B THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME XXXVIII?NUMBER 23 Willimmston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, March 19, 1935 ESTABLISHED 1899 Court Making Rapid Progress on Docket 17 CASES CLEARED FROM DOCKET AT MONDAY SESSION Continue Page Case Oscar Lewis Sentenced To Prison for 30 Years for Killing His Wife Lewis Gets 30 Years Handling one of the largest dockets in nearly three years, the Martin County Superior court with Judge Clayton Moore presiding is buisly grinding out the large number of criminal cases. Yesterday the court cleared seventeen of the 29 case-; from the docket, attendants guessing that all of today and probably much of tomorrow would be required to complete the criminal hearings. Adjudged guilty of secret assault' with intent to kill, Andrew Lloyd and Noah Andrews, colored, were sentenc ed to not less than seven and not more than ten years in State's prison. Lloyd and Andrews murderously attacked Mr. Walter Gurganus, white man, here on Washington Street the early part of this month* The case charging Ollie Page with manslaughter, was continued. Page was the driver of the truck figuring in the wreck that caused the death of John Leavister and Marshall Andrews near Robersonville laSt September Three civil suits, asking more fhan $65,000 damages, are scheduled for trial next week, the criminal action aw>itmg. the hearing of the civil suits. A nol pros resulted in the case charging Harry Girvin with trespass. A continuance was granted in the case charging G. N. Cowan with embezzlement. Judgment was suspended in the fin whirli T.^Rny Carroll pleaded guilty of an assault upon a female. The case charging Clyde Silver thorne with disorderly conduct was dismissed. A nol pros resulted in the case charging Joe Bland with receiving stolen goods. George Spruill was given a four months suspended sentence in the case charging him with store breaking. Pleading guilty of bastardy, Ray mond Peel was ordered to pay $225 to the prosecuting witness and the costs of the case. Charged with breaking into and rob bing the store of L. T. Chesson in Oak City, Jesse Bland, Willie Jones and John Rodgers were sentenced to the roads for a period of 18 months each. Grover Bland, a defendant in the same casev was sentenced t?> the roads for 12 months. The case charging Gus Roberson with an assault was nol prossed. Divorces were granted Delia Purvis against Geo. Jurvis, colored, and Lula Bembridge, white, against Chas Bembridge. Separation .was, the grounds for the first action, and adul tery in the second case. In the first degree murder case a gainst Oscar Lewis, the solicitor ac cepted a plea of guilty in the second degree and the defendant was sentenc ed to the State's prison for a term oT 30 years. Lewis walked all the way from Williamston to Poplar Point, called his wife from her home and blew her head off with the weapon. Tom Rogers was sentenced to the roads for 60 days for an assault with a deadly weapon. Charged with housebreaking and larceny, Herman Farmer and Lester Terry were sentenced to the roads for six months each. Peter Hassell, the strong man who defied Robersonville officers, was sent to the roads for eight months. Charged with bastardy, James Henry Roberson was ordered to pay $500 to the prosecuting witness and the costs of the action. The case charging W. P. Brown, young colored boy with the theft of a watch, was remanded to the juvenile court for consideration there. W. J. Spruill was sentenced to the roads for six months in the case charging him with breaking into a store in Everetts. The case charging H. G. Parker with embezzlement was nol prossed. A continuance was granted In the case charging David Leonard James with larceny. Tebo Whitaker and Gilbert Whita ker pleaded guilty of breaking into the smoke house of Arthur Ayers and others and stealing meat, but sen tenced had not been pronounced up until noon today. Lester Matthews, charged with seceiving stolen proper ty, was found guilty. HIGH WATER I Recent rein* in the Roenoke beein are about to tend the stream out of its banks at this point, Hugh Sprain, working in cooper ation with the State and Federal weather bureaus, stating this morning that a crest would prob ably be reached here Thursday with the water about three inches over the banks. A crest was reached at 36 feet in Weldon last Friday, and a re sulting rise of about 11 inches on top of high water is expected at this point. 18 LICENSES TO MARRY ISSUED IN PAST MONTH Number Smaller Than Last Year But Still Above 4-Year Average Eighteen marriage licenses, 4 to white and 14 to colored couples, were issued in this county last month, the number falling below the average for the past 12 months, hut continuing considerably above the average for 1932 and 1933. In February, 1931, there were only 9 licenses issued. The next- February there wax 13, and only 5 in the same month of 1933. Last year the February issuance totaled 23. Licenses to marry were i^ued the following last month: White Irving Robcrson, of Griffins Town ship, and Helen Goltrain, of Williams To,\ynship. Charlie L. Taylor, of tiear Qrtss^ and Flossie Whitehurst, of Beaufort County. * Benjamin Rawls, ot Kobersonville, and Irma Doughtie, of Edgecombe County. William Clyde Swanner and Lona Anges Baytun, both of Washington. N. C. Colored General Lee Davis, of Poplar Point, and Lucile Bright, of Sampson Coun ty Carey Lee Moore and Kizzie Per ser, both of Jamesville. J. C. Rhodes, of Cross Roads, and Florence Harrington, of Jamesville Eugene Corey and Essie May, both 7)1 Griffins" Township. Elijah Watson and Clotee Jones, both of Hamilton. Phillip Thompson and Daisy Has ell, both of Williamston. Willie Thompson and Frances Mat-, thews, both of Williamston. George Walston and Linnie Belle Watts, both of Williamston. Joe Little, jr., and Elizabeth Rob erson, both of Kobersonville. Guilford Slade and Fannie May Slade, both of Williamston. John B. Small wood and Teresa Smallwood, both of Bertie County. James Collins and Emma Barnhill,j both of Hamilion. Jesse Hooker, of Hamilton, and Ella] Jane Eborn, of Kobersonville. ? N. A. Baker and Elizabeth Williams,' both of Williamston. ! Demand Money Back from School Solicitors Becoming suspicious of their invest-j ment, Mr. A. V. Hall and Mrs. J I Grantham, of Bertie County, came here last Saturday mornaing and de manded^ their money they hjad paid representatives of a Nebraska corres pondence school. In demanding their money back, Mr. Hall and Mrs. Gran tham said the school representatives had made certain misrepresentations in selling the courses of instruction. The four men representing the school were all from Nebraska and are said to have checked out of a lo cal hotel Saturday morning. Kiwanians To Debate At Meeting Tomorrow The local Kiwanis Club will hold its regular meeting tomorrow evening at 6:JO o'clock. An interesting fea ture of the meeting will be a debate on capital punishment, President E. F. Moseley urging all member* to coma prepared to take part in the discus sion. Former Martin Man Now In New York Hospital Henry L. James, a native of this county but for a number of year, a resident of New Jersey, is in a gov ernment hospital at Castle Point, New York, receiving treatment. He was gassed in the war and is expected to remain in the hospital fdr some time. He has many relatives in this county. . . d . LIU* GRAND JURYMEN AGAIN FORCED TO DO WORK IN JAIL County Courthouse Filled To Overflowing by Many Visitors This Week Martin County's grand jury, the i main force behind law enforcement, was again placed Tn jail this Week Tn < carry on its deliberations the tent- j porary quarters of the body clearly showing that office spice is at premi um in the old house of justice. Ever since the agricultural program of the government was established. | activities in the courthouse have been j advanced almost without a break, and the new work required much office room. The grand jury gave up its' quarters first to the relief office, and. after occupying the old register of deeds' office for a brief period, sur-" rendered that to the farm program Vorkers. It was either jail or the* open spaces for the grand jury, and as the weather continues a hit chilly, the jurors chose not at all whole heartedly the jail. And it is very evi dent that the jail will he well inspected before the group finishes it work. While the jurors were behind the bars, so to speak, the 10 fax-list taker-, were holding their meeting in the crowded little office of the register of deeds. Arrangements have been made to remedy the situation, and it--is- hoped that by next June or certainly by next September the four-room addition to the old house of justice will have been completed. Probably at no time in history have fhcre been more people in the court house of the county than there were yesterday. The courtroom was packed, court visitors crowding the bar and aislc>. Halls were crowded; and Phe relief office had its usual overflowing crowds. Dovvn Jin the. register of deeds' room were a dozen'.br more -people- attending to x business ' Both offices of the farm division were crowded with farmers interested in cott??n ami tobacco eoutraits, and up in the jail were numerous prisoners, the grand jury and witnesses. Program of Stunts i t> I At School Pleases Large Crowd Friday Nearly $60 Raised To Buy Uniforms for Promising High School Band I lie Williani?toi\ High School and local parent-teacher association suc cessfully staged a program of stunts in the high school auditorium last Fri day evening, uncovering much prom ising talent and furnishing rare en tertainment for nearly two hours. Spon!#red for the high school hand, an organization that has made marked strides smcc tt was established here- a little over a year ago, the entertain ment netted about $56.85, Principal Hix announced While the jazz wedding was recog nized as the m?>st unusual event on the program, the entire entertainment had no flaws whatever, and the crowd ed auditorium gave warm applause to each act. Shaw and Crockett prob hIy held the spotlight as individuals. In its concert, the hand, under the very capable direction of Instructor Bobbin, unquestionably proved that splendid^ progress has been made grad* ually and steadily and that it is fast becoming a musical unit of note, and surely one deserving of the support received that evening ami even still more than that. The boys are work-. ing to raise sufficient money to buy cloth for band uniforms. And then Mrs. Jessie Getsinger's school class proved very entertaining with its enlightening answers from the several bright pupils, including Harry Biggs, Hubert "Slim" Coburti, Har cum Grimes, and others. AUTO VALUES Automobile* will be valued on the Martin County tax book* thi* year in accordance with code authority price*, it* wat determ ined at a meeting of list taker* Monday. The list of value* for Ford and Chevrolet coache*. se dans and coupes is, a* follows: Make-Model C'ch C'pe S'd'n Chev., 1929 |I24 1124 $147 Chev., 1930 193 181 211 Cbev., 1931 249 238 263 Chev., 1932 306 303 310 Chev., 1933 418 383 431 Chev, *24, Maa. 319 309 378 Chev., '34, 8td. 443 434 Ford, 1929 138 110 143 Ford, 1930 _L 199 173 213 Ford, 1931 223 203 247 Ford, 1932 301 291 316 Ford, 1933 414 408 426 Ford, 1934 469 478 317 Plans for Listing of Property Outlined At Meet of Supervisor and List Takers [poultry loadings] Complete figures released yes terday by Agent Tom Brandon substanitate the report that the akinauai rxf ivuiltrv laaf anipKIIVIII vl pWSuy wmtWX WvlK was the largest ever made in this county at one time. The farmers sold cooperatively 30,543 pounds of poultry for $4,476.04, the ship ment requiring two special cars for handling fowls. Jamesville loaded 3,621 pounds for $520.70; Williamston sold 12. 625 pounds for $1,895.41; Rob ersonville, 8,704 pounds for $1,-. 255.02, and Oak City 5,596 pounds for $804.91. NEW RECORD FOR FIRE ALARMS SET HERE LAST WEEK Three Calls Received By Volunteer Firemen Las Friday A new record in the number of fire calls received by the local .volunteer firemen was estahlishde last Friday, when three alarms were sounded be tween 11 that morning and 7 o'clock that evening. On several occasions the company has received two calls in one day, hut as far as it could he learned from the records the number last Friday was a record. None of the fires last Friday was of &ny serious consequence. However, the Gray pressing club one culd have developed into a mean one had it not been checked in its early stages. The ?first call that day w-.v< to the Hboro home on KIttv Street/where little dam age was done by fire ?tarfing in the dered the stove removed until the house owner repaired the line. The last call was received when a hoy, .named Snruill. fired a vrass idol in a vacant lot on Church Street shortly before 7 o'clock. Firemen extinguish ed the fire with bustiesand considered the call unnecessary. Since the local company was reor ganized in 1928, no calls have been received simultaneously, hut the alarms have, as a rule, conic a series of threes. The records show that in 90 per cent of the cases where two calls fivcre received in one day, a thud would follow from 12 to 24 hours later. Then again a call would, be received weekly for three weeks, the volunteers remain ing inactive except for the two month ly drills after that for as long as three months at a time. Although little omplaiivt ha- I>een registered, firemen reaching the fire house too late -to hoard the truck have often been crowded off tlieir course hv excitement-seekers as they (the fire men) started to the fire in cars. I.it tie regard for the safety of firemen has been shown by drivers rushing by the truck as it stands at the scene f a fire, and?with the exception H a few cases those rushing to a fire dom, if ever, offer a helping when necessary. Honor Roll For Farm Life School The Farm Fife School honor roll for the fifth month recently endfcd carries the names of 40 pupils, it was announced yesterday hy Principal Hough, an follows: First grade: A. T. Whitley, Dorothy Corey, Margaret Manning, Margaret Koberson Grace Pecle. Second grade: George Tilghinan Filley, Doris Peele, Essie Mendenhall Third grade: Reha Fay Griffin, Hazel Hardison, Josephine Hardison, Dorothy Koberson. Fourth grade: Martha Koberson, Alton Fayi^'eele, Elizabeth Manning Delia FiJIey, IF F. Filley. Fifth grade: Vera Pearl Williams, Fala Smithwick, Faura Filley. Sixth grade: Ida Mae Corey. Seventh grade: Bettie Louise Lilley, Evan Griffin, Vera Maude Filley, Eth el Lilley. Eighth grade: Sarah Getsmger Kuth Lilley. Nwtb grade*. Thermsm < jrrtftn Dan iel Taylor Lilley, Evelyn Peele, Ma mie Clyde Manning, Annie Getsinger Tenth grade: Jay Daniel, Ruby Kob erson. Eleventh grade: Thelma Clyde Col train, Bettie Kuth Heath, Beulah Rob erson, Sarah Koberson, Daisy Kob erson, Carrie Dell Griffin, and Leona Griffin. Caswell farmers have ordered 2.20L pounds of lespedeza seed cooperatively to date, with other orders bein| planned. I Easter Week W ill Again Be Observed On W ide Seale in W illiamston This Year Town-Wide Observance Last Year Was So Successful) Religious Leaders Decide To Repeat Cooperative Plan; Program To Be Announced Later Sp#.ial significance is to be given to Faster week again this year, ac cording to announcements made by the several ministers at their last Sunday services, and simultaneous rcliegious services are to be held by the Williamston churches that week Recalling the town-wide observ ance ?d the Faster period here last year, and the ^ Cooperative service held then, the several churches aie arranging a similar series of services this >ear, and will ask the entire community to make that week church week with especial empha sis in the meaning and significance of that great event in the church year. It in understood that Mr. J. \V. Watts, jr.. manager of the local the ater. will nffrr his building for the noon-day services again, ami that the ministers, in addition to the serv ices to he held niKhtly in their own churches, will go again into the pub ic schools each da>. making the re ligious observance ot the week as nearly general as is possible. Ef forts will he made to bring the en tire religious life in the community into the joint observation of Easter, including the churches among the colored people. JliDGE CLAYTON MOORE DEFENDS GRAND JURY SYSTEM IN CHARGE AT OPENING OF COURT MONDAY * Strikes at Those Able to Aid Who Permit Relatives to To Enter Poorhouse 9 ? Jury Duties Outined Convening a two-weeks term of the Martin County Superior Court here j yesterday. Judge Claytc n Moore ora torically outlined the * duties of the urantl jury, and charged the juror* 1 with the task of . performing their j exp 1 i m ig C i h a w h e n ^ ^'U ^^^| allows sympathy and feeling to inter- i fere with his duty he is a subject of j criticism, hut that when he performs the duties required of?him c tiously and to the best of his ability no criticism is due hint. In openng his able charge to the 1H men, Judge Moore explained that some ? of the criticism directed against the ! grand jury system was probably justi ( liable, hut that much of the criticism j was the result of the misconception ?>i j the demands upon Ihc system. The I cost of the grand jury as an argument against the system is an absolutely uu founded way of reasoning, for the jury , rs dealing with human liberty one of j the most precious rights possessed by any citizen, the jurist'explained. The ' grand jury system has long been in I * vastence and will continue. If we j stop to give reason to the criticism with the view to making changes, we ' will find few changes that will prove - agreeable. Judge Moore continued. j Before a citizen can he put to trial for a felony or on a capital charge, , j a hill of jndictmcnt by a grand jury is ' ? first required. The .findings of a grand ! jury as a result of investigation of al legations on the part of the state does not mean the defendant is guilty or innocent, that duy resting with the petit jury, Judge Moore explained. He also said that a true bill couhl he re- . turned upon the evidence of one or | more witnesses, that a "no true bill" could be returned only after all wit nesses are examined. The grand jury |has the right to call any one it deems necessary to call to give evidence in a case regardless of whether or not he is ' subpoenaed as a witness. -The- high spot o? the charge came ' when the jurist directed the jurors to ' examine county offices and jail and county home. Aware of the recent {brutalities brought to light in prison Icamps in this state, Judge Moore said | it was the duty of the jurors to see that prisoners received humane treat incut, that the petty likes and dislikes of the inmates were not to be consul ' ered too seriously. If the offices and jail are found in good condition, the authorities should be commended, and (Continued on page tour) ? Students Compete Here Tonight for Scholarships Preliminary delivery contests in-' eluding students from Martin and eight other counties in this section wttt be held trr the high school audi | toriuni here this evening at 7:30 o' i clock. High school seniors seeking scholarships at High Point College will offer orations and essays on the following subject, Principal I). N. Hix announced: "Do I Expect My College Training To Make Me More Useful to My Community, or To Increase My Earn ing Capacity?" The public is invited to attend the contest ADD TO FORCE Additional employees were add ed to the FERA force in this county recently, the new personnel to handle duties in connection - with the farm rehabilitation pro gram. it was announced. N. Clinton House, of Roberson ville, wilt be connected with the accounting department. Randolph , White is now connected with the re'lief unit as property custodian, .and Bob Cnpelanil?ia. jrilh. tha RRA division. Mrs. Louisa Bunting Dies at Homo of Son Near Here Saturday Funeral Services Conducted By Rev. J. M. Perry Sunday Afternoon Mr- Louisa Hunting. f?l years old, [died at the home of Iter * .ton, John Nicholson, on the Mary Cherry farm near Williantsto.n last Saturday fol lowing a Ii^iik illness of tuberculosis rdie had heen in declining health for a number of years and during the past six months was confined to her bed ipatiently awaiting the end. [?"When only 14--years of age she wa married to Asa Nicholson, who died >omc years ago She later married Samuel hunting, who survives Shi leaves eight children, all by her fiisi husband Their name- ore Mrs. Uex_ [~rv I lioina-, of Aulamli t . Mi- 1* h Baker, and Mrs. George Miller. 1 ? Colt-rain; Mrs Lawrence Bunting, oj Rohrr-onville; Mrs. W. I Bland, understood. A code price will be followed for determining list values of automobiles, the price rang ing from $100 for a 19*1 l ord coupe to $578 for a 1934 Master Chevrolet sedan. All 1035 cars are to be listed at 90 per cent of their value or sale price.' Last year, it was agreed to list new cars at 80 der cent -?f the -ale price. . . Prices for farm c??miiH*dmo about the same with a slight increase lor meat and TariT. live hogs and pea nuts and a decrease for soy heaiis. I hit provisions list values are: Corn, $3 barrel; hay, 25c hale, meat and-lard, 12c pound. s?v> beans, $1 bushel; horses. Nil, 1. $150/as compared with ftltfO?lu?t?\ rar mules. \n?-L?$350. compared with $200 last year sheep, $2; and goats. $L hve hogs. 5c pound; I No. 1 milk ciiw s, $50; cottoit, ^50 bale; I peanuts, $3 bag ' It was generally agreed among the I List takers that a substantial increase in personal property; values could be {expected this year in the ounty The 'addttion in iicw an torn "biles and re [lentlv nnrchasiMl mule-, will boost the' total sum considerably, not t<> i lion increase in farm supplies and mcr 1 jchandise stocks. Some, of the list takers were of the opinion that per Isonal pr??|H*rty values should show a gain of about 20 |>et.cent, others were <>f the belief the gain should be closer i to 3d per cent A 20 per cent gain , | wouhl place the personal property lvalues at about two' luilhon dollars, i lite a tiirtl?figure ? for?standing at $l,i?04.HI4 1 i l ittle '-r no change is expected in real property listings, the law provid ing that no redactions he made un 1? - proof is sitLumlled- show ing cci pfpertie. have?Imn destroyed Improvements are to he added to the listings of last year In listing proper ties last year no changes were made where the real values were increased by less than $100 or decreased by a like amount. The list takers will again take the farm census, a task that is frowned upon by the listers and often abused by the farmers. The census has been of much value indirectly to the farm ers, and it is believed tliey will profit by a careful consideration of th* gufi tions asked. The farm census books have not arrived, but they arc expect ed to reach the hands of the list tak ers by the time they start their work. Car and Oil Truck Crash In Oak City Last Thursday Mr. B. M YY'orsley is able to be up and Charlie Raynor is recovering in a Tarboro hospital from injuries re ceived in a car-truck wreck at Oak City last week. Mr. Ray nor, accom panying Mr. YY'orsley in the car, is said to have suffered a broken shoul der and a leg injury. The driver of ? lie other vehicle figuring in the crash, a large oil truck operated by the Greene Oil Company of Washington, was not badly hurt, it was said. Considerable damage was done to Raiders Capture Two Men And Still In Reedy Swamp Going into Keedy Swamp near here last Friday, Raiders C. B. and J. Ht Roebuck and Roy Peel captured a 100 gallon capacity still of the copper type and arrested Frank and Lawrence Woolard, colored. Nearly 400 gallons of beer and a gallon of liquor were poured out by the officers.