Watch th« Label on Yow
Paper Ai It Carrie* tb* Data
Whan Your Subscription Expiree
VOLUME XXXII—NUMBER 59
ALTERATIONS TO
UNDERPASS HERE
ARE CONSIDERED
—,, a .
Railroad Is Making Investi
gation Now That May
Lead to Changes
MANY WRECKS THERE
f
lv Is Only Underpass in This Part of
State Which Has Center Support;
Scene of One Fatal Accident
. ♦
An investigation started here a few
weeks ago m an effort to alter the
bridge over the highway at the west
end of Main Street here is progressing
rapidly. Mayor R. L. Coburn stated
yesterday afternoon. It is understood
that the State highway system has
nothing to do with the bridge, and
' whether or not the Coast Line will al- (
to the bridge depends upon an inspec
tion that will be made within the next
few days, it was stated.
According to information gained rel
ative to the matter, the railroad com- ,
pany constructed the bridge by speci
fications prepared by the highway peo
ple, but in spite of that fact, the Coast
Line officials have stated that they will
have the district superinendent inspect
the underpass. Just when the repre
sentative will come here to investigate
' the construction of the present sup
port was not stated.
During the past several months, sev
eral automobiles have been wrecked at
the underpass, one wreck taking the
life of a preacher only a few weeks 1
ago. As far as it is known, the under
pass here is the only one in this part
of the State having a center support
to the bridge. While,the roadway per
mits traffic, it is a menace to the safe
ty of every automobile driver, even
tht most careful one.
BROTHERSPUT
IN JAIL HERE
John and Simon Shepard
Arrested for Different
Offenses Same Day
Jailed hers for violating the liquor
laws, John Shepard, colored, pleaded
with oflcers to- call his brother,
Simon, down from Hamilton last
Wednesday that they might talk over
some business matters.
Sheriff Roebuck, accommodating all
prisoners held in the jail here as far
(SU it is possible to do so, assu/fed
John that Simon would be notified.
Joit about the time the sheriff
started to fall for Simon at Hamil-|
toa, a message came from the town,
requesting the officer to watch out for
Simon as he had entered a home on|
tta* Jule Bunting farm and stole ,
clothes and other articles. It was,
about ten o'clock Wednesday evening,
thftt Sheriff Roebuck and Policeman
A&sbrooks found Simon perched on I
a suitcase along the highway near
thifc river.
was very much pleased when
his brother talked into the jail but
was greatly surprised to learn that
he did not enter upon his own free.
♦ ■
;
Rpbersonville Football
Team Prospects Fine
Twenty-five young boys in the Rob
erfonvile school reported for football
practice there at the call of the coach,
alt'-of them showing a marked interest
in the sport and making a strong bid
fof a berth on the first squad. Coach
Ira Ainsley is earring the boys
through a hard practice schedule, pre
paratory to the first game of the sea
son to be played with Washington at
Washington next Friday afternoon.
At a meeting of 'he team's members
this week, Jesse Bunting was elected
captain, John Warren and Herbert
Ptpe acting as field generals.
According to a report the members
of the team are in good physical condi
tion and are rapidly preparing them
selves for the first battle of the season
nckt Friday.' ________ _
|W ATT S
f f THEATRE **
■ Saturday September 21
TIM MXOY
in
"The Desert Rider"
I Also COMEDY and SERIAL
I Monday-Tuesday Sept 23-24
ft. ALICE WHITE
•, in
"BROADWAY
BABIES''
■ Also FABLES and NEWS\
I MUSIC BY PHOTOTOME
THE ENTERPRISE
Sawyer Convicted of
First Degree Murder
SENTENCED TO T
DEATH IN CHAIR
ON NOVEMBER 1 !
—«—
Jury Stays Out Overnight
In Deliberating on
Evidence
MRS. SAWYER FREED
i ——a
Sawyer I* First White Man Ever to be
Sentenced to Electric Chair
Prom This County
a
( Twenty-four hours,after his case!
was called, John Sawyer, white, was
; found .guilty of murder in the first >
| degree and sentenced by Judge W. A. 1
Devin in the superior court here yes-j
' terday morning to die in the electric
1 chair November 1, SawyeY being the
firat white man to be aentenced to
die in the electric chair from this
county.
For two hours Wednesday morning
the defense and State attorneys were
busy examining the special venire of
75 men, the taking of evidence be- j
gining promptly. Examining eight
witnesses, the prosecution rested the
case early in the afternoon.
Sawyer went on the stand in his
! own behalf, giving a varying account
of the facts prior to the shooting and
denying certain charges. "I remem
ber the shooting, "he said, telling
how he had thought things over and
concluded it was necessary to shoot
to protect hia life. He told of the
trouble originating over the housing
of a tobacco crop, how he suffered
for something to eat and the dis
turbances between he and John I. !
Britton, the victim.
Mrs. Sawyer, charged with abetting
in the crime but who was released
when the grand jury failed to find
a true bill against her, took the f
stand in behalf of Sawyer. Unable to
offer any worthwhile evidence in the
behalf of her husband, she merely
described the incidents prior to the
killing. Benjamin Roberson was the
last witness put on by the defense,
The State then reopened and called I
three more witnesses, the attorneys.
making short speeches the case went |
to the jury late in the afternoon.
According to unofficial reports, a .
verdict of guilty would have been re
turned within a very short time had
■ it not been for one of the jurors who
debated fervently in b«half of the ac
| cused man. After an argument of
( several hours and a night's rest, the
I jury reported ia verdict at 9:30 yes
|- terday morning, Judge Devin passing
I sentence shortly afterwards.
—'
Announces Services For
Three Episcopal Churches
Rev. Arthur H. Marshall, Episco
pal minister, announces service* for
three of hia churches Sunday, aa fol
lows:
Church of the Advent—Williamston
Sunday school at 9:46. —Mr. Mau
rice Moore, superintendent.
Evening Prayer and Sermon at,
8:00 o'clock.
You are very cordially invited to!
these services.
Holy Trinity Mission —Bear Graaa ,
Sunday' school at 2:30 p. m. Even- j
ing Prayer and Sermon following. |
All seats free. You are welcome.
St. Martin'a Church—Hamilton
Sunday school at 10:00 a. m.
Holy Communion and Sermon at
.11 a. m.
You are very welcome to these serv
ices.
»
Parmele Women Meet
- > And Organize Club
The Parmele women met Monday
at the schoolhouse and organized their
club. They will meet the third Mon
day in each month. Thi* makes 25
clubs in the county, one of which is a
beys' club at Everetts with an enroll
ment of 32. The boys are much in
terested in club work over the coun
ty,' but this club is the only one the
agent is able to carry owing to lack
of time. The boys are enrolled in
poultry and plan to do better work
this year.
a
Supreme Court Orders
Retrial oi Hassell Case
a
A new trial wai granted last Wed
nesday by the' North Carolina Supreme
Court in the suit of C. B. Hassell, lo
cal peanut buyer brought against the
American Peanut Company in the su
perior court here last March. Th;
points of law giving the defendant a
right to a new trial were not an
nounced.
The plaintiff was given a judgment
of $1,212.08 when-the jury decided the
case, in his favor last March. It is un
derstood that the case will be refer
red to the civil docket of the superior
court hetf for trial at a future term
.af.. the court. V v"
Williamston. Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, September 20,1929
PROCEEDINGS IN |
SUPERIOR COURT 1
#
Thirty-Seven Cases Cleared
From Docket; Civil
Term Next Week
•
Thirty-seven cases were cleared ( '
from the criminal docket by Judge '
W. A. Devin, of Oxford, in the su- ,'
perior court here this week, the jurist 1
completing the work, recessed court 1
late yesterday until next Monday
morning when the trial of civil cases ,'
will be started.
The rapid handling of cases mark- '
ed the session, while there were sev- !'
! I |
eral cases attracting an unusual in- 1
I terest. Two or three cases were con- | 1
tinned and only one case is said to i 1
have resulted in an acquittal.
The proceedings beginning last'
Tuesday:
Sylvester Taylor, young white man ~
was sentenced from two to three
years in the State's Prison when his t >
j guilt was established in the case
i charging him with entering a store
and the depot at Jamesville.
Luther Clark, pleaded guilty in the
same case, and was sentenced from j
21 to 30 months in the State's Pria- '
on.
Perlie Coltrain and John Hanry I
Biggs were given four months each '
on the roads, they having pleaded 1
guilty in the same case.
Archie Lee, found guilty of adul
tery, waa given fbur months on the
roads.
Don Purvis, pleading guilty in the
case charging him with stealing
chickens, was sentenced to six months
on the road.
John Sheppard was given a 12-
months jail sentence when he plead
ed guilty in the case charging him
with manufacturing liquor. The last
eleven months of the sentence are to
be suspended upon the good behavior
of the defendant.
Charged With manufacturing liquor
Willie Brooks waa given eight months
1 on the roads and Robert Whitehurst,
| brought into court under the same
| charge, was turned over to the juve
! Nile court as he was under age.
I Henry Dave Daniel, pleading guil-
Ity to three separate charges of
housebreaking and larceny and receiv
ing, was given a 12-months sentence
on the roads. The sentences run con
currently.
Thirty days on the roads was the
sentence meted out to Penlan Bland
when he was found guilty of an as
sault with a deadly weapon.
Lawrence Lilley was fined SSO and
taxed with the costs in the case
charging him with operating an au
tomobile while he was under the in
fluence of liquor. He was released un
der a suspended sentence.
The case charging Tilghman Carr
with attempted rape waa nol prossed.
Arthur Morgan was given twelve
months on the Edgecombe roads in
|an assault with a deadly weapon
case.
Isaac Ample, found guilty on a
I larceny and receiving charge, was
j sentenced to the roads for a term of
! six months.
A suspended sentence resulted in
I the case charging W. H. Perry with
I passing a worthless check.
| Oyheus Price and Garland Rodger-
I son pleaded guilty of assault with a
deadly weapon, and prayer for judg
ment was continued.
John Yarrell and Alonzo Biggs,
found guilty of assault with' a deadly
weapon, were given four months each
on the roads.
William Bell waa fined S6O and tax
ed with the costs in a case charging
him with an aasault with a deadly
weapon.
| Presbyterians Announce
Their Program of Services
' Sunday school, 9:45 a. ni,
't Worship services, 11 a. m:—"The i
' Law of the Harvests."
1 So often we hear people complain
' i»K abgut the unfair distribution of
1 goods here on earth. The unprincipled
Ket on in life, the saints are kept back.
The riches and rewards of this life
fall to the lot of the undeserving. The
i rich man has the good things and- Laz
aius the evil. Do you know why this
is true? 'lf not, would you like to
: know? Then come and hear this sub
ject discussed at the Presbyterian.
' church held in the Woman's Club Sun
day morning at 11a. m. A cordial wel
'• come it extended to each individual
1 in Williamston, large or small, saved i
or unsaved, to meet and worship with
u».
E B«ar Grass
- The regular Sunday .night services of
> the Presbyterian church will be held in
r the school house auditorium at Bear
i Grass Sunday, September 22, at 7:30
Ip. tnr A *ttfm welcome awaits *8.««
I
SAYS FARMERS
MUST WORK OUT
OWN SALVATION
Federal Farm Board Mem
ber Says They Can Not
Help Leaf Growers
MUST BE ORGANIZED '
Stone Sayi Board Is Helpless Because
There Is No Parmer Organization
Among Tobacco Growers
Only a few hours after Senator
Simmons appealed to the President
and conferred with J. C. Stone, mem
ber of the Federal Farm Board, rel
ative to the present low prices being
received for the tobacco crop, comes
the statement from Mr. Stone that
the farmers must work out their own
salvation this year. "Until they or
ganise the Federal Farm Board can
do nothing," was the text of Mr.
Stone'B answer to Senator Overman
who took up the tragic plight of the
tobacco farmers with the powers of '
the federal government.
The only remedy suggested by Mr.
Stone was the one that he suggested
while in Raleigh some time ago. He
urges tobacco growers to start now
)in a systematic, intelligent way to
work out and develop a better system j
for marketing their tobacco than they 1
now have. He thinks that it will be
i best to have a committee of fifteen ■
j for each State.
| Farmer-owned and farmer-con
, trolled co-operatives is the slogan up- j
jon which President Hoover based (
J chances for relief for many months, I
and Vice-chairman Stone takes up
sad refrain again. Farmer-owned and
farmer-controlled have become the
perfect alibi.
As there are no farmer-owned and
farmer-controlled tobacco coopera
tives in North Carolina, it is inferred
that the federal government is pow-
hog-tied and ham
strung.
Mr. Stone does not believe that
any relief can be given to the present
price situation, because the selling
season is now in full swing and there
I is no organization of any kind on the
I part of the growers..
TO DISCONTINUE
2 MOR? TRAINS
A. C. L. To Take Off Mid-
Day Kinston-Weldon
Trains
Claiming they could not compete
with the highways, Atlantic Coast
Line officials, Wednesday, were given
permission to discontinue two trains
plying between Kinston and Weldon.
The date when the service wili be dis
continued was not given, but it will
be only a matter of a few days be
fore the two trains will be stopped, it
is believed.
Hardly more than a year ago, the
railroad was given permission to dis
continue two of the trains running
through here. With the passing of a
few more years, a passenger train in
this section will be as great a curos
ity as an ox cart is today.
While the removal of the trains will
affect all the towns along th£ route,
Parmele, at one time the most popu
lar railroad center in this immediate
section, will probably miss the trains
more than any other town as it has
long served the few passengers and
trainmen with sandwiches and apple
jacks. But months ago, the cafe own
er and champion maker of the much
talked-about apple jacks, suspected
the change and moved to the high
way.
At the hearing last Wednesday, the
order was shortly forthcoming when
the railroad presented figures show
ing that duing the last fiscal year
,the trains turned in total revenue of
(23,901.85 and cost of operation was
$71,991.16, showing a net deficit of
148,089.60, and indications that ar
arngements could be made by October
20 to provide mail service by star
route and express service by local
' freight trains.
Dr. R. H. Wright Will
Preach Here Sunday
| Dr. R. H. Wright, president of the
East Carolina Teachers College,
Greenville, will preach in the Metho-
Idist church here Sunday morning at
11 o'clock, according to an announce
' ment made here yesterday.
There will be no evening service
as Dr. FltrGerald, the pastor, is en
gaged in a meeting at LaGrange.
.The people of the town and com
. munity are cordially invited to hear
Dr. Wright at the morning service.
No Whisky Raid Made in
I County During This Week
| For the first time in several months
no whiskey raids were made in this
' county during the past few days, of
ficers being engaged in court. County
! officers have been busy with the court
i here, while the federal agents have
been in Fayetteville during the past
I, few days attending court there as
■|"wKw— e« in several cae e»; •
Over 500,000 Pounds Tobacco
On Local Market This Week
HIGGINS' CONCERT BAND
One of the free attractions booked for the Roanoke Fair here November
4to 9. The band includes sixteen musicians and an accompanist and ren
ders a full program of classical and popular selections.
16 PRISONERS
BEGIN TERMS
«.
13 Go To Road Camps and
Other 3 to Raleigh; One
Sentenced to Die
Sixteen prisoners were removed j
from the local jail this morning, •
thirteen ' going to the Edgecombe
road camp, near Tarboro, and three ' 1
going to the State's Prison, Raleigh. ■ 1
The majority is off to serve short sen
tences, two are to be held for around '
two years, while one will puy the
supreme penalty. i
The thirteen going to the ronds in
Hdegcombe accepted their fnte as a'
matter The trio, leaving j
for the State's Prison wertK more
iserious, and apparently accepjwitheir
fate with regret. Sheriff Rmiuck,
Deputy Grimes and Mr. Rouse left
this morning for Raleigh with John
Sawyer, sentenced to die November
1 ( Sylvester Taylor and Luther Clark.
The Edgecombe authorities called for
the other prisoners given sentences
on the roads. *"
The prisoners and their sentences:
John Sawyer, electric chair, Novem
'ber 1; Luther Clark, 21 to 30 ipotiths
in the penitentiary; Sylvester Taylor,
two to three years in the peniten
tiary; John Yarrell, four months on
the roads; Alonsa Biggs,, six months
on the roads; Elijah Grice, twelve
months on the roads; Arthur Morgan,
twelve months on the roads; Henry
Dave Daniel, twelve months on the I
roads. Willie Brooks, six months on j
the roads; Don Purvis, the noted '
chicken thief, six months on the
roads; Isaac Ample, four months on j
the roads and nine additional months i
of an uncompleted twelve months' j
term-; Robert Edmonds, (white)* 12
months on the roads; Penel Bland,
(white) thirty days on the roads;
Archie Lee, (white) four months on
the roads and John H. Biggs, (white)
four months on the roads. •
*• »
Boy Given 12 Months on
Roads for Attack on Girl
a i
Charged with, rape on a 4-year-old
white girl, Elijah Grice, 17-yearlold
colored boy, of near Oak City, was
sentenced to twelve months on the j
Edgecembe County roads by Judge
W. A. Devin in the superior court .
here yesterday when the jUry return
ed a verdict of guilty of an assault
on a female.
While it is said the evidence in the ;
case tended to substantiate the j
charge preferred in the case, it was ]
pointed out to be too indefinite for
conviction, resulting in the introduc
tion of the assault charge.
Christian Churches to
Meet in Robersonville
a
The Roanoke District convention of
the Christian Church will be held with
' the Robersonville church, there begin
ning Saturday of next week, accord
ing to a program recently prepared for
the meeting. Thf first sessipn will be
held at 10 o'clock Saturday morning,
j followed by meetings in the afternoon
and evening. The convention will
close Sunday noon following a sermon
by Rev. Richard Bagby, pastor of the
First Christian Church, Washing
ton.
There is a goodly ° number of
churches in the district and many rep
resentatives are planning to attend, it
i« understood.
a
State Fair Boosters to Pass
Through Here Next Week
a
Approximately 100 Raleigh citizens,
boostjng the State Fair, will pass
- through here, next Thursday morning,
Recording to a schedule announced re
cently. No stop has been announced
for Williamston.
The boosters will travel in busses and
cars, it i» understood A tour of prac
tically all of Eastern Carolina is
| ing made by the booster* in an effort
|td~fmerest the people of the section in
J the State Fsir.
BIG DECREASE |
IN AUTO SALES
Repair Work at Garages on
Increase While New Car 1
Sales Fall Off
*
-According to reports coming from!
automobile dealers in this sccfion,
tliere have been fewer cars sold in the!
past few weeks in certain parts«of East-'
ernVarolina than lias been the case j
for A period in a noni-i
btr ( f years. One dealer reported
three sales made during the past twelve '
days, as compared with, around twen
ty-five for a corresponding period last j
year. \\ tilt* automobile plants are
running full time and showing an in- I
crease in. production, the cars are not j
being ,soll in the sections where to- !
hacco is selling below the cost of pro
duction. With the exception of a few |
immediate sections in this part of the
State,'the sales are reported to he in
creasing elsewhere.
As a general ride, business is report
ed to-be much quieter than it usually
prior to* the opening of the tobacco
markets. While many obligations ei>;
tered into earlier in the. year "are be
ing settled rapidly, new are j
progressing slowly, merchants report
ing gooil business, considering the out
rageously low prices being received fur
the tobaCco crop.
Owners, of/old cars are repairing
their machines, limiting the sale of the
u« w cars and increasing the repair bus
iij'ess, it was stated.
•
GRID SEASON TO
BEGIN TUESDAY
Local High School to Go to
Windsor; Play Farmville
Here Next Friday
With two games scheduled for next"!
week, the local high school football j
te.-.m is going through a heavy practice |
daily at this time. The eleven meets j
the Windsor squad there Tuesday aft- i
I eruooii, Farmvill£ coming here next]
Friday.
While the regular line-up has not
been selected at this time, I'wach H. E.
j Hood has about effected bis organiza- j
, tioii, withholding any comment as to
what .may be expected from the team
this season. Several hoys, regulars in
tlu squad last year, are not iii the game
this season, forcing Coach Hood to
1 make a few changes in the line and
| bnckfield Manning, last-year-quarter-
I back, is in bed at the present time, run
ning temperature,, and it is not likely
that he will be in the game next Tues
~ ,
34 In County Jail Here
At One Time This Week
Another jail record wis establish
ed here this week when Sheriff Roe
buck and his jailer cared for thirty
four prisoners con-fined in the jail at,
one time. Many of them, out on bond,|
were called in, increasing the number
of boarders to the unusually large
number.
Judge W. A. Devin came to the res
cue of the jailer, and this morning
there were only eleven in the cooler,
two federal prisoners, two serving
regular aerttences, and seven await
ing the next term of recorder's court.
During the month, forty-six pris
oners have been held in the jail here,
the number at the present time be
ing the smallest held in several
months.
*
Program of Services
At Christian Church
William Weigman, Pastor
Sunday school, 9:45 a. m,, -
Morning service, 11 a. m.
Evening service, 7:30 p. m. *
Every one cordially invited ito , at
tend all these services. All Sunday
school members are urged to be present
: as Sunday will be observed as promo
i j tion day and a full membership is
'greatly needed to make it a success.' !
Advertiser* Win Pind Our Col.
umm a Latchkey to Over 1,600
Homea of Martin County
ESTABLISHED 1898
PRICES LITTLE
STRONGER ON
SOME GRADES'
Are Approximately 125,000
On Warehouse Floors
Here Today
PRICE CENTS
Eale of Tips Has Been Very Large
Throughout Week; Low Prices
General Throughout Belt
' 9
The local tobacco market, showing
more strength, this week js witness
ing- increased .sales, the offerings g >-
ing beyond the 500,000 mark for th«'"
period, according to estimates fur
nished by the tobacco board of trade
today. In spite of the dull day Wed
nesday, the day of the rain, the Hales
have increased steadily, the farmers
marketing almost as much tobacco
this week as they did during the first
two weeks the markets were open.
The sale of tips has been * marked
on the market here practically every
day weekj the best break of the
season coming yesterday when
around 125,000 pounds were sold. Al
though the large offerings of tips is
holding down the general market av
erage,, all the warehouses reported
good sales yesterday, pointing out
that the better types of tobacco were,
from three to six cents higher jfi
price.
That the prices are continuing low
throughout the entire belt is seen
from the various reports, several mar
kets claiming fourteen-cent averages,
others giving theirs as a little below.
In many r sections the quality of the
weed is exceptionally poor, and tbe
poundage is said to be far less than
I that of the last season. .. .
Sales on the local market ha*?*
been carried on with much vigor, and
the warehousemen and buyers are
going their limit to push the price as
! high as it is possible to do so.
OFF ROADS^BACK
IN JAIL SAME DAY
—•—
Comes Home in Morning,
Beats Wife, Headed Back
To Roads That Night
Heber Roberson, colored of Has
sell, completing a six months sen
tence on the Edgecombe roads yes
terday morning, was back in the jail
here last night, charged with beating
Coming from the roads yes-'
terday, Roberson was the source- of
information for the thirteen prisoners
I sentenced this week. For more than
I an hour Roberson answered questions
I and described the life followed in the
'Edgecombe County road camp. "It in
j a safe "bet," Sheriff Roebuck state.'
j this morning, "that those boys will
| know the ropes when they get there,'
j they asked so many questions of"
j Roberson.
J Captain Harper, calling , for tha
j prisoners this morning was much
1 surprised to see Roberson in the jail.
"Never mind, Mr. Harper," the 21-
year-old nego stated, "just tell the
I boss to reserve my old bunk, for I'll
be back just as soon as they hold re
corder's court again,"
Roberson is said to have ottempted ,
to hit his wife with an axe soon aft
er his return from the camp yester
day. ' ..
Baptists to Have But One '
Preaching Service Sunday
*—— ■ v
There will be but one preaching
service at the Baptist church Sunday, .
and that will be at the morning hour.
Sunday school and B. Y. P. U. will
meet as usual. The pastor will con-,
duct the mid-week service next Wed
nesday evening at 8, o'clock.
1 The general public is welromed
Fertilizer Plant Unit
Is Nearing Completion
Completing the erection of/'thiX)
heavy timbers') this week, workmen
are progressing rapidly on the new
unit to the plant of the Standard
Fertilizer (Company's plant an the
Roanoke river here. With favorable
.feather the contractors are planning
to complete the third unit by the
middle or latter part of next month,
it is understood.
W. H. Coburn Sworn
in Before Judge Devin
William Hubert Coburn, brother to
Mayor Robert L. Coburn, of this
place, was admitted to the bpr this
week, taking the oath before Judge
W. A. Devin in the superior court.
Mr. Cobum studied at the Univers
ity of North Carolina and Wake For-,
est College, passing the bar examina
tion last August. He is associated
with the law firm of Coburn and Co-
burn. „