Advertisers Will Find Our Col
uui a Latchkey to Over Ioo
Homes of Martin Cavity.
VOLUME XXIX—NUMBER 101
John Keel Killed by
Joe Hollis Friday
Hollis Enters
Self - Defense
Plea in Court
Body of Murdered Man
Buried Today in the
Wynne Cemetery
John KeaWeU to hia death from a
pistol shot fired by Joseph Hollis Last
Friday, according to the findings of a
coroner's Jury shortly after the kill
ing in Poplar Point Township.
l%ree shots were fired, one going
through Keel's hat, the next also went
tlAigfc Us hat just low enough to
jpUe hia scalp and also passing on
jpnto the aide of the house. The third
R*et struck Km! in the back of the
neck about a half inch to the right
of the spinal column and on a level
with the clavicle and paased down the
back for ao me thing over 12 inches and
lodged under the skin about 3 inches
to the left of the spine. .Keel fell in
a paralysed condition from the effects
of this shot, though he was conscious!
and could answer questions intelli- J
gently. He died about 6 hours after
being shot
The trouble occurred at the home
of Henry Bollock at the Ashley Crom
well place in Poplar Point Township.
Hollis aad Keel had been partners in
a little grocery and "pop" store at
the Mobley mill for a few months, |
and had split after some differences
and divided their goods. Keel, alleg
ing that Hollis had taken some advan
tage in the aettltment, threatened, ac
cording to Hollis, that he was going
to kill him. Upon hearing of the
threat, Hollis says that he at once
armed himself.
The first time they met was Fri
day at the horns of Mr* Bullock, who
was eating dinner, while Hollis was
talking with him and waiting to
measure some lumber.
It happened that Keel appeared on
the secne in a few minutes and asked
HoHis what he was doing there and
told him to get out in 2 minute*.
Hollis saya he replied, "Well, just as
you say about it," and attempted to
pass out; but that Keel accosted him
in the hall with an ax handle, strik-'
tag at him, but that he warded the!
blow off, suffering a skinned finger
and a small braise in the face. Hoi- \
lis saya he knows very little about
what really happened, as he was so
badly scared.
Three witnesses examined at the
coroner's inquest, Henry Bullock and
his two daughters, say that Hollis was
in the dining room when addressed by j
Keel, and that he immediately went 1
into the hall where the killing oc-1
curred. They did not see Keel with
the ax handle, but did see it fall at
some point in the encounter.
Hollis called Sheriff Roebuck and
surrendered himself and was placed
hi jail. At a preliminary hearing to
day before Judge Bailey, Hollis en
tered a plea of not guilty. He was held
for the superior court after four wit
nesses were heard. Judge Bailey has
not paased on the qeustion of whether
or bond will be allowed.
Keel Regarded as Dangerous Man
Keel was regarded as one of the
county's most dangerous men. He
was 7 yean old, a man of decent ap
pearance, but a man with a bad rec
ord; a bully who died with his boots
m.
His first court record in this county
was on a charge of highway robbery,
when he held up Hal Biggs on the
road at Collie Swamp, near Everatts,
and stole his banjo and 15 cents in
money. For this crime he was tried
(Continued on the back page)
At The
STRANH
THEATRE tJ
WEDNESDAY
NIGHT -v'
7 - * \
Read the
Ad On The
Back Page
AND COME EARLY
Always a Good Show
THE ENTERPRISE
r
Runs Off With
Harry's Trousers
Last night Harry Meador,
tobacco warehouseman, farmer,
aad real sport, was having a I
button sewed on hia trousers at
Amber's Pressing Club. Sevef
•l of hia friends were annoying
him while the tailor was attach
ing the button, but the climax
wasn't reached until Whit Pur
vis snatched the trousers from
the tailor at the machine and
"lit out" down Main Street with
Mr. Meador right behind him.
Don't be shocked, though;
it was a two-trousers suit, and
Harry had on one pair at the
time of the chase.
- J
Bishops' Cru
sade Services
All This Week
Rev. E. W. Halleck De
livered Strong Sermon
Opening: Night
The first service of the Bishops
Crusade to be held in the local Epis
copal church was conducted by Rev
E. W. Halleck, rector of St. John's
Church, Wilmington, at 7.80 last even
ing. The Bishops' Crusade is nation
wide in scope, reaching every parish
of the church Services are of a
week's duration, and are conducted by
visiting rectors. Rev. C. O. Pardo, of
the local church, conducted the serv
ices in Greenville last week, and Mr.
Halleck will deliver the sermons here
all this week.
Last night the visiting rector
preached a strong sermon, one that
caught and held the interest of the
congregation throughout the service.
Taking for his text, "What Is Man,"
Mr. Halleck traced the changing con
ceptions of civilizations as held be
ginning with the slave. The minis
tei advanced his line of thought from
that far-off period, and in turn men
ticned the warrior, the Master, the
thinker, and the builder and money
power. In all these periods, Mr. Hal
leck showed the perfect man as is
symbolized in the life of Christ; that
is, the doer or the servant of others.
Services will be held in the local
church throughout .the week at 10 o'-
clock in the morning and 7.30 in the
evening. Large congregations are
expected: —' —
Mr. and Mrs. Charles E.
Buck at Strand Theatre
"American Wonderlands," an illus
trated lecture, will be given by Mr.
and Mrs. Charles E. Buck in the
Strand theatre here next Tuesday af
ternoon and night The afternoon per
formance will be given at 2:30 fot the
benefit of school folks and all others
who wiU not be able to attend at
night
Twenty-five patrons and school sup
porters ..have underwritten the con
tract to get these pictures of the
United fStates to our townspeople and
school./It is well worth the while to
Kit for one hour and see the beauties
from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
from Ni&gra to the Rio Grand for the
small/sum charged.
The theatre has been reserved and
the/tickets will go on sale Friday af
ternoon.
Everetts and Coleraine
Here Tomorrow Night
The Everetts and Coleraine boys
basketball teams meet here tomorrow
night on the Dixie warehouse coqytf
The gome will be oalled at 8:00 o'-
clock and is expected to be a good
one. Fans, in large numbers from both
sections, will witness the game.
Local Girls to Play
Oak City Here, 24th
The local girls play OakvCity girls
at basketball hero next Thursday
night The game will be played-on
the Dixie warehouse court. This is the
first time these two teams have met
Junior Order to Hold
Meet Thursday Night
The Junior O. U. A. M. will hold
its regular meeting Thursday night
February 24th. All members who can
are urged to be present All non-local
Juniors are invited. Council will open
at 8:00 p. m.
J. M. ROGERSON, Councilor.
WiUiamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, February 22,1927
City Fathers in
Special Session
Monday Night
60 Days Given Property
Owners to Comply
with Oidinance
The town commissioners had their
second meeting of the month last
night. The session was scheduled
when the commissioners were in reg
ular session on the first Monday for
February 14, but when several mem
bers out of town on tfiat date, it
was postponed until last night.
The biggest problem of the evening
came when the sanitary law was in
vestigated. The. ordinance, passed
three years ago, states that all resi
dence* must have sower connections
when the town's mains are not more
than 100 feet away for the sewer line
aiid not more than 200 feet for the
water line. Failure to comply with
the ordinance constitutes a misde
meanor. The board appointed a com
mittee to take up the matter with
those who have not yet been connected.
At the end of 60 days it is hoped the
situation will be properly corrected.
Should nothing be don* in that direc
tion during that time the bbard will
lake other steps to have the condi
tion* remedied.
The wee profit made by the firemen
at their circus here week before last
was dealt a heavy blow when the com*-
missioners ordered the volunteer or
ganisation to pay the light bill. It
had been suggested by the firemen
that the town give the lights free of
charge.
i From light bills, the business next
carried the meeting to the trash
dumps; but instead of allowing all the
members of the board to investigate
the matter, Messrs. W. T. Meadows
and C. O. Moore were appointed as
a committee to look into the matter.
This action was taken when several
complaints came before the board
from citizens living near the present
dump heaps.
The meeting, by this time, was get
ting well-nigh over, and not a word
had been mentioned about dances. But
in ample time permits were granted
allowing two dances. One, the board
readily agreed, did not come under its
jurisdiction, but police protection was
offered for a square dance at the Ro
anoke-Dixie Warehouse
night. The
mits to hold two, dances before Eos-1
ter. Permission 1 to hold one was
•granted several week:i ago, while au
thority to hold another was given
last night. The two dances are to be
held before Easter.
The tax on those merchants who
stage sales will come up for discus
sion at the next regular meeting ofj
the board, and it is expected a good
representation of the merchants will
be present.
Tax Refund Question Settled
In executive session the board set
tled the matter relating to the re
fund of taxes paid the town by Dr.
James S. Rhodes during the past 11
years. Dr. Rhodes paid taxes on
property listed incorrectly for that
period of time. If it is legal to go
back that period of time and refund
taxes, the treasurer was ordered to do
so. On the other,hand, should it be
illegal for the town to refund taxes
for sueff a period, the board reserved
the right to withhold any refund.
To Stage Square Dance
Here Tomorrow Night
Indications are that a large crowd
will attend the square here tomorrow
night at the Roanoke-Dixie Ware
house. Quite a number of experts at
providing music for this type of dance
have signified their intention to at
tend, and a gala occasion is promised
to all who come. There will be no ad
mission charge, and everybody 4s cor
dially invited. I
Pupils Take Part in
Setting-up Exercise
Every child in school who is not
physically unfit Is taking part in set- ;
ting-up exeiciee and organized play
ten minutes each day out doors. This
is good for every child and it is hop
ed that none will try to avoid taking
part. The exercise is not violent, but,
systematic and orderly. It comprises
short, snappy drills and group
plays directed by various members of
the faculty.
Date of Oak City Play
is Changed to Friday
The play, "An Adopted Cinderella,"
announced for Wednesday night, Feb
ruary 28, by the Oak City High
School, has been postponed until Fri
day, February 25, at 7.80 p. m.
Mrs. G. H. Harrison, Miss Orpah
Steed and Mr. Howard Evans, of
Murfreesboro, visited friends and rel
atives ia Richlands during the week
Jamesville Constable Has
Big Day, Raiding 4 Stills
Net Results of Raid are 2 Stills, 2,650 Gallons of
Beer Mash, 10 Gallons of Liquor and a
Cart Load of Buckets and Equipment
J. Raleigh Manning, township con
; stable of Jamesville Township, with
A. C. Coltrain, answered a call Mon
; day from some neighbors and started
a search which resulted at the first
location they visited in the capture
and destruction of 10 gallons of liquor,
650 gallons of mash, and an 80-gallon
copper still.
They continued their search and
found at the second place 350 gallons
of mash, 2 empty kegs, 3 buckets and
, an axe.
Still they continued, and at the
Grady Leaves
Ku Klux Klan
•s
Resignation *to Go Into
Effect Saturday,
February 26th
Judge Henry A. Grady, who for a
number of years has been prominent
in the councils of the Ku Klux Klan,
has withdrawn from tho order.
In filing his resignation he used
some very plain viz., "Now,
Dr. Evans I wish to say the- foregoing
Utter it pituble, disingenuous, pal
psbly insincere and woefully lacking
in truth." Tho letted referuxi to be
ing one from Dr. Hirain Wesley
Evans, Imperial Wizzard Knights of
the Ku Klux Klan, fyc., of Washing
ton, D.*C. In the letter Dr. Evans had
offered Judge Grady some suggestions.
The Judge also closed his reply
which was his resignation, with some
beautiful tho terse language as fol
lows: %
"I hereby tender by resignation to
you as Grand Dragon, Knights of the
Ku Klux Klan, Realm of North
Carolina, to take effect on Saturday,
February 26. This date is set at Mo
Helper's suggestions in order that he
might have time to take over the of
fice. He appears to be a perfect gen
tleman, and I could wish that he has
a better master. I am sorry for him
in his present predicament. At the
seme time acting under the by-laws
of the order, and a:; is my right, I
hereby resign and withdraw as a
member of the Imperial Klan No
Zero of the U. S. A , and I do hereby
forever, release, reliqolsh, renounce
sqd adjure all allegiance, fidelity or
oonection that I ever had, owe or
obligated myself to observe In that
organization known as the Knights
of the Ku Klux Klan, of which you
are the present and under its present
management the perpetual head.
"I bid you farewell.
Respectfully,
HENRY A. GRADY."
County Poor Continue
to Reside in Old Home
A two weeks' delay has grown into
two months, and the county's poor are
still in the old home without even a
vague idea as to wherv they will go
to the new building. ' The inmates
were to have eaten their 1926 Christ
mas dinner in the new home, but a
poor water supply prevented. At
that time the water was muddy, but
when the well was deepened that
trouble was remedied. Now, instead
of mud, its sand. A strainer has been
ordered four weeks, but yesterday
morning it had not arrived. The well
machine is on the grounds and after
the strainer arrives only a few days
will be required to pit the well in
shape.
According to Mr. Bland, the keep
er of the home, as soon as the water
trouble is cleared, he will take his
charges to the new home.
Prayer Services at
Holy Trinity Mission
For the past several weeks prayer
services have been held each Wednes
day evening at Holy Trinity mission,
and have been well attended by the
people in that community. A meet
ing will be held there tomorrow night,
and the public is cordially invited to
attend. >
Naval Air Staion
' Team Here Tonight
The high spot of the basketball sea
son is expected tonight when the
Naval Air Station at Hampton Roads,
V*., sends its team here to do battle
with the town boys. The locals Bay
they arc ready for tho air station
boys, and they assure fans a good
game.
The game will start at 8.80, and
will be followed by Frank Carstar
phen's George Washington's birthday
dance. I
third place found 650 gallons of beer,
2 empty 1 kegs, and a bucket.
Not yet satisfied with their journey,
the pursued and found at a fourth
place 1,150 gallons of beer, 2 empty
kegs, 1 cross-cut saw, several jugs
and one 70-gallon copper still com
plete.
Everything was cold and nobody
home, yet this was a pretty good day's
work, netting in all 2,650 gallons of
beer, 2 copper stills, 10 gallons of
liquor and a cart load of buckets and
other equipment
Hits Wife Over
Head With Gun
Disturbs Main Street
Residents with Her
Loud Yells
Venus Page, colored, had a large
hole made in her forehead last Sunday
night about 11.30, when her husband,.
Henry Page, hit her with a gun. The
quarrel took place at their home at
the "upper end of Main Street when
the wife came in from a neighbor's
home. Whether the husband waited
for an explanation w not known; it
ki certain, however, that he did not
wait to offer an explanation for his
act. His wife, by her loud yells, at
tracted attention of citizens from
end of the street on up te the
Central Filling Station, where she
hushed when breath almost left her.
At midnight she was standing is
front of the Biggs Drug Store with
blood-stained clothes, patiently await
ing the arrival of the doctor.
While no definite reason for the
trouble could be learned, it is un ler
stood that the wife had been so-na
place without the knowledge of her
husband, and on hot re urn an argu
ment started which led up to the blow.
!n mayor's court yesterday, Pige
was bound over to the recorder s
court under $l5O bond.
Jamesville Wins Over
Farmville Team, 16-14
Jamesville advanced several points
in the State championship series (ast
Friday night when it defeated Farm
ville, in Furmville N 16-14. The game
was one of the hardest played games
seen in Farmville this year, says a
report coming from that town.
There arc only eight teams remain
ing in the race in the eastern part
of the State at the present time.
Jamesville meets New Bern this week
ir New Bern to decide who plays in
the semi-finals. The semi-finals are
scheduled for Friday and Saturday
night. The two teams winning will
then play in Chapel Hill March 1. The
winner of that game will play tho
western champions for state cham
pionship.
Renders Patriotic
Program in Chapel
In the regular aasembly this morn
ing, tlje school enjoyed a patriotic
program given in observing the one
Imndred and ninety-fifth anniversary
of Washington's birth. After the sing
ing of "Star Spangle Banner" by the
school, the following program was
given: "George Washington" in con
cert by Miss Darden's second grade;
"The Flag," a story by Alta Critcher;
"Stars and Stripes," a, song with
fiags by the third grade; "If George
Washington were Here," a poem by
Billfe Pope; "Making Our First Flag,"
a playlet by the fourth grade; Jesse
Price and Frances Bowen impersonat
ed mother and son in showing how the
cherry-tree story saved Jim, the son;
Miss Lincke's first grade gave two
salutes to the flag. The program wan
conducted by the school's singing
"America."
Dr Vann to Speak at
Baptist Church Tonight
At 7.80 o'clock tonight (Tuesday),
i>Dr. R. T. Vann will apeak to the peo
ple in Williamston, at tho Baptist
JbhoMk • ?
Dr. Van is a very versatile man. He
has been educator, preacher, teacher;
and few men have served the cause of
Christianity longer and with more
faithfulneas than Dr. Vann.
One time a pastor of the William
ston Baptist Church, a great many
people here know him personally;
others by reputation. To hear him is
to be entertained, inspired, and lifted
up.
The general public is invited to this
service. } *
The Ford of Radio
A . ■> 'J
SShbf rr
j J
Powcl Croatey, Jr., 40, of Cincin
nati, has made and sold more than
a million and a half radio sots in
the last 5 years, and now, with his
other properties, he has taken over
the pioneer DeForest company ami
has mass production to tuch vol
ume, he ia known as Ford of
Radio". He estimates the public
spent more than $600,000,000 for
radio apparatus during 1026
Take Steps to
Enforce Local
Sanitary Law
75 House Owners Have
Failed to Comply
With Ordinance
Owners of 76 house* within the cor*
porutu limits of the town have failed
to comply with an ordinance relatiig
to sanitary condition., in William.'ton.
'1 hat number was given out yesterday
as a result of a sut /cy made by aani
tary inspector Williams, of the Stale
department of health. According to
the ordinance the own ; o of the houses
are | u ".y of a i sdeni aror. li ca.
not "be fuund on couit records where
any of the violators have t)ee»'prose
cuted; but, according to Mayor Co
hum, immediate action will be taken
n an effort to remedy the noWex»ft
inw conditions.
Throe years ago an ordinance re
quiring certain improvements in sani
tary conditions was passed, and at
that time the number-complying with
the conditions of the "ordinance was
so great that those ignoring the order
escaped the attention' of health offi
cers, The recent survey, revealing
the larger number of violators, is
causing officials much worry in the
correction of the conditions. It is em
phatically stated that such conditions
will not be allowed to go unchanged,
'but just what channels will be used
by those in charge of the problem are
not known.
The survey further allows that CO
of the 75 houses are on water ami
sewer lines and that 15 are not near
the town's pipes. The fact that wa
ter lines art*.not convenient dties not
excuse the owners of the fifteen houses
for there are arrangements by which
the ordinance can be met In check
ing ovir the list it was learned that
many of the owners have ignored the
ordinance at the expense of the other
citizens of ),he. town; that they have !
collected rents*from the tenants but'
failed to provide sanitary conditions
on their property. In but few cases
has the lack of financial means pre
vented the owners meeting the ordi*
nance's requirements.
It is umlebitood that many of the
owners are at work remedying these
conditions, but it is feared that dras
tic steps will be rosorted to in those,
cases where no effort is made tojMCet
the law, according to a stjjleffumt is
sued by health officials l of the town.
Hstol Carries Moses
Hopkins Before Mayor
Moses Hopkins, colored, was car
ried before Mayor Coburo, in the city
court yesterday, where he faced a
charge of carrying a concealed weap
on. Moses admitted to the mayor
that he was carrying a pistol the day
before, but insisted that it wasn't
his. When he failed to offer bond in
the sum of S2OO, Moses went to the
new jail, where he awaited trial be
fore Judge Dailey's court today.
POST OFFICE ANI) BANKS
OBSERVE TODAY HOLIDAY
The banks ami the post office *re
jbnerving today, Wnshinglon birth- j
iay. Clerks ami officials arc spending
the day out of town. Other business is j
going on as usual. j
ATTKNI) BANKERS'
MEET IN HERTFORD
" Dr. John D. Rigg* ami C. D. Cnr-
Hturphen, jr. are attending the Group
One Rankers association meeting in
Hertford today. Othor bankers of thf
county are alno (pending the day
there. Dr. Biggs made the response
to the bankers' welcome at the open
ing session of the meeting this morn
ing.
Watch the Lata Oa YMr
Paper; It Carries the Date
Your Subscription Expiree.
ESTABLISHED 1898
Teachers Hold
Regular Meet
Here Saturday
Next Meeting to be Held
in School Building 1 at
Robersonville
The sixth meeting of the Martin
County toacherx was held in William
ston Saturday, February 19. Despite
the downpour of rain, 36 teachers an
swered the roll call. Since so many
were unable to attend, Supt. R. A.
Pope suggested that the special group
meetings be abandoned for the after
noon, and the entire period be given
to the general session. After a song
Mr. C. L. Daniel led in the devotional
service. Miss Alma Murray, acting
secretary, read the minutes of the
January meeting. These were adopt
ed as read.
Mr. Pope said he was gratified to
| know that the principals of Martin
| County, together with those through
out the State, had sent in enough re
' quests to keep the certification depart
ment from being abolished. Yet, he
j and the president, R. I. Leake, both
I regretted that figures prove that
I money is being easily appropriated
. for roads while any educational bill
j meets with critical opposition.
The major part of the time was
j given to the two talks "Whatj the
Principal Expects of the Community,"
j and "What the Community Expects of
j the Principal," and to remarks by a
representative of a school supply firm.
Mr. L. H. Davis, in introducing his
subject, "What the Principal Expects
jof the Community," jovially stated'
| that each principal, of course, looks
I forward to securing a good room and
i plenty of good food. He passed quick
j ly to the object of education —the de
j velopment of the greatest possible
number. I nlets this object-is para
mount very little progress .results.
Among the requirements, he stated,
interested wus maintained a
prerequisite. Without it noue ejf the
i thers follow. This interest muyToY
course, be either passive or active, but
| the active type is the one the princi
pal is looking for. It is the one that
will shoulder, not shirk, responsibility.
If the community becomes actively
interested, it will lend a cooperative
j tplrit and will not be contentious.
Whetr it gets to working with the
principal in this spirit, it will be ready
t "to give and take," to offer constructs
ive criticism, and be led by the prin
cipal. Then the accomplishments of
the schools will be a source of happi
ness to both principal and communi
ity because both are concerned. Let
' an optimistic spirit seize the com
! munity so centered in the school the
expectations of the principal are reali
zations. " T - .
Superintendent I'op.e spoke on
I "What the Community Expects of the
; Principal. In outline, his main points
I were:
I. The principal should be able to
| recognize in a teacher (1) personality,
| (2) scholarship, (3) experience.
11. The principal should have a
; knowledge of organization, a result
ant of a proper evaluation of (1)
time, (2) attitudes, (3) interests, (44.
customs.
111. The principal should be a spur
I to the wits of his teachers as they
i are to the pupils under them.
IV. The principal should strengthen
his school in the eyes of the communi
ty by fostering a spirit of team loy
alty among his corps of teachers.
V. The principal should recognize
individual differences, should "take
the children where he finds them and
leuW them a little better."
f VI. The principal should be able
to appreciate intelligent criticism
given by his board and taxpayers.
VII. The principal should enter
into wholesome extra-curricula activi
ties and show the community that his
interest is community wide.
VIII. The principal should prop
' erly attend to his clerical duties.
Following Mr. Pope's talk, a repre
sentative for a school-supply firm,
gave a few very good suggestions to
principals and to teachers of the pri
piary department. She emphasized an
intelligent selection of necessary
equipment for the lower grades and
showed some of the advantages of the
equipment that she had to offer for
sale.
Following her remarks, the presi
dent proposed that each principal
i bring with him to the next meeting
his entire board, if possible; or as
many as could well attend. We fur
ther invited the teachers to have this
meeting In Robersonville. Upon sug
gestion by Mr. J. L. Jones, Mr. Pope
agreed to ask the county board for,
permission of holding this meeting on
Friday afternoon so that merchants
who were board members might be
able to attend. The exact day and
time will be given later through the
newspapers. Board members are
urged to be present, as the program
committee, Supt R. A. Pope and
Messrs. J. L. Jones and S. M. Lee wiH
furnish an appropriate program for
the afternoon.