North Carolina Newspapers

Airotlwn Will Fad Our Col ■M a Latchkey to Over Sixteen Hundred Martin County Homes VOLUME XXXIV— NUMBER 27 TOWN COMMISSION BEGIN NEW TERM; CUT EMPLOYEES' PLAN PROGRAM OF ECONOMY IN NEXT 2 YEARS Plan To Enforce Ordinance Requiring Owners To Clean Vacant Lots Taking the oaths of office last night, the local town board of commissioners and mayor started their two-year term by perfecting their working organiza tion and advancing a general reduction in town employees' salaries. The po lice department was established as a single unit in the town's organization, the board consolidating the street and water departments as an economy measure. Judge R. J. Peel, clerk of the Mar tin County superior court, administered the oaths of office, Robert L. Coburn pledging his will and services to the town as mayor, atid G. H. Harrison, L. P. Lindsley, N. C. Green. E - S. Mc- Cabe, and Luther Peel taking the com missioners' oaths. Following a short welcome addressed to Messrs. Peel and McCabe, the board made G. H. Harrison secretary; N. C. Green treas urer, and L. P. Lindsley. mayor pro tem, all succeeding themselves. With their organization complete, the commissioners listened to personal requests and granted Frank Carstar phen permission to hold a dance June 15th and Robert Rogers, colored, per mission to hold one the 17th or 23rd of this month. The bars were slightly lowered in the case of the first request when the board agreed to fix the clos ing time at 2 o'clock instead of 1. Only three applications were filed for the two positions in the polide de partment, for chief and one for officer of the night. A motion wa* offered and carried retaining W. B. Daniel as chief of police and J. H. Allsbrooks, night officer. Operated in connection with the po lice department for many years, the street department was combined with the water unit, and will be handled by Jesse Harrell, superintendent of th-; water system. As a result of the merger, the commissioners state that the number of employees can be re duced to a minimum. Operating de tails were not made complete for the department, and it will be several days before a definite schedule can l>e ef fected. Talking briefly before the meeting, Mayor Coburn stated that existing con ditions called for a marked reduction j in town salaries. In making the re ductions, ranging from 10 to 50 per cent, the commissioners considered the duties of each job, services rendered, and importance of the duties imposed upon each employee. Starting with the street sweepers, wages were dropped from sls to sl2 weekly. The wage scale of the assist- j ant to the water department superin tendent was left at S2O weekly, a 10 per cent reduction being made in the salary of the superintendent. The sal ary of the night officer remains at SIOO monthly, a 10 per cent reduction be ing made in the chief's salary with other possible reductions. The salary of the office clerk remains at sls a week. A 10 per cent reduction was made in the salary of the cdmmission., ers. The major reduction was made in the mayor's salary, R. L. Coburn suggesting a 50 per cent drop from S6OO paid him heretofore. The combined yearly saving result ing from salary reductions and the merging of the street and water de partments will be approximately $1,650. Economy in operation will be prac ticed closely by the commissioners during the next two years, and the sal ary reductions come as the first meas ure in the program. In an effort to limit the number of mosquitoes and flies, the town resur rected that ordmance backed by the State law requiring all property own ers to clean up their vacant lots or answer to the courts. According to the action of the board last night, po lice inspection will be made of the va cant lots at the end fo two weeks and owners who have falied to clean their loU of weeds, cans, and rubbish, will be subject to be called before the courts. Masons To Hear Lecturer In County Next Week Conoho, Stonewall, and Skwerkae Masonic Lodges, at Hamilton, Rober sonville, and Williamston, respectively, Will have/ the services of Assistant ttrand Lecturer Marquette all next •reek, it was announced Tuesday by officials of the organization. On Mon day Mr. Marquette will be at Ske i warkce Lodge in Williamston; Tues day, he will be at Stonewall in Rob ersonville, and dates will be arranged Mor the balance of the week. Members •of the various lodges are expected to •ttcad all the meetings. 1 THE ENTERPRISE BEGINS NEW TERM f BHi 1 iv ■' ■■iM k " 1 " • &■■■ s Mayor R. L. Coburn, entering upon a new term, proposes SO per cent reduction in salary for him self in meeting held last night. REVIVALCLOSES AT CHRISTIAN CHURCHSUNDAY Large Crowds Hear Rev. John Barclay During Past Week Here The series of services started in the local Christian church the early part of last week was brought to a dos? last Sunday evening when Rev. Johii Barclay, of Wilson, preached to a large congregation. The minister's talks attracted large crowds through out the week, and even though the meeting resulted in the addition of no new members to the church's roll, it was of a marked benefit to those at tending and to the community as a whole. "The Fight for Character" was the sermon topic Sunday evening, the min ister stating that there were two fields where the individual must do battle. One of these is without and another is within the individual, Rev. Mr. Bar clay declared. It is no easy task for one to overcome the obstacles and hardships facing one who would fight for character, the minister saying, "for as Paul said, "When I would do good, evil is present.'" With a keen com petition present in the comercial world today, the business man is finding the task of fighting for character a hard one, he continued. "Inwardly, there U a continuous battle between our car nal nature and our spiritual nature, and to overcome the baser element, we must build a plank into our spiritual lives each day," the minister declared. In making the fight for character, there are three things necessary: One's alliance with Jesus Christ; fellowship; and aspirations: the minister support ing his statements with timely illustra tions. Throughout the week, Rev. Mr. Bar- I clay preached strong and forceful ser | tnons, winning the admiration of h:s hearers. STOLEN CAR IS i WRECKED HERE Driver Was Picked Up and Carried To Washington; Owner Gets Wreck • A Ford sedan, believed to have been stolen and driven by Frit* Miller, was 'turned over nad completely wrecked at Skewarkey on the Washington Road Sunday afternoon. The driver was picked up by Washington parties and I carried away before the extent of his injuries could be determined here. Eye- I witnesses stated that the car ran off the concrete on the Skewarkey curve and skidded when the driver attempted i to turn it back on the road, that after skidding a short distance on the con crete it went on the dirt and turned over several times, the machine doing a nose dive just before it came to a standstill. According to. reports received from the Washington hospital yesterday afternoon no wreck victim* were ad mitted there Sunday. It was later learned from the Elisabeth City po lice department that the car was stolen from Mitchell Evans in Elizabeth City- Sunday morning, and that Fritz Miller VM believed to have driven it away. The desk sergeant stated that a war rant had been issued for Miller, who, it was believed in Elizabeth City, had atarted for Savannah, Ga. Miller was said to have been from Washington. Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, June 2,1931 15 INJURED IN SERIES WRECKS OVER WEEK-END 8 CARS FIGURE IN SIX ACCIDENTS IN THIS SECTION Total of 32 People Impli cated in Crashes; 17 Are Unhurt Fifteen people were hurt, more or less seriously, in a series of automobile wrecks occurring in this section over the week-end. More than 30 people were impli cated, several of that number narrowly escaping death. Proper ty damage will run well into the thousands of dollars, it is believ ed. Lates reports from the bedsides of the several victims state that all are getting along very well and are expected to recover. NORFOLK MAN IS ARRESTED AND HELD FOR TRIAL m J. H. Roebuck Is Painfully Hurt in Auto Wreck Early Saturday The second of the series of wrecks reported near here over the week-end occurred six miles out of Windsor on the Edcnton road about 1:30 Saturday morning, when P. H. Ward, of Nor folk,ran an Essex car into the Ford sedan driven by J. If. Roebuck, of this place? Roebuck was badly injured a bout the body, and his car was com pletely wrecked, Mrs. J. S. I'riar, Rod Watts, and Ward were bruised but their injuries were not 'serious. According to reports coming from the scene of the wreck, Mr. Roebuck was traveling toward Windsor when the Essex approached him. In an ef fort to avoid the wreck, he turned to the side of the road, leaving the two left wheels not more than two feet on the hard surface when the Essex plowed its radiator into the left side io the Ford, knocking it over and into the ditch. The occupants of the Essc\ stopped a car and continued to Eden ton, leaving Robeuck alone. He was later picked up by another automobile and carried to the Chowan bridge, where a doctor was called. Ward was arrested and bond in the sum of SI,OOO was required. The case will be heard in Bertie. Mr. Roebuck, traveling alone, was returning from Elizabeth City and East Lake, where he had assisted Fed eral Agents Crook, Street, and Coatc/s in making several liquor raids. 5 ARE PAINFULLY HURT NEAR HERE Ball Playws Partly Skinned When They Slide On Concrete Near Here Five negroes were painfully skinned about their faces arid bodies ami a model T Ford truck, driven by Frank Green badly damaged in a wreck oc« curring on the "S" curve just beyond Sweet Water Creek last Saturday aft ernoon. Four of the negroes,, riding in -a truck driven by Louis- Alexander, young white man of Plymouth, skidded down the highway when they were spilled from the truck that was hit by the one driven by Green. Stephen Nichols, a passenger on the Green truck, burned the skin from his nose and about his face when he fell from the truck and slid down the concrete road. None of the group was seri ously hurt, but the model A truck occupants, en route to Ayden for a ball game, turned around and went to their homes in Plymouth. Green and the other riders on the old truck were giv en medical attention hire before they J returned to their homes near James-1 ville. Nichols stated that the Alexander truck wa« running about 35 miles an hour, that Green was following very closely in the old truck, used for log ging by Roberson and Fleming. Green started to pass the model A machine and in some way struck the left fen der of the truck he was attempting to pass. Jim Bell, Sam Johnson, Jamt McCormick and Dennis Rountree were thrown from ffie front truck, and Ni chols and another passenger were were thrown from the log truck. Green held his scat on the old Ford and went with it over a small embankment and into a tree. „ .1 James Henry Biggs Jailed For Assaulting Woman • Charged with assaulting Myrtle Scott, colored woman .of Bear Grass Township, James Henry Biggs, col ored, of that township, was placed un der a SIOO bond in Justice of'lhe Peace J. L. Hassell's court here yesterday morning. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Bailey in recorder's court here today. T ' ' ' I T- T- ' -T- -r -r T- -T --1 Seriously Hurt When Car Hits Bridge County Commissioners Take Up Wide Variety of Matters At Regular Meeting Monday COMMISSIONERS * HEAR APPEAL OF COUNTY'S POOR Holding Joint Meeting with the County Educational Board Here Today Pitiful were the county's unfortu nates in their appeals for aid before the county commissioners in regular session here yesterday." Several new names were placed on the indigent list, pushing tlte" required monthly fund for the poor to almost S3OO, not in cluding the home inmates. While the board dis.cus.sed a number of matters during the long session yesterday, a greater part of the time was given to hearing the appeals, of the poor t The following persons were placed on the list until further notice: Mrs. John Simpson, of Jamesville township, (ieorge Frank Hazemore orphans, colored of Williams township, $4. per month. Mrs. J. !?. Robernon, of Griffins township, s.l, per month. John Kllis, colored of Parmele, $4 per month. Mary Ann Webb, of, Grass, $« per month. Willie Roebuck, of Poplar Point township, $4. |«t mouth. Mrs. Sam Taylor, Robersonville township, $5. per iiumtTf. Addie J ones, co I wed, i Williainston township, $2 per month. J. F. (iurganus, Robersonville town ship, $3 yer .month. The sum of $13.68, taxes improper ly listed and collected on 30 acres of land in Jaitiesville township for the years 192 V and -1930, was ordered re funded to the Wicomico Lumber coin- Revaluaiton of property in the coun ty was discussed, the board finally de ciding that it would he advisable to complete the work started and at the end re-adjust the list so that the val ues will hot drop below the 10 per cent figure advanced by State law. In the two towjiships where the revaluation work has not been started, the listers will make adjustments, hearing in mind the limited reduction. Bids for the county audit were open ed, but the contract was not awarded at the meeting "VeSlcrrlay. 11) deferred session today the commissioners and the board of education are con sidering having one auditor audit all the county books as one unit, and the awarding of a.contract or contracts is expected in the meeting now in ses sion. „ Working jointly with the education body, the commissioners are schedul ed to appoint a welfare officer for the county and handle other matters in connection with »the county board of health. At noon today the authorities had not completed their work. Heretofore, the county superintend ent has served as welfare officer, and it is likely that the superintendent will he elected to serve in that posi tion during the next two years, at whatever remuneration the authorities might consider, if any. Offer Prospective Buyers 10 Per Cent Cut in Prices To better acquaint builders and pros pective builders, the Murray and Mc- Cabe Lumber Company, local lumber and building material dealers, is of fering a 10 per cent reduction in it« prices on high grade lumber and build-1 ing .material during the month of June. Mr. Mac stated, "We do this to get you started right; for if you start right you will end right." * i The company carries a large line of building equipment and all orders arej handled promptly, and then there is the j 10 per cent reduction for all new cus-, tomers placing contracts, this month. As a way of suggestion: Fly time i* ( here; the company makes screens screen doors; give an order and try the company's promptness, workman ship, and pripet. • County Board oi Eductaion Holding Meet Here Today The regular monthly meeting of the Martin County Borad of Education was postponed yesterday when the sup erintendent was called out of town. The board is holding its meeting to day. * LABORERSFLOCK TO "SPUD" FIELDS Truck Loads of Men, Wo men and Children Look for Work Near Aurora Although' the season has tiardly op ened in the potato areas of this sec tion,-laborers from the counties in the . upper part of the State are rtfslling to I the fields in search of work. Several (truck loads of laborers'; inclining wo men and children, passed through here I Sunday from Edgecombe County to I camp near the potato fields that they j might be on hand when the digging I gets fully under way. I'rom far-away Horida and Alabama laborers rushed to the potato fields in this state and to those in Virginia look ing for work. This year it is believed that local labor can m re than handle the work. HOLDS REVIVAL AT EVERETTS Meeting There Expected To Come to Close This Week Kveretts, June 1. During the past week it has been a special blessing to the people of F.verett* to hear Kev. 1 >aviil li. Roberts preach the (io>pcl ot Christ. His consecrated life and ear nest appeals have persuaded us to Be more loyal to Him who died that we might live. We feel that each Chris tian among us has caught a vision >1 his individual task and that -we, as :i unit, see more cleraly the work to be done k by us. We are grateful ti> Miss Kdith Ayers, the pianist, who has been do ing an outstanding work with the chil dren. Her faithfulness and efficiency has inspired us all. In spite of the fact that many have been busy in farm work, the at tendance has been unusually good. Come and worship with us Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, and perhaps Thursday evening.—Re- ported. EIGHT LICENSES TO MARRY ISSUED Number Is Smallest Issued In Any One Month So Far This Year Judging from the number of marri age licenses issued by Register J. Safti Getsinger in this county last month, the depression continues in the marital field if no place else. Only 8 licenses were issued, 6 to colored couples and 1 to white parties. The number issued to white couples was the smallest so far recorded thr* year. Licenses were issued to the follow ing: White Arthur Hradley and Susie Johnson, both of Oak City. Adrian Fsaac Hanlipon, Jamesville, ami Ida l'earl Koberson, of William stun. Colored Arthur Cromwell and Roxanna Slade, both of Martin County, I Turner Wiggins and Ethel Collins, both of Hamilton, Thomas Koulhac, of Bertie County, ?nd Hattie Birt, Martin County. Hansom Knight and Anna Roberts, both of Martin County. Joseph Koberson and Carrie Branch, both of Beaufort County. George 1*". Godard. and Henrietta Godard, both of Martin. Call Local Fire Company Out Yesterday Afternoon The local fire company was called out yesterday afternon when fire threat ened the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Manning on Smithwick Street. Start ing from a burning trasli pile, near the rear of the home, the fire was eating its way between the weatherboard ing and the inside wall, having reached the roof when the firemen reached the scerfe. Two strips of weatherboarding I and a few shingles were removed, and the blaze was extinguished yrith a sm ill quantity of -water supptied by one oT the small hose connected to the wa -1 ter tank on the truck. No great damage resulted to the home. Local Stores To Close Wednesday Afternoons Following an agreement a mong the several merchants of the town, the business houses will close each Wednesday aft ernoon beginning next Wednes day, June 10, and continuing through the months of June, July and August. The petition, circulated during the past few days and advancing the hajf holiday each week, received the last signatures this morning, it was stated. The practice of closing the stores is general throughout this section, it is understood and is followed here for the sec ond time, the merchants having closed each Wednesday after noon during a part of last sum mer. Drug stores and other busi ness firms remaining open on Sundays as a general rule, are not included. %- NEGRO MAN IS ARRESTED ON THEFT CHARGE »*- Steals Chickens from W. J. Hodges and Sells Them to Mr. Hodge's Brother Jne James, colored-,- was arrested here Saturday morning for stealing chicken*. lie was given a hearing lie fore Justice of tile Peace Mayo tlriiiies and in default of bond, a SIOO one and a second for s2oo;' the Irian was" ordered held in the jail here for trial before Judge Hailey in recorder's court to day. About a week ago, James is alleged to have raided the coop of Mr. W, J. (lodges, lie sold the chickens to Mr. Hodges' brother, Mr. I'. K. Hodges. During the meantime, the owner of the chickens recognized- them while they were on sale and recovered them. I.ast Saturday, James is said to have stolen two chickens from Walter John son, local colored man, and was rec ognized when lie attempted to sell them to Mr. YV. J. Ilodges. A warm lit was issued lor his arrest. At the hear ing James stated that Don I'urvis lot I given liitii the FVi'o :thickens to sell. Johnson offering hint a third ojie ,n»r handling the transaction. * I'urvis was (arrested and bitterly denied having any connection. J anies, _a. B.ertie County. negro,-- but for the past seyeral months a tesident of this place, was also charged with stealing a quantity of meat from 4 Mr.* I .egged, of Bertie. The Bertie j,farmer suspected James and came here some time ago in,an effort to trace the -stolen meat. 1 Icf learneil that Mr. F. K. Hodges, local grocer, 'had bought the meat, and James was identified as the seller last Saturday. James denied steaftng the meat, stating that his fath er had given it to him. This charge will be heard in Bertie County, it is understood. CONTINUE LOW MOVIE PRICES Joan Crawford Plays Here Thursday and Friday in Her Latest Picture The popular admission price of iff cents plus a merchant'!! trade ticket in effect during the past mouth at the Watts Theatre here will continue un til further notice, hut the trade ticket will not he necessary as a part of the admission fee, it was announced hy Manager Watts. During the past month many pa trons have visited the picture house, taking advantage of the small admis sion fee. And the attending crow Is are expected to continue, a real rush is | -expected Thursday and Friday of "this i week when Joan Crawford appears in 1 her latest picture, "Laughing Sinners", This picture arrives in Charlotte, the", distributing center, and will, be shown for its first time here Thurs day, it was stated. ♦ Skewarkey Masons Will Hold Meeting Tonight There will be a special communica tion of Skewarkee Lodge of Masons here tonight at 8 o'clock, it was an nounced this morning by N. K. Har rison, master of the lodge. There will be work in the third degree, and all Masons arc urged to attend. , Watch the Label On Your Paper As It Carries the Date When Your Subscription Expires ESTABLISHED 1898 MISSPLUNGING INTO OPEN DRAW BY THREE FEET Car Tears Down Reinforced Concrete Pillars and Bridge Railings | I'oiir you MK white rtien, Vernon Bur- Igcss, Hussefl Hritt, and E. P. I.eary, jail of Norfolk, and H. K. l.ane, of I\V ilson, narrow!\ escaped death last I I'riday night when their car crashed ithrouKh tin- safety Kate on the Roap joke Kiver bridge here and stopped jthree feet front the open draw. The I accident, resulting in serious injury to j Lear->j I lie car driver, atrrf «ltpht' injury Ito Britt, was • nt* of a series reported in this section over the week-end. I omiug into W'illianistnu, the hovs were traveling at a very rapid speed, J the driver failing to see. the open* draw I until he had almost reached the safety |Kate. Ihe brakes were applied, hut ( the momentum carried the car through .the Kate. . I.eary, seeing the muddy water just ahead of hint, pulled the car to the left and sent it into the bridge railing, tearing a reinforced Con crete post away and knocking three others almost oil. Wlhen the car, a new Hudson sedan, was stopped, it was standing across the right of way with the right wheels not utore than three feet from the tfTlge of the open draw. ] Hugh Sprtiill, keeper of the bridge, | heard the car roaring down the bridge | l ight-of way and waved his lantern Uroni the bridge controls in the middl ed the river, but the car occupants 'tailed to see the signal. The "Dorothy l.eigh," i.ne the N H. and f. boats was passing throuKh the draw ''JJ tlie opposite, side nf the bridge and its spot lights were turned on the car after it had crashed the safety gate. Ambulances were summoned by Mrs. Spruill, and at first it was believed Ithat one of the boys had been killed. A pari iif (he bridge mechanism was damaged when the car'ttruck the safe ty gate, and it was with difficulty tint the injured were removed. Leary, with the main artery in his arm sev ered, was removed to a doctor's office Ivere for first aid. lie was later re moved to a .Washington hospital. Britt was slightly hurt about the hip. Bur iind Kane were unhurt in acci- Tin- lour young men were employed in -Norfolk and were on their way t,» Wilson to spend the week-end with l.ane's relatives, it was stated. I wo members of the highway pa trol were called from Washington, and the) arrived about 11 ;30 to invesitaate the accident. Liquor did not figure in the accident, the boys stating that they were all talking and did not no tice the danger .ahead of them. Traf fic was IH-111 up for almost an hour, 'flic car was badly damaged, and is being Irrid the highway coimnis- sion for repairs to the bridge, estimat ed at $75. SIX HURT WHEN CAR TURNS OVER Norman Ward Badly Cut On Leg li\ Wreck Near the Fair Grounds Norman Ward, highway employee located at (irinit stand, was badly cut about the leg when his car, a Chevro-: let cabriolet, turned over with him Sunday afternoon near the fair grounds here. Mr. Ward's wife and child and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Williams and chihl, riding with Mr. Ward at the time, were bruised but not very badly hurt. Dr. F. S. Whitaker, taking 2li stitches in young Ward's leg, stated that the wound, unless infection set in, would heal in about two weeks, he thought. In turning the curve beyond the fair grounds, l Mr. Ward applied the brakes causing the car to skid. The machine turned first one way "and then another, throwing all occupants out except Mr. Williams, After skidding on the wet pavenient, the machine went to the side of the road and turned over. The body was smashed beyond repair. Mr. and Mrs. Ward and child and Mr. and Mrs. Williams and their child were returning from a visit to Mr. Reuben Harris here to their homes in I'itt County when their car was wrecked. $ • Chevrolet Roadster Wreckad A Chervrolet roadster was wrecked on the Hamilton road Sunday after noon. but no one was hurt. Damage to the car did not prevent its con tinued operation.