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VOLUME XLI?NUMBER 31 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, April 19. 1938. ESTABLISHED 1899
Plans Underway For
Observing April 26
As Safety Day Here
Parade With Driverless Car
Will Feature Event
Next Tuesday
plans are going forward rapidly
today for observing next Tuesday,
April 38, as "safety day" in Wil
liamston, Mayor John L. llai 11
having issued an official proclama
tion last Friday urging a united
campaign against the increasing
slaughter op city streets and state
highways.
The program outlined by Mr. and
Mrs G. A. Miller, who are formu
lating plans for the safety day ob
servance, calls for safety talks in
both the schools by Captain J. J.
Lynch, safety crusader, and a big
paradental afternoon. A feature on
the program will be the operation
of a driverless car by remote con
trol through the principal streets of
the town.
Endorsed by state and local offi
cials all over North Carolina the
special safety day program has at
tracted as many as 10.000 people in
a single day. and it has been handl
ed with marked success in 31 North
Carolina towns under the direction
of Captain J. J. Lynch who is coop
erating with the highway safety de
partment of the State to promote
safety on our streets and highways.
Issuing the safety day proclama
tion last Friday. Mayor Haasell said:
"We cannot too often bring to the
attention of our citizens the value
and importance of being safety
minded.
'"Here in North Carolina we are
killing our citizens on the highways
at the rate of three a day and are
injuring or maiming thirty-five or
forty others every -day.
"Alongside this, the problems of
curbing crimes at violence such as
murder and assault and battery
pales into insignificance. In the past
few years the dirt roads of our state
have given way to hardsurfaced
highways, but we are fast dyeing
the shining white pavements red
with the blood of thousands of citi
zens The morgue and the hospital
are claiming too heavy a toll
"In the interest at safety and for
joining in a movement for saving
life and preventing injury, I, J, L
Haasell, Mayor, do hereby declare
Tuesday, April 28. 1938, as "Safety
Day' in Williamston and call upon
our Police and Fire Departments,
the State Highway Patrol stationed
here and all our civic bodies and our
citizens generally to cooperate in
this safety program in order that
our people may become more care
ful in driving cars and in walking
on streets and highways."
Complete plans for the safety day
observance will be announced the
latter part of this
?
Alleged Murderer
Is Arrested Here
Willie Davis, 33-year-old colored
man, said to be wanted for murder
in Halifax County, eras arrested
here Sunday night by county and
local officers. He was placed in the
county jail without the privilege of
bond to await officers from the ad
joining county to call for him.
Davis, a native of Northampton
County, is said to have lulled his
wife in Halifax County about four
years ago. He escaped to Bertie and
married there. About two years ago
he moved to this county and made
his home here, working in the log
woods.
Following his arrest, Davis main
tained that he was not the man
wanted, that he had killed no one.
Davis was identified as Willie
Phillips by Halifax County officers
when they called for him here yes
terday. The murder charged against
him was said to have been commit
ted tat cold blood.
Ine accused man got into some
trouble in this county a few weeki
ago, and that led to his arrest Sun
day night
a
Announce Vacancy For
Substitute Carrier Here
The United States Civil Service
Commission will receive applica
tions for the position of substituti
clerk-carrier in the Wilhamstoc
postoffice until the Mth at tU
month. Postmaster L T. Fowdei
announced today.
Applications were minted cartiei
ceived, the dapailmaat atasia
the time for filing.
Qualified persons are urged b
file their applications with the man
agar. Fourth United States Civi
Service District. Mather Buildini
?1? Q Street, N. W, Washington. D
C, on or before April M, IMA
Tobacco Transplanting Gets
Underway in Martin County
Tobacco transplanting got.under
way in this county the latter part
of last week, records showing that
the work is being started earlier
this year than ever before. The earl
iest that tobacco had been trans
planted to the field in this county
prior to this year was April 17. Mr.
Joshua L. Coltrain, Williams Town
ship fanner, explaining that he
transplanted several acres on that
date some years ago and raised a
fairly good crop.
LasJ Thursday, Farmer Joe Wins
lew transplanted a eeep en six acres
in Robersonville Township to es
tablish what is believed a new ad
vanced record. Farmers in Poplar
Point and Williamston are said to
have started the transplanting work
last Friday.
Later reports state that Farmer
Henry Smith in Poplar Point trans
planted three acres on April 4 to
claim an all-time record (or setting
out a tobacco crop in this county.
Quite a few farmers are busy
this week setting out plants, but the
prevalence of blue mold will likely
delay a transplanting climax until
the latter part of this month or pos
sibly until the early part of May.
Reports state there is a heavy
damage being exacted by the blue
mold this season, some farmers
stating that they are doubtful if
their plants will recover from the
attack However,-no shffrtage?of:
plants is expected in the county
this year as was the case a year
ago. Numbers of farmers state that
the blue mold attkcked their plant
beds some time ago and that the
plants are recovering rapidly and
will be ready for transplanting with
in a few days.
Petition Drafts Horton
For Legislative Service
REGISTRATION
Registration books (or the
coming primary will be opened
in the twelve precincts in this
county on three successive Sat
urdays in May, 7, >4, and 21.
The books will be opened on
May 22 only (or the challenge o(
any registrations. i
Ail persons who have not reg
istered (or a previous election,
those who have moved from one
precinct during the six months
preceding the June 4 primary
and those who have moved from
another State within the past
year may register during the
three days the books are open.
Officers Capture
Six Liquor Stills
During Past Week
.;v ? ?*:
Officers Destroy 3,000 Gal-|
Ions of Beer to Set New
Enforcement Record
a
A new weekly record in the en
forcement of the liquor laws under
the direction of the Martin County
,Alcoholic Beverages Control Board
was chalked up by Special Officer
J F Roebuck and his assistants last
week During the period, the officers
wrecked six liquor plants and pour
ed out nearly 3,000 gallons of beer.
No arrests were made.
Starting in Bear Grass on Tues
day, the officers wrecked two steam
plants and poured out 1,800 gallons
of beer. Six new barrels were de
stroyed and tools used in the con
struction of one of the plants were
confiscated. In the Hasaell section,
the officers wrecked a plant and
poured out four barrels of beer on
Wednesday.
Going into the old happy hunting
ground in the Free Union section
the following day, the officers cap
tured two complete plants with 50
gallon capacity copper stills. They
poured out eleven gallons of beer.
On Friday the officers found and
wrecked a still thilt had been only
half bricked up. Four barrels of
beer were destroyed. Officer Roe
buck stated that they found the still
in another location two days before,
but delayed a capture thinking the
owner could be arrested later. When
they started the second raid, the
still had been moved, but the offi
cers traced it to the new location
with very Jittle trouble.
County Liquor Sales For
Quarter Total $33,305.40
The four legal liquor stores in
Martin County reported sale of $33,
305.40 during the quarter ending the
31st of last month. For the same
quarter a year ago the sales amount
ed to $38,771.10
The figures were released this
week by the state liquor commis
sion. No audit of the sales has been
made by the county board at this
profits to the State, county and four
store towns are not known.
a
Health Authorities Make
Survey Of Roe Canneries
l
Special representatives of the
State and Unitad States Health
divisions are in this section making
an inspection of herring roe canner
ies. The survey will be completed
within the next few days, it is Tin
Several Political
Posts Remain Open
In Martin CountyI
Aspirants For Major Offices]
Have Already Filed
Candidacies
Developments over the week-end
have added interest to the political,
situation in the county, but final de
cisions are not expected earlier than]
Friday of this week, leaving politics |
surrounded by uncertainty: - ?
The chairman of theT county board
of elections stated this morning
that several political posts remain
open, that it is possible one or two
positions will go begging for candid
dates. While candidates have filed
for all the major offices, there were
yet two openings for county com
missioners, a member of the board
of education and possibly one or
two other posts. Messrs. C. A. Rob
erson, representing Robersonville
and Cross Roads Township, and R.
A. Haislip, representing Goose Nest
and Hamilton Townships, are ex
pected to file for the county com
missioners' posts, but they have not
yet announced their candidacies, it
was learned today. Mr J. F. Martin,
whose term expires next ^ear as a
member of the Martin' County
Board of Education, has hot filed
He could not be reached today for a
statement, but unofficial reports
state that he will not be a candidate
to succeed himself.
A movement was started in Rob
ersonville Township over the week
end to draft Attorney H. G. Horton
for service as a member in the State
legislature from this county. The
movement is supported by a peti
tion carrying a long list of names.
Mr. Horton had no official statement
to make, but he is understood to be
considering the special request, and
is expected to reach a decision by
Friday of this week. Mr. Horton had
announced that he would not be a
candidate to succeed himself in the
legislature, but since the petition
drafting him for service has been
successfully circulated by his friends
he states that it is a pleasure to re
consider his action with the possi
bility that he will re-enter the con
test.
1 ?. ? i, ? ? .?; ?
Clarence W. Griffin, local attor
ney, and A. Corey, Jamesville man,
have announced their candidacies
for a seat in the legislature.
Time for filing candidacies ends
Saturday of this week at 6 o'clock,
reports coming from the chairman
of the county board of elections to
day showing that only two contests
have been scheduled in the county.
There are four candidates for the
two senate seats from this district,
and then there is the contest for a
seat in the house from this county.
Dr. Burrell Is Slightly
Hurt In Auto Accident
9
Dr. W. R. Burrell and Bill How
ell were slightly bruised in an au
tomobile-truck accident in Tarborc
early last Saturday morning. Dr
Burrell, returning to his home in
Asheville after conducting a aeries
of services in the local Baptisl
church, was riding -with Mr. Howell,
a local man, when a truck made a
left-hand turn and blocked the path
of the Howell car.
Considerable damage was done tc
the automobile, but - the ministei
was able to continue to his home b)
bus and Mr. Howell returned to hit
Meat Stealing Ring
Believed Broken in
County by Officers
Four Arrests Are Made by
way Patri
Saturday
Highway PattBKan
Arresting (our youths last Satur
day, officers explained today they
believed the backbone of a meat
stealing ring in this county had
been broken However, Martin of
ficers are continuing work in an ef
fort to connect the four boys' arrest -
ed last Saturday with s""'"'''1
sale meat and chicken thefts.
Willie Crgndall. 23; Ben Whit
field, 20, both white, and Aulander
Perkins, 17, and Columbus Perttins,
14, both colored, were arrested last
Saturday morning by Patrolman
Scarborough over in Bertie County
where they were offering nice hams
for sale at greatly reduced prices.
County officers were called and the
four boys were returned to this
county and placed in jail.
Crandall maintained that the col
ored boys stole the meat and hired
him to carry it bp Elizabeth City. He
did not know the name of the own
er of the meat. Admitting his own
guilt, one of the colored boys involv
ed all the others, and stated that
while he did not know the owner-tif
the meat he could show the officers
where they had stolen it the night
before. Deputy J. H. Roebuck and
Patrolman Rothrock carried the hoy
to the home of Mack Baker, color
ed, near Parmele, Baker learning
for the first time that his smoke
house had been cleaned out.
Breaking into J. L. Croom's black
smith shop at Gold Point and steal
ing a pair of bolt clippers early Fri
day night, the boys are alleged to
have gone to the Baker home, clip
ped a chain and entered the smoke
house. They stole about 17 hams
and shoulders and were peddling
them for sale when the arrests were
made. Four hams were sold in Eliz
abeth City, officers believing ' that
the white boys had made other de
liveries to dealers there prior to
that time Pending an investigation
into other wholesale meat and
chicken thefts by~county officers,
the four boys, all of the Roberson
ville community, continue in jail.
A few weeks ago raids netting
around 30 or 35 hams and about
100 chickens, were directed in Cross
Roads and Williamston Townships.
More recently, robbers visited Grif
fins Township.
National Youth Unit
To Hold Ex|)osition
Arrangements for holding an ex
position by the National Youth Ad
ministration in the Woman's Club
hall here tomorrow and Thursday
were announced complete today, the
leaders of the movement stating
that a large number of exhibitors
plan to participate in the show.
Youths, liided by the administra
tion, as well as various club and
Boy Scout organizations, have pre
pared extensive exhibits for the ex
position, Miss Adelaide Tuttle, of
Edenton, and Mrs. W. R. Hampton,
of Plymouth, supervisors for two
(inits of the organization, announced
today. Exhibits will be brought here
from Chowan, Bertie, Washington
Tyrrell 'and Martin counties.
The exposition is open to the pub
lic, and it is believed that the ex
hibits will be reviewed by large
crowds during tomorrow and Thurs
day
?
Kiwanis Meeting Will
Be Held Friday Night
?
The regular meeting of the loca
Kiwanis club, scheduled for Thurs
day of this week, has been postpon
ed and will be held on Friday eve
ning, Mr. J D. Woolard explainini
that the National Youth Adminis
tration was holding an exhibit it
the building on Wednesday ant
Thursday.
CHICKS
That Martin County lannen
are recognising the importance
of chicken raising aa an integral
part in a balanced tannine pro
(ramii evidenced by the eaten
live preparations made in recent
weeka for the IMS poultry crop.
It is estimated that approxi
mately 1*0,MC chicks have been
bought from accredited hatch
eries so tar this season. Nearly
M.SM chicks have bean handled
by leeal gsalsrs, aid tt la esti
mated that equally that number
have been bought in other parts
ef the county.
of chicks
are hatched on farms.
Women Precinct Officials Named
For First Time in This County by
Board of Elections Last Saturday
Town Clock on Strike After
Striking for Twenty Years
After faithfully serving the pub
lic for twenty years. Williamston's
town clock went on strike last week,
the old time piece timing its own
death at 4:24 o'clock last Saturday*
afternoon. For some time the dlu
clock has been laboring in the tick
tock game with worn parts, sand
while its hands had faltered for
several days it did not "kiclt off"
until last Saturday.
. Several attempts were made to
put the old clock back to work, but
after a few ticks it stopped again. -
Throughout the yea?, the clock
has maiptaiifed a fairly regular
schedule, but those who, through
habit, looked skyward to learn the
time seldom ever appreciated its;
value. Now that the time piece rests
while new parts come from the fac
tory, dependents upon the clock for
correct time are lost Every effort
is being made to repair the clock
and start it operating again.
During the meantime there is be
fog noticed a variation in scheduled
events. Employees are sometimes
ten minues late getting to their
work or ten minutes early in" leav
ing Attempts hauaubeen made in
by quite
late afternoon by quite a few who
did not known the clock was on
strike to get their individual time
pieces back - in line, but the old
time piece in its lofty position holds
its hands as still as death.
Mayor J. L. Hassell said yester
day that he did not known how
long it would take to complete the
repair work, but he hoped the clock
would be operating again within
week or ten days.
Defense In $25,000
Suit Expected To
Ask Case Removal
????
Bus Company to Petition
For Trial in Federal
Court
The Norfolk Southern Bus Cor
poration. defendant in a $25,0UU
damage suit brought by Edna Lee
Mizelle through her next friend, J..
P, Holliday, is expected to petition
Judge Clawson Williams in the
superior court here this week for
the removal of the case to the feder
al courts. The defense is expected
to show that its operations extend
Jbeyond state lines and ask that the
case be carried to the federal courts
on that ground
No answer has been made to the
$25,000 suit filed in the superior
court of this county on the 17th ot
last month, the defense apparently
withholding its answer until a rul
ing is had on-the motion to move the
case from this county to the feder
al court in Washington. It is under
stood the time for filing the answer J
expired the first of this week.
The plaintiff in the case alleged
that J. T. White, bus driver for the
defendant bus corporation, "doped"
a bottle drink and gave it to her.
She further alleges that she was car
ried by the driver through James
ville, her home town, to Columbia
According to further allegation ad
vanced in the complaint, the plain
tiff was without money, that the
bus driver gave her $2 and took her
to a hotel room and then left her.
The plaintiff, although still dazed,
doped or drugged, could walk and
get around at that time, but the
complaint further alleges that she
was not in full possession of her
mental faculties. She retired for the
night, but in a very short time, she|
alleges the bus driver returned to'
her room with a pistol, and that she,!
frightened to death, "was forced to
submit to the demands of the agent
of the defendant."
-4
| Kiwanis Baseball Tearn
Seeks Revenge Thursday
Out for revenge the local Kiwan
is will meet the Lions in a return
bout of baseball Thursday afternoon
at four o'clock, benefits to go to the
High School Athletic association.
The probable lineups follow:
Kiwanis: pitchers, Crockett, Piep
hoff, Spencer, Hunt; catchers, Goff,
Spivey; infielders, Grimes, Green,
Cobb, Simpson, Bobbitt, Goodman;
outfielders. W. C. Manning J Man
ning, Smith.
Lions: catchers, Modlin, Worrell;
pitcher, Taylor; infielders, Clayton,
Bondurant, Lindsley, Peele; out
fielders, Courtney, Trehey, Hayman.
Infant Son Of Mr. And Mrs.
H. A. Johnson Dies Sunday
The infant son of Mr. and Mrs.
Henry A. Johnson, ,Jr., died last
Sunday afternoon in a Greenville
hospital where the child had been
carried the day before for treatment.
He was only a few days old
Funeral services were conducted
yesterday afternoon at three o'clock
from the home in Everetts by Rev.
James H. Smith, Williamston minis
ter. Interment was in the Johnson
burial ground in the Gold Point
cqmmunity
I COTTON
Martin County farmers will
be notified possibly tomorrow
how much cotton they cannot
plant this year. Notices are be
ing prepared in the agricultur
al office today, and they will be
mailed tomorrow, if possible.
There are approximately 800
cotton growers in the county
and they have been allotted a
total of about 6,000 acres. Some
of the growers have had their
acreage reduced fifty per cent
and |n a few cases the reduction
has been even greater.
Miss Martha Li I ley
Dies At Her Home
Near Jamesville
Funeral Services Are Held
Last Saturday
Afternoon
Miss Martha Lilley, highly
esteemed citizen of the Jamesville
community, died suddenly at her
home there last Friday morning at
8 o'clock, death being attributed to
a heart attack. Miss Lilley was
walking in the yard of^her home
when she fell and' died before aid
could reach her. She t)ad suffered
heart trouble for some time, but she
was able to be up and jpst before
her sudden passing she was thought
to be enjoying fairly good health.
During' the afternoon before her
death the following morning she
visited in Jamesville and attended
to business matters there.
Miss Lilley was the daughter of
Mrs. Lenora Jones Lilley and the
late William B. Lilley. She was born
in the Jamesville community about
45 years ago and lived there all .her
life For a long number of years she
vas a faithful member of the Bap
tist church, and was held in high
esfeem by all who knew her. Dur
ing the past few years she devoted
her almost undivided attention to
the care of her aged mother, a task
that never became tiresome to her.
Three brothers, Bennie and Na
than Lilley, of Jkmesville, and Her
bert Lilley, of Williamston, and a
half-sister, Mrs. S. S. Brown, of
Williamston, survive besides her
mother.
Funeral services were conducted
at the home Saturday afternoon at
2:30 o'clock by Rev W. B. Harring
ton, her pastor. Interment was in
the family plot near the home.
Little Expansion Possible
For Tobacco Crop In 1938
Tobacco raising will be introduc
ed on very small scale on new farmi
in this county this year, according
to unofficial reports received here
this week. Tho* farmers who hav?
not grown tobacco prior to this yeai
and are planning to introduce the
crop on their farms for the firsl
100 acres, it is understood.
Make Survey Of Location
For Recreational Center
Engineer Rivers is completing a
preliminary survey of the Knlghi
property on Watts street Tor a pro
posed public recreational center. "I
can be developed into a beautifu
spot," the engineer-Mid, adding tha
it would take several days to pre
pare a cost estimate of the proposes
program.
Machinery Set Up
For Holding June
Primary In County
Board Experiences Diffi
culty in Finding Repub
cans for Precinct Posts
For the first.time in history, the
Martin County Board of Elections
in regular meeting last Saturday ap
pointed women precinct officials to
hold elections in this county," Mrs.
Gertrude Norton, of Williamston,
and Mrs. George R. Haislip, of Has
sell, were named judges of election
in their respective precincts. The
county election authoritie? made no
mention of the difficulty experienc
ed in finding men for the posts, but
they did point out that after eighteen
years of woman's suffrage, it was
time to include members of the fair
er sex in the group of precinct elec
tion officials
Mrs. Carstarphen, listed as a
member of the Republican Party,
will not participate in the Democra
tic primary on June 4 J. Paul Simp
son, newly appointed as judge of
election for Williamston Township,
is slated to yield his position to Mrs.
Carstarphen in November after
serving as a Democrat in the pri
mary Mrs. Haislip, listed as a Dem
ocrat, is to serve the June primary
and also m the November election,
the county board pointing out that
no Republicans were available in
llassell for service in the November
election - ? ?
No Republican pullholderg were
named 111 several precincts'" because
none was available, and there is
some doubt as to the party affilia
tion in some of those districts were
appointments were made. Those ap
pointees listed as Republicans will
not serve in the June 4 primary No
recommendations were made by the
Democratic and Republican execu
tive committees to guide the county
board of elections in making the
appointments, but applications for
precinct posts were considered fav
orably in several instances.
A revision of the registration
books in Williamston, Bear Grass,
1'oplar Point, Hamilton, Gold Point,
and Williams Precincts was ordered
by the board. Mr. Sylvester Peel,
rhairman of the hoard, was directed
to supervise the revision. The revi
sion does not constitute a new reg
istration. the board explaining that
the names of electors will be copied
from those books that are in bad
condition. The board also passed an
order directing the purchase of nec
essary supplies lor holding the pri
mary and November elections.
Chairman Sylvester Peel was em
powered to fill any vacancies caused
by resignations or for other causes.
Fifteen changes in the election
personnel were effected by the
board last Saturday, the machinery
in some precincts being changed in
its entirety Namef of the precinct
officials are:
Jamesville: J R. Manning, regis
trar, J. Lin wood Knowles and R
L. Stallings, judges of election, and
Charles Davenport, Republican
judge of election. Manning and
Knowles are new members of the
precinct group.
JVilliams: L. D. Hardison, regis
trar; R J. Hardison and C. L. Dan
iel, judges of election. No Republi
can was named and the personnel
(Continued on page six)
? ?
Throngs Are Present
For Easter Services
Religious programs in the various
churches of the town attracted rec
ord-size congregations, church lead
ers stating that a marked interest
was apparent in the Easter worship
activities. Several of the churches
were filled to overflowing, and
strong sermons were heard from ev
ery nulnlt. ?
No record of church attendance
numbers for the day is available,
but Sunday school superintendents,
with one or two exceptions, report
ed increased attendance figures
earlier in the day.
More than WO peerts attended
the six Sunday schools where i
ial programs were arranged. The
individual records, released by the
school superintendents: Pentecostal
Holiness, 111; Baptist, 1ST; Presby
terian, M; Episcopal, SB; Christian,
ITS and Methodist, 1U.