North Carolina Newspapers

|| Watch the Label On Taw I When it* VOLUME XXXVII—NUMBER 2 MAN BADLY HURT WHEN STRUCK BY HIT-RUN DRIVER ♦ C. J. Gurganus, of Raleigh, Suffers Broken Leg and Internal Injury Here C. J. Gurganus, Wake County citi zen, suffered a broken leg and inter nal injuries last Saturday night, when the cart in which he was riding with his brother, R. H. Gurganus, was struck by a hit-and-run automobile driver on Highway No. 30, near the plant of the Columbian Peanut Com pany. The two men were on their way here to summon a doctor for a child on the Staton farm when the reckless driver struck the horse-drawn vehicle and threw Mr. C. J. Gurganus out. His brother was not injured. Following first-aid treatment here the injured man was removed to a Washington hospital, where his con dition is considered serious. The reckless automobile driver con tinued on his way without stopping. The running board and fender were torn off at the scene of the wreck. It was said that the horse-drawn vehicle displayed a light, apparently! placing all the blame for the wreck on the reckless auto driver. Officers' are said to have a description of the 1 car and are spending much time in vestigating the case. They refused to. comment in connection with the pos sibility of an arrest within the next day or two. The Chevrolet car, trav eling toward Williamston, struck the Ctrl in the rear, tearing it apart. GROVER WYNN DIED MONDAY Live Just Across Martin Line in Beaufort County Grover Wynn, native of this coun ty, died at his home in Beaufort Coun ty, Just across the line, at 5 o'clock yesterday morning following an ill ness of about two months. Thirty-one years old, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Wynn, of this county. In early manhood be was married to Miss Estelle" Taylor, who with one child, Elizabeth, 10 years old, survives. Besides bis par ents, he also leaves five brothers, J. D. Garland, Willie, John L., and June Wynn, and three sisters, Mrs. Estelle Jenkins, Mrs. Louise Ayers, and Mrs. Lillian Farmer, all of this county. Mr. Wynn had farmed all his life. Funeral services are being conduct ed from the late home this afternoon at 2p. m., by Elder B. S. Cowin. In terment will follow in the Terry cem etery. County Board oi Education In Meeting Here Monday Other than routine duties, there was little activity reported in the meeting of the Martin County Board of Edu cation here yesterday. , Mr. C. I) Clark appointed com mitteeman Williamston »;hool district to fill the place made vacant there by the death of W. Joe Taylor. A general review of activities car ried on by CWA workers in repair ing the several school buildings show ed that valuable improvements had been handled, and that the school property is now in the best shape it has been in for - years. However, it was pointed out that much work was needed on some of the buildings. Local Boys Team In Raleigh Tournament Coach James Peters and his bas ketball boys plan to leave here Thurs day for Raleigh, where the boys will take p'art in the State tournament. The locals will go into action at 5:15 that afternoon against Paw Cueek, a strong five from Mecklenburg Coun ty. If the Williamston boys can over come the first handicap, they are ex pected to make a creditable showing in the contest for class B champions. Paw Creek has played and won 21 games so far this year and has one of the best teams entered in the tour ney. No local games are scheduled this week, the boys having their eyes on the play in Raleigh. White Farmer Is Hurt In Fight This Morning Robert Coltrain, white farmer liv ing in the Macedonia community of this county, was badly beaten over the head with a pitchfork in the hands of a colored man there this morning, according to reports received here. Coltrain received medical treatment here, the attending doctor taking sev eral stitches to the wounds, it was said. A warrant for C. B. Sheppard, al leged attacker, haa been issued, but the man's arreat had not been elftct ed at noon today, it was learned from the sheriff's office. THE ENTERPRISE Town Will Put on Another Drive To Get Having met with very little suc cess in their first campaign against ever-increasing numbers of rats here, the local board of town commissioners last night appro priated t2QO for another drive against die rodents. Mr. W. R. Carson, experiment er in rat poisons for a number of years, will handle die drive, and a direct appeal for the cooperation of all the townspeople ia being made. The town contract with the "Pied Piper" ia limited to public property, including rights-of-way, alleys, and streets and the traah dumps, where the rodenta are aaid to be multiplying by the thouaanda. Mr. Carson will avail But Little Interest So Far in Politics [ RELIEF GARDENS ) Qarden projects will feature re lief activities among needy fam ilies in the county this spring and summer if present plans of the au thorities are carried out, it was learned from the welfare office yesterday. The free distribution of seed will be limited to relief families only, it was declared. Last year the welfare office in this county distributed nearly 7,- 000 pounds of seed free to the needy. Approximately 300 fami lies will be eligible for seed this year, holding the distribution to about 1,500 pounds, it is believed. A supervisor to head the garden . work in the county will likely be named today at a meeting of the county authorities with Miss Msry Ward, district supervisor of relief work. % FAMILY DAY AT LOCAL CHURCH Baptist Church Members Asked To Attend In Family Units Family Day will feature the meet ings at the Baptist church next Sun day, in a series of services just launch ed there, leading up to Easter day. It is the wish of those in charge the the members of the families of the church knd congregation attend next Sunday in family units, occupying the pews together. Last Sunday, the first services were held in the pre-Easter program, and were marked by increased attendance through the Sunday school and church. The Sunday school announc ed an attendance of 147, and there were six "star" classes—meaning that every teacher assigned to those classes was present and that every pupil en rolled was there. The choir loft was full of singers at the morning service, with Mrs. Warren Biggs at the organ. This church is launching a program of extra-activities throughout the month, and is very anxious, first, that its own group* avail themselves of the services, and that the friends of the organization do likewise. Notary Public Gets New Title, "Noble Republican" "Go see Mr. C. D. Carstarphen at the bank, for he's a Noble Republi can and can fix them papers for you," an old colored woman here instruct ed a friend who had a chattel mort gage requiring the seal of a notary public. Mr, Carstarpen, popular young bank fi here, just because he is 1 notary public on the sd heisab, r nw"sshrnh public on the side, has been addressed as Mr. Notorious Public and other similar names, but only recently wu the title "Noble Republican" be , stowed upon him. Baby of Mr. and Mrs. N. P. Roberson Dies The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. P. Roberson died at the home of her parents in Williams Township early yesterday. Funeral * services were conducted by Rev. C. T. Rogers, Methodist minister, yesterday after noon. Interment was in the family plot near the home. Mrs. Hubert Harris Is Painfully Burned Her dress catching fire from a stove in ja Bear Grass store, Mrs. Hubert Harris was painfuly burned last' week. Mrs. Harris ran into the street and J. Price and Arthur Harrison beat out the flames. She is expected to recover. Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, March 6,1934 his services to private property owners (or a nominal charge, and it ia hoped they will take part in the movement to exterminate wAt ia proving section's most expensive pests. Home-owners have talked about how the rata ate up their chick ena and destroyed property in gen eral, hut they have done little to stop the destruction. With ev ery one cooperating, it ia believed the rodenta can be limited to a small number and a saving in thouaanda of dollars can be effect ed. Property owners are direct ed to get in touch with Mr. Car son immediately so that a com plete extermination campaign can be carried on at one time. 4 VACANCIES ON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Goose Nest Farmer Enters Name In Campaign for County Commissioner Other than the announcements of James R. Perry for county commis sioner, no new developments have tak en place in county politics during the past few days. The several candi dates, or some of them, are already becoming active in advancing their in dividual campaigns,, and it now looks as if interest i»» the June primary will center around the race for clerk of court. However, little talk has been heard so far in connection with other offices so far, and developments in the future might add to the pri mary interest. For instance, it is understood, the terms of four members of the county board of education will expire next year, making room for at least four candidacies for that office. While the present inciimbents, if they choose to run, have no opposition just now, a contest may develop before the time closes for filing the early part of May. No announcemtns have been advanced for the several other county offices, it being generally understood that the incumbents will file in due time. Mr. Perry, Goose Nest Township farmer, in making formal announce ment for county commissioner, men tioned thf withdrawal of Commission er Everett from the race for a place on the board, and that he will seek his place on the commissioners' board. Mr. Everett is one of the four can didates for the clerkship of the Mar tin County superior court, he having made his announcement for that office along with Messrs. T. B. Slade, of Hamilton: L. B. Wynn, of William-1 ston; and John I). Lilley, of William-! ston, R. F. D. 1. Judge J. Calvin Smith, a possible candidate for the State Senate, said >yesterday that he would not enter the contest this year, adding that he might seek a place in the legislature about j 1938. The judge decided some time ago that lie would not seek reelec tion to the House of Representatives,' where he served the county during the past two terms, and Attorney Hugh G. Horton announced his can didacy for a member of the house. And so the political line-up is now as follows: . For clerk superior court: T. B. Slade, L. Bruce Wynn, H .S. Everett, and John O. Lilley. For State Senate: A. Corey, of Jamesville; Carl Bailey, of* Roper; and Robert L. Coburn, of Williamston. It is understood that Beaufort Coun ty will not have a candidate for sen ator, but this information could not be confirmed and will not be until time for filing closes on May 5. It was unofficially learned here that Mr. Theodore Meekins, of Dare County, is considering running for the senate from this district. For house of representatives: Hugh G. Horton. For county commissioner: James R. Perry. Colored Woman, 94 Years Old, Dies Near Hassells ■ Amanda Best, colored, one of Mar tin County's oldest residents, died re cently at her -home near Hassell. Twenty years old when the first gun was fired at Sumter marking the be ginning of the Civil War, she was in her 94th year when she died. Recognized as a faithful slave be fore the war, she led a useful and Christian life, commanding the re spect of all she knew after the strug gle and until her death. She kaves 70 great-grandchildren and three fci eat-great-grandchildren. TOWN BOARD IN REGULAR MEET MONDAY NIGHT Grant Permit for Pool Room And Name List Taker; Talk Other Matters Holding their regular monthly meet ing last night, the town commission ers issued a permit to John Wier for the operation of a pool room, appoint ed James E. Griffin at a salary of S3O for town property list-taker, and dis cussed peddler's tax and the town's financial condition. Mr. Wier has no building in sight for his pool room, "but I wanted to be ready to open if I could get one," he explained. Discussing the peddlers' tax, the commissioners learned that fruit and vegetable venders selling from trucks had paid required license fees to the treasurer, and there was no way to stop the practice considered unfair to established merchants. At the present time there is due the town approximately $38,000 in taxes, including those past due for the years 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932, and those due for the year 1933. Collec tions up to the first of this month are about $2,000 ahead of those received up to the same time last year, it was said. The town is behind in its bond and interest payments to the tune of a bout $15,000, but it has $10,122.26 in the bank, leaving the treasury in the red by about $5,000. But there are some heavy bond payments due in the next three or four months, which will show the treasury in a bad way unless mudi of the $38,000 due is paid before that time. Complete collec tion of taxes levied would more than offset the indebtedness, including bonds .interest ,and general expenses. BODY OF MAN IS TAKEN FROM RIVER TODAY Badly Decomposed; Little Hope for Identification; Several Theories The remains of a human body were removed from the Roanoke River just below the bride here this morning, the discovery revealing no clues that could be used in identifying the object. The upper part of the body, includ ing the head, shoulders, and arms, and a greater part of one leg were missing. The flesh around the back bone was badly decomposed, but the hips and one leg were fairly well pre served. After viewing the body, Cor oner S. R. Biggs had it removed and buried along the river bank. It is believed the man had been dead for months, that the rising wa ters in the Roanoke recently started it drifting from some point milts from here. While it is certain the identity of the body will never be es tablished, some people are of the opin ion it is the body of a colored man who was drowned up the river last spring. Others suppose it to be the body of a negro worker who fell from a bridge in Roanoke, Va., about one year ago. Still others think il os sibly could be the body of a colored man who wag _|nurdered •« the Kel ford section about one year ago. Following a close investigation, au thorities advanced the belief that th-. body was that of a small white man or a white boy 16 or 17 years old. He was wearing United States brand rub ber boots, and his socks and overalls were very well preserved, it was said. ♦ Firemen Called Out Saturday to Auto Fire After remaining inactive all during the recent cold weather, the local fire company had its first call in six weeks last Saturday evening, when an au tomobile caught fire below the river hill. The firetnen rushed to the scene and put the fire out with the use of chemicals. I The automobile, an old model Stude baker belonging to Charles Terry, ot near Robersonville, was damaged a bout $lO or sls, it was Mid. While other sections experienced serious fires during the past few weeks, Williamston was very fortun ate in having none. In fact, the local firemen have been called to qo seri ous fire in several months. [ 13 REGISTER ] Thirteen unemployed Martin County residents have registered for farm work with the employ ment bureau in the county recent ly. Bight of the farm seekers are white, and it is understood they will go any place where they are aaeigned. Just how the applications will be handled it could not be leeraed here. The number of applicants is expected to increase to a great extent when CWA activities are stopped altogether. Tax-Listing Mach Up at Board Meet Monday All Tobacco Contracts Sent Back to Pitt County Farmers Contracts aaid to have repre sented a tobacco production great er than had ever been grown in Pitt County, were returned to farmers there recently, according to information received here to day. Particulars in connection with the apparently wholesale misrep resentation of tobacco acreage in that county could not be learned, but it ia underatood that the gov ernment ia planning a blanket re duction in nearly every case where the farmer ia unable to sup port his claims by sales records or recognized systems of book keeping. All the farmers have NUMBER PEOPLE FROM HERE WILL HEAR DR. TRUETT Noted Texas Minister Will Begin Series Services in Raleigh Tonight Dr. George W. Truett, native North Carolinian and peerless preacfifr of the South, is coming to Raleigh to night to open a 10-days' meeting, ac cording to an announcement made t&- day by the pastor of the local Baptist church. It is expected that large delega tions of people will be going from Martin and surrounding counties. For wherever the Texas preacher goes, great throngs hang on his words. For more than a third o( a century he has been pastor to the great First Church in Dallas, Texas, and will doubtless stay there as long as he lives. His return to his native state will give thousands of his admirers an op portunity to hear the incomparable speaker again, and other thousands their first chance to hear him. And whoever hears i)r. George W. Truett once always wants to hear him again. For he has a magnetism and a power over human souls that cannot be matched since the days of Charles Madden Spurgeon. Word from Raleigh says that the first service will be held in the new Memorial Auditorium Tuesday eve ning at 7:30 o'clock, then there every evening for 10 days; while at each noon hour he will speak at the State Theatre. MAY REOPEN TWO PROJECTS Resume Work on Roberson ville and Bear Grass Drainage Two Civil Works Administration projects—Robersonville and Hear Grass drainage—may be reopened in this county,, according to information gained here this week. The two proj ects were discontinued last Friday a long with orders to "turn off" 143 men employed by the CWA program in this county. The reopening of- the projects will not create jobs for additional work ers, it was learned. A "floating" crew of men will be selected from the cur rent list of workers, and they will be dispatched to the two jobs to apply the finishing touches, it'is underotood. The completion of the projects in their entirety as originally planned is not expected. Tho-reopening of the two projects was ordered by the chief district engi neer. Dr. C. J. Sawyer Changes Schedule of Office Days Changing his office days, Dr. C. J. Sawyer, ear, eye, and nose specialist, of Windsor, will be here each Friday afternoon from 2 to 5 o'clock, the doctor announced yesterday. He will also visit here by special appointments through local physicians, it was stated. Mid-Week Lenten Service At Church Here Lenten services at the Church of the Advent this week will be on Wed nesday, Thursday, and Friday after noon, at 4:30. Girls Team To Play T Bear Orass Tonight The basketball season will"' be brought to a close locally tonight at 7:45 o'clock, when the Bear Grass and Williamston girls meet on the ware house court. * , been advised that their contracts have been returned and that a re duction in keeping with the cur tailment program would be put in effect in Pitt, as well as in oth er counties, it is understood. The information received here indicated that the alleged "pad ding" of past records wss trace able to the "big" farmers there. No contracts have been return ed this county except a few sent back for correction of technical errors, and as far as it can be learned, nearly all of them, if not all, conform to the requirements of the tobacco reduction pro gram. NOTED PREACHER"") 1 ■ Dr. George W. Fruett, promi nent preacher, who will begin a series of services in Raleigh this evening. W. N. ROBERSON PASSES AWAY Substantial Farmer of Bear Grass Community Died Early Sunday W. Noah Roberson, substantial farmer of the Bear Grass section, diet! at his home there Sunday morning at 9 o'clock of a complication of dis eases. Mr. Roberson, 74 years old, suffereiLa stroke of paralysis several years ago, hut recovered sufficiently to he out and fairly active. He later suffered a second stroke, and during the past, four years he was confined to his home, spending the last two years as an invalid in bed. He was born and reared in Bear Grass Township, where he farmed all his life, working diligently year in and year out until his health failed him. In early manhood he was mar ried to Miss Sallie Swanner, who died a number of years ago. Several years ago he was married to Miss Mamie Roberson, by the first union, also sur- Funeral services were conducted from the late home Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock by Hlder B. S. Cowin, of the Primitive Baptist church, which faith Mr. Roberson had ardently fol lowed for a long number of years. Funeral was in the family plot in Bear Grass Township. Local Fire Company Gets Call About Noon Today The local fire company was called out at noon today when fire threaten ed the home of Ronald Latham, col ored, on Sycamore Street. Starting from spakrs coming from a Krass blaze, the fire was eating its way into the roof of the home when the fire men reached there and checked it with a small stream of water front the booster tank on the truck. A little baby and its mother were moved to the home of a neighbor. Very little damage was done to the property which belonged to Mrs. Kate York. I Young Boy Hurt When Struck by Car Saturday James, five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas KolT>uck, of Stokes, was painfully but not badly hurt, last Sat urday afternoon when he was struck by a truck driven by William Henry Walston for the Harrison Wholesale Company here. The little fellow is said to have darted out from between two cars parked on Main Street and ran into the side of the truck. Hi* hand was bruised, and he suffered one or two small cuts about the face, but ,no bones were broken, it was learned. Jig ESTABLISHED 1898 T. C. GRIFFIN IS AGAIN NAMED AS SUPERVISOR Only One Change Made in List-Takers; Other Work Of County Board The machinery for listing property for 1934 taxation was set up f by the Martin County comntissioners here yesterday when a supervisor and list takers for the 10 districts were ap pointed. The appointees, with only one change in the personnel since last year, will meet in the courthouse the third Monday in this month for in structions. Mr. T. C. Griffin, chair man of the board, was made super visor, he having served in that ca pacity last year. The names of the list-takers are, as follows: Jamesville Township: F. C. Stal lings. Williams Township: I.ucian J. Har dison. Grtffins Township: George C. Grif fin. Bear Grass Township: A. B. Ayers. Williamston Township: Roy T. Grif fin. Cross Roads Township: Gordon G. Bailey. Robersonville Township: J. B. Rawls. Poplar Point Township: L. G. Tay lor. Hamilton Township: L. R. Everett, succeeding T. 'B. Sladc, who is now a candidate for the Martin County Superior Cour tclerkship. Goose Nest Township:: James A. Rawls. No marked variation in listing prop erty for taxation is expected this year, but it is understood that more at tention will be given ill those cases where a few owners have, for one teason or another, failed to list their property in its entirely in one or two districts. Other than making preparations for listing property, the commissioners transacted very little business during the day. Joe Slade, colored, of Pop lar Point Township, was allowed $1 50 a month, and Jane Cherry, colored, of Jamesville Township, was allowed $2 a month. The commissioners.made available $25 t? the Eastern Carolina Chamber of Commerce for carrying on its work in connection with reha bilitating home owners\~- Expect To Cut 30 Men Off CWA This Week ♦ According to unofficial information ! received here yesterday, JO additional men will be discontinued on Civil Works Administration projects in the county this week. Approximately 253 men are employed on the four proj ects now under way in the county, the reduction this week leaving only 223 workers on the pay roll. ♦ First of Closing Exercises at Bear Grass Announced The first of the commencement ex ercises in the Bear Grass school will be held there Friday evening of this week at 7:30 p. m., it was announced yesterday by Principal Hickman. The primary grade children wilt appear in the operetta, "Golden Locks of Adventure." HEALTH REPORT FOR FEBRUARY - Total of 21 Cases Contagi ous Diseases Reported; 10 in One Family Twenty-one cases of three contagi ous diseases were reported in this county last month, the family of King Latham in Town ship accounting for nearly one-half the cases. Out of 13 childcen in the Latham family, 10 are now victims «>f the whooping cough, the three es caping the current cough having al ready had it. The victims range in age from 16 years down to 7 months. Two-year-old twins are listed among the coughers. Whooping cough, after remaining in an almost dormant state during the dead winter months, is making its ap pearance again, 9 cases having been reported among white children in Williamston township last month. Other than for the whooping cough cases, health conditions in this coun ty were very satisfactory last month. One chickenpox case was reported in Robersonville, and a case of scarlet fever was reported in Williamston. „ ♦ Mr. J. Arthur Wynn, prominent Cross Roads Towathip farmer, tinues critically M at his home then.