Advertisers Will Find On Col
umns s Latchkey to over U* J
Homes oI Martin OeundJ.
THE ENTERPRISE
Wateh too Label on Tear
Paper, as It Cantos tho Date
Voor Soboeriptloa Expiree
VOLUME XLI?NUMBER 89 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina. Tuesday, November 8. 1938. ESTABLISHED 1899
'Floating' Theatre
Sinks In Roanoke
Below Jamesville
Salvage Operations to Get
Underway Today,
Owner Says
A sizeable bole torn through iU
bow, the Original Floating Theatre
went to the bottom of the Roanoke
River, about five miles below James
ville early Sunday morning. No one
was injured, the crew and cast of
32 persons scampering to safety on
top of the large boat as two tugs
pushed it to a mud flat on the south
side of the river. The boat, schedul
ed to dock here all this week, went
down in about thirteen feet of wa
ter, leaving the after deck and roof
of the theatre a few feet above the
water line
"We were traveling up the river
very smoothy when the boat struck
a submerged log in midstream and
started listing immediately," a mem
ber of the crew said. "Sensing the
danger, the tug boat captains im
mediately dropped back to the side
of the showboat and pushed her on
the mud flat in about five minutes,"
he continued, explaining that mem
bers of the cast hardly had time to
escape with their lives. Nothing was
saved from the muddy waters, the
show cast and boat crews holding
to places on the roof, missing break
fast while food and canned goods
floated from the submerged kitch
en. Several deserted the boat, but
most of the players remained aboard
until yesterday when they gathered
together what personal effects they
could and made plans to leave for
their homes scattered over nearly a
dozen states
Yesterday morning, the players
and crew leisurely passed the hours
waiting developments, unofficial re
ports stating that the owner, Mrs.
Nina Howard, of St. Michaels, Md.,
would possibly make no attempt to
reopen the show this season.
Soon after the boat went down,
Mrs Howard started making plans
to salvage the theatre. A diver was
employed in Norfolk yesterday and
salvage operations were scheduled
to get underway today. Unofficial
estimates indicated that more than
$5,000 would be required to raise the
boat and repair the damage to the
equipment. Efforts will be made to
float the boat within a week, but a
month or more will be required for
repairing the damage to equipment
and stage scenery, it was learned
Until the salvage operations are
completed, there will be no show
boat in existence, members of the
crew explaining that the sunken
property was the original and last
boat of its kind in existence.
The players started leaving late
yesterday for their homes, some go
ing as far away as Iowa, others to
Tennessee, Virginia, New York,
Maryland, New Jersey, Florida, In
diana and still others to points in
this State.
Starting its seventh season early
last spring 'he boat has been sunk
three timet, but the accident this
week was the first major one during
recent years
About 24 hours after the floating
theatre struck the log and went to
the bottom of the river, a Foreman,
and Blades Lumber Company barge I
struck the same object but without
damage to the boat.
Few Hear Former
Georgia Governor
Eugene Talmadge, former Georgia
governor of red-gallus fame and
bold critic of the New Deal adminis
tration, spoke to a very small group
of farmers in the Raleigh auditor
ium last Saturday in a drive against
crop control. There were around 500
farmers present to hear Talmadge
attack control in particular the gov
ernment's policy in general and of
fer plans for its defeat.
Brought to this State by the Anti
Compulsory Crop Control Associa
tion, Talmadge did not offer a spe
cific attack upon control, but sug
gested attempts to defeat the pro
gram. "Plant all you can. Overload
control and break it down," he ad
vised.
Following Talmadge's speech, the
farmers adopted a resolution oppos
ing "any further" compulsory crop
control but expressing their approv
al of "agricultural aid by our fed
eral government," which was term
ed a "sound and just economic prin
ciple."
This aid, the resolution said,
"ought to consist of payments for
soil conservation, bounties to com
pensate farmers against the protec
tive tariff; loans for the relief of
debtors upon their homesteads, and
seed and crop loans."
Republicans Gain Strength
Early Election Reports Show
Martin County voters are alow in
going to the polls today to partici
pate in a quiet off-year election, but
heavy votes are piling up in most
parts of the county. At 1 o'clock,
the local precinct reported 145 vot
ers, election officials predicting the
count will not pass 450 by the time
the polls close at 5:05 o'clock. Rob
ersonville reported 70 voted at 11
o'clock and Bear Grass had only 14
an hour earlier. Light voting is gen
eral throughout the county and in
much of the east.
Very few tickets are being scratch
ed A fifty-fifty break was given the
proposed amendment to increase the
length of sheriff's terms.
Early indications today pointed to
substantial gains in Republican
ranks in certain sections of the na
tion. With gains evident in the New
England, Middle Atlantic. Wwt Cen
tral and East Central States, the Re
publicans are expected to gain an
additional 60 seats in the National
House of Representatives today.
Democratic strength in the South is
apparently holding its own and in
creasing in some cases, but the in
creased strength will not effect the
membership. Pennsylvania, Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan and New Jersey
reported heavy voting early today
with an apparent increase in Repub
lican strength.
A close race in the New York Gu
bernatorial contest was predicted as
heavy voting got underway.
Much attention is being given the
voting as a test of New Deal popu
I larity, early indications pointing to
losses for the administration and a
strong upturn in the strength of con
servatives. 1
The $30 a week ham and egg pen
sion boys are appealing to the hun
gry, hut the trouble encountered by
Colorado and Alberta with the fancy
plan is being considered.
Official Attention For
Cemetery Now Likely
MEETING
An Important meetlnf of
county and community commit
teemen will be held in the agri
cultural building here tomor
row afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Field Officer Morgan of the
State Extension Division, will
outline the dultes and responsi
billtes of the (roup, dscusx prin
cipal features of the 1939 soil
conservation program and offer
Instructions for handling and
determining tobacco allotments
for the coming year.
All community committeemen
who were just recently elected
have been advised to attend the
meeting.
Justice Kept Busy
Marrying Couples
And Keeping Peace
Marries Four Saturday; Has
Seven Defendants Face
Him (donday
The tieing of wedding knots and
keeping the peace are keeping" Jus
tice John L. Hassell busy here these
days. Through last Saturday, the
"marrying" justice had average tie
ing one wedding knot each day for
nearly a week. Yesterday, the jus
tice was in session hearing cases
growing" out of minor infractions of
the law of the land. Numbers crowd
ed into the trial justice's office for
the proceedings which were under
way a greater part of yesterday
morning.
"Drunk and down" was the unus
ual charge brought against Bib
Stalls. The court sentenced him to
the roads for 30 days, but suspend
ed sentence upon payment of the
cost and the assured "good behavior
of the defendant for twelve months.
Charged with trapping without li
cense, C. D. Roberson and Clyde
Holland were given 30-day suspend
ed sentences. They were directed to
procure proper trapping licenses and
pay the case costs.
Judgment was suspended upon
payment of the cost In the case
charging William H. Anderson writh
public drunkenness.
Charged with operating an auto
mobile without a driver's license,
William Hoggard was fined $10 and
taxed with the case cost
Probable cause of guilty appear
ing in the case charging him with
the larceny of an automobile, Claude
Parker, colored of Goose Nest, was
bound over to the superior court for
trial. He was released in $200 bond.
Charged with operating an auto
mobile at night with improper lights
Roosevelt Powell was fined $10 and
taxed with the costs.
Car Covered With Peanuts
When Truck Turns Over
?? ?
No one was hurt and little dam
ageage resulted when a truck load
of peanuta turned over and literally
"snowed under" the car of A. B. Ay
era, Jr., at the corner of Main and
Ha ugh ton Streets here yesterday af
ternoon. Ayers was driving into
Main as the truck turned into
Haughton Rotten timbers in the
truck gave away, and the peanuta
^were spilled on the front of the car.
Church Willing To
Turn Property Over
Town Authorities
Board Discusses Number of
Matters At Meet Last
Evenlngr
Williamston's Cemetery, ill kept
and seldom thought of during these
many years, is about to receive of
ficial attention from the town fa
thers Plans for transferring the
property to the town will be formu
lated within the near future, it is
understood. Advised that the Bap
tist church would surrender the
property, the town authorities ex
presse^a willingness to take charge
and map out a general improve
ment program there.
Virtually all the lota in the cem
I'KJiy have been sold, the board Uh
officially agreeing to turn over to
the church any revenue derived from
the sale of the remaining plots. An
expansion program was mentioned,
but until the transfer is completed,
no plans for development will be ad*
vanced, it was learned.
The preliminary action pointing
to the transfer of the property by
the church to the town comes after
civic clubs and individuals had
talked at length and effected com
mittee appointments to make sur-l
veys for advancing a general im-'
prbvement program needed so bad
ly for so long a time.
In an hours session last evening,
the commissioners heard a number
of problems including proposals for
paving a short sidewalk on Wil
liams Street, extending Church
Street, painting the town hall dome,
extending the fire district, the con
demning of an old vacant house on
Warren and Haughton Streets, re
numbering all houses in town and
placing markers on the several
streets, the limited shooting of fire
works, improvement bonds and
Christmas decorating on the streets.
No action was taken on the pro
posal by Citizen J. T. Price to ex
tend Church Street three blocks west
to Lanier Street, and open a new
street frm Church to Main near
the Roberson home.
The town offered Painter Beaman
*50 to paint the town hall dome
Beaman was painting the dome
about twelve years ago when a board
fell and fatally injured a young girl
on the sidewalk below. The accident
is said to have cost the town sever
al thousand dollars.
Advised of the haphazard meth
ods followed in numbering the
streets yesrs ago, the commissioners
ordered that a complete renumber
ing program be launched. Plans
were also discussed for placing per
manent markers on the streets.
Postmaster Fowden advised that It
will be possible to inaugurate a par
cel post delivery service if the
houses are properly numbered and
the streets identified.
Appearing before the meeting,
Fire Chief G. P. Hall pointed out
the need for extending the fire dis
trict. A survey will be made by
town officials, the fire chief and
Fire Marshall Brockwell possibly
some time this week, and their plans
will be offered to the board for con
sideration at the next meeting. The
survey will likely extend the fire
district to Pearl Street on Washing
ton Street, to Haughton on West
(Continued on page six)
Eli Evans Fatally
Stabbed Here Late
On Saturday Night
Murder Was Second Re
ported in Williamston
In Eight Days
Eli Evans, young colored man,
was fatally stabbed by Thomas
Williams, also colored, at a colored
beer parlor on Washington Street
here late last Saturday night. It was
the second murder reported -in-Wil
liamston in less than eight days and
the third involving a Martin Coun
ty man over a period of fifteen days.
James Henry Howard, colored, was
fatally shot while visiting in the
home of LeRoy Purvis, here Satur
day befure. Monroe Everett. Martin
County white man, was found shot
to death near Tarboro on October
-tt: =
Williams, a farmer living in Wil
liamston Townahip, near Beaver
Dam Swamp, was visiting the Claim
or beer parlor with his girl, Mar
guerite Bonner, and her 10-year-old
daughter Evans was said to have
entered the joint and asked the age
of the girl. "Why do you want to
knuw how old the girl is?" Williams
is said to have asked Evans. A few
other words were exchanged, and
Williams was said to have struck
Evans, witnesses little realizing that
the man had whipped out a long
bladed knife from his pocket and
driven it into Evans' heart. Wil
liams grabbed the woman's hand
and fled from the beer parlor and
went to the Bonner home, near
Beaver Dam Swamp.
Evans, his head drooping, walked
from the joint and fell dead after he
walked a few yards down the street
His heart was partly halved, it was
said.
Investigating the case, officers
learned that the two men had had
trouble before.
Arrested at the Bonner home by
Sheriff C. B. Roebuck and Officer
John Gurganus within thirty min
utes after the murder. Williams first
denied the oliarge, but later admit
ted the stabbing. "How is ho?" Wil- -
liams asked the officer. Told of
Evans' death, Williams then alleged
that Evans was about to attack him
with a knife, thai he struck in self
defense.
No preliminary hearing has been
held in the case, but officers have
booked Williams on first degree
murder charge and they will likely
carry him before Justice J. L. Has
sell tonight or tomorrow.
Red (Iross Drive
Solieitors Named
Solicitors for handling the annual
Red Cross membership campaign in
the Martin County Chapter were
named by Chairman Harry A. Biggs
this week. While the drive is not
slated to get underway until Friday
several have already enrolled. Mr
Biggs said.
The solicitors are:
Williamston: Mrs. J. E. King, Mrs.
Robert Everett, Mrs. Hugh Horton,
Mrs. Titus Critcher, Mrs. Roger
Critcher, Misses Ruth Manning and
Katherine Hardison, Mrs. John Hen
ry Edwards, Mrs. E. P Cunning
ham, Mrs. P. H. Brown, Mrs. J. W.
Watts, Miss Mary Rogerson, Mrs. W.
R. Bondurant, Mrs B. B. Roger
son;
Griffins Township: Miss Sarah
Roberson.
Bear Grass: Miss Josephine Gur
ganus.
Everetts: Miss Mary Virginia Dan
iel.
Jamesville: Miss Grace Martin.
Williams Township: Mrs Kader
Lilley.
Poplar Point: Mrs. Dennis Hardy
Memberships have been Issued to
the following: Miss Annie Glasgow,
N. K. Harrison, W. I Skinner, G. V,
Boyd, F. W. Sparrow, Mrs. F H
Stevenson, McClees Bros, Holt Ev
ans, Herman Bowen, J. A. Manning
V. J. Spivey.
NO OBSERVANCE '
Armistice Day will go virtual
ly unobserved here and in this
section on Friday of this week,
American Legion officials an
noancinf that no celebration hM
been planned in the district. The
day, ordinarily coming while
'the tobacco market was open
and when business firms could
III afford to close, will be ob
served by local banks and a few
other bosineas houses.
The American Legion Post is
planning a square and round
dance in the But on Watts
?treat that evening, beginning
at ? ?'clock.
County Commissioners Plan To
Go Before Highway Commission
With Secondary Road Problems
4-H Clubs Hold
Achievement Day
Program Saturday
Certificates Are Awarded
To Large Number at
Annual Event
The fourth annual Martin Coun
ty 4-H Club achievement day was
held in the Robersonville high
school last Saturday with 125 club
members and parents present
The meeting was called to order
at 10:30 a. nf. by JbeWinslow, pres
ident of the county council.
L W Anderson, principal of Rob-:
ersonville high school welcomed the
members and their parents to Rob
ersonville school. A response was
given by Gerald James, president of
the Robersonville club. B Troy
Ferguson, district agent, and John
W Artz, agent at large, gave a very
interesting talk on 4 11 club work.
They stressed the significance of
the 4-H clubs bringing out the ne
cessity of a balanced program. "The
loss of one single H would throw the
whole program put of balance, said
Mr. Artz.
A very good demonstration on ta
ble manners was given by Miss
Lora E. Sleeper and three boys and
girls. The demonstration represent
ed two families; one the Manners
family, who did everything as they
should, and the other the "Uoup"
family, who did everything wrong
Certificates for the year's work,
prizes for exhibits and club awards
were given out. Farm Life won rec
ognition as the outstanding club in
1B38. Bear Grass club, for the second
time in succession, won the 4-H club
gavel for having the highest per
centage representation at the meet
ing The gavel became the property
of the club.
Prizes for exhibits went to the fol
lowing: Record books, girls," Mary
Emily Manning and Lola Smith
wick; Boys, Joseph Carlyle Manning
and Joe King Powell; canning, Oliva
Rogerson, Nora and Frances Moore;
dresses, Pearl Williams, Lola Smith
wick; corn, white, Lacy Ward; yel
low, Abner Simpson, Jesse Curtis.
First year certificates were issued
to the following girls: Audrey Har
dison, Gladys Mizelle, Dorothy Dare
Roberson, Lois Everett, Vera Pearl
William, Idalia Lee Oglesby, Mary
Lee Gurganus, Catherine Weathers
by, Annie Louise Davis, Johnnie
Harris,?Nona Moore, - Ethel Mae
Smith, Esther House, Mercedes
Ange. Susie Revels. Frances Brown.
Annie Waters Chesson, Grace Brew
(Continued on page six)
Two Hurt In C ar
Wrecks In County
Two people were hurt, neither
very badly, and considerable dam
age was done to property in this
county last week-end when cars
crashed on Highway 84, near the
Martin-Pitt boundary line, and on
the McGaskey Road, near William
ston.
Roosevelt Powell, colored, of Beth
el, was painfully cut on the fore
head and his wife was slightly hurt
Saturday night about nine o'clock
when he drove an old model car
onto the highway near Parmele, and
into the path of a car driven by
Jesse Taylor, white man of Stokes.
The Powell car was without lights,
and was not seen by Taylor in time
to avoid the crash. Powell was
thrown out and fell under the car as
the Taylor machine bounced it along
the highway. Much difficulty was
experienced in clearing the road.
In Mayor John L. Hasscll's justice
court Monday morning, Powell was
fined $10 and taxed with the cost for
operating a car at night with im
proper lights. It was unofficially
reported that Taylor was investigat
ing the possibility of a civil action
in an effort to recover damages re
sulting to his car, a 1938 Ford.
Meeting on a narrow and sandy
road, two cars, one driven by A. S.
Roberson and the other by Willie
Hoggard, crashed on the McGaskey
Road near Williamston early Sun
day evening. The machines were
damaged, but no one was hurt. Hog
gard, driving a car belonging to J.
S W hil mkti was i arritkl into IK*?
?? w 1111 ii its 11, wan i si i mi titter tfltr
courts and fined $10 and taxed with
the cost for operating a motor ve
hicle without a driver's license.
TAX SALES
1
Approximately GOO pieces of
real estate were placed on the
auction block at a sheriff's tax
sale in front of the county court
house Monday, but the event at
tracted few bidders and the
county completed the auction
with Its shoulders burdened
with tax sale certificates. Six
private bids were received for
property in Jamrsville, Williams,
Griffins, Gross Roads and Hear
Grass Townships.
Bearing interest at right per
cent the first year and six per
cent the second, the tax rerttfi
rates are subject to foreclosure
proceedings at and after the
expiration of twenty-four
months.
Valentine Addresses]
Loyal Democrats In;
Rally Here Friday
I ;? ? ?? . ? I
l"Does Not Feel Absentee
Ballot Is Right,"
Speaker Says
Making the only scheduled poli
Ucal gddresn in the county this scn^
son in behalf of the entire democra- j
tic ticket, Attorney Itimous T. Val
entine, of Nashville, dubbed the He
publican clan as the "Yo-Yo Party,"
and paid his respect to the absentee
ballot that is apparently so deeply
rooted in the Democratic sleight-of
hand book.
Mr. Valentine, defeated . in the]
June primary for the second judicial |
judgeship, j
in the county courthouse his grate
ful appreciation for the support and
friendship accorded him by the peo
nf Martin f\?intv^-4U
-tnunnei
I and his earnest appeal for support]
i of successful candidates in the No
jvember 8 election, clearly indicat
ed that while his name does not ap- j
pear on the ticket, he is not yet de
feated. "I am glad to be in Martin
County to boost those principles that
give opportunities to every man," he
said in explaining that it wa.s not
necessary to bury any hatchet for
he had never carried a hatchet in
the primary. "The task now is to
take the lighted torch and help ad
vance the philosophy of democracy,
a democracy that offers opportun
ity and security."
Touching the highly explosive sub
jfefct of kbtUMUee voting;-Mi?Valrn
tine offered no apology for the rec
ord, but said, "I do not believe the
absentee ballot is right, and I have
no appetite for it," he said, adding j
that "we must reform that within
the Democratic party."
Briefly, the speaker outlined the
record of the Democratic party, say
ing that the piesent administration
alone had done more for the average
man that all the Republican admin
titrations put together had done
"The Republican party was afraid
to do anything for fear it would not
meet the approval of those who paid
tribute to the party treasury. We do
not have to defend the record of the
Democratic party in State or Nation
I have found nothing wrong in the
present administration All the pol
icies may not meet with one's ap
proval, but I am proud of the fact
that the party has and continues to
acftrance constructive things, and as
long as the President tries to do
something, I am with him," the
speaker declared.
"If President Roosevelt had done
(Continued on page six)
? .
Local Boy Members 01
Wake Forest Band
9
Wake Forest, Nov. 8.?Edgar Gur
ganus, of Williamston, has been se
lected as a member of the Wake
Forest College band, according to
a report released today by Professor
Lyman Seymour, head of the mu
sic department. He is one of the 42
select musicians chosen to represent
the college in band performances
this year. , , .
Activities in the band include
performances at all of the home
football games as well as several
tours which will be made in the
spring. A new form of musical en
tertainment is being planned for the
band at present, in whteh the mu
sicians will appear In a number of
local and out-of-town attractions,
giving concerts of light opera.
Delegations Point
Out Bad Condition
01 Roads in County
???
Petition Asks Completion
Of Highway 11 Into
Oak City *
Meeting in tegular session here
yesterday, the Martin County Board
Of Commissioner^ rocyjvpH fir?t
hand information about the bad con
dition of roads in every section of
the county, the authorities stirred
to action, assuring the several del
egations that they would make im
mediate plans to go before the high
way officials and present the find
ings in the hope that something
might be done to remedy the prob
now facing those who have to
travel the secondary routes.
The delegations coming from
Jamesville, Hassell, Hamilton and
Cross Roads and numbering twen
ty or more leading citizens, told
some startling facts, facts that pos
sibly the district engineers learned
in a first-hand survey made about
three weeks ago. "We are traveling
on potato ridges in the outlying sec
tions of the county," the commis
sioners were told Bushes and small
places and cars are scratched by ex
tending limbs and branches, mem
bers of the board were told. It is im
possible for two cars to pass on
many of the roads in numerous
places.
Then the delegations indirectly
alleged that the secondary roads in
this county are not receiving the at
tention they get 111 other counties.
"Drive in from most any of the
neighboring counties and you?can
tell when you reach Martin by the
narrow and ill-kept roads," a dele
gation from the upper part of the
"We want to learn the reason for
the condition of the roads in this
county," the delegations said, adding
that they wanted the commissioners
to see if those conditions could be
remedied.
The meeting of the authorities
turned out to be more of a road con
vention than one for tin- handling of
strictly county affairs. The delega
tions, however, were heard with in
terest, and plans are now underway
to approach the highway commis
sion with the problem. Supported
by long lists of signatures, petitions
were placed before* the authorities
urging them to recommend state
maintenance of a road in Jamesville *
Township, running from Leo Gard
ner's to Luther Hardison's farm, and
one in Cross Roads Township from
Henry I) Peel's to Leggett*S Mill via
R L Whitehurst
A petition, carrying the names of
J C. Ross, J. H Ayers and J. F.
Crisp, urged the board to recom
mend the extension and paving of
Highway No. 11 from a point near
Hassell into Oak City, a distance of
about 4 miles. The petition explain
ed that the project, running virtual
ly a straight course to connect with
Highway 125 at Oak City, had al
ready been approved by federal en
gineers and that no other route
would get their approval. It was al
so pointed out in the petition that
the federal government would pay
one-half the cost. The Bethel-Oak
City project was halted some time
ago when citizens in the Hassell
community asked that the present
route be paved The new route does
not include the town of Hassell.
J. A Suggs was relieved of taxes
on $500 worth of property improp
erly listed in Williamston Township.
H M. Peel entered his application
for an appointment as Hamilton
Township constable, the board de
laying action in the matter.
Firemen Called To
Rural Home Monday
Starting from a defective flue, fire
slightly damaged a tenant home on
the D. M. Roberson farm, two miles
west of here on Highway 64 at 12:30
yesterday afternoon. Local firemen
were called there, but the fire was
under control upon their arrival.
Pitt man And Clayton
Purchase Pressing Club
Messrs. C. D. Pittman and D. V.
Clayton have purchased the clean
inn an/1 nrnnninti L., *|nnfla n t Pau
trtg axiu uiuuicw n wj
Lamm. Mr. Pittman will be the ac
tive manager of the business with
in two or thrae weeks.