North Carolina Newspapers

THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME XL?NUMBER 22 Williamston. Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday. March 16. 1937 ESTABLISHED 1899 STIFF sentences being given in SUPERIOR COURT Grimes Given Freedom In Fourteen-Year-Old Murder Case A supposedly insignificant crimi nal docket took on ? rather serious dress before Judge J. Paul FrizzeUe. of Snow Hill, called it a day in the Martin County Superior Court here Monday Two and three year sen tences were meted out one after another, and one defendant drew from 10 to 12 years in prison. Fines were not in order when drunken oriven went to the bar of justice. h? judge calling for a sentence of hree months on the roads for the one defendant charged with mixing g? and liquor. Small crowds were on hand for he first-day proceedings, but. after he court started its activities after I delay earlier in the day. the sen ences put those on hand to talking.) Leamon James, colored man who vas charged with breaking and en enng a store near Dardens just a r* "me ?go. pleaded guilty and vas sentenced to the roads for two 'ears, the sentence to begin at the vmpletion of a 90-day sentence im tn the county court for an u vmfr^ey .Lewia Modica, charged drunken automobUe driving ras sentenced to the roads tor three nonths. 1 George Blount, the colored man "ho ran away from the roads just before his term expired ;ud broke into J. S Ayer,' store ,t| - eretts, was sentenced to the roads or two years His term begins just " *??n M he completes a 6-month entence imposed in the county court or running away from the roads. The case charging Weldon Biggs nth breaking and entering and lar eny was nolprossed with leave A continuance was granted in the ase charging F. N Caldweii with he embezzlement of insurance noney Counsel in the case is a nember <,f the legislature and when everal other legislators appealed or continuance Judge FrizzeUe aak <1 if the General Assembly was hold ng a one-day session in Williamston. A continuance was granted in the ase charging EUjah Moore with an ?ault with a deadly weapon. Prayer for judgment was contin ItoklC ^ char*'n? Raymond UcCoy and Eber Kurtz with steal n? a car from James E. Griffin in Villiamston several weeks ago Mc -oy s father, a steel worker in Coats j Pa " aPPcared in court and nade a good witness for the two ouths who are only i? the.r early rstn b?ys werr turned ovei oMcCoy wjth instructio? to report hem to the CoatsviUe police. ,?d he two wayward youths with Mc -oy and his family started late Mon lay afternoon for an aU-night rid* >ack to their homes. Hoyt Smith, the colored man *hc hot and seriously wounded Aus ralia Peel, colored woman, in the ** Union aection, a few weeks ago *as sentenced to the rt?ds for fron' 0 to 12 years. Smith said that II rears were a long time to spend .. ?Uon. but he expressed great joj T? ef"Ped th' gMS chamber .J'* only Jur* case during th. irst-day session was that chargini w,th for*ccyr Th. rial of the case required Bttle time md the jury was not long in reach " verd,ct. Judge Frizzelle con lnuing the speed when he meted >ut a two-year road sentence to the 'oung Griffins Township white man. Clyde Baker, young white man "a' sentenced to the roads for ts 'ears for breaking and entering th Hamson Wholesale Company stor Herbert Page and Chester Terr thre* hogs, two from Jim Sts ton and one from Fanner Barefoc lust a short time ago. and each ho cost them one year on the roadi ">ey start their three-year sentence this week. Modica, Blount and James we moved out of the county jail la Monday afternoon to start servi. their road sentences A verdict of not guilty was direc ? bjr the court in the case of Oliv. Grunes, colored man charged wil the murder of Richard Smith, eo county*^ his attorney. K. 8. Peel, pleaded ^ defense and won his acquittal. ed with ^ Undersellers store, was | by jury and sente tor thraa to four The OUie Page r *ss again continued. The case charging Robnrt C ] the court when civil actions will be ; Field Work on County Farms Temporarily Halted by Rain Martin County fanners turned to their fields in numbers last week to launch the open season on farms in this section. Conditi ns for the op eration of turning plows and har rows were ideal, and it is believed that more teams were in the fields during the period than at any time in any early spring during recent years. Activities were temporarily interrupted yesterday by rams, but the farmers, tired uf an extended holiday forced by unfavorable con ditions. will be turning again to their plowing immediately. The season does not get underway without worry for some farmers. In spections show no tobacco plants coming up in the beds, and that is cause for grave concern, since there is a wide open season for tobacco plantings and production. No signs of seed are reported in many beds prepared and sowed more than six weeks ago. However, no serious plant shortage is in sight just at this time. Judge Favors Longer i Term for Grand Jury | CHECKS SOON! Sou nmmlin checks (or Nirtis Cant; farmers arc ex pected within a short time, bat no dttelte date for the arrival of the approximately SIM.Md i... been annsumul More than ! farmers, it la estimated. this eonnty. Just as soon as the checks ar rive, farmers will be notified directly by the couty a*cut's office when to call for the Beaafort farmers are beta* and farmers in ether eoaaties will start receiving their cheeks shortly, it is be lieved. Contracts Are Being Received From BaU Players; Order Suits Manager Will Not Tolerate "Drunks" or "Bums" On Local Team "Arrangements for professional baseball of the clam 'D' order here this season are coming along nicely,* R. H. Goodmon, president of the lo cal club, announced today. Suits for the players have been ordered and player contracts are coming in right along, the club official added. Art Hauger. the new skipper from out Minnesota way. is preparing contracts with 10 to 15 western cow boys and plans to report here about three weeks from now. In a letter received here this week. Hauger said he was finding the boys quite anx ious to sign and that a "hustling ball club was in the making." The new manager said that he did not havi much time to waste with a loafti^ ballplayer, adding. "Your ball pla> ers are going to be gentlemen u.. the ball Aeld, as 1 will not put up with drunks or bums as they do not do the club any good, or the town." Four, contracts with old players here last year are now in the hands of local club officials, and it is likely that the personnel will have taken definite form several weeks before the season opens about May 10. Local Welfare Department Confronted with New Case The local welfare department u faced with a new problem, as evi dence in the following item from there. "The welfare deportment has had many problems to solve in the past few months; however, one is on hand now that the wits of the welfare de partment staff have not been able to find a solution. It is a beautiful black animal that persisted in walking up and down in front of the office in the cold drizzle of rain last Mon day morning. The heart of the de partment finally melted and the ani mal was taken in to enjoy the warmth of the office. A few hours later four tiny babes were born. It ? first believed the home at the but, alas, his cat was at home. The problem is now to find a foster home for the modur and four kittens. What shall ere do about it?" Local Semors To Stage Play Thursday Evening "Here Comes Charlie." three-act comedy, will be staged by the local [ of this in the high school i by 1101 t ? - Permanent Set-Up Is Advocated by Judge Frizzelle in Charge Sentiment Is Crystallizing Against Drunken Auto Driving. Judge Says Martin County'* one-term grand jury was rated as obsolete by Judge J. Paul Frizzelle in his address to the body drawn to handle the im portant business of the March court this week The jurist addressed no attack on the present grand jury system in effect in this and only two other counties in the eastern division other than to say it was obsolete and strongly intimated it should be changed. Many grand juries serve si* months and numbers are drawn for service during all of a year. Judge Frizzelle continued. The longer-term grand juries have proved highly satisfactory in their work and are in a better position to serve their counties and state No method was advanced by the jurist whereby a change from the short-term to the long-term grand jury system could be effected. "However, the present grand jury has the opportunity to render valu able service to this county and state, and upon it the operation of the en tire court machinery rests.' Judge Frizzelle told the members in his address that was delayed the great er part of an hour by his late ar rival. Judge Frizzelle. possessing young appearance and proving agree I able in excusing tune-pressed jur lors, centered his 30-minute charge on the routine duties of the grand jury, L that ""t he ncrrs | sary but once a year if the jury was chosen for that period of service The jurist urged that action be aken against any and all people who frustrate enforcement of laws, fn many counties, he explained, ere are a few people who earn a 1 vclihood by conducting business ac-1 tivities that are an infraction of the law and who. for one reason or an I ether, are not called to account by the courts. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to uphold the motor vehicle laws as passed by the North Caro lina General Assembly, the judge, i Hireling his hatred for the drunk-1 en automobile driver. "The only] way to make the highways safe is to effect a rigid enforcement of the highway laws." he declared. Drunk en driving was declared by him to be inexcusable and indefensible, and j the man or woman, white or black, prominent or not prominent, should be sentenced to the common pris ons, the jurist added. Public sentiment is crystallizing against drunken automobile driving, I Judge Frizzelle said, making it ap pear to his hearers that the prison I sentence wiU be substituted for the $50 fines meted out with regularity at the present time in cases charg-l ing drunken automobile driving. In I recent months. Judge rrizzelle has proved that his remarks addressed to the grand jury were not idle talk. I for be hm sentenced quite a number I of defendants convicted of drunken | driving to prison. The court encountered difficulty in getting a jury that would stick. essary to complete the list. Headed by Foreman H. S. Everett, the fol V. Rawls. Henry Griffin, G. C. Ul ley, ?a?eir Downing. Henry White. Joe Lanier. R. Edwin Peel, John It Peel. J. S Wynne. W. Eli Hoberson. Conner G. Taylor, R H. Weaver. W. E. rum? n-er Modlin, Edgar Ballard. W. D. Daniel and Merlin Carson. Elder B. S Cow in, O. C. Taylor and T. J. places change hours OF ABC STORES IN THIS COUNTY Board To Employ Regular Enforcement Officer First of Month * Martin County's alcoholic bever age control board, meeting here las', evening, formulated a double-barrel attack on bootlegging of illicit and legal liquors, the action being the most direct yet taken by the board either under the old Pasquotank act or the county liquor option law just ' ' nt F passed. Longer hours i >te ordered to give the bootlegger ton,. Hon early evenings, and an 1 time enforcement officer will be emptoyed to he* , drive against the Rbcit manufacture of liquor and its liamston and stores will remain open from S a. m to * p. m. without interruption The new hour, the More, ^ ?? m . J^,eSVU1* S a ^ 7'm"to?P ? and Irorn 7 to ? p. m. -We are experi menting With the hours, and they are subject to change." V J Sp,vey chairman of the board, said Action on the new hour schedule was taken ?hen near-by counties started ob L"lg< *" hourv The new Uw prohibits the stores tn m - between ,"u remam open between the hours of 9 p rn .nd 9 * m. Reports from several stores where the longer hours have been observed unng the past several days state ice^T?TreC,.*bl' *"n been no 'T1 aale of liquors, but that he sales to legal bootleggers had lieen considerably lessened . An enforcement officer was named by the hnani ?. ' DO*rd at Its meeting. ^* ,nnOUnCmmt ? Pcnd.ng his acceptance. Chairman Spivey Uld Enforcement activities, under th# new officer-, supervi^. ^ pr^ ably get underway not later than the first of next month No alary fig ure was mentioned, and no definite w! ht WCTC disclosed in connect.or w H wor^T m Wh'Ch the "T'ccr will work. An officer is required under the new liquor act. it was pointed out. "5 Local Lions Club To Meet Friday Night f1^r'..neWly or**ni"d Lions Clu of Williamston will hold their sec ond meeting on Friday evening . which time they will be hosts to . allegation of Lions from Plymouth the visiting delegation being head ed by Lion President Eugene Stil of that club The PI,-mouth Lioni etub was recently chartered with ? Charter members, one of the largest 'l** Ch*r1C"d m tb" section Of the state. Edwards, first vice president of the Lmn, Club, has been ,ppolnt. ed chs.rm," ?f the membership com mittee of the club, and other mem oers of the committee are Euger Rice and Herbert O. Peele Seven new members have been elected wh will be received into the dub o Friday evening Larry Slater. International repre sentative of the Litms. w.ll return t meet with the club this week an. m formulat mg their plan, few charier nlghl In announcing the names of char ter member, 1^ week, those of J H Edwards, K P Kmdsley. Dr A J Osteen. Am J. Manning. R E Manning. Henry S Manning. aIK 5' " Cantarphen were inadver tently left out ^frf; I' P B'ggs improving Following Recent Accident Dr. John D Bigg* of High Poin visited his mother. Mrs Fannie Bigj here Sunday. Returning U> Hig Point, he went by way of ScoUan Neck to take Mrs John D Bigg recovering from a recent automc bile accident, home with him. -- Biggs is said to be getting along i well at this #i? Colored Woman Dies At Williams Township Home Core Williams, highly respected colored woman, died at her home in Williams Township Imt Saturday' evening. Burial was in the family! afternoon. She was 49 years old. 1 Masons To Hold Meeting Here Tonight 7: JO O'clock James C. ^*nninf. master of Ske werkee Lodge. No 90. a. F. and Al M, announced yesterday that there would be a special communication tod?e (Tuesday) at 7*> P- m. There will ha work in (he third degree. Fisheries With Small Catches OperationsGet Under Way at Seine fishing was started in the Roanoke at Jamesvtlle yesterday, leports stating that while the fir si catches were unusually small the operations were off to a good start The fisheries are operating earlier this season than in several years, and successful operations are expect ed between now and May No shad had been taken up until about noon today, and the herring catches are averaging around 100 to the haul, it was learned The sue of the catches will increase almost dally, and the season will be in full' taring within a week or two, depend j ing upon weather conditions. The Ashing activities on the Roan oke attract thousands of people to1 Jamesville each year, and record visits are predicted this year. Dur ing the past several years, high wa ters and unfavorable weather have greatly interrupted the operations of the seines, but present indications! point to a very favorable season. Bar Here Split 6 To 4 For Judicial Changes People of Seetion in General in Favor of President's Pro|)osa1 Judge Paul Frizzelle States Stand In Faovr of The ^Reorganization Plan Divisional lines on the President s Supreme Court retirement and en largement proposal continue to form, a poll of eleven members of the Martin County Bar Association find ing six wholeheartedly lined up for the President and his plan and four taking places with the opposi lion The opposition was in no sense bitter. Judge J. Calvin Smith, cf Robersonville. explaining that he was for the retirement feature but did not know so much about "that packing business." Attorneys Hor-j ton and Roberson took similar stands, but Lawyer Smith added that he guessed he would be found on the President's side should there be a show down and he was to decide the whole matter. His doubt about "that packing business" placed him on the side with Attorneys Horton. Roberson and Martin. Attorney Jos W. Bailey withheld his vote Dubious about the plan at first Lawyer Carter Studdert this week unreservedly expressed his position as favoring the President's court plan. From his bed in a Richmond hospital. Attorney W Hubert Co burn. who is on a temporary leave! of absence as solicitor and practi tioner in the Martin courts, sends word that he is strongly in favor of the plan, just as are his brother. Sen ator Robert L. Coburn. and Attor reys B A. Critcher, E. S. Peel- and Henry D. Hardison, other members of the county bar polled on the ques lain?. ? ? Questioned this morning after re cessing court for the day. Judge Frizzelle stated that lie favored the President's court proposal, explain ing that this nation's progress would be retarded by a 150-year-old docu ment that could not be changed The court question is attracting minute attention over the nation, and the United States Senate Judic iary Committee is expected to be in session for several weeks heai - ing evidence. The general public is reportedly in favor of the plan, certainly in this section. North Carolina's General Asctn bly is see-sawing on the question the body sending a resolution favor ing the plan back to committee last week without taking a count The lawmakers did, however, reject a resolution, introduced earlier in the session by a Republican member, endorsing Senator Bailey's stand in opposing the President's I dations. Local Parents-Teachers Hold Meeting Tomorrow The Williams ton Parent-Teacher Association will meet at 3 o'clock to morrow afternoon in the high school building, the president. Mrs J F Thigpen, announcing that a by the high school band a review of an art exhibit would feature the program. A large attendance is urg ed. Lenten Services In Local Church Wednesday Night The Rev. Charles Williams, rector of Christ church. New Bexn. will bo [the Advent Wednesday night. I Other Lenten services this weak are at S p. m. Thursday aad Friday. Also on Friday at 10 30 a m. there will be a celebration of the Holy Communion, with the special pur pose. pf preparing for Holy Weak. A 70 to 130 gallons and a freight lo comotive from ISO ta 390 pllai tf water pa mile. POULTRY CAR 1 The third poultry car of the season is being loaded in the county this week, reports from Jaaaesville. where the coopers tire car is located today, stating that the purchases were rather small during the early part of the morning Loadings will be made at Wil liamston Wednesday, at Kober sauTille on Thursday and at Oak City Friday. The sixe of the loadings this week will deter mine the future schedule. Agent Brandon said this morning. LEGISLATURE IS NOT LIKELY TO QUIT THIS WEEK House Members Heartily Approve President's Court Plans Certain relief expected in the ad journment of North Carolina's Gen eral Assembly on Saturday of this seek is likely to be postponed un til some time next week, unless the K-gislalors work faster than they have at any time during the past 70 days Representatives home for the week end stated they believed it would be possible to clean up and check out late Saturday, but activi ties ihe early part of the week brought the assembly little closer adjournment than it was when time was taken out for the week-end. There are a lot of twists and turns to be taken, and the last-minute business to be handled before the lawmakers can quit the capital city ^ ? - .vgioiunr halls this week was,, the unqualifle endorsement by the house of Presi dent Roosevelt's Supreme Coui plan, but the action was without record vote. In creating a bill for the reorgani ration of the highway commissioi an endless maze is in the makini It is planned to have the count commissioners first receive recoir mendations or complaints from th people. The commissioners woul then report to the commissioner fo the district every now and then, an the commissioner would report t other commissioners and so on an ML A compromise was in view thi week on the price of automobile li cense tags It was first thought th ?ate would be reduced from 40 t 30 cents a hundred pounds, but late action places the license basis at 3 cents a hundred pounds The liquor question continues i a muddle, and the latest wrinkle i to require a license of each purchai er The annual permit would be ) -r.d it is designed to raise $400,0C from North Carolinians and $200,00 from tourists. A bill for a little NRA in th warehouse business was killed, an a child labor bill, picked of all warn ing feathers, is nearing enactmen The boys tightened down on salar increases for judges and departmei heads, but they resorted to bond ii to build more buildings. Last Rites for C. H. Dick \Held In Murphy Saturd rites were conducted for the Rev. Chas. H Dickey, former local, minister, in the Murphy Baptist Omrrh last Saturday morning at 10:30 o'lkwk by the family pastor. Interment was in the Murphy Ceme tery Funeral services, first scheduled to be held last Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock, were delayed by the late arrival of the body from Hampton, where the minister-writer died last Wednesday afternoon. Several Williamston people were present for the last rites which were attend by large crowds. INSTRUCTIONS TO TAX LISTERS AND ASSESSORS GIVEN Revaluation and Property Listing Work To Get Underway April 1 Final instructions for listing Mar tin County property for taxation and | for eliminating many recognized in equalities now on the tax books were ' issued at a joint meeting of the coun tv commissioners, tax list takers and boards of assessors here yesterday | morning. Much time was spent in ] setting base values for personal prop |erties. but throughout the meeting the elimination of inequalities was | stressed by J. E. Pope, chairman of the board of commissioners, who has Ipushed for an overliauling of prop erty values T he rev a 1 u a 110 n of real estate for taxation is not expected to effect any marked change in the total valua tion. the commissioners having in structed for a revaluation on pres ent base values When the last re valuation was made, farm land was listed at $60 an acre Several years ago. a horizontal decrease of about 33 per cent was ordered, placing the i land value for taxing purposes at about $4Q an acre. It is understood that this figure will be used as a j general basis, but this particular fea ture was not discussed at the Mon day meeting. The main objective in handling the listing of real property will be to effect an equalization of values between individuals and be tween townships. In the smaller districts, the asses sors will sit with the list-takers, but in the larger townships, information will be entered on revaluation sheets and placed before the boards of as sessors. Tax Superyisc?r Clarence Stal lings is scheduled 'o give his entire time to the work and keep the values in the several districts in line. Per onal property base values (were shifted upward, but bases for I the major items were unchanged. Corn values were jumped from $2 in 1936 to $3 this year. Hay will be 1 taxed at the old rate. 20 cents a bale. | Meat and lard, valued at 12 1-2 cents, is 2 1-2 cents higher this year (than last. Horses, valued at $150, land mules, at $250, are based at a 1 bout two-thirds market value. The I milk cow is worth $50 when it comes to taxation, sheep $2 a head, and j goats a lone dollar Probably a nuis | ance tax would net more -returns jfrom goats. Soy beans increased in value from 50 cents a bushel last | year to $1 this year and are still valued at 66 2-3 per cent of the mar ket. Cotton will be entered on the books at $50 a bale against $40 a year ago Peanuts will carry a rate of $3 o bag. ami sweet potatoes 50 | cents a bushel. Live hogs will go down at 6 cents a pound, and bee hives will carry a rate of $1 and $2. depending upon the type of home the buzzer buzzes in and around. All 'other personal holdings, with the ex ception of automobiles and trucks will be valued at whatever figure the list taker, assessors and super | visor can bargain for About two years ago values placed on automobiles increased personal | property listings, but a decided drop w&s made possible by a change of 'codes last year and a code similar | to the one in elTect for 1936 will be I used again this year. The code will 'gather in all the wrecks from 1929 I up Last year the $300 personal prop Ierty exemption was extended to in clude mules and horses and a re duction followed in 5 of the 10 town ships. ?T~~ v ? ^ . | Meet Recognized Stylists At New York Beauty Show Miss Marie Lillpy and Mrs. Ruby IWinborn, operators in the Atlantic I Motel Beauty Shop, have just return ed from the New York Beauty Cul | lure Show While there they met I outstanding hair stylists in this and European countries and attended lectures by prominent international lieautinans Subjects important to | the science of beauty culture were discussed. ] Hamilton Motor Company Appointed Pontiac Dealers Just recently appointed Pontiac dealer. Mr. Charles Perkins last week placed on display several of the late model cars-mhil Hamilton showroom. I Suffers Broken Back In Fall from Cart Saturday Chas. Henry Eaaon, colored man, suffered a broken back in a fall fro ma cart on a farm in Poplar Point Township last Saturday. He was removed to a Washington hos pital yesterday, his body paralyzed from the waist down.