THE ENTERPRISE
VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 14 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday. February 18. 1936 ESTABLISHED 1899
GEO. W. BLOUNT
DIES HERE AFTER
1#.WEEK ILLNESS
Wu Prominent Figure In
Mercantile Business For
Nearly Half Century
Oewge W. Blount, one of William
?ton's oldeet end mott highly ea
teemed citizens, died at the home of
hir daughter, Mrs E. P. Cunning
ham. on Weet Main Street here,
this morning at 8 o'clock, the end
coming peacefully following an ill
neaa of aevetal months' duration.
The immediate cauae of hia death
was heart'trouble, caused by aev
eral paralytic strokes, the last of
which was suffered the early part
of last December. Mr. Blount had
Imb in declining health during the
?renter part of the past two years,
but he was able to be up and at
tend ?o his duties until his last
stroke. * .
Born in Bethel on August 1. 1861,
Mr. Blount attended the schools
there and later completed his edu
cation at Rutherford College. Aft
er teaching in the Bethel schools a
while, he entered business with his
brother there, marking the begin
ning of a long and successful mer
chandising career. The firm opened
a branch in Rocky Mount some
? later, but Mr. Blount closed the
there to open a store here
ebout 1888. He handled his first
business transactions here in a store
located where the Welcome Inn now
operates, but several months later
he purchased the stock and building
of Biggs and Davenport on the cor
ner of Smlthwick and Main Streets,
for nearly a half century, he per
sonally operated the business there,
running in connection with it a
hotel for about 20 years. He with
drew from the hotel business fol
lowing the gleath of Mrs. Blount
about 1912, and devoted his time to
the mercantile business and the op
eration of his farms.
Mr Blount's long merchandising
career was marked by his friendli
ness and understanding. He was
not at all pretentious and proved
himself a friend to his fellowman,
hit church and organisations de
signed for the betterment of his com
munity. While conservative and a
diligent worker, Mr. Blount was
recognized as a pillar of the local
Methodist church, of which he was
a member for many yeara. Al
though ha never sought favors, Mr
Blount was always ready and will
ing to extend one, and hia daily
walk in life was marked by his
cheery whistle and friendly greet
ings to aU. He was a Mason and
served as a member of William
ston's board of commissioners for a
number of years. In the material,
as well as the spiritual growth of
the town and community Mr. Blount
figured prominently. Hardly more
then two years ago he moved from
hia old business home to a new
store built when the Hotel George
Reynolds was remodeled. Failing
health the Utter part of laat year
caused him to sell his business.
In early manhood, Mr Blount
married Misa Allie G. Oaynor, who
died about 24 years ago. He leaves
two daughters, Mrs Cunningham
^ Mr.. Kate B. York, both of Wil
liamston, and five grandchildren. He
i, also survived by two brothers,
Messrs. John D. Blount, of Rocky
Mount, and M. O. Blount, prominent
Pitt Ceunty men. 01 Bethel.
Funeral services will be conduct
ed from the home of his daughter
on Weet Main Street here tomorrow
afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rfv. R R
Grant, pastor of the loci Methodist
church, will conduct the service and
he will be assisted by Rev. Z. T.
Piephoff, pastor of the local Presby
terian church Interment will be in
the family plot in the local ceme
tery.
Test Machinery
In New Factory
The Clark Candy Company, Wil
liamaton'f newaat enterprise, will
make a test run the latter part ol
this week, Mr. Clark, owner and
manager, laid yesterday. A greater
part of the machinery has alreadj
been placed in the new building juil
off Smithwick Street on the A. C
L. Railroad.
Mr. Clack stated yesterday thai
full-time operations would likel)
get underway some time next week
after adjustments are made follow
ing the preliminary tests about Fri
day or Saturday of this week.
Operations for a while, Mr. Clark
added, will be limited to bulk pro
duction, explaining that wrapping
of individual wrappings for dlatri
but ion to retailers will not be start
ad Just now. The factory product)
will be placed in the hands of brok
ers to start with, but a portion ol
the output will be available locally
he said.
Again Postpone Reopening of
County Schools; No Date Set
The reopening of Mertin County'*
white schools, scheduled for tomor
row, has again been delayed, official
announcement from the board of
education office advising that no
effort would be made to start
school again until such time the
weather and roads permitted un
hampered operations.
If the weather moderates and the
condition of the roads improves, the
schools will reopen next Monday,
but if there is no material change it
is almost certain that another delay
In the reopening will be ordered by
the authorities.
Plans were underway at one time
this week to reopen the Bear Grass
school on Wednesday, but rain (all
ins Monday night made it necessary
to abandon those plants, it was said.
Patrons and teachers in some sec
tions have pledged their coopera
tion in reopening the schools, but
the officials deemed it advisable to
delay the re-opening. Patrons
in the Oak City district stated they
would deliver their children on
carts and wagons, if necessary, to
points where the busses could trav
el. it was learned.
Patrolmen Checking
Motorists for Licenses
EX-SLAVE DIES
Emanuel Andrews, one of the
very few ex-slaves II vine in this
county, died at the home of
a friend near here last week.
Negro Shot to Death
Here Last Night by
Unknown Assailant
Henry Lanier, 60 Years Old
Dies Almost Instantly
At Home Here
Henry Lanier, 60-year-old local
colored man, was murdered early
last night while preparing supper at
his humble home on Church Street
in the hollow just to the west of
Dinah's Hill. He died almost in
stantly, officers finding his body
resting against a chair.
The shot, fired through a window
to the kitchen by his assailant,
struck Lanier in the right side of
the face and head. Lanier was hard
ly more than 6 feet from the mur
derer when the shot, fired from a
shotgun, struck him.
Sam Cross, a colored man living
r.ext door, heard the report of the
gun and saw some one run from the
scene. Cross went to a window of
the Lanier home and heard the
dying groans of the man. He re
ported to officers, who found Lanier
dead, his body crumpled over a
chair almost in standing position.
An inquest was held at the direc
tion of Coroner S. R. Biggs, the Jury
finding that Lanier came to his death
from gunshot wounds caused by an
unknown party.
Lanier, who spent most of his
time Ashing on the Roanoke for his
meagre existence, lived along, his
first wife having died years ago and
his second having left him some
time ago. While he possessed cer
tain peculiarities and was consider
ed rather an unusually and sporty
dresser, he is not known to have
caused anyone trouble or harmed
anybody. He was a great lodge
leader among his people, and no
motive has been advanced that will
throw any light on the killing.
No arrest has been made in the
case, but officers are undertAood to
be conducting an investigation that
is expected to bring results.
Buncombe Farmers Take
More Interest In Cattle
Buncombe County beef cattle are
reported in excellent condition de
spite continued snow and cold. The
growers are simply taking more in
terest in their cattle, says the farm
agent.
Several Hundred
Are Stopped; All
Comply With Law
Those Who Do Not Have
Licenses Advised To
Stop Driving
?
The distribution of automobile
drivers' licenses is pretty nigh com
plete in this district, according to
Patrolmen Billie Hunt and Georgie
Stewart. The two patrolmen have
slopped or questioned several hun
dred motorists and without a single
exception every one of those ques
tioned had the proper licenses, Mr
Stewart said yesterday noon.
It was explained that warrants
would be issued then and there in
those cases where the drivers did
not have their licenses, but so far
no warrants have been necessary.
In those cases where the driver has
lust his license he will be directed
to stop driving until he gets another
permit. Those drivers who have
lust their licenses are supposed to
appear before a notary public and
file a second application, pay SO
rents and sign an affidavit stating
that the license had been lost. An
other permit will be issued, but un
til that permit is received, the auto
owner is supposed to stay from un
der a steering wheel.
There are yet a few who filed ap
plications for licenses and have so
far failed to receive them. They
are supposed to get in touch with a
patrolman and file another, it is un
derstood.
Those drivers who have licenses
will do well to cling to them as they
would their money.
No concerted check-up on li
censes has been made, the patrol
men checking on the permits grad
ually, it is understood.
When asked if they were to smell
the breath of each driver to deter
mine if any liquor had been con
sumed, the patrolman offered no
comment. It was rumored that each
driver stopped would be examined
to determine if he had been drink
ing, and that if he had an arrest
would follow.
Man Attested Here
Had Police Record
Investigating the case charging
Frank Kavanagh and W. A. Braden
with impersonating Federal officers
in the sale of correspondence
courses, local officers learned this
week that Kavanagh was arrested
in Terra Haute, Ind, in December,
1933. No record was established
against Braden, the man actually
contracting the sale of correspond
ence courses to several people in
this county recently.
According to a report from the
Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Washington, Kavanagh is claimed to
have obtained money under false
pretense in the Indiana city back
in 1933.
The two men are being held in
Raleigh while the Department of
Justice continues its investigation
of the case. The men are scheduled
to be tried in the Federal court at
Washington next April, but the
trial may be held in Raleigh.
Letters are arriving here almost
daily, telling of contracts entered
into by various people, some of
whom explained that they were
ready to help prosecute the case.
Some of those buying the course Stat
ed they had paid as much as $70
for it Recent letters have been re
ceived from Varina, Raleigh, and
several other places, it is under
stood.
FARMERS FAVOR
FARM BUREAU AT
MEET THIS WEEK
Plan Oragnization Meeting
In This County Latter
Part of This Week
?
Preliminary plans for the organi
zation of North Carolina farmers
a branch of the Farm Bureau Fed
eration, strong national farm group,
were advanced at a meeting held in
Greenville Monday, the nearly 200
farmers present from 25 counties
choosing the Farm Bureau over the
National Grange.
Messrs J. A. Everett, of Palmyra.
C. Abram Roberson, of Roberson
ville, and Agents T. B. Brandon and
Murphy L. Barnes represented Mar
tin County at the meeting, and they
are of the opinion that the founda
tion was laid for a strong organiza
tion in this section and state.
Already activities are under way
for establishing a permanent organi
zation, and a meeting of the Martin
County planning committee and
members of the county control
group will be held in the courthouse
probably the latter part of the week,
when representatives will be named
to attend a state meeting in the near
future. Similar meetings have been
scheduled in several counties, but
no definite date has been announced
for the one in Martin, Assistant
Agent Barnes said today.
The Farm Bureau Federation was
selected by the farmers at the Mon
day meeting, when it was pointed
out that in the recent Senate vote
on an agricultural program by the
Federal government, senators from
the South and Midwest supported
the measure, while in the east,
where the Grange is considered
strongest, the Senators voted against
the bill.
FORMER SLAVE,
ONE OF FEW LEFT,
DIED LAST WEEK
Emanuel Andrews, Ninety
' Years Old, Is Buried In
Williams Township
Emanuel Andrews, highly re
spected old colored man, and one
of the few remaining persons born
in slavery in this county, died at the
home of a friend in Williams Town
ship last Thursday of pneumonia,
the former slave, who would have
been 90 years old the first of next
month, was taken sick only three
days before his death. All his kin
pieceded him to the grave years
ago, leaving the old man to shift for
himself in his advanced years. He
found friends, however, and was
made comfortable in the home of
a colored man named Lee.
Funeral services were conducted
last Friday afternoon, and the body
was buried in Williams Township
whcrp ho Lad ? . r
- ....as cus xu,
where he had experienced har<
--- ?? "pniHicea nan
tunes during slavery days, but evei
more difficult times under freedom
Emanuel Andrews was the son o
Ihillis Andrews, the chattel prop
erty and Otis and Bettie Andrews
In his childhood, Emanuel said ht
played, worked and fared like the
white children of the plantation
One of his saddest recollections was
the slave auction held on the lot
where the John Peel home is now
ocated on Main Street Several of
bis close kin were offered for sale
there, he claimed. During the war
he remained faithful to hi. master'
and remained on the plantation long
after the war. When he did leave
he contracted his labor for 12 1-2
cents a day, and made shingles by
nd in the Roanoke awamps for a
number of years. He later married,
bought 16 aijjps of land and settled
down. During a long married life
he lived peacefully and earned a
livelihood. His wife died a number
of years ago, and in 1934 his home
was burned He surrendered his
property holdings and found a fair
living with neighbors and friends
but up until the last he was active
and earned hi? keep
The old man never was in court
and from his humble beginning he
met with success, not in a large
Way, to be sure, but to the extent
that he supported his family, met
his obligations, lived peacefully with
his fellowman and abided by the
golden rule. During many years of
untold hardships, he never found it
necessary to reyrt to unfair prac
tices in obtaining a livelihood, his
untiring efforts through it all gain
ing a place for him among neigh
bors in his last years on earth
Yadkin Committee Works
On New Six-Year Prograr,
A committee of Yadkin farmei
are working on a six-year live-al
home and soil conservation pre
gram to be presented to all farmer
of the county.
Feed and Seed Loans Probable
Again This Year; Bill Is Passed by
Congress During Past Few Days
NoHerring Yet; Ice and Snow
In River Is Blamed for Delay
"If you'll slop sending so much
ice and snow down the river, we
might send you up a herring or
two," Merchant Wendell Hamilton,
of Jamesville. told a local man yes
let day When asked if the boys
were dipping deep enough for the
fish, Mr. Hamilton explained that
they had been trying day after day,
but had failed so far to bring up the
first 1936 herring.
Last year this time herring were
fairly plentiful, and there was an
occasional shad to be had from the
Roanoke. This year the water has
been too cold and the fish have eith- j
cr balked when they started up the
stream or remained so close to the
bottom that they could not be
caught. Mr Hamilton calculated
that there would be some fish if the
weather remained warm for three
cr four days.
Mr. C. C. Fleming, operator of
the fisheries at Jamesville and Camp
Point, is making extensive arrange
ments for seine fishing at the two
j points, reports stating that he
planned to raise the battery and
walks at Jamesville several inches.
Foxworth and Evans
New Warehouse Firm
Complete Personnel
To Be Announced
Soon, Partners Say
Both Men Well Known To
The Farmers of Martin
County and Section
Messrs George D Foxworth and
Holt Evans will operate the Plant
ers Tobacco Warehouse here this
corning season, it was announced
yesterday The partnership was ef
fected last Saturday, and plans are
being completed rapidly for opera
tions during the coming season, it
was said The complete personnel
for the house will be announced
shortly, it is understood
Both Mr Foxworth and Mr. Evans
are well known to the farmers of
this entire section. During the past
two years, Mr Foxworth has been
prominently connected with the
Williamston Tobacco market as co
| operator of the Planters house. Dur
ing that time he has proven himself
ar able tobacconist and a friend of
the farmer. Mr Evans has been
connected with thfe Robersonville
market during the past several
years, and he too has made many
friends all over eastern North Car
olina as a warehouse operator. He
is also operator of a horse and mule
exchange here, his dealings in both
business undertakings having gained
for him an enviable reputation for
his fairness, and untiring efforts to
aid and please his patrons.
Messrs. Foxworth and Evans have
not announced their complete plans
for operating the house, but they
state that a concentrated drive will
lie made in behalf of the William
sion market this coming season
No P. T. A. Meeting Will
Be Held Here This Week
The regular monthly meeting of
the Williamston Parent-Teacher
Association, scheduled to be held
Thursday afternoon of this week,
har been postponed, Principal D N
Hix announced this morning. State
Superintendent Clyde Erwin, who
was to have addressed the meeting,
has been ndtifled that it was neces
sary to postpone the meeting indefi
nitely on account of bad roads and
weather.
Few Martin Farmers Turn
In Cotton Sale Certificates
Hardly more than one-third of
the farmers in this county have
turned in their cotton sales certifi
cates so far, Mr T. B. Slade, assist
ant in cotton control, said yester
day. In moat of the ca^es where the
sales were made during August,
September. October and a part of
December, the farmers will be en
titled to adjustment payments, Mr.
Slade said.
Hassell Woman Pound
Dead in Bed Today
Mrs. Mary Little, 54 years old,
was found dead in bed at her home
in Hassell early this morning, re
ports stating that death was ap
parently caused by heart trouble
Mrs. Little was the wife of W. E
Little, farmer of that section.
Funeral services will be conduct
ed tomorrow afternoon, complete
arangemenu for the last rites not
havinf been completed at noon to
day.
>
I
HIGH WATER
V
1
>
The Roanoke, already over its
banks, is scheduled to go on an
other rampage at this point the
latter part of this week, unof
ficial reports indicating that the
stream will reach a point be
tween 13 and 14 feet, or about
one foot under the high water
three weeks ago. The river was
reported still rising at Weldon
yesterday, where It was expect
ed to reach 43 feet or more a
bove the average.
No accurate forecast was avail
able here today, but the local
weather station reported that
the crest would probably be
reached here about uext Satur
day or Sunday.
Two Local Firms
Start Fire, Smoke
And Water Sales
Culpepper Hardware Firm
and Barnhill Brothers
Offer Big Bargains
Their stocks wrecked by fire,
smoke and water in the big Are thai
swept the Culpepper Hardware
store building, operators of Barnhill
Brothers, general mercantile estab
| lishment, and the hardware owners
are staging some real flre-smoke
water sales here this week Barnhill
Brothers are starting their sale on
| Thursday and the hardware owners
arc starting theirs the following day
W^iile the stocks went through
one of the worst fires experienced
here in several years, the goods were
iOt greatly damaged, as far as their
actual service value is concerned
However, the smoke went through
them, and now the goods are being
offered at the lowest sale prices ad
vertised here in years. A few of
the items are listed in separate
pages carried in this paper
Local Store Entered
And Robbed Some
Time Sunday INijiht
Dozen Suits of Clothes Are
Stolen From Store of
Shain and Israel
Rubbers entered the mercantile
establishment of Sham and Israel
here some time during Sunday
night or early Monday morning and
stole eight men's blue serge suits,
many pairs of socks and hose and
a few other articles Police, inves
tigating the robbery, have not yet
uncovered any direct evidence that
will lead to an arrest.
The robbery apparently was the
holes were cut through the back
holes were sut through the back
door where one would have been
sufficient in aiding the robbers to
pull the cross-bar from its place.
The holes wer^ just large enough
for a person with a small arm to
use.
Shain and Israel are located in
the store building next to the Vir
ginia Electric and Power Company
offices on Main Street.
The robbery was the first report
ed here in recent weeks.
Some Doubt as To
Whether President
^ ill Sign Measure
Need for Fund Considered
Necessary by Farmers
In Martin County
A seed and feed loan fund bill
making available $50,000,000 to
farmers over the nation, was passed
by Congress last week and is now
before the President for his signa
ture. it was learned here this week.
While there is some doubt if the
President will sign the measure,
many believe he will reconsider and
approve the fund, since agriculture
suffered an adverse -turn at the
hands of the Supreme Court sever
al weeks ago Mr. Roosevelt stated
last year that he did not think it
necessary to create another seed and
feed loan fund
If the President signs the bill
I within the next day or two, it is
i possible that the loans will be avail-'
I able to farmers in this county some
I time during the early part of March.
Under the terms of the bill as
passed by Congress last week, loans
will not exceed over $300 to the in
dividual this year, as compared with
a maximum of $500 last season.
Last year 221 Martin County
farmers participated in the fund,
borrowing $26,936.50, an amount
considerably smaller than the bor
rowings by Martin farmers the year
before According to Mr. J. D.
Wordsworth, field representative for
the fund, approximately 97 per cent
Cf the $26,936 50 has been repaid.
Mi Wordsworth explained that to
tal collections would approximate
99 per cent of the lendings.
Doubtful if there would be a seed
and feed loan fund available this
year, many farmers in this county
have already applied to the reset
tlement administration for money to
finance their farming operations this
year A report from the county of
fice of that organization clearly indi
cates that it will not be able to han
dle all the applications, that there
will be many farmers who cannot
farm this season unless they arc
financed through the seed and feed
loan fund.
The resettlement group has re
ceived more than 200 .applications
from farmers in this county for
loans, but hardly one-fourth of that
number has been approved so far.
The approximately 40 loans already
approved by the authorities are ex
pected to average between $400 ami
$500 per applicant, it was roughly
estimated
Turning to the Washington Pro
duct ion Credit Association as anoth
er source of credit, Martin farmer,
have entered many applications fo
loans from that organization. Very
few have been approved since the
appraisers have found it next to im
possible to make inspections.
Windsor Business
Houses Bo1)1hm1 in
Series Burglaries
???
Wholesale House Entered
Two Nights In Row
There Last Week
Robbers have preyed on Windsor
merchants during the past several
nights. Sheriff Fred Dunstan. of Ber
tie, stating yesterday that nearly
200,000 cigarettes, a hundred dollars
or more in rash, chewing tobacco,
and other articles were stolen in
three raids on successive nights.
The robbers centered their atten
tion on the Bowen wholesale store,
which was robbed on Friday night
and again the following night. Most
of the cigarettes and the cash were
stolen there. Yesterday morning
about 4 o'clock, Pender's store was
entered again for the second or third
time during the past several weeks.
Cigarettes and chewing tobacco
were stolen there.
Sheriff Dunstan and Attorney
Steve Kenney were here yesterday
morning conferring with Sheriff
Roebuck and other officers, but as
far as it could be learned, no clues
to the identity of the robbers could
be established.
?a
Jackson County Farmers
Buying Lespedeaa Seed
Jackson County farmers are buy
ing leapedesa seed in large quanti
ties tor seeding this spring. Korean
in