North Carolina Newspapers

ENTERPRISE mm ? VOLUME XXXVII?NUMBER 7 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina. Friday, March 23, 1934 ESTABLISHED 1898 PROCEEDINGS IN MARTIN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT Criminal'Docket Completed Late Wednesday; Begin Civil Calendar ? The Martin County Superior Court, convening a two-weeks mixed term here last Monday, completed the crim itial docket late Wednesday, resulting in a marked decrease in interest that reached a climax during the Ayers murder trial Wednesday afternoon. The trial of civil cases was started yesterday morning, the court grinding out solutions slowly but surely with Judge Walter Small, of Elizabeth City on the bench. Hezekiah Briley, charged with as saulting one strong, robust man, Lc roy Lloyd, was adjudged guilty and was sentenced to the roads for a period of from six to eight months. The trial of the case was started on Tuesday afternoon and completed Wednesday shortly before noon.' Willie Rollins, charged with lar ceny, was sentenced to the roads for a period of from 8 to 12 months. Found guilty of receiving goods lenown to have been stolen, Harry James was sentenced to the roads for a period of 6 to 8 months and George W. Pope for a period of 8 to 12 months. Found guilty of having carnal knowl edge of a female under 16 yeara of age, Walter Gainor was fined $150 and taxed with the cost. Jeffry Taylor, guilty of non-sup port, drew from 20 to 24 months on the roads, the judge later suspending the road sentence upon the condition that he pay his wife and children the sum of $6.50 each week during the next two years. Under the first pro vision, the court ordered the county to pay the defendant's wife $7.50 each week. "Bond in the sum of $250 was required of the defendant. Prosecutions following Judge Hunt" Parker's investigation into the ac counts of guardians, were closed this week when judgment was suspended in the case charging M. L. Bunting, with embezzlement. The indictment against Bunting was about the only one that ever reached maturity as a result of Judge Parker's order for an investigation a year ago. The case charging Jesse Hooker with bastardy was continued to the next term of court under the condition that the defendant pay to the court the sum of $75 for the prosecuting witness. The sentence of 3 to 5 years on the roads for John Whitfield, 16-year-old white boy, was altered, the judge or dering him entered in the Eastern Carolina Training School at Rocky Mount. Capias is to issue if the boy attempts to escape. Completing the criminal docket Wednesday, the court called the civil action of A. D. Griffin, sr., and W. M. Hardison against F. L. Savage. The court ruled that the plaintiffs were not entitled to the possession of certain lands in question during this year. A similar judgment was recorded in the action of Will Huff, agent, a gainst Sam Moor*, the defendant con tinuing in possession of certain lands iKU ymmr Hervey Jenkins, colored, was grant ed a divorce against Essie Jenkins. The action was supported on two years of separation. ? The court is now working on the case of Taylor against Hadley, in volving a deed to certain property. Spending more time than was ex pected in handling the criminal do: ket, the court is running behind its ^chtdule. Only One Service At Local Episcopal Church E. F. Moseley, rector. P*!m Sunday. There will be only one church serv ice at the Church of the Advent this Sunday, inasmuch as the rector will be at Hamilton for the day. At 8:3( a m., there will be Holy Communion and sermon. Come and bring youi Lenten self-denial offering. Because of this early service. Sun day school will be at 10 o'clock. Next week our church shares with the other churches those service* which have been announced. ? Worth Proctor Still In County Jail Her* Worth (Tick) Proctor, robber gangster, in being held in the jail heri to appear aa a witness in a civil ac tion scheduled to be heard next Mon day against J. Neal Watson, agent. The Harrison Wholesale Com pan is bringing the snit in an effort to re cover losses sustained when approx imately $1,300 worth oI cigarette were stolen from their store here i 1932 and alleged to have been sold t Watson in Roseboro by Proctor an< his confederates. The case is sched uled to be heard Monday. Soon Comes Easter By E. P. MOSELEY If Easter doesn't mean more to ue than parading our new clothes, or taking a holiday, we have misused it, even thought we have not abused it. ?* Easter signifies victory! It marked the greatest victory in the life of Christ, and Christians cel ebrate that victory every year. But to get the moat from Easter, ev ery Christian must win the right for a celebration of victory by overcoming selfishness and sin in his own life. Christ's victory over temptation, over the evils of His day, over death itself, gives us in apiration and atrength to do what we otherwiac could not do. The churchea of WUliamatoat cannot conquer your ain for you. But they do offer the aid of cor porate worahip and felLowahqr, thua making it eaeier for you to obtain a victory. Thia Sunday ia Palm Sunday, and Holy Week followa. Thia ia the moat aig nificant aeaaon in the Chrietian year. Attend the acrvicea in the Watta Theatre every day next week at the hour of noon, and fin iah the day by attending the night aervice in your church. Then Eaater may mean more than a faahion parade, or a victory that you have not helped to win. f COTTON CONTROL I The Bankhead bill, a measure to control cotton production, passed the House of Representa tives this week by a 2S1 to 114 vote. The bill levies a tax of SO per cdnt upon the sale of all cot ton not produced in accordance with reduction agreements. The bill is now awaiting Senate ac tion. ??? r Present indications point to the acceptance of the peanut as a basic crop and the compulsory con trol of tobacco production. A tax of 25 to 40 per cent, as compared with the 50 per cent for cotton, is being discussed today for tobacco. REPORT MADE BY GRAND JURY Quarterly Inspection of All County Property Made This Week Making the quarterly investigation of county affairs and public affairs, the Martin County grand jury found five guardians and six justices of the peace failing to make necessary re quired reports. According to the rc port of the jury. Guardians Sarah F t Roberson, George R. Roebuck, Alon aa Gray, D. A. Moore, and W. V*. i Ormond had failed to make reports. A. Corey, C. L. Nelson, Pleny Peel, H. U. Peel, B. L. Gardner, and W. T. Meadows had not reported as jus tices of the peace, the report showed. ; Reports were listed front Justices of the Peace C. B. Riddick, N. YV. John son, J. A. Davenport, N. S. Riddi.:k, ' L. J. Hardison, C. M. Hurst, J. YV Hines and Mayo Grimes, and Mayors J. L. Hassell and N. YV. Johnson. Visiting county property, the jury members reported the county home and jail in good condition. The var ious offices were reported in splendid condition. The report carried the signature of Foreman J. F. Jordan. ? Special Service in Local Methodist Church Sunday * C. T. Rogers, Pastor. "Heaven in the Nefrro Spirituals, i a special service, will be rendered at the Methodist church Sunday night by the chorus of the colored high school, led by Professor Hayes. You will en joy this service. This coming week should mean a great deal to Williamston. With all the churches holding services every night, services at the achool every day and at the theatre at the mid day hour, a feast/of spiritual things is in store for all. Every member of I the church must make an extra effort to attend church, for in so doing, not only you but others will be blessed. Don't make excuses this week, but let's all rally to this effort to help our community, home, and individual life. Don't lose what God has in store for you, for only a little while and you are going to need this bless ing. Our slogan, "Every member present every night." FISHERIES OPEN v -* Starting operation* at noon on Wednesday, the Fleming Fishery at Jameesille was said today to be making fair-sized catches. From 100 to 300 herring went caught each trip, it was reported. The fishery had one of the best days for shad yesterday it has had in several years for the early part of the lesson, Wendell Hamilton, Jameerille merchant, said this morning. From S to 12 were tak en each haul, he said. A strong wind was backing the ? tide op the Roanoke this morn n ing and operations may be sus o pended a while. Plans are now being made to start operations at the Camp Point plant neat Mon NEW CANDIDATES ENTER RACE FOR COUNTY BOARD, C. Fleming and R. L. Perry Make Formal j Announcements ? Additional interest was added to thd political situation in this county this week when C.C. Fleming, prominent Jamesville citizen, and Robert Lee Perry, progressive farmer of Bear Grass Township, announced their can didacies for county commissioners. The two candidates develop a con test for that office, provided, of course, four members of the present board de cide to run again. Mr. H. S. Ever ett, a member of the present board, will not seek renomination for com missioner, as he is one of the four candidates for clerk of the Martin County Superior Court. The candi dacy of J. C. Ross, of Oak City, and the two of Messrs. Fleming and l'cr ry will make seven candidates out for commissioner if four of the pres ent board decide to run. James R. Perry, Goose Nest farmer, is under stood to have withdrawn his candi dacy, leaving the political line-up in the county at the present time, as follows: For State Senate: A. Corey and R. L. Coburn. For House ot Representatives: Hugh G. Horton. For clerk of court: T. B. Slade, L. B. Wynn, II. S. Everett and John I). Lilley. For county commissioners: J. C. Ross, C. C. Fleming, and Robert Lee Perry. Regular Services Sunday At Christian Church Here I j Bible school at 9:45. Every mem ber urged to make sacrifice if neces sary to be there Sunday on time Morning worship at 11 o'clock. The pastor will preach on: "The Marvel of Our Master's Ministry" at the morn ing hour and on "The Meaning oi Outer Darkness," at 7:30 p. m. Come and bring your family and friends tc both services. It is Sunday before Easter and special announcements ol great importance arc to be made. We are nt-aring a week of prayer, a week of cooperative effort of all th< I churches of the city, and we want tc j shoulder our full responsibility and er | joy the blessedness of the fruits and I rewards. Plan to make next week a j week of spiritual life for yourself : your family, your church, and foi I your neighbors. Say this: "Brothei Pastor, Superintendent, Officials i Teachers, Faithful Members: You an not going to have a service next weel and leave me out. Count on me." I Talk like that backed up with prayei I can save a city if persisted in lonf ? enough. Come to church Sunday | Public invited. . .. ??-? Serve Hot Lunch To 55 Undernourished Child ret Approximately 55 undernourishes children are being served hot lunche daily in the lunch room operated ii the local high school building. Th project is being carried out by th J YVilliamston Parent-Teacher Astocia ? tion with financial assistance from th I welfare department and several in dividual, who have kindly made casl donations. During the first week o operation, March 12-16, two hundrc and fifty-thres meals were served a a cost of 9 cents per meal. Thre hundred meals were served this wee at a cost of approximately S cents pe meal. : ? Program of Services At Hamilton Church Sunday E. F. Itoseley, rector. y Church school, 10 a. m. Holy Communion and sermon, a. m. Evening prayer and sermon, 7 :S I" FIRST SERVICE INi CHURCH WILL BE HELD TOMORROW Hayes Swamp Primitive Baptists Complete New Structure Recently organised, the Hayes Swamp Primitive Baptist congrega-' ??on will hold i? first ,er?i? jn tht new church in Griffins Township to-1 morrow morning at 11 o'clock, fol owed by a second service on Sunday morning a, the same hour, (he mem ers ,,f the church extending a cor j? ",V,U,";n 10 b< P'eseni ?pon thrSc services and others to follow. Klder B. S. Cowin. prominent min- j ister of ,|,c Primitive Baptist faith,' occupy the pulpi,, it w? >n.l nounced. f ollowing differences the Smith wok ? rrrk church and voted out by of |, seventeen member, peaceably w.thdrew and organised a congregation of their own and im mediately advanced plans f?r a house of worship. Selecting a site near the home of Messrs. W K. and N 1 ice the httle handful of members readily accepted the task of building . house ?f worship. By their own gifts and services, with the coopera ! 'I0". olhe?. 'he little group last , Week completed a sizeable church just ? '"Ct.on smaller than the one at Sm,thwacks Creek. From g I0 men and" dT n W?rk durin,{ 12 d?y-.' and the house was completed. And frienrtfOW 11 "'e few with friends will worship, holding malice against no one, but with the one aim of worshiping according to their own' nictates. 1 | Services will be held by'the Hayes1 , Swamp group each fourth Saturday' i the Id" |8> uTh' l"1'ori,)' group of [the old church will worship ? Simth wick Creek at the same time, (he con I fltct of services being unavoidable as the pastor was available only at that ~~ rhe minority f.eiion nf ,h<>l old group will continue it. worship1 each second Saturday and Sunday, it learned, 1 -u rite Hayes Swamp membership in cudes the following; J. j. Manning P I n" I I-',llcy' ''"Cons; Pleny eel. VV. h. Tice. Alonza Roberson, ttoncrson, I Peel M "N- '' T,Ce' E?h"im I Peel. Mrs Cornelia and Mr,. Rhoda | --Hey, Mrs. Martha Roger,on. Mrs. I Hattie Ballard, Mrs. Mattie L. Jen kins, Mrs. Barbara C. Roberson, Mrs. | Ew Koherson. Mrs. Laura M. , Badley, Mrs. Lydia M. Peel The member, ?re located in four town j ships, f.nffins, Bear Grass, William .?ton, and Cross Roads. Jamesville Boys Form Junior Baseball Team Last week, several ilays before spring Off.cially started, Jamesville's ? yung red-blooded boys were talk ? ing arrangements (or a junior base . hell team there for the fa,.-approach ing season. Calling a meeting by the I "Id grapevine method, the leader, dis I cussed plans with fifteen boys [ John Leary Hassell was named to ' i .. haseballers, and Luther i tugli Hardison was appointed to as | sist him as secretary. IJ. S. Has,elf f is captain and Kugene Ange is field ? captain. The boys are expecting a ; Rood season. Program of Services At Baptist Church Sunday morning the Baptist church, ?, in cooperation with the other churches ' of the town, launches a series of serv ' i ices which terminate on Easter Sun ? day morning. ? \ In addition to two services this c Sunday there will be an evening serv (icc every night next week, except Sat r, urday night. All evening services be l gin promptly at 7:30 o'clock, adjourn |ment within the hour. And the pub lic is most cordially invited. ' Oft Easter Sunday evening the Wll liamston Choral Club will render a full program of Easter music in the auditorium of the Baptist church; and j since the other churches will not have % services at that hour, everybody in , the community is invited. # Trying To Secure Farm Colony tor This Section ?4 . A committee from the Eastern Car ^ olina Chamber of Commerce 13 in Washington, D. C., thia" week appear J,ina befoy the subsistence liomottn! ' division in an effort to have two 01 ? more of their homestead project* lo cated in thia aeetinn. W. C. Manning r a member of the committee, left hen yesterday and is expected home to night or tomorrow. The subsiatence homestead divisiot was created in an effort to providt homes and smalt tracts of land foi the millions of people in the crowd ed centers of the country. Severa I projects have already been located it the country, one in Pender County and others are being planned on at even larger scale, it is understood. Sam Ayers Is Acquitted of Murder Charge Wednesday Seed Loan Applications Will Be Received Here Monday The Enterprise has just receiv ed word that an emergency crop loan office will be opened in the courthouse here next Monday for the advancement of emergency (seed-feed loans), and farmers desiring loans should apply be tween the hours of 9 a. m. and 5 p. m. Field Inspector Roy Hearn has made arrangements for the handl ing of applications, he said this morning. According to the regulations under which the crop loans are to be made this year, any farmer who secures a loan must obtain a statement from the county pro duction council that he does not intend to increase his acreage or production in violation of the Agricultural Adjuatment Admin tration program. The maximum amount of an emergency crop loan that may be obtained by any one individual it $250, the minimum is $25. Applications for loans in any amount from $25 to $50 may be accepted by the emergency crop loan office provided the farmer does not have sufficient security to obtain a loan elsewhere. A farmer applying for $$0 or more must first make application to the Production Credit Associ ation for a loan from it. Rejec tion of this application by the Production Credit Association will be considered sufficient evi dence that other credit is not available and the applicant may then make application to the E meregency Crop Loan office. HIGH SPOTS OF COURT WEEK County Citizens Turn Out In Large Numbers for Proceedings Martin County's citizens turned out in great numbers here the first three days of this week to hear and take part in the superior court proceedings, <dTieers stating that the crowds were the largest to attend" "Court here in several years. All available seats wcTc takcn*and the aisle?, were filled much of the time during the time the : criminal docket was hcrng cleared. While curiosity carried many spec tators to the courtroom just to see the notorious criminal, Worth Proc tor, an apparently interested crowd was on hand for the Sam Ayers mur der trial Wednesday afternoon. Cars | lined both sides of the narrow street for nearly twjo blocks, ami pedestrians crowded the sidewalks from the court house to the business distri-rt. I The week had hardly started before a "medicine man" appeared on the scene with an overabundance of burnt ( cork on Iris face offering at sacrifice prices his cure-alls. And he offered the court keen competition as an in terest getter in that he, too, attracted large crowds. His sales were not sa many, however, it is understood. i " Market Variations In The Weather Experienced Here I Market varaiations in weather con ditions in this section continue un abated, even though spring is here. Temperatures below 40 were reported at noon today, with indications point I ting to rain or snow. Snow was said to have fallen this morning in Eliza beth City and other centers just to the north of here. Announce Birth Mr. and MVs. George Hatton Gur ganus announce the birtli of a daugh ter, Barbara Hatton, on Monday, March 19, -9.14, at their home here on Watt# Street ? To Check Home Grown Against Foreign Seed Home-grown irish potatoes will he tested for seed in Yadkin County a gain this season against Maine growr seed. The difference in yield, tinn | of maturity, and other characteristic^ | will he observed. ? $80,000 in Cotton Checks Delivered in Edgecombe Over $80,000 was delivered to Kdge combe cotton growers last week oi j their option contracts secured whci J they plowed up cotton last summer HOLC HAS MADE BUT ONE LOAN SO FAR IN COUNTY Approximately 50 Applica tions Have Been Passed On ??? 1 Although only out- loan actually has been completed in Martin County, ap proximately $0 have gone through the mill and the Home Owners' Loan Corporation is expected to mal^e sev eral loans in the county within the next few weeks. \ The first and only loan made in* the ct unty thus far was for $9,000. Sev eral loans arc in the process of com pletion, depending, of course, upon the acceptance of the HOLC bonds by the owners of mortgages. Attorneys "Tor The loan corporation said this week that the bonds are practically on a par basis now, and no doubt some mortgagees w lift have refused to accept them will soon reverse their decision and more loans would be completed h^re. Referring to a statement made by Allan S. O'Neal, state manager of the organization with headquarters in Salisbury, Mr. Cjlark quoted figures from the statement to show that to March 2 the corporation bad paid taxes and assessments and costs of 'making loans totaling $240,825.29. This has been done in taking up mortgages oil homes throughout the state and I the major portion of the money has been paid out in taxes and assess ments to the counties, cities, and towns. Only a small portion has been paid for cost of loans in the cases where applicants have been unable to bear this expense themselves. Pay ment of back taxes and assessments is said to be proving a great aid to many cities and counties in handling their current obligations. Shaw Choral Society Pleases Large Crowd Appearing in a concert in the col ored high school auditorium here last Wednesday evening, Shaw Univer sity's Choral Society offered a very entertaining program made up .of choruses, solos, and spirituals. Rarely, if ever, has a better trained choir, either white or colored, ap pearfd in a concert here, and the pro 'gram was greatly enjoyed by a capac ity house. 38 More CWA Workers To Be Dropped Today i Thirty-eight more men will be ? dropped from CWA rolls m the coun 1 ty after this week, it was learned this i morning. The payroll this week will ? be about $1,500, it is understood. Anti-Rat Drive Here Begins To Show Effectiveness Sigm That WiUiamaton'a anti-rat cam paign ia programing rapidly ia evidmnced by numerous attacks mad* by the rodanta on laad wa ter pipes in many homes. Appar ently suffering stomach agony, the f^knts are said to have cut as many as JO or 40 holes in one pipe for water, W. E. Dunn, plumbing con tractor who is laid to have edu cated the rats in doing the com mon stunt, installed plumbing na tures in a resident on Main Street last Saturday, and the following Monday h? found it necessary to replica the lead piping. The rats had cut a number of holes in the pipe, some of which ware large enough for the rodents to crawl through. Reports from the wholesale rat killing drive indicate a thorough work, Mr. Carton, who is in charge of the work, stating this week that Urge quantities had been planted here and there throughout the town and that dead rats had been seen in Urge num WAS ACCUSED OF KILLING FARMER LAST DECEMBER ? Jury Given Case Late Wed nesday and Is Out Only Few Minutes Sam Avers, Martin County white farmer living in Oil Swamp sec turn, was acquitted in superior court here last Wednesday of the murder of Lyman Jones, Pitt fanner, near a Holiness church just a short distance from the Pitt" Mart in boundary line last December, The case, one oi rather peculiar cir cuinstances, placed little value on a dying man's declarations, the testi mony of the defendant and his eight witnesses apparently receiving more consideration and this resulting in Avers* acquittal Relying mainly on the statements told Dr. J. E. Ward, Kobersonville's Chief of Policy Wil liam Gray and Thurman Williams, the State asked for a verdict declaring the defendant guilty tif murder. There was little either evidence the State of fered, the evidence of Ayers and his witnesses clearly branding Jones as a liar at death's door. Removed to the doctor's office in I Robersonville a short while after the shooting, Jones, apparently sober and in his right mind, told that Sam Ayers shot him. However, he explained there was no hard feelings toward one another as far .as he knew, and Jones died declaring he held no malice for his alleged killer. Chief"WilliamGray warned Jones to tell the truth as a falsi statement might send an inno^* cent man to the electric chair, J outs r? iterated the statement, claiming he was shot by Ayers. The defendant had a great number of witnesses, but only eight were used. : Taking the stand in his own behalf, Ayers made a fairly good witness for his cause. Although he did not ap pear to he of any too strong mind at the time, his answers were direct on both direct and cross examination, the man showing no excitement. While some of the man's actions on the night 1 of the shooting sounded a bit pecu liar. hi- explanation doubtless con vinced the jury of his innocence. Tlie defense evidence was offered by eight witnesses in support of the statements of Ayers. According to the testimony of Jones' 12-year-old 1 brother-in-law, Ayers was talking to him when the shot was fired 75 yards away. The hoy stated that he noticed nothing peculiar in the actions of Jones, but that lie could smell liquor on his breath. Other witnesses main tained that Jones was in a drunken condition, aud that there was much 'excitement under way when they were ' trying to make arrangements to rc ' move Jones from the churchyard and [carry him home. A few minutes lat i er Jones was found shot, and the the ' ory of suicide was advanced, the so 1 lution being sustained in the court. ' The suicide theory was further sub stantiated by the fact tjpt Joneg had? Tone shoe and sock off, the defense maintaining that he removed the shoe ' and sock so he could work the trig 1 ger and fire a load of shot into his 1 body from a small gun. Jones, just before lie died, is said to have ex plained that he had the shoe off be cause his foot, injured in a motor cycle accident some time before, was hurting him. j Following the assumption of the defense that Jones was in a semi conscious and dazed condition when . he made the statement purporting that '"Ayers had shot him. Judge Small | charged the jury for about five min ute*- and turned the case over to them. After deliberating for about 18 mifi 1 utes, the body returned its verdict de claring Ayers not guilty. I ?? Postpone Appearance of Magician To Later Date The appearance of Wallace the Ma gician, originally scheduled for March 27, at the high school auditorium, has been postponed due to conflict with church activities. Wallace, one of the best magicians and illusionists, will visit Williamston under the au spice* of the Jttnior Class of Wfflinn ston High School as soon as a satis factory date can he arranged. ? L. T. Fowden Appointed To Postmastership Here ? Leslie T. Fowden, acting postmas ter here since last May, was appoint ed to the office yesterday by Presi dent Roosevelt His name will be sent to the Senate in a few days for confirmation, It was stated. Mr. Fowden eras the only candidate possessing business experience to qualify for the office, it was stated.