North Carolina Newspapers

MAKE EVERY PAY DAY POND DAY MM TMC PAY-MU. IAY1MS PUD THE ENTERPRISE For Victory...^ Buy SUITED STATES DEFENSE BONDS* STAMPS VOLUME XLV?NUMBER 15 Williamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, February 20, 1942. ESTABLISHED 1899 I Rationing Board In Special Meet Here Yesterday Morning No Action Taken on New Car Sales; Will Meet Again Next Monday Asked to recognize a contract for the purchase of a new car, the Mar tin County Rationing Board in a special meeting here yesterday morn ing delayed action Wat would "un freeze" inventories on hand as of January 1st in those cases where ev idence of contracts could be estab lished- to- -the complete satisfartion of the board. The rationing of au tomobiles and trucks does not go in to effect until the latter part of next week, and the board yesterday con sidered only those applications ask ing that those^inventories on hand as of January 1st be released where evidence of contract could be estab lished. There are quite a few cases where customers placed orders with the dealers and trade agreements had been advanced verbally. The sales in those cases were "frozen" before deliveries could be effected. These cars, for the most part, are now in the dealers' showrooms. In addition to the "frozen" inventory, addition al cars have been received by the dealers, but the late shipments will come under the car rationing sys tem. Only one application was filed with the board yesterday. Miss Lora E. Sleeper explained to the board that she had placed an order for a car on last June 28, that the type of car she ordered could not be had. It was fairly apparent in this case that while the particular car ordered by the applicant had not been made available, the Washington dealer had another car and that the appli cant was asking that it be released. Instructions, released by the OPA, does not permit the board to recog nize verbal contracts, and they point out that for a sale to be consumated an order must have been placed for a definite type of car. No action was taken on the application since the applicant did not list the motor num ber of the car and other detailed in formation. Next Monday afternoon between 1 and 3 o'clock, the board will con sider applications for certificates of purchase. Those persons who had placed orders for cars and who think they have sufficient evidence to prove contract are asked to appear (Continued on page six) William S. Mai lory Dies Suddenly Last Wednesday Morning Funeral Service for Promi nent County Farmer Was Held Yesterday William Sidney Mallory, well known county farmer, died at his home near Oak City last Wednesday morning at 1:15 o'clock. Retiring about 8:00 o'clock Tuesday evening, Mr. Mallory was apparently in his usual health. About two hours later he woke up and told members of his family that he wasn't feeling well, but after receiving treatment he stated that his condition was better. About midnight he suffered the acute attack, and the family physi cian was called, and it was while he was talking with the doctor and members of the family that he suf fered another attack and died Sud denly. Mr. Mallory, 69 yeays old on Thurs day of last week, had a slight heart attack about three weeks ago, but he was found to be in fairly good health when undergoing a physical examination a few days later. He attended a hog killing Tuesday, and while he had not been as active as he once was, his health was consid ered as good as usual. - The son of the late Sidney C. and Lula York Mallory, he was born near Oxford in Granville County. When a child he moved with his family to Nash County, locating in the Chgpel Community. When a young man he was married to Miss Effie Saunders in 1903. Following (Continued on page six) Reported Dead In Pacific Area Austin Randolph Jackson. Jamesvillc young man. was reported to have died in the Pacific area last Monday, according to an official communication received by his mother. Mrs. Ora Jackson Burnett, this week from the Navy Department. Judge Robt. Coburn Calls Eight Cases In The County's Court Three Defendants Churned Willi Drunken Driving Laat Monday Judge Robert L. Coburn held the Martin County Recorder's Court in session until after one o'clock last Monday before clearing the eight cases from the docket. The number of spectators was larger than usual, but most of them deserted the court room after hearing the trial of two long, drawn-out cases. Drunken driving gobbled up al most half of the docket space, two of the defendants in the three cases pleading guilty as charged. Proceedings in the court: Continuing his round-up of alleg ed tax delinquents, Special Tax Col lector S. H. Grimes presented W. T. Currie to the court for failing to pay his dog taxes. Currie pleaded guilty, the court suspending judgment upon payment of the taxes and the court costs. Pleading not guilty in the case charging her with assaulting anoth er person with a deadly weapon, Narcissus Williamston was sentenc ed to jail for thirty days. The jail sentence was suspended upon pay ment of a $15 fine and the court costs. Notice of appeal was given, and the court required bond in the sum of $100. Adjudged guilty in the case charg ing him with drunken driving, Mar ion Andrews was sentenced to the roads for a term of six months. The sentence was suspended upon the condition {Hat the defendant pay a $50 fine and the court costs. His li (Continued on page six) * Will Offer ('rots Roads Bonds For Sale Tuesday Martin County will offer $44,000 worth of Cross Roads Township road refunding bonds for sate in Raleigh next Tuesday morning, Commission er C. D. Carstarphen said today. While the bond market may not be as favorable as it was a short time ago, county authorities are hopeful the interest can be materially reduc ed from the six per cent rate the bonds are now carrying VICTORY SING The Martin County-Bethel Symphonic Chorus, Lewis Sid ney Bullock, conductor, will lead a Victory Community Sine at thr high school auditorium In Wjlliamston Sunday afternoon, February 22nd, at 3:00 o'clock. All music lovers are Invited to attend and participate in the singing. Mrs. Virginia Perry Passes At Her Home Here This Morning ?t liincrul Services for Ajjed Cit izen Tomorrow Afternoon At 2 :.'tO O'clock Mrs. Virginia Perry, one of the town's oldest citizens and a widow of the Confederacy, died at her home here on Beech Street this morning at 12 20 o'clock following a long per iod of di-clining health. An invalid for almost ten years, Mrs Perry was as well as usual last Saturday when she talked freely on various subjects with members of the family and friends. Last Sunday she was taken ill. the end coming gradually, and peacefully this morning, the result of infirmities of age. The daughter of the late John Lan ier and Mary Hodges Ward, she was born in this county a short distance from the Beaufort County line on July 6, 1854. She recalled the Civil War and even up until a short time ago she told about the hardships and trials experienced during that per On December 10, 1873, she was married to W. Micajah Perry who fought through the Civil War. Fol lowing their marriage the young couple located in Williams Township, moving from there to Williamston about 1914 Especially attached to children and young people, her home was open to friends at all times, and (Continued on page six) ? Fe w Filing Federal Income Tax Returns Few people in this county are fil Preliminary Reports Point to Increase In Property Values A sizable gain in assessed proper ty values in Martin County was pre dicted today for 1MJ over 1M1 by County Tax Supervisor C. D. Car starphen. The tax supervisor, stat ing all the while that he anticipated a gain, baaed his more or less defi nite prediction on preliminary re ports coming from three of the small er townships in the county. "It is possible that the total assessed val uation this year will exceed the 1M1 listings by half a million dollars or even more," Mr. Carstarphen said. Turning in his list this week, List atker Vernon Griffin reported an aseaased valuation of $331,103, or a gain of $14J>g over the 1M1 values. Poplar Point, the smallest political subdivision in the county, reported a gain of $1167# in its listings, the 1942 figure standing at $354,782. Cross Roads had an unusually large gain, List-taker Willie Ausbon stat ing that the values jumped from $574,186 to $642,438, a resulting in crease of $68,252. No other townships have officially reported their list ings, and Supervisor Carstarphen stated that the preliminary reports filed by the three districts are sub ject to minor corrections. The gains reported came after farm crops were deducted from the taxable lists, the list-takers explain ing that the increases were traceable to increased numbers of hogs and cattle. The automobile was another big item supporting the gain. Tire and car rationing is already caus ing some concern over next year's tax listings. ing income lax returns with special agents of the Treasury Department who are maintaining headquarters in the Williamston post office this week. "Apparently the people are fil ing their returns directly with the Collector?of Internul Revenue?in- - Greensboro," one of the department representatives said. Few farmers are said to have filed reports on their income for 1941, one of the representatives pointing out that single farmers making $750 and married farmers making as much as $1,500 gross during 1941 are suppos ed to file a return. It does not neces sarily mean that all farmers with that much gross income have to pay income taxes, but according to the law they must report their earnings. While the increase in income taxes will average about nine per cent greater in 1941 than for 1940, the man paying $12 income tax for 1940 will be called upon to pay about $90 this year, it was learned. The special income tax representa tives will be in the post ofice in Wil liamston until Saturday neon. Japs Pushing Drive On Several Nations In the Pacific Area \ltucko on North Carolina and Virginia ('.oasts Are Now Considered Likely Leaving only a small spot in the hands of General Douglas MacAr thur and his men unconquered, the yellow-tinted Japs are rapidly con tinuing their push on several fronts in the South Pacific, late reports stat ing that two strong jaws had been forced closed on Java in the fall of Sumatra and the small territory of Bali to the west of Java. The fight ing is just about over in Sumatra and Bali, and even though the at tack on General MacArthur is ex pected to continue unabated, the next Dloody fighting on a large scale is scheduled in Java where the last of the Southwest Pacific Allied bases stands outside of Australia. Ameri can troops have been landed in Ja va. and American airmen are there, but in what numbers it could not be learned. Australia, for the first time in its history, has had its mainland at tacked. Jap planes in fair large numbers doing an extensive damage to the port of Darwin in two raids yesterday. The Japs claim they sunk thirteen ships but Australian author ities while admitting an extensive damage deny the claim Australia is now on an all-out war schedule. Sporting programs have been "chunked" by the board, and it is a crime for a man to even ask for pay for his services. Rank presidents, clerks and other white-collar people are using picks and shovels in the defense of their country The occu pation of the Portugese island of Ti morby the Japs yesterday is aggra vating the already critical situation for Australia. Timor is just 400 miles north of Australia In Burma, the British were said to be holding their lines in defense of Rangoon and the Burma Road. However, the Japs are pouring more men into Burma, and it is believed that the Burma Road will fall with in a few days Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek conferred with leaders in (Continued on page six) Dr. W. R. Burrcll Addresses Kiwanis "Don't rock the boat, take cour age and weigh matters in the light of their spiritual and moral value," Dr W. R. Burrell said last night when speaking of world conditions to members of the Kiwanis Club. With reference to rocking the boat. Dr. Burrell was speaking, of course, to adverse criticism to our govern mental departments and our war ef forts. "We must have courage, forti tude and faith in our leaders and the cause for which we fight. If we are on the right side we'll win . . if not we deserve to lose," the speaker said. Dr. Burrell, who served as chap lain with the British forces in the first world conflict, visited or saw service in practically every country involved in the war His talk was both informative and interesting and he counriled and commissioned each individual to do the job which is now yours to do well. George Thorpe and Robert Kim ball, new members, met with the club last night. Both Mr. Thorpe and Mr. Kimball just recently moved to Williamston and are employed by the Virginia Electric and Power Company. Chlidren Hurt In School Bus Wreck Several children were hurt, none seriously, yesterday morning short ly after nine o'clock when a school bus driven by Charles Mizelle plow ed into another school bus driven by Slade Peel Revels at Skewarkey, near here. Eula Mae Williams, suffering a neck injury, Willie Lou Bowen, her nose bruised, and Magdalene Bowen, with an ankle injury, were treated in the offices of Drs. Rhodes and Llewellyn and later released. Sev eral other children were slightly bruised, one or two of them biting their lips. Reporting the accident, Principal D. N. Hi* stated that the Revels driver stopped his bus quickly to pick up some children who had been out several days on account of the L Miielle, measles hardly expecting Revels to stop and paying little at tention to his driving, plowed into the first bus. No great damage was done to the busses. Both drivers were relieved of their jobs, it was learned. r BANK HOLIDAY 1 Falling on Sunday, George Washington's birthday will be obeerved as a holiday by the lo cal banks and post office next Monday. No mail deliveries will be effected that day. Next Monday will not be ob served as a general holiday, how ever, and business, for the moot part, will maintain Its regular schedule of activities. Local Youth Believed Lost In Sea Tragedy Off N. C. Coast Dennis R. Coltrain, local young man, has been reported missing by a North Atlantic Steamship Com pany, his anxious parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dawse Coltrain. stating this morning that the ship he was on had been due in an Atlantic port since January 18th. Signing on a large steam ship of the U. S Merchant Marine last De- ! cember, Coltrain, 35 years old, hetd' the rank of second assistant engin eer. The name of the ship was not disclosed, but it was believed to have been attacked somewhere off the "North Carolina coast. One of its life boats was picked up empty off Cape Hattcras some time ago, and as far as it could be learned here none of the crew has been reported found. Despite the discouraging report the young man's aged parents stil! entertain a remarkable hope for hu safety. "He may have been picked up by another ship traveling out tc sea. and his rescue has not been re ported." Mrs. Coltrain reasoned Tht young man had been in the merchant marine service for about ten years Another son. Johnny, is also in the service and no word lias been re ceived from him in recent weeks. A third son, Moses, recently transfer red from the service to a land posi tion. ' The size, name and type of ship Dennis was working on was not dis closed. Mrs Coltrain was not certain if the ship had been reported lost. Measles Epidemic Sweeping Through b r Schools ot County Hiiudmh of Canet* Keporled In County by Princi pals ^nlnewlay ? Martin County schools are in the midst of their worst contagious dis ease epidemics in a number of years, according to a report coming from a meeting of the Martin County Schoolmasters Club in Oak City last Wednesday evening. Nearly three I hundred pupils were absent from school that day on account of measles, it was learned, the report stating that it was impossible to tell how many other children had con tracted the disease and Were still at tending school. The epidemic, while sweeping through the schools in nearly every section of the county with the ex ception of Rpbersonville and Oak City, is centered for the most part in the Williamston and Everetts districts, Williamston reporting an even hundred cases and Everetts, 55 Hamilton was next with 35 cases, with Farm Life following closely with 34 cases. Bear Grass reported 30 cases and Jamesville 20. Rober sonville and Oak City had only one case each. Very few cases have been report- , ed in the colored schools. The epidemic is possibly even j more inclusive than the one report ed about six years ago when the schools were forced to suspend op erations for a few days. However, there is little likelihood that the, schools will close, a report stating that unless the epidemic becomes more serious the schools will con tinue to operate. No direct report has been released by the county health officer, but it was learned from the health office that 183 cases of measles had been re ported. The number called to the at tention of the health office is near ly 100 less than the number of ab sences actually reported by the school authorities. If there has been any discussion about the advisability of closing or even continuing the schools, no men tion has been called to the attention of the public. Only one of the cases has proved serious, but most of the victims have carried unusually high fevers, tem peratures ranging as high as 106 de grees in some cases. Most of the vie- . tims have had bad coughs and in some instances slight chest conges- j tions. It is understood that the large j number of absences will not neces- 1 sarily affect the attendance record as far as teacher allotments for the next term are concerned. It is quite evident that large numbers of chil dren will get behind in their work i shorta(;k? Just why si 10 per cent in crease in the tobacco acreage al lotments has been granted is not quite clear in the face of a Unit ed States Department of Agri culture inventory report just re leased. It is true that the inven tory as of January 1st, this year, is slightly under that of a year ago, but even then the January 1. 1042 stocks were 172.856.000 pounds greater than they were in 1940, and there was no talk of a shortage at that time. B According to the report, Jan uary, 1942. stocks were inventor ied at 1,555,044,000 pounds, or 70,420,000 pounds less than the inventory on January 1, 1941. The total of all types of to bacco on hand last January 1st was 3,038,944,000 pounds as com pared with 2,939,826 pounds on hand January 1, 1941. Officials Canvass Draft ist ration At Special Meeting Officials KxprcHH Apprecia tion for Aid Rendered by The Registrars ? Canvassing the third draft regis tration at a special meeting here last Tuesday night, the Martin County Draft Board members expressed their appreciation for the able and efficient job handled by the volun teer registrars throughout the eoun ty. "They did a good job and we ap preciate it." Chairman Goodmon said According to official figures, 1.280 persons registered in the county last Monday, the 1281st one wandering in late Tuesday to get his name in the list of registrants. In a preliminary study of the leg istr;itinn, the draft board authorities found that twenty young men were apparently under age and should not have registered. One registrant is apparently over 44 years of age, and he along with the twenty young men will he called before the draft hoard clerk to definitely establish their ages. If their births are not recorded in the register of deeds' office ul the courthouse, the young men should produce their family Bibles or talk with someone who can help them as certain their correct ages. Thirty-five of those registering in the eight centers last Monday were from other counties or states. Their registration cards have already been forwarded to the state office of the Selective- Service system for deliv (Continued on page sixT 4 Funeral For Little Child IIrid In Macedonia Church Funeral services were held in the new Macedonia church -last Satur day afternoon for Leon Earl, the three months old son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Earl Griffin-, ,who died at the home of his parents last Friday in Griffins Township. Pneumonia was given as the cause of the child's death. Rev. D. W Davis, assisted by El der P. E Getsinger and Rev W B Harrington, conducted the last rites. Burial was in the Tice Community Cemetery. Measles Fatal To Ten-Year-Old Girl Orico Maverine Hardison, ten years old, died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adron Hardi son, in Griffins Township at 5:45 o'clock this morning of pneumonia Taken ill with a cold last Sunday, the little girl was able to attend school Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday night she was taken quite ill with measles, pneumonia devel oping the following day. She had been a diabetic patient for about four years and in her weakened con dition she was unable to combat the heavy burden of tne added disease Ten years old the fifth of this month, the little girl took much in terest in her school-work and would have made the current honor roll in the Farm Life school had she not been absent Wednesday. It was part ly to attain the honor that she in sisted on attending school the first two days of this week. She was bright and cheerful dyspite ill health. Besides her parents she is surviv ed by two brothers, James Adron, and Alvin M. Hardison, and a half brother, Dennis Myrton Hardison. Funeral services will be conduct ed Saturday afternoon at 3:3Q o'clock by Rev. W. B. Harrington. Interment will follow in the Tice Community Cemetery in Griffins Township. Young County Man Reported Dead In l). ?!" n raniic war \rea 1 Austin Kaiulolph Jackson I Said to Have I tied Mon day I'<??il?I\ in Hawaii Austin Randolph Jacifson. youth ful son of Mrs. Or a Jackson Burnett, was reported to have dud in the Pacific ni l I.Kt M'niut IV, ?ii'tmrHiiijt. to an official communication receiv ed by his mother in Jamesviile this week No details of his death could be had, the hnof message mprt?ly stating that the lad had died in a naval hospital presumably in Hono lulu It was the second message bearing s.'iiI m-ws for the v-num* m.m's? miilh? r and other relatives and friends in lie Jamosville conimunity and ov r the county Following the das ardly attack by the yellow-tinted aps on Pearl Harbor December 7th, oung Jackson was reported lost n December 16th. the terse message orning from the Navy Department tatinjf that he had been lost in the terformance of his duty in the de ense of his country. The message, oming soon after Pearl Harbor, was hocking to the people of this coun ry About two weeks later on Jan lary 1st, his mother received a mes age stating that he was alive; Christmas presents followed in due ime and the youth corresponded vith his mother, his thoughtfulness iromplitlg him to send a goodly por ion of his meager salary to her And hen the message bearing the shock ng news was flashed across the Pa ?ific to San Francisco and then across he continent, heaping sadness and sorrow upon his loved ones again. No details of the voiine man's leath could be had. It is believed, lOweVer, that he was -wounded dur ng the Pearl Harbor attack, and that leath was possibly the result of those vounds The son of Mrs Or a Jackson Burn ?tt and the late Austin Jackson, he. vas born in Jamosville on Decern - >er 15th, 1923. When a mere tot of ive years, the hoy Jost his father le grew up in the Jamosville eom nunity where he readily made i'iends and w here lie was recogniz ?d as a typical all around American ad. Asking little of life for himself, he lad before rounding out sixteen fears of age. offered his services to lis country by volunteering in the Navy. The picture appearing else where in tins papei, portrays the fouthfulness ?>f the lad, his inno ?ence of brutal warfare standing put (Continued on page six) Discusses lurlill, (iratlc For Schools In l\-T. V Meeting - s_ ? Vol C<-iiuin How, WIm-ii Or W here Crude Cull lie \<hl ed In Crertenl S\?leni Virtually admitting that definite jlans had not yet' been advanced for ts adoption. Superintendent J. G. Manning, addressing the regular neeting of the local parent-teacher tsspciation Wednesday afternoon, liscussed the general plan for add ng another grade to the schools He ;aid: The 1941 -General Assembly on Via re h 13th passed a law replacing he present eleven year system of schools with a twelve-year system. rhe State Sliperuutendeni of Publie nstruction was. rh;>rg<>H with the iutles ei" -I 11?r IK up tF|0 twelve-year lystem and $50(000 was appropriated 0 make the study. The "State Superintendent called 1 committee of approximately eighty )eople, including laymen, college irofessors, county and city superin endents, supervisors, principals and eachers. The first thing the committee did vas to decide where this additional ?rade should be- placed in the sys em There was a unanimous con tent in the minds of the committee hat this grade should be placed in he elementary school and that it ?hould follow after the seventh grade setting up our new system on a bas (Continued on page six) Tentative Plans for Widening River Bridge A Tentative plarf for widening the Roanoke Rivef bridge here have been approved, according to unoffi cial information received here this week. Few details could be gained relative to the proposed project, but. according to reliable sourcea of in-1 formation it ia now possible for the Highway Commission to. proceed with its plans for widening the bridge. It was pointed out that priority ratings for steel girders to be used in widening the concrete part of the bridge could not be had. but that rat ings for reenforced steel for making concrete girders had been granted. It could not be learned definitely, but it was understood that the at eel for the draw bridge itself was in eluded in the priority ratings re cently established. Bids for widening the bridge were asked some Weeks ago, but no con tract was awarded, and it is believ ed that the delay was caused when rattngs could not be had at thai time. It could not be learned if and when the commission plans to call for bids on the project, but it is be lieved that since the road is an im portant link in the federal and mil itary road system that every effort will be made to improve the bridge. Mr. J. C. Parkin has been trans ferred from High Point here as res ident engineer for the highway com mission. but he could offer no def inite plans relative toa tfe proposed project.