0 THE ENTERPRISE
A4T?rU*n WUI Fiad On Cai
aauw a UkUa; to Ovar Ijm
Homaa at Martia Caaaty.
VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 23 Williamston, Martin County. North Carolina. Friday. March 20, 1936 ESTABLISHED 1899
UNION SERVICES
ARE PUNNED BY
MINISTERS HERE
Will Be Held Week Before
And Week After
Easter
Plan*, (or the Union Easter serv
ices to be held this year were made
at a meeting of local ministers held
at the Baptist parsonage last Tues
day morning. Dates (or the series
of services have been definitely set
for April S through April IS. It
was originally planned to begin the
services one week earlier and bring
them to a close on Easter day, but
it was learned that one of the min
isters would be unable to be here
the week prior to April 5, and it
was then decided to change the time
so as to embrace the week before
and the week after Easter.
Local ministers will do the preach
ing themselves, the night services
being field in the union tabernacle
at the Roanoke-Dixie Warehouse. In
addition to the night schedule, it is
planned to hold noon-day services
as well as chapel services at both
the elementary and high school
buildings. Definite schedules will
be announced later.
The Holy Week observance has
become an annual custom in Wil
liamston, a custom that has met
with much success in the past few
years, large crowds atending. Here
tofore the services have been held
at the various churches in rotation,
with all of the ministers participat
ing, and in addition the noon-day
services at the Watts Theatre have
been well attended. The tabernacle
was erected for the union revival
at the Roanoke-Dixie Warehouse
last fall, and when that was brought
to a close local religious leaders
decided to retain the meeting place,
intact with a view to holding the
union meeting this spring.
"It is hoped,'* a local minister said
this week, "that all Christians will
join hands and work together as
fellow-Christians, talking, working,
praying and living in perfect har
mony, in order that we may all be
encouraged and that our Saviour's
Kingdom may be advanced."
Distributing $25,000
Iin Peanut Benefit
Checks To Growers
180 Received; Nearly 400
More Expected Within
Next Few Days
One hundred and eighty peanut
benefit checks, totaling $25,072.68,
have been received in the office of
the county agent for distribution
among Martin farmers, but in no
case will the checks be delivered to
the owners until the notice has been
sent direct by the office, it was ex
plained. Nearly 400 additional
checks are due in this county, and
they are expected within the next
few days.
The benefit checks were approved
}ust before the AAA was invalidat
ed and their distribution has been
delayed since early January.
It was explained by the agent's
office here that* many farmers had
not signed necessary papers where
operations were carried on by land
lord and tenant Jointly. These pa
pers must be executed before checks
can be delivered, it was pointed out.
Funeral Service for
Willie Bowen Today
Willie Bowen, young fanner of
Bear Oraaa Townahip, died at his
home there early yesterday morn
ing of pneumonia. He had been ill
for about two weeks.
The son of Mrs. Millie Qurganui
Bowen and the late Paul Bowen, he
was born in this county 39 years
ago and had fanned all his life. In
early manhood he married Miss
Price, of Williamston, who survives
with several children.
Funeral services are being con
ducted at the home this afternoon at
3:30 o'clock by Rev. Z. T. Piephoff,
Presbyterian minster. Burial will
be in the Bowen cemetery, not far
from the home.
Seines Being Put in River
At County Fishery Today
Seine Ashing in the Roanoke was
started today at JamesviUe, after
high water had delayed operations
earlier in the week. No reports on
the catches could be had at noon.
Hardly before the season was
opened, the fishery operators are
likely to discontinue operations
within the next few days on account
of high water.
School Bus Conditions Need
Remedying Says Grand Jury
Meeting in quarterly session this
week, the Martin County gland jury
in its report to the court recom
mended certain conditions be rem
edied in connection with the opera
tion of school busses. The recom
mendations were made after vigor
our complaints had been directed to
the members of the jurji, point out
the crowded conditions existing and
serious mechanical defects found in
some of the school busses. The bad
condition of the roads was said to
have caused the mechanical defects
but they will be repiedied at once.
As for the overcrowded conditions,
it is likely that a hot attack will
have to be directed to the State
School Commission in Raleigh be
fore a change will be made
The report stated that all justices
of the peace in the county had ^led
their reports and thai all fines col
lected by them had been paid into
the county treasury.
Inspecting county properties and
offices, the jurymen found them in
excellent condition. A leak was
(pund in the county home cellar to
make findings during the inspection
just short of perfect.
Lawson Cets Year on
Manslaughter Charge
SPRING ? TRA LA!
The calendar maker* and the
weather men got tofether to
uaher in rood old iprinrtlme
this afternoon at 1:M o'clock,
and it Is quite evident that aft
er one of the severest winters
ever witnessed by many, the
season will be welcomed by all.
Even those who are cold wea
th?r enthusiasts are joining In
to welcome the new deal In
weather. For the most part,
everyone can complain about
the spring fever, but any old
ailment Is better than taking
a huge coal-wood bill pill.
Spring this year follows the
word winter in many years, and
while the weather went to an
old-timey North Pole extreme,
probably it was mild compared
with the extremes to which the
good peepul carried their com
ments.
Delivering Series
Strong Sermons at
Episcopal Church
Rev. W. H. Milton, of Wil
mington, Drawing Fair
Sized Crowds
Fair-sized crowds have been at
tending the services held in the
Church of the Advent each night
this week by the Rev. W. H Milton,
rector of St. James Episcopal church
at Wilmington. Dr. Milton, consid
ered one of the leading ministers
in the Episcopal church of the state,
has delivered a series of strong ser
mons on the subject, "The Prodigal
Son," speaking on several phases of
that broad topic and taking it up
from a different angle each night.
At the service Wednesday night.
Dr. Milton stressed the mistake
the young man made in wasting his
substance Mn riotous living and then
commended his willingness to ac
knowledge his mistakes and deter
mination to do beter. In a graphic
manner, the minister described the
joy of a father and mother, when
a wayward child returns to his
home. The text dealt with the at
titude and actions of the older broth
er, who complained at the love and
favors shown by the father to the
prodigal while the one who re
mained at home was not given any
special attention, the latter appar
ently not knowing that there is more
joy in heaven over one sinner that
repenteth than over a thousand
just men who need no repentance.
? Dr. Milton's series of services will
be brought to a close tonight.
Through an exchange arrangement,
the Rev. E. F. Moseley, rector of
the Church of the Advent, has been
holding similar services in Dr.
Milton's Wilmington church this
week.
Dr. Milton also made an interact
ing addres at the bi-weekly meet
ing of the Klwanis Club, which was
held Thursday at noon. There was
practicaly a full membership of the
club in attendance.
Greenville Negro Found
Guilty on Murder Charge
Willie Tate, Greenville negro,
wai foun<l guilty of flrat-degree mur
der in the Pitt County Superior
Court yeeterday afternoon, and is
scheduled to die the 24th of next
month. Tate was charged with the
murder of Alexander Warren, Beth
el white run, and criminally aaaault
ed Miss Helen Phelpe on a little
used road just out of Greenville
the 2?th of last month. Two other
defendants, Otis Watson and Geo.
Lee, in the caae are being tried sep
arately.
Thousands gathered in Greenville
for the trial, it was Mid.
Ben Scott Acquitted
Of Murder; Other
Court Proceedings
Cirminal Docket Is Cleared
Wednesday; Now Trying
Civil Actions
Completing the criminal docket
Wednesday morning, the Martin
County Superior Court called the
first of a large number of civil cases
that afternoon, Judge Moore set
ting seven actions for consideration
before closing the first of the two
weeks term today. Judge W. C.
Harris, of Raleigh, will preside next
week, when only civil cases will be
heard. Interest centers around the
Andrews and Leavisttr cases against
Lloyd Corey, Pitt County farmer,
whose truck crashed with a car
near Robersonville more than a
year ago, taking the lives of Mar
shall Andrews and John Leavister
The featured criminal cases dis
posed of wear those charging Joe
Lawson with manslaughter and
Ben Scott, local colored man, with
murder in the second degree. The
jury found that Lawson was respon
sible for the death of little Peggy
Hardiaon and the serious injury to
Mrs. C. 0. Godard when his truck,
driven by Johnnie Williams, crashed
into them between here and James
ville in November, 1934. Lawson,
Bethel white man, was sentenced
Wednesday afternoon to one year
in the State prison, the court al
lowing the man until the third week
in April to arrange certain business
matters and start serving the sen
tence. Bond was required in the
sum of ?2,<XXT Johnnie Williams,
a second defendant in the case, ac
cepted the 18 months to two years
sentence imposed by Judge Parker
last June and has since been pa
roled.
The case charging Ben Scott with
the murder of Henry Lanier, local
colored man, the middle of last
month, came to an abrupt end when
Solicitor Gilliam admitted that he
as well as county and local officers
were baffled and suggested a ver
dict of not guilty. Judge Moore
directed that a verdict of not guilty
be entered, and the case never
reached the jury. Solicitor Gilliam
admitted that it was impossible to
establish a motive for the crime.
Willie Melton, charged with having
a part in the crime, was dismissed,
the court nol prossing the case with
leave. Should any new evidence be
uncovered, the case can be reopened
against Melton, but as far as Scott
is concerned, he is out of reach of
the courts in the case.
Sentence had not been passed at
noon today in the case charging
Wiley Phelps with an assault with
a deadly weapon.
After completing the criminal
docket Wednesday morning, the
l court started handling civil cases,
reports from the courthouse at
noon today indicating a recess will
be taken latg this afternoon until
Monday when Judge Harris will
be on the bench.
Funds Allotted for
Work on Roanoke
Washington.?The Chief of Engi
neer! for Riveri and Harbors has
notified Representative Lindsay C.
Warren that his request for an allot
ment of funds for the removal of
snags In Roanoke River between
Palmyra and Hamilton has been
gpnted and that the work will be
undertaken in the near future. The
U. S. District Engineer of Norfolk,
Va., will hold a hearing this month
at Plymouth on the advisability of
greater depth in the river from
Weldon to its mouth
COUNTY AGENTS
TO TALK SIGN-UP
PUN NEXT WEEK
State-Wide Meeting To Be
Held in Raleigh Monday
And Tuesday
County Agent T. B. Brandon, As
sistant T. B. Slade, and probably
some others from this county will
attend a meeting to be held in Ra
leigh Monday and Tuesday, when
plans will be formulated for con
ducting the "whirlwind" sign-up
campaign for voluntary tobacco con
trol this year. The meeting in Ra
leigh is to be state-wide in scope.
Following the state meeting, the
various counties will hold their re
spective meetings, at which time the
entire plan wil be outlined and ex
plained in detail. The meeting for
this county is scheduled for Satur
day of next week, March 28. at 3
o'clock. A morning meeting the
same day will be held for the coun
ty and community committeemen,
when details for the county-wide
set-up will be worked out and ap
proved
The afternoon meting at 3 o'clock
will be an open meeting and all the
farmers of the county are urged and
expected to participate in a coop
erative movement that is expected
to hold up the price of tobacco this
year. It was stated yesterday by
Murphy L. Barnes, assistant county
agent, that any farmer is eligible
to participate who raises cotton, pea
nuts or tobacco, and these three
crops are to be discussed at the
county-wide meeting.
HONOR ROLL OF
LOCAL SCHOOLS
FOR PAST MONTH
Names of 103 Pupils Are
Reported on List By
Principal Hix
The names of 103 pupils appear
on the local school honor roll for
the fOWth month, Principal D. N
Hi* announced a few days ago. The
names are as follows, by grades:
Elementary
Grade 1-A: Hugh Horton, Annie
Virginia Chesson, Louise Griffin,
Louise Hines, Dorothy Leggett, Eliz
abeth Manning, Catherine Mosely,
Elizabeth Parker, Elizabeth Taylor.
Grade 1-B: Frank Bennett, Roddy
Everett, Bert Moore, George Moore,
Therman Raynor, Frances Griffin,
Gertrude McLawhorn.
Grade 2-A: John Daniel, Jesse
Gurganus, Wilber Jackson, Millie
Coltrain, Sylvia Green, Frances
Griffin, Irene Peel, Dora Twiddy.
2-B: Joseph Coltrain, James Har
dison, Ida Grey Cherry, Marjorie
Martin, Molly Peaks, tiloria Robert
son.
Grade 3-A: Isabelle Anderson,
Frances Booth, Mamie C. llolliday,
Alberta Knox, Anne Meador, Betsy
Manning, Angela McLawhorn, Vio
let Phelps, Betty Davis Rogers, Al
berta Swain, Helen Weaver, Joseph
Wynne, Frederick Wheeler, John
Whitley, David Roberson, Parker
Peele.
Grade 3-B: Clarence Pate, Henry
Mizelle, Ruben Williams, Estelle
Corey, Mildred Lassiter, Susie Rev
els.
Grade 4-A: Jasper Browder, Con
rad Getsinger, Richard Margolis,
Maurice Moore, Bill Peele, Luther
Peele, Jerry Raynor, J. D. Woolard,
Betsy Anderson, Virginia Hines, Le
nora Melson, Nancy Mercer, Delia
Jane Mobley, Susan Moore, Flossie
Peaks, Mary Trulah Page.
Grade 4-B: Elsie Coltrain, Henry
Everette, Elmer Mizelle, Louise
Rogerson, Frances Thomas, Elton
Wallace.
Grade 5-A: Bill Griffin, Theron
Gurganus, Shirley Booth, Evelyn
Griffin, Mary O'Neal Pope, Madelyn
Taylor, Mary Warren.
i-B: Daisy Roberson, Emma Belle
Ward.
6-A: Bill Bowen, Billy Mercer,
Dolly Godard, Mary Charles God
win, Bina Jackson, Elizabeth Park
er, Daisy Peaks, Sybil Roberson.
Grade 0-B: John Coltrain.
Grade 7-A: Catherine Manning,
Marjorie Grey Dunn, Maud Taylor.
Grade 7-B: Sadie Mae Gurganus.
High School
Grade 8: Virgil Ward, Sallie Grey
Gurkin, Reid White.
Grade 9: Grace Barnhill.
Grade 11: Edna Ballard, Marie
Griffin, Ben Manning.
Play To Be Given at
Jamesville March 27
A home talent play, "Peggy Ann,"
will be (iven at the Jameiville
school auditorium Friday evening of
next week, March 27, at 7:30 p. m.,
it was announced by Principal
James lizzie this week. The pro
ceeds will be used for the benefit of
the school.
River Is Headed for A not her
Rampage; Fourth This Year
For the fourth time this year, the
Roanoke River is expected to reach
a high mark here, a telegram re
ceived yesterday "by Hugh Spruill,
of the local weather station, from
Lee Denson, chief of the weather
bureau at Raleigh, stating that a
stage of 44 feet is expected at Wel
don today or tomorrow. The tele
gram stated that it was impossible
to make any accurate predictions
yet as to how high the water would
go here, but it is not expected to
reach the record level of 14.7 feet
made in the second January freshet.
Mr. Spruill said yesterday that
the flood crest would hardly be
reached here until a week after it
is recorded in Weldon He expects
the river to go at least two faet over
the banks, based on the reported
flood level anticipated at Weldon.
this estimate is subject to any
change in weather conditions over
the Roanoke basin within the next
few days. The Roanoke reached
flood stage twice in January and
once last month Further informa
tion is expected by the weather
station here daily for the next few
days.
Voluntary Sign-Up for
Leal Control Planned
Believe Situation Is
To Be Taken Care of
Fairly Well for 1936
Whirlwind Campaign Is To
Be Staged; Suggested by
Agriculture Leaders
An attempt now underway to ef
fect a voluntary sign-up among the
growers in several states bring a
renewed hope to tobacco sections,
the latest developments indicating
that the situation will be fairly well
if not perfectly handled this year
The latest development, based on
voluntary but urged action, relieves
the strong tension that has surround
ed the tobacco control question for
several weeks. And no governor
has to call a special session, a fact
that apparently brings " great relief
to some politicians. ?
The campaign for a voluntary
sign-up was mapped by agricultur
al leaders in Raleigh this week, with
Governor Ehringhaus presiding over
the meeting.
While farm leaders in their meet
ing at Raleigh were pressing for a
voluntary control program, North
Carolina representatives at Wash
ington were appealing to Secretary
Wallace for liberal allowances to
tobacco farmers under the soil con
servation program.
Machinery lor an intensive drive
to secure the signatures of at least
8U per cent of the growers, or of
growers owning 80 per cent of the
acreage on which the 1935 tobacco
crop was produced was set in mo
tion after the farm leaders unani
mously had endorsed provisions of
the proposed contract.
Under the contract, the flue-cured
crop this season would be limited
to 70 per cent of the base acreage
under the old AAA.
Governor Ehringhaus was author
ized by the central steering com
mittee to cummunicate with Gover
nor George Peery, of Virginia, and
Governor Olin D. Johnston, of South
Carolina, to urge immediate confer
ences looking to similar campaigns
in those states.
Dean I. O. Schaub, of the N. C.
State College Extension Service,
told the farm leaders a sign-up cam
paign has started in Georgia as the
outgrowth of meetings held last
week, and said he had assurances
the program would be backed there.
Printing of 200,000 contracts will
be started at once, and they will be
placed in the hands of county farm
agents for distribution shortly.
Schaub told the committee there
were around 100,000 growers who
would be prospective signers. The
money to finance printing, distribu
tion and other expenses of the cam
paign would be underwriten pri
vately, committee members said.
State and Federal funds are not
avilable.
The action starting the immedi
ate drive culminated u four-hour
meeting, and the appellation "whirl
wind" was appended to the cam
paign by the centra committee.
The committee stressed the idea
the contract signing would be sup
plementary to, and not in conflict
with, the new Federal soil conser
vation program and with the idea
of proposed compacts between the
states.
Few Farmers Apply for
Seed and Feed Loans
Very few farmer* in thi* county
have applied for need and fe<-d loan*
?o far, according to Mr. J. D. Words
worth, field representative. Less
than two dozen applications had
been filed up to this morning, and
the amounts asked were fairly small
it was stated.
? ?
Yancey County farmers pur
chased cooperatively 5,000 pounds
of lespedeza seed for planting this
spring.
CLAY CASE I
V <
Directed to find a verdit of
Kuilty in the case charging Dr.
Geo. R. Clay, Washington oste
opath. with practicing medi
cine without license, the jury
started its deliberations at 1 o'
clock this afternoon. Final dis
position of the case was still
pending an hour later.
The Washington man is al
so facing trial on a charge of
murder as a result of the death
of Mrs. Kathleen t.illey in his
sanitarium last January, but
prosecution on that charge a
waits grandjury action.
The State rested its case yes
terday, and the doctor took the
stand, the court considering a
directed verdict at that time.
However, the trial was continu
ed and completed today.
Trustees of Farm
Bureau To Meet
Here Tomorrow
To Consider Plans in Con
nection With Drive for
Membership
Township trustees of the recently
organized Martin County Farm Hu-(,
reau will hold a meeting at the
courthouse here tomorrow afternoon
at 3 o'clock to consider means of
further intensifying the member
ship campaign now being waged in
the county. There are two trustees
from each township.
M L. Barnes, secretary-treasurer
of the county bureau, said yester
day that the organization now had
a total of 101) paid-up members, with
a large number expected to be add
ed within the next week, as the
county and office forces are ex
pending every effort to reach the
county's hoped-for quota of 1,000
membership. The organization at
present seems to be strongest in
the Robersonville section, with
Jamesville second and the Oak City
community third. Williamston
Township at present apparently is
bringing up the tail-end of the pro
cession.
Manv Lives Lost as
Flood Waters (lover
Parts Twelve States
Property Loss Runs Well
Into Millions; Large
Number Homeless
More than 100 lives have heen
lost and damage running into the
millions of dollars has heen caused
by floods sweeping over twelve
states this week, and in some cen
ters the surging waters had not
reached their crest today
Pittsburgh, with 25,000 families
driven from their homes, reported
more than 10 feet of water in its
main business district. The city is
in darkness and communications
systems have been thrown out of
order. Thousands were trapped in
down-town office buildings.
Washington City's Arlington and
Potomac Park drives and the cherry
trees were well under water, and
only one highway south was re
pot ted open to traffic yesterday.
All train schedules out of New
York to the north and west were
cancelled yesterday by the Penn
sylvania system, and air travel in
a number of centers was stopped
when the landing fields became
flooded. .
In nearly every one of the twelve
states the floods were described as
the worst in history.
GIVE DETAILS ON
NEW FARM PLAN
FOR THIS SEASON
Benefit Payment Will Not
Be Less Than Five Cents
A Pound on Tobacco
Soil conservation grants of 15 or
20 million dollars probably will be
paid North Carolina farmers this
year under the new farm program.
The exact amount, said Dean I.
O. Schaub, of State College, will
depend largely upon the number
of farmers entering the program
and the amount of land on which
grants are to be paid.
Although no contracts will be
signed, as under the old AAA, far
mers will be paid for devoting part
of their land to soil-budding or
soil-conserving crops, he explained.
The three major objectives of
the soil conservation and domes
tic allotment act are:
Conservation of the soil through
wise use of the land. This will al
so check the overproduction of
soil-depleting cash crops
fee-establishment and mainten
ance of farm income at a "fair
level. ?*
Protection of consumers by as
suring adequate supplies of food,
feed and other farm commodities
now and in the future
With these objectives, said the
dean, the new program will have a
broader significance than the old
AAA, although it may not limit
cash crops as effectively as was
done before.
Farmers who qualify fur pay
ments this year will be required
to have an acreage of soil-conserv
ing crops, or land devoted to some
other conservation practice, equal
to at least 20 percent of the acres
in soil-depleting crops.
And lie must not have an acreage
of depleting crops this year greater
than his base acreage for these
crops.
The bases and normal average
yields for cotton, tobacco, and pea
nuts will be the same as establish
ed for 1936 under the old AAA.
Bases for other depleting crops
will be worked out on a fair and
equitable basis by the Secretary of
Agriculture, Dean Schaub said.
Cotton, tobacco, coin, wheat, pea
nuts, truck and the like are clas
sified as soil-depleting crops. Soil
conserving crops include forest
trees, legumes, hays and pasture
.grasses.
Part of the soil conservation
grant to each farm will be a mod
erate soil-maintenance payment,
probably ^75 cents an acre, on land
planted to soil-building or conserv
ing crops.
Fields already in these crops,
and on which the crops are main
tained in 1936, will qualify for
these payments as well as fields
where these crops are planted this
year for the first time in several
years.
The other part of the grant will
be a diversion payment on land
shifted from depleting crops to
soil-building or conserving crisis.
A diversion payment of six cents
a pound on the average production
of land thus taken out of cotton
has been recommended.
The recommended tobacco pay
ment is at least five cents a pound,
but in no event less "than the rate
per pound on cotton.
For peanuts, the recommended
rate is 1 1-4 cents a pound, but in
no case less than 25 percent of the
rate for cotton.
Diversion payments on other soil
depleting crops will be fixed later,
Dean Schaub said.
The maximum amount of cotton
land on which diversion payments
will be made for shifting to soil
building of conserving crops is 40
percent of the base acreage.
The maximum diversion on
which tobacco payments will be
made is 30 percent of the base, and
the maximum for peanuts is 20 per
cent of the base, the dean pointed
out.
No diversion payment will be
made on food and feed crops if the
farmer, in diverting land in these
crops to soil improvement, re
duces his food and feed production
below the amount needed on teh
farm.
Training School for Young
Baptists Here Next Week
A training achool fur the junior
and senior department* of the B. Y.
P U. will be held in the local Bap
tint church all next week.
The meetings will begin Monday
night at 7 o'clock and continue
throughout the week. The teaching
of the classes will be under the sup
ervision of Meadames D. E. Dardan
and Murphy Barnes.
The deacons of the church will
also have a training class and Rev.
Mr. Smith will attend to the teach
ing end of the program.