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THE ENTERPRISE US
VOLUME XLI?NUMBER 81 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, October tl. 1938. ESTABLISHED 1899
Bowers Is Released
Under Bond In Pitt
County On Saturday
?
Action Taken After Young
Man Was Denied Bond
In This County
??
Hoy Bowers, young white man
charged with brutally assaulting a
Martin County white girl, near Par
mele, last Saturday night a week
ago was released under a $3,500
bond by Justice of the Peace John
Ivey Smith at a preliminary hear
ing in Greenville last Saturday
morning. The action of the Pitt
county court came after Bowers
was denied bond by Justice J. L.
Hassell in Williamston on Sunday,
October 2.
Following Bowers' arrest early
Sunday morning October 2, in this
county, officers were told that the
alleged criminal assault took place
near Parmele. A later investigation
proved that the crime was commit
ted a short distance across the line
in Pitt County. Before the scene of
the crime was definitely located, a
preliminary hearing was arranged
in this county, and Justice Hassell,
after hearing the damaging testi
mony, ruled that bond could not be
allowed in the case.
Unofficial reports reaching here
from the preliminary hearing in
Greenville last Saturday stated
that the defense counsel maintain
ed that since the attack victim was
carried to her home by the defend
ant he was entitled to bond. Friends
of the attack victim are said to have
been surprised when they learned
that bend was allowed, and that
they considered the size of the bond
low.
No private prosecution was em
ployed in the first round of the case,
and it could not be learned wheth
er arrangements would be made by
relatives of the victim to prosecute
the case when it is called in the Pitt
County Superior court.
It was reliably learned here this
week that additional evidence is be
ing sought in the case, and that some
damaging facts to the defense had
been uncovered.
When removed from the Martin
Pitt County officers, Bowers was
said to have carried his head high.
While in jail he was also said to
have dismissed the charge lightly,
and made slurring remarks.
Shown mercy in the Martin Coun
ty courts last March when he and
a young Carson boy were charged
with dynamiting property in Par
mele, Robersonville and Bear Grass,
Bowers is said to have continued his
wild way of living. Made subject to
one of his heineous attacks, another
young girl, reports state, escaped
and caught a ride in another car to
her home in Bethel.
The name of Bowers' latest victim
has not been disclosed by officers in
this county. She was said to have
been painfully scratched and slight
ly bruised during the attack which
took place a little 'over a week ago.
It is not known here what evidence
was offered when the case was call
ed in Greenville last Saturday, but
at the first hearing, a young man
named Dixon and his companion
were quoted as saying that they
heard the victim call for help, and
that they were afraid to interfere.
Scouts Enjoy Their
Visit In Chapel Hill
? ?
Returning from a jubilee in Cha
pel Hill last week-end, eight local
Boy Scouts reported a wonderful
time in the University town. Camp
ing with representatives of troops
from Plymouth, Cretwell and Wash
ington, the Scouts formed part of the
rank* numbering 1,000 youths from
all parts of the South.
Although they found the nights a
bit chilly, the boys explained how
they enjoyed the food and ice cream
for desert twice daily. On Satur
day afternoon, the youths were
special guests at the Tulane-Caro
lina football game.
Those making the trip from here
were: J. B. Taylor, Jr., Jimmie Leg
gett, Billy Mercer, Conrad Getaing
er, Nardie York, Buddie Wier, J. D.
Woolard, Jr., and Reg Griffin. They
were accompanied by Scoutmaster
Horace Ray, and traveled in a car
and trailer.
?
Escape Injury In Car
Wreck At Bear Grass
?
No one was injured but consider
able damage was done to Wheeler
Rogerson's car, a Ford V-8, last Sun
day evening at Bear Grass when
Henry Godard, colored, crashed in
to the machine with an old model
Ford. Godard, booked for drunken
driving, is said to have turned his
machine across Jhe road and into
the path of the Rogerson car driven
by Hildreth
'Blackout * Scheduled Between
6 And 10P. M. On Thursdayj
Between 6 and 10 o'clock Thurs
day evening, Williamston and all
other towns in the county will be
asked to turn out all lights on the
streets, filling stations and show
windows. Occupants are urged to.
lower shades in their homes
The "blackout" will last approxi
hour for turning off the lights will
hour for turning off the lights twill
not be known until just a few min-1
utes before friendly "enemy" planes
approach the territory. In Williams
ton. Mayor J. L Hassell has made
arrangements to have members of
the fire department to sound the
fire siren. Local citizens are remind
ed that the alarm will be a signal
for turning out lights and not for a
fire call. In addition to the fire de
partment signal, residents will be
advised by a Raleigh broadcasting,
station when the attack planes are
scheduled to make their appear
ance over various towns, when to
put out the lights and when the dark
period is to end.
While anxious to effect a complete
"blackout", army air force officials
point out that they do not expect
anyone to turn out lights in cases of
emergency. '
Store owners are urged to cut out
their neon signs and darken their
store fronts. Motorists in and near
towns are asked to park their cars
during the "blackout" period.
Numerous towns throughout east
| ern Carolina have arranged for the
"blackouts," and Mayor John L.
Hassell states that the people of
Williamston have readily expressed
their willingness to cooperate with
the army air defense corps in what
are described the most extensive
atr maneuvers ever scheduled In
this country during peace time.
"Little" Crime Wave
Sweeps Over County
I OPEN BIDS
.v
Bids (or the construction of a
178,000 postoffice building in
Willlamston will be opened in
the local postoffice tomorrow
afternoon, Postmaster Leslie
T. Fowden stating today that
a number of contractors had al
ready submitted sealed propo
sals. None of the contractors is
from this immediate section, it
was reported.
The lot for the new building
on Main Street just across from
the Courtney Furniture Store,
has been cleared, and if the bids
are acceptable It is likely that
construction work will get un
derway within the next few
weeks.
Fourteen Marriage
Licenses Issued In
County Last Month
Issuance Is Second Small
est So Far This
Year
Fourteen marriage licenses were
isued by J. Sam Getsinger, Martin
County Register of Deeds, last
month, the issuance being the sec
ond smallest reported so far this
year. In each of the first eight
months, the number of licenses is
sued colored couples exceeded the
number issued to white couples.
Last month the issuance was even
ly divided.
Licenses were issued to the fol
lowing couples:
White
Leslie C. Jones and Ola Mae
Willoughby, both of Martin Coun
ty
J. B. Biggs and Susie Scott, both
of this county.
Paul Aubrey Roy, of Asheboro,
and Thelma O'Neal Brown, of Wil
liamston.
Thurman L. Griffin and Rosa Per
Bonnie Ingalls and Agnes Rober
son, both of Greenville.
Floyd Walker Salley, of Orange
burg, S. C., and Catherine Cren
shaw Stailings, of Williamston.
William Thomas Arrants and
Thelma Virginia Bryant, both of
Plymouth.
K. M. Jones, of Oak City, and
Jimmie Mae Mullins, of Conetoe.
Samuel Coffield and Clara Mae
Johnson, both of this county.
Lee Rodgers. of this county, -and
Dorothy Lee, of Edenton.
Robert Coburn and Geneva Jones,
both of Martin County.
Coy Briley and Edith Teel, of this
county. .
Robert Lewis Pierce and Geneva
Kearney, both of Martin County.
Grdver Dickens and Lucy Jones,
both of this county.
-*
Mother Of Local Man
Dies At Whitakers Home
-a
Mrs. J. L. Dickens, mother of Mr.
Hal Dickens, of this place, died at
her home in Whitakers last night at
11 o'clock of pneumonia She suf
fered a stroke of paralysis a short
time ago.
Funeral services will be conduct
ed at the home this afternoon at 4
o'clock, and interment will follow
in the cemetery there.
Mrs. Dickens, prominent Halifax
County citizen, is survived by six
children and Mr. Dickens, who is
critically ill.
Jail Eighteen Men
In County During
The Past Week-end
Several Alleged- Violators
Have Not Yet Been
Apprehended
A "little" crime wave swept over
Martin County last week-end when
fifteen men were jailed for alleged
violation of various laws. Several
other alleged violators of the peace
have not yet been apprehended, but
Jailor Roy Peel is of the opinion
the town and county officers did a
right good job in rounding up as
many as they did. In addition to the
fifteen men arrested in this county,
several were brought to this county
from Dertie and jailed -for alleged
violation of the internal revenue
act.
No serious law violations are in
cluded in the list of cases, the rec
ords showing that most of the de
fendants are booked for stealing,
drinking, and misbehaving in gen
eral.
William Wilkins, Whit Everett and
Jonas Wilkins. apparent victims of
poverty in Bertie County, were giv
en a preliminary hearing before U.
S. Commissioner Walter Halber
stadt last Friday for alleged viola
tion of the internal revenue act
They were released from the coun
ty jail under $300 bonds Monday.
In Williamston over the week
end, there were two robbery cases
and two larceny and receiving cases.
Lester "Dummy" Speight, thought
to have secreted himself in the
Williamston Cafe, was caught Sun
day morning about 3 o'clock com
ing out of the cafe with a turn of
cigarettes, candy and cash, all val
ued at about $25. Duke Walston was
arrested for the alleged theft of
$2.65 worth of groceries from an au
tomobile parked on Washington
Street Saturday night. Cornelius
Jones, colored, was caught stealing
Baker's filling station on East Main
Street Sunday morning. The rob
bery of a case of liquor from the
river warehouse has not been solv
ed, but officers continue their work
on the theft.
Other arrests and alleged charges
during the week-end include the
following.
Isaac Ampey, assault, Russell Per
ry, drunkenness; Abraham Jones,
larceny and receiving; Keeter Lock,
larceny and receiving; Herman
James, capias; Selector Andrews,
laiceny and receiving; Henry God
ard, driving drunk; Roy Lanier,
drunkeness; Elsworth, George and
Henry Andrews and William Staton,
disorderly conduct.
Six of the arrests were effected
last Saturday, and at that time the
officers of town and county made
preparations for a heavy schedule
the following day.
Commenting on the week-end jail
record, Sheriff C. B. Roebuck said
he could-not recall a week-end since
he was sheriff that more people had
been jailed in such a short length
of time in this county.
1
Number of Planes Pass
Over County Monday
A number of airplanes, partici
pating in the army air maneuvers in
eastern Carol!pa, passed over this
county yesterday. Only one was sit
ed over Williamston, however. More
[ are expected during the week.
Clear Block Sales
On Local Tobacco
Mart Early Today
Ninety Per Cent of Crop Is
Already Marketed in
This Area
?
Williamston's tobacco market con
?tinues to hold Its own despite the
fact that approximately 90.per cent
of the crop in this immediate terri
tory has already been marketed. To
day, the market cleared one of the
largest blocks since the opening in
August. Nearly 250,000 pounds were
sold on the first and second sales
yesterday.
A review of the market activities
indicates that the price peak has
been reached, but the sales continue
very satisfactory. Prices ranged up
to $45 and $46 yesterday and this
morning, but there was no topacco
of the $60 and $70 type offered these
past few days
Simultaneously with the report
that 90 per cent of the crop had been
sold in this section, and that pro
duction here would be considerably
less than a year ago, the govern
ment released an estimate indicat
ing the 1938 yield would reach 812,
640,000 pounds as compared with a
prediction of 786,660,000 pounds
few weeks ago
The increased production is en
tirely in the types grown in North
Carolina, as the crop in the early
Southern states already has been
harvested. While the increase for
the entire flue-cured area is only 3.3
par cent, it is heavier for the East
ern Carolina belt and the South
Carolina belt, the highest rale of in
crease in the latter being in the
North Carolina portion of the belt.
The Georgia-Florida estimate re
mains at 105.850.00U pounds.
The estimate for the South Car
olina belt was increased from 150,
300,000 pounds to 159,310,000. The
estimate for the North Carolina por
tion of the belt was increased from
59 to 63 million pounds and the
South Carolina portion from 90 to
95 million pounds
In the Eastern North Carolina
to 272,800,000 pounds.
In the Old Belt, the increase is ?
from 270,310,000 to 274,680,000
pounds, the Virginia portion being
increased from 68 million to 70 mil
lion pounds and the North Carolina
portion from 201 to 204 million
pounds
Meanwhile the United States Su
preme Court this week granted n
review in the case involving the
constitutionality of the Flannagan
tobacco grading act.
However, the decision of the high
est court, which will end litigation
that already has been in progress
for more than two years, will not
be reached until some time in the
spring of next year, too late to af
fect the present marketing season.
Court attaches said recently that
arguments in the case will not be
scheduled until December at the
earliest, and probably not before
January.
The case was brought by four of
the six warehouses in Oxford. Judge
Isaac M. Meekins, of the Eastern
North Carolina district found the
act unconstitutional and granted an
injunction against its operation. The
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals re
versed that decision.
Martin County Home
Inmate Dies Saturday
?
Mrs. Florence Coker Hayes, in
mate in the Martin County home for
the past ten years, died there last
Saturday evening at 6:45 o'clock of
a complication of ailments. A native
of Edgecombe County, Mrs. Hayes
was about 60 years old and had been
in feeble health for a number of
years
Funeral services were conducted
at the home of relatives near Leg
getts Sunday afternoon.
A brother and one sister, Mrs
Emma Pittman, of Edgecombe
County, survive.
A relative of Mrs. Hayes' died in
the county home several years ago.
MEETING
Meeting in special session
here this afternoon at the call
of Chairman J. D. Woolard, the
Martin County Board of Edu
cation is discussing several mat
ters, unofficial reports stating
that the authorities are consid
ering the possibility of adding
an extra room or two to the
Williamston colored school.
Crowded conditions have been
reported in the school for some
time. Classes are now being
held in the auditorium and the
rooms are filled to overflowing.
Geo. Barnes Fined
$J(H).00 For Illegal
Praetiee Medicine
Aged Colored Man Appeals
From Judgment in
Court Court
?
George Barnes, 75-year-old Tar
boro colored man. was fined $100
and taxed with the costs by Judge
H. O. Peel in the county recorder's
court Monday in the case charging
the defendant with practicing med
icine without license. Barnes, rep
resented by Fountain and fountain,
of Tarboro, and Attorney Henry D.
Hardison, gave notice of appeal to
the superior court.
The case against Barnes originat
ed during the middle of last August
following the death of Chaney Wig
gins. colored woman, of near Ham
ilton. It was first alleged that
Barnes -had-prescribed-some poison
medicine for the patient. An inves
tigation by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation proved the medicine
harmless, and the warrant was
| amended to include only the charge
of practicing medicine without li
I cense.
In building up its case, the State
maintained that Barnes went to
the Wiggins home, looked at the
woman's eyes ;md felt of her pulse
and prescribed certain medicine.
The defense, at the conclusion of the
state evidence, asked that the case
be thrown out of court Judge Peel
overruled the motion.
The defense offered four wit
nesses, two white men, Sherrod
Sessoms and a son-in-law uf June
Sessoms testifying that they had
taken medicine sold them by Barnes
and it had helped them. The Ses
soms family once lived in the Par
mele section of this county, but are
now living at Old Sparta. Taking the
stand himself, Barnes maintained
that he had concocted no medicine
for the Wiggins woman, that mem
bers of the family had visited him
and he gave them medicine ordered
direct from a concern in Tennessee.
| He also stated to the court that he
had been told the medicine found
by officers in jars had been prescribe
ed by a "doctor" in Bertie County.
The case was before the court -a
greater part of the morning. Judge
Peel first fined the old "medicine
man" $250, but later reduced the
fine to $100.
Mrs. Lucy Hoi lis
Dies At Her Home
Mrs. l.ucy Hollis, highly respect
ed county citizen, died at her home
in the Spring Green section of Pop
lar Point Township last Saturday
morning at 0:20 o'clock following a
long illness of cancer. She has been
confined to her bed since early lust
spring.
The daughter of the late Hardy
Cullipher and wife, Mrs Hollis was
born, near Beayer. Dam in W.iJliams
ton Township 60 years ago next
January. In early womanhood she
was married to Joseph Hollis who
survives with six sons and one
daughter Their names are, Harvey,
William, Dock, Chester and Mary
land Hollis, all of Poplar Point, and
Bill Hollis, of Williamston, and Mrs.
Jack Crawford, of Oak City. She
aso leaves two brothers, Ed Culli
pher, of Robersonville, and John
Cullipher, of Pinetown; and two sis
lers, Mrs. Bettie Warren "nd Mrg
Lena Cassell, both of Robersonville.
Thirteen grandchildren also survive.
Mrs. Hollis was a devoted wife
and an understanding mother, and
enjoyed a large circle of friends.
Funeral services were conducted
Sunday afternoon at 2:30. o'clock
from the Cedar Grove Free Will
Baptist church by Rev. Marshall'
Joyner, pastor, assisted by Rev. Gar
land Bland, Christian minister, and
Rev. Z. T. Piephoff, of the Presby
terian church. Interment was in the
Leggett Cemetery -in Poplar Pomt
Township.
Bookmobile Had A Busy
Week In Martin County
The "Bookmobile," a library on
wheels operated by the Works Pro
gress Administration, had a busy
time in this county last week. Dur
ing the period, it distributed 1,151
books in all parts of the county as
follows: Jamcsville Township, 291;
Griffins Township, 189; Bear Grass
and Cross Roads, 334; Parmele and
Gold Point, 75; Hamilton and Goose
Nest, 262.
Beginning next Monday morning
and following the same schedule
followed in effecting the distribu
tion, the "Bookmobile" will follect
the books. Borrowers are urged to
have the books ready, Miss Ella
Gaylord, in charge of the project in
this county, explaining that future
operations of the traveling library
will depend upon the cooperation of
borrowers in returning the books.
Road Claims Before
Highway Commission
MORE CHECKS
The Agricultural Adjustment
Administration, the same farm
agency that is undergoing a ser
ious attack by some Martin
farmers and others throughout
the country, continues to release
money to farmers in this coun
ty
Several hundred checks are
being distributed this week, and
additional ones are expected
shortly. To date, 783 checks rep
resenting 340 applications and
amounting to $19,221.40, have
been received in the county in
the form of cotton price adjust
ment payments, tt ts believed
thai these payments when com
pleted will total in excesx of
$40,000 ?
Vi illiamston Loses
To Washington In
One-Sided Contest
Invading Pam Pack Domi
nates Play Most of the
Time
THe Green Wave suffered defeat
at the hands of the Washington elev|
en Friday afternoon on the local
gridiron, being oiv-the short end of
the 27 to U score The invading Pam
Pack dominated play during the
greater part of the game.
Outstanding for the Washington
boys were Kelley, Taylor and llol
loman in the backfield, and Wool
ard, Cherry and Whitaker, lines
men. Fine blocking was a feature
of the Washington offense. Fine
"ball-totin" was exhibited by the
Washington baeks. Kelley and Hol
loman featured the atack with a 55
)Crd jaunt around left end and a
| brilliant 90 yard return of the open
ing kirk-off of the second half, re
| spectively
j The local boys offered stubborn
resistance in the pine .es. Little gain
was made directly over the line,
three of the four Washington touch
downs being made on long runs
around end. Featuring for the Wil
liamston boys were Anderson, Rob
erson and Manning in the line and
M. Anderson and Riddick, backs.
George Lee Koberson, star back of
the past several seasons, returning
to the line-up for the first time this
season, proved a thorn in Washing
ton's side with his long and accur
ate kicking.
The Williamston team, with the
return of several players, is expect
ed to be in good form when they
meet Windsor here Friday of this
week. ..
Native Of Bertie
Dies In County
William Lawrence Rawls, 81, died
at the home of his son, W. E. Rawls,
in Cross Roads Township last Sat
urday morning about 10 o'clock. Ap
parently in his usual health, Mr
Rawls is believed to have suffered
a heart attack, dying almost instant
| ly while sitting in a chair.
The son of the late Randall Rawls
and wife, he was born in Bertie
County where he spent all his life
until about two years ago, when he
moved to this county to make his
home with his son and adopted com
munity. I
Mrs. Rawls with three sons, W.
E. Rawls, of this county, Claude
and Clarence Rawls, and two daugh
ters, Mrs. John Allen and Mra. Wil
lie Leggett, all of Bertie County,
survive.
Funeral services were conducted
Sunday afternoon from the old home
in Bertie County by his former pas
tor, and interment was in the fam
ily cemetery, five rifles west of
Windsor.
Fourth Tobacco Theft
Reported In This County
Breaking into the packhouse on
the old Will Roberson farm, near
Gardner's Creek some time during
last Saturday night, thieves stole
and carried away 332 pounds of
graded tobacco.
Discovering the robbery Sunday
morning, Owners Abe Roberson and
David Modlin called officers. Follow
ing the tracks of the robers, Officer
Joe Roebuck found the tobacco hid
in the woods near Siloam church
about one-half mile from the Rober
son farm. No arrests have been
made in the case.
Martin County Has
Claim Of $400,000
Highway Refunds
???
Commission Is Expected to
Take Action Before
November 1st
?
For quite a few years, Martin
County has been appealing to State
authorities and commissions for a
refund of money spent for the con
struction of main highways in the
county. The State Highway Com
mission, receiving the "hot potato"
from dodging politicians is expected
to consider Martin's claims and the
j claims of a number of other coun
ties sometime during this month.
A commission, hand-picked by
I Former Governor J. C. B. Ehring
j haus, was to have made an impar
tial study of the claims and offer
recommendations. The commission,
apparently trying to make the
claims appear absurd, is said to have
asked various counties to file claims
for every road and footpath within
the division lines As a result, ap
proximately $53,000,000 in claims
are pending against the highway
commission.
Martin County, said to be claim
lars, is asking for only approximate
ly $400,000 or the amount of money
actually raised by general taxation
and turned over to the highway
commission for the construction of
the Roanoke River bridge and the
causeway, the Washington Road and
the Scotland Neck road to the Hal
ifax county line. No mention of road
bond floated to build township
roads is included in the claim, but
apparently many counties are ask
ing refunds to every cent ever spent
on roads of all types.
The question involved is whether
the State must reimburse counties
for ronds tmilt hy the units?before
1931, when the State took over
maintenance of the highway sys
tem Ever since that year, county
highway claims have constituted a
political hot potato which has been
passed from legislature to legisla
ture, and from commission to com
mission.
The 1935 legislature disposed of
the question of authorizing a study
commission to investigate the valid
ity of the claims
The study Commission recom
mended to the 1937 legislature that
none of the claims be paid in cash,
but that some of them be taken into
consideration in future road con
struction and maintenance allot
ments.
The 1937 legislature referred the
matter to the highway commission?
which will meet October 27 to dis
cuss the claims.
The claims range from a high of
$3,018,643 83 which is asked by Bun
combe, to a low of $25,000, asked by
Warren.
At hearings in Raleigh two years
ago, representatives from many of
the counties argued as follows:
Before 1931, X county issued $1,
000,000 worth of bonds to build
hard-surfaced roads. Y county is
^ni'H no twmHs and hnilt no roadi ?
When the State took over highway
system, it built roads where they
were most needed?in Y county.
Consequently, today the poads in
Y county are as good as the roads m
X county. But residents of X county
still are paying off the $1,000,000
bond ,issue, while residents of Y
county owe no highway debts.
The State's stand has been that
in taking over the county roads it
(Continued on page five)
Bitten By A Snake,
Young Man Recovering
?
Bitten by a snake at his home in
Poplar Point last week, Raymond
Harrison, young farmer, is recover
ing slowly at this time. The bite
victim, walking along a ditch bank
barefooted late in the afternoon
when attacked, did not see what
kind of snake it was. By the time he
reached the yard of his home, he
was overcome by pain, and driven
almost mad. Members of his family
bandaged his leg to cut off the
blood circulation and rushed him to
a doctor here for treatment.
The wound, showing plainly the
imprints of the reptile's teeth, was
opened and considerable blood was
taken from Mr. Harrison's foot. He
was also given a special serum. The
young man's leg swelled to almost
twice its normal size, and while the
limb is a bit dark, Mr. Harrison k
about to be out some with the aid of
crutches.