THE ENTERPRISE
VOLUME XLI?NUMBER 29 ^ Williamston, Martin County. North Carolina, Tuesday. April 12. 1938. ESTABLISHED 1899
Edison Moore Run
Ek)wn By Hit-And
Run Auto Sunday
Plymouth Colored Man Is
Arrested by Patrol
Officer
uison wiure, young county white
?nan. suffered a broken leg and
other injuries when he was struck
by a hit-and-run driver near Gard
ner's "Creek late last Sunday night
Although badly hurt, the young
man's condition is not considered
serious, and his recovery is expect
ed.
William Penn Smith, young Plym
outh negro, was arrested by Pa
trolman Tom Brown in the Wash
ington county town early Monday
morning. Faced with the charge of
hit and run driving. Smith waived
his rights to a preliminary hearing
in the county court Monday and in
default of $1,000 bond Judge Peel
ordered him placed in the county
jail to await trial in the superior
court next June, Granderson Mitch
ell. owner of the car, and another
companion passenger, were placed
under bond as material witnesses in
the
Moon was walking in the direc
tion of Williams ton just a short
distance this side of Gardners Creek
with Miss Be la Mae Wells, reports
stating they were several feet off
the hard surface on their left side
of the road. Smith, about 25 years
old, driving toward Williamston
pulled to the left side of the road,
struck Moore but missed the young
woman and then cut back into the
toad and ripped off a fender on the
car of Clyde Modlin which was
traveling in the same direction.
Very little damage was done to ei
ther of the cars, and Smith increas
ed the speed of his car, but not un
til Modlin had taken down the li
cense numbers. The patrol radio
was notified, and several patrolmen
started a search for the owner of
the car, the arrest of Mitchell and
Smith following about 1:30 Monday
morning.
Smith maintains that he turned
out to pass the Modlin car and
drove too far to the left. He also
maintains that he was afraid to
stop
Godfrey C. Stout Dies
At Home In New Jersey
Godfrey C. Stout, retired business
nun of Stockton, New Jersey, died
at his home there last Wednesday
He was 80 years old. Mr. Stout mar
ried Miss Bettie Coltrain, a native
of Jamesville Township, this coun
ty, and she survives. Burial was ir.
Trenton. N J., last Friday after
noon.
Mrs. Stout made her home with
the late John Smiths when they
operated a lumber plant in Plym
outh more than half a century ago.
When they returned to New Jersey
she accompanied them there, later
marrying Mr. Stout.
Mr. and Mrs. Stout visited in this
county frequently, but not in recent
years.
Success Marks Formal
Opening Community's
First Library to Public
CANDIDATE
I
A. Corey, well known Mer
lin County men. announced his
candidacy for a seat in the State
I-crista tn re today.
No Epidemics In
County This Year
Martin County schools are near
mg the close of another school term
without having lost a single day on
account of weather conditions or
disease epidemics. In recent years
the schools have had to close as
many as two and three weeks on ac
count of unfavorable weather, and
epidemics have interrupted the
terms.
Commenting on the health record
so far this term. Dr. E W Furgur
son states that with the exception
of quite a few cases of whooping
cough last month the health record
? in the schools was almost perfect.
Last month there were thirty
three cases of whooping cough
among the white children located
in the Everetts, Hamilton and Oak
City communities. Measles, reaching
the epidemic stage in many sections
of the State, hardly made an appear
ance in this county, the health de
partment reporting only four cases
during the period There was a lone
rhickenpox rase.
Women's Club To Hold
Regular Meet Tomorrow
The regular monthly meeting of
the local woman'* club will be held
ir. the club hall tomorrow afternoon
at 3:30 o'clock, the president, Mrs
R H. Goodmon, announcing that a
special program has been arranged.
The officer is urging a large attend
ance and calls attention to the shrub
exchange.
Board Allows $3,000
For Two Gymnasiums
Plans Go Forward
For Construction
Of Two Buildings
Jamesville and Oak City
Communities to Raise
Around $2,200
Meeting in special session here
yesterday, tfce Martin County com
missioners agreed by a unanimous
vote to include in the next county
budget a $3,000 appropriation for
the construction of two school gym
nasiums, one at Oak City, and one
at Jamesville. Final action was tak
en by the county authorities after
they had disrusaed the requests en
tered by leading citizens of the two
communities at the regular meet
ing oi the board a week before.
Speaking for a small represents
tkm from the two communities, Su
perintendent J. C. Manning explain
ed the plans for financing the con
struction of the two gymnasiums
It was first pointed out that gymna
siums for the two communities had
been proposed and actually includ
ed in a school property expansion
program in this county three years
ago. Costs of the program at that
time exceeded the estimates and it
was necessary to remove the two
gymnasiums from the list at pro
ed at Mrs D. N. Mix and Messrs V.
Announce Finals Program
In Jamesville Schools
The first of events scheduled on
the Jsmesville school finals pro
gram will "be held on Friday eve
ning of this week at 8 o'clock when
the music pupils appear in recital.
On next Sunday morning at 11 a.
m . Dr. H. S. Hilley, president of
A. C College. Wilson, will preach
the commencement sermon
Class-day exercises will be held
on Wednesday. April 20 at 8 p. m.
and at the same hour the following
evening, the high school will pre
sent its annual play. "When a Wo
man's Decided"
Graduation exercises will be held
' on Friday, April 22, when Dr. A D.
Frank, of E. C. T. C, Greenville, de
' livers the commencement address
and Principal J. T Uzzle presents
the giaduates their diplomas.
I v
Release oi Cotton Quotas
Await Word from Raleigh
Pending instruction from Raleigh,
the Martin County agricultural of
fice is withholding the release of
cotton allotments to Martin County
farmers. The release is expected
hourly, however.
At the present time the office is
working on peanut acreage allot
ments. The base has not been re
duced, and the farmers are subject
to only a 10 percent reduction ex
cept where adjustments are necee
Exercises Attract
Nearly 100 People
Here Last Night
State Library Commissior
Has Representative
on Program
With 50 volumes on its shelves,
Williamston's public library was for
mally opened here last evening in
the American Legion Post Hut on
Watts street, the event, looked for
ward to by educational leaders and
interested citizens for some time, be
ing marked with success. Nearly 100
people, mostly women, were pres
ent for the exercises that were cen
tered around the library movement
in this community. Considerable in
terest has been shown in the library
movement since it was started with
a small fund raised in a daily vaca
tion Bible school here last June,
and that interest reached a climax
, last evening when the large group
attended the formal opening exer
cises and visited the library rooms.
I Rev. John L. Goff, chairman of
the library committee, addressed the
group briefly and presented the
newly established institution to
John L. Hassell as mayor of the
town and representative of the com
munity Accepting the gift, Mayor
Hassell paid tribute to the tireless
leaders who willingly accepted and
ably handfMsthe task of creating
what is recognized as one of the
town's greatest assets. He pointed
out the value of books and litera
ture, and advanced the hope that
the library will outgrow its quar
ters and present necessity for a larg
er building in the not far distant
future
Reviewing the foundation work
leading to the establishment of the
library. J. C. Manning, superinten
dent of county schools, stated that
a group of children attending vaca
tion Bible school here last summer
had talked about the need for a
library and at commencement des
ignated that the collection be used
in founding such an institution. That
was the beginning, but the issue
again faded into the background
where it remained until Rev. John
L. Goff brought the matter before
the attention of the local Kiwanis
( club. The school man further ex
plained that the combined efforts of
the civic clubs be combined and a
library committee representing the
various organization was named.
John L. Goff was named permanent
chairman and Mrs. J. C. Cooke was
made secretary. Considerable work
was done by the officers, and a can
vass for funds was launched on De
cember 15, representatives of the
various civic organizations lending
their services to make the drive a
success. Six weeks ago the commit
tee purchased $400 worth of books
and the loan of about 200 volumes
from the state library commission
was arranged.
Rev. John L Goff acknowledged
the debt to the John Walton Hassell
Legion post for the use of a large
room in the Hut for the library. "We
are grateful to the post and admire
the spirit of its members in making
possible a home for the library," he
said.
Mrs. James C. Cooke, librarian
(Continued on page six)
Firemen Are Called Out
Last Saturday And Today
Fire, starting in an asphalt paver
ion Haughton street here this morn
' ing at 8 o'clock, wrecked the ma
' chine engine and interrupted re
pairs that are being made to several
local streets. No estimate of the
damage could be had, but the fire
will prove costly in the loss of tune
to F. D. Kline, contractor, it was
1 pointed out
Called to the scene, firemen used
, four fire extinguishers and a small
j hose stream without success. A di
rect connection was made with the
; water mains, and the fire was soon
checked.
"We will carry on the work as
best we can by hand until repairs
are made to the machine," a repre
sentative of the contracting firm
said.
The call was the second received
by the volunteer fire department
since last Saturday afternoon An
oil stove exploded in the home of
Pete Cherry on Church street, Sat
urday noon, but no great damage
was done.
Dental Clinics Are
Meeting With Great
Success In Schools
Large Number Completed
Course of Study at
Holly Springs
Dental clinics, now underway in
this county under the direction of
the State Board of Health and the
Martin Health Department, are
meeting with marked success, re
ports just released by Drs H. E.
Butler and A. L. Pringle showing
that more than 1.500 children in
several schools have been examine!
during the past seven weeks and
that the clinic services will be ex
tended to just as many children as
possible before the schools close the
} latter part of this month.
Splendid results have been ob
tained from the program as it re
lates to mouth health and the cor
rection of actual teeth defects.
I nearly 350 children, unable to pay1
for private treatment, have had cor
rective work done in the clinics
Working in close relationship with
the Division of Oral Hygiene, the
clinics have supported the educa
tional work advanced by the little
puppet show that was scheduled in
nearly every school in the county
The clinics have proved valuable
in that teeth defects, ordinarily lg
nored. have been discovered and
the subjects are making strung ef
forts to have these defects correct -
ed. It is understood that a large
number of children examined in the
clinics and found with defective
teeth are visiting their privte den
tists, and it is generally agreed that
the dental program is proving one
of the most valuable undertakings
to improve the general health of
school children that has been held
in the county during recent vears.
The state dentists, their services
made available through the county
health department without rust to
the county, set up their equipment
in the schools, making a complete
office for handling the work. Chil
dren are examined, and those who
are able to pay are directed to their
lanuly dentist for treatment and
corrections^ The underprivileged.
tot who is unable to pay for treat ,
Iment, is given consideration in the I
school clinic.
Dr. Butler points out that many
khildren in the schools of this coun
I ty will be spared ill health in the
future because the service has been
made available to them "We are
trying to carry the clinics into ev
ery school in this county before the
term is brought to an end, but we
are afraid that the work can't be
completed this year," Dr. Butler
said. Efforts will be made to have
the dental program completed next
term, however.
Commenting on the work. Dr.
Butler pointed out that his findings |
to date show a great need for the
dental program, and expressed the
hope that parents would make every
effort possible to have their chil
dren visit their family dentist that
those defects pointed out in the
clinics may be corrected
Both Dr. Butler and Dr. Pringle
are finding their stay in this county ' |
very pleasant, and are grateful for ,
the cooperation extended them by
Dr. E. W. Eurgurson and other (
members of the County Health De
partment, the school authorities and
the people generally.
The little folks, subjects of the
drill and pullers, report favorably |
on the clinics,' and those who have
been in close touch with the clinics
point out that a valuable work has
been accomplished by the dentists.
Native Of County
Dies In Raleigh
n
Mrs Katie Bowden, a native of 1
this county, died in Raleigh yester- '
day morning at 10 o'clock following
a long period of declining health
Funeral services are being conduct
ed at the grave in the Hamilton
cemetery this afternoon at three
o'clock by Rev. E. C. Shoe. Rober- i
sonville Baptist minister.
The daughter of the late Dillard
and Emily Matthews, Mrs. Bowden i
was born in Hamilton about sixty- ,
five years ago. She spent her early
life there but following her mar
riage she moved to Raleigh where
she lived for twenty years.
Electric Fences On Farms
Have Great Possibilities
Fifty-five Stokes County farm
ers attended an electric fence dem
onstration on the farms of W. S.
Hart of Lawsonville and J. S. Dai
ton of Pine Hall. They said such a
type of fence had great possibilities
due to economy of construction.
First Political Contest in County
Develops When A. Corey Files
For Seat in the State Legislature
More Than 100 Farmers File
Complaints with Committee
On an average four out of every
100 fanners in this county are filing
complaints with the county agricul
tural committee protesting the to
bacco allotments assigned them on
Tuesday of last week, Mr Jesse
Crisp, chairman of the committee,
staling that a few more than 100
complaints had been formally filed.
There were more than 3.100 votes
cast in the referendum on March 12.
and considering that large vote, the
number of complaints is consider
ed small "Yes. we are expecting
some more complaints, but not so
powerfully many additional ones."
Mr. Crisp who "has certainly work
ed conscientiously ip trying to ad
minister the program fairly and
squarely, said.
Those farmers who are not sat
isfied with their allotments have
until Wednesday of next week to
file formal complaints with the
committee. The committee is plan
ning to meet on or about the 20th
of this month to review the com
plaints. the chairman stating that
a definite date for holding the meet
Record Rainfall
Reported Locally
Last Friday Night
Considerable Damage Done
to Roads. Crops and
Farm Lands
The heaviest rainfall on record at
the Williamston station was report
ed Saturday morning following a
downpour of the evening and night
before. ^According to Hugh S^pruill.
keeper of the rain gauge, 4 12 inches
fell during Friday and Friday night
exceeding the record of 3 27 inches
reported irj October, 1932 Just a
fraction over twice as much rain
fell during the short period than
was reported during the entire
month of March when 2 04 inches
of rain fell here.
Prior to the heavy precipitation
last Friday, almost as much rain
had fallen in April as was reported
during March, the April report
showing 5.75 inches to date. A wet
April was reported a year ago when
7 03 inches of rain fell in this sec
tion.
^Reports coming from over the
county maintain that the rains were
heavier in the southeastern part of
the county than they were up
around Hamilton and Oak Gtty
Bridges were washed away and
the rushing waters washed away
fills on several roads Traffic was
bottled up during the early part of
Saturday morning in some districts
Farmers reported heavy damage
to their crops and farm lands Early
corn was washed away, and farm
ing activities continue halted in most
sections as a result of the packing
rains. One farmer estimated that
more than $500 worth of topsoil had
been washed from his fields Others
state that their fields will have to
be plowed again before planting
seed again
It is estimated that the highway
forces will have to go to heavy ex |
pense in repairing many of the sec
ondary roa:!s.
Rainfall in the upper Roanoke ba
sin was light, and the stream, after
rising four feet almost overnight
on a stand today
Parents-Teachers Will
Hold Meeting Thursday
The local parents-teachers asauci
ation will hold the last meeting oi
the school year in the grammar
school auditorium next Thursday
afternoon at 3:30. The nominating
committee will make its report and
officers will be chosen for next
year Committees which have tunc
Honed during the present school
year will summarize their activities
and close out the year's work
A feature of the program will be
the presentation of. the charter for
the recently organized Cub Pack I
Scout Executive John Sigwald. Cub
Master Hugh Horton will accept the
charter on behalf of the parent
teacher association
It is hoped that a large number of
parents will be present for the met
ln*
ing has not been determined.
All indications now are that the
committee will be handicapped in
granting acreage increases, that a
complainant will have 4o show just
and valid claims for additional acre
age releases. "We wish we could
grant all the request, but there isn't
a single acre left, and where there
is an increase there has to be a de
crease to offset it," Mr. Crisp ex
plained The farmer, not satisfied
with the findings of the county com
mittee. has the right to appeal to
higher authorities.
Most of the complaints received so
far merely express a longing for
more tobacco, but several point out
that their neighbors are faring bet
ter than they are faring. Others
maintain that they and their ten
ants cannot live unless their allot
ments are increased.
Every complaint will receive ex
acting attention, and it is likely the
committee will be in session sever
al days Answers are due from the
committee within fifteen days after
the complaints are filed.
1^ BUSINESS
Easter trade activities, inter
rwpted by unfavorable weather
last week-end. are increasing
rapidly this week with the re
tarn of summer like tempera
lures and bright sunshine.
Anticipating a heavy trade.
Milliamston merchants are of
Irving one of the largest and
must varied assortments of
ready-to-wear and general mer
chandise ever seen here before.
The offerings are attracting
shippers from miles around, and
a large volume of businem is in
the making, local merchants re
Judge Clawson Williams
To Hold April Term Court
Judge Claw son Williams, of San
furd. will preside over the special
term of Martin County Superior
Court convening here next Tues
day. Clerk of Court L. B Wynne
* as advised by the Governor's of
fice today
Judge W II S. Burgwyn was
scheduled to preside, but a change
was effected
Judge Williams held court in the
county last December. Only civil
cases will be heard in the two
weeks term beginning Tuesday
Filing Time Ends
For (candidates on
Friday. April 23rd
Ml Incumbents Planning
to File Candidacies
This Week
The battle line for the Jane I
Democratic primary in this county
started taking shape this week
when A. Corey. Jamesville man.
announced his candidacy for a seat
in the State Legislature. His an
nouncement coming in opposition
to the candidacy of Clarence Grif
fin. young local attorney, creates the
first and only political contest on
the county ballot to date.
Little interest is being shown in
any of the major or minor con
tests. and it is possible that some
of the less important posts will go
begging for candidates
County officers, all of whom are
planning to ask re-election, are pre
paring their announcements of can
didacy the latter part of the week.
Sheriff C B Roebuck has already
paid in his filing fee of about $30
to Mr Sylvester Peel, chairman of
the Martin County Board of Elec
tions. and other candidates are ex
pected to advance the necessary fee
before the period for filing closes
on Saturday. April 23
In announcing his candidacy for
a seat in the legislature. A Corev
said
"Having served for ten years as
.engrossing clerk of the state sen
ate. and one term as publicity and
public bills clerk, and having work
ed in and through the organization
of many sessions of the general as
sembly. 1 feel that 1 am well quali
fied in legislative procedure to fill
the office well And therefore hav
ing served as a clerk for many
years 1 desire to have the opportun
ity to serve as a member one time,
and at the request of my many
friends in my home section and
throughout the county I have de
cided to enter the race as a candi
I date for the house of representatives
for the session of 1939
"In announcing my candidacy for
this office. 1 wish to say that 1 shall
have but one' plank in my platform,
and that is to be a real and true
democratic representative, and be
but the voice of the majority of my
constituents, and be a true represen
tative of the majority interest and
opinion of the people."*
If no other contests develop there
w ill be only two groups on the coun
ty ballot next June In addition to
(Continued on page six)
Recreational Program
Gets Board Approval
Bear Grass Group Enjoys
Trip To Washington City
Returning from Washington City
Last week, a number of pupils in
the Bear Grass school reported *
\er> enjoyable trip. The group, ac
axnpanied by their teacher and oth
ers, visited many of the places of
interest in the nation's capital .
Those who made the trip were, I
Misses Sybil Peele, Rebecca Rober-j
son, Esther Robeison, Effie Davis
Britton, Lucille Rogerson, Katherine
Leggett Messrs. iloyt Roberson,
William Ward. Harry Wynne. Mes
name* Russell Rogers, Herman
I*eele. Keele and Miss Louise Pas- j
chat, teacher of the seventh grade
of Bear Grass school.
Fisheries Report Small
Catches on the Roanoke
Fisheries <m the Roanoke River
at Jamesvillt- and in the lower part
of the county continue to report
unusually small catches of herring
'We are taking around 300 at a haul
on an average," Mr C. C. Fleming,
operator of the plant at Jamesville,
raid yesterday
The fisherman explained at they
were catching more shad than they
did last year, and the rock catches
are running fairly heavy at times.
The fishery is said to have made
Reports from other streams indi
cate that the herring are scarce at
t, but that
we expected this weak.
Authorities Sjieeify
$7,000 Limit At Meet
Held Here Mondav
Employ Engineer to Make
Survey of Property on
Watts Street
Meeting in iptcttl session here
yesterday morning, the board i<
town commissioners approved a $7, ?
U00 appropriation for the construe
turn of a recreational center for Wll -
hamstun. the authorities approving
the proposed project on condition
that the cost to the town will not ex
reed the specified amount.
Engineer Rivers, employed by the
town yesterday, was directed to
survey the property between Watts
and Biggs street arte
estimates, the board
plaining that if
cecd the $7.0M appropriation it
will be necessary to give the pro
posal further cnsindtralmei
Calling in representatives of the
Works Progress Administratis,
which organization piigwi to ad
vance appro xunalely $1<JN0 in
furtherance of the
gram, the