North Carolina Newspapers

Watch the Label on Your 1 Paper, As It Carries the Date II Your Subscription Expires. II 1 [?HE ENTERPRISE Advertisers Will Find Our Col umns a Latchkey to over 1,000 Homes ot Martin County. VOLUME XLII?NUMBER 85 Williamson, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, October 24. 1939. ESTABLISHED 1899 Alleged V iolator of Slot Machine Laws Fined $500.00 Here I.. B. McCormick Appeals and Posts Bond in Sum Of $1,000.00 County Recorder's Court here yester day dug down deep into the slot ma chine law and adjudged L. B. McCor mick, distributor of various pin and amusement machines, of Greenville, guilty of violating those laws. At the conclusion of a trial lasting nearly three hours, the judge fined the de fendant $500. the costs to be added. McCormick, through his attorneys. Worthington and Horton, appealed to the superior court. Judge Peel re quiring bond in the sum of $1,000. which was immediately posted. McCormick offered a strong de-1 fense when he maintained that he did not own the machines, that he did not know to whom the machines belonged. The defendant went on to say that his agent, a man named Martin, was given four "race horse" machines to locate in Martin Coun ty, that the machines had been "rob bed" of their gambling features and were strictly amusement gadgets Martin, according to the defense, stored the four machines in Ran dolph's garage in Greenville and without the knowledge of his em ployer substituted four machines that were unquestionably illegal. McCor mick stated that he did not know the illegal machines were being operat ed in this county until warrants were served on him some time during last August by the Pitt County sheriff at the direction of Sheriff C B Roe buck. After being delayed week alter week, the ease finally came before the court yesterday for trial. The de fense, bringing his master mechanics and several other employees, carried his four machines before the judge's bench, and the State carted the oth er four machines that were confis cated last August. Mechanic Jasper told how he had removed the gam bling features from his company's machines at the direction of Mr Mc- j Cormick and added that he aided j McCormick's agent, in loading them j for delivery to locations 111 this county- The defense further main I tamed that it knew nothing about the machines being switched until a letter was received from Martin who | apparently quit the company and , disappeared. "I went to New York looking for Martin, but could not find him," McCormick said. While it is possible the machines j confiscated in ths county do not be long to the McCormck Vending Ma chine Company, the State, through its special prosecuting attorney, El bert Peel, maintained that McCor mick was responsible for the acts of -his agent, the prosecution having es tablished agency in the early period of the trial. During the course of the trial, Mc Cormick said from the stand that he did not locate illegal machines es pecially not in Martin County. The prosecution maintains that a machine that can be easily converted into a gambling device is illegal, and it was quite evident that the slot ma chine traffic experienced tough sled ding in its first real test before the courts in this county. Leaf Production Up To Estimates The tremenduus increase predict ed some time ago in tobacco produc tion w maintained in the Oeiober re port just released by the United States Department of Agriculture. The total estimate of production of 1,654,174.000 pounds for all types of tobacco combined as of October 1 is virtually unchanged from a month ago, it was pointed out in the report. It is conservatively estimated that the crop, as a whole, is 22 per cent greater than the average production of 1,360,400,000 pounds for the 10 year period, 1928-37 It is pointed out in the report that the greatest percentage increase in production is in the Eastern Carolina belt where the estimates point to more than a 100 million-pound in crease. It is predicted that the pro duction in this belt will approximate 358,680,000 pounds as compared with 251,980,000 pounds a year and 262. 540,000 pounds for the 10-year aver age. 1928-37. The acreage production this year is estimated at 980 pounds, nearly 200 pounds greater than the 1928-37 av erage, and 120 pounds higher than the unit yield last year. The production increase was fair ly consistent throughout the flue cured belt, and in only one or two sections of the country was theje a decrease and in those cases the de crease is negligible. C. A. Harriion Reported To Be Improving Today Mr. C. A. Harrison, after a week's stay in a Richmond hospital, was re potred some better there shortly be fore noon today. A communication received here at that time stated that he rested unusually well last night, that he was looking much better and was brighter. He is responding to treatment better than was expected, his many friends here are glad to learn. Farm Bureau Leaders Renew Drive for Thousand Members Their goal half reached, Martin County Farm Bureau leaders in a special meeting here last evening re newed their efforts to boost the rolls to 1,000 members by November 16. Offered concrete facts in connection with the good already accomplished and the urgent need for a stronger farm organization, the small group left the meeting more determined than ever to reach the membership gnat. The captains of the membership teams. Messrs. Charles Daniel and J. R. Winslow, briefly addressed the meeting and pledged their every ef fort for the successful completion of the drive. "Labor has organized its ranks, and tomorrow wages for the industrial worker are being ad vanced and the hours shortened." Mr. Charles Daniel said, pointing out that the farmers must effect simi lar organization plans and push for ward. J. T. Cooper, field representa tive of the organization, pointed out that there was a greater need for a strong farmer organization than ever before, that while prices may rise as a result of the war it is likely that in dustrial prices will run well ahead of farm commodity prices. "We must be prepared to keep farm commodity why prices for some articles should advance and leave farm commodity prices to trail along," Cooper added. Speaking briefly, Farm Bureau President J. E. Winslow stated that the President of the United States Tobacco Association stated this week that had it not been for the govern ment's entering the markets, tobacco farmers would have received fifty or sixty million dollars less this year for their crop than they would have re ceived without the program. Mr. Winslow went on to explain other benefits received by the fanner through the organization, including a stabilized peanut market and the protection of the farmer in the legis lative halis of state and nation. Conference Reaffirms Opposition to Liquor -?? S OUT OF 500 v*. Starting work on an addition to the huge plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company in the lower part of this county, Con tractor Muirhead received appli cations for jobs from nearly 500 men. The large number of appli cants, coming from a wide terri tory. waited at the plant from early morning until selections had been made. Only five of the group were given immediate em ployment, representatives of the contractors explaining that ap proximately 300 workers would he needed when the building ac tivities reached a peak within the next few weeks. Mrs. W. L Poteat Dies Last Saturday Mrs Emma Purefoy Poteat, wife of the late President Emeritus, of Wake Forest College, Dr. W. L. Po teat. died suddenly at her home in I Wake Forest last Saturday afternoon. I Mrs. Poteat, who celebrated her] eightieth birthday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Wheeler Martin, here week before last, left for her j home Saturday morning about 10] o'clock Shortly after reaching her home she explained that she did not feel well, that she wanted to lie down and rest A short time later her con dition was considered critical and hardly before medical attention could reach her, she passed away, the end coming peaceably and as she would have it come. Following the death of her hus band just a few years ago, Mrs. Po teat spent much of her time here with Mr. and Mrs. Martin and had many friends here. Funeral services were conducted in the Wake Forest Baptist church Sunday afternoon at four o'clock and interment was in the Wake Forest cemetery The funeral services were conduct ed by Dr. J A. Easley, former pas tor, and Dr. Everett Gill, present i pastor. In speaking of Mrs. Poteat, Dr Easley said "It has been said that nothing so shows what we are as that to which we give our love. By this standard, Mrs. Poteat has shown the true nobility of her spirit, fori she chose well the objects of her af fection." "She loved beauty?beauty in face i and form, in art and nature," he con tinued. "She loved her church and all that\it stood for. Her love for Dr. Poteat was as beautifu las was his love for her. And to love him was to love one of God's noblest spirits. It is a joy to think of their lives reun ited in the presence of Christ whom they loved and served and whose they were." Mrs. Poteat was the former Miss Emma James Pureioy and was S~ life-long resident of Wake Forest. Besides her daughter here, she is survived by one son, Dr. Hubert M. Poteat, of Wake Forest, and a daugh ter, Mrs. Helen Poteat Stallings, of New York. Win Wiren To Addreg* I'arpnli-Tearhert Today An illustrated lecture on eye health by Miss Phyllis Owen, representative of the Virginia Electric and Power Company, will feature the program at a regular meeting of the local par ents-teachers association in the high school auditorium this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Miss Owen has appeared before several parent-teacher groups in this county and her talks have been val uable. Miss Owen will, within the near future, maintain her headquarters here with the Virginia Electric and Power Company. Pentecostal Holiness Church Closes 2()th Conference Monday >1 ore liian .'{(Ml Miui?teriul \ml 1.11 y Delegates Prenent For Conference ? Concluding the 29th annual ses- I sion of the North Carolina Pentecos tal Holiness church here late yester- i day afternoon, the ministerial and I lay delegates, numbering more than | 300, adopted resolutions re-gffirming opposition to the liquor traffic and declaring intentions to support those public offocials who stand for pro motion of temperance and sobriety. The conference voiced a strong oppo sition to the growing tendency to commercialize the Sabbath. The conference, opening here last I Friday, attracted prominent leaders of the church from several Southern States and the large number of del egates and visitors from over a wide territory evidence a growing church. The session, welcomed here by peo pie of all denominations, "measured up to our fondest expectations," a I leader in the host church said this morning The Rev Jerome Hodges, of Golds boro, for sixteen years the able sup erintendent of the North Carolina I Pentecostal Holiness convention, was re-elected for another term yesterday when the business of the session was resumed following a schedule of de votional and educational program the day before. Rev. S. A. Fann, of Ro anoke Rapids, assistant superinten dent; the Rev. C. B. Strickland, of .Falcon, treasurer, and Rev. A. H. Butler, of Goldsboro, Falcon, execu tive board member, were re-elected to their respective posts. The Rev. Odell T Howard, of Tarboro, was elected secretary of the convention for ins first term. The conference al so confirmed the nomination o\ Jas W. Butler, of Goldsboro, as director of young people's activities. Young Butler has been active in this depart mental work for ten years, he having ably served (tie church in that capa city during that time. Rev. W. B Godwin, of Wade, was re-elected di rector of Sunday schools. Young peo ple's officers named were, H. D. Marshburn, of Abbottsburg, vice president; Mrs. Thera A. Thornton, of Falcon, secretary; Miss Ruth Johnson, of Kinston, assistant secre tary, and Rev. L. E. Peyton, of Cho cowinity, and Rev. Odell T. Howard, of Tarboro, board members. Last official act of the conference was adoption of the report on minis (Continued on page tlx) Candidates Crowd Field For Governor Announcing his intention to seek the gubernatorial nomination in this State, Lee Gravely, Rocky Mount man, adds interest to the race for the highest office in North Carolina. The field is already crowded with candidates, but it is apparent there is always room for one more. Apparently realizing a long and bitter campaign will air out at least a few of the Democratic party's shortcomings in the State and at the request of the big political wigs, the seekers of the gubernatorial nomi nation have not officially announc ed their candidacies. It is very like ly, however, that W. P. Horton, lieu tenant-governor of Chatham County; J. M. Broughton, A. J. Maxwell and Willis Smith, all of Raleigh, and Tom Cooper, of Wilmington, have their eyes focused on the nomination in addition to the Rocky Mount man. Mention of Gravely's intentions for entering the race attracted little at tention in this immediate section. Change In Wage I^aw D C Having No Apparent Effect On Business More Prople Kn.iploy t-<l I-oral ly Today Than Tin ^ ere lii^t Week No slackening m activities was< apparent on the industrial front in this section today as a new change in the wage and hour law went into effect. Factory payrolls, fairly well "crowded last week, have-Been in- f creased along with an upward revi sion in pay rates and a slight reduc tion in hours. It is also apparent that the princi- j pies underlying the wage and hour law are not creating as much disturb ance as they did a year ago when they were first applied on a more limited scale. As far as it could W learned no dismissals have been or dered by the captains of industry and the operations under the changed law are being advanced smoothly. The Columbian Peanut Company added quite a number of workers to its payroll at the local plant this' week. The renewed activities there were accompanied by firm prices to I farmers, the quotations standing at three and one-half cents for good bunch and three and three-quarters for best jumbos Employment is now approaching the highest peak in two or more years locally with the tobacco indus try using more workers than in sev eral seasons. Under the new change in tin- wage and hour law, hourly pay rates are advanced from 25 to 30 cents as a minimum with maximum hours re duced from 44 to 42 on a regular ba sis. Ro|>orts from near-by towns where industrial activities are more num erous than they are here, state that the wage scale increase had been ap plied to higher?brackets. Workers! not legally affected under the change in the law have had their hour wage rates increased in proportion to the increase applicable as a minimum standard. Several Are Hart In Accident JNear Here Lite Friday ? ^ Dalliih Taylor Lravm Il<>-|>ilal After l{eeei\iiip: Treat iiient for Injnriex Three persons were painfully hut j noni* was seriously hurt in an auto mobile crash between here and I Sweet Water Creek near midnight j last Friday, but the two cars were wrecked almost beyond repair. Dallas Taylor, passenger in one of the cars, was entered in the Brown Community hospital for treatment, following the accident, hut was re leased the following morning. He suffered lacerations about the face and was badly bruised when he was thrown through the windshield of [ the car in which he was riding Mayo Matthews, driver of one of the cars, was dangerously cut near one of his (?yes, and Arthur Nixon, a passenger in the second car, was painfully cut on the face Fred Cherry, Wesley Hardison, Vernon Bryant, Miss Kli/ abeth Williams and a young man named James, other passengers in I the two cars, were not -hurt- m the j wreck. Driving toward Williamston, Fred Cherry, accompanied by Arthur Nix on and Wesley Hardison, all of'Wil hams Township, abandoned his car when it broke down. Borrowing his brother's car, a 1934 model Ford, he started back to his own automobile and the Ford broke down and stall ed in the highway jus\ before he reached the spot where the first car was parked. Matthews and his par ty were traveling toward Williams ton and crashed head-on into the stalled car, Matthews explaining thai the lights of a third car blinded him and that he did not see the Ford in time to stop. It was estimated that the Ford driven by Cherry was damaged to the extent of $200 or more, and that the repair bill to the Model A Ford driven by Matthews will amount to around $150. No indictments were drawn as a result of the accident, reports stat ing that the parties hud agreed to set tie it out of court. Director? Farmern Mutual Company In Mectinfi llerc Meeting in special session here this morning, the board of directors of the Martin County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Association effected arrangements for handling cover age on farm properties against which the Federal Land Bank of Columbia holds claims. There has been some misunderstanding as to the policies of the two companies, but the details have been straightened out and the county company is now in position to handle this type of business, Jas. L Coltrain, president of the associa tion, announced following the meet ing. The meeting was attended by Messrs. Coltrain, Sylvester Peel, W. B. Harrington, W. M. Green, S. T. Everett, Joseph S. Griffin and Josh ua L. Coltrain. R. H. Nelson repre sented the Land Bank. Tobacco Prices Reach New High Point on Local Market As Best Sales of Season Are Recorded Preliminary Estimates Point To Reduction in Peanut Crop Preliminary reports, based on! early harvesting activities, point to a marked curtailment in the Martin | County peanut production figures I this season. These early reports com ing from five widely scattered com munities m the county place the av erage per acre production at slight ly less than twelve bags with the yield running as low as six and sev en bags per acre in some communi ties. "We picked 39 bags from six acres this week." Farmer J. R Winslow said last evening. "The first reports indicate that the average in our community will ap proximate 13 to 15 bags per acre. Farmer Gaston James, of Cross Roads, said. Farmer Van Taylor says that his first pickings will average around 14 bags. Rear Grass reports only a medium size crop is expected, according to Farmers Joe Griffin and W M Har rison. Picking operations have not gotten underway in CI tiffins, and in Hamilton and Goose Nest the farm ers are just starting the task All the reports heard thus far maintain that the quality of the crop us better than usual. Reports from the markets state that early deliveries brought from three and 'one-half to three and three-quarter cents for bunch and trom throe and three-fourths to four and one-quarter cents for jumbos The market report added. "Many-of the peanuts offered were not dry i when picked and are unfit for sale. Growers should be very careful not to pick their peanuts until they are] 'dry and well cured. We do not eon-! sider there has been any price estab lished as yet, as millers have bought] so far only to try to get enough to! j run milling tests, and the market is not based on what the millers can I get for cleaned and shelled pea I nuts " Hold First Committee Elections This Week Farmers Are Doing Hit 01 Politician In Several Sections \ll Farmers Are lliuihle To - - Vote mill Serve ? Commit Icemen 1 Martin County farmers will start setting up their machinery at district meetings for administering the 11140 soil conservation program, the office1 of the county farm agent announcing that all farmers who plan to par ticipate in the program next year arc eligible to vote and serve as commit .j tecmen subject to a majority vote of those participating in the elections. The elections are being held ac cording to the following schedule at 7:30 o'clock p. m. with representa tives of the agent's office in charge Tuesday, October 24 Hear Grass with T H Brandon and W II. liar rison in charge, Hohersonvjlle with J IV Wood a rd and J It Wihslow in charge, Oak City with T B. Slade and Jesse Crisp in charge. Wednesday, October 25: Hassell, T B. Slade and .Jesse Crisp; Cross Hoads, J. IV Woodard and J K Wins low; Griffins, T B Brandon and W II Harrison Thursday, October 20 Jamcsville, J. IV Woodard and W II. Harrison; Williarnston, T B Slade and Jesse Crisp, a rut- Williams, T B. Brandon aiTd J ft. WiTttrtow The meetings getting unde rway this evening will elect a community chairman, a vice chairman, regular member, first alternate, second al -tomato and a delegate and alternate to the county: coijcunitteo meeting to be held later. On the same ballot is a certificate which the farmer will sign if he wishes to participate in the election. Tin- certificate is binding in no way, and merely expresses the wish of the farmer. The certificate reads as fol lows: "I hereby certify that I have an in terest in a farm as a landowner, ten ant, or sharecropper, in the commun ity for which this election is held, and during the current year, to the (Continued on page six) ? Missionary Rally Is Well Attended Here The Plymouth zone rally of the Elizabeth City District Women's Mis sionary society in the Methodist | church here today is being well at tended, reports from the meeting state. I The visitors were welcomed by j Mrs. Clyde Manning, Mrs. Lee Har dison, of the Holly Springs church, ! responding. The meeting immediate | ly entered upon its business calen ; dar with Mrs. DeLaney, district sec | retary, of Hertford; Mrs. Garrett, of Columbia; Mrs..Gertie Matthews, of j New Bern; Mrs I. T. Smith, of Wind sor. and Mrs W C. Chadwick, of | New Bern, taking parts in the pro j gram. Following lunch which will he served at the parsonage, the confer ence will hear a missionary address. The entertainment program this morning was featured by a solo by Mrs. John Wier, accompanied by Mrs. W. C. Manning. II\KI> \\ IM I lt With summer-time tempera tures prevailing during the past several days, local weather dope sters are about to discredit the early signs that ordinarily (mint to a "hard" winter. The mer cury has ranged up to points well in the nineties, hut the old? time prophets still maintain there'll be plenty of cold weather felt in these parts ere long. No killing frosts have been rejmrted here thus far, but one can be expected before another week is spent. "There'll be several snows this winter," allows Farmer John Cherry, who points out that for every fog in August there'll be a snow this winter. Plan Aid For War Stricken Refugees Receiving an ' urgent appeal this week in behalf of the hundreds of thousands of helpless people who have been driven from their homes by war and ruthless dictators, local religious and civic leaders in a meet ing last evening mapped preliminary plans for directing an organized drive for funds in tins section. Frank J Margolis was named chairman of the drive, and lie will have as his assistants the various ministers and civic leaders in the community In launching the drive for aid, the committee humbly seeks the cooperation of every man, wo man and child "I hesitated to accept the chair-1 manship of the drive for several rea sons-, hut upon receipt of appealing literature and urgent requests from national relief headquarters in New York for us to participate in the movement to relieve suffering hu manity, I gladly accepted the task," Mi Margolis said in asking the co operation of the people here I Reports from other centers in this section of the state maintain that Rocky Mount has already raised $3, 000, that other towns are raising their quotas quickly and without much trouble A word picture of the suffering humanity in Europe and China is offered in a little leaflet just receiv ed here. It reads Hopelessness in Hungary, sorrow in Czechoslovakia, persecution in Germany, hunger in i Roumama,?tragedy?m?Poland?and so on in the other areas where war | has laid waste even the hare nec&si ties of life. Hamilton Farmer I'rotluces Record-Size Street Potato Undisputable evidence offered t>y Farmer Robert I, Grimes, of hear Hamilton, points to a record sweet potato crop in that section tins fall Digging his crop last week, Farmer Grimes stated that his production will average slightly in excess of 30o bushels per acre. Some of his pota toes look more like pumpkins on ac count of their unusual size. Placing one on display here last Saturday evening, a single potato grown by the farmer weighed eight pounds af ter it had been in the sun two or three days. The potato, possessing a fairly round shape, measured al most 25 inches in circumference. A second potato taken from the same vine weighed about five pounds and a third one was of normal size. In<li\idual Averages Near ^ar-Time Peak Oil Market Monday Salt's \rr Well (Krr Si'\cn Million roiimls tor tin* SeaHMi To l>ul?' Tobacco prices, after holding to around the .15-ld-cont level smcethe i? opening of the markets on the 10th of this month skyrocketed here yes terday when well over 300,000 pounds of the golden leaf were sold for an official average of $19.03. "It was by far the best sale of the sea son, and while the general average does not compare with those in past years it is very -encouraging to far mers under present conditions," Sales Supervisor K l'? Crawford said this morning There was a marked "pick-up" in the general feeling surrounding the market, and farmer after farmer willingly stated they received far more than they expected The price average today will hardly reach the high figure recorded yesterday, but the price trend is holding firm, far liters themselves pointing out that the quality of the offerings is not up to average and considerably inferior to that seen on the floors yesterday Individual averages yesterday ap proximated war-time prices, tin* in dividual sales reaching the 43-cent mark with averages for sizable lots E xceeding 35 cents. Averages, be i twccn 28 and 35 cents were numer ous and quite a number of Individ ual piles sold around the 40-cent fig ure. The upward puce trend was quite noticeable for the better types of to bocco. The Export and Reynolds coitiapnies were in the thick i?f the buying yeviterd.iy with then-?priet limits well advanced over anything seen so far this season Spirited bid ding was noticeable on the part of all buyers The condition of the t/obacco offer r ed for sale yesterday was improved, market observers explain and that is believed to have had a marked ef fect m boosting the gcqeral market average. "It is a great relief to buy on a sale. like we tiad today when the tobacco is m good condition and there isn't a world of common'quality leaf to look at," one of the company rep resentatives was quoted as saying yesterday While it i.v possible for the local market to work out of a block that has been in evidence since the re opening of the markets two weeks ago today, thure is some doubt if all the floors w ill be cleared .by late Friday a deliveries continue almost without interruption night or day. At noon today, approximately one half million pounds were on the floors awaiting the attention of the buyers Anticipating a slackening of deliv eries next week the buying com pan* les have decided to maint.nn the six-? hour, sc.] 11ng day. There, .was some talk about the possibility of reduc ing the daily selling period from six to five hour.-,, tint apparently that plan tuis been abandoned A. hurried survey of the sales shortly before noon today indicated that prices were holding firm, the several farmers questioned stating that they received higher prices than they had anticipated All s Fairly Quiet (hi \\ estern Front Quietness reigns on the Western Front as the scene of activities again shifts to the diplomatic front in the Kuropean war today. Flood waters along the front have reduced activi ties to a minimum, the commentators now maintaining that it will be im possible for Germany to successful - Iv launch an attack on the Maginot line this fall. Tension increased in the Balkan areas, reports stating that Turkey, signing a mutual pact with the Al lies, was quietly mobilizing its forces to full-time war strength. Representatives of Finland are re turning home today after an all-night conference with the Stalin govern ment m Moscow It is believed that Russia's demands have been lessen ed. Attention centered today on Amer ican neutrality after Germany seiz ed the United States ship, "City of Flint" yesterday and carried it to a Russian port with Germans in actual charge of operation. The advocates of a revised neutrality bill cited the seizure as a step toward war, that it would not have happened had the neutrality act been amended. The isolationists in Congress agreed to limit further debate on the measure of revision and it is expected that a vote on the neutrality act will come during the latter part of this week.