Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / Jan. 16, 1931, edition 1 / Page 1
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AdMrttoen Will Fnd Oar Col ons a Latchkey to Over Sixteen Hundred Martin Coonty Homes VOLUME XXXIII—NUMBER 92 TOWN FIRE LOSS DROPS $45,905 IN A YEAR'S TIME # Total Lois In Past Year Is Estimated To Be About $2,630.00 - GALLS Seventeen Volunteers Receive Lump Sum of |564 for Services Ren dered During the Year Following a loss estimated at $48,- 535 in 1929, fire damage in Williams ton was limjted to $2,630 in 1930, it was learned from a comparative study of records filed with Fire Chief Henry D. Harrison this morning. The num ber of calls was one greater last year than in 1929, but the average loss for 1929 was far greater. Out of the 24 calls answered by the local volunteer firetaen during the 1930 period, only six were for fires resulting in SSO or more damage. The greatest loss was incurred when the Love and Charity lodge, colored, burned last Odtober and when a tenant house waa destroy ed in Leggett's Lane earlier in the year. The damage at each of the two' fires was estimated at SI,OOO. Other losses* amounted to $630. Each of the 24 calls made upon the fire department were answered by fourteen volunteer firemen on an aver age, 338 attending the fires during the year. No serious accidents were re ported in connection with the work of the department, and as a whole, the year was a very succesful one both for the company and the property owners. ' More than once, the firemen ably' doped with conditions apparent!/ planned by unknown parties, but even j then the loss was limited. Fire ins-: pectors were sent here by insurance comapnie*, but no arrest* were made. Notes carried in the I''3o records show that the town narrowly escaped what is believed would have been the most disastrous fire in years here. Planned by a firebug, the fire, it is be lieved, would have threatened the en tire tobacco warehouse section. The j plan failed. During 1930 the company was called I out on an average once every two 1 weeks, five of the calls coming in October and five in December. There were three calls in January, two in February, four in March, two in May, one in September, five in October, two ! in November and five in December. For 90 consecutive days there wasn't a call made, the longest period in sev eral year* that the siren remained si- : lent. Without the use of the fire fighting equipment mainta'ned here, it is be lieved that the town's fire loss during 1930 would have run into many thou sands of dollars. No accurate check is possible of course, but St?te fire of ficial! were puzzled to know how da mages had been limited to such an ex tent in two of the fires. Blazes in three buildings were checked with minor damages resulting, the inspector com plimenting the company for its work rendered in two of them. During the year, the seventeen vol unteers received $564, an average of S3O per year for each man, not includ ing the chief. The compensation re ceived, many members stated, hardly more than offset the cleaning and pressing bill resulting when calls were made hurriedly by them in what ever dress they happened to be wearing. The fire chief, following the release of the 1930 report, extended his and the company's thanks for the coopera tion and assistance extended by the people of the town with the assurance that every effort will be made to safe guard human life and property. Few criticisms have been directed against the fire company, but they have been limited in nature and num ber, and it is generally agreed that the town has one of the best volunteer fire-fighting groups to be found any where. Will Make Cooperative Shipments Poultry Again Cooperative shipments of poultry will be made again this year from Williams ton, if plan* now being made by County JFarpi Agent T. B. Bran don are realized. The shipments are usually made during the latter part of February and March, and many far mers in the county have cooperated in shipping poultry by this method. Mr. Brandon asks poultry raisers to keep this in mind, and be prepared to cull their flocks for shipment during this period. No indications as to the prices to be paid have been received by the agent. Bank To Close Monday Account Lee's Birthday • Although next Monday, January 19, is the anniversary of the South's 1 grea test leader, Robert E. Lee, no particu lar observance of 4he day has been planned locally. The Branch Banking A Trust Co. is the only local institu tion to observe the day as a holiday, all of the other business establish ments remaining open. THE ENTERPRISE Survey Shows Unemployed In Grifflins ' Griffin* Township, probably Martin County's moat independent {district yesterday reported very favorable figures in connection with unemployment that ia exist ing throughout the nation and which ia presenting one of the moat aerioua problems ever faced by governments in this country. Figure* forwarded the county superintendent of achoola' office here yesterday ahow that only 10 people in the Farm Life School district were without work, that JUDGE BAILEY CALLS 5 CASES Probable Cause Appearing, E. J. Edwards Is Bound Over In Assault Case The recorder's court convened in regular session here last Tuesday, the docket carrying only five cases. Al though considered of small conse quence, one or two of the rases at tracted much attention. The case charging R. K. Rogers with passing a worthless check was nol prossed. Jane Powell was adjudged guilty of larceny and was sentenced to jail for a period of five months. Notice of appeal was made, Judge Bailey re quiring bond in the sum of SIOO. A nol pros resulted in the case a gainst Jake Spruill, in which he was charged with larceny. ■ Probable cause of guilt appearing in the case charging K. J. Edwards with an assault wtih a deadly weapon with intent to kill, the defendant was bound over to the March term of su perior court. Bond in the sum of S4OO was required. The defendant continues in jail as no adequate bond has been offered. Four witnesses were called in the case originating in Hamilton during the Christmas season, w(hen Edwards was # said to have attacked Jule Bunting in a filling station there. The case charging Wheeler Beach Witli driving an automobile under the influence of liquor was called, hut the defendant failed to answer. Papers were issued. SOLDIERS NOT TO GET BONUS NOW Little Hope for Redemption Adjusted Compensation Certificates Until 1945 Some time during the past year a large number of World War veterans in Washington County signed a peti tion requesting Congressman Warren and Senator Simmons to support the bill introduced in Congress which ! would pay off adjusted compensation certificates at the present time instead of waiting until 1945, when they are jdue. i Sheriff Reid last week received a ilettef from Congressman Warren Imitating that he had been an advocate of this measure for two years and that he believed it would do more than any thing else to aid the present financial distress. However, the Congressman conti nues, "President Hoover and Secretary Mellon and the Republican organiza tion have come out strongly against this bill, and as they have 100 majority in the House I do not think it has a chance whatever to ever be consider ed. The only other way to get consi* deration is for 218 members to sign a petition, and so far we have been able to secure 100 signatures. It is my opinion that so long as the Re publicans are in power we will be un able to get any legislation on this matter." Captain C. E. Mizelle, of Roper, stated Monday that he had received a letter along the same lines from Se nator Simmons, and there appears lit tle hope of the ex-service men "cash ing in" on these certificates before they become due in 1945.—The Roa noke Beacon. • First Snow of New Year Falls Here Wednesday The first snow of the new year in this immediate section fell last Wednesday evening, hardly covering the ground. Temperatures, the low est of the season, were felt, and a strong wind from the north swept the section. Yesterday the mercury con tinued at a low point, but a bright sun melted the small snowfall in most places. : 4.f f' y - -. West of Rocky Mount the flakes fell throughout the greater part of the day, but (he fall was limited to around two inches, reports stated. Fall, from three to eight inches were reported in other portions of the Southern States. Light and power service was tem porarily interrupted here Wednesday | when a tree limb was cut across the [street lines. *!«■?%••*-• * Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, January 16, 1931. mine of them had been given work. Five of the unemployed re ported were white and five col ored. So far there ha* been very little need for charity in the diatrict, and it waa indicated in the report, forwarded here by Professor Mayo Grimes, assistant principal of the school there, that the aituation could be well cared for locally. Only two families have been re ported aa in actual need of aid, the survey received by the school sup erintendent shows. REYNOLDS HAS BIG EARNINGS ♦ Tobacco Company's Profits Two Million Greater In 1930 Than In 1929 ♦ | The profits of the R. J, Reynolds Tobacco company for the year just ,closed were the largest in the organi zation's history, it was revealed in the | company's annual statement issued ithis week. The annual statement re ports earnings of $34,256,664 as com pared with $32,210,52! for the pre jvious year. | This is equal to $.'.42 per share for 1930 against $3.22 per share in 1929, jand represents a continuance of re cord-breaking earnings shown by that company for many successive years. | The ration of current assests to cur j rent liabilities, according to the state ment, is over 12 to 1, with no bank debt, no outstanding bonds or preler red stock, and with only the nominal sum of $1 assigned to its brands, trade- I marks and good will. In a letter to the stockholders, Bow man Gray, president of the company, pointed out that the report "is being sent to the largest number of stock holders in the company's history, the aggregate number being nearly three times that of two years ago." "I he company," Mr. Gray said, /'holds shares of* its own stock which are carried at a figure less than market price at December 31, 1930." During the past year the company sold a block of the shares previously ac quired, and the profit from the sale was applied in reduction of the cost of the shares still held. No part of the earnings shown in the treasurer's re port for the year was derived from the jsale of stock." STATE BEGINS TO "LIVE AT HOME" ♦ Acreage Planted To Food and Feed Crops In The State Are Increased Governor Gardner's "Livc-at-Home" campaign broadcast through the State in 1930 and being followed up this year with another extensive camapigu is bringing actual results in increased acreages planted in food and feed crops. Figures compiled by C. A. Sheffield, assistant extension director at State College, for 1930, show that farmers have added to acreage planted in 14 important food and feed crops since 1929. As a result, a total placed at $19,000,000 was added to the value of these crops. I While adding thoylnatLi of acres to food and feed crops the acreage planted in cotton was cut from 1,878,- 000 acres in 1929 to 1,644,000 acres in 1 1939, a decrease of 234,000 acres and a percentage decrease of 12 for the entire State. | Particularly encouraging to the "Live-at-H'onie" workers is in crease in home gardens on farms, more th£n 10,000 acres being added in 1930 for a percentage increase of 'above 10. 1 Other food and feed crops which show gains in Mr. Sheffield's tabular tion follow: Corn 271,000 acres added; 12 per | cent gain. Oats .... 28,000 acres added; 11 per ! pent gain. 1 Barley 3,000 acres added; 8 per cent .gain. Hay 66,000 acres added; 7 per j cent gain. .Soy Beans . 72,000 acres added; 35 per cent gain. Cowpeas,™ 13,000 acres added 19 j per cent gain. i Irish Potatoes 16,000 acres addedx ' 21 per. cent gain. jSweet Potatoes 20,000 acres addel 25 per cent gain. Sorghum «... 10,000 acres added; 10 per cent gain. * Truck Crops (Com), m _„Il,810 acres added; 6 per cent gain. Laying Hens 230,246 birds added; 4 per cent gain. j Dairy Cows 24,000 head added; 9, per cent gain. LEGISLATURE A ENDS ANOTHER WEEK TODAY ; Smith, Martin's Represen tative, Introduces His First House Bill ! SCHOOLS DISCUSSED * " Developments Indicate That Proper ty Revaluation Will Be Post poned Until April 1 Another week comes to a close in I the North Carolina Legislature today with no startling acts occuring during [the period. It has been an on and ! off week for the legislators who have listened to noted speakers and discus sed now and then the new issues placed before them. While the various committees named this week are working on the various major proposals and acts, the local hills continue to flow in. Martin came in for one this week when Re duced House Bill 55, fixing punish ment for non-payment of board bills in Martin County. The bill calls for an amendment of a similar act passed in 1929, it is understood. Wednesday, attention of the body was centered on the syt months, State supported school, hope having been virtually abandoned for a State-wide eight months public school. Difficul ties in financing the eight-months term were given as the main reason for abandoning the hope for the passage of an act providing the longer term. Views expressed Wednesday by chairmen of both the educational com mittees, indicated that attention was being centered on the six months term as a major step toward the reduction of taxes upon real property and for the futherance of educational op portuntics in North Carolina. Representative A. D. Mac Lean, of Beaufort, chairman of the House com mittee on Education and the leader of the State-supported eight-months school term at the last session, said yesterday that he still favored the eight-months term but was unable to see how it could be financed with out a general sales tax. Mr. Mac Lean appeared to think that opposition to a general sales tax would be too high a barrier to hur dle at this season, and consequently is turning over in his mind the prob' lems of a State-supported six-months term, with extended terms - financed out of local revenue. Revaluation Developments in the committee meetings oil fianance yesterday indi j cated that the revaluation of property would he made this year, work begin ning about April first. No formal ac tion was taken in either of the two Se nate bills, one by Senator Johnson, of ! Duplin, postponing the revaluation for ! a period of two years in accordance i with Governor Gardner's recommenda tion, and one by Senator Clement, making the revaluation optional with each county. The delay, it is under stood, will be supported by both branches of the Legislature. A long shot was fired this week in i an effort to raise money from other sources than the ones drained for years past, when resolutions were put I in order requesting the Federal Gov ernment to refund 20 per cent of the ; tobacco tax collected in North Caro lina to the State. No comment on the resolutions had been made late yes terday in the nation's capital, but it ( is believed that the old argument will |be advanced again, reading in effect I "North Carolinians do not pay the tobacco tax." J Ihe Senate had a sleepy day yes terday, very few bills being introduced and little work done in the hall. ! • Parents and Teachers | In Meet Here Yesterday I'he local parent-teacher association held its regular meeting in the gram mar grade building yesterday after noon with a comparatively few par ents attending. Opened by the devotional exercise led by Mrs. Jt. J. Peel, the meeting discusyed possible of providing hot lunches for needy children. A committee, Mrs. J. H. Saunders, chairman, assisted by Mrs. B. VV. Hardy, Mrs. H. D. Harrison, Mrs. M. D. Watts, was appointed to investi ! gate the costs in an effort to provide the lunches proposed. ■ Next week, officers of the associa tion will talk with Miss Busbee, land- I scape specialist, that plans might be I formulated for beautifying the high ' school grounds. ! The third grade, group A, render , ed a thrift program for the entertain | ment of the parents and teachers, and incidentally won the attendance prize. Hunting Season Closed Yesterday on Squirrels Very little attention was given the cloiing of the aeaaon for hunting squirrel and deer yeaterday in thi* section. ---- - —— " Very few hunter* were in the swampa after squirrel! yesterday, it is underatood. Rocky Mount Negro Kill Deputy for Resisting An est COUNTY IS SHORT ON EIGHT FOOD AND FEED CROPS I " • "Live-at-Home" Items Are Ignored That Tobacco Might Be Grown • $899,288 IS PRICE PAID Shows Surplus Above Need* on Rye, Sweet Potatoes, Irish Potatoes. Pork snd Hay Cotton and tobacco in Martin Coun ty still take up thousands of valuable acres and occupy many long hours of toil to growers with prices dropping each year, while the county is failing by a wide margin to grow and produce | the iniixrtfant "Live-at-Home'" items that it needs for its farm population of 14,200 and to feed its livestock. Figures compiled by the Extension Service of N. C. State College iiji con nection with the IV3I "Live-at-Home" campaign which has as its slogan "Farm to Make a Living In 1931," show the county short on eight food and feed crops. They are wheat, corn oats, beef and veal, milk, poultry, eggs and home gardens, and the value of the shortage is placed at $899,288. If the farmers of the county meet their own requirements they were forced to take this big sum out of possible cot ton and tobacco profits or else go ■without. The county showed a surplus above its farm needs on rye, sweet potatoes, Irish Potatoes, pork and hay in 1929. The pork production surplus was va lued at $295,(>80, but on the other hand the county failed by $106,926 to meet its own needs on corn, one item of important feed for porkers. Grow ing more corn and feeding it to its hogs is an opportunity open to the farmers of Martin County to add > thousands of dollars to their income and to keep money at home which is now flowing to the outside. Home gardens is another "Live-at- Home" 'item on which the farmers of Martin are prominently deficient. If | they are eating on a par with the , average citizen of the nation then they are forced to buy vegetables for their own tables with a value of $203,280. i Farmers while growing a big surplus in tobacco and cotton are put in the I position of not growing enough food ! stuffs for their home ables. j Food and feed crops on which Mar gin County is deficient with statistics 1 follow: I Wheat 55,880 bushels required; 169 bushels produced; 55,711 bushels shortage; $77,438 value of shortage. I Corn 556,113 bushels required; (447,005 bushels produced; 109,108 j bushels shortage; $106,926 value of shortage. | Oats 122,616 bushels required; 132,700 bushels produced; 89,916 bu shels shortage; $65,630 value of short age. I Beef and Veal 939 head required; 839 head produced; 100 head shortage; $4,740 value of shortage, i Milk 1,917,000 gallons required; 243,439 gallons produced 1,673,561 gal lons shortage; $301,241 value of shortage. birds shortage; 96,538 bird 'shortage; $86,884 value of shortage. Kggs 440,200 dozen required; 2%,370 produced; 143,830 dozen short age; $43,149 value of shortage. Home Gardens 1,420 acres re quired; 936 acres planted; 484 acres shortage; $203,280 value of shortage. Food and feed crops on which Martin produced a surplus above the needs of its farm population with Rye 1,014 bushels surplus with a Sweet Potatoes 20,732 bushels required,; 84,490 bushels produced; 63,758 bushels surplus; $57,382 value of surplus. .. Irish Potatoes 17,040 bushels re quired; 63,360 bushels produced; 46,- 320 bushels surplus; $57,900 value of surplus. Pork and Lard 5,680 head re quired; 20,464 head produced; 14,784 head surplus; $295,680 value of sur plus. Hay 12,012 tons required; 14,580 tons produced; 2,568 tons surplus; $46,224 value of surplus. • Old Fashioned Square Dance at Robersonville An old faihion square dance will be held in the Red Front Warehouse in Rohersonville tonight at 8:30. The promotors of the dance are ex pecting ft big crowd and regardless of the cot|slhe dance will be held as the building will be heated. The Scotland Neck String Band, will furnish the music. Tobacco Market Will Close Here the 23rd • The local tobacco market, ac cording to an announcement by Mr. W. T. Meadows, President of the Tobacco Board of Trade, will remain open until Friday, January 23. The closing date was extended one week due to the fact that considerable tobac co in Mart in County remains to be sold. Some types of tobacco are selling better than at any time within the last few months, and tobacconists on the local mar ket expect present prices to re main for the balance of the sea son. MARTIN SOLONS 1 ARE APPOINTED TO COMMITTEES Elbert S. Peel Made Chair i man of Important Roads Committee GET 23 APPOINTMENTS Ward Draws Eight Assignments and | Representative J. C. Smith Gets Pour in the House Senators Hallet S, Ward, of Beau fort, and Elbert S. Peel, or Martin and Representative J. C. Smith, also of this county, came m fi.r their share of appointments in the General As sembly this week, the three men re ceiving 23 appointments to various i committees. Handling the appointments in the Senate, Lieutenant Ciovernor Fountain named l'eel chairman of the "import iant committees on roads, and a mem ber of ten other committees having to do with commercial con gressional districts, corporations, fi nance, insane asylum, insurance, judic iary, justices of the peaqe, library, senatorial districts. The committee on public roads is rated as one of the major ones, as it has to do with the State's taking over and maintaining the county roads. The congressional districts and finance committees arc alsjj considered very important. I Representative J. Calvin Smith, of | Kobersonville, was appointed by the 'Speaker of the House, Willis Smith, as member of the committees having I to do with, immigration, institution for the blind, judiciary, and senatorial dis tricts. Ihe judiciary appointment | ranks with the major ones! | Senator Ward, for his first term, drew the following assignments: Chairmanship of committee on consti tutional amendments; member of com mittees on finance, claims, judiciary No. 2, penal institutions, internal im provements, railroads, and pensions and soldiers' home. Senator Ward | ranks second on The finance committee, lone of the major ones. Presbyterian Services In County Over the Weekend * u Sunday January 18th 1931 "The Church With An Open Door." Church School 9:45 A. M. Depart mental Classes. Mr, Jno. L Rodger son Sup't. Worship Service and Sermon: 11 A. M. "John, The Discip'e Whom Je sus Loved." Just to remind you that you are al ways welcome at our church. Like our blessed Lord, we are in this world not to be ministered unto, but to minis ter, and we invite you to join us in this noble task at least by attending one of HIS services each Sunday. , . We invite you to make our church your church. Laggatt'i Farm Sunday School 2:30 I'. M. Preach ing services immediately afterward. Bear Grass Song Service and Preaching at 6:30 P. M. It is hoped that Mr. Pope can be with us. The Circle of the Woman's Auxi liary will meet with Mrs. Z. Piephoff at 7:30 P. M. tonight. All members jare urged to be present and to study the 9th, 10th and 11th chapter of Ro -1 mans. Timely Sermon Topics for Baptist's Sunday Services "Spiritual Bankrupts" and "Spirit ual Balance Wheels" will be the two sermon-subjects at the Baptist church Sunday. —- The oth'er church organisations will meet according to schedule routine. The church is mindful of the con tinued absence of Mrs. Lina Martin and Miss Helen Sumner, who is in a Washington hospital. Watch the Label On Your Paper Aa It Carriea the Date When Your Subscription Expiree ESTABLISHED 1898 WAS-TRYING TO TAKE OFFICER'S GUN WHEN SHOT Negro Had Bad Reputa tion, Rocky Mount Police Say HAD LIQUOR IN AUTO 1 . » Calling for Body Here, Wife Stated That His Death Was No More Than What She Expected hlijah Coo lev, 35 year-old colored I man of Rocky Mount, was shot and talmost instantly killed by Deputy j Sheriff i>. H. Grimes when lie attack ed the officer following arrest ne?r ! Robersonville last Tuesday afternoon. I I he ball, fired from the .officer's gun, [struck Copley in the abdomen causing his death a lew minutes latvr. Imme diately following the shooting, Cooley was carried to Robersonville where he died in front of Dr. V. A. Ward's office. A coroner's jury, composed of C. M. Hurst, Henry Johnson, J, K. Ross, K. 1. Purvis and J. R. Whitehurst, all of Robersonville, and J. F. Thigpen, of this, place, investigated the shooting -and. held, that the oUicvjust Hietl HI .shooting the man. The inquest held in Mayor Hurst's office at Roberson ville, was conducted by Coroner S. R. Higgs. Deputy* Grimes, traveling alone on the Fveretts-Bear road, accidentally ran up behind the car, an old model Dodge coupe, in which' Cooley and his friend, James llawley, colored of Rocky Mount, were riding. The Of ficer observed the actions of the two men and concluded that they were transporting a load of liquor. He pas sed them at the first opportunity and attempted to halt the car at Kveretts. Cooley, the driver of the old Dodge, ignored the deputy and went full speed ahead. Taking his car. Deputy Grimes gave chase, but his every at tempt to pass the run car was blocked by Cooley. Upon Hearing Roberson ville, Cooley saw that his car could not maintain the pace and he at tempted to turn into a side road, De puty Grimes blocking the road en trance. 1 hen it was that Cooley and Hawley took to their heels, making a hurriel entrance into a nearby woods. Ollicer Grimes followed, and after a chase of two hundred yards or more stop ped CotJley on 'the railroad, Ilawley, leading by a few steps, stopped and surrendered. Tired out by the run, Cooley asked for time to rest, the deputy waiting for him about five minutes. When told to walk on back to the car, Copley objected. The officer urged him to move on, but five more minutes pas sed and the man still refused to move. Apparently having rested himself, Cooley turned and with his right band reached for the officer's neck, lie missed his aim, but did strike De puty (rimes' shoulder. The left hand clutched the barrel of the officer's gun land then ft was that the shot was fired. As he fell, Cooley continued his I hold 011 the gun,-the officer snatching the weapon away. j Cooley yelled three or four times, I but was unconscious in a few seconds, , failing to make a remark of any kind. Hawley willingly obeyed all orders, and is now awaiting trial in the county „ here. Nine and one-half gallons of liquor hidden in the Dodge car, were turned [-out, one-half gallon jar having been I broken in the run.. Coming here for the body late that night, I.ucy Cooley, the dead man's widow, stated that she had warned him against his actions, that if he did not stop he would surley die in his shoes. Rocky Mount police, apparently pleased, stated that Cooley had a bad reputation. On the man's body were found sev eral stones and. powder encased in a bag suspended on a belt around sug gesting a low type of voodooism. He had 56 cents on his person. Other than his story to officers, Hawley's connection with the case has not been determined. Hawley says he left Rocky Mount Saturday, walk ing to Speed and other towns looking for work. Tree miles out of Everetts, Cooley picked him up, agreeing to car ry him to- Tarboro, it was stated in his story. The bottle of whiskey found lat his person was given to him by ■ Cooley, he said. He claimed that he , did not know Cooley, that he was just riding with him as a passenger. The killing, justified in every parti cular, is the first under similar condi tions, to happen in this county in a i number of years, records show. Here from Roberson villa Messrs. Lee House and J. R. Morris, of Robersonville, were business visi tors here yesterday.
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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Jan. 16, 1931, edition 1
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