pmw * wa w «*<% 4 mm .
RoanoUR.™^ | THF HFl? A| f) f 31 PERCENT 1
16 612 * JL lU J. Of Halifax County Population
r wwjwwwAwwww.wj OF THE TWIN CITIES-ROANOKE RAPIDS-ROSEMARY
VOLUME 16.__ROANOKE RAPIDS-ROSEMARY, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11th, 1930. NUMBER 35,
COUNTY AUDITOR BURIED YESTERDAY
TAKE LAST
OF STORE
BREAKERS
Willie Taylor, Wanted
For Oak Store Rob
bery, Arrested
Willie Taylor, about 28 years of
age of Roanoke Rapids, the last
member to be arrested of a gang
of robbers who last January en
tered and robbed the Oak Store
of Roanoke Rapids, Monday was
taken into custody by Deputy
Sheriffs G. F. Gray and L. E.
Keeter at the hom eof his sister
Mrs. Sarah Harris, of Roanoke
Junction.
Taylor told the arresting officers
that he had just about made up his
mind to voluntarily surrender to the
police. One of the officers replied
that it was too late now since he was
already arrested.
After the store robbery here Tay
lor suddenly disappeared. Since that
he had been traveling from J
place to place evading arrest. A few
days ago he returned to his home here
It was said that a family disturbance
led to his arrest Monday. Taylor, ac
cording to information, suspicioned
his wife of being untrue to him. A
quarrel that ensued reached local of
ficer’s ears and Taylor was arrest
ed on the theft charge nearly a year
old.
The four men who robbed the local
store were Taylor, James and Ernest
Peavy and Joe Bates. The latter three
were tried at the April term of the
Halifax Superior Court, and found
guilty. James Peavy and Joe Bates
were sentenced to the state peniten
tiary, at Raleigh, for a period of from
two to four years. They are now
serving their terms. A petition ask
ing for Peavy’s pardon was made re
cently. Ernest Peavy was sentenced
to six months on the county road.
This sentence has been completed.
Loot valued at between $500 and
$700 was obtained by the robbers.
Most of the stolen goods was return
ed.
When it became known that Tay
lor was implicated in the robbery of
ficers went to his home here and
searched for the stolen goods. In
stead of merchandise from the Oak
Store they discovered seven pints
of contrabrand liquor hidden in a baby
cradle. A charge of violating the dry
law was also placed against him. And
when he is arraigned in the Halifax
Superior court he will answer to this
charge in addition to that of theft.
RALEIGH RECTOR
IS SPEAKER HERE
Dr .Barber On Program at Ban
quet Starting Annual Drive
For 1931 Budget
Dr. Milton A, Barber, Rector of
Christ's Church, Raleigh, was the
principal speaker at a meeting of the
membership of the local Episcopal
Church held in the basement of the
Roanoke Rapids Baptist Church last
Friday night.
The duties of the church member
ship from hte standpoint of diocese,
state and nation were discussed by
Dr. Barber. Nearly one hundred mem
bers of the local church heard the pro
gram and enjoyed the banquet.
W. F. Joyner, representing the vest
ry, talked on the duties of the mem
bers to the local church. Mrs. W. L.
Long, representing the Womans Aux
iliary told of the duties of the ladies
of the church. She pointed out that
as members of the auxiliary, they
were affiliated with a national or
ganisation of thousands of members.
James Joyner representing the young
peoples Service League, told how the
young folks could help the church.
The program was preparatory to
the annual church budget drive which
was held Sunday. Rev. J. N. Bynum
opened the program. Music was fur
nished by the Yellowjacket quartete.
Senior Warden, T. W. Mullen, pre
sided.
Mias Evelyn Brown, employee of the
Citizens Bank and Trust Company,
has been a patient in the Roanoke Ra
pids hospital.
Milton Spiritos of Broklyn hid un
der abed in a hotel with robbery as
a motive but tell asleep.
State Auto License
Tags Go On Sale At
Weldon December 15
State motor license tags for
this section of the State will go
on sale Monday, Deceber 15, at
the headquarters of the Carolina
Motor Club in Weldon.
The headquarters are located
on First Sti\'et and a banner
across the street will designate
the place to strangers. The
tags will be sold from Decem
ber 13 to January 15.
The price will be the same as
last year and cash only will be
accepted. Car owners must bring
the State license card which is
now being mailed out from tta
leigh or the title to the car.
The tags for 1931 are gold let
ters upon a black background,
similar to the present New York
license tag.
LIFELONG
FRIENDS IN
FATAL FIGHT
Harry Thompson Under
Bond In Death Of
David Whitson
Harry Thompson, age 25, was plac
ed under a $1,000 bond for appearance
in the corporation court at Norfolk,
in connection with the death of Dav
id Whitson, 27. and the case will be
set for trial within the next week.
Both young men were from Rose
mary. They had been close friends
for several years. Thompson was a
railroad brakeman and Whitson had
worked for Traynham & Grimmer
Grocery Co. They left here together
a year ag oand went to Norfolk. Whit
son was married and Thompson was
living with the Whitson family in
Norfolk.
On November 5th, while the two
men were together, Whitson was stab
bed near the heart. He died November
15 from pneumonia which developed
from the wound, a portion of one lung
had been pierced by the knife.
It seems there were no other wit
nesses to the altercation. The. two
men left the Whitson home a short
time before the trouble. They sepa
rated and Thompson says he went to
the house of a friend. He states that
later on Whitson came to the place
and called him out. What started
the argument is not clear but the two
men were soon engaged in a tussle.
Thompson claims Whitson abused and j
struck him and opened his knife.
When the fight was over, the survivor
says Whitson had stabbed himself.
In a deathbed statement, ten days
later, W'hitson, however, told the coro
ner’s investigator, Detective Leon No
witsky, that Thompson had stabbed
him. He also told the detective about
the lifelong friendship which had ex
isted prior to the trouble.
After the fight, Thompson took
W’hitson to his home and continued
to stay there with him for several
days until the wounded man was re
moved to a hospital. After the death,
Thompson went to jail to await action
of the grand jury.
He has employed A. C. Zollieoffer,
local attorney, to defend him. Thomp
son’s mother, a sister, Mrs. Carl
Green, and a brother, A. B. Thomp
son, live here. Relatives of Whitson
also reside here.
Suffers Scalp Wound
When Struck By Auto
Mis Ruby Clary, 20, of South Rose
mary, suffered a scalp wound when
struck by an automobile while walk
ing along the road at South Rosemary,
last Saturday night. She is recover
ing at the Roanoke Rapids hospital
and will be able to return to her home
in a few days. The name of the driv
er of the car was not learned.
Miss Clary figured in an automobile
accident near Vultare in Northamp
ton county last October, in which her
twin sister, Ruth, and Buddy Thomp
son were killed. She was injured in
the accident and was confined to the
local hospital for several days.
Miss Martha Daughtrey and Mrs.
W. H. Daughtrey have returned from
a visit to friends in Greensboro and
Gibaonville.
NEWTRAFFIC
POLICE FOR
NOON RUSH
Eleven Patrolmen O n
Duty Each Noon To
Regulate Traffic
An inspection of Roanoke Avenue
any day at noon will prove that the
traffic situation is being kept well in
hand by eleven new patrolmen, res
plendent in new belts and official
badges.
The new equipment arrived this
week from the Carolina Motor Club
and the eleven patrolmen are High
School boys who are assisting in re
gulating Avenue traffic while the
schools are being dismissed at the
noon hour when some two thousand
school children at the three buildings
are set free.
Police Chief Massey will continue
to hold down his position at the cor
ner of Fifth and the Avenue, at the
Presbyterian Church. He will prob
ably be assisted by one of the patrol
men. Two patrolmen will be station
ed at each of the following intersec
tions: the Telephone Building corner,
the corner in front of the High School
and the Joyner Motor Co., corner and
the Citizens Bank corner.
The boys all have study periods be
fore noon and do not miss classes.
They go on duty five minutes before
noon and are on until ten minutes af
ter noon. They are meeting every
monday morning to discuss problems
which come up during the week. Next
Monday morning they will elect per
manent officers, a captain and two
lieutenants.
Charles Ogletree is acting captain
this week and his acting lieutenants
are Wilton Brown and Francis Starke.
The Patrolmen are Carlton Taylor,
James McNeil, Graham Bell, Carl
Thompson, Carlton Nethercutt, Mari
on Floyd, Dallas Shearin and Marvin
Anderton.
At chapel this wefek, the High
School pupils agreed to cooperate
with the traffic fficers by crossing
at intersections and not cutting across
between corners. There is still some
trouble with the younger children who
insist on running between the blocks.
Parents are asked to insist that their
children obey the traffic rules. Mo
torists are cautioned to obey all sig
nals of the patrolmen. Pedestrians
are requested to follow the rules the
same as the children thereby setting
the proper example.
Rosemary Building
And Loan Banquet
0. K. LaRocque, in charge of the
Building and Loan Associations of
the State, will be the principal speak
er at a banquet to be given by the
Rosemary Building and Loan As
sociation on the night of December 15.
The supper will start at seven o’clock
in the Domestic Science Rooms of
the High School. About 65 stock
holders and guests are expected.
Santa Claus Coming
To Local Store
Old Santa Claus in person will ar
rive in Roanoke' Rapids on Saturday
morning, December 13, and will be
ready to meet all of the children of
the community from noon until 8
o’clock that night at B. Marks Depart
ment Store.
Manager Norinsky received a radi
gram from Santa today stating he
would arrive here in time for dinner
Saturday. He will probably come by
plane. Leaving at midnight for the
South, he is making a final trip
around before returning to the North
Pole.
Meanwhile B. Marks breaks all for
mer records in advertising by carry
ing a double page ad in The Herald
for the fourth time in five weeks
telling the world about their Christ-1
mas bargains. They invite the old
folks to come with the childlren Sat
urday afternoon to see Santa.
Warns Dog Owners
Chief of Police Clifton Massey this
week issued a warning to all local
dog owners that city dog licenses
must be paid before Decmeber 31.
The 1930-31 dog licenses have been
due since last July 1.
Clement Kitchin
Still Very 111
Clement Kitchin of Scotland
Neck, Representative to the 1931 j
General Assembly is very ill at a
Tarboro Hospital. It is reported
he is suffering from pernicious
anemia and high blood pressure.
It is uncertain at this time
whether he will be able to attend
the Legislature which meets in
January. In case doctors forbid
his attendance, a special election
will be called if Mr. Kichin re
signs.
WRITER IS
JUSTLY MAD
News and Observer Tampers
With Weldon-RR Game
Writeup
The day after the Weldon Town
team defeated Roanoke Rapids town
team at football, a news dispatch ap
peared in the Raleigh News and Ob
server, stating that Weldon High
School had defeated Roanoke Rapids
High School. The dispatch was dat-1
ed at Weldon.
Last week, The Herald sports edit
or took a crack at whomever sent
the dispatch, asking them to be more
accurate in distinguishing between
the teams in the future, calling the
action unsportsmanlike, as the two
High School teams did not play this
year for reasons already explained in
this paper.
However, the sender of the dis
patch did not like the idea of being
termed unsportsmanlike so he gee a
copy of the wire which he sent to
the News and Observer. In that wire
he did not mention ^either High School
and the conclusion now n? that some
smart rewrite man for the Old Re
liable hashed things up. Of course,
our sports editor could not know this.
All he knows is what he saw in the
News and Observer under a Weldon
dateline. And he knew that hund
reds of fans over the State read the
same thing.
The Weldon correspondent also is
innocent of any wrongdoing and we
print herewith a copy of the telegram
he sent the Raleigh paper. “Weldon
defeated Roanoke Rapids 6-0 in a
close, well-fought game at Rosemary
today. Both teams played clean foot
ball. A large crowd attended. Roa
noke Rapids crossed the 50 yard line
once but was held for downs on the
10 yard line. Weldon’s touchdown was
scored by Partin on a long pass from
IIux. Green starred for Weldon.”
To the Weldon correspondent, apolo
gies; for sports editor Alligood, no
criticism.
New Manager
Miss Emilie Cobb, of Rocky Mount,
this week took charge of the Roanoke
| Rapids Beauty Shoppe, located over
Hunt’s Five and Ten Cent Store. Be
fore coming to Roanoke Rapids Miss
1 Cobb was connected w’ith one of Nor
folk’s leading beauty parlors. She
comes here well recommended in her
profession.
Knocks Truck Off
An automobile driven by Bud Mar
tin collided with a truck parked on
the side of the road near South Rose
mary last Saturday night. The truck
was knocked over an embankment, but
the extent of the damages could not1
be learned. The truck was owned by
Sam Williams, colored, of Raonoke
Rapids. Martin escaped uninjured.
Christmas Trees Here
Are Trimmed—Lighter
The huge Christinas tree of the
Rosemary Merchants Association
was trimmed aHd lighted by the
Power Company last night and
will be ablaze every night from
now until Christmas. It is one
of the largest trees ever used, ac
cording to the claims of many.
One hundred and fifty large col
ored lamps were necessary to
trim it.
Tonight, the Power Company
will light up a smaller tree in
Roanoke Rapids, standing in front
of the Electric Building. A small
space on the Avenue has been
roped off by permission of the
Town Board to protect the tree
from traffic.
DRIVER IS
INSTANTLY
KILLED
Virginia Man Crushed In
Wreck Near Jackson
Saturday
Frank Baker, 20, of Newport
News, Va., was instantly killed
last Saturday night when the au
tomobile he was driving turned
over and wrecked on the highway
between Conway and Jackson, in
Northampton County, about two
miles from the latter town. The
accident occurred at about seven
o'clock. The automobile, a Chev
rolet Sedan, was badly damaged.
Baker’s injuries consisted of a frac
tured skull and crushed chest. Follow
ing an inquest the Northampton coun
ty coroner returned a verdict that the
youth died from a fractured skull re
ceived in an unavoidable automobile
accident. Baker was removed to a lo
cal undertaker’s establishment, where
j he was prepared for burial. His body
was taken ‘to Goldsboro Sunday night
where funeral services were held on
Monday. Burial was also made there.
The other occupants of the ill fated
machine, one Baker’s companion, and
the other a sailor, escaped uninjured.
Their names were not learned. Baker
was driving at the time of the acci
dent, his companion was on the front
seat with him and the sailor was the
lone occupant of the rear seat. Bak
er’s companion and the sailor gave
corroborative testimony at the coron
er’s inquest with the exception of a
slight variation as to the speed of
the machine when it wrecked. One
of them said he thought it was trav
eling between 25 and 30 miles an hour
while the other said he thought the
speed of the car rested between 30
and 35 miles an hour.
It is thought the blinding rain storm
of last Saturday night was partly re
sponsible for the accident. The ma
chine ran off the pavement and when
Baker attempted to switch it back
the car swerved and turned over on
its right side. Baker’s companion and
the sailor pulled themselves from the
wrecked car. The injured man had
tc be extricated.
Baker and his companion, who own
ed the car, were going from Newport
News to Goldsboro, N. C., where Ba
ker’s mother was visiting relatives.
Mrs. Baker was to have returned to
tb eVirginia city with her son. She
was notified by telephone of the ac
cident. Baker’s companion told her
over the telephone that her son was
injured, and she did not learn of his
death until her arrival here.
Following the coroner’s inquest the
sailor and Baker’s companion return
ed to Newport News by bus.
No personal effects were found on
Baker’s body after the accident. Of
ficers do not harbor the theory of
theft or foul play. It was learned
that Baker and his companion were
close friends. The sailor was a stran
ger to the two boys. He was hitch
hiking along the highway and was
picked up by them.
Rosemary Grocery Will
Inaugurate Cash Policy
The J. H. Matkins Grocery and
Meat Market, at Rosemary, will be
operated on a strictly cash basis on
and after Monday, December 15, ac
! cording to an announcement appear
ing in this issue of The Herald. The
firm will eliminate its credit system,
which has been in effect for the past
five years, Saturday night, December
13, at midnight. Mr. Matkins believes
he can better serve his customers and
sell merchandise at lower cost by
adopting a cash policy. The Matkins
store is one of the oldest grocery es
tablishments in Rosemary.
Clerk S. M. Gary
In Hospital Here
S. M. Gary, clerk of the Superior
Court of Halifax County, is a patient
in the Roanoke Rapids hospital, re
covering from a recent appendicitis
operation. Mr. Gary spent an “un
comfortable” night Wednesday night,
it was learned at the hospital this
morning. His condition, however,
shows some improvement.
Mrs. Edith Murray of Des Moines
[drives a coal truck.
We Will Answer
All Questions To
Our Best Ability
In answer to a question from
one of our readers who did not
understand clearly our outline of
the water, sewerage and incor- ,
poration plans last week, we make (
the following statement.
Not only will the mill villages
and lots be taxed for water and
sewerage, but the mill plants,
machinery and material will al
so be taxed. The mill officials
have gone so far as to include
the mills and plants on the river,
which will derive no benefits
from the sanitary system ,as they
already have water and sewer
age. I
We will b»i glad to clear up
any other points concerning the
plan for the Bigger City. Just
write to The Herald, signing the
letter. It will not be necessary
for us to use your name in the
paper, but you will get the true
facts in the case from us and they
will be printed for everybody to
see.
MOTHER TO
JAIL FOR
A MONTH
Local White Woman Is
Charged With Aban
bandonment
Mrs. Claudia Melton, local
white woman, charged with the
abandonment of her two child
ren, a son and a daughter, both
of whom, officers say, are under
10 years of age, was sentenced to
serve 30 days in the Halifax
County jail by magistrate R. L.
Martin, last Saturday.
Mrs. Melton, another woman, Hat
tie Thompson, and two men, Peter
Birdsong and 0. H. Cook, of Gum
berry, were arrested in the Melton
living quarters located on the second
floor of a business building in Roa
noke Rapids Wednesday night of last
week by Chief of Police Clifton Mas
sey and Deputy Sheriff L. E. Keeter.
Mrs. Melton had been living there on
ly a short time it was learned.
The two men and Hattie Thomp
son were arraigned before Magistrate
Martin on disorderly charges. Each
was fined $5 and costs, a total of $31.
50. There was not enough money in
the crowd to defray the court expen
ses and Cook gave Chief Massey a
check on the Farmers Bank, of Sea
board, to cover the amount. The three
were released and Mrs. Melton was
taken to jail.
Wednesday morning the check was
returned here marked “insufficient
funds.” The afternoon of the same
day Cook was arrested and lodged in
the Roanoke Rapids jail where he will
rt main until the check is made good.
Woodmen Circle Elects
New Officers for 1931
Woodmen Circle, Grove No. 63, of
Rosemary held their regular meeting
Friday night at which time the fol
lowing officers were elected to serve
the year of 1931:
Guardian, Mrs. Lela O. Bowers,
Adviser, Mrs. Addie Hasty; Corres
ponding and Recording Secretary,
Miss Julia E. Braswell; Banker Mrs.
Poly Garris; Chairman of Auditors,
Mrs. Ada V. Jones, 1 year, Eula E.
Davis, 2 years, Mrs. Mattie Williams;
Attendant, Mrs. Bessie Lee; Asst.,
Mrs. Priscilla Davis; Chaplain, Mrs.
Ada V. Jones; Inner Sentinel, Mrs.
Jimmie Buffaloe; Outer Sentinel, Mrs.
Eleanor Garris.
i
Delay Hotel Drive
Further plans for the hotel are be
ing delayed until various corporations
planning to subscribe stock get of
ficial sanction from the various boards
of directors. Individual subscriptions
are still needed to the amount of ap
proximately one thousand dollars.
New Store Fronts
New store fronts are being put in
the set of buildings this side of the
Taylor and Collier Grocery Building
the avenue. Some four store rooms
are being done over both outside and
in, improving the looks of that sec
tion of the business block very much.
HAWKINS
DEATH IS
SUDDEN
Popular Young County
Auditor Dies From
Pneumonia
Garnett A. Hawkins, 32 years
old, Halifax County Auditor, was
buried yesterday afternoon after
his sudden death early Tuesday
morning from pneumonia.
News of the shocking death
spread through the county Tues
day and cast a cloud of gloom
and sorrow. He was at his post of
duty last Friday at the courthouse
and went home feeling bad. Late
that afternoon his condition was
such that he was carried to a
Rocky Mount hospital where he
became rapidly worse and never
rallied until his death early Tues
day.
Hundreds of people from every part
of the county attended the funeral.
Members of the Junior Order United
American Mechanics, of which the de
ceased was a member, attended the
services in a body and to regalia. The
funeral services were preached by
Rev. W .C. Wilkins at th eresidr
in Halifax and intermet was in the
Pepper family cemetery near Haw
kins Chapel. The deceased was a
member of the Hawkins Chapel Me
thodist church.
The pallbearers were Messrs N. J.
Sheperd, W. F. Joyner, N. W. Warren,
N. L. Stedman, W. T. Clement, J. T.
Futrell, Waldo Whitaker and T. H.
Parrish.
Honorary pallbearers were S. M.
Page, 0. R. Elmore, W. G. Woodruff,
J. A. Lipscomb, W. E. Fuller, W. E.
Ross, R. R. Butts and E. W. Wright,
J. L. Bell, L. G. Shell, A. E. Akers
and Sheriff G. H. Johnson.
Flower grils were Undine Hux,
Clem Reid, Miss Dickens ,Mrs. W. L.
Johnson, Mrs. Norman, Mrs. H. B.
House,. There were many beautiful
flowers.
Mr. Hawkins was the son of the
late deputy Sheriff Charles M. Haw
kins and Eudoria Pittard Hawkins and
was born and reared in Hawkins Cha
pel vicinity. As a younger man, he
left the farm and served several years
as tax collector in Faucetts and other
townships of the county. In 1925 he
was appointed Auditor of Halifax
County by the board of County Com
missioners and has served in that ca
pacity ever since. Each year he be
came a more valuable man to the
county, his duties and power were ex
tended and he had recently been
granted a raise in salary by the com
missioners in recognition of extra
work he was performing.
It has been said that he knew more
about county affairs than any other
man in the county and was considered
by many as the most valuable offi
cial the county ever had.
He is survived by his wife and one
young daughter; his mother, and sev
eral brothers and sisters. His wife
was to ill to attend the funeral.
Mr. Hawkins was very popular in
Roanoke Rapids and Rosemary. Al
though he was kept at his desk most
of the past five years, there were
many here who came in contact with
him in a business way and had learn
ed to admire him for his many ster
ling qualities. A young man, a splen
did accountant, a hard worker, with
a most pleasing personality, he was
destined to go far in the business and
political life of Halifax County. He
will be sorely missed and his place
will be most difficult to fill.
The Herald joins with the hun
dreds of friends in extending sympa
thy to the bereaved family.
D. W. Etheridge Sells
Goldsboro Bakery
D. W. Etheridge, well known local
baker and owner of the New Bakery
at Rosemary, recently closed a deal
for the sale of the Goldsboro bakery
to the Georgia Cake Company of At
lanta, Ga. Mr. Etheridge has been
operating the bakery at Goldsboro
since last August 15. Since that time
the local bakery has been under the
management of Mrs. Etheridge. Mr.
Etheridge, it is understood, will de
vote his time to the bakery at Rose
mary.
Miss Virgil Barnes was recently
called to Jacksan on account of the
death of her uncle.
1 '41$