Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / May 1, 1934, edition 1 / Page 1
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This Week Is Clean-Up Week in WilHamston^Every Citiien Is Expected To Do His Part THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME XXXVII?NUMBER 18 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, May 1,1934 ESTABLISHED 1898 W. Jes*e Griffin, Prominent Farmer of County, Comm'ts Suicide at Home Near Here REGARDED ONE OF COUNTY'S "LEADING MEN ? Hundreds Attend Funeral Yesterday Afternoon In Griffins' Township: ? William Jesse?Griffin, prominent county citizen and a leading farmer in GriffinsTown ship, ended his life on the back porch of his home there shortly after 8 o'clock last Sunday evening, the tragic act coming as a decided shock to members of the fam ily and other relatives and friends throughout the county. He fired a load of shot into his breast and heart, death resulting instantly. Leaving no note or offering no ex planation beforehand that he planned to end his life, the exact cause for the act remains unknown. Mr. Grif fin, however, had some weighty mat ters on his mind, judging from re marks recalled by neighbors and oth _cr friends, but his statements were not such to even give suspicion or cause any alarm whatever. It is be- | lieved Mr. Griffin became worried be- : cause he was late in getting his crops ' started, that he was short of help and had worked very hard during the past few weeks. He had also suffered with toothache, and just before he killed himself he told the family he was going out to doctor that tooth again, the family thinking he was go- . ing to the kitchen for medicine. Several days ago he told a neigh- i bor he had gone all to pieces lately,J but evifn then Mr. Griffin appeared to be getting along very well; Sun day afternoon, only a few hours be fore the suicide, he talked at length with a neighbor aboqt Scriptural sub jects, and although the conversation indicated there were weighty matters on his mind, there was nothing said or advanced that would reveal any ptan whereby he would eftd his life. Mr. Griffin was not a wealthy man, but he was very well fixed financially, and his home was one of the most peaceful to be found, one where broth- ? erly love was always present and the joys and sorrows of one were the joys and sorrows of all. A few minutes before the killing, Mr. Griffin was in the pantry, appar ently there tying a string around the trigger of his gun and making ar rangements to kill himself in ther.. Two of fhe children went into the kitchen for something, and heard their father, but they thought nothing of his presence in the pantry. Their unexpected visit to the kitchen, it is believed, upset his plans for the mo menL and he followed them back inio the living room. After a short stay there he explained to the family that he had the toothache and he was go ing out to doctor that tooth again. He went to the back porch and with in a few seconds, the family heard a report of the gun. Wben mrm* of the family reached him he was dead. Mr. Griffin, 53 years old, was the son of Mr. Simon D. Griffin and wife, Martha Stallings Griffin, two of the oldest and most highly respected cit izens of this section. He was born and reared in Griffins Township, and was recognized as a good farmer, in telligent in all his acts, and a very steady, reliable and quiet man. He met his obligations promptly, and pos sessed a good farm and an ideal home. The friendship of his fellowman was always valued by him, and he found happiness in doing for others and his family. Besides his parents, he leaves his wife, the former Miss Mary Eliza Rob erson, and four children, Lester J. Griffin, of R. F. D. 1, Jamesville; Clarence Griffin, a promising young student in the University of North Carolina; Leona and Elvin Griffin. He also leaves six brothers, Messrs. Jo seph S., John H., S. Claude, David T., Ira F., and George C. Griffin, and one sister, Mrs. LVdU Roberson, >11 of this' count jr. Funeral aervicea were conducted yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock by Rev. W. B. Harrington and Ephraim Peel, with a large number of relatirea and fricnda prevent. Interment wai in the Tice Cemetery in Griffins Township. ? Cars Damaged In Wreck Here Last Saturday Night The running gear oa Mr. Bill Bland's Ford sedan and that on a Ford roadster belonging to a colored mar named Price was wracked last Satur day night, when the two machinet crashed on Haughton Street Just tbit side of the Holiness church. No on< was hurt. COUNTY QUOTAS Btlioiiif, and probably cor rectly so, that the poundage allot ment made this county by the gov ernment is too low, many farm era are of the opinion that other counties are commanding a more advantageous position in Ths to bacco reduction piogiaiu. Below are offered comparisons of pound - age allotments in several counties in this section: Pounds Per Acre Allotted 1931 1932 1933 Martin _ 735 641 627 Bertie _ 733 660 620 Pitt 736 645 626 Washington 637 601 690 Halifax 698 636 820 Edgecombe _ 745 668 842 These figures prove allotments are in line as far as this county is concerned, and it is upon them that the reduction program is be ing handled. EXTEND TIME IN MAKING LOANS Applications for Emergency Loans Will Not Be Re ceived After May 15 According to information received here this week from Homer Peek, I regional manager of the Emergency I Loan Office in Washington, I). C., the period during which applications foi^-loao^ may accepted he en (officially extended from Apnf May IS. -r Under this extension of the closing date, the lending office will honor all applications that bear a postmark prior to midnight of May 15, 1934, it was explained. If the office finds it necessary to return an application for correction or for additional information, and such application was originally re ceived prior to midnight, May 15, it !will be given due consideration when sent back to Washington, it was stat ed by Mr. Peele, a former Martin County man. According to reports coming from the Martin office of the emergency lending agency, there are a few far mers scattered here and there who plan to apply for loans but are just waiting, apparently for no good reas on at all. As a general rule, virtually the lending business of the emergency group is just about completed in this county, it is believed. | Nearly all the applications have bcrn approved, and a large majority 'of the checks have already reached the hands of the bo/rowers. the hands of the CAR FIRED ON FROM AMBUSH Young White Boy Barely Misses Troy Jenkins In Surprise Attack Shooting from ambush, Arthui Nicholson, young white man living or the McGaskey road, near here, struck the car of Troy Jenkins there last Sat urday night. One load of the gun shot struck the left side of the hood and a second discharge struck th< body of the car, a few inches from th< driver's seat, barely missing younj Jenkins. No warrant had been is sued in the case yesterday afternoon it was learned. Nicholson and Jenkins attended th< show together here that night, am they rode around for a while befon going to the home of Nicholson. Jen kins, a resident of Rocky Mount visit ing in the Nicholson neighborhood refuted to make a trip to Tarboro a the suggestion of Nicholson, it wai said. Angered by the refusal of Jen kins, the boy ran into the house ant got a gun, firing two loads of shot intt e ear *as Jenkins drove away, ~ac cording to reports heard here yester day. Nicholson is 21 years of age. Announce Cotton Quotas . In the County This Weel ? Cotton quota, have been aasigne* thi, county and will be announce* following the return of,Agent T. G Brandon from Raleigh today, it I, un deratood. The grower, will be a*ke< | to call at the office of the agent with | in the next day or two to complet the reduction program, it wa, an nouneel. There are about 620 farm l era aigning contract, and about SO I other, who have lea than ive acrei > but who plan to cooperate in th movement, it i, under,tood. MANY DISSATISFIED WITH TOBACCO ALLOTMENTS ALL TEACHERS AT JAMESVILLE ARE REELECTED School There Completing One of Most Successlul ? Terms in Its History ? Recognizing the current term as one of the mosr successful in the ftis tory of?the school, the?Jamesville committee recently re-elected everyone ?pL-ita..;tfarhcrs for the 1034 35 ternn it was unofficially announced yester day. The re-elections were made by unanimous decisions, it is understood. The faculty appointments were made at a called meeting of the school com mittee. The names of the teachers and their assigned grades: Grade 1-A?Miss Opal Brown, of Jamcsvillc. - Grade 1-B?Miss Emily Smithwick, of Windsor. Grade 2?Miss Fannie Latham Mar tin, of Jamesville. Grade 3?Mrs. Varo H. Davenport, of Jamesville. Grade 4?Miss Margaret Everett, of Robersonville. Grade 5?Miss Louise Roebuck, of Robersonville. Grade 6?Miss Rachel Godwin, of Conetoe. Grade 7?C. B. Martin, of James ville. High School Math, and French?Miss Roslyn Sattcrwhite, of Henderson. English?Miss Annie V. Horner, of Hope-M444* eiencc and coach of atWetics?J. T. Uzzlcr of Wilson -.-Mitts. . History and principalship?A. L. Pollock, of Jamcsvillc. Other committees in the county are holding meetings this week when the selection of faculties will be considered, it is understood. PASTOR TELLS OF OLD TIMES R. Potts Recalls Local Happenings of Fifty Years Ago Rev. J. R. Potts, telegraph operator here for two years more than 50 years ago, recalled a few interesting happen ?ings while on a visit here from Ahos Lie last week. | Coming here from Washington, N. C., in 1882, Mr. Potts found his duties 'in the telegraph office very light, and in his spare time he organized the first T..Crawford, W. Henry Crawford, J R. Roberson, L. Thrower, Frank Mar tin, Dennis Biggs and Harry Stubbs were members of the team, he said. The minister recalled teaching Mr. W. A. Ellison, now of Belhaven teleg raphy. Mr. Ellison later trained a | half score operators. After leaving here Mr. Potts located in Tarboro, where he handled the Associated Press news, marrying there in 1889. He later went to Richmond as manager of the Associated Press. From there | he went to Knoxville, Augusta, Athena and Columbus, Ga. At the age of 55 jhe began preaching. During the past '11 years he has been doing evange listic work for the Presbyterian church He has been preaching in the recently constructed Presbyterian chapel in Poplar Point Township. ? Start Transplanting Crop In the County This Week ? 1 While many farmers are ready tc s'start transplanting their tobacco crop - the work has not actually been start - ed in this immediate section, as far at I, it could be learned today. Most ol t the farmers were busy discussing the b tobacco contracts, having little or nc time to transplant their crops. Reports from the Wilson sectior yesterday stated the transplantini work was started there that morning The weather has been unusually cool for transplanting, and the planti have not developed very rapidly dur ing the past few days, it was said However, transplanting will have beet started on many farms before thi ^ week is spent. ? ? i. Season for Inland Fishing Is Closed Until June lOtl The ieuon for inland fishing closes e today until June 10. While the lav i- malcea fishing illegal, there are ex captions in lioit of jhe counties ~li this section of the State, where fisl may be taken on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays of each week durini the "closed" period. Some Facts and Figures When the tobacco reduction program waa inaugurated several months ago, the government went to several sources to establish a base for handling the movement. It is the opinion that the base or alloted poundage is too low, but the base applies throughout the State, and if there had been do discrepancy growing out of false statements advanc ed by some of the groerers themselves, the facts established by the government would have worked a hardship on no one, it is believed. The allotments by the government and the claims by farmers arar' Claimed by Farmer* in 1931 Alio ted by Government in 1931 Difference in Claims and Allotments Claimed by Farmers in 1932 Alloted by Government in 1932 Difference in Claims and Allotments Claimed by Farmers in 1933 Alloted by Government in 1933 Difference in Claima and Allotments 1,180 15,288 14,700 588 14,353,333 9,437,400 4,915,933 9,545.857 6,217,700 3,328,157 14,083,204 12,156,900 1,926,304 When the figures met, the farmers were claiming 37,982,347 pounds against the government allotment for the three years of 27,812,000 pounds. There was a difference in acreage of 4,219 units. Based on the three-year contract option, Martin farmers are entitled to plant 8,923 acres of tobacco this year, and will be allowed to sell without penalty 6,489,477 pounds, it ia understood. SEVERAL MEN ARE ARRESTED Unusual Spurt In Criminal Activities Reported in the County Over Weekend County officers had a busy time (luring the past week-end when they tjons of the various laws. Other than IT housebreaking charge brought a gainst Mayo Andrews, colored, of RobersonvrHe, the charges appear to be of no serious consequence. Five of those arrested and placed in jail were in a fighting piood during Saturday night, the officers jailing Edgar l'arker, Roosevelt Parker, Ar thur Daniel, and Lena Coburn, col ored, and Walter Godard, white, for alleged assaults. J. N. Simpson was jailed on a for nication and adultery charge. Mayo Andrews is being held on a housebreaking charge. Sadie Coburn was jailed on a for nication and adultery charge. The cases have not been set for trial, but hearings will be held at the convenience of witnesses and the court it is understood. t Williamston Wins From Edenton Team 8 To 1 ??? Wi'lliamgton's high school nine struck its stride last Friday afternon, when Edenton was defeated by an 8 to 1 count on the high school dia mond here. Behind the stellar pitch ing of Matthews, the locals played one of their best games of the sea son. Yesterday afternoon, the Chowan boys reversed the order and won from Coach Peters' bpys by a count of 5 to 3. Matthe^vs, working for the lo cals, allowed only six hits. Errors in the seventh cost Williamston the game- At that point, Williamston was leading 3 to 2, but several errors upset the situation. Owners Asked To Keep Autos Oft Ball Diamond During the pait few days, local automobile owners have been driving on the baseball diamond here, doing much damage to the grounds. To fence the held much expense would be incurred, so an appeal is made to drivers to keep their cars on the side lines. The request also applies to couples using the diamond and base ball held for a proving ground and courting. ? Woman's Club To Hold Meeting Thursday at 3:30 The Woman's ??lttb will meet on Thursday, May 3rd, at 3:30 p. n?., in the club rooms. All members are re quested to attend. ? Time tor Listing Property tor Taxation Has Expired Time for listing property for tu ition expired yesterday, several ol the list-takers remaining on the jot today to complete the few odds and ends, it was stated. About one-fourth of the owners In this district has not listed, it wai learned today. It coild not be Team ed, however, whether a penalty would be placed in effect or not, or jusl how the remainder of the world will ,fbe handled. SEINES ARE PUT BACK IN RIVER Jamesville Fishery Reports Fair-sized Catches All Day Monday i After remaining inactive during a greater part of the season, the seines Wc'le placed in operation at Jamesville v/ii ?*i jamesville yuStgL morning. Reports stated t lat herring catches varying from two J ???? *? win I wo to tfirpc thousand wire made through out the day, that few of the larger tish were being taken. However, rock arc expected to run in larger number, shortly. I lie fisheries will operate through Ma, 10, and probably longer, depend '?ig upon the size of the catches and an extension of the season, it was learned today. EisllifliLwdth small net. at this-point was reported not so good today. How ever, record catches were reported last Saturday, when the herring started coming out of Ihe swamps with the receding waters. Located at the ?tb *r end of the river bridge, one man J? said to have dipped up 186 herring 1 "1 four minutes with a net hardly larg er than a water bucket. Several thousand of the fish were caugl.l there during the day. Individual fish ermen reported catches as large as 16.000 for the day, it was said. Q??,rftta by Local Primary Children Is Well Receivec ?* Staged by the first fire grades in (hi local school last Friday evening, th operetta, "Litttk- Red Riding Hood wa. a marked success. The event wa witnessed by a'packed auditorium, an< to the enjoyment of all. 1 he sixth and seventh grade ch dren will appear in the next closi, event, an operetta, "Snow White at the Seven Dwarfs," Friday evening , this week at 8 o'clock. Club Leaders to Meet Here Tomorrow Morning at 10:3C Food and nutrition leader, in al home demonstration c|ul,? ?ff ||fm to attend tTTi final leaders' schoo ... ... '""cis sent Which w.ll be held in the home agen office Wednesday morning, beg nmg at 10:30. This meeting will charge of Miss Mary K. Thorn: extension nutritionist The demo stration wi|l be work with summ vegetables. This will be an all-d mreting and all leaders are asked bring their lunch. w? Convict Two lor Violatio, ol Internal Revenue Lav For the first time in a number years. Martin County did not hare criminal case in the Federal Cot convening this week in Washingtr One or two minor civil cases fro this county are scheduled for tr there tlila week. Two defendants from Edgecom County were tried for violating t internal revenue laws, and were se fenced to 18 months in the penite tiary at Atlanta. Regular Prayer Service at the Presbyterian Churcl ?a The regular miiFweek prayer meet - mill ing will be held at the Preibyterii church Wednesday night at 8 p. n You are cordially invited to atten these services. Drastic Reductions Made in Both Pounds and Acreages J. R. ROGERSON DIED SATURDAY Funeral for High Respected Bear Grass Farmer Held Sunday Afternoon John R. Rogerson, highly respect ed farmer of Bear Grass Township, died at his home near the Old Mill Inn, last Saturday about noon, fol lowing a stroke of apoplexy early that morning. Mr. Rogerson, suffering with unusually high blood pressure, continued his activities right on, and was working in a field near the home at 6 o'clock Saturday mo ruing when he TcTT. Members of the family found him-a few minutes after he suffered the stroke, and removed him to the house, but he never regained con sciousness. The son of the late Mr. and Mrs. King H. Rogerson, he was born in] this county 61 years ago. He married ] Miss Nora M. Hadley, who with two' sons, Jesse D. and Weeks B. Roger son, survives. He also leaves ona half-sister. Mrs; S. B. l.illey, of Wil liamston Route V? and three half half-brothers, Messrs. Alonzg. Roger son, of Williamston R. F. D. I; Joshua Rogerson, of Speed; and Nicholas Rogerson, of Beaufort County, Mr. Rogerson was known as a quiet" and unassuming gentleman. He was recognized as a good man, a though t ful and accominodatipfl_ iwighhor - Ah. I th^qgh he hail tfevere iijoyed "very ' many Advantages in life,- he worked hard and made a good living, meeting his obligations as he made them and in a fair and square way. Funeral services were conducted from the late home Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Interment followed in the .RmrfPion burial mound near Macedonia church, in Bear Grass Township. 1 LARGE CROWD HEARS BISHOP Confirms Class of Five In Church of the Advent Sunday Morning j A record congregation gathered at the Church of the Advent here Sun day morning to hear the Kt. Kev. Thomas G. Darst, Bishop of Has! Carolina. In addition to a full at tendance of the local Episcopal church, fik'lltfc from other churches in town and a number of friends from ' surrounding towns swelled the con gregation. Bishop Darst preached a 1 strong sermon on the subject, "Not > | the power without hut the weakness ' | within that destroys." At the- morning ?Tvir-) fiir? pnrfi?n,i were confirmed. They were, Jack Baker Saunders, Billy Biggs, Dick Dunn, James Robert Everett, jr., and Jack Roberson. Mrs. G. H. Bryant, an invalid, was confirmed Saturday afternoon in her sick room in the presence of several friends. On last Friday evening more than fifty members of the Church of the Advent gathered at the Woman's club for a supper at which the Bishop was the guest. After the suppei Bishop Darst made a short talk re garding the opportunity of the church. Committee Plans Program for Educational Meeting Meeting in the courthouse here lasl Saturday morning at 11 o'clock, i committee of educators formulated s program for the meeting of the north eastern district of the North Carolina Educational Association, to be held in Elizabeth City the 16th and 17th oi g this month. The program will be an Inounced later. The names of the program commit Mrs. William Adams I of Four Oaks; Miss Hancock, of New j1 Bern; Miss Crowder, of Elm .City 11 Miss Ricks, of Rocky Mount; Mr. J I W. Moiman, of Plymouth; Mr. H. M e|Ainsley, of Oak City; and Mr. Jule B c I Warren, secretary of the state associa tion. ? Fender Torn from Cobb's Ford on Roanoke Bridgi ? A rear fender on "Monk" Cobb'i new Ford was torn off last Sunda] : wtww in Eluiftw aiy^nwHi crashed into the car on the rive bridge here last Sunday. No one wai hurt, and the visiting motorist agree< to repair the damage. SOME GROWERS ARE TEARING UP CONTRACTS ? Marked V ariations 'Caused by False Claims In Many - Cases, It Is Believed ? . Keen disappointment was registered with the office of the county agent this week following the assignment of tobacco production quotas to the in dividual farmers, a few farmers going so far as to tear up their contracts* and openly protest the reduction made in their production quotas. The en tire movement re in ^ precarious con dition at the present, but despite the disappointment it is believed the re duction program will go through with few, if any, changes. That the final production quotas as signed. will effect hardships upon some farmers is certain, according to pro tests made by large numbers this week. However, the government has not reduced the total acreage and the total poundage for this county any more than the reduction agreement provided. It is apparent, however, that there were some errors made in preparing the contracts, and it is deep ly regretted that corrections arc not probable, if possible. And there is no doubt but that some farmers have better contracts than others, neigh boring farmers iir HeveTJtl casSs re p or ring dferepancies as- great as 500 pounds to the acre. j~ There are two maiti reasons for these discrepancies, the authorities ' say, and it\ advancing one cause it | was clearly explained that no reflec tion is to be cast upon the farmer (who possesses a contract favoring him with a large poundage and his neigh boring farmer a comparatively small poundage. The difference is possible, ?and a careful survey of the contracts I will prove the basis for the particular (difference. A farmer who accepted a (?contract upon the three-year period, 1931, 1932, and 1933, and did not veri fy his acreage and poundage claims with actual records apparently is the one "holding the bag," so to speak just now. Me took a horizontal re duction in 1931 of 12 per cent in acre age and 22 per cent in pounds. In 1932 he took a 2 per cent reduction in acres and a 21 per cent reduction in pounds. Last year, the farmer who did not substantiate his claims by pre senting warehouse sales slips, took no reduction in acres but his poundage was cut 25 per cent. The acreage claimed for 1933 was only 588 units greater than the allotment, and the horizontal reduction for that year was | not applied in this county. The large reduction for the 1933 poundage was due because many farmers presented thrir sales hills, leaving the others who did not present their bills to carry the reduction burden. The next explanation has to do with the unscrupulous lying that was advanced on a large scale. Instead of robbing the government when farm ers falsified their claims, those farm ers, ItTs now clearly seen, were rob bing their neighbor farmers who told the truth. The task of telling who was telling the truth was beyond the power of those handling the contracts, but when the contracts went in the government?found?in?h93i?that?the acreage was 2,461 units greater than was in actual production, and the poundage heavier by nearly five mil lion. It has been three years since the 1931 crop was sold, and apparent 1 ly many farmers could ^iot remember ' very well. In 1932 there were 9,700 acres of tobacco in cultivation, pro ducing a crop of 6,217,700 pounds. The farmers claimed 10,880 acres and 9,545,857 pounds, or 1,180 acre$ and 3,328,157 pounds more than were ac tually produced. Last year the pound age went over by nearly two million pounds, and to take care of the arti ficial boost, those farmers who failed | to verify their claims with sales slips | had to take the bitter medicine, and some of the reductions are bitter, very , bitter. ? ? A few neighbors reported discrep ancies, but many refused to talk when asked, and while they told the truth others were reaping the fat of the contracts. So far, no one hat ad vanced a way to correct the groes injustice perpetrated by false claims. The reduction basis was established by the government from several dif ferent sources, It is understood. One ably was the revenue end, where taxes on tobacco are paid. The authorities (Continued on the beck pec*)
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 1, 1934, edition 1
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