North Carolina Newspapers

Watch The Label On Your Paper. A> It Carriea The Date Your Subscription E x p i r < THE ENTERPRISE Advertiser! Will Find Our Col umns A Latchkey To Over 1JOO Homes Of Martin County. VOLUME XLIV?NUMBER 13 IF'illiamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, May 30, 1941. ESTABLISHED 1899 Large Percentage Of Trainees Are Rejected By Army Half of liihl Tho Group* K< portin^ For Servicf Have K*'l ii riuil Home Falling below physical standards with a few others unable to meet lit eracy tests, half of the last two groups of selectees to report for mil itary service were rejected by Army doctors at Fort Bragg Apparently the Army doctors are checking more closely the health of the trainees and are sending back those who do not measure up to the standards. While most of the seven men to I return within the past few days were | ruled out on account of physical de fects, there were one or two who were rejected on account of illiter acy. It is fairly apparent that one of the trainees was not as illiterate as the records would indicate. Re jected by the Army doctor because lie could not write his name, the trainee had signed his questionnaire. The case is placed in the files for | investigation. Up until the first of May. this j county had sent 97 trainees to the Army induction centers. Fifteen of that number were rejected. So far during May, 22 men have been sent to the Army and nine of them were rejected. While the Army is reject ing as many as 40 per cent of the | trainees sent from this county. Lo cal examining board doctors reject ed quite a few. hut the percentage figures are not immediately avail able. William Ernest "Cotton" Davis' I flat feet would not qualify him for | army hikes and he was rejected. He says he can make it around fairly | well at home with those same feet, however. Cushing Biggs Bailey, leaving with Davis and two other I trainees last Tuesday, was also re -1 jected on account of physical ail ments Three of the ten colored ffainees | leaving last week were rejected im mediately and they were followed by | two others. The names of those re jected are. Thomas Ryan. William Degraffenread. Isaac Sutton. Louis Embor Ruffin and Euphrates Eugene Singleton. Ten white trainees are scheduled I to leave for Fort Bragg from this | county next week. Exhausting the supply of question naires some time ago. the county | draft board has received 400 addi tional forms and that many regis trants will have the questions fired at them beginning next Monday To date, 1,702 questionnaires have been sent.to the registrants, the new sup ply will boost the number to 2.102 The forms will be mailed at the rate of about 50 each day during | next week and the early part of the following week. Urgent Need For Library Service I A report released in connection with the operation of a bookmobile | by the Works Progress Administra tion during ten weeks last fall in this county stresses an urgent need for a county-wide library service in Martin County During the brief period last fall, 16,699 books were placed in the hands of Martin Coun ty people in every one of the ten ] townships. Nearly two-thirds or 10, 881 of the books were read by chil- | dren, the adults reading 5,818 There has been an extensive move ment to provide recreation for chil dren in the county during recent years. Gymnasiums have been built. Playgrounds and swimming pools I have been provided. Now there is | a golden opportunity to do some thing to enrich young minds and for the entertainment of adults by co operating in a plan calling for the creation of a county-wide library service While final action rests with the authorities, it is hoped that they will consider the plan seriously when they meet next Monday. Retention Of Text Is Hopeless Task After frantically trying to salvage a few pages from the books, North Carolina education leaders have fi nally agreed that the task is a hope less one, the action bringing to a close one of the greatest political stinks ever smelt in educational cir cles in this State. In addition to the pussyfooting and gently applied salving, the historians checking Mr. Warren's masterpiece announced that 1,000 factual errors had been found in the book, that the book could not be corrected. Announcing the abandonment of 'the Warren teat, State authorities intimated that no book offering the cold facts and the truth and nothing but the truth, meaning one like the Newsome-Leiier text,- would find its way into the school system. No definite plans have been made for replacement of the text and none will be made for some time. The 1941 General Assembly provided for ex pansion of the public school curri culum from 11 to 12 grades, with the change expected to become partially effective in the 1942-43 school year and wholly effective in 1943-44. NEW CAROLINA OPERATORS Recognized as able farmer-tobacconists, the operators of the New Carolina Tobacco Warehouse for the coming season include new faces. Headed by the veterans, Johnny (iurkin and Sylvester Lilley, the firm has two new members, W. I). Odom and John A. Manning. Pic tured above are top, left to right, Messrs. Odom and (iurkin; bottom. Lilley and Manning. Completion of Fill Is Promised in August STREETS While the day has not been definitely determined, surfacing work on several local streets will get underway the early part of next week. The foundations have just about been conditioned and equipment and materials will start moving in over the week end for the completion of the project. To Organize County Service Croup Here Next Monday Night # Movcmcnl \ itally Nreennary To Nulional Defenw, De clare* Chairman 1 Preliminary plans for organizing a Martin County unit of the United Service Organizations are virtually complete, and every person interest ed in this country's defense is invit ed and urged to attend the organiza tion meeting in the Legion Hut here next Monday night R H Goodmon, appointed by the Governor to serve as county chair man, is addressing the following let ter to the general public, explaining the nature of the organization and urging a big attendance upon the meeting: "Under the name, United Service Organizations for National Defense, a corporation has been formed by six national religious and welfare organizations, which, with Govern ment approval and cooperation, will serve the spiritual, recreational, wel fare and social needs of the men and women in the* armed forces and de fense^industries of the United States. "This movement was initiated at the request of the President of the United States, backed by the full support of the War and Navy De partments. "I know you will agree with me that every man and woman who is not directly connected with our armed forces should have some part in supporting those who have been called to the colors "This is an emergency in which America calls upon her citizens to aid. Therefore, you are most cor dially invited and urged to attend a "USO" meeting, for the purpose of organizing Martin County lead ers, to be held in the American Le gion Hut, in WiTliamston, at 8:00 on Monday night, June 2, 1041. "Participation in this enterprise of the United Service Organizations is an acknowledgment of the debt we owe those who are guaranteeing our safety and the continuation of our democratic way of life. "The need for service is great and I am sure you will not fail in this patriotic call to duty." Paving Contractors Will Start Work In Early Part Of July hx|H-rl Itriil^'M mill Dirl Kil I'o llr (!inii|ili'li'il Ijiltrr Irl of Nt'xl Month # The restoration of normal traffic over the Roanoke River fill at this [joint is tentatively scheduled for the middle or the third week in Au gust, according to Mr.'"J. C. Gard ner, district highway engineer, who was here this week in the interest of the State Highway and Public Works Commission. Declaring that everything possible was being done to rush the work on the project to completion, the engin-. eer expressed the belief that the bridges and dirt fill will b" finished the latter part of next month or cer tainly by the first week in July. "The contractors are well within their allotted time, but we have dis cussed the situation with them and they have pledged their best efforts in rushing the work to completion," Mr. Gardner said. It was declared by the engineer that the fill con tractors would have placed addition al equipment in operation here could it have been obtained. Repoits state that it is next to impossible to pur chase new or rent old machinery. It is quite possible to complete the dirt fill within a short time, reliable reports declare, but there is some doubt if the contractors' equipment will hold out that long. Work on the fill has been progressing at a snail's pace all this week while one of the two loading machines was broke down. A mechanical shovel, remind ing one of a large child's Christmas toy, has been plugging along mak (Continued on page four) Mrs. J. M. Lewis Dies In Virginia Mrs. J. M. Lewis, mother of Mrs. W R. Ingram, of Williamston, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. O. F Lewis, in Danville, Va , Wednes day evening at 6:30 o'clock follow ing a long period of declining health. Funeral services were conducted in the Virginia city this morning at 11 o'clock, interment following in the family-plot. Mrs. Lewis, 87 years of age, had made extended visits here with her daughter during the past several years. She made a number of close friendships during her visits here and was held in high esteem by all who knew her. She was unusually active for her advanced age up un til her last illness. Rev. James H. Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hardiison were among those from here to attend the last rites this morning. Miss Sophia Little Died Thursday 1" Raleigh Hospital ? Funeral Serviren at Home of Aunt On llaughton Street Thi* Aftrenoon t Miss Sophia Williams Little, pop ular local young woman, died in a Raleigh hospital yesterday morning at 5 o'clock following an illness of only a few weeks' duration Her condition was not considered serious until just a few days ago. She un derwent an operation in the hospi tal last Monday and her condition was reported very satisfactory to relatives late Wednesday night A blood colt formed and death follow ed a very short time later. Miss Little, the daughter of Mrs. Rena Fleming Little, of Pactolus, and the late George Little, was born Pactolus. Pitt County, on Janu y 11. 1910. At the tender age of four years she came to Williamston to make her home with her aunt and the late I3r William E. Warren. Af ter completing her courses in the lo cal schools she attended the East Carolina Teachers' College. Green ville. for several years. When a young girl she took membership in the Methodist Church, remaining faith ful to its teachings and in its service through the years. Thoughtful of otlters and possessed of a pleasing personality, she made friends read ily and was held in high esteem by all who knew her. She was working on a special project for the Works Progress Administration until forced lu_mlire a little over two weeks ago by ill health. Besides her aunt, Mrs W. E. War ren, with whom she made her home here, her mother, a sister, Mrs. Wiley Dickinson, and a brother, William Little, all of Pactolus. survive. Funeral services are being con ducted from the late home on liaughton Street this afternoon at 5 o'clock by Rev. L C. Lark in. a former pastor, of Rocky Mount, as sisted by Rev. B. T Hurley, pastor of the local Methodist Church In terment will follow m the family plot in the local cemetery. Judge W. H.Coburu (lulls Six Cases In The County Court Dr. W. C. Mrbeod Filled $SO On Drunk Driving Cliurge Of Long Standing Reaching a low point lust week, business in the Martin County Rec order's Court picked up consider ably last Monday when Judge W. H Coburn called half a dozen cases for trial. Instead of lasting a few min utes as the previous session did, th? court last Monday did not complete its work until almost noon. The number of spectators was larger, but the work of the court was hardly up to normal and the nature of the docket offered nothing that would approach the sensational. Dr. W. G. McLeod, booked on a drunken driving charge in the coun ty some time ago, pleaded guilty through his attorney. Hi' was fined $50, taxed with the costs and had his license to operate a motor vehicle re voked for one year. The defendant did not appear in person, but was represented by special counsel. Pleading not guilty in the case charging him with violating the li quor laws, Simon Jenkins was ad judged guilty, the court imposing a fine of $10 on him. He appealed to the higher court and bond in the sum of $50 was required. In the case charging Mack and Willie Peterson with violating the liquor laws, both defendants entered pleas of not guilty. Mack's plea was sustained, but the other defendant was adjudged guilty, the court im posing a $10 fine with the costs at tached. Charged with bt^ing drunk and disorderly and with an assault, Kel ly Briley was adjudged guilty of a simple assault over his own plea of innocence The case was continued under prayer for judgment until Monday, June 9th. Will Vick, charged with being drunk and disorderly, failed to an swer when called. Papers were is sued for his immediate arrest Charged with an attempted as sault, James Brooks pleaded not guilty. He was adjudged guilty and (Continued on page four) Jamesville Plans Mattress Project Through the efforts of Jamesville citizens, a mattress center will be set up there in the near future. Mr. Frosty Martin has been interested in the pt?j-"f for mmr tim" and Mrs. Maude Mizelle and Mri. Lloyd Ange have also worked hurd to get thia project for Jamesville. The project will assist farm and low income families in Jamesville Township, Williams Township and Griffins Township. Over 300 mattresses were made in Everetts In the last four-week per iod. Make Plans For Distribution Of Cotton Pu rchasing Sta mps Plans are being formulated in the office of the farm agent for handling and distributing cotton purchasing stamps in Martin County An organ ization is to be perfected at a meet ing of farmers, merchants and other interested citizens to be held in the agricultural building on Monday. June 9. The plan will be explained at a general meeting to be held on the evening of June 13. The stamps will be distributed to farmers cooperating with the spec ial program just as soon as compli ance is determined All farmers who have reduced their cotton acreages as much as one acre below the al lotment are eligible to participate in the program. They must, if they have not already done so. state their j intentions of cooperating w ith the i program not later than June 14 Approximately 500 cotton farmers are already planning to participate in the program in this county, and it is believed that ^they are ready to receive the special benefits. It is estimated that more than $15,000 in cotton purchasing stamps will be j distributed to farmers in this conn ty The stamps will be accepted by Co operating merchants in exchange for cotton goods or cotton clothing Is sued in convenient denominations, the stamps will have the same pur chasing power us "cold'' cash as far as cotton goods are concerned Mer chants interested in cooperating with the program are invited to attend the meetings scheduled, for the 9th and 13th Drought Is Regarded As Serious in South Marked Shortage In Irish Potato Crop Is Predicted In Section Many Farmer* Report Crops Withering ill Field*; Poor Stand of Tobacco <t> Rounding out the fourth week without much or any rain at all. a greater part of the South is now in the grip of a drought which is rapid ly reaching serious proportions. Con ditions. while approaching the ser ious point, are not as bad in this sec tion as they are further to the south, and even within this county some communities are drier than other areas. So far this month, only 0.79 of an inch of rain has been reported by the weather station on Roanoke Riv er here, the rainfall for the first five months of the current year being about eight inches below the normal for the past ten-year period. The first five months of last year were possibly drier than the correspond ing period in this year, hut the rains were fairly well distributed a year ago Since late m April only four rains o 19. 0-40, 0 Hi and 0-04 inches have been recorded by the wea ther station here, each of them hard ly being large enough to stay the dust The Roanoke is approaching a new low point, but strange as it may seem the Hardison Millpond in Griffins Township is only 18 or 20 inches be low a "head". Crops, while doing fairly well, considering the dry wea ther, are- beginning ot look had. There are those farmers who have from fair to good stands of tobacco, hut reliable reports indicate that many farmers have no more than 75 per cent of a stand and certainly not more than 80 per cent And try as hard as they can, most of them are unable to get a stand. Hay crops are being hard hit. Peanuts are not coming up very rapidly in numerous cases, but that portion of the crop planted early is doing very well. The corn crop, growing very rapidly during recent days, is beginning to wither in the fields. The situation is declared to be serious for Irish po tatoes. Farmers declare that the dry weather has already lowered pro duction by at least 25 per cent, as a whole, and considerably more in some cases. The dry spell is taxing Williams ton's water system to capacity Pumps are being operated froth 15 to 18 hours daily and the supply is gradually falling behind the de mand. The water situation has not been regarded as alarming, but it is fairly certain that the swimming pool cannot be filled until the de mand is lessened by rain and the supply is boosted. Much water is be ing used for conditioning the streets for surfacing, and not as many would (Continued on page four) Presidents Talk Is Well Received Here President Roosevelt's talk in which he clearly outlined the nation's for eign policy last Tuesday night was well received in this quarter. While there may be a few who hold opin ions contrary to those advanced by the President, the dozens who com mented on the talk were impressed and heartily endorsed the stand. aNo one is anxious to see the na tion go to war, but they are lovers of freedom and they are ready to act in one way or another in defense of that freedom It is apparent that many who regarded Hitler's threat lightly are now beginning to real ize the seriousness of the situation and are willing to take steps to check the barbarian hordes. British morale was said to have been given a 40 per cent boost, and reports from those now feeling the heavy Nazi heel asserted a new hope following the broadcast of the Pres ident's speech. COMMISSIONERS Although they haw very lit tie work scheduled. the .Martin commissioners can well expect a long session next Monday. Pre liminary reviews of the county's IB41 structure, including the al leged tax dodgers are fairly like ly. The various departmental budgets will likely be discuss ed. hut no action is expected. The meeting is one which noth ing special is scheduled for con sideration, but one during which nearly everything will he dis cussed. Advocates of a county wide li hrary service are planning to appear before the hoard with a good argument. liOeal Man (Jianred r ^ itli Theft Of C.ar Here Las! Saturday <!. Mm-IioImiii Suffer* Iin fill Itark Injury in Hail Vulii ('fmh Mystery surrounding the theft and suhse(|uent wreck of Mrs .1 A Ku son's car last week end was clan fied by members of the highway pa trol and town and county officers Tuesday afternoon with the arrest of J. C. Nicholson, local young white man, in Weldon. Nicholson indirect ly admitted the theft of the car, hut seems to remember very few details relative to the wreck arid subsequent happenings until several hours la tor. Nicholson, believed to have been j alone, stole the car from in front of the Kason home on Academy Street late Saturday night. The car was found a few hours later wrecked be yond repair at Mill Branch on the Hamilton Road. Investigating the case, Patrolman Whit Saunders found a comb which was later identified as that of Nicholson's. Other arti cles were found and they aided in identifying Nicholson. Questioned by officers, Nicholson said that he took some medicine about 10:30 o'clock last Saturday night for a cold, that he latei drank some ABC liquor The next thing he could recall was that he felt the uu tomobile turning over I don't know whether I was thrown out or wheth er I crawled from the wrecked ma chine,-" he told officers Apparently in a daze as a result of the liquor and the wreck, Nicholson, suffering only a painful back injury, wandered through the woods and at daybreak he was two miles from the scene of the wreck and near Abbitt's mill He went to a home and later paid a man 50 cents to carry him home Af ter spending the afternoon at home, he left to visit a relative in Weldon, his arrest being effect there Tuesday afternoon. ? r, Nicholson, about 25 years of kffc, was given a preliminary hearing be fore Justice J L. I {assetI Tuesday night. Probable cause was found in the case and he was bound over to the superior court for trial under bond in the sum of $50(1. The bond was later reduced to $300, but the young man was unable to raise that amount immediately and he was or dered to jail. He is charged with the larceny of a car and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxi cating liquor. * Two Im/tlirali'il Willi Slaiinhli'r llom><? Thr/l Nelson Mason anil Former Res pa si were placed under bond. In the sum of $100 this week In con nection with the alleged theft of a quantity of sausage from the Rob erson Slaughter House late last Tues day night Mason is charged with the theft and Respuss is charged with aiding and abetting larceny. They are sched uled to appear for trial in the county court next Monday. firmans (.out inuin*^ Costly ( ani|?ai<rn In Mediterranean Area ? Outright lnl<-r\fiilion l?v Thin Nation So. ii \, Only Hop? '?? Stop Barbarian* Without ship.- Of his own Olid bat "1K against tt?. mighty Rntish ' font in,,,- to push for ??",! ,?|? ?,, Mod,h um,, an area ?ii nig Kit-liter part of the conti llcul of Kurupe already offering ">iu .111 nop heel domination Al tl'ouKl, reduced to a scale as compared with Dunkirk and the Withdrawal frnn, Greece, the situa tionmth, Island of Crete is now re guided -erious for the stalwart ? it t k and British defenders. The defending fore s are literally but 'ltd Up with escape possible only uv ; ' 'n.Hiritaiii .?,d SIIlal, I.m.mIn be\ ojld Sending tropos by air. Hitler has n ii I u:111v nailu?d control <>t the 165 inng island and has dealt cost l> blows to the British fleet. The main island |mit. Suda [lav. has fall en nil,, the hands of II,,- invaders 1 ""K with large supplies of British munition- H?l. , ,s rapidly build "iK hi- stepping sto?,.s th,. Nw hast, and It IS becoming more appar < "t that nothing v. ill can stop right intervention by this nation. , l"1'" J*. endle . assaults. de,in,\ed a, Suda Bay the 8,250-ton ei nr., i Vol U. a- she lay crippled and imdci intermittent repair But off, J'"11 ?>uiicc?tnents indicated, all -illL,SAA.ijj i.'f heriiOO-man crety-?two dead and fIVr wounded- got awav Unscathed Shortly thereafter the Middle Bust command announced "Our troops ia\e withdrawn to positions east of Suda Hay." The tie,mans already had the '"""h ruined capital Catica which "es across a narrow ruck of land JUS] oil .suda Hay and the airport of M.ilemi, III miles southwest "I Ca ilea. Possession of Ihe hav itself ad unitedly peifechd a bridgehead for sea borne iciiilntc, mciit.s Hi,1,1 now Male,,11 and nearby U-aehe . have funned Hie main gatcw.iv lot the an borne invaders So far the Brili h sa> Vei v few Axis IriH.ps have landed bv sea al tl'oiigh the III,led, have received sonic Sea borne Imlp themselves Ihe British. Australians and New /.inlanders, with their Greek anil Crete allies, made several counter a Lin tik - that eu-t Ih^Aicrmana. many IV,-s. hut they were to,led -lowly back by she, , weight ..I nun.bei , ( .'"ca had he. ,, dolu-d liy the r,v ' an population and Suda Bay too, had I,en,, denied of all Ihe ships thai could leave It ,s ., watery grave J..Ill (in semi submerged hulks as lie result ,,t dive iiumhiiigs which ""K before ihe invasion, made the had,,,, one of the most hellish spots en earth ''!k' ?<?? l?o other mam ? ttbriK.it- on the northern coastal belt It, nono. 35 mil,.- ,-asl of Ca tma. and Candia. 30 miles farther ?ast have seareely u stone on top "f one another The Greek emigre prerr.lei. Emmanuel Tsoud. rus said today that fire u, these cities has completed the work of the dive bombers which themselv, "litrtal ly plowed up" the towns Cmiea I.nte had 2(1.000 people; < anilia 33.000. and Iteitimo, H.flOO Destruction ?f York means that the British now have acknowl fdj?e iii th? battle fo Crete loss of 7 Will ships, three cruisers, and four '?Iruyns ther slops were ?""k m preventing sea borne Axis i einloicements from reaching the island last week Two battleships and several other warships have been damaged l.ate reports, released by German sources, maintain Crete has fallen and thai victory is just about com P te A British general was said to Continued on page four) Announce Operators Carolina Warehouse A strong operating personnel for tin1 New Carolina Tobacco Ware bouse this coming season was an nounced this week when Messrs. Syl vester Lilley, John A. Manning, W. IV. ?dom and Johnny Gurkin form ed a partnership and immediately formulated plans for operating the business. These men are widely known to tobacco growers and other farmers throughout the eastern section of North Carolina They have been closely connected with agriculture at its buse, and have been on the markets representing the growers for a number of years. Mr. Odom comes to the market here from Ahoskie where he has been cnguged in the warehouse bus iness for u number of years. He is regurded as an uble tobacconist and warehouseman.?Tha?other?three? members of the firm need no intro duction to the farmers of this and adjoining counties. Through their various business connections, they have gained the confidence and good will of hundreds upon hundreds of farmers over a wide territory. A new operating schedule \ the Williamston market a ful season.