, Mr. Biggs stating that the death was due to natural causes, that foul play was not evident. Neither Cherry nor Godard, the boy drowned yesterday afternoon, was the victim of the wholeaale murder con spiracy uncovered in Washington this week. 'I a Warehouse Meeting Last Night Postponed The meeting of the Martin County Warehouse Company directors sche duled for Inst evening was postponed until next Thursday evening at 8:80 when all business relating to the con struction and operation of the house will be handled. • ■ *" . v-v- - I RECORDER HAD • BUT SIX CASES Four Defendants Appeal ( From Decision of Judge Bailey The judgment handed down by Re ( curder Bailey in-the county's court here last Tuedsay brought about four t appeals to a higher court out of the six cases called. A 90-day road sen tence stuck in one case, and in an other final judgment was withheld for i a week. t Clyde Knight plead not guilty to an abandonment charge and appealed to ■ a higher court when he was required to pay $2 a week for 12 weeks to Winnie Jones {or the plaintiff and taxed with the costs of the case. Ap i peal bond was fixed in the sum of S2OO. I Found guilty of disturbing religious : worship, Joseph Mayo was sentenced to jail for a period of V 0 days to be assigned to the road force in Edge : combe County. He entered a plea of not guilty and appealed to the superior court when the sentence was meted out. Bond was fixed at $l5O. Clarence Sherrod, guilty of carrying a concealed weapon, accepted his sen tence, 90 days on the roads. ' The case charging George Lcndon Hardison with assault with a deadly I weapon, was continued a week for fin ' al judgment. Henry Kay nor was found guilty of i an assault and appealed to the super ior court after judgment had been sus -1 pended with the costs remaining. He was required to give bond in the sum of SSO. Found guilty of assault with a dead ly weapon, Dave Bryant was fined $25 and taxed with the costs. Appealing [ to a higher court, he was required to' give" bond in the sum of SIOO. SHOW WORK OF CHURCH ARMY —•— Free Moving Picture Will Be Shown at Watts Next Wednesday A moving picture of very unusual ' inn rest will be shown in the Watts ' Theatrfc next Wednesday afternoon which will show how the English peo ' pie train and -teach their young men ' in that great organization which is now coining to be known in this coun ' tiy and known as the Church Army. ' This picture is taken in England and ' will show many scenes of unusual in ' terest around Loildon and rural Eng " land with its delightful and picturesque ' scenery. One of the scenes ill this | picture which will be of interest to many will be a wedding in a rural ' cliutch, in which the quaint costumes be blended in wondrous harmony with the ultra-modern ones. This picture is shown through the courtesy of the Church Army in Eng land anil the United States, and will be shown at the Watts Theatre, of this city, by courtesy of Mr. Watts, free oi charge to the people of Williamstfm and surrounding communities at*3 o'- clock next Wednesday afternoon. Captain Hur worth of the English Church Army, will he present to ex •{ilaif). the different scenes and to an- any questions which may In asked of him. * ' , Authorities HerenStressmg Proper Lighting oi Autos In an effort to correct impropei lighting on automobiles, local officers have been sending out special warn ings to all owners whose cars are not . properly equipped with lights. More than '26 car owners have been que.s- I tiohed as to the condition of their , lights and several arrests have been I made where the drivers mude no at tempt to correct lighting errors. t While there are very few cars heie not properly lighted, the officers con tinue the work, and state that they , hope to remedy the" conditions in its I' entirety. i ♦ Eveiftts Camp Modern Woodmen Meet Monday The Everetts Camp, Modem Wood - men, will hold • regular meeting in !, the hall there Monday evening at 7:30 i o'clock, when, it was announced, an I attempt to organise a baseball team, f Plans of the undertaking have been s 1 discussed, and it is believed that the ,' prospects for a successful team are 9 unusually good. The members are / urged to attend the meting. , Services At Bear Grass School Sunday Night H This is to advise the residents of Hear Grass Township that preaching are to be held in the Bear Grass Schoolhouse auditorium each ■ Sunday night at Ro'clock, beginning Sunday, May 26. Since the death of r Mr. Yandell, these services have been - discontinued. But in the future serv- I ices will be held regularly each Sun- I day night. Please keep this in mind - and tell all your friends and neighbors ! about these services. Z. T. PIEPHOFF. 300 Applications for Admission to Clinic ! • —>— SMALL FItfEAT PENDER STORE ■* i Careless Burning of Trash Responsible for Small Blaze Yesterday Carelessly burning trash thai had been allowed to accumulate for weeks behind the I). Pender Rrocery store here,'an employee pi the store yester day morning started a fire that threat ened the stort' and other buildings ill the town's center. When the fire com pany the scene, the fire had started eating it* way into the store's roof and windows, making it necessary for the tireirici to lay several himdrcif f«et of hose to place the flames wider control. While there was no property dam-' age, the fire, it is hoped, pointed out to store owners and others here the dan- . git in allow trash to accumulate. A month ago a clean-up and paint-tip campaign was sponsored by the Wo man's Club here in an effort to lessen the number of fires' and add to the town's apwarancc in general. The Pender' stotV-front was freshly painted during the campaign and at the same J time trash and rubbish was allowed to \ pile up. The store operators were instructed immediately after the fire to have the rubbish removed at once. i« FARM LIFE PLAY I PLEASES CROWD —r~* —f — Medium - Sized Audience Sees "A Prairie Rose" Here Wednesday 1 Ihe play, "A Prairie Rose," staged 'j by the students yf the Farm Life ' School in the City- Hall auditorium 1 here la«t Wednesday evening was well j received by a medium-sized audience | Wlljle the. play as a whole was credi ' tably staged, two players stood- out ill ' their respective parts. Miss Veroira l.illey, playing as Kosa, the girl of' the New West, was unusually good in her role, several spectators declar ing her acting equal that of many players in the trained troupes. Miss 1 Yclma Griffin i-atui'ed when she gave a reading that greatly pleased the' members of the audience. Singing between acts, the hoys' | quartette, Raymond Ciurkin, Thomas Manning, Hugh Daniel, and Archie Koberson received hearty, applause. The students are planning to stage: the play in other parts bf the coun ty, "anil it is certain that they will please where they go. j - Cooper School District Votes for Consolidation —: —*: County consolidation of schools was advanced another notch last Wednes day when the voters of the Cooper School district voted 47 to 7 in a spec ial election held there to send their children to Jamesville for instruction. | ( >{ the 55 registered voters, 47 voted j for the measure, 7 against it, and 1 not casting a vote. The' Cooper district was served by a two-teacher school, including no high school courses. Ihe people there will now pay a 25-ccnt spetial tax and will send their children by truck to tin Jamesville schools, only 4 miles a way. • At my Engineers To Make Aerial Survey oi Roanoke *- — In an effort tp aid flood relief work on the Dan and Roanoke Rivers, the ' I nited States Government is plan ; uiug an aerial survey of the two j i streams. The survey will be made | i this summer by army engineers and the air service. A map will be made , from the ■ source of the Dan in the Patrick County highlands of Virginia r to the Albermarle Sound, where the stream enters under the name of the " Roanoke! -• ' f * ' I Water gauges have l>ecii placed a ' i long the streams as a part of the flood I relief program, and Cither work is being • | done toward the same end. I I *—; —■ s Teachers' Training Course '] Will Be Held at Everetts Beginning next "Monday evening at 8:00 o'clock, Mr. L. M. Morgan, of Raleigh, will start a teachers' train-, i ing aehoel In the Everetts Baptist J Church, it was announced this mom f ing, Mr. Morgan, a pioneer worker; [ in the Sunday schools of the State, is r an able leader and the school will be i of much proAt to those attending. [ At the regular Sunday school hour t Sunday morning, Mr. Morgan will out i line the plans of the achool which will continue through the week. The pastor J. H. Smith, of Wake l Forest, will hold the regular services i Sunday morning at 11:00 o'clock and Sunday eyening at 8:00. The public ia cordially invited to attend. ' / Advertiser* Will Find Oar Cel. umns a Latchkey to Ont 1,600 Home* of Martia County ESTABLISHED 1898 WILL BE ABLE TO CARE FOR ONLY ABOUT 100 | » Only 11 Colored People! Ap ply Out of Total of 286 Applications Received TO TURNAWAY MANY Clinic Will Begin Tuesday and Last For Four Days; Can Handle . * 25 Cases Daily W itli nearly three hundred applica tions already in and a .few more ex lu ted, the special tonsil and adenoid clinic scheduled to he held here next ueek will have alinut three-times as much work a- it will b* able tl> handle, | according to Mrs. H. I*. (j UtT V, State health nurse, who is in active charge of the chnic arrangement-. Prepara tions, for holding the clinic are'prac tically Complete at this lime, and with the arrivaPof the specialist and nurses, operations will be in progress Tuejs ih.v, morning in the old scljool building here. I he clinic, lasting four days,, Tues- I day.. Wednesday, I'hursday. and Fri- I day. will accommodate around 25 sub jects daily, Mrs. Guffy regretting very much that only about one third of the applicants can he treated during the j week. lo make the service as valu able as possible, Mrs. Guffy is urging 1 fery applicant to visit the clinic that thorough examinations .might he made ! and -that the most dangerous cases might be treated. ! Iwo hundred and seventy-five of the applications received up until noon ! yesterday were from white children; 1 . the number from the colored being too i small for a day's work, the clinic will handle only white cases during the week. The 11 applications received from the colored people indicate that the negroes are not troubled to any great extent with bad tonsils or that they take no interest m ' the oppor t tunity extended JJhem. . . » , ,-The 28(i applications represent prac tically every district in the county, i many of them coming from the rural j sections. f Baptists Will Hold But One Service Sunday The Sunday School shuold be well I attended Sunday morning. Let every one be present, with prepared lessons and make it a great Sunday school. At the morning preaching hour, the | ReV. J. W. Kincheloe, Jr.. of Rocky Mount, will occupy the pulpit. He is a young man, just home from the seminary at Louisville, and comets > well recommended. Due to. the fact that the pastor will l.i preaching at (how all College Sunday evening, together with the In-girting of the evangelistic services aifthc Methodist church, there will be no evening preaching service in this rchurch. * - * It is now well known that Rev. B. :I) Cr.itcher is beginning a series of meetings at the Methodist church Sunday, and as is our beautiful cus tom m Wiliamston, when one church is thus engaged, the other churches | engage with them. Therefore, our ci ugrcgatftm is Vskcd to attend these services Sunday evening, and all ' through the week, when possible to dc so There will he no mid-week , niieting at the Baptist church Wed -1 uiMlav evening. Oak City School Board To Meet Wednesday, sth \ A regular meeting of the Oak City i School board will be held Wednesday 'evening, June 5, when the board mem bers will consider elementary and high ' school applications field by prospec tive teachers, according to an an nouncement made following a meeting of the board members there last Wednesday. A tentative election of the teachers 11 for the OSk City schools during the 1929-30 term will be made at the June meeting by the school board, the elections being made subject to the approval of county school officials, it was stated. j * Negro Youth Is Drowned in I Harris Mill' Pond Thursday - Javan Godard, 18-year-old Negro, was accidentally drowned yesterday : afternoon in the Harris millpond, near i here. The boy went fishing earlier in the day, and having poor luck at that , sport, he decided to go swimming. He was warned of the sharp drop in the creek's bottom by several boys who watched from the bank, but he gave little attenUon to the advice and was soon in water over his head, drowning before help could reach him. Coroner & R. Biggs was called, ami after questioning the eye witnesses, he declared the drowning accidental.