North Carolina Newspapers

THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 12 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina. Tuesday, February 11, 1936 ESTABLISHED 189V 2 MEN ARRESTED HERE ON CHARGE FALSE PRETENSE W. A. Braden and Prank Cavanaugh Held For Federal Court William A. Braden, of Syracuse, N. Y., and Frank Cavanaugh, of Ohio, are being held in the Martin County jail in default of bond in connection with an alleged flim-flam game, said to be played on an ex tensive scale over the country. Brad en was arrested by Officer J. H. Allsbrook, of the Williamston police force, last Friday night, and county officers took Cavanaugh into cus tody Sunday when they were given a preliminary hearing and bound over to the Federal court for trial at Washington in April. In default of $1,500 bonds, required by U. S. Commissioner W. C. Manning, the two men were returned to jail. Representing what they call the Federal Service Training Bureau, Inc., of Detroit, Mich'., they travel the country selling contracts to job less people for $70, allegedly guar anteeing their clients a job in the Civil Service at the completion of the course ordinarily requiring one hour of study daily for a period of six weeks. They are alleged to have collected $40 from Mrs. T. C. May nard, young Williamston woman, and a like amount from Atwood Gurganus, young boy living in Wil liams Township. Similar contracts are said to have been made in neigh boring communities, Bertie County and other sections of the country by representatives of correspond ence schools. The representatives of the Fed eral Service Training Bureau are said to refuse to transact business through mail, resorting to high powered sales tactics on young and inexperienced people, as a rule. Public notice has been given by Fed iral authorities, warning people that it is unlawful for any school repre sentative to guarantee a contract student a job in the Civil Service. Mrs. Maynard, becoming suspic ious Friday, after purchasing the course on Thursday, appealed to the law and a warrant was issued for Braden. Cavanaugh, said to be a representative or employee of the same firm, was called and he came down with the apparent intention of running over state laws and re leasing Braden. However, Federal authorities were notified, and they stepped in to charge Braden and Cavanaugh with violation of the Federal statutes. It is understood the two men are charged with im personating Federal officers by guar an teeing Civil Service jobs, explain ing that there are so many ineffic ient Federal officers that they (Braden and Cavanaugh) were out preparing people to All the positions of the inefficient. At the hearing Sunday, the two men pleaded not guilty through their attorney, Hugh G. Horton, and waived preliminary examination. They were said to have been ques tioned privately by United States Department of Justice men, and State witnesses were examined pre paratory to the fixing of the bonds and the trial on the sixth of April. Plans Made To Open Schools of County Again Next Monday Another Delay Possible If Pair Weather Fails To Continue Martin County school*, closed since last Tuesday on account of the bad condition of roads and much sickness among pupils, will be re opened next Monday, February IT, It was officially announced this morning by the superintendent of county schools The announcement, however, was conditional, the sup erintendent explaining that the en forced holiday would possibly be continued if the weather was not favorable during a greater part of the time between now and next Mon day Since the middle of December the schools in this county have been closed almost as much as they have been open. The reopening after Christmas was delayed by unfavor able weather until January IS. The schools barely completed the fourth month when they were forced to suspend activities again last Tues day for another delay ot eight days and possibly longer. Farmers oi Duplin Order Large Amount Drain Tile Mare than 30,000 feet of drain tile tile has been ordered coopera tively by farmers of Duplin Coun ty this winter. More Sickness in This Section Than Any Time Since 1918 Probably at no time since 1917 and 1918 has there been more ill ness in this section, reports stating that in numerous cases all members of the family were confined to their beds. There are few homes where no one is sick. For the most part, the epidemic of colds, croup, influ enza and pneumonia has not been severe, few serious cases and only a limited number of deaths having been reported so far. The situation has been aggravated in the rtiral sections by the bad condition of roads, one report stating that mem bers of families are following direc tions of doctors over telephone in the treatment of other members. Fewer people were in town last Saturday than on any Saturday in nearly 18 years, the old-timers de clare. Comparatively few in the outlying districts dared brave the cold weather and bad roads to make a visit to town, and nearly all trav el was of an emergency nature off the hard-surfaced roads. ~r Culpepper Store Here Is Wrecked by Flames DYNAMITE RUN There are very few things that humor does not enter into, despite all surrounding hard ships. Last evening, spectators crowd ed about the rear of the Cul pepper Building, when some one yelled, "There's dynamite in there." Judge Clayton Moore, who was standing to the rear of the Crockett home, a half block away, said he heard several peo ple crash Mr. Crockett's garden wire fencing running from the scene. But the firemen contin ued to hold the fire hose well into the back door of the store. Eastern Carolina Tobacco Farmers Vote To Organize More Than 3,000 Attended Meeting in Greenville To Hear Speaker Greenville, Feb. 10.?Thirty-five hundred tobacco farmers, stirred to action by the Supreme Court nulli fication of the AAA, today voted unanimously to organize in behalf of the movement to secure the ben efits of the dead Federal law through new State laws administ ered by State agencies with the su pervision of the Federal govern ment. The primary purpose of the meet ing here this afternoon was to or ganize the farmers under the Amer ican Farm Bureau Federation, through which agricultural leaders hope to unite Southern and Middle western farmers in a militant, poli tical-minded organization. Edward A O'Neal, hard "cussing'' Alabama Irishman who is president of the Farm Bureau Federation, was the principal speaker of the meeting. The resolutions adopted did not commit the farmers to join any specific organization but the only one mentioned was the Farm Bu reau Federation, which had been chosen by the men behind today's meeting as that organization which might do the farmers of North Carolina the most good?although to date it has no local organizations in the State. The 3,500 present at the mass meeting, adopting the resolutions prepared by the committee with out changing a syllable or uttering one word of debate, directed their committee to meet here next Mon day "to determine which is the most suitable organization through which farmers may secure the necessary farm aid,*' and to begin the active organizing. Mr. O'Neal's speech was a rip roaring exhortation filled with more "damns" and "hells" that have echoed through the auditorium of the girls' college in all the other meetings put together. But the speaker did what he intended to do ?arouse the farmers to action?and If the enthusiasm lasts the farmers of Eastern North Carolina soon will be futher along the road to organi zation than ever before. "They say you farmers are such damned fools that they haven't got sense enough to organize," snapped the speaker. His answer was a rumble throughout the audience which seemed to say: "We'll show 'em.*' "The greatest need in America today is for the farmers to organ ize,'* said Mr. O'Neal. "We never got a damned thing we didn't fight tor and we've got to organize to carry on the fight" Farmers from 25 counties, includ ing a large number from Martin at tended the meeting. Attorney J. C. Smith, of Rober sonville was here this morning. Loss Partly Covered By Insurance; Total Damage Near $9,500 Worst Fire Here Since 1929 When The Old Brick Warehouse Burned Williamston experienced its worst fire loss in seven years early last evening, when fire wrecked the two story brick store of the Culpepper Hardware Company on Main Street and caused a loss estimated as high as $7,500 to the stock. Not since the old Brick Warehouse went up in smoke in February, 1929, has there been a fire here that caused a loss estimated in excess of $9,00^| Re liable estimates on the last evening fire were not available this morn ing, but those offered placed the loss to the building at between $1,500 and $2,000, and at about $7,500 to the stock. Some damage was done to the stock of Barnhill Brothers when smoke seeped through the krick wall and filled the store. Probably most of the damage to the Culpepper stock was caused by water, the heavy volume of stilling smoke pouring through windows and ventilators making it next to impossible to locate the fire source until after three hose streams had been running full blast for the great er part of an hour. The lower floor was covered by six inches of water in places when the watfer was turned off. The business house had been closed only a short while when the fire was discovered shortly before G:30. The apparatus was carried to the scene in less than two minutes, but by that time the main business part of the street was darkened by smoke, causing the firemen some trouble in determining a definite at tack. One line of hose was pulled from the hydrant near the Branch bank and up the street and between the hardware store and Watts The atre. Another was pulled to the rear of the store, and later a third was trained on the front part of the building. The steady streams of water confined the fire to the rear room of the building, where paints, oil and dynamite were stored, and to the second-story ceiling and roof. The lower and second story floors (Continued on page four) Observers at Capital See Low Prices for Leaf Crop This Year Peel of Gloom Is Shared by Growers' Representatives And Congressmen Washington.?Low prices for the 1936 flue-cured tobacco crop are now predicted by those in Washing ton closest to the situation. The feeling of gloom is shared by representatives of growers and the members of Congress and is report ed by those who claim to know what is in the minds of the officials of the largest buying companies. The prediction of low prices is btsed on fears of a large crop. It is feared that the pending soil con servation program, operating wholly through subsidies and with no meas ure of compulsion, will be insuffic ient to curtail to the point where prices will be satisfactory. The 1933 crop of 785,000,000 pounds which was about 133,000,000 pounds above consumption, restored a nor mal carry-over and produced a new surplus. While that surplus is now small, it will be increased by all of the next crop, which is in excess of 640,000,000 pounds; and it is now feared that the 1936 crop will be be tween 300,000,000 and 300,000,000 pounds in excess of that figure. CLOTHING, FOOD IS RELEASED FOR BENEFITOFPOOR Around 125 Needy Families Sharing In Release of Commodities After a long delay, taxing the very life of the poor in thia section, food commodities and clothing were de livered here yesterday from the Elisabeth City warehouse of the WPA for distribution in this county. Approximately 125 families have been directed to call at the welfare office in the Williamston town hall for the commodities. The delivery was described as of small propor tion and will last only a short while in alleviating the needs of the less fortunate in the county. In the meantime, additional orders are be ing directed along with urgent ap peals to the Elizabeth City office for more products. Distribution of the commodities delivered here yesterday afternoon bv truck will be confined almost in its entirety to those who entered appeals for help during the past several weeks. Other people, who arc in dire circumstances, should lay their cases before the county wel fare office for consideration that they might share in any future dis tributions, it was said. Mrs. Winnifred Wiggins and Miss Selma Ayers will personally dis tribute the truck load of flour, prunes, beef, and other food prod ucts along with clothing and blan kets from the county welfare office in Williamston's town hall, between the h'ours of 9 in the morning and 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The food and clothing were packed or made by Works Progress Administration employees and are being distribut ed through county welfare units. Much criticism, most of which was apparently justifiable, has been di rected against certain officials in the Elizabeth City office for the long delay in releasing food and clothing for distribution to needy cases in this section. A close check on the needs of the Uss fortunate has been made in this county, and all indications are that much good can be accomplished un der the new relief arrangement. Club Women From County in Council Meet Here Thursday Nine Women Gain Special Awards for Work In Past Two Years Home demonstration club women (torn five clubs in this county as sembled in the Woman's Club hall at Williamston in (he annual busi ness meeting of the County Council and County Federation of home demonstration club women. The following officers were nomi nated to serve the organization: Mrs. Effie Whitehurst, president, of Parmele; Mrs. Lee Hardison, vice president, of Holly Springs; Mrs. Eason LiUey, secretary and treas urer, of the Macedonia club; Mrs N R Rogerson, county garden lead er. The nominating committee, serv ing at this meeting was Mrs. Minnie Wynne, of Everetts; Mrs. J. E. Smithwick, of Jamesville, and Mrs. W. S. Curganus, of Bear Grass. The motion was made and carried that the office of the secretary and treasurer be combined in the coun cil to work toward efficiency. Miss Sleeper told the women of a planned tour to Washington City June 1 to attend the international congress of club women in the world. This tour is planned for club women only and those in good standing. Nine home demonstration club women were the recipients of a wards of merit, as a result of ex cellent work done in the food and nutrition project during the past two years. The requirements were to carry out twelve practices learn ed in the two years times and to make and All a canning budget dur ing the period. The following re ceived the prized awards: Mrs. J. S. Ayers, Everetts; Mrs. N. R. Roger son, Bear Grass; Mrs. Minnie Ange, Ange Town; Mrs. C. H. Ange, Ange Town; "Mrs. T. M. Woodburn, of Parmele; Mrs. Geo. Bailey, James ville; Mrs. J. D. Griffin, Macedonia; Mrs. Will Taylor, Macedonia and Mrs. A. B. Rogerson, formerly of Bear Grass. All women were taught the faci nating art of making tied and dyed articles as a part of the program and the meeting came to a happy ending. Mr. N. T. Tice, of Griffins Town ship, was here this morning. Washington Osteopath Held for Superior Court on Murder Charge After Preliminary Hearing Friday Federal Income Tax Man To Be Here One Day March 6th required to file an income tax re- For the convenience of those who turn. The married man with a net income of $2,500 or over, or if his gross income is $5,000 or over, is required to file a return. Returns must be filed for the cal endar year 1935 not later than March 15, 1936. A penalty of not more than $10,000, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, is provided by statute for willful failure to make a return on time, and in addition, 5 to 25 per cent of the amount of the tax. aie required by law to file Federal income tax returns, a deputy col lector of internal revenue will be in Williamston the sixth of next month to assist in the preparation of the returns, it was announced this week by C. H. Robertson, collector for North Carolina. No charge is made for the service, it was stated If a single person has a net in come of $1,000 or over, or if his gross income is $5,000 or over, he is Travel on Dirt Roads At Complete Standstill Highway Workers Are Doing Best To Keep Roads Open People Forced To Remain In Stalled Autos Over Night in Some Cases Condition of the dirt roads ex tending into rural districts in this section is said to be the worst in years, making the visit of a Martin County farmer on the local streets attract more attention than would one by a Chinaman from Hong Kong just now. Farmers are said to fol low a maze in nearly every instance to reach town, traveling back- and forth and in groups to combat deep mud. Automobile traffic is con fined principally to the hard-sur faced roads, and even travel on those thoroughfares reached a min imum a few days ago. Doctors, receiving urgent and more numerous calls now than in months are experiencing hardships during long hours day and night. They are' traveling by automobile, horse-1 diawn vehicles and often resort to their own motive power to reach patients in . fairly remote communi ties. With very favorable weather pre vailing, some predicted yesterday that the bad condition of the roads would not be greatly improved be fore the latter part of this or the middle of next week. They are not expected to reach normal until some time next month, probably the mid dle or latter part. Citizens in several communities arc supplementing the work of the highway commission by cutting paths around those places in the toads that are impassible. Highway workers arc continuing on the job long hours trying to maintain traffic the best they can, but just now traf fic in this county, is stuck in the mud, whereas a few days ago it was snowed under. Cars have been abandoned when they would mire down in the mid dle of the highways, one report reaching here a day or two ago stat ing that one family, including a young baby, found It necessary to remain in their car a greater part of the night in the Bear Grass sec tion A farmer tried to pull the car out with his team, but gave up the task after breaking every available trace chain, it was said. Roanoke-Dixie Warehouse Leased for Coming Season Plans were virtually completed last Saturday for leasing the Roan oke-Dixie warehouse here for the coming season, it was learned this morning from a member of the rental committee. The partnership foi the house has not been definitely completed, however, but a complete announcement is expected within the next few days. Masons End Attendance Contest at Meet Tonight A regular meeting of the local Masonic lodge will be held tonight at 7:30, it was announced this morn ing by the master, S. H. Grimes. In addition to regular business, work in the second degree is planned. To night's meeting will also be the last to figure in the attendance contest, and a large gathering is expected. WOOD SHORTAGE AT LOCAL YARDS CAUSES CONCERN Coal Shortage Is Reported In Some Nearby Towns Early This Week Experiencing one of the longest and most severe cold spells in many years, this immediate community is facing a fuel shortage, reports from wood and coal dealers indicate While the shortage is not considered acute just now, it is subject to take on very serious proportions if the cold weather lasts much longer, and no great relief from the throes of old man winter is immediately in sight. Wood yards here are empty, and the coal supply is dwindling rapid ly. the cold weather creating larger demands than supplies ordinarly considered adequate for a rough winter can meet. Increased demand from all over the country on the mines are making deliveries to deal ers unusually slow. Urgent needs of dealers from two or three near by towns have been met, partially at least, from the supply here. Workers in wood yards have been working late into night, running saws and making deliveries, and or ders continue to pile up on them. Impassible roads have virtually shut off the original supply, and while numerous wood piles of indi vidual families are barren, thous ands of cords of wood are not to be reached in the woods. About the only dry wood to be found here is that nailed to build ings. Prominent Farmer Is Seriously Injured Accidentally cutting his foot with an axe while chopping wood neat his home in Bear Grass late yester day afternoon, Mr. Jas. Harrison, prominent farmer, is reported in a critical condition at a Washington hospital where he was carried for treatment after receiving first aid here. Cutting his foot nearly off. Mr. Harrison is said to have barely missed bleeding to death since It tequired nearly two hours for mem bers of his family and neighbors to bring him to doctors here over al most impassable roads. About four hours were required to close the wound by hospital doc tors, reports reaching here this morning stating that he rested fair ly well last night and that he had a chance to recover if no compli cations developed. e Mr. F. K. Hodges Suffers Injured Hip In Fall Here Mr. F. K. Hodges, one of Wil liamston's oldest residents, slipped and fell on the ice on the main stieet here last Saturday morning, painfully injuring his hip. Reports from the hospital where he was car ried stated that the hip-bone was not broken but that It was cracked and slightly crushed. That he will be able to walk again is not certain, information received here, indicat ing that he might be able to be up and get about on crutches. The in jured limb was not placed in a cast, it was stated. Number ^ itnesses Testify; Bond of $2,500 Is Required Doctor Denies Charge And Claims Persecution By Medical Society Group Probable cause appearing in the case. Dr. George R. Clay. Washing ton osteopath and head of the Pam lico Osteopathic Sanitarium, was bound over to the Beaufort Super ior Court by Recorder Mayo in Washington late last Friday in con nection with the untimely death of Mrs. Kathleen Lilley. well-known Martin County woman, in Clay's Sanitarium the 13th of last month. Bond was fixed in the sum of $2,500, which the 35-year-old osteo path is said to have raised and gained his freedom until the super ior court convenes in Washington next month. The case, charging Clay with practicing medicine with out license in this state, automati cally was placed on the docket of the Beaufort County Superior court when his counsel demanded a trial by jury. Herbert Lilley, husband of the dead woman, swore out the two warrants against Dr. Clay, following the death of his wife at the sanitar ium. Dr. Clay, who operates the in stitution, gave pneumonia as the cause of Mrs. Lilley's death. Number Witnesses Testify A number of witnesses testified to seeing many bruises on the woman's body when it was being prepared for burial. Herbert Lilley testified that he last saw his wife Friday afternoon and that she was apparently well and had no bruises at that time. Willie Hopkins, negro, testified that he brought Mr. Lilley to Wash ington and took her to the Pamlico Sanitarium late Friday afternoon, January 10. He said that he noticed no bruises on her at that time. S. H. Biggs, Williamston under taker, who prepared the body for burial, stated that he noticed that the woman's right eye was blacK and that there was a depression on her right temple. Also there were a number of marks on both arms, apparently caused by a hypodermic needle, he stated. He further said there were bruises on the neck, hands, elbows, right side, and on both legs from the knees down. Dr. J. E. Smithwick, family phy sician of Mrs. Lilley, stated that he saw Mrs. Lilley a short time before she went to Washington and that she was apparently as well as usu al. Dr. Smithwick examined the body after it was brought to Wil liamston and testified that he found numerous bruises on it and that he counted on the arms 19 marks which had apparently been made by a hy podermic needle. He stated that there were no fractures in the body. (Continued on back page) $5,900 Damage Suit Entered in Superior Court This Week ??? Milton James Enters Suit Against N. C. Green for Auto Wreck Injury e Proceedings in a $5,900 damage suit were instituted in the Martin County Superior Court by Milton James, by his next friend, C. A. James, against N. C. Green, the ac tion being based on injuries receiv ed by the plaintiff, Milton James, in an automobile accident between here and Jamesville the early part ol last March. The case will likely be placed on the calendar for trial at the April term of the superior court. Young James was seriously and permanently injured, and Whit Purvis, Ella W. Critcher, and Louise Cook, were badly but not seriously hurt when the defendant's car turned over with them on a curve a short distance this side of Gard ner's Creek the 2nd day of last March. The plaintiff In the case is asking $900 allegedly for doctors' fees and medicine and $5,000 for al leged permanent personal damages. No suits were Instituted by other parties in the accident, unofficial re ports indicating that claims, if any, had been settled out of court by the company carrying insurance on the car.