THE ENTERPRISE
VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 17 Williamston. Martin County, North Carolina, Friday. February 28. 1936 ESTABLISHED 1899
A<Tirth.i. Will rtai Oar Cai
war * lata*try to Orar Ijm
Hotmaa mi Martin Caanty
WILL F. BYRUM, 55,
DIES SUICIDE AT
DARDENS HOME
Ends Life by Firing Load
Of Shot In Stomach
Early Yesterday
?
Will F. Byrum, 55-year-old white
farmer of the Dardena section, this
coaaty, ended his life at the home
of his step-son, Paul Allen, yester
day morning about 10 o'clock. The
man, said to have been in a drink
crazed condition, used a shotgun,
the load tearing a sizeable hole in
his stomach and causing death al
most instantly. Investigating the
killing, Coroner S R. Biggs and
Sheriff C. B. Roebuck termed it a
clear case of suicide and considered
an inquest unnecessary.
Mrs. Byrum, who was Mrs. A. T.
Allen before her last marriage in
February, 1922, was at a community
store about one mile away, when
the man told his step-son and a
neighbor visiting in the home about
that time that he was going to the
barn and kill himself. The neighbor
paid little attention to Byrum's
statement and left a few minutes
later, giving no more thought to
what the man said. He had not
gone very far before he heard the
report of a gun. Summoning aid,
the neighbor returned and found
the man dead in the barn, Byrum
having pulled his right shoe off so
he could trip the trigger with his
toe. Byrum's stepson was ill in bed,
and tried to call the neighbor to
stop the man and take the gun a
way from him, but the plea was not
heard, and Byrum completed the
tragic act without interference.
The suicide was the first reported
in the county this year.
Byrum was a native of Bertie
County, but had lived in the Dar
dens section of Jamesville township
for about 14 years. Funeral serv
ices are being conducted this after
noon, and burial will be in the fam
ily cemetery near the late home.
Short Session of
Recorder's Court
Is Held Tuesday
Only Three Cases Disposed
Of by Judge Peel
This Week
The Martin County recorder's
court held its shortest session in re
cent weeks Tuesday, when only
three cases were disposed of by
Judge H. O. Peel. Several others
were continued until next week.
R. L. Tayloe, charged with oper
aUng a truck with improper equip
ment, was adjudged guilty, the
court suspending judgment upon
payment of costs.
The case charging Leggett Roe
buck with drunken driving was con
tinued under prayer for judgment.
David Rufus Rice, colored man
from Bertie County, pleaded guilty
of drunken automobile driving and
was fined $60 and taxed with the
costs. His license to operate a car
was revoked for a period of one
year.
The case charging Navin Clem
ents with an assault with a deadly
weapon was nol promsed.
Mrs. J. H. Roberson
Dies I^ate Thursday
Mrs. Verna Little Roberson, 6?
years old, and one of eastern North
Carolina's most well known and
greatly beloved citizens, died late
last night at her home in Roberson
ville following an illness of eight
weeks' duration. Pneuomnia and
other complications, following an
the immediate causes of her death.
Mrs. Roberson was the daughter
of the late I. H. and Delia Gminor
Little, of Pitt County, before her
marriage to Mr. J. H Roberson, jr.
of this County 37 years ago. She
was a member of the Robersonvllle
Baptist Church and took an active
part in religious work in the com
munity.
Besides her husband she is sur
vived by three children, Mrs. Geo.
Mardre, of Windsor, and Vance L.
Roberson and Miss Delia Roberson,
of RobersonviUe. She also leaves
three brothers and sisters, Mr. G. R
Little, of Elizabeth City; Mr. W. J.
Little and Mrs. N. C. Everett, of
RobersonviUe, and six grandchil
dren.
Funeral services wiU be conduct
ed from her late home Saturday aft
ernoon at 3 o'clock by her pastor,
Rev, E. C. Shoe. Interment will
follow in the New Cemetery, Rob
ersonvUle e
Seed and Feed Loan Measure
Vetoed by President Roosevelt
The proposed seed and feed loan
bill, designed to make available
$50,000,000 to dependent farmers,
was vetoed by the President Wed
nesday, bringing a near revolt in the
United States Senate. While the bill
was killed, the President explained
that money would be made avail
able from relief funds to dependent
farmers, which, in the long runfl
would be very little different had
the loans been made from the pro
posed seed and feed loan fund.
It was pointed out that the bill
made no provision for raising the
money, and that the President was
not in favor of increasing the de
mands on the treasury Apparently
the plan is to set up a loan fund with
relief money and have the present
seed and feed loan organization ad
vance the loans, it is understood.
The regulations, however, may be
different from those required in the
bill as passed by Congress about 10
days ago. It is though that the reg
ional figure of >50,000,000 will be
reduced to >30,000,000.
Definite information as to the pos
sibility of advancing loans similar
to those made during the past five
years is expected here shortly. The
office in this county is being held
intact to handle the loans.
Cooperation Is Urged
Reopening of Schools
I MUDDY MUDDLE I
?? ?*
No doubt the man writing
"Muddy Water" would have
changed the title to "Muddy
Country had he happened a
round this section about tbe
time he started to write. Every
one is agreed that the roads
have been bad, terribly bad, and
that the hard-surfaced roads
hardly escaped damage, but the
muddiest place so far reported
is in the Oak Grove neighbor
hood of this county. A report
coming from Mr. Tom Res pass
in that section declares that the
crows found the mud so deep
they could not teed until they
alighted on the back of hogs and
picked up peanuts from the
fields as the swine rooted a
round.
Town Board Will
Hold Its Regular
Meeting Monday!
No Important Business Has
Yet Been Scheduled
For Consideration
v Williamslon's town commissioners
are slated to meet next Monday eve
ning at 7:30 o'clock, Mayor J. L
Hassell announcing today that no
business aside from that of a rou
tine nature had been scheduled for
consideration.
According to the mayor the mat
ter of stop-and-go signals is still in
the air; not suspended at the four
intersections as proposed, however.
That any action will be taken at
the meeting in connection with the
proposed installation of the signals
is considered doubtful, the head of
ficial explaining that it was his un
derstanding action would be delayed
until after a meeting of the district
highway patrol here. Just when, if
ever, the patrolmen will meet here
could not be learend. It was also
pointed out by the official that the
matter of financing the installation
of the lights, termed nuisances by
a reported 9 out of 10 people here,
would have to be taken into consid
eration, even if the proposed proj
ect received favorable action by the
board. The impression gained, but
not state in so many words, was
that it will be quit* a while before
the lights are installed even if the
board votes for them, the mayor
explaining that the town treasury
was having a difficult time strug
gling along with the burdens al
ready created.
While only routine matters are
scheduled for consideration, the
board is almost certain to dig up
something or have a problem or two
presented it before standing ad
journed.
County Basketball
Tournament Herel
Plans for a county-wide basket
ball tournament to be held at Wil
liams ton probably the latter part of
next week will be formulated at a
meeting of the several coaches in
the high school building here next
Monday evening at 7 o'cloc, Coach
"Frosty" Peters, of the local schools,
announced yesterday.
It is certain that at least flvel
schools, and probably six, will be|
represented at the meeting, the defi
nite number and schedule to be an
nounced following The meeting of
coaches next Monday night. Both
boys' and girls' teams from the Rob
ersonville, Bear Grass, Farm Life,
Jamesville and Williamston schools
will take part in the play, and Oak
City probably will be represented,
it is understood.
Appeal To Patrons
To Aid in Getting
Children To School
Reports State That Many
Children Will Be Held
At Home By Illness
Work will be resumed next Mon
day morning in most, if not all, the
white county schools, closed since
the fourth of this month, according
to official announcements coming
from the several local committees
through the office of the county sup
erintendent this morning. It was
fairly certain that all the schools,
with the possible exception of Farm
Life, would reopen . next Monday.
Members of the committee are ex
pected to Consider some time today
a reopening date for the Farm Life
unit.
In announcing the reopening of
the schools for next Monday, the
authorities directed an appeal to pa
trons to aid in getting their chil
dren to school. It was pointed out
that the trucks would have to alter
their routes, that it would be nec
essary for some parents to meet the
trucks in many instances with their
children. In an effort to maintain
a high attendance percentage and
prevent a decrease in the number of
teachers next year, the authorities
are urging the cooperation of every
ohe in getting the children to school.
Reports from Bear Grass, where
school work was'resumed Wednes
day of this week, indicate that sick
ness is likely to hold attendance fig
ures to a low point for a few days.
Principal Hickman stated yesterday
that all his trucks made their trips
by running around bad spots in the
roads, but that sickness held the at
tendance to about 65 per cent of
normal.
No six-day schedules for the
schools has been ordered so far, but
it is understood that nearly all the
local committees are considering
operating the schools on Saturdays.
County Teams Win First
Games In Tournament
Representing Martin County, the
Jamesville and Williamston basket
ball teams were successful in the
first rounds of the A. C. College,
Wilson, tournament yesterday. Wil
liamston won over Rich lands by a
one-point margin, Moore breaking
the 22-point tie with a free shot.
Jamesville downed Leggetts by
the large score of 44 to 18, gaining
attention as a possible contender in
the finals. Ange, of Jamesville, ac
counted for 18 points to rank at the
top among high scorers in the meet
Colored Man Hurt In Car
Wreck Near Here Today
e
Turner Hines,- colored man, of
Robersonville, was hurt but be
lieves! not seriously at noon today
when the car in which he was rid
ing with J M. Johnson and a small
white boy ran off the road and
plowed down a ditch bank for 100
yards near Millbranch on the Ham
ilton Road, near here An ambu
lance was rushed to the scene, but
Hinea landed in Jail instead of the
hospital. Johnson and the boy were
believed not badly hurt, as they
are said to have walked away from
the wreck.
The car, said to have been driven
by Johnson, a Robersonville man,
was traveling toward Hamilton at
a rapid speed and failed to make
the curve on the other side of the
branch. Hines was thrown out 30
yards away from the point where
the car finally stopped. '
Unofficial reports maintain there
was evidence of liquor in the wreck.
CLARK CANDY CO.
MAKING INITIAL
FACTORY TESTS
Plan To Start Production
Schedule Early Part
Of Next Week
Preliminary tests of machinery,
underway at the Clark Candy fac
tory, Wiiliamston's newest manu
facturing enterprise, are proving
very successful, Manager Walter
Clark said this morning. The oper
ators plan to start production next
week. A few adjustments were
found necessary in two or three of
the numerous machines, but they
were only minor ones and will not
delay production activities, it was
stated.
Mr. Clark is planning a business
trip to northern markets over the
week-end, and will start shipments
to those centers within the next
ten days or two weeks, it was learn
ed. No attempt will be made just
now to supply the retail market,
but products for that outlet will be
processed within a month or two.
Definite plans have not been an
nounced by the management, but
Mr Clark is considering the estab
lishment Of- several routes to sup
ply retailers with peanut products
and candy in this section.
The Clark Candy Company, cap
ably managed by Mr. Walter Clark,
of Plymouth, has operated in the
North for some time, and its out
put, recognized to be of superior
quality, found a ready market. The
plant was brought here to be near
the source of the raw products.
About twelve people will be em
ployed when the factory starts a
complete and full-time production
schedule, it is understood.
Native of County
Dies Wednesday at
Old Sparta Home
Burial Was On Old Home
Farm Yesterday In
Griffins Township
Joseph Walter Griffin, a native of
this county and a member of one of
this section's oldest families, died at
his home near Old Sparta Wednes
day. He was taken ill only the
night before with influenza which
apparently settled in his brain and
caused deat ha few hours later. He
had suffered with an ear ailment
prior to that time, however.
Mr. Griffin, 63 years old, was born
in Griffins Township. He married
Miss Lizzie Peel, also of Griffins,
and she with seven children, Ra
leigh, Fenner and Edward, of Wil
son County; Louis, of Fort Bragg;
Thomas L., of Fayetteville; and
John L., of Edgecombe; and Mrs.
Martha G. Gardner, of Elm City,
survives. He also leaves two broth
ers, Messrs. A. T. Griffin, of Golds
boro; and Simon D Griffin, and two
sisters, Mrs. Emma Corey and Mrs.
Bettie Lilley, all of this county.
About thirty years ago Mr. Griffin
left Martin County and jived in the
Wilson area most of the time. He
was an able farmer, and engaged in
agriculture all his life.
Funeral services were conducted
yesterday and interment was in the
family cepietery on the old home
farm in Griffins Township, Rev. W.
B. Harrington conducting the last
rites at the grave.
Child Dies Tuesday
Result Diphtheria
Arnold Barber, three years old,
died at the home of his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Perlie Barber, near
Jamesville, last Tuesday afternoon
at 6 o'clock of diphtheria. The lit
tle fellow had been sick for only a
week.
Besides his parents, he is survived
by Ave brothers, Octavius, Cushion,
Mason, Leonard, and Golden Bar
ber and three sisters, Mrs. Elsie
Modlin, Pearl and Mabel Barber.
Funeral services were conducted
from the late home Wednesday aft
ernoon by Daniel Hardison. Burial
was in the family cemetery, near
the home.
Radio Broadcasters Will
Be at Bear Grass Tuesday
^ The Tobacco Tags, radio broad
casters attracting state-wide atten
tion during the past number of
months, will appear In person In
the Bear Grass school auditorium
next Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock.
Principal Hickman announced ye
terday. A packed house is expect
ed to hear the players. Mr. Hick
man explained that a small admis
sion fee would be necessary to olTsat
expenses.
County Commissioners To Make
Plans and Set Up Machinery for
Listing Property at Meet Monday
Plan To Begin Work on Street
Widening Projects Here Soon
Work on widening both ends
of Williams ton's main street is
likely to get under way in a
comparatively short time, ac
cording to unofficial reports
coming from the contractor, F.
D. ('line, of Raleigh, this week.
No exact date when construc
tion would actually get under
way could be learned.
The project, calling for wid
ening hast Main Street 6 feet
on each ^lde and making a road
3# feet wide, end widening Weet
Main Strel 4 fet on each side to
make that stretch 24 feet wide,
is estimated to cost around $18,
000
The Raleigh contractor is also
handling a street project in Rob
ersonville for the highway com
mission. unofficial reports indi
cating that the project will be
started here lirst, giving Rober
sonville authorities more time
to consider a proposed town
paving project there.
Fertilizers Starting
To Move in Quantity
From Local Plant
Increased Purchases Are in
Prospect at Standard
Plant Here In 1936
?
Fertilizer shipments, following
the few days of spring weather,
started moving in larger quantities
from the plant of the Standard Fer
tilizer Company here this week. Un
favorable weather conditions have
delayed deliveries considerably this
season, but the large plant of the
Standard Company has made every
preparation to handle what appar
ently appears to be a record busi
ness this year.
According to reliable reports com
ing from the plant and from numer
ous farms in this section, Martin
County farmers are booking larger
and more numerous orders with the
makers of the famous Gro-More
fertilizers this year than ever be
fore# News of the numerous and
quality tobacco crops grown with
the Standard products in the past
is reaching more and more farmers,
and reliable reports indicate more
farmers are turning to the Gro-More
brands in this and many other coun
ties than at any previous times.
The company is carrying a series
of convincing advertisements in sev
eral newspapers, advancing plafn
facts to show the real worth of Gro
More brands for tobacco and all
other farm crops.
Officers of Baseball
Club Are Elected
Plans (or promoting organized
baseball here this coming season
were laid at a meting of local fans
in L. T. Fowden's office last Wed
nesday evening, when Mr. Fowden,
after urgent requests, accepted the
task of'president He will be as
sisted by W. E. Dunn as vice presi
dent, N. C. Green as secretary and
treasurer; Jimmie Harris, assistant
secretary and treasurer; Bill Spivey
business manager. Other matters
were discussed but official action
was delayed pending a joint meet
ing of all the clubs in the Coastal
Plain League.
Negotiations are underway for the
appointment of a manager just as
soon as league organization plans I
are complete, it is understood. No
official information could be gained
as to who would manage the local
club, but it is understood there die
several candidates for the place, and
conferences will be held with two
or three within the next few days
Local Boys Lose Game To
Greenville By 50 to 1 Score
William stem's high school basket
ball boys were all but "skunked"
in a game with Greenville Wednes
day evening at Greenville, Tom
Barnhill mnaging to save the team
from total disgrace when he regis
tered the lone point on a free throw
(or the locals to compare with the
50 points made by the opponents.
The locals were just off balance
that evening, and the score is not
at all representative of the team's
playing ability.
Lindsley Ice Company
Sponsoring Free Show
The Lindsley Ice Company is
sponsoring a free moving picture:
show, "Hidden Harvest," a romance
jgt the farm, at the Watts Theatre
here Saturday morning at 10:30 o'
clock In cooperation with the Pu
rina Mills. Free prizes will be giv
en to thoee attending.
TAKE 2 HERRINGS
FROM ROANOKE
RIVER THURSDAY
Jamesville Fisermen Busy
Preparing for Season
Near At Hand
Using two or three days of spring
weather as a key, the boys down
Jamesville way finally opened the
county is smokehouse yesterday
morning when Mr. Ira T# Coltrain
dipped the first herring from the
Koanoke there this year. The first
catch this season is nearly seven
-?weeks later than the initial. catch
last year, but the fishermen are not
at all disturbed by the late arrival,
for there has been good excuse for
the delay on account of the bad
weather. ?
Mr. Coltrain caught two herring
yesterday, an,d while they were not
very large, there was no resem
blance to the "Hoover'' fish that
were so small they slipped through
the large nets with ease three or
four years back.
No plentiful supply of fish is ex
pected for several weeks, the weath
er conditions having much to do
j with the time when fishing on a big
scale gets under way. Seine oper
I a tors and other fishermen are get
ting their nets ready for the com
ing season, but there is some doubt
if the fishery at Jamesville will start
operations as early as it did last
year. The large nets were placed in
| the water on March 14 last year, but
it is likely to be the latter part oi
March before big-scale fishing is
started this season.
Herring fishing is about 100 times
more important than the average
man believes it is; especially has
this been true during the past year
or two, when thousands of people
turned to the delicious and healthy
food because meat prices were high.
And while many people along the
Koanoke look* upon the coming of
the fishing season as just another
event, it is eagerly looked forward
to by thousands who, by their own
resources, remained off relief rolls
That the herring is considered a
fancy dish is proved by the fancy
price they bring in large chain
stores miles and miles away.
Not even a little bit of pessimism
is suggested, but the farmer who
plans a big tobacco crop might find
some good eating in herrings that
are packed this spring and summer
for next fall. And that applies to
laborers and all others, too.
Elder Hutchens
Died Thursday
Elder H. F. Hutchens, at one time
a big figure in the Primitive Bap
tist church in this section, died at
his home in Newport, Carteret
Cypnty, yesterday morning. Funer
al services are being conducted in
the Primitive Baptist church there
today, and interment will follow in
the Ameriah Garner cemetery. Mrs.
Hutchens who was Miss Sallie Lou
Gray before marriage, survives.
The minister lived in Griffins
Township, this county for several
years, and preached in several
church in this section until about
one year ago when he moved to
Carteret County. He was a native
of Stokes County and during his 20
years in the ministery, he preached
in nearly every state in the Union
and in Canada.
He was a leader of the church
faction that made a last bid for the
property at Smithwicks Creek a
gainst what was called the majority
group.
Few Changes Likely
In Personnel of Tax
Listers for This Year
Fewer Demands Expected
From Less Fortunate
Of the County
In addition to their regular rou
tine duties, the Martin commission
ers in their regular meeting here
next Monday will set up the ma
chinery for listing and tabluating
all personal and real property val
ues as of April I. The board will
limit itself in handling the tax mat
ters to the appointment of a tax sup
ervisor and the recommendation of
list-taker appointments. Hereto
fore, or as a general rule, the board
names one of its members to handle
the duties ordinarily associated with
the county tax supervisor's task.
| Whether the authorities will name
[ an outside man to handle the job
I this year could not be learned here
today.
| Several of the old list-takers have
tiled their applications for reappoint
iment, and while the final selections
are left to the discretion of the tax
supervisor, it is believed there will
be very few, if any, changes in the
tax listing personnel in the county
this year. Last year the listing
duties in the several townships were
handled by the following: James
ville, F. C. Stallings, Williams, L. J.
Hardison; griffins, Roy Coltrain;
Heap Grass, A. B. Ayers; William
ston, H. M. Burrus; Cross Roads, G.
G. Bailey; Robersonville, H. S. Ev
erett; Poplar Point, U G. Taylor;
Hamilton, L# R. Everett; and Goose
Nest, J. A. Raw Is
No revaluation of property is
| scheduled this year, and no marked
I changes in that class of holdings rec
( ognized as fixed property. How
ever, improved conditions should re
flect an increase in personal prop
erty values.
With the old backbone of winter
broken, or apparently so, a slight
| let-up is expected in the demands
of the less fortunate for relief. The
existing situation among the poor
is expected to take much time of
the commissioners, however.
A jury list will be drawn for an
other term of superior court?a term
opening in April and continuing for
two weeks for the trial of civil cases
only.
Finances w'11. come in for some
consideration, too, for the county
has a note falling due a few days
after the next Monday meeting. So,
taking it all together, the commis
sioners have a crowded work sched
ule for their next meeting.
Father ol Local Man
Dies In Burlington
A. H. Goodmon, father of Ray
mond H Goodmon who is manager
of the Virginia Electric and Power
Company's district office here, died
suddenly in Burlington yesterday
morning of pneumonia. Complete
reports on Mr. Goodmon's illness
and death were not available here
today, but it was learned he had
been ill only a short time. The de
ceased. a native of South Carolina,
was 63 years old, and for a num
ber of years made his home in Ral
eigh.
Mrs Goodmon with four children,
Messrs R. H. Goodmon, of this
place; Troy Goodmon, of Raleigh;
and Norwood Goodmon, of Colum
bia, S. C., and Mrs. Robert Ether
idge, of Richmond, survives
Kuneral services will be conduct
ed tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'
clock in the Dunbar Funeral home,
Columbia Interment will follow
in a cemetery there.
Father of Local Woman
Dies In Hyde County
e ??
Billie Carrawan, father of Mrs.
Roy Peel, of this place, died sud-a
denly at his home in Rose Bay,
Hyde County, yesterday afternoon
about 2 o'clock. Mr. Carrawan was
73 years old and was thought to be
in his usual health just a short time
before he died, the report of his
death being the first news received
here stating that he was not getting
along all right. Besides Mrs. Peel,
he leaves three sons and one daugh
ter.
Funeral services are being con
ducted this afternoon, and inter?
ment will be near the lata home.