North Carolina Newspapers

Advertiser* Will Find Our Col-, urns a Latchkey to Over Sixteen Hundred Martin County Homes VOLUME XXXIII—NUMBER 42 ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BUSY IN THE SECTION Raids Are Centered in This and Hertford County During Two Days FIVE MEN ARRESTED m While Loll in General Business Is Reported, Agents Have Period of Many Activities While there is a lull reported in gen eral business in this section, federal prohibitions in this section are pro gressing rapidly, according to a report filed this morning by Agents Coats and Roebuck. 7 . Friday, the officers arrested Andrew Pierce and Herbert Keys operating a 150 gallon copper still in the Free Union section of this county. The still -with 500 gallons of beer, wan destroy ed. Later the same day, the officers raided in Poplar Point and found a small copper still. No arrests wert made and the plant equipment was vefj l limited. Summoned by Hertford County of firing the still at the time the officers there last Saturday, finding a big still and - several hundred, . gallons of beet. The operators, two colored men, were Airing the still at the time the officers made the raid, but made good their escapes. Leaving the woods, the officers went to the East End Filling station in Murfreesboro, owned by Fred Bag gctt but who was not there at the time. The officers found a dugout un der the cement floor with seven pints of liquor in it. The operator, Henry C. Ewing, and Baggett were given hear ings. Returning to this county late that day, the officers raided the Silver Siipper Filling station, a short dis tance from here on Highway No. 90, where they found eight pints of liquor secreted in the woods nearby. Earl Mason was charged with the owner ship. Yesterday, the officers, accompanied by Sheriff Roebuck, entered the Free Union section where they found a 75- gallon still being operated by a col ored man who out distanced the whole force in a red hot chase. The still and 400 gallons of destroyed. Continuing their search in that section, the raiders found a 150-gal lon capacity plant and 3,000 gallons of beer. Alexander Hill, colored, was arrested and given a hearing before a commissioner. • RATIFY TREATY BY 58 TO 9 VOTE ♦ Vast Savings Estimated In Future Naval Con struction Work - • Washington, July 21.—A weary Senate ratified the London Naval Lim itation and Reduction Treaty today bj the overwhelming vote of 58 to 9. A half hour later at 5 p. m. the Senate adjourned sine die its special treaty session. Three appointments by President Hoover for the new Fed eral Power Commission were block ed and must go over to the Decembet session. The agreement extends to all classes of warships the limitation theory ap plied to battleship by the 1922 Naval Pact. Great Britain is placed on a parity with the United States, treaty supporters hold, and Japan is grant id lesser tonnages. Savings in future naval construction arc estimated in the hundreds of mil- Ilions of dollars; but some of its critics charge that the $1,071,000,000 which will be required to build the American Navy up to parity in the five-year life of the treaty is too much. Three of America's battleships, five of Britain's and one of Japan's, will be jun|ced under the treaty. One of these ' from each nation will be turned into a training-ship, the others scrapped or junked. No new battleships are provid ed for under the treaty, which extends for five years more the capital-ship building holiday of the 1922 treaty. The ratification vote came at 4:30-p. m. of the twelfth day of the special session of the Senate called by Presi dent Hoover for consideration of the treaty. The session met July 7, on the Monday following adjournment of the regular session of the seventy-first con- ! gress, and debate started formally on the following day. Justice of the Peace J. L. Hassell Hears Two Cases John L. Hassell, justice of the peace, heard two cases here yesterday, one against C. L. Swain and a second against Ed Walston. Swain was charged with the theft of roast ear -pom, hut the case was dis missed for a want of evidence. Walston was .adjudged guilty of disorderly conduct, the trial officer Suspending the judgment upon the payment of tjte costs in the case by the defendant. THE ENTERPRISE Autobiography of Judge Asa Biggs In the Handwriting of its a Biggs, the Original Is In the Possession of Judge Biggs' Daughter, Mrs. Anna Van Cleve, of Princeton, New Jersey During the course of the next sev eral weeks, this paper will carry the autobiography 0 f Judge Asa Biggs, one of Martin county's most promi nent sons. The autobiography, writ ten at Dalkeith, Warren county, *n March, 1865, is dedicated to his chil dren, all of whom are now dead. Judge Biggs was the only man in Martin county to sit in the United States Senate, and his works as a judge and his interest in educational advantages do honor to him and the county in which hd lived. Ten grand children survive, adding to the interest of the autobiography. They are, Messrs. Asa Thomas Crawford, Kader B. Crawford, of Williamston; J. Craw ford Biggs, of Raleigh; Miss Jewett Biggs, of Oxford; Mrs. I-ula Mc- Keithen, of Fayetteville; Mrs. G. A. Van Cleve, of Princeton, N. J.; Dr. Henry A. Cotton, of Trenton, N. J.; Mrs..Lucy 1 -eizeaux,—r>f New Yrvfk City and Asa Biggs, assistant editor of the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore. The autobiography is highly prized and we are sure it will be read with much interest.—Ed. • I. Asa Biggs, was born on 4tlv day of February, 1811, so that now I am in the fifty fifth year of my age; and although I have passed through many vicissitudes yet upon a general review of my history I have abundant cause of gratitude and thankfulness to Al mighty God for His supporting and directing care and for the eminent success with which I have been able to surmount difficulties and to attain 'among my fellow men my present dis tinguished position. I have concluded, my dear children, if time and oppor tunity arc afforded me, to note for your instruction and information some of the incidents of my life, with the hope that this legacy of affection may prove useful and entertaining to you, in the journey of life on which you have entered, and may stimulate you to a course of conduct in which, on the termination of your journey you may have as much cause to felicitate yourselves as your affectionate father I shall not write with a view of criti cal composition, but to detail facts, with such lessons of experiences as mqy suggest themselves as I pass along. In February 1862 we were driven from our dear home at Wil liamston, (where you were all born) by the approach of the Yankee invad ers up Albemarle Sound, after the fall of Roanoke Island.* About six weeks we lived at a small Cottage about 2 miles south . of Tarboro' and from thence we removed to a dwelling, 3 miles west of Rocky Mount, where we continued to reside until I pur chased this place (Dalkeith, Warren County) in September 1863, and here we were all located in December 1863. Since the organization of the Govern ment of the Confederate States of America I have been Judge of the Confederate States for the District of North Carolina. I selected this place as secure from Yankee raids and in vasion, and although we have been ex cluded from society and the social in tercourse to which we had been ac customed, and find it difficult with my limited means to -obtain sufficient "food and raiment," yet so far we ha%e ( not suffered, and the Lord providing for our wants we continue to this day, and I have confidence that He will t still provide. , Youth and Education ( And now to recur to early scenes and to the dawn 6f life. My father, Joseph Biggs, was a small merchant in Williamston when I came into this'' world, and was a Baptist Minister. ' My mother Chloe Biggs was his 1 third wife. She was the daughter of ' William Daniel who resided on Smith- 1 | wicks Creek. My father, by his two ' first wives, had several children, near- 1 ly all of whom had left him at my earl- 1 iest recollection, and the children by ' my mother, who reached maturity, 1 were 1 Joseph D., 2. Asa, 3 William, 1 4. Kader, 5 Louisa F. So far as at ' present advised all are now living. ' Our brother William, last heard from 1 in 1862 had been driven from his home 1 about 6 miles from Vicksburg by the 1 Yankee invaders there: The others I are all now residing at Hilliardston, 1 being alio refugees from their former ' homes and hearth stones, by the cruel ty of the public enemy. My father died in the year 1844 then in his 78th I year. My mother survived him until the year 1845, when she too fell asleep i in her 70th year, in prospect of a bet- i ter world. And here let me bear testi mony to these dear departed ones. | Through much difficulty did they rear • their family; being poor and illiterate i they had to rely upon their own in domitable energy and their moral and , religious characters for support. They j gave to us all the elements of educa- j tion to the utmost of their ability and | moral precepts and examples which | Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, July 22, 1930. have survived them; and can enable mc to say with truth, no better par ents ever lived than your grand father and grand mother Biggs. By the ex ertions of my father and others an Academy was established in William ston about 1820 and in that Academy I received all the educational advan tages I ever enjoyed. I grew very rapidly and at the age of 15 was of manly stature weighing 180 and about that age left school and substantially the home circle, to complete my edu cation as a merchants clerk. In 1825 1 resided a short time with a Mr. Martin, a merchant in Washington. In 1826 I resided at Hamilton and was Clerk for a Mr. Edwards, a merchant at that place. In June 1827 I engaged with Mr. Henry Williams of William stpn, to superintend his mercantile business at that place for one third of the nett profits and so continued for twopars. My mnmtt iiy this arrange ment I think was about SSOO per year. About this time I concluded to read law and for the next two years until June 1831 I acted as Clerk for Mr. Williams at an annual salary of $350, he furnishing me board. I note this to show my beginning, and it certainly was small! and yet, it, no doubt, was exceedingly useful to learn me econo my, diligence and |>erseverence. I had no legal instruction, and conse quently labored under many disad vantages in pursuing my studies, but I applied myself diligently in reading, whenever I could, consistently with my duties as Clerk. I determined to apply for license and in July 1831 visit ed Raleigh for that purpose. In addi tion tp doubts as to my legal qualifi cations I needed six months age to make me'2l, and altogether my anxiety as to success was great. The Judges however (Henderson and Hall who examined mc) greatly to my relief treated me very kindly: omitted to ask me any question as to my age and gave me license to practice law in the County Courts and I returned home with a'light and joyous heart. The County Court of Martin County was held in a few days after I reached home and during that week 1 realized, ir. fees about fifty dollars which was a good beginning and gave me much encouragement. ♦Roanoke Island was captured by an expedition under Ceil. Ambrose E. Burnside, February 7, 1862. (Note; Martin County people will be interested in the next installment o( Mr. Biggs' autobiography in which he describes his practice at the bar among old and able lawyers.) Here from Roanoke Rapids Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Chase and chil dren, of Roanoke Rapids, are visitors here today, Mr. Chase coming here in the interest of the Virginia Electric and Power Company. Sketch Of Peter R.-Rives' Life During The Civil War As the fifth and last brief sketch of Civil War Veterans now living in Martin county, the life of Peter Rich ard Rives, of this place, carries with it many interesting happenings occur ring during that hectic struggle be tween the States. Born in Pitt county July 17, 1847, Mr. Rives was the son of one of the leading farmers in that county. As \ a boy, Mr. Rives worked on the farm ol his father seven miles north of Green ville. Although the educational fa cilities of his day were very limited Mr. Rives attended school at Rober sonville under the late Seven W. Out terbridge. After studying there he went to Dameron's High School in Caswell county, later going to Horn er's Military Academy, Oxford, where he remained until 1863, It was while he was there that he reached the age to enlist in the Junior Reserve, run ning away from the institution to join the army. He was enrolled in Com, pany K, 67th North Carolina Regi ment under Captain Joe Myers, Col onel Wharton and Colonel Whitford being his fegimental officers. Mr. Rivei never engaged in any battles, remaining in hospitals much of the time. He was in Pitt, Beaufort' and Martin counties during the great er part of his service. While serving on a detail with the late Matthew Shaw to pilot the "Montgomery Blues," an artillery ba tallion from Washington to -Fort Branch in Martin county, they camp ed at Old Ford, Mr. Rives sleeping in a grape vine near the church. Start ing early thi next morning, the forces found their cannon mired down, the twelve horiet being arable to move ft. SEVERE HEAT WAVE SWEEPS OVERCOUNTRY • Mercury Reaches the 116 Degree Mark in the Neighboring Town RECORD AT WINDSOR Accidental Drownings, Shootings and Suicides Follow Heat Wave Over the United States Prohibition discussions were pushed into the background and an apparent show-down was forced on the Naval Pact when the mercury soared to almost unbelievable heights, causing the whole country to talk and com plain of the heat. Sweltering tempera tures were reported • all over the country, accidental drownings, shoot ings, suicides and queer escapades he iltg attributed to the heat. One drowning was reported in this county at Hamilton ami other lives were lost in various waters when the thrones retired to the beaches and streams seeking a refuge from the sun's output. Carolina mercuries commanded a high place in the readings, and promis ed to surpass the mark established yesterday. Officially, The higiu'st mark recorded was 98, but a "report" found its way into the State papers this morning, giving the mercury reading in the sun at Windsor yesterday at 116 degrees. "Several old people at Windsor, where the record report for the coun try originated, said it was the hottest day they ever experienced, and that their memories went back to the ante bellum days.'.! Charlotte turned in a card of 98, the highest reading among the official entries. i • LOCAL SCOUTS GIVEN BADGES Several More of the Local Scouts Are Eligible for Merit Badges • Seven merit badges, the first ever to be earned by a Boy Scout here, were received from the national organi zation, New York City, today by Scoutmaster Wheeler Martin for dis trbtatioii among the loc.al troop. Four of the badges go to Wheeler Martin, jr., and three were earned by John Hatton Gurganus, the two boys having met all the required tests to gain the particular honors. Several more of the local scouts are eligible for oiie or more of the honor badges and the awards will be made at a regular meeting to be held in the scout quarters here the, first Friday evening in August. Reporting on the scout work here Mr. Martin stated— this morning -that at no time has there been a more ac tive interest in scout activities than there is now. "The boys are really doing a valuable wijfk," Mr. Martin declared, "and interest in the organiza tion is growing locally." Mr. Rives, in attempting to prize the weapon from the mud, broke his leg, and for almost a year he was unable to perforin any duty. He was remov ed from the scene of the accident to the home of General Grimes, a small boy in the section carrying him in a long-bodied cart. Mr. Rives remained in the home of General Grimes for several weeks and was then carried to the army hospital in Tarboro. Aft er the injury had healed, he rejoined his company then at Tranters Creek, but he was limited in the performance of his dutiep. He was assigned to duty in the commissary department and worked at Greens Old Mill, near Greenville, where farmers delivered one-tenth of all their meat for feed ing the army. Mr. Rives says that -his own father delivered ten thousand pounds of meat to him and had just left when the Yankees rushed down and captured him and took all the Atmmissary con tents. Unable to march, he was car ried on horseback to Washington and was forced to take the oath of al legiance to the-Lfnien —flag. He was then taken by boat to New Bern where he was held prisoner for sev eral weeks. There were many pris oners there and but Mr. Rives, Mat thew Shaw and a Miss Pickett, held as a spy, took the oath to support the Union. From New Bern, Mr. Rives was sent to Fortress Monroe and Point Lookout where he remained un til early June. Mr. Rives laughs now. as he de scribes how he rushed Major Brady in paroling him. He stated that he only weighed" t37 pounds when he en- PEANUT PLANT ALMOST READY FOR OPERATION Construction Work on The Main Plant Already Completed With the construction work on its main plant completed and the installa tion of machinery being made rapidly, the Columbian I'eanut Company will be in readiness to start operations at the local unit within the next thirty days, it was learned yesterday. The factory power plant was almost com plete yesterday, the workmen raising the smoke stack today. I he main factory of the plant is so Crowded with machinery, including belts, pulleys, and shaftings, that the casual stranger is made to wonder how the employees will find room to work. Approximately .50 cars of .peanut* ace already in the factory, and according to present plans the company will start cleaning them the latter part of next month. Construction work is now under way on the storage units, and the plant will he complete in ample time to bid for the crop no\y growing. 1 , - MAKES THE 11TH TAX TURNOVER — $265,640.70 of the $301,000 County Levy For 1929 Collected To Date A last turnover of tax money will be made to the county treasurer here this week, it yvas learned in the office of the sheriff yesterday afternoon. The turnover, amounting to $7,910,03 is the eleventh one made on the 192'J levy, leaving a final one to be tirade when the books are closed. The turnover about to be mafic runs the total tax collections on the CQJttl t>'s levy up to $265,640.70, leav ing approximately $34,858.00 in the un collected column. A fair portion, of sat amount represents uncollected person al property tax, it was stated. The exact amount of uncollected taxes on real estate is not accurately established at this time. According to Deputy S. 11. Grimes, the greater part.of'the $7,910.03 turn over was paid just prior to the sale made on July 7, settlements being very limited in number and in amounts since that time. Prisoners In Local Jail Find It Warm in 'Cooler' len county and federal prisoners [are finding the weather unusually warm in the jail here this week ac cording to reports coming through the sheriff's office. Cooped in their small cells, the prisoners are transferred daily that they might escape the sun rays that have borne down unmerciful ly riiT a!T during The past few'days. I'our of the ten prisoners are await ing trial in the federal Courts. Three others are serving sentences and one is waiting entrance into a reformatory. Iwo are to be tried in the county superior court. tered the prison and 95 when he left, that lie was so small he lay down and rolled.across the picket, line to where si me boys were. When discovered by the major, he was brought ill and in spected, the officer telling liiin to go home. Mr. Rives did as ruost —other- Southern gentlemen who had served the South and endured all manlier of hardships with poverty ever near. He accepted his fate with determination and faced the future as a mail, never losing sight of the high ideals of life. He dealt fairly with his neighbors and his country. In 1874, he married Miss Mary L. Worsley of Edgecombe county, six soils and two daughters surviving the union. They are, M, R. Rives, oi /iraham, W. S. Rives, of West Virginia; I'. C. and 11. L. Rives, of Bethel, F. S. Rives,'of Tarboro and Ben L. Rives, of New Bern; Mrs. F. L. Wiggins, of Tarboro, and Mrs. M. I). Wilson, of this place, with whom he makes his home. In 1876 he moved to this county -aML engaged in farming near Spring' Green. He was active in this work until a few years ago when he re tired. Of his six sons, five of them serv ed ill the World War. Mr. Rives celebrated his 83rd birthday at the Hpme of his daugh ter, Mrs. M. D. Wilson, here last Thursday with Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Wiggins and daughters, Misses Gladys and Mary, of Tarboro, Mr. M. R. Rives and daughter, Miss Mary Wors ley Rives, of Graham, attending the birthday dinner. PETER R. RIVES | One of five remaining Confeder ate veterans in Martin county cele brates 83rd birthday at home of his daughter here. NEGRO DROWNS IN THE ROANOKE Body of Hamilton Colored Youth Still Lost In the Stream Near There I IK* Roanoke River claimed another life yesterday afternoon when an 18-year-old colored hoy named Peter son, unable to swim, ventured too far from shore. I he" young negro was bathing with several other comrades when he care lessly waded to the brink of the stream ami went into' twenty Icet ot water. | llis comrades, unable to -swim, stood I y helpless as the boy grappled for his life. Several white men on tlie shore at the time were helpless in an attempt to rentier the boy assistance, it was stated. "ragging 4«r the body was started soon after its disappearance, but up until this morning the tiody was still lost in the yellow waters. FAIL TO LIST, 3 MEN INDICTED Colored Property Owners Scheduled for Court Hearings Today I hree colored property owners, Joe Taper, Isoni Vine's and Joe YVhceler James, all of the Free Union section if this county, were indicted last Sat unlay when it was learned that they had failed to list their property for the I'Mll tax levy. They are scheduled for trial lief ore Judge J. W. Hailey in. the recorder's court here today. The three men offered all types of excuses in an attempt to escape the., courts, hut their pleas proved worth less ami Deputy Crimea ordered them for trial today. According to unofficial reports, there are several other indictments to he strved' 101 property owners failing or refusing to list their properties. It could not be learned just when the warrants would he served, but it is believed that the subjects will be haled into the court within the next few di.y,s % IMPROVEMENT IN CROPSREPORTED * » Crops Said To Be In Best Condition at Any Time During the Season • . . With the mercury running above 90 ill the shade and as high as 110, Tf not higher, in the sun, crops in this sec tion are marked improve ment, causing lalW-rs to entertain a new hope. Since the rains of last week, the crops as a whole are in the best condition they have been in this stason. Practically all the crops have apparently recovered from the effects of the June drought, present indica tions being more favorable than at any time so far this season. However, farmers of much experi ence say that the heavy growth of late t h'acco often proves disappointing, that the quality is gunerally very poor. The most marked improvement i» rtported in the corn crop, practically all, iarm.crs anticipating a fair crop and many others expecting heavy yields. Reports indicate an average peanut -crop,—witl* i(ood-stand sported. • Discuss Property Valuation At Meeting Here Today Meeting in special session here to day, the Martin County Board of Commissioners discussed with officials of the Virginia and Power Company the valuation of the com pany's biddings in this county. A pro posal listing the property at 75 per cent of the actual value was made by the company, but up. until shortly aft er the noon Innir, no definite decision had been reached in the matter. Watch the Label on Your Paper As It Carries the Date When Your Subscription Expires ESTABLISHED 189* [; PARMER TELLS ' ABOUT TOBACCO GRADING WORK Government Grading Is En . _ tirely Optional With The Growers I > WANT SERVICE AGAIN Smithfield Warehouseman Gives Sev eral Reasons for Wanting Service Continued • Following the announcement that a government tobacco grmder would be on the local market this coming sea son, many reports have been made, many of them of an erroneous . nature. - The assignment of a grader to the market here does not mean that he will have anything to do with a far - tiler j —tnhacco, —+ttr —t+rr —grading ft optional. The grower's tobacco will be bundled as heretofore, the giratler only carrying on the work at the request oi the farmer. Ihe auction system has long considered by many to be the wrong tint in selling tobacco, and it is too often the case that the warehouseman and buyers will grade one-half of a I split pile as 15-cent tobacco and the 1 UMiet- T*r ei|iu-iit!v a (greater difference is noted. Especial- » l> is the difference noted on "pet mar- I k«*ts where one farmer gets more than his neighbor. Government grad ing will alter such conditions, it is stated. As the grader comes here for the first time, farmers in this section know very little about the work. That some iiiea of the value qf the grading migJit be had, we quote a farmer and ware houseman who were acquainted with it at Smithfield last season. Mr. M. ( . Hooks, one of Johnston county's' best farmers said: "I li.nl all tin tobacco graded last tiell. and I know the prices were more uniform than any I ever before ob tained on the auction market. Some times last tail the buyers varied right much in prices of the same grade, but nothing to compare with the ungrad ed tobacco. In l''2S before we had gi veriiment grading I sold one pile of tobacco thre«- times 011 the Smithfield market the same day for 7, ') and 17 cents. Hut this never .happens with government graded tobacco, I think it would be a great'help to the farmer if all tobacco were government graded ami sold by grade, instead of the aui'-' tiun system.'' Mr. Dixon Wallace, a warehouse man oil the Smithfield market stated: "After closely observing the results 011 tlitf Smitlifreld market, we have many reasons for wanting the service next season. We like it and can recom mend it for two* reasons, hirst, hav ing learned the various grades we can start each pile of tobacco more intelligently, after looking over the government price report of the pre vfns -wrek; Second,- we tind that nur customers, generally, are better satis fied with their sales on government graded tobacco. This .is t rue because by observing government price re ports of previous eekly sales giving averages on each grade of tobacco, they can quickly determine when they are getting fair market prices. In our opinion it will only he a matter of time until the majority of the tobacco on Smithfield market will be govern ment graded. "All tobacco on every market should he graded by government ex perts." The Smithfield Herald has the fol lowing to say 011 the question: "Smithjield will again have govern ment grading of tobacco. This was the only, market served last year by government graders, but the farmers anil warehousemen were so well pleased with the service that it is to" be continued, Two other North Caro lina markets will have government grading this year—YVillianistoii and Tarboro. Smithfield has received a good bit of advertising because of this service, which had a beneficial etfefct upon the prices received by t,he to bacco growers. Farmers paid more at tention to preparing their tobacco for market, which probably helped the price. It is expected that a much larger quantity of tobacoo will be government graded this season. OPEN BRANCH IN COLUMBIA • Branch Bank There Highly Welcomed by People, Reports State Columbia, July 19. —The exchange bank which was opened in Columbia during June to provide banking fa cilities during the harvesting of the potato crop will be continued per manently here it has been announced by the Branch Banking and Trust Co., of Plymouth, who provided the office here during June. Cittiena of Tyrfell found the branch bank a great convenience during the harvesting of the potatoes, ■ and the announcement of the permanent open ing of the | exchange office here was very .much welcomed, according to