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VOLUME XLIII?NUMBER 72
Williamtlon, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, September 6, 1940.
ESTABLISHED 1899
Prices Continue Upward on Williamston lobacco Market
Will Open River Fill
To Traffic Wednesday
?First Car Crosses
Fill Just Before
Noon Hour Today
Repair Work Will Be Contin
ued During the Next
Few Weeks
MAKE FUTURE PLANS
Old Fill Will Be Raised and
Widened, According to
Preliminary Plans
Traffic across the Roanoke River
fill at this point will be resumed
about Wednesday of next week, ac
cording to a tentative schedule an
nounced jointly today by Dewey
Hayman and Captain Jack Yount,
representatives of the highway com
mission A definite time for reopen
ing the causeway to traffic will be
fixed following an inspection of re
pairs next Monday by Divisional En
gineer Gardner, it was explained.
The causeway is now ready for
light traffic in accordance with a
previous announcement made by
Captain Yount, superintendent of the
project, but it was decided to con
tinue a full repair schedule until
about the middle of next week. "It
was decided to delay the opening of
the route to traffic because of the
certain congestion," Mr. Hayman ex
plained. "We could turn light traf
fic through now, but it would be a
bit dangerous and added repairs'
could be made only under great dif
ficulty," Mr. Hayman added.
It is possible that the route will be
opened about next Tuesday ,but it
is fairly certain that by Wednesday
all types of traffic can use the cause
way. The final date for opening the
road is dependent upon weather con
ditions.
According to Resident Engineer
Hayman, present plans call for pro
viding two-way traffic over all parts
of the fill with the exception of four
places where one-way bridges were
constructed.
This morning at 11:34 o'clock Res
ident Engineer Hayman drove his car
across the fill, the feat surprising
Store Operator Speller on the other
side of the river so much that he set
the highway man up to a cool drink.
Mr. Hayman's car was the first to
cross the fill since Mayor J. A.
Pritchett drove over on the mornipg
of August 20 when the water closed
the road right behind him. The first
truck seen on the Conine Creek
bridge, a lonely spot these past few
weeks, reached there at 8:05 this
morning. About two hours later the
east and west highway forces met,
nnrl thmnffh traffic was noon cstab
lished for the highway trucks and
cars.
Traffic over the repaired fill will
have to move with caution, espec
ially during the first week or more.
One-wgy lanes with the exception
of bridges will be widened and the
gaps filled to a level with the old
road as rapidly as possible. Until
this is done, traffic will necessarily
have to move slowly. Possibly rainy
weather will have some effect in de
laying travel over the route, but
highway heads are constantly run
ning road graders over the dirt fills,
and with the trucks continually
packing the clay the road is already
(Continued on paga six)
Funeral Thursday
For Mrs. Yarrell
Funeral services for Mrs. Jennie
Calhoun Yarrell who died in Lynch
burg, Va., last Tuesday morning,
were held at the Biggs Funeral
Home, here yesterday morning at
11 o'clock by Rev. S. J. Starnes,
Methodist minister, assisted by Rev.
L. C. Larkin, of Rocky Mount. Inter
ment was in the family cemetery on
the old Yarrell family plantation
near here.
Mrs. Yarrell, a native of Louis
iana, lived in this county many years
following her marriage to Samuel
Yarrell who died in 1914. She had
made her home with her daughter,
Mrs. W. P. Sweeney, the former Miss
Emma Belle Harris, in Greensboro
and Lynchburg during recent years.
Among those attending the last
rites from out of town were: Mr. and
Mrs. J. B. Harris, Mrs. F. A. Overby
and Mrs. Harvey Hathcock, of Ma
con, N. C.; Mr. Roy Magin, of Hamp
ton, Va.; Rev. and Mrs L. C. Lar
kin, of Rocky Mount; Mrs. Edison
Moore, of Farmville; Mrs. Harry
Barnhill, of Colerain; Mrs. Harry
Waldo, Mrs. Clayton House and Miss
Effie Waldo, of Hamilton; Misses Su
sie and Lizzie Whitaker, of En
field; Mrs. Jodie Barnhill, of Ever
etts; Mrs. Addle Edwards and Miss
. Louise Edwards, of High Point, and
Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney, of Lynch
burg
MEETING
Meeting In the high school
here tomorrow morning at It
o'clock, Martin Count; white
teachers will perfect a general
organisation of the group, Su
perintendent J. C. Manning an
onunced today.
Miss Ruth Everett, representa
tive of the North Carolina Edu
cational Association, will address
the meeting and aid the organ
isation work.
Mrs. George Harris
Dies At Home Of
Son Here Tuesday
Last Kilt's Conducted Al 4
O'Clock Wednesday
Afternoon
???
Mrs. Mollie Williams Harris, wife
of George Harris, died at the home
of her son. George Harris, Jr., on
East Main Street here Tuesday af
ternoon at 4 50 o'clock following a
long period of declining health. Mrs.
Harris, 72 years old, suffered a
stroke of paralysis about six months
ago, but prior to that time she had
been in feeble health, having fell
victim to pneumonia several times.
Her last illness was aggravated by
two disasters. Fire destroyed her
home earlier in the summer, and
the recent flood forced the family to
vacate the newly-built structure
which had been occupied only a few
weeks.
On Thursday of last week pneu
monia developed, and her condition
gradually became worse. She never
regained consciousness, the end com
ing peaceably.
Mrs. Harris was born in Williams
Township where she spent the early
part of her life. When a young girl
she joined the Methodist Church. In
1905 she was married to Mr. Har
ris and in 1912, the family moved to
Williamston to live.
Caring little for the modern ways
of life, Mrs. Harris enjoyed the peace
and quiet of her home. For a num
ber of years she operated a little
store which was connected to her
home, and there she proved in many
ways to be a friend to those who
passed her way. Walking humbly be
fore the Almighty and unpretentious
in her daily living. Mrs. Harris com
manded the respect of many in all
walks of life. She was slow to criti
cise her fellowman. and was always
ready to help anyone in need. She
devoted her life to her family, and
insisted that her own welfare be
made secondary to that of her loved
ones. In a simple but beautiful way
she found peace and contentment in
doing for outers.
She is survived by Mr. Harris and
one son, George Harris, Jr.
Funeral services were conducted
Wednesday afternoon from her son's
home at 4 o'clock by Rev. J. H.
Smith, Baptist minister, assisted by
Rev. John L. Goff, pastor of the lo
cal Christian Church. Interment was
in the family plot in the local ceme
tery. Active pallberaers were:
Messrs. Luther Culpepper, of Eliza
beth City; F. U. Barnes, George H
Harrison, Carlton Phelps, G P. Hall
and Jesse Melson.
Number Arrettt Increase
During Part Few Dayt
The crime front in Martin Coun
ty, fairly quiet these past few
months, reflected increased activi
ties with the opening of the market
ing season this week. Ten arrests
have been effected during the past
four days, but none of the defendants
was charged with serious infractions
of the law.
Comparison of Enrollment
A downward trend in enrollment fifures in the several white
schools was noted yesterday for the first time in many years, the
preliminary reports indicatinf that the saturation point has been
reached, and that while fifures may vary in the future a fradual
trend downward is to be expected.
The fifures, released for the openinf yesterday in the ten white
schools, show no freat variation from those of a year afo. Six schools
report slifht losses while four reported sllfht fains.
The flfurea below, while subject to an official cheek, five an
enrollment comparison in the hlfh school and elementary depart
ments for the openinf yesterday and the one a year afo.
1940-41
1939-40
Ele.
H-S
Tot.
Ele.
H.S.
Tot.
Jamedvllle
310
110
420
325
116
428
Farm Life
158
58
216
150
58
208
Bear Grass
243
58
301
228
65
293
Williamston
505
207
802
585
207
792
Rvorotts
231
233
253
253
Roberaonville
308
288
596
111
297
606
Gold Point
57
57
64
64
Haasell .
54
54
55
55
Oak City
237
177
414
232
165
307
Hamilton
1M
168
175
175
TOTALS
2381
3259
2178
906
3286
OPENING NEW FIRM HERE
Messrs. W. H. Harrison, left,
and Henry Griffin, right, are
opening a modern builders' suppl
modern new plant is located neai
on the Jamesville Road.
y business here next Monday. The
r the Williamston Peanut Company
Efforts Made To Aid
Recent Flood Victims
WARNING
"Unless lights are installed on
the small trailers or pick-up
trucks used so extensively In the
transportation of tobacco, we
will be forced to arrest any per
son violating the law which
prohibits the use of any vehicle
on the road from sunset to sun
up without proper lights," Pa
trolman Whit Saunders said yes
"We don't want to arrest any
one but ye have had several
complaints about the danger of
these trailers being on the road
at night and we'll be forced to
take action unless the law Ls
complied with," the officer stat
ed.
. terday.
According to Patrolman Saun
ders, it will be considerably
cheaper to install the lights than
to pay a court fine.
Highly Respected
Citizen Passes In
Hospital Thursday
flflli-ral 'I'llin Afternoon For
Mrs. Ferimmlo Itowrn Al
Home Near Here
e
Mrs. Fernando Bowen, highly re
spected county citizen, died in a
Washington hospital shortly before
!1 o'clock yesterday morning follow
ing an operation performed the day
before. In ill health for the past
two years, she had undergone treat
ment for some time and entered the
hospital last Monday for an opera
tion. She was active, however, up un
til a few days before her death
The daughter of Mrs. Agnes Col
train Mobley and the late Mr. Wal
ter Mobley, she was born in James
ville Township thirty years ago. In
1926 she was married Mr Bowen
and since then she had lived near
Williamston most of the time. When
a young girl she joined the church at
Cedar Barnch, but later affiliated
witty the Presbyterian Church?at
Roberson Chapel. She was active in
the affairs of the church, and faith
ful in its service, giving of both her
time and means in its support. She
was a Christian woman, a devoted
wife and a thoughtful mother.
Besides her husband she leaves
two children, June Helen and John
ny. She also leaves her mother, one
brother, Carl Mobley, of Williamx
(Continued on page six)
Special Committee
Asks Governor To
Seek Special Aid
Four Hundred Carload* of
Egg* To Be Shipped To
Area, Report Stale*
?
Making every effort to take over
after the Red Cross completes its
temporary work among flood vic
tims along the Roanoke River, a
special committee from Halifax,
Northampton. Bertie and Martin
Counties called upon Governor Hoey
this* week to take action that will
help rehabilitate the stricken fam
ilies. A program, designed to offer
the victims permanent relief to a
certain degree, was discussed by
Governor Hoey and special repre
sentatives from the four counties.
The program is designed to extend
aid to the victims after the Red
Cross completes its preliminary
work in relieving emergency needs
among those who lost household
goods and clothing during the high
waters that inundated thousands of
acres in the four counties. A repre
sentative of the Red Cross, Miss
Bartlett, said yesterday that the
organization would possibly com
plete its work in this county within
the next two weeks. Thirty-two
cases have already been handled and
the disaster needs of those families
met. Possibly there are 117 other
cases that will receive attention be
fore the work is completed, Miss
Bartlett said. Miss Lydia Clark, dis
trict representative of the Red Cjtnw,
met with the awards committee here
Wednesday evening and outlined the
organization's relief policies which
will govern the rehabilitation work.
The committee, composed of Mrs. A.
R. Dunning, R. J. Hardison, Charles
Manning and James H. Ward, will
iContinued on page six;
Thirteen Marriage
Licenses Issued In
County Last Month
-?i?
Might White and Five Colored
Couplet* Marry During
The Period
The issuance of marriage licenses
in this county during the past month
was the second largest of the year,
the number coming within two of
the record of fifteen recorded in
January. For the third successive
month the issuance of licenses to
white couples exceeded the number
issued to colored couples. Up until
August 20, only one license had been
sold by Register of Deeds J. Sam
Getsinger to white couples in the
county during the month. A mark
ed increase in the bureau's business
was noted during the last ten days,
one report stating that conscription
proposals in the Congress speeded up
Cupid's work and set the stage for
the final leap.
Eight of the thirteen licenses is
sued in the county last month went
to white couples. The August is
suance this year was the largest for
the particular month since 1937.
Licenses were issued to the fol
lowing:
White
William Harrell, of Plymouth, and
Janic Frances Bowen, of Williams
ton.
George David Grimes, Jr., and
Minnie Rae Everett, both of Rober
sonville.
Galem Ben Modlin and Cora
(Continued on page six)
Schools In County
Started New Term
Yesterday Morning!
j r i
White ScliooU Report Slight /
llerreuM* in Knmllnieiit
Figurett
Opening the 1940-41 term yester
day morning, the thirty-four schools
in this county received nearly 7.000
children, first reports from the su
perintendent's office pointing to a
slight decrease in the white school j
enrollment figures and a slight gain I
for the colored
Informal exercises marking the
opening-day programs in most oTJ
the schools, the work the first day
centering around book assignments
and lesson schedules. Monday will
mark the launching of the first full -
duy schedule, and a great work is
expected in all the schools by the
school heads.
For the first time in many years,
the white school enrollment figures
did not show a gain over those for
the previous year. Apparently the
saturation point has been reached in
the ten white schools, but the early
reports indicate continued increases
in the numbers reporting for learn
ing in the colored schools.
Crowded conditions, while acute 111
some cases, were not quite as bad
as they were a few years ago. En
larged quarters have been provided,
but even now some of the grades are
crowded, and common problems are
to be faced. In one colored school
there are 135 pupils with only three
teachers.
No first-day attendance figures
were made available immediately for
the colored schools, but it is estimat
ed that around 3.7UO crowded into
the 24 schools opened to them in
every section of the county yester
day
Jamesville
The opening of the new term at
Jamesville was marked by formal
exercises conducted by Rev. Z T.
Piephoff, county Presbyterian minis
ter. Attendance figures, while ex
pected to show a material increase
during the next few days, were not
up to expectations. School authori
ties had predicted an increase in the
high school enrollment there because j K
of a large graduating seventh grade
last spring, but the enrollment did
not measure up to expectations in
that department and the figures for
the elementary unit were lower than
they were a year ago.
Oak City
Rev Cox, a former student and
now a minister in Virginia, was pres
ent for the opening at Oak City yes
terday morning. The school there re
ported increases in its enrollment
figures for both the high school and
elementary department. Principal
II. M. Ainsley states the school is en
tering what promises to be its most j
(Continued on page six)
J. W. Tee I Passes
Suddenly At Home
J. Woolard Teel, a native of Wil
Teel and the late James A. Teel, died
suddenly at his home in Farmville
at 6:30 o'clock this morning from an
attack of angina pectoris. He had
been in ill health for some time, but
his condition had improved and his
passing was unexpected.
Mr. Teel, about 46 years old, left
Williamston about 25 years ago, and
located in Farmville where hi* was
prominently connected in the tobac
co warehouse business.
vived by his widow and three chil
dren. He also leaves two brothers. V.
L. Teel, of Williamston, and R H
Teel, of Cambridge, Mass.
Funeral services will be conducted
at the home tomorrow afternoon at
3 o'clock and interment will follow
in the Farmville Cemetery.
Tempo of Air Attack Stepped
Up Against Britain by Hitler
The tempo of Hitler'i merciless air
attack on Great Britain is rapidly
being stepped up, late reports today
stating that the Isles had been sub
jected to the most extensive raids
of the war. "The struggle of life and
death has been started," a direct re
port from London stated at noon to
day.
Flying in formations that required
20 minutes to pass a given point, the
Nasi planes are building up a fright
ful damage toll in various parts of
England. A dozen towns in addition
to London itself were subjected to
fierce attacks today. Two railroad
stations and a hospital were de
stroyed in the London area, und the
loss of life was thought to be heavy.
Fierce battles, described as dog
fights, were reported In the air, one
witness declaring that 30 Nazi planes
were downed in a single area. Well
over 100 German planes were said
to have been destroyed this morn
ing while the British admitted loaing
ibotit forty. Hundreds of incendiary!
ximbs and fifty high explosives were
dropped on the London area to
lay
Considerable damage was done by
British bombers in Germany and
n Italy, especially in Italy during
ast night
While England is now in a death
druggie, Japan has chosen to ig
tore warnings advising her to main
ain the status quo in French Indo
china.
In this country, the National
louse of Representatives continues
io piddle. A delay was virtually
igreed upon for the conscription bill,
the body voting 183 to 155 to try a
voluntary call during the next 60
Jays for manpower. The first old
jestroyeri, exchanged by the Unit
Mi States for English military bases
in the Atluntic reached Canada to
lay. They are scheduled to reach
England in time for Hitler's promia
m! Invasion of the Isles. ?
Twenty-Cent Average
Certain Here Today
TO I'KKACII IIKRK
Dr. Thurman D. Kltchin, pres
ident of Wake Forest College,
will speak at 11 o'clock in the
Memorial Baptist Church here
Sunday morning.
Conner To Succeed
Warren In House
Of Representatives
'iiatiimouslv Nominated At
Meet of (ioiikiesHiotiiil
Group in hdctiloii
Herbert Bonner. Washington man
who lias served this district ably for
i long number of years iis secretary
:o Lindsay Warren, was unummous
y nominated to fill the position
nade vacant by Mr Warren's resig
nation. The nomination was for the
jnexpired and the following two
??ear term. There is some doubt, how
?ver, if Mr. Bonner will be able to
issume the duties of the office until
ifter tile election early in Novem
>cr. Mr. Warren's resignation be
?omes effective the first of next,
month, and it isn't likely that Gov
rnor Hoey will eall a special elec
lon for the voters to elect Mr. Bon
ier for the brief period of one month
Harmony was said to have mark
et the special meeting of the First
District Democratic Congressional
L'nmmtitre A motion was made by
hullcy Baglcy, <>f Currituck, for the
inanimous nomination of Mr. Bon
ier. and Committeemen W. O.
>ump, of Gates, and Hoy Davis, of
Dare, seconded the nomination. Ivan
Elissett, Pitt County committeeman,
jlaeed in nomination the candidacy j
?f E. G. Flannagan, Greenville man, ]
iut the moliou failed to get a aec
>nd, creating no competition for the
lonner candidacy. Committeeman
Jissett explained thut*Mr. Flanna
;an was not a candidate and would
lardly accept the nomination if it
vas accorded hirn He was also qunt
'd as saying that there were at least
ix Pitt men who wanted the job.
Jerome B Flora, Elizabeth City
nan, was elevated to the chairman
hip of the committee. Following
iunncr's acceptance speech, the
?roup, representing all fourteen
rounties in the district, was enter
ained at a luncheon in the Joseph
tewes Hotel
Mininlerial iirttup To
Hold Mprlioii Monday
The Williamston Ministerial As
tociation will hold its regular month
y meeting Monday morning at 11
)'clock in the Episcopal Rectory.
Farmers Pleased As
Leaf Priees Show
(Greater Strength
Short Crop K\i?lriit V? First
S?l#?w IYrio<l Draw**
To a LIom1
$
i miKtsT i v; t:o m \n:\r
liicreasnl Suh> \re l.\|nrt
eil On Loeal \lurkrt
Next >X eek
An encouraging note was sound
ed in the new marketing season here
today as tobacco prices continued to
swing upward to a new high peak
of the week A careful survey, sup
ported by sellers and other farmers
observing the sales, shows that a 20
cent average is virtually certain for
[ the market today
Farmers were more encouraged as
prices indicated a stronger tone in
the marketing, and many growers
[were more than pleased with their
I sales. "My receipts were just double
j what I had expected," a dependable
j Martin farmer said this morning. "I
| had visited several of the markets
yesterday, and after observing the
| sales on those markets. I figured I
would get 8, 15 and 20 cents for the
three lots I had to offer. 1 sold this
morning and received 15, 30 and 31
cents," the farmer explained.
Inferior tobacco was placed on
the floors here in large quantities
earlier in tin- week and the price
average was considered on the low
side. Better quality leaf is now be
ing offered, but in addition to tie
quality factor, tin- price trend ap
pears to be swinging upward, one
report stating that the general av
erage is from three to four dollars
a hundred higher today than on open
ing sales.
Farmer comment is very interest
ing .and it was apparent today that
larger sales can be expected here
next week following a close inspec
tion by numbers of farmers at first
? I.Hill mi.i 11 |i > i 1111 if; | >??w ju.M iW in
as many 30-ci'tH piles of tobacco here
this morning on each row than I did
on the floors in one of the larger
market towns yesterday." a farmer
was heard to comment here this
morning.
The price range is from six to 32
_ccnts here today, with increasing
sales falling into the 20 30 cent
class
Sales were averaging this morn
ing as high as 20 and 27 cents a
pound .and it was determined from
a survey made during a 60-minute
selling period that the current aver
age will approximate 20 cents for
the entile sale toda>.
Up until lust night the market had
sold 543,180 pounds for $97,356.08.
according to a report released by
Sales?Supervisor K. IL Crawford,
The average up to that time was
$17.91. Today's figures will boost the
sales to over two-thirds of a million
pounds, and the trend in the aver
age price will be decidedly upward
The market is clearing- its floors
early this afternoon, making ready
for heavy deliveries during the week
end
Whitehurst Trial
Set For October
Johnnie Whitehurst, 21, of Bethel,
will go on trial for his life in a crim
inal term of Superior Court in Pitt
County, October 31, for an alleged
criminal assault on Qcruldine Co
burn, 16-year-old daughter of Mr
and Mrs J. II Coburn, of Martin
County.
Judge C. E Thompson, of Eliza
beth City, presiding at a term of Su
perior Court in Pitt County last
week, ordered that a special venire
of 50 men be drawn for jury duty in
the case This action came sifter
Whitehurst was arranged fof the Oc
tober session.
Early last week the Pitt County
grand jury turned in a true bill of
indictment charging Whitehurst with
the criminal attack. He was arrest
ed August 26th, by Officer S. H
Martin, of Bethel, and Incarcerated
in the Pitt County jail without priv
ilege of bond.
father Of Former Local
ISitrte Diet In Middletex
Sidney G. High, mayor of Middle
sex and father of Miss Christine
High, fnrmer local nurae. died at hia
home Wednesday evening at aeven
o'clock following a long illness. He
was 67 years old.
? Funeral services ware conducted
yesterday afternoon at three o'clock
and interment waa in the Middlesex
Cemetery.