Advertisers Will Find Our Col umns a Latchkey to over 1,600 Homes of lfartin County. THE ENTERPRISE Watch the Label on Your Paper, As It Carries the Date Your Subscription E x p 1 r e a VOLUME XLII?NUMBER 31 Williarnston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday. April 18. 1939. ESTABLISHED 1899 Whiskey Business Meets Opposition During Past Week Local and County Officers Deliver Telling Blows Against Traffic Local and county officers dealt the illicit liquor business a severe blow last week when they rounded up eight stills and interrupted what was described as a wholesale distri bution center. No arrests were ef fected, but at least one warrant is pending and investigations are un derway in other cases, it was relia bly learned. Local officers J. H. Allsbrooks and John Gurganus centered their at tention on the Plymouth Branch of the Coast Line railroad Saturday af ternoon and confiscated thirty pints of white liquor, six 10-gallon kegs and three 5-gallon capacity tin cans. The liquor, bottled and apparently ready to enter retail channels, was found under some old tin where a home burned several months ago. The ownership of the liquor was al legedly vested in Oscar Hag in, but Hagln, learning about the raid, did not stay around long enough to de since the raid. The man, charged with violating the liquor laws on several occasions, is now at .liberty under a two-year suspended road sentence. Following up the Saturday after noon raid, Officers John Roebuck and E. Ramie captured a liquor car and two gallons of liquor in the same neighborhood the following morning about 4:30 o'clock. The dri ver made his escape, and later in the day the owner reported the car stol en. The machine, a 1935 Ford coupe, was returned to the owner yester day. Completing a busy week in their enforcement activities, County offi cers, headed by J. H. Roebuck wrecked two liquor stills in Cross Roads Township Saturday afternoon bringing the total for the week up to eight plants. The Cross Roads plant included a 100-gallon copper and a 35-gallon capacity kettle. The plant had been in operation up un tll a short time before the officers reached it. No beer and no liquor could be found. Starting off on Monday of last week, the county officers wrecked two liquor plants and poured out 700 gallons of beer and ten gallons of liquor in the Free Union section of Jamesville Township. On Tues day they wrecked a plant in the upper end of Robersonville Town ship and poured out about 300 gal lons of beer. Returning to the Bear Grass hunting ground, the officers wrecked three plants and poured out more than 3,000 gallons of beer along the Beaufort boundary. So far this month, the officers have found and wrecked nine li quor plants. Experienced Men For Commissioners Apparently satisfied with the ad ministration of their town govern ment, local citizens believe in hav ing experienced men handle their political affairs. The members of the present board of commissioners have collectively served a total of 57 years. The in dividual records are as follows: G H. Harrison, 20 years; L. P. Lands ley, twelve years; N. C. Green, 10 years; Luther M. Peel, eight years, and V. O. Godwin, seven years. Mr. Godwin was appointed in 1932 to fill the position made vacant by Commissioner E. S. McCabe, his el ection following in order since that time. Serving one term in 1923-25, May or J. L. Hassell came back ten years later to head the town government and will start his fourth consecutive term next June 1. Two Men Wanted Here For Brutal Assault A warrant, charging them with an assault with deadly weapons, was issued here yesterday for Johnnie Slade and Eli Evans, colored. The two men are said to have rocked and nearly cut to death Willie James Johnson on Sycamore Street last Sunday morning following a row starting over a crap game. Johnson with a 14-stitch gash in his neck and bad bruises on his leg, told officers that he was "shooting crap" with the two men, that he had eight points to pulL "I pulled them and when I reached for the money, they jumped on me and nearly kill ed me," Johnson said. Evans wield ed the knife and Slade did the rock ing, according to Johnson's version of the brutal attack. Girls and Boys to "Sell" State at the Worlds Fair Selected from several hundred applicants, ten of North Carolina's fairest young ladies and young men who will "sell" North Carolina to visitors at the New York World's Fair are now making an education al tour of the State, seeking inter esting bits of information pertaining to the historical, economic and social progress in the great common wealth. The group, including one or two from the nearby county of Nash, will visit here with their di rector tomorrow for a brief period. Mayor John L. Hassell, rooked by a group of good-looking teachers from New Jersey last Tuesday, is slick ing his hair back and getting ready to do some more entertaining to morrow. While he is inclined to be liove that the New Jersey tenrhers constitute another "Lost Colony," he is certain his home folks will not rook him and he has made' extensive research to dig up all the (me his torical points and outline the great natural resources of Williamston and Martin County for the group who will represent the State at the fair on or soon after May 1. The young people are preparing themselves to answer a "million" questions which fair visitors are certain to ask of them about North Carolina and its subdivisions. As "Ambassadors of Friendliness" these young girls and boys will co operate in the plan of North Caro lina to bring more vacationists to the State each year. They will be stationed possibly in the State's ex hihit booth at the fair Child Is Killed In Car Accident At Everetts1 r MARRIAGE I - *? The first marriage license is sued in this county under the new law went to John Rogers and Mary Lee Beach, colored couple, last Saturday. The cou pl( presented proper certificates and evidence upon which the li cense was issued, it was learn ed. The marriage license business has dwindled to a low point fol lowing the passage of laws by the last legislature requiring the applicants to show a "clean" bill of health. Several couples are said to have gone from this county to out-of-state points to marry, but certificates required in those cases have not been fil ed. Persons marrying outside the State must file certain health certificates within sixty days after returning to the State. Last Kites Held Saturday For Car Accident Victim Large Crowd Present For Funeral of John W. Cherry, Jr. Last rites for John W. Cherry, Jr., Evcretts youth who lost his life in an automobile accident there last Friday afternoon, were held in the Baptist church there Saturday af ternoon at 3 o'clock by Rev. E. C. Shoe, of the Robersonvilie Baptist church, and Rev. James H. Smith, pastor of the Williamston Memorial Baptist church. Interment was in the Everetts Cemetery. His life snuffed out while count ing his marbles on the main street in Everetts last Friday afternoon, the little accident victim was well liked and held the respect of old and young. His death came as a great shock to the family, to his little playmates and the people of the community as a whole. The services were largely attended, and the flor al offering was large. Besides his parents, the child is survived by nine brothers and sis ters, David John Cherry, member of the Williamston baseball pitch ing staff. Mrs. Roscoe Gay lord, of Plymouth; Mrs. Dewey Hathaway, of Bethel, Mrs. James Johnson, of Robersonvilie; William Nathan Cherry, Eleanor Gray Cherry, Ru by Cherry, Mary Alice Cherry and Mack Cherry, all of Everetts. ? Announce Speakers At Everetts Commencement On Sunday, April 23. at 11 o'clock Rev. C. B. Harris, of Atlantic, will deliver the bacculaureate sermon to the seventh grade graduating class in the school auditorium at Everetts. The graduation exercises will be held on Wednesday, April 26, at 10 a. m. The address will be deliver ed by Ronald Hocutt of the Highway Safety Division, Raleigh. Library Book Club To Hold Meeting Tonight a The local library book club will hold a meeting in the legion hut this evening at 8 o'clock, the president, Mrs. J. C.? Cooke urging all members to be present and extending a cor dial invitation to others to join. The meeting will be held in connection with an interesting health picture to be shown by the Martin County Health department in the hut Driver Of Death Car is Exonerated By Coroner s Jury John W. Cherry, Jr., Has Head Crushed Against Light Pole The motor vehicle claimed its third life in the new year in this county last Friday afternoon at 5:25 o'clock when little six-year-old John W. Cherry, Jr., was crushed to death by the bumper of Frank Spruill's car against an electric light pole on Everetts' mam street. The little youngster, just six years, one month and eight days old, was killed in stantly. His head was badly crush ed but other parts of his body were untouched. The bumper and the body of the car were pushed in six or eight inches. The little fellow, next to the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Clicny, uf EvcretU., a few minutes before had purchased a small bag of marbles. Seeking a refuge of safety, the child sat down by the pole and was busily counting his marbles when his life was snuffed out. Spruill, a highly respected Plymouth citizen and traveling rep reserttative for a Norfolk firm, eiupe out of Ayers' store on the town's main street and entered his car. The driver looked in his rear-vision mir ror and seeing nothing "in his way started to back around and turn in to the highway. His car struck the pole, and J. S. Ayers, Jr., a wit ness, told Spruill, "You hit a pole." You better drive up and see if you damaged your ear " There-wore sev eral other witnesses, but none pf them knew?the?child?had?been caught between the car bumper and pole until Spruill drove forward a few feet. Going to the back of the car, Spruill and Ayers saw the life less body of the little fellow. Patrolman Hunt reached the scene, of the accident about that time, and he called Coroner S. R. Biggs who arranged an inquest for the follow ing morning at 10 o'clock. J. S. Ayers, Sr., C. R. Simpson, ?eorge Taylor, Jr., Neal James, Joe B. Bullock and A. L. Keel were em paneled to hear the evidence. Spriull almost completely unnerved, ap peared for the inquest. B. B. Biggs, J. S. Ayers, Jr., and William Bul lock testified before the jury. Ayers told how Spruill had left the store, entered his car and started to back around, that no one knew the child was near the car until the small lifeless body was found. The testi mony of the other witnesses cor roborated, almost in detail, the evi dence offered by young Ayers. Spruill, asking that he be allowed to make a statement, told virtually the same story. Grief-stricken, the man almost choked when he tried to tell his story of the tragedy. After hearing the evidence, the jury dismissed the case for more than thirty minutes before ruling the death accidental and exonerating Spruill. The case was discussed from every angle,'the jury finally reach ing its verdict with the understand ing that it was possible for the coun ty grand jury to reopen the case should that body consider such ac tion necessary. It was established at the inquest that the driver's rear-vision was not blocked by sample cases, that he looked back to see iI there was any thing in the way before he put his car ill motion. 4 111 with pneumonia at her home| in Farm Life, Mrs. George E. Rober son was reported better this morn- ] tag.r Local Boy Scouts Have Bi Although preparations are go ing forward for the production of another tobacco crop there continues a demand for leaf marketing cards, according to reports coming from the county agent's office. Farmers are ad vised against the sale of their cards at the small price of one-half cent per pound, but regardless of the ad vice and the small price offer ed, quite a few farmers are of fering the surplus poundage for sale. It has been suggested that the farmer will help the tobac co situation by destroying his cards which are being used for the marketing of cheap scrap to bacco. Outside interests are pur I chasing the cards, it was stated. A Lone (last! Heard By Superior Court In Special Session Court Working on $10,000 Damage Suit This Morning ? Convening a special term of the Martin County Superior court here yesterday, Judge Henry A. Grady, of New Bern, cleared a lone .case from the docket and brought the calendar up to date. This morning Uie. court turned its attention To" the $10,000 damage suit brought by J. K Pope, administrator, against Homer Glosson who is alleged to have been operating a truck that struck and fatally injured Isaiah Hardison, colored man, near I)ai last September. The case was con tinued until tomorrow when it was learned that several witnesses could not be here today. The lone case cleared front the docket yesterday centerd around a claim by Mrs. Christine K. Whitman of Parmele against the North Amer ican Accident Insurance Company. Mrs. Whitman claimed that she took out a policy with the defendant com pany and that she was incapacitated thereafter during a period of nine weeks She further claimed that she was entitled to recover $200 from I the insurance company. Apparently finding some irregularities in the application, Judge Grady answered the issues in the case in favor of the defense. Attorney Paul D. Ruber son, representing the plaintiff, gave notice of appeal to the State Su preme court. Taking a recess in the early after noon, the court resumed its work this morning when it started hear ing a case centering around the will of Gus CofTield, Tate of Roberson i ville. whose bloodkin are asking that the will be set aside. It is under stood that they claim Coffield gave hi* property to his friends and ig nored his relatives. Better Fishing Reported On Roanoke This Week Atter a lull during the past few day*, fishing activities are again at tracting much attention on the Ro anoke. Larger catches are being re ported at the fisheriea and at other points along the stream. for the first tune since the early part of the season, the catches are now large enough to supply the "battery" trade. Former Local Man ^ ins Damage Suit In Supreme Court ? ??? Suit Against R. G. .Harrison, acnool Chairman, Ruled Unfounded An account of the ruling of the Supreme Court in the $5 000 daman,, suit against K. G Harrison former Wilhamston citizen, will be 'cad with interest by his many fi lends here and throughout the county The account appearing a few days ago in the Henderson Dispatch follows: R u Harrison, Henderson bank er and chairman of tl.e Vance Coun <> Board of Education, vton a dec. s.o.1 in the State Supreme Court late -l^LAl^mgdav apnea I by dc. murrer fron7 a ruling by^d^TlT^ Hunt Parker Vance Superior laBt October in a $5.