North Carolina Newspapers

PAT PAY WAS BOND DAT mr mmn?un mum THE ENTERPRISE ovu rarer FOR VICTORY IIMTCD STATES HM BONDS-STAMPS VOLUME XLV?NUMBER 80 Williamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, October 9, 1942. , ESTABLISHED 1899 County's Delinquent Tax List Is Smallest In Number Of Years About 300 Unpaid Accounts Out of 8,000, Represent ing $4,430.92 Due Martin County's delinquent tax list, appearing today (or the tax year of 1941, reached a new low point in amount and numbers, the 318 past due accounts amounting to $4,430.92 being recognized as the smallest in a quarter of a century. Favored by a good harvest and fair prices, the property owners recognized their tax obligations and moved to clear their accounts from the books before the delinquent list was released. Starting out just twelve months ago with a levy in excess of $200,000, Tax Collector M. L. Peel has reason to be pleased with the record to date. That record reflects a steady drive for the settlement of the ac counts on his part, and, too, it re flects an improved condition on the financial front for hundreds of prop erty owners. nte size of the list can better be appreciated when compared with the one of about ten years ago. Back during the depression there were about 1,000 delinquent accounts rep resenting unpaid tax accounts of nearly $50,000. Tax conditions started showing some improvement in 1933 and 1934, and last year the number of delin quent tax accounts dropped to 491 from 696 the year before, the reduc tion in unpaid accounts being about $5,000. The delinquent accounts being ad vertised today will be offered for sale at public auction on the first Monday in next month. The county commissioners have already an nounced that publication and sale next year will not be delayed but will be handled about May. Quite a few farmesr are looking ahead and are paying their 1942 accounts now, the collector stating that payments are far greater this year than they were during the corresponding per iod in 1941. A comparison of the delinquent lists for 1941 and 1942 and the un paid amounts for the two years fol Number Advertised 1M1 1942 James ville 90 56 Williams 27 13 Griffins 7 6 Bear Grass 5 5 Williamston 133 75 Cross Roads 24 10 Robetsonville 103 83 Poplar Point 0 1 Hamilton 33 32 Goose Nest 69 37 401 318 Amounts Uncollected 1M1 Jemesville ? 856.19 $ 535.72 Williams 285.84 55.74 Griffins 39.99 70.93 Bear Grass 79.60 11.95 Wllliamston 2.335.88 1,439.23 Cross Roads 376.27 96.18 Robersonville 1,508.10 836.43 Poplar Point 0.00 2.56 Hamilton 1,139.05 713.84 Goose Nest 2,073.33 667.74 .1 *8,683 25 *4,430.92 Large Number Cases On Recorders Court Docket Last Monday Cases Accumulate During the Two Weeks Superior Court Was in Session s Idle tor two weeks while the su perior tribunal was scheduled to have been in session, the Martin County Recorder's Court had an ac cumulation of cases on its docket for trial ISst Monday. Seventeen cases were called by Judge R. L. Coburn, and the court was in session until almost 1 o'clock that afternoon. A comparatively small number of spectators was present for the fol lowing proceedings: The case charging Harry Lanier with bastardy was continued until next Monday. Pleading guilty in the case charg ing him with drunken driving, Geo. T. Gardner was fined )50, taxed with the cost and had his driver's license revoked for one year. Luther Casper and Cecil B. Keel, charged with being drunk and dis orderly and drunken driving, enter ed no plea. Casper was adjudged guilty of being dnink and disorder ly, the court suspending Judgment in his case upon the payment of the court costs and on condition that he remain away from "Shade" Ed mondson's home. Keel, adjudged guilty of drunken driving, was fined $50, taxed with the cost and had his license revoked for one year. The case charging Jesse James Outterbridge with non-support was continued until next Monday. Charged with bastardy, Henry Bussey was sentenced to the roads for three months. The sentence eras suspended on condition that the de fendant pay $$ a month, beginning November 1 and each month there after for a period of one year for the support of his child The defand (Conttaued on-page six) No Liquor Cases in Court For First Time in Num berof Years For the first time in years ? at least fifteen?there were no alleged liquor law violators to appear be fore Judge I. M. Meek ins when he convened the regular October term of federal court in Washington this week. Regularly in years passed. En forcement Officer J. H. Roebuck would pack his brief case with evi dence and appear reguarly before the court as prosecuting witness in as many as thirty or forty cases when the violations apparently had reach ed a peak. This week, the officer re mained at his post in this county do ing his own knitting. Judge Meekins was quoted as say ing that the sugar rationing system had had a marked effect in reduc ing the illegal manufacture. No re port could be had for all the other counties in the eastern division, but apparently there were very few li quor cases before the court this week. Only one case from this county was on the docket. John Williams, 43-year-old Goose Nest colored man, was carried before the court for al legedly refusing to register for pos sible military service. Judge Meekins studied the case and while it carried serious implcations and a possible long prison term and a heavy fine, he reasoned that it was more through ignorance than anything else that the man had not registered. After passing by several opportunities to register, Williams signed up with out delay at the draft board office here yesterday afternoon in the pres ence of U. S. Marshal Ford Worthy. Williams had a mad look on his face as he left the draft board office a free man after being confined to jail since last August. Two Lose Lives This Week In This County CONTROL BOARD While anxious to do their bit on the home front to Insure vic tory on the war front, Messrs. W. R. Burrell and J. C. Manning, both of Wllllamston, and H. 8. Everett, of Robersonville, were a bit reluctant In accepting ap pointments as members of the Martin County Price Control Board. Their duties have not been definitely determined, but the three men. It is understood, will serve as policemen over Il legitimate prices and black mar ket activities. It is likely they will hear complaints from any consumer, and take drastic ac tion in checking inflationary price trends on the home mar kets. Large Number Tires Allotted In County By Rationing Board Application*) for Forty-three Tires Carried Over Since Previous Meeting After spending much time discuss- | ing the need for a more rigid gas ra tioning with District Administrator Leach, the county ratoning board got around to its applications for tires late yesterday afternoon. A to tal of 54 tires, mostly recaps was al lotted .the board carrying over ap plications from the current list for 43 additional tires. Increasing the county's October quota of recap tires from 24 to 48, the head rationing authorities appar ently can be expected to curtail new tire quotas in the future. Only one new auto tire was allot ted yesterday and that went to Dr. V. A. Ward, of Robersonville. Retread automobile tires were is sued to the following: Mrs. Watt Daniel Burton, William ston, two tires and four tubes for use as county health nurse. John Hyman Roberson, RFD, Wil liamston, one tire for farm. J. L. Williams, RFD 1, Roberson ville, two tires for farm. W. C. Windley, Williamston, three tires for buying peanuts. W. R. Banks, Williamston, two tires for taxi. J. J. Whitley, Robersonville, two tires for hauling farm produce. New truck tires and tubes were granted the following: Farmville-Woodward Lumber Co., Williamston, three tires and three tubes for hauling lumber. R. L. Ward Coal and Wood Yard, Williamston, two tires and two tubes, for hauling fuel and scrap iron. Williamston Parts and Metal Co., Williamston, one tire and tube for hauling scrap metal. John Gurkin, Williamston RFD 1, two tires and two tubes for tuiuling lumber. Retread truck tires were allotted, as follows: Robert James Hardison, R1'T> 1, Williamston, five tires for hiiuling (Continued on page six) GAS REBATES :? Martin County farmer*, entitl ed to tax rebate* on gasoline used la tractors and for the oy eratton of other farm machin ery, must file their claims not later than next Tuesday, Octo- ' her ltth, according to Mr. O. H. narrtosu, of the Hrirrtson Oil Csmpuny here. Claims to tux refunds en all rmsollne used hy farmers during the months of July, August and September will he rsnstdsred hy the State De partment of Inouc. The efflees of the Hanlsou OH Csmpuny hare wtlltngty of Number of Highway Fatalities Pushed To Four For This Year Lilllr Girl Fatally Injured iu Fall front ('.art; Man Kill ed Riding Motoreyele ? Two untimely accidents claimed the lives ot two more ^persons in Martin County this week, boosting the highway death toll list tor the year to date to four and the number of fatal accidents to more than one half dozen. Vehicles were involved in most of the fatal accidents report ed in the county so far this year, but only four of them were on the high ways, Minnie Frances L<eggctt, eleven years old, died in a Greenville hos pital last night at 7:50 o'clock from injuries when she fell from a horse drawn cart near her home last Tues day afternoon about 5 o'clock. Rid ing with several other children, the little girl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Staton Leggett, of near Hassell, was pushed out of the cart when the handles of a pair of hole diggers got caught in the wheel, causing the dig gers to fly up and strike her. It is not known if the blow from the dig gers fractured her skull, or whether she was hurt in the fall or run over by the cart wheel. She was said to have spoken a few words, but never fully regained consciousness. Receiv ing first aid treatment in the Rober sonville clinic, she was carried on to the hospital in Greenville Besides her parents, she is sur vived by three brothers and three sisters. Funeral arrangements were not completed immediately, but inter ment will follow in the Mobley cem etery in Bear Grass Township. Bonnie Latham, 27-year-old Beth el man, was fatally injured and Al ton Carson, also of Bethel, was bad ly shocked when their motorcycle crashed into an automobile driven by Jack Palmer, colored, near Par mele on U. S. Highway 64 last night at 9:30 o'clock. Latham, suffering a skull fracture and other injuries, died en route to a Tarboro hospital. (Continued on page six) 1 Renewed Activities In Red Cross Rooms Renewed activity waa reported in the two Red Cross rooms here this week following the receipt of ma terial for the surgical dressings room over the Western Auto Store and 100 pounds of khaki wool for the sewing room in the Woman's Club building. General calls for volunteer workers are being issued, and Mrs. N. C. Green, chairman of the sew ing room, and Mrs. Tom Barnhill, chairman of the other project, ex plain that the work can be easily handled if the women of the com munity respond willingly. Mrs. Green announces that suffi cient khaki wool is on hand now to make 66 Army sleeveless sweaters and 66 army mufflers. There is al so a quantity of blue wool on hand for making sailors' watch caps, and 100 pounds of wool to be made into sweaters for suffering refugees. Any one having Red Cross knitting nee dles not in use is urged to return them to the sewing room. Within a short time a shipment of finished knitted articles for the men in the service will be made, and Mrs. Green is urging those who have completed articles on hand to turn them in next Tuesday It has been suggested in some quarters that the Red Cross articles are not going into proper channels. Such statements are unfounded and are traceable to sabotage efforts. Mrs. Green explained that hundreds of letters had been received from men in the service and from help less and needy refugees, express sincere appreciation for the articles made by the Red Cross. UNCLE SAM BATTLING TO UPHOLD Americcts Freedom THE 43RD WEEK OF THE WAR Following passage by Congress of the second price control act, Pres ident Roosevelt ordered ceilings placed over wages, salaries, profits, farm prices and rents, and appoint ed supreme court Justice James F. Byrnes as Director of Economic Sta bilization with the job of developing a National Economic policy. Justice Byrnes resigned from the court to accept the new position. He will have authority over all govern ment agencies in the economic field and will be assisted by a fourteen man economic stabilization board composed of eight agency hepds and six private citizens. Maximum Prices and Rents Immediately following the Presi dent's executive order, Price Ad ministrator Henderson imposed em ergency 60-day price ceilings on virtually all exempt food items, bringing 90 per cent of the family food budget under rigid control. Previously only 60 per cent was con trolled. Under control for the first time are butter, cheese, evaporated and condensed milk, eggs, poultry, flour, dry onions, potatoes, fresh and canned fruits and juices, dry edible beans, cornmeal and mutton. Food retailers, wholesalers, manufactur ers and processors are affected. Each dealer's price is frozen at the high est level he charged in the five days Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 inclusive. The per manent ceilings later may entail some price reductions, Mr. Hender- j son said. Administrator Henderson also completed new orders freezing all uncontrolled urban and rural rents at levels of last March 1. He an nounced the Office of Price Admin istration would amend existing reg ulations to prevent eviction of ten ants resulting from sales of rental property, a practice which he said in many cases has become a device to avoid the effect of rent control. Previously rent control was limited to approximately 400 designated de fense rental areas. Stabilization of Wages The President's order had the ef fect of freezing all wage rates for the time being until the National War Labor Board has a chance to act in individual cases. Wage rates may not be changed?up or down? without the approval of the NWLB. The board may adjust Wages "to cor rect maladjustments or inequalities, to eliminate substandards of living, to correct gross inequities, or to aid in the effective prosecution of the war." Salaries in excess of $5,000 u year may not be increased without the ap proval of stabilization Director Byrnes unless an individual h;is been assigned to more difficult or more responsible work Director Byrnes was given power to place a $25,000 limit on salaries after taxes but with (Continued on page /tlx) William B. Rogers Passes In County Mr. William B. Rogers, well-known Bear Grass Township farmer, died at his home there last Tuesday night at 9:30 o'clock. Pneumonia, follow ing a stroke of paralysis suffered on Thursday of last week, was given as the immediate cause of his death. He was fairly active and attended to his farm duties until he was strick en a week ago, the end coming grad ually. The son of the late Bryant Rogers and wife, he was born in Beaufort County 65 years ago. When a young man he was married to Miss Lucy V. Coltrain and she with one son, Al ton, survives. Mr. Rogers moved to this county 25 years ago, making his home during most of that time in Bear Grass Township where he was highly regarded as a neighbor and friend. He was a successful farmer and a member of the Macedonia church for a number of years. Funeral services were conducted at the home yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock by his pastor, Rev. Dennis Warren Davis. Interment was in the Taylor cemetery, a few miles from the home in Bear Grass Township. HIGH AS EVKR II Tobacco prices on the local market were described "as high as ever" with all grades In de mand. Observing a very Infer ior quality pile of tobacco, a far mer was anxious to know what It would sell for because be was not certain It was worth tying up. When it sold for twelve and one-half cents he went running out of the warehouse, yelling back that if any one wanted to find him he would be In his paekhouse tying sorry tobacco. Appswxlmately 2*6,00* pounds of leaf are on the ffoprs today with the average holding above 4* cents a pound despite large quantities of Inferior quality to Scrap Drive Making Progress In County Hundred Thousand Pounds Collected In J The Past Four Days Preliminary Total* Reported By Little School Tot* are Really Surpri*ing Little children may lead them in some cases, but down here in Martin County it is a case where the little children are pushing 'em to make a grand start in the all-out state-wide scrap metal drive. Preliminary re ports coming from the schools are encouraging and even surprising to those who have been in the scrap drive business these past months. The greater part of 109,323 pounds of scrap metal was collected by the ten white schools during the first four days of the ^urrent drive. "And iiii.4 4 1-1.1 UmlinninrT " 4Wn 1l44lii we're just the* beginning," the little folks in nearly every one of the schools were quoted as saying. Breaking down the commercial side of the scrap drive and tearing through barriers of apathy and in difference to the country's urgent call for scrap, the school youngsters are striking home with their interest and efforts and are accomplishing startling results. Those young folks are hard to guess, but the way they have started out in their task they'll get a million pounds and possibly more. It should be remembered that they'll have to get well over two and one-half million pounds to equal the record already established out in Nebraska. Following a canvass of the county yesterday, Salvage Campaign Chair man V. J. Spivey reported the fol lowing collections by schools and dealers: TumoetOll.. o onn Farm Life Bear Grass Everetts Hobersonville Hassell Oak City Gold Point Hamilton Williamston Dealers Total 2,000 6,000 4,000 22,000 2,500 8,973 1,000 3,000 38,000 19,550 109,323 Officers Capture Still In County After a long period of compara tively little activity, County ABC Officer J H Roebuck and Deputy Roy Peel made an impressive blow against the illicit liquor traffic down in the Free Union section of James ville Township Wednesday morn ing when they captured a 100-gallon capacity copper kettle and poured out six barrels of beer. The still was cold, but the plant hud been in op eration the night before. Fairly cer tain that the beer was not made of sugar, the officers stated apparently that it was made with a mixture of molasses and honey. Anticipating a visit from the offi cers, the operators moved the kettle from the plant. Following a smutty trail and tracking the operators, the officers found the still more than a quarter of a mile from the plant. ? Open Registration Books For Election Books for the registration of citi zens desirous of participating in the general election on Tuesday, Novem ber 3, will be opened in the county's thirteen precincts tomorrow. New names will be received at that time and on the two succeeding Satur days, the fourth Saturday having been set aside for a challenge of the registrations. Those citizens who par ticipated in a primary or election during or since 1940 will not fnd it necessary to register again to vote in the general election, provided they have not changed their places of res idence. With one or two exceptions, the personnel for handling the election on November 3 will be the same as it was last May. Registrar R. R. Rawls, of Goose Nest, is now in the Army, and his brother, J. A. Rawls, has been named in his place. A res ignation in Jamesville precinct is pending, according to Mr. Sylvester Peel, chairman of the county board of elections. Absentee voting is possible in the coming election, but much red tape has to be cut to get the ballot in the box. Those citizens elegible to cast an absentee ballot are directed to contact their respective registrar or the county elections chairman for an application. All indications point to a listleu election in this county. There are no contests for county officers, and only one or two candidates on th^ State ticket have opposition. It is possible that the proposed amendments to the constitution will create more in terest than the regular ticket will in the general election. WARNING District Gas Administrator Leach, visiting the county ra tioning board here yesterday, is sued a warning against lax meth ods and violations in handling gasoline rationing coupons. It was pointed out that a few in dividual hooks had been stolen in this county, that the thieves are able to use the coupons be cause station operators do not bother to check the books with the type of car and for owner ship. Such and similar cases in volve the filling station operator as much as they do the person using a stolen book or using an S book to fill a tank in a car bearing an A sticker. Mr. I.earh said that no filling station operator should fill a tank unless the proper sticker appears on the windshield. It was learned here yesterday that fifteen enforcement officers are sweeping over the State, that they are expected to cover this section in due time to check re ported violations and investi gate the program in general. German Hordes Still Pounding Important City Of Stalingrad German* Fir*t Reported To Be Withdrawing from Attack 011 Gitv 1 Despite earlier reports that Hitler was withdrawing from the costly frontal attack on the important city of Stalingrad, late dispatches declare there is no sign of any let-up in the fighting there, that the German hordes are continuing their offen sive and that the toll of life and equipment continues to mount to horrifying figures. An early after noon report stated that 2,000 Ger mans sacrifice their lives in an ef fort to overrun two streets in the once-important industrial center. While the late reports would seem to contradict the first, it is fairly cer tain that Hitler and his co-killers are disturbed over the failure of their hordes to capture the city. Over a week ago, Hitler ordered the cap ture of the city, but that fortress, manned by men and women who pre fer death to surrender, continues to hold. While the defenders continue to hold their own before and in the city itself, the Russians are making small but steady gains northwest of the city, two strategic points having been recaptured in a flanking move ment. There is a plausible possibility that Hitler will bow to General von Bock's plans and by-pass Stalingrad for a plunge into the Caucasus. Ger man forces, supported by reinforce ments, are making some gains in their drive toward the Grozny oil fields and a major break-through in that area would open a route to the Caspian Sea. If Hitler decides to withdraw from Stalingrad as he was quoted over DNB. official German radio, where will be strike next? is a question the Allied commands are now pondering over. It is fairly certain that he will bolster his drive toward the Middle East in an effort to meet Rommel's forces in Africa. But Rommel, suf fering heavy losses under Allied air attacks, can hardly move at the pres ent time. It is possible that Hitler will draw some of his forces back to the west to plague the Allies in that area. When Hitler announced last night that he was continuing his frontal attack on Stalingrad, that he would finish the job with heavy ar tillery and dive bombers, he caused some confusion, but behind it all it I is apparent that the murderer has suffered a major set-bark at the hands of the valiant Russians in and around Stalingrad. The American air force is being heard from in a big way today. More than 100 strong and escorted for the first time by American fighters aid ed by the RAF, American bombers are working over Lille, important French industrial center near the Belgium border. No report on the raid, described as the greatest ever (Continued on page ilz) DISTRICT MEET Closing their office in the agri cultural building here all day next Tuesday, members of the county rationing board and em ployees will attend a meeting of state and district rationing au thorities in Greenville next Tuesday, Mr. H. L. Roebuck, a member of the local board, an nounced this morning. No comment could be had from the board member, but It is understood that the authori ties will discuss a more rigid system for fas rationing and dis cuss plans for handling fupl ell allotments. Several Schools In County Are Pushing Campaign For Scrap ??? County-wide Collection Gain iiif; Impetus Pointing to ('.lean Sweep Next Week Going wholeheartedly into-the campaign to collect every piece of old scrap iron and metal, school children and others, too, are expect ed to make a clean sweep on a coun ty-wide basis this week-end. Al though some of the schools are not operating just now and other chil dren are as busy as they can be with the farm harvest work, all the young folks are pushing the campaign. Individual reports are encourag ing and they point to a successful campaign extending to every nook and corner in the county. Principal D. N Hix and his scrap pers are leading the county just now with a collection of 38,000 pounds piled in the two school yards during the past few days. Miss Edith Brad ley's sixth grade is leading at pres ent with 4,800 pounds, and Mrs. John Eagles' sixth grade is second with 3,700 pounds. Over in the primary department, Mrs. Carroll Crockett's little first graders are making quite a showing with some over 2.000 pounds of scrap on the yard heap. In Jamesville the school children have brought in a total of 2300 pounds. They expect to increase this amount by a large margin over the week-end. Mrs. W. B. Gaylord, who owns a large number of cannon balls made during the Civil War said yes terday she would make her contri bution over the week-end, and Mrs. Annie Glasgow, who owns an old cotton gin, stated that she was go ing to contribute the entire gin to the salvage program. Farm Life school children have only collected 2000 pounds but they expect to get busy over the week end and put into operation several trucks hauling scrap metal, Princi pal Tommie Gaylord said yesterday. Due to the illness of Principal T. O. Hickman and because Rossell Rog ers was busy on the local tobacco market Bear Grass was delayed in getting its campaign started. Howev er, they have collected 6000 pounds and expect to pass this figure by a large score next week. The Everetts school, working un der the direction of Chairman D. W. Gaskill, has collected 4000 pounds of scrap iron and metal. Clarence and Earl Forbes will contribute next week a large steam boiler which will increase the tonnage there consider ably. Robersonville school children, working with Principal L. W. An derson and Principal Marvin Ever ett, have donated and sold approxi mately 11 tons and they expect to double this amount within the next few days. The Hassell school and community have collected around 2500 pounds and George Haislip, principal of the school there, said yesterday they ex pected to enter the. campaign with full force next week. No trailers were available in the community for the hauling of the scrap and (Continued on page six) t Secretary Declares Attack On Farm Bureau Unfounded SpcukK to Directors and Mem bernhip Committer Here Wednesday Evening "This is no time to quibble about smalt matters, but for the sake of fairness the records should be kept straight," R. Flake Shaw, executive secretary of the North Carolina Farm Bureau, declared in defense of the organization at a meeting of the Martin County unit directors and membership committee at the American Legion hut here last Wed nesday evening. The Farm Bureau official strongly declared that the farmer's patriotism was beyond ques tion, that the farmer had done his part and could be expected to con tinue to do his part in peace or war. "The farmer is only asking that he be treated fairly," Mr. Shaw added, expressing some wonder as to why the public feels as it does about the farmer. Continuing Mr. Shaw said, "Re viewing the record, one can find no reason to apologize for the stand tak en by the Farm Bureau. When defi nite facts support your case, and your case is just and fair, there is no cause for an apology. It is possi ble," Mr.. Shaw frankly admitted, "that the farm bloc stepped a bit too rapidly to the front," but he quick ly branded most of the criticism di rected against it during the recent parity price fight in Congress as be ing unfair and unjustified. "The Farm Bureau has accomplish ed much for the farmer and for the country, too. It has given the nation the ever-normal granary, and when it disagrees with the Prerident on agricultural matters, the organiza tion does not mean that it Isn't going to do its part. "Two years ago, the Fsrm Bureau passed a resolution in its meeting at Baltimore, (Continued so page stx)