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VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 22 _ Williamston, Martin County. North Carolina, Tuesday. March J7. 1936 ESTABLISHED 1899
BRIEF CHARGE IS
MADE TO JURY
BY JUDGE MOORE
Declares There Is Greater
Public Sentiment For
Law Enforcement
Irrespective of what one thinks
about the merits of the statutes, he
must submerge his personal opin
ion and devote attention to the en
forcement of the laws as they are,
Judge Clayton Moore, presiding ov
er the Martin Superior Court said
in his charge to the grand jury
Monday. The charge was one of
the shortest heard in the county
courthouse in several years, the jur
ist explaining that farming activi
ties are demanding attention and
that he did not want to delay the
jurors and others any more than
was necessary.
Judge Moore pointed out that
there was a greater public senti
ment for the more rigid enforce
ment of the law now than in some
time, that probably the large num
ber of fatalities on tbe highways
was one of the direct causes for the
change. While all laws are not
model ones, and some should be
modified and others strengthened in
his opinion, the judge reiterated
that one's personal or private opin
ion should not be allowed to inter
fere with their enforcement, that it
was the duty of grand jurors and
others to handle the enforcement
problems to the best of their ability
and have the satisfaction of know
ing they have done their duty.
The jury was instructed to pass
on all bills of indictment^ the judge
explaining briefly the procedure
and directing the members to ex
amine the county offices and the
county home. While there had been
some talk about an investigation of
the operation of and condition of
school busses in this county, no men
tion was made on that subject by
the jurist.
W. A. James was sworn in as of
ficer of the grand jury. Names of
the members are: L. A. Clark, fore
man ; F. J. Margolis, H. H. Williams,
Jasper Everett, B. E. Anderson, O.
P. Smith, James H. Revels, H. L.
Everett, W. E Grimes, D. G. Mat
thews, W. D. Price, W L. Edwards,
C. R. Garrett, J. H. Highsmith,
Church Mobley, G. A. Burroughs,
N. L. Hyman and Arnold Roberson.
The grand jury completed its
work shortly before noon today,
and its report recommended that
certain mechanical defects in sev
eral school busses be remedied at
once. The jurymen were compli
mented by Judge Moore for their
splendid work and report.
Miss Doris Moye
Dies in Oak City
Miss Doris Moye, promising young
woman of Oak City, died suddenly
at the home of her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. A. E. Moye, last Sunday night
about 10:30 o'clock. Miss Moye, 21
years old, enjoyed very good health,
until a few daya, when ahe suffered
an attack of influenza. Heart trou
ble resulted and that with a stroke
of apoplexy caused her death, it is
believed.
The influenza attack was consid
ered not very severe and Miss
Moye was able to be up most of the
time. Late Sunday she was taken
worse, but her condition was not
considered serious until a little over
an hour before ahe died.
Miaa Moye had lived in Oak City
nearly all tier life, moving there
from the Roberaonville community
in early childhood. She attended the
Oak City achools and waa very pop
ular in her community.
Besides her parents ahe is sur
vived by two sisters, Misses Flor
rine and Elizabeth Moye, both of
Oak City.
Funeral' services were conducted
Monday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock in
the Oak City Christian church by
Rev. J. M. Perry. Interment was
in the Oak City cemetery.
Three Arrested for Affray
On Street Here Saturday
Durant Beech, white, and James
Brown, colored, were fined $2.90
each, and Tobe Thompson, colored,
was bound over to the county re
corder's court for trial for an al
leged affray on Washington Street
here last Saturday evening. Beech
was cut on the arm but not badly
by Thompson, it was said. Bond in
the sum of $90 was required of
Thompson.
-?
Extensive Anti-Cholera
Drive Reported in Bertie
A vigorous hog vaccination cam
paign has been conducted in Ber
tie County to overcome outbreaks
of hog cholera.
Two Cars of Poultry Shipped
Last Week Set New Record
Martin County farmers shipped
cooperatively more than 15 tons of
(ire poultry to northern markets
last week, the shipment. Ailing two
cars, being about the largect ever
made at one time in this section.
Jamesville and Williamston load
ed 14,120 pounds, the farmers re
receiving $2,408.38 cash. Roberson
ville and Oak City sold 16,509
pounds for $2,938.54, making a total
of 30,629 pounds and $5,405.42 cash.
At Oak City the offering! includ
ed an unusually large number of
roosters. County Agent Tom Bran
don calculating that there weren't
enough of those fowls left to wake
up the people the following morn
ing.
Another, and probably the last,
shipment of the season will be made
from the county in about three
weeks. Agent Brandon said yester
day.
County Candidates for
Legislature Announce
FOR SENATOR
Attorney Robert L. Coburn,
who announced his candidacy
this week to succeed himself as
State Senator from this, the sec
ond senatorial district.
One Case Against
Dr. Clay Begins in
Court Wednesday
Reports State Defense Has
Ninety-one Witneses
Summoned in Case
e
The case charging Dr. George R.
Clay, Washington osteopath and
head of the Pamlico Osteopathic
Sanitarium, with practicing medi
cine without license is scheduled
for trial in the Beaufort County Su
perior court tomorrow. The case
charging him with murder in con
nection with the death of Mrs Kath
leen Lilley last January 13 will
hardly be called for trial before Oc
tober or November, as the grand
jury does not meet until that time.
Unofficial reports indicate the
State is teady to prosecute the de
fendant. It was also learned un
officially that two of the main de
fense attorneys, Ward and Rodman,
had withdrawn from the case.
Miss Lillian Jackson, a nurse in
the sanitarium at the time of Mrs.
Lilley's death, but who is now em
ployed in the George Reynolds ho
tel here, is understood to ' have
sworn to certain testimony that
will be used by the State and pri
vate prosecution. It is understood
that the defense has summoned a
total of 91 witnesses.
Parent-Teacher
Meet Thursday
The local parent-teacher associa
tion will hold its Arst meeting of
the new year in the grammar school
auditorium Thursday afternoon at
1:30 o'clock. Association meetings,
scheduled for January and Febru
ary, were not held on account of
sickness and bad weather.
The program for Thursday's meet
includes musical numbers and dis
cussions of the following topics:
"The Home and the School," by
Miss Ethelyn Eason; 0
"Parent-Child Relationship,'' by
Mrs. J. W. Watts;
"Training for Future Home Mak
ing," Mrs. John ' F. Thigpen.
All patrons and friends of the
school are urged to be present for
this meeting.
Farmers Rotate Crops
And Get Larger Yields
Ten fanqers conducting crop ro
tations in loWar Halifax County se
cured an average of 71 bushels ol
peanuU, 393 pounds of lint cotton,
and 1,117 pounds of tobacco an acr?
Coburn for Senate,
Horton for House;
No Contests So Far
Senator Carl L. Bailey Has
Not Announced His
Candidacy So Far
With the primary just a little over
two months away, political activi
ties are beginning to attract more
attention in conversational topics
and to bring out the candidates. So
far, not a single contest has been
booked in the county or in this dis
trict, but opposition is expected in
many quarters at a later date, while
unusual interest is already attached
to several contests, especially the
one in which Ave candidates are
out for governor.
Following the announced candi
dacy of T. B. Attmore, Washington
man, for the State Senate, Attorney
R. L. Coburn, of Williamston, made
public his plans to reenter the field
to succeed himself as State Senator.
Attorney Carl L. Bailey, of Plym
outh, has not made public his plans
at this time, but his friends are of
the opinion that he will be a candi
date to succeed himself as a mem
ber of the State Senate. Names of
other possible candidates have been
unofficially mentioned, but no defi
nite contest has been formed as yet
in the campaign for places in the
Senate.
In announcing his candidacy this
week, Attorney Coburn stated that
his platform would be very little
different from the one he advocated
last term. While he is against the
sales tax, he believed that the tax
will have to be retained, but in a
different form. He would lift the
tax on certain necessities. The sen
ator is encouraged in his efforts
made last term to have the highway
commission refund certain money to
the several counties cooperating in
the road-building program a num
ber of years ago.
Attorney H. G. Horton is also out
to succeed himself as a member of
North Carolina's General Assembly
from this county, his announcement
coming along with that of Senator
Coburn's this week. Mr. Horton's
platform. will be altered little, the
candidate explaining he was for the
"one-gallused'' man.
Just now there is no opposition
in sight to the Williamston man's
bid to return to the fiouse of repre
sentatives.
The records established by the
two men in the legislature last term
are expected to prove a decided as
set to their candidacies this season.
Respected Woman
Passes Near Here
Mrs. Ludie Roberson, highly es
teemed woman of Williams Town
ship, died at her home there yester
day morning at 10 o'clock, follow
ing an illness of several months.
She suffered a stroke of paralysis
about 11 weeks ago, her condition
gradually growing worse.
Mrs. Roberson was born in this
county, the daughter of the late
Frank Griffin and wife. In early
womanhood she married Thade
Roberson, who died about eight
years ago. Five children survive,
Hubert and Ade Roberson, both of
Williams Township; Mrs. Gladys
Hudson, of Godwin; Mrs. Bob Gums
of Roanoke Rapids; and Mrs. Hal
sey Hardison, of Williams Township
She also leaves two sisters, Mrs
James Hopkins, of Williams Town
ship; and Mrs. Mamie Williams, ol
Roanoke Rapids.
Mrs. Roberson was a faithful metr
ber of the Methodist church at Hol
ly Springs, and had many friendi
' throughout the section in which sh<
lived.
Rev. R. R. Grant, assisted by tlx
Rev. W. B. Harrington, is conduct
t ing the funeral services this after
noon at 2 o'clock at the home, ant!
interment will follow in the famil)
plot on the home farm.
OFFICE COUNTY
AGENT GETS 158
COTTON CHECKS
nx?
cimate
Approximately 500 Peanut
Checks Looked For
At Early Date
After a delay of nearly three
months caused by the death of the
three A's, farm benefit payments
are beginning to move again, Mr.
T. B. Slade, assistant in cotton con
trol in this county, announcing to
day that 158 cotton parity and sec
ond rental checks, totaling $2,338.10,
have been received in this county
for immediate distribution. The
check owners are being notified di
lect to call for the money. In no
case should farmers call at the of
fice of the county agent for a check
until they are notified direct that
their checks have been received
A "snooping" investigation made
this morning showed that the sev
eral hundre peanut benefit checks
due farmers in this county have not
yet been received. The peanut ben
efit checks amount to approximately
$40,000, and they are being anxious
ly awaited by farmers. Now that
the few and about the last of the
cotton parity checks have reached
the county, it is hoped the peanut
payments will come in soon.
The cotton parity checks are the
first to reach the county since the
AAA was invalidated by the high
court last January.
DRAW JURY LIST
FOR APRIL TERM
SUPERIOR COURT
Is Special Session for Trial
Of Civil Cases Only;
Lasts 2 Weeks
Jurors for the special term of
Martin County Superior Court con
vening the third Monday in April
were drawn by the county commis
sioners in regular session last Mon
day. The court, created for the
trial of civil cases only, will last for
two weeks. Judge Clayton Moore
will likely preside over the term.
Names of the jurors are:
First Week
Jamesville Township: Joe John
Modlin.
Bear Grass Township: G. A. Peel,
Jesse Rogers and Hoyt Cowen. (
Williamston Township: K.
Slrawbridge, J. Carl Griffin and W*
J. Hodges.
Cross Roads Township: J. R. Keel
and G. U. Ross.
Robersonville Township: George
Dewey Gray, G. H. Cox, L. R. An
drews, A. Pitt Roberson, and W P.
Harris.
Hamilton Township: A. Weav
er and B. B. Taylor.
Goose Nest Township: Ira Man
ning and Clay Thompson.
. Second Week
Jamesville Township: Joe Gray
Modlin.
Williams Township: N. S. Cherry
and L. D. Hardison.
Griffins Township: Sylvester Peel,
John A Lilley, McD. Hardison.
Bear Grass Township: Garland
Williams, Dennis L. Peel, Rossell
Rogers and L. R. White.
Williamston Township: John W.
Gurkin, H_ H. Cowen, jr., W. H.
Wynn.
Cross Roads: W. A. Mobley and
H. E. Baker.
Robersonville Township: Alton E.
Grimes and J. C. Keel.
Hamilton Township: W. E. Ev
erett.
Two Men Charged with
Chicken Stealing Sunday
9 ?
James Bullock and James Slade,
both colored, were arrested Sunday
morning for the alleged theft a few
hours before of six chickens from
Jim Ed Pate, farmer living near
Sweet Water Creek.
Bullock, admitting the theft, di
rected the officers to purchasers of
the chickens, and five were recov
ered. All but one were recovered,
the officers taking three right off
stoves while cooking.
Local Youth Seriously
Hurt While In Camp
Emmett Whitley, young son of
Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Whitley, of
this place, suffered a fracture of the
skull when accidentally struck by
a dinner dish in a civilian conserva
tion corps camp near Newton yes
terday. He is receiving hospital
treatment
According to reports, two other
boys were fighting and one threw
a dikh at the other. The aim was
faulty and young Whitley caught
the blow on his head. Just how
badly he was hurt couldt not be
learned here.
Start Receiving Applications
For Seed Loans This Week
Applications for seed and feed
loans will be received in this and
adjoining counties at once, Field
Representative J. D. Wordsworth
said today. W. B Watts will han
dle the applications for this coun
ty at the courthouse, it was an
nounced.
Miss Martha Hornthal will re
ceive applications in Washington
County and Miss Annie Pitt Daven
port will handle the applications in
Tyrrell, Mr. Wordsworth announced.
In seeking seed and feed loans,
applicants must get certiflcates from
the Washington Production Credit
Association and from Resettlement
Administration representatives that
show they were not eligible to pro
cure credit from those sources. In
short, the seed and feed loan fund
was created for those farmers who
are not eligible to get credit else
where and who have earnestly tried
to meet their past obligations The
loans will be limited to $200 this
year.
Last season over 200 farmers in
this county participated in the fund
borrowing approximately $26,000.
It is believed that equally that num
ber will apply for loans this year in
this county.
Tax List Takers Hold
Meeting Here Monday i
I
Plans Are Virtually
Complete To Start I
Listing Next Month'
Change In Listing Likely |
To Cause Decrease In
Personal Values
Preparations were virtually com-1
pleted for listing 1936 property val
uations at a meeting of Commission
er J. E. Pope and Tax Supervisor
Joshua L. Coltrain with the list
takers Monday afternoon. While
standards of values were advanced, |
the activities of the meeting nar
rowed down to the point where each
list taker was to do the best he can
in getting all property on the lists.
No schedule of values was given
the list takers for listing automo
biles, but teh supervisor said he
would attempt to get a list to them
in time for use next month It will
be recalled that the code values
placed on automobiles last year
jumped the personal property list
j ings considerably, but the general
impression at the meeting Monday
indicated that a decrease could be
expected for that particular prop
erty classification this year.
Values were agreed upon for the
following items: Meat and lard, 10c
pound; hay, 20c bale; corn, $2 bar
rel; soja beans, 50c bushel; cotton,
$40 bale; horses, $150 down; mules,
$250 down; sheep, $2 each; goats,
$1 each; Milk cows, $50 each; other
cattle and everything else, as much
as the list taker can get.
In accordance with a recent law*
livestock will be included in the
list of items carrying a $300 exemp
tion, the supervisor and list takefs
agreeing that the change will con
siderably reduce personal property
listings this year Heretofore, all
the earthly possessions in the homes
of many small-scale farmers and
numbers of others would not sell
for $300, and they just did not get
the benefit of a $300 exemption al
lowed. Their livestock was not ex
empted, and naturally it bore its
part of the taxes. This year, live
stock will come in for exemption,
and a considerable reduction in the
values will result. Whether the re
ductions made possible by the
change will lower the total person
al property values is a matter for
speculation, some believing it will
offset any and all gains in other
values.
No upward scale of values for
any property was advanced at the
meeting; in fact, it was admitted
that auto listings would probably
show a decrease since the code fol
lowed under the fair practice act |
last year will not be considered for |
use this year.
All the list takers were present |
except the one from Poplar Point,
and each of them was impressed |
with the importance of handling the
farm census or survey in connection I
with the tax-listing work, but which |
does not affect one way or the oth
er property values.
I Kiwanians To Meet At
12:30 O'clock Thursday I
A regular meeting of the local
Kiwania Club will be held in the
Woman'a Club building Thuraday
at 12:30 p. m, inatead of 6 30 in the
evening, it waa announced today
Dr. W. H. Milton, Wilmington mill
iater, will addreaa the Kiwaniana on I
an intereating aubject at that hour,
and a large attendance ia expected
I Farmers Use Straw and
Cloth To Control Beetle
Uatng a light covering of atraw
and laying the canvaaa flat over the
tobacco plant bed aeema to give
adequate control of flea beet lea in
Ouiiiford County.
f ??
I FEW VIOLATORS I
Starting a state-wide check
Monday, patrolmen are said to
have found very few automo
bile drivers without operating
licenses. Patrolman Stewart,
working on highway 64 between
here and Kobersonville, stopped
nearly 100 cars, but in every
case the drivers had their per
mits, he said. Two or three
drivers explained they had re
ceived their licenses, but left
them home. They were warned
to have them ready for inspec
tion in the future or face indict
ment and prosecution in the
courts.
Death of Little
10-Year-()I<I Girl
Sa<l<i< mis Everetts'
Last Rites This Afternoon
For Young" Daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Ayers"
??e
Janie Marguret, youngest child of
Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Ayers, died at
the home of tier parents in Everetts
yesterday morning at 3:20 o'clock,
following an illness of about live
weeks' duration. Suffering an at
tack of influenza about the middle
of last month, the little girl devel
oped heart trouble and other com
plications set in to cause death.
Since her first illness she was giv
en the best medical attention, re
ceiving treatment in a Washington
hospital a part of the time.
Death, while expected several
days ago, came as a decided shock
to all who knew tier, and brought
sadness to the entire section, where
she was a favorite among old and
young. She possessed a friendly
and pleasing disposition and was
unusually bright in her school work
Respectful and thoughtful to every
one, the little girl enjoyed a large
friendship circle and seemed to get
a great deal out of life, and during
her weeks of illness she never aban
doned hope until two minutes be
fore she died. During Saturday and
Sunday she suffered severe heart
uttacks, but about 20 minutes be
fore the end she called for and
drank a grape juice. About 15 min
utes later she told her nurse that
it was growing dark and that she
was dying, but she insisted that her
mother ant! father not be told
Junie Margaret would have been
10 years old the 23rd of next Oc
tober. Prior to her illness last
month she apparently enjoyed good
health and was active in her child
life.
Besides her parents she is sur
vived by one sister, Mrs. Norwood
Martin, of Cristobal, Panama; and
two brothers, James Staton Ayers,
of Everetts, and Horaco Murdock
Ayepi, also of Everetts, but who at
tends the local high school.
Funeral services are being con
ducted from the Everetts Baptist
church, of which she was a member,
at 3 o'clock this afternoon, by Rev
E. C. Shoe, pastor, Rev. James H.
Smith, of Williamalon, and Elder A
B. Ayers. Interment will be made
in the family plot in tlTf Everetts
cemetery.
?
Deaf and Dumb Man Is
Victim of Knife Attack
e
l.azarus Williams, deaf mute, was
attacked and painfuly cut on the
neck by John Gorham, colored, in a
fight down the river hill last Satur
day night. The man was not serl
oussly hurt, but the knife wound
extended several inches on his neck.
A warrant was drawn against Oor
ham, but officers were unable to
serve tt, as the man left for parts
unannounced.
NUMBER ACTIONS
DISPOSED OF IN
SUPERIOR COURT
Joe Lawson. Bethel White
Man, Found Guilty in
Manslaughter Case
Convening yesterday for a two
weeks term for the trial of criminal
and civil cases, the Martin County
Superior Court, with Judge Clayton
Moore on the bench, was nearing
the end of its scheduled work on the
criminal docket.
Monday the court called an even
dozen cases, final disposition in one
or two being delayed until today,
while two or three others were con
tinued. The case charging Ollie
Page with manslaughter was con
tinued. pending the trial of a civil
case against Lloyd Corey, owner of
the truck figuring in an accident
that cost the lives of two young boys
near Kobersonville going on two
years ago. Just when the case, a
real eyesore on the docket, will be
tried is not known.
The case charging Norman Jones
with violating the liquor laws was
continued.
Tom Rogers was sentenced to the
roads for eight months on a break
ing and entering charge.
Lorey White, the young white
boy who was charged with stealing
an automobile and robbing Baker's
Filling Station a few weeks ago, was
ordered returned to the Rocky
Mount Training School.
Action against H. A. Johnson, jr.,
was dropped when the grand jury
fallen! to find a true bill in the case
charging him with false pretense.
Six-month sentences were sus
pended upon the payment of the
cost and $20.GO to the prosecuting
witness, W. H. Wells, in the case
charging Bill Gray and Jim S. God
ard with larceny and receiving.
John M.oore was sentenced to the
roads for nine- months in~the case
charging him with housebreaking
and larceny.
A continuance was granted in the
case charging Marion Hodges with
an assault with a deadly weapon.
William Hill, pleading guilty of
housebreaking und larceny, was sen
tenced to the roads for six months.
Delmar Harris, charged with
drunken driving, was found not
guilty.
The case charging Annie Mack
Teel with the theft of $100 from the
home of J. W. Bailey, Robersonville
merchant, was nol prossed in a hur
ry.
Joe Lawson, Bethel white man,
charged with manslaughter as a
result of the killing of little Peggy
Hardison on the Jamesville road
in November, 1934, was found
guilty, the jury returning its ver
dict just before noon after deliber
ating the greater part of an hour.
Sentence was delayed pending the
arrival of certain Bethel citizens
who will be heard by Judge Moore
in the case. Lawson, who escaped a
prison sentence last June through
an appeal to the State Supreme
court now faces a term in prison,
the length of which rests with
the trial judge.
The Ben Scott murder case was
called just before noon, and will
require a greater part if not all this
afternoon for completion. The crim
inal docket will be cleared some
time tomorrow, and the court will
start working on civil cases
Jumesville Fishery
To Start Operations
Operators of the Jarnesville fish
ery plan to start operations there
tomorrow, weather conditions and
other factors permitting, according
to unofficial reports heard here to
day. The plant will hardly go on
a full-time operating schedule be
fore the latter part of the week, un
less the catches are of sufficient
size to offset operating costs, it is
understood.
Repairs have befcn made to the
plant, and a successful season is
expected. Lost year, high waters
interrupted the fishing activities
during much of the season.
Only small catches were report
ed at Jarnesville today by small
scale fishermen. At this point sev
eral hundred herring were dipped
from the Roanoke yesterday.
Fisheries at Plymouth will hardly
start operations before next week.
Man Tried for Trespassing
And Vagrancy By Mayor
Oicar Biggs, colored, was found
guilty of trespass and vagrancy by
Mayor J. L. Hassell here last eve
ning and sentenced to the roads
for thirty days, the court suspend
ing sentence upon condition that
the defendant stay away from the
home of Amanda Rohereon, colored
woman living near here.