i=?i~r.=i THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME XLUI?NUMBER 75 ft' iUiomtton, Martin County, North Cmrotinn, X^uetitry. September 17, 1140. ESTABLISHED 1899 Advertuera Will find Our Col umn! A Latchkey To Over l.M Home* Of Martin County. Trial Of Criminal Cases In Superior Court Ends At Noon First of Civil Cases Will Be Called By Judge Burney Here Tomorrow ? Hie trial of criminal cases in the Martin County Superior Court was ended here at noon today, the work of the court having been advanced when the defendant in the Manning assault case pleaded guil ty and when the Ellis assault case was continued. Hie re was some doubt if the criminal docket could have been completed today had the '.rial of those cases been handled as first planned. Tomorrow, the court will call the first of a large number of civil cases according to a schedule previously arranged by the county bar Proceedings in the court: A continuance was granted the defense attorney in the case charg ing H. W. Spruill with drunken driv ing. "The case will be the first one called in December and I'll be here." Judge Burney was quoted as say ing to the defense attorney. James Gilmore, Jamesville color ed man who was convicted in the county court for alleged violation of the liquor laws, apparently made costly move when he appealed to the higher court. Sentenced to the roads for a period of six months by Judge H. O. Peel in the county eourt, Gilmore had three iqgntlis added to the term by Judge Bur ney in the superior court Monday. Hie man, unable to raise bond, has been in jail awaiting trial. The case charging William Hen ry Coffield with larceny and re ceiving was nol prossed with leave. Papers were issued for the im mediate arrest of Ralph Dugger when he failed to appear in court and answer in the case charging him with violating the liquor laws. No true bill was found by the grand jury in the case charging Densil Simpson with an attempt to commit rape. Entering a plea of nolo contendere Abe Purrington was adjudged guil ty in the case charging him with bastardy. He was ordered to pay $1 a week for the support of the | child. Muriel Raseoe, the colored youth who allegedly stole a pocket book and an old-age pension check from Mrs. Jaunita Coltrain in the old hall of justice itself, pleaded guil ty of larceny of property valued at less than $20. Taking the check belonging to Mrs. Coltrain's mother in-law, Raseoe forged an endorse ment and obtained goods under false pretense Judge Burney sen tenced him to the roads for a term of two years The sentence will be staid for three years, upon the con dition that the youth pay the cost of the case and refund the $16. Ras eoe is not to be seen on any city or town streets after 7:30 p. m. and not before 6:30 a m and is not to take a drink of liquor or intoxicat ing beverages during that time. Joe Rogers was sentenced to the roads for a term of 18 months in the case charging him with break ing into and robbing a filling sta tion in Robersonville. Joe Smallwood, charged with breaking into a chicken coop and stealing a blue rooster and a black hen from Fannie Perkins in Ham ilton Township, pleaded guilty of receiving stolen goods. He was sen tenced to the roads for a term of 12 months. He was placed on proba tion for three years and is to pay the court costs. Charged with breaking into the home of Ike Mizelle and stealing a $45 shot gun, Grover and Octavius ? Taylor were sentenced to prison for a term of from three to four years. The youths were placed on proba tion for five years. After stealing the gun the boys went to Norfolk and traded it for a motorcycle. Judge Burney ordered the boys to return the motorcycle, get the gun and re turn it to the owner and pay the costs of the case. Bond was required to guarantee the performance of the duty imposed by the court. Harvey Short, the young Parmele (Continued on page four! To Offer Vetch , Seed In County According to information coming from the office of the county agent, plans are being made for the dis tribution of two carloads of vetch seed to farmers in this and surround ing counties within the near future Orders have been placed for the seed, but it was not certain today that the seed could be had under the gov ernment grant of aid. Agent T. B. Brandon is asking for 125 bags of the seed for farmers in this county. If they can be procured the seed will be offered at nine and one-half cents a pound. If the order is accepted, the two carloads of seed will be shipped to Williamston and distributed to var ious points in the surrounding coun ties. While it is not certain that the seed can be made available, Martin far mers might find it worth while to apply for their needs now. Pay ments are made through the soil conservation program, the cost to be deducted from the payments. 7 rafficNea ri ng Norma I Over The Roanoke River Fill Here Traffic, blocked for three weeks, is now approaching normal over the Roanoke River fill at this point, ac cording to information gained from Hugh Spruill, bridgckeeper, early today. Wiile the route is closed to heavy trucks, other types of traffic are increasing in numbers daily, Mr. Snruill said. A climax was reached Sunday when an estimated 2,000 or more vehicles crossed over the re paired fill. Most of them were view ing the damage for the first time and accounted for the heavy flow of traffic. However, daily travel is in creasing from day to day, and little delay is caused by the one-way bridges and dirt drives. Despite puzzling detour signs, for eign cars are using the route in fair ly large numbers, Mr. Spruill went on to say. Busses are maintaining complete schedules without delay and are traveling the route with ap parent ease. Motorists are completely puzzled by road signs at the corner of Mam and Haughton Streets. Placed side by side, one sign says that the road is closed to vehicles of over seven tons The other sign directs through traffic around by the sound bridge, but gives the go-ahead signal to lo cal traffic under seven toils. Hardly taking the meaning of the detour sign at its full value, few if any cars have turned off the route but con tinue to travel over the fill in large numbers. Bridgekeeper Spruill and his fam ily are now enjoying .normal life. During the period that traffic was blocked on both the river and the highway, they could not sleep for everything was so quiet. Now they are sleeping soundly to the hum of motors in the rushing cars and trucks during every hour of the night. Tobacco Prices Hold Firm on Market Here Judge States His Position ()u Fifth (.olumii Activities Warning against fifth column activities in this country, Judge J. J. Burney in his address to the Martin County Grand Jury Monday stated frankly and forci bly his stand against practices designed to undermine this na tion. "If they do not like this coun try, there is only two ways jto handle the fifth columnists. One is to send them back across the ocean and the other is to put them under the ground, and if they are put under the ground they can't come back from across the ocean." The Jurist stated his position after urging the grand jurymen to report any and all subservient activities they detect or any call ed to their attention. In voicing his position the jurist expressed the sentiments of the crowded courtroom. "Fifth column activities are underway throughout the coun try," the judge said and added that he would not be surprised if there were such activities right here in this county. Invasion Threat Is Lessened By Bad Channel Weather Heavy Bombing Reported By Both Sides Over Wide Territory * Englishmen, while subjected to continued and barbaric attacks irom the air, were heartened today as stormy weather swept over the Eng lish Channel area, lessening the threat of an immediate invasion. However, Prime Minister Churchill warned his people in an address to day to continue on the alert, that danger of an atempted invasion still existed. He also warned his people to expect heavier bombardment. Incomplete reports from the hor nets' nest are a bit confusing, leav ing doubt as to whether the inva sion attempt was delayed by wea ther conditions over the Channel or by British raiders along the French and Belgium coasts. Hundreds of boats brought into use by Germany along the coast have been sunk or damaged, and destruction has been widespread in a number of ports along the coast, making it appear that Hitler was balked in his plans Heavy bombing continues on both sides. London has had four raids so far today, and other sections have been attacked Damage was report ed in all parts of London. British atTmen, after bringing down an all time high of 185 Nazi planes Sun day, are continuing costly riads in German occupied territory and al so in Germany Italy is meeting with trouble in (Continued on page four) BUSINESS Increased activities on its Plymouth branch line has made necessary a seven-day operat ing schedule over the route by the Atlantic Coast Line Rail road Company. The new sched ule, seldom maintained on the line heretofore, was placed into effect Sunday when two trains operated through here. The Sunday holiday left the trains with more work than they eon Id handle on Monday and schedules were delayed. By operating on Sunday a better service is offered. Station Agent V. D. Godwin mid here yester day. Well Over Million And a Half Pounds Sold Here To Date Urge <Jiiuntiti<*H of Tip* and Inferior GrudeH Being Offered for Sale Tobacco prices were reported to be holding firm on the local tobac co market today, Sales Supervisor K B. Crawford stating that he could detect very little difference in the market since it strengthened to reach the highest peak of the sea son early last week. Mr. Crawford did point out that large quantities of tips and inferior grades were be ing offered for sale, and that the gen eral price average was not up to the high point reached a few days ago. ?'However," Mr. Crawford contin ued. "grade for grade tobacco is holding to a fairly stable point with the better grades bouncing right up to 31. 32 and 33 cents a pound." That tobacco is selling just as high as it did a few days ago on the local market and higher than it is selling on at least one of the larger markets was well established this morning as the sales supervisor ob served a sale of tobacco made for a Beaufort County farmer. Coming to the local market unknown and of fering no advance information, the small farmer from Beaufort sold three piles of tobacco, one for 18) cents, one of 29 and one for 31 cents The split grades offered for sale on the larger markets yesterday sold for 15 cents, 26 and 30 cents, respect ively. The visiting farmer was well pleased with the sales, but he as well as many others are agreed that to bacco prices are not high. He did add that he found prices here slight ly stronger than he had found else where, that he was returning with j more tobacco just as soon as he could i prepare it for market. Few tickets are being turned here, and farmers, after studying the mar kets first-hand, are holding to the one here stronger than ever. It was reliably reported here to day that a trucker, employed by one of the larger markets, had sur rendered his contract and is advis ing farmers to haul their own to bacco to the nearest market. He ex plained that it was not worth the hauling fee and side commission to carry another fellow's tobacco a long distance and listen to, the complaints. ? Quite a few farmers from the up per end of the county are on the market here today, and it was appar ent that some strong ties were be ing made, not through seconds but through the advantageous market ing of tobacco. And it's the sale the farmer gets that counts and not the coaxing and promises of an agent. The sales on the Williamston mar ket are well voer one and one-half million pounds, Sales Supervisor Crawford stating that 192,452 pounds were add yesterday for- an average of about $15.40. Young Men Report For Military Duty Pete Fowden, Jr., left yesterday for Washington, N. C., where he en listed with the National Guard for a year's training with the artillery unit from that town. Pete will continue to retain his interest in the Soda Shop with John Hatton Gurganus. His vacancy will be filled in the shop by Reginald Sifnpson until the first of the year, at which time he will renew his as sociation with the Virginia-Caro lina Chemical Corporation. Billie Clark, accompanying young Fowden to camp, has been given a year's leave of absence from his duties as secretary of the local Chamber of Commerce. Members of the organization will attempt to carry on the work on a voluntary basis. Nation Will Call Out Its Manpower Middle Of Octolx'r First Peace Time Draft Law Signed by the President Yesterday The seriousness of the world sit uation was hrnnght closer to home for United States citizens yesterday when President Roosevelt signed the country's first peace-time draft law. Today, sixteen and one-half millions in the 21-31 age limit, inclusive, stand subject to call for a year of military training. Passed by Congress last week-end and signed by the President short ly after three o'clock Monday after noon, the compulsory military train ing law will reach out for its first quota of 400,000 men this winter. On October 16, the more than sixteen million men within the inclusive 21 to 31 age limit will be required to register. Everyone falling in that age group will be required to reg ister regardless of race, color or sta tion in life. The first call will take 400,000 this winter. Next year an other 400,000 will be called. Since this country is not actually engaged in war, the call to service does not have the serious ring that the one back in 1917 had. However, the out look is not at all encouraging, but as Judge J. J. Burney said in super ior court this week, it would appear that the army affords a place about as safe as our highways are. And then in the war across the seas, more civilians, including women and chil dren are being killed than soldiers. It was reported here today that Harry A Biggs had applied for a place on the draft board in this county As far as it could be learn ed there will be little competition for the three places. The appoint ment of the board is expected short ly, but few details in connection with the draft plans have been made pub lic. The clerk of the court, chairman of the county board of elections and superintendent of county schools will, it is understood, be charged with the duty of appointing a draft board which is to include a business man, doctor and a lawyer. It is like ly that the county election officials will handle the registration which is scheduled to get underway at seven o'clock and continue until 9 p m. on October 16th. Roberson Assault Case Is Shifted In The Courts Again .?>? Superior Tribunal 11 |iIk>I<Im CoiiiiI) Hit'ttrili'r ill (iaw Continuuiire Tlif serious assault case brought by Farmer Arthur C. Roberson against J. A. Ellis is being shifted from one court to another in this county, Judge J. J. Burney in the superior tribunal upholding Record er H. O Peel in his order delaying the trial until September 30. Solici tor Don Gilliam insisted that His Honor had taken the wrong slant on the action, but Judge Burney re plied that he was like the tree plant ed by the side of the river, "I can't be moved." The judge added, "I will not stand for any action that will drag a defendant from one court to another. If the case is to be tried in superior court, it can .be placed on the docket for the December term." Attacked by Ellis on the evening of September 6, Mr. Roberson swore out a warrant charging him with an assault with a deadly weapon. The warrant was served later that night and the case was docketed for trial the following Monday in Judge Peel's county court. The recorder ruled that it was customary to continue caaes originating on Saturday, tnrt during the meantime the prosecu tion had asked to amend the war rant and charged the defendant with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. The plea for a continuance was granted even though the witnesses had been summoned. , Yesterday, the case was placed be fore the grandjury and a true bill charging the defendant with an as sault with a deadly weapon with in tent to kill was returned. This morning, Judge Burney up held the lower court and the case goes back to the county tribunal for trial on September 30. Aggravated by strong feeling in the community, the case has already attracted the attention of out-side attorneys, the defense employing Clay Carter and H. G. Horton. Clar ence GrifTin, local attorney, and H. S. Ward, of Washington, have been employed by the private prosecu tion. S Fire Damagei Filling Station Cafe Saturday Fire starting from an over-heated chimney damaged the Paul Jones filling station safe here early last Saturday morning Tlie fire was confined to the barbecue cook room, Mr. Jones estimating the damage at $50. Hie fire company was called out, but filling station attendants and others at the cafe brought the tin under control before it could spread to other parts of the building Assault Case Ends Abruptly In Court Here This Mnrning Edgar Harrell Pleads Guilty In Case Charging A**ault Witli Deadly Weapon The case charging Edgar Harrell, Oak Citv man, with an assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, was brought to an hurried close in the superior court at 10:15 this morn ing after the defendant through his attorneys, Peel and Manning, and tendered a plea of guilty to the charge of an assault with a deadly weapon. Judge Burney, presiding, hurried the case to a close when he ruled that it was not necessary to examine the other witnesses, that he was not inclined to punish the defendant who had a good reputation, that he was well convinced that a man who looks for trouble will, sooner or la- , ter, find it. "Judgment of the court. Mr. Clerk, is prayer for judgment be | continued for twelve months and de fendant pay the cost." At least eighteen witnesses, sum moned by the defense, would not file for fees, saving Harrell well over $60 in court costs. The case got underway'Monday afternoon after 15 minutes were spent in the selection of a jury. The prosecuting witness, G. H. Manning, who was critically shot by Harrell, took the stand and made the follow - mg statement: "This boy Hyman had a truck he wanted greased He drived for me, and he asked me about taking the truck over there to get it greased I went to the service station and ask ed Charlie Smith if he would have time to grease the truck He said he thought we would, and he went in the back, and I thought he greased the truck, and 1 went back there to pay him When 1 went back in the back, this boy. Mr Harrell, said I wouldn't get no dam truck greased I asked why, and he called me a dir ty name and said I didn't pay no body. I told him 1 didn't owe him anything I said "1 don't owe you anything." He called me another dirty name. I said, "Edgar, I stop ped fighting five or six years ago, and I am not looking for any trou ble." I walked back to the front room and was leaning across the stove. Mr Harrell walked back here, and walked on past me and opened the cash register and shot me in the back standing behind me behind the counter. He walked across the floor, and when the bullet struck me I stiffened and then I didn't have any strength at all. 1 crumbled down to the floor on my elbow. He walked over to me and told me not to try to get up. He cussed me and said he had shot my dam heart out and would shoot my brains out. He shot me one time. I walked out the door and didn't see him any more until he came about 20 steps from my house when I got in the car to go to the hospital." The court recessed until this morn ing when Dave Savage was placed on the stand Savage stated that he was in the station, that Manning wanted a truck greased, that Man ning started cursing and threatened to beat Harrell's brains out. Manning turned for a chair and then Harrell shot him Charlie Smith was in^jhe back I room of the station when Manning was shot, he told the court. He car ried the victim home. Taking the stand in his own be half. He said that he and Manning had had an argument over an ac count. "1 told him that we could not grease the truck because Mr. Faith ful (the station owner) was not Vhere. Manning cursed me and when he reached for a chair, I shot him " Harrell .explained that he could not get out of the station without pass ing Manning, that he could have shot him more than once. After the shoot W. E. Early, Oak City officer, and told him what had been done. On cross examination, Harrell said he had no court record of any kind During the trial Manning's record was read in open court. After a plead of guilty to the charge of an assault with a deadly weapon was accepted by the court, the defense started to offer the testimony of eighteen or more character witnesses, but Judge Burney ruled that additional evi dence was not necessary, and the case was brought to a close at 10:15. Recruiting Party To Visit County A special army recruiting party will visit this county next Friday morning to accept volunteers into the service, it was announced by Staff Sergeant John McMillan of the U. S. Army Recruiting Station, in Greenville The party will stop at Robersonville at 9 o'clock and at Williamston two hours later. The party will stop at or near the post office The recruiting party will be equip ped with a movie projector, with sound equipment for showing the highlights Of the new equipment and the work of the army today. This show should last about one hour. The army also is offering to the young men who enlist an excellent chance to attend the various schools and learn a trade. Jurist Tells of Crime Conditions In Mation SECKETAM II. Flake Shaw, progressive farmer and member of the Guil ford County Hoard of Commis sioners, made a stirring appeal to Martin farmers in an address nere last week. He urges a large attendance upon the meeting | here tomorrow night. rv ~ * Lone Reportable Disease Case In County In August bong Siege Of VI hooping Finally Broken in The C.oiiiiH : Health conditions approaching the perfect state as far as the number-o? communicable disease cases is con cerned were reported 111 this county last month, according to records tiled in the office of the county health department during the period. A lone communicable disease case was re ported to Poplar Point Township where a white person fell victim of tuberculosis For the first time since the all time health department was estab lished almost three years ago no case sof whooping cough were re ported in the county. At one time last year the cough approached the epidemic stage, and Dr. F. K Wil son, health department head at that time, quarantined certain areas. Since that time the number of cases has reflected a gradual decline, but month after inonthfone or two and some times three or more cases were reported. The long seige apparently has been broken. More than a hun dred cases were reported in a sin gle month, and it is estimated that more than 1,500 "barked" their way to immunity during tin- past three years. The county schools opom-d v. s. terday with a clean health slate, but despite tin- health department and its control work, communicable dis ease cases are certain to flare up and tear down attendance records. Extra precautionary measures against a possible outbreak of ty^ phoid fever were taken by the de partment last month when 450 per sons were immunized because they had come in direct or indirect contact with the flood Waters along Roan oke River and its environs. The vac cine was dispensed-as -follows: Ham ilton, 100, Williamston, 280; Williams Township, 00, and Jamesville, 50 While the flood waters created an health menace, no outbreak of dis ease has thus far been reported in this section. Advance Plans To Make Mattresses Plans were announced virtually complete today by Miss Emelyne Evans, of the Form Security Admin istration, for making several hun dred cotton mattresses in this coun ty. A training school will he held in Everetts Friday morning at 10:30 o'clock for 24 leaders who will di rect and assist the work. Mr. Starnes of the States Extension Service will conduct the school. Approximately itf bates nf cotton haye been placed on location for the manufacture of the mattresses MEETING An important meeting of the Martin County Farm Bureau membership will be held in the agricultural building here to morrow night at 7:30 o'clock. All members are urgently re quested to be present and every farmer is invited. Several well-known speakers are to address the meeting and several important topics will be discussed, C. Abram Roberson, _ president of the county organi sation, said today. Delivers Stirring Patriotic Address To < ?rand Jurymen Startling Figures Ke\euled By Jmlgt' Burney On Crime Vml (iO\ernment ("out* ? In a stirring address to the Martin County Grand Jury here yesterday. Judge J J Burney placed a high value on freedom and the way of ltfe in this country and offered some startling figures as they relate to crime, educational and government al costs. During the greater part of an hour, the Wilmington jurist held the strict attention of the crowded courtroom, his talk, based on coin mon sense and full appreciation of the American-way of life, being well received by his listeners coming from all v.'a Iks of life Addressing his opening remarks to the jurymen, Judge Burney point ed out that it is indeed an honor to serve as a member of a court jury. "Some day you may be wrongfully attacked, and thin you will better appreciate good men as members of the jury to protect you and your ights," the judge said. It was hi* hope that the commissioners had and would continue to select men of good character and sufficient intel ligence to handle the all-important task. "It is important now that we are passing through one of the greatest trials in world history to guard our liberty and rights, the jurist de clarvd. Glancing back to Old Glory as it formed a background for the bench, he said. "For 5,000 years the English-speaking peoples have been jealous of their rights and liberty? the right to worship as we please, of free speech, of free press, home protection.and the right to bear arms to protect those rights. " trial By jury is one of. those rights. Prior t<> 820. an accused man was tried by the hot iron or water j method. The accused was required ] to pick up an hot iron. If it burned turn, be was adjudged guilty, if he was not burned, he was not guilty The jury system was established and in 1288 the grand jury was created, and today the oath subscribed to is very similar to the one of that old en period] The speaker explained how the rights of. the weak and the strong are protected in the courts "No one is guilty of a crime until he is tried and adjudged guilty. If acquitted, the accused is free If he is found guilty, he has the right of appeal, the county accepting the cost of the poor man's defense in capital crimes. "Law is man's best friend It pro tects one before he is born It guards him through life, and in death it stands a last watch." Touching on one of the greatest problems facing this nation today, Judge Burney appealed to the jury men to help solve the problem pre sented by crime. "The .situation is appaling," the jurist said, and went on to offer some startling com para - tive figures. "There were 22 million children in School last year It mst $2,<)78.<MHMH?o 1 Continued on page four) Enrollment (,ain In I iOcal School An examination of the records of the local schools reveals that a total of 813 students have been enrolled partments of the Williamston schools during the first week of the 1940-41 school term. A net enrollment of 594 elementary, 208 high school and 11 post* graduate and commercial, combine to give the school the larg est opening in its history. While .the grade distribution is nearly the same as last yaer, an enrollment of 98 -ch+ktren by the two second?grade teachers creating a serious teach ing problem Last year's record for the heaviest teaching load was in the third grade Where two teachers enrolled 94 at the beginning of the term. The enrollment by grades is as follows: First, 113, second, 98; third, 81; foufth, 83; fifth, 85; sixth, 65; sev enth. 66. eighth. 58. ninth, 59; tenth, 48; eleventh, 43; post graduate and commercial, 11. An interesting comparison of the sexes enrolled reveals that there are 314 boys enrolled in the first sev en grades as compared to 280 girls, a difference of 34. In the high school and post graduate departments this difference is reduced slightly by an enrollment of 114 girls to 105 boys, but a final comparison of the combined enrollments shows that the Williamston schools have in at tendance 25 more boys than girls. It is rather interesting to note that 435 students, approximately 52 per cent of the total number enrolled, are transported to school by but. Six busses serve the local schools by daily trips, one bus making two trips and bringing to school a total of 90 students

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view