THE ENTERPRISE
VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 33 Williamston. Martin County. North Carolina. Friday. April 24.1936 ESTABLISHED 1899
many cases are
CLE ARED OUT IN
SUPERIOR COURT
Two Weeks Term Brought
To a Close by Judge
Moore Yesterday
The Martin County Superior court
convening a week ago last Monday
has made comparatively alow prog
re"? I" disposing of cases via the
Jury route, but it cleared a large
number of cases from the docket by
consent judgments and directed the
removal of more than 100 others
when it was proved some of the liti
gants were either dead or moved to
other sections and that the actions
had gone out of date.
Consent judgments were ordered
in the following cases, all of which
were the outgrowth of claim and
delivery proceedings mid in which
the court declared the plaintiffs own
ers of certain properties:
3lade, Rhodes Company against
Frank Bell; Virginia Carolina Chem
jcal Company against Lester and
"ester Keel; Slade Rhodes Company
against J. W. and Ida Crisp; Slade,
Rhodes Company against J. L. Rea
son and W. E. Tyson; B. S. Court
ney against Rev. A. Hawkins; C. U
Rogers, administrator, against W. O
Wynn; Barn hill Brothers against
Lester Keel and Susan Taylor; Har
rison Bros, against Henry Harris;
p. L. Salsbury against J. W. Hines;
Co* Motor Company against J. H
Hollta; Harrison Bros, against E. M
Bland; Mrs. Nettie Cowen against
Sam Jones; F. L. Haislip against
Don Johnson; R. C. Davis against
W- T. Freemon; Virginia Carolina
t-hemical Corp. against W. A. Bail
ey; Jas. D. Bowen against P. P. Hol
iday; R. C. Davis against Joe H.
Mizelle; Harrison Bros, against N.
J. Razor; Thigpen A Cherry against
W. K. Parker; Williams and Reed
"gainst A. E. James; Slade, Rhodes
Company against B. A. Moye; and
Scott Pittman against J. D. Gray.
The case of Dr. Earl E. Pittman
against F. E. Young was settled by
agreement.
In the case of John Daniel Biggs
against N. B. LiUey. plaintiff recov-I
ered Pair of mules, and defendant
directed to pay cost.
A voluntary non-suit was taken
by plaintiffs in case of R. F. Godard
and Nora Hopkins against J G
Staton.
In the case of Rillie C. Wynn a
gainst the New York Life Insur
ance Company, the plaintiff was al
lowed $123 and $25 monthly dur
ing period of disability, the defend
ant to pay the cost of the action.
Abe Spruill, suing the Export
Leaf Tobacco Company for $1,300
for injuries received in an automo
bile-truck accident near Everetts
la stafll, was awarded $780. Roacoc
Clemmons, a second plaintfl suing
"J* Mme comP*ny- was awarded
$230. Clemmons was asking for
$2,800.
Based on two years separation, a
divorce was granted Mrs. Thelma
Jones from R. C. Jones.
Following the SpruiU-Clemmons
case against the tobacco company,
the court started working on the
case of Lizzie Coffield against P. H.
Coffield, Robersonvllle negroes It
is understood Coffield divorced his
wife several months ago, cutting her
off without a cent. She started suit
to recover half of the property held
by him. An agreement was reached
(Continued on beck page)
Colored Man Dies
Result of Injuries
Received in Wreck
Vance Bryant Fatally Hurt
When Thrown From
Truck Saturday
Vance Bryant, aged colored man,
died in a Windaor hospital yester
day morning at 1C o'clock from in
juriea received whan he was thrown
from a truck on the Roanoke River
All last Saturday evening. Funeral
services are being held this after
noon at his late home here, and bur
ial will follow near Oak City, his
old borne.
Bryant, said to hava been in the
employ ff the National Handle
Company, was riding with several
other men on a truck traveling to
ward Williamston. Elisha Raacoe,
Bertie colored man, started to drive
his car by the truck but had to
abandon the effort when he saw an
other car meeting him. In turning
back to the right side of the road
he struck the truck, throwing Bry
ant and several others out Bryant
suffered a fracthre of the skull and
internal injuries, the others escap
ing serious injury.
Raacoe is being boohed on a man
slaughter charge in Bertie County
today, it is understood.
WPA Frowns on Proposal of
Agricultural tfuilding Her^
Application for an agricultural
building in thia county was disap
proved by Works Progress Admin
istration authorities this week, alter
the project had been partially sanc
tioned by district officers of the ad
ministration, it is understood. Nec
essary contracts had been executed
between the WPA and county com
missioners, and plans for the pro
posed building had been approved
by the district office, according to
reports reaching here a few weeks
ago.
The application was refused, it
was explained, because the admin
istration does not approve additions
to buildings It is believed the proj-?
ect could be handled if the commis
sioners would furnish a site for the
unit apart from the courthouse. The
plans and specifications as originally
submitted to the WPA authorities
called for the construction of an ad
dition to the courthouse of four
rooms for use by the county agent
and his assistants. The proposed
project was to have cost around $3,
750, the county to furnish the site
and money for skilled labor.
Steps have been taken to procure
a site for the proposed building, but
no definite action in that connection
has been reported.
Number Officers File
With Board Elections
ADVENTURE
After ipending the night in a
box ear on the local yard of the
A. C. L. Wednesday night, Hor
ace Perry and Walter 8wanner,
11 years old, and Charles
Hooten, It, gladly retarded to
their homes In Wphlngtoo with
the Beaufort County sherUf
early yesterday morning. The
youthful white lads were off on
a short trip for adventure, but
the chilly air and a night in a
box car made them willing to
forego their wanderings. '
Leaving home Wednesday, the
boys attended the show here
Wednesday evening and were
taken Into custody about < o'
clock yesterday morning by
Chief Daniel and turned over to
the Beaufort officer about an
hour later.
County Chapter of
Red Cross Raised
Little Under $150
Citizens of Hassell Support
Movement with Sizeable
Donation This Week
Hassell, the little community in
the upper part of the county that
voice* its own convictions and cares
little, about politics in general as
long as Franklin Roosevelt is presi
dent, came forward a few days ago
as a supporter of the Red Cross in
its great task of aiding storm and
flood victims in other sections of
the country. Ur. J. W. Eubanks
turned over $1> to Martin County
Chapter Chairman Harry Biggs a
few days ago, and the donations are
acknowledge as follows:
A. E. Downs, $1; J. W. Eubanks,
$1; G. S. Haislip, fl; R. H. Salsbury,
fl; J. A. Haislip, $1; R. T. Johnson,
fl; P. C. Edmondson, *1; C. L. Nel
son $1; W. E. Roberson, $1; J. J.
Whitley, 80c; George Wynn, 50c; J.
B. Barfleld, 50c; C. H. Leggett, 50c;
Woodard Leggett, 50c; and G. H.
Leggett, 50c. .
Other donations received and not
previously acknowledge are: Miss
Ethel Harris, 75c; and Sylvester
Peel, |1.
To date the Martin County chap
ter, not including the donations han
died by the Robersonville chapter,
has raised $142.M, or just about |300
less than its assigned quota. The
chapter at Robersonville has raised
some over $100, according to last re
ports reaching here.
While the annual roll call for the
county chapter has been limited to
a great extent to the Town of Wil
liamston, other centers of the coun
ty are giving a splendid account
during the special appeal for funds
by the Red Cross; especially is this
true with the Bear Grass school.
^
Large Lumber Plant
Resumes Operations
The large lumber plant of Saun
ders and Cox here idle since the
19th of last month, started opera
tions again last Wednesday morning,
opening employment for 75 or more
men. High water made operations
difficult, but the plant was able to
approach normal capacity, Mr. bun
ders said.
Flood waters have interrupted op
erations at the plant during much
of the time since the latter part of
last December, but the owners are
hopeful the. bed season, one of the
worst in many years, is nearing an
end. Much of the company's track
is under water, but its trains are
able to run now.
No Contests Have
Developed To Date
For County Offices
Coburn Has Opposition for
District Senator; Piling
Fees Announced
?
Office aspirants jumped into the
political waters of this county this
week, but so far not a competitive
race has developed and the candi
dates are floating on top without any
exertion. Closing time for filing
candidacies is just a little over two
weeks off, and it might be that some
of the offices will have to go a'beg
ging for holders. Places on the
board of education are still wide
open, and only one seat on the board
of commissioners has been spoken
for to date.
The main county offices have
been spoken for, all the old officials
filing a few days ago for reelection.
The complete line-up in the county
up to this time is as follows:
H. G. Morton for member of low
er house of General Assembly.
C. A. Harrison for treasurer of
county.
C. B. Roebuck for sheriff.
J. Sam Getsinger for register of
deeds.
H. O. Peel for recorder county
court.
W. H. Coburn for solicitor coun
ty court.
S. Rome Biggs for coroner.
R. A. Haislip for county commis
sioner from the Goose Nest-Hamil
ton district.
Filing fees are as follows: Treas
urer, $4.80; Sheriff, $28.50; register
of deeds, $12.50; member house of
representatives and senator (state),
$3; recorder, $4.20; solicitor, $300;
Other offices, $1.
In the second senatorial district,
Attorney R. L Coburn, of William
ston; William Rodman and T. B.
Attmore, Beaufort County men; and
Julius Dees, attorney of Bayboro,
Pamlico County, are struggling for
the two seats in the state senate.
The candidacy of Dees has not been
officially reported here, but it is re
liably understood he is in the race.
While there is no apparent inter
est In the county political situation,
the district senatorial race is ex
pected to attract some attention, and
the gubernatorial campaign is just
walking off with the interest.
An interesting feature of the race
for governor is that North Carolina
is all but certain to have three gov
ernors, with the possibility that Mr.
Graham might have ito force en
trance through a window to com
plete the count of three, according
to supporters of each candidate. Mr.
McRae, poor fellow, is playing the
role of one of those proverbial snow
balls. But he might get a sizeably
vote just out of sympathy, and there
la no doubt but that he would make
a good governor If he was just made
governor. But that is not in sight,
and, since he is hardly recognized
as a possible contender, just how
the other three candidates are do
ing is a frequent question. Prob
ably the most exacting answer is
-that nobody knows.
NjiVXhis county, McDonald is hold
ing a big lead, it is believed, but
the reports have it that Hoey is cut
ting in strong on that lead In fact,
some go ao far as to say that most
of Hoey's buoyancy is coming from
the camp of Dr. McDonald. It la
believed that the McDonald camp
can stand additional drains on its
ranks before even nearing a point
of oollapee.
When Informed of the first re
turns from the straw vote this week,
Mr. Hoey was apparently somewhat
disappointed, but expressed grati
tude that he was allowed to break
even with his chief opponent just
6,000 FARMERS GO
TO RALEIGH TO
DEMAND ACTION
povernor Gives Reason for
Not Calling Special
Session
While the value of the move con
tinue* in doubt, between five *nd
*ix thousand tobacco farmers march
ed on Raleigh Tuesday to urge Gov
ernor J. C. B. Ehringhaus to call a
special session of the General As
sembly that a state tobacco compact
act might be treated. For four hours
farm leaders and the governor ex
changed verbal attacks, but after the
rukas was over, it was apparent that
the chief executive had no more
idea of calling the legislature into
special session than he had prior to
the mass meeting.
The governor probably convinced
a few it was useless to call a special
session of the lawmakers, but the
large majority of the farmers left
the Ehringhaus capital still puzzled
at the chief executive's refusal to
act in their behalf. "We are only
asking the right to organize and
protect ourselves," the farmers told
the governor, adding that if they
failed it would not be his fault.
They had the governor on a spot,
and a hot spot at that, but it is quite
apparent that no compact bill will
likely received consideration before
early January.
Now that the control feature is
doomed so far as the 1936 crop is
concerned, farmers will find it more
profitable than ever to turn to the
soil conservation program to save
themselves.
Between 200 and 300 farmers are
believed to have attended the meet
ing from this county, Wilson, Edge
combe, and Pitt sending more than
1,000 each.
PLANTING NEXT
BIG TASK AHEAD
OF PRODUCERS'
Martin Farmers To Start
Transplanting Tobacco
Last of Next Week
Farming activities, under way on
a comparatively large scale during
the past two weeks, are fast near
ing a climax in this section, reports
stating that farmers will start trans
planting tobacco plants the latter
part of next week. When that work
gets under way on a large scale,
farmers find it difficult to keep up
with the many chores, even by work
ing from before light until after
dark.
Most farmers are still uncertain
a<to what to do in connection with
the soil conservation program, re
ports indicating that many do not
yet understand the plan and will
follow an acreage and production
schedule in effect last year How
ever, in some sections, many farm
ers will participate in the program,
reports indicate. A11 indications now
?more than at any other time?
point to a greater need for partici
pation in the program, for there is
little hope of control, and without
control every one predicts low
prices next fall. Some of the esti
mates point to 6-cent tobacco, while
others believe the price average
will not be under 10 cents. Reports
from the Farmville, Va? market for
the season closing the 2nd of this
month gave a price average of ?9.83.
Some signs of the blue mold have
been found in this county, but the
disease is not expected to effect any
great decrease in plantings. No ser
ious outbreak is likely until the
weather turns warmer than it has
been and rains start falling.
Reports from Georgia indicate
that the crop is just about trans
planted therewith acreage increased
possibly by 10 per cent over that of
last year.
Dry weather following heavy
rains on Tuesday, April 7th, has re
sulted in poor corn stands, and in
some cases farmers plowed their
lands again and replanted the crop.
Two Injured In Car Wreck
Near Robersonville Today
-e
Mrs. B H. Scott was badly hurt
and her three-year-old daughter
was bruised when the car in which
they were riding crashed into the
rear end of a truck, driven by B A.
Hodges, near Robersonville early
this morning. The car, driven by
F. 8. Hooks, of Fremont, was wreck
ed, but he was not hurt, reports
stated.
Traveling toward Williamston,
I the truck sloped quickly for Dewey
Gray to move a tractor across the
highway. The car, directly behind
the truck, could not stop In time
to avoid the craah.
Mrs Scott, badly hurt about the
head, waa treated In a doctor'a of
fice at Robersonville
Whirlwind Sign-Up of Farmers
For Participation in New Soil
Program Is Planned Next Week
Meet Wednesday To Decide on
Electric Line To Bear Grass
Assured a rural electric line by
the Virginia Electric and power
Company, if sufficient revenue is
guaranteed, prospective light and
power customers in Bear Grass and
Griffins Township are meeting in
the Bear Grass school auditorium
next Wednesday evening at 7:45
o'clock to discuss the proposal, Rev
Z. T. Piephoff, a leader in the move
ment, said today.
The present outlook for the con
struction of the line via R. L. Perry's
with an extension to Lilley Broth
ers in Griffins Township is very fav
orable, it was stated.
To make possible the service, pa
trons have to guarantee a monthly
revenue of approximately $210. A
considerable portion of that amount
has already been pledged, and near
ly every one is in favor of the pro
posed project. All home owners
and tenants living on the route are
urged to attend the meeting next
Wednesday evening, when the proj
ect will be explained by Messrs.
Goodmon and Teel, representatives
of the power company.
County Spends$394 in
Enforcing Liquor Law
5 Per Cent of Liquor
Profits Set Aside for
Enforcement of Law
Violators of ABC LaW Pay
$800 In Fines and $337
Costs To County
As a premium (or enforcing the
Alcoholic Beverage Control laws in
this county, the commissioners spent
$394 during the period since the
law went into effect last July until
the first of April. The distribution
was made among county and town
officers and constables over the
county, most of it going to deputies
for the capture of liquor distilling
plants. Under the terms of the law,
5 per cent of the profits from the
sale of legal liquor are set aside for
law enforcement. So far, the en
forcement fund is greater by twice
than the demands upon it for en
forcement.
A review of the enforcement rec
ords shows that 33 alleged violators
of the liquor laws were arrested in
the county between last July and I
the first of April this year. All but
two were convicted. Fines and for
feitures during the period amount
ed to an even $800. In addition to
that amount the county collected
$337.10 in the form of court costs.
Fiften of the defendants were sen
tenced to the roads for from 90 days
to 18 months, the total road sen
tences calling for 83 months time.
Officers played havoc with the il
licit manufacturing business during
the period, when they wrecked 62
liquor plants and destroyed 31,000
gallons of beer und 220 gallons of
liquor. No special officers were em
ployed to aid in the concerted drive
against the illicit liquor manufactur
ing ring under the new law, Sheriff
C. B. Roebuck, his deputy, Joe Roe
buck, and Jailor Roy Peel handling
virtually all the work.
Band Taking Part in
State Music Contest
The Williamston High School mu
sicians are participating in a state
music contest at Greensboro today.
The band members, numbering 28,
accompanied by Principal D. N.
Hix and Director Bobbitt, left yes
terday morning by special bus for
the college city. The boys and one
girl entered class C and competed
with bands from Wendell, Currituck
and Spruce Pine at 10 o'clock this
morning. Results of the contests
will not be announced until this
evening. The local musicians are
expected home late tonight.
The names of those making the
trip are:
Jack Saunders, Wilbur Culpepper,
Howard Cone, Edgar Gurganus,
Reg Griffin, Ben Hardison, Ray
Goodmon, Dale Wagner, Frank
Weaver, Jerry Clark, Billy Biggs,
E. G. Wynne, Jim Manning, Eli Gur
ganus, Thad Harrison, Jack Ed
mondson, Reg Manning, Milton
James, Clifton Malone, Bennie Dan
iels, Junie Peele, Whit Purvis, Rob
ert Peel, J. L. Mobley, Carlyle Hall,
Evelyn Lilley, Dick Dunn, Jimmie
WatU.
?
All the farm owners from Farm
ville to Ballards Cross Roads in
Pitt County are planning to put out
rat bait in a cooperative effort to
control the rodents
r
i
V .
TAX LISTING
1
Property owners have only
Hve more days In which to list
their holdings in this county,
reports from some of the list
takers indicating that the rush
Li already noticeable. No ex
tension of time has been pro
vided, subjecting property own
ers with a penalty double the
listed values after the 30th of
this month.
Negro Is Held on
Charge of First
Degree Burglary
n n ^
?
Charlie Howard, Jr. Taken
Into Custody by Officers
Near Robersonvllle
Charlie Howard, jr., 20-year-old
negro, is in the county jail await
ing trial at the next term of Mar
tin Superior court on an alleged
first degree burglarly charge. He
was given a preliminary hearing
before Mayor C. M. Hurst in Rob
ersonville yesterday and was de
nied bond.
Howard is alleged to have enter
ed the home of John Stephenson,
farmer living near Robersonville,
about midnight Wednesday, steal
ing Mr. Stephenson's trousers and
$75 in cash. Mr. Stephenson heard
the burglar just about the time he
was leaving the home through a
window. Making an investigation
and after finding his trousers miss
ing, Mr. Stephenson called Rober
sonville officers, and they tracked
Howard across a field by tracks
made in his stocking feet. When
found at the home of his father, a
short distance from the Stephenson
home, Howard, it was learned, had
just returned there and his socks
were muddy and his clothes wet.
Yesterday morning Howard admit
ted the crime and told where the
money was hidden. Only a portion
of the money was recovered, and
the trousers could not be found,
causing officers to believe that an
other party had a part in the'criroe*
but Howard maintains he was *a
lone in the daring burglarly.
If the full penalty of the law is
imposed on him, Howard is likely
to pay with his life in the gas
chamber at Raleigh.
Four EscajH* Injury
In Wreck Tuesday
Four young girls and boya, of near
here, mlraculoualy escaped serious
injury last Tuesday night about
10:30 o'clock, when their car, a Ford
sedan, ran off the road, crashed
through a fence and turned over
two or three times, landing in Mr
Will Taylor's mule lot a few miles
out on the Washington highway.
The car was a complete wreck, but
only one of the occupants, Chester
Revels, driver, was hurt and his in
jury was confined to a small cut
on his ear. Hevela' companions,
Misses aladys and Josle Pearl Lil
ley and Evan Lilley, were only
slightly bruised, it was said.
When the car wen through the
fence a board pierced the wind
shield and went out of the car thru
a side window near the back of the
car. ?
Proj)Osed Benefits
Being Explained
To Committeemen
Participation In Program
Surest Salvation for
Tobacco Farmers
Plans are being completed here to
lay for launching a whirlwind sign
ip of Martin County farmers who
plan to participate in the govern
ment's soil conservation program
Starting the sign-up next Monday,
the .local committees are scheduled
to complete the work within the
week, announcements coming from
the office of the county agent to
iay stating that contracts after Sat
jrday of next week will be handled
mly in the office of the agent.
According to Assistant Agent M.
U Barnes, farmers will be notified
to see their respective committee
men,. prepare what are known as
work sheets during the week and
make themselves eligible to partici
pate in the benefit payments later
m in the season. Five cents a pound
will be paid on all tobacco taken
out of production up to 30 per cent
jf the base. Five cents will be paid
an cotton and 1 1-4 cents on pea
nuts.
Farmers are requested to list their
corn, oats, irish and sweet potato
and soy bean acreages on a piece of
paper, as this information is neces
sary to execute the work sheets.
Base acreages and production for
the tobacco, cotton and peanut crops
have already been placed on the
work sheets, and it is understood
very little time or difficulty are ex
perienced in preparing the blanks.
Committeemen for the various
townships are:
Hamilton: D H. Edmondson, I las
sell; and Frank L. Haislip, Hamil
ton.
Goose Nest: J. F. Crisp, Oak City.
Kobersonville: H. S. Everett.
Cross Boads. L. A. Clark.
Bear Grass: A. B. Ayers.
Griffins W B. Harrington and
George C. Griffin.
Williams: Chas. L. Daniel.
Jamesville: F. C. Stallings and C.
A. Askew.
Williamston: Fred Taylor and
Luther Peel.
All farmers who own more than
one farm will find it necessary to
prepare their work sheets in the of
fice of the county agent that proper
divisions of bases and production
might be determined.
There being little or no hope for
a control program this year, farm
ers will find it to their advantage
(Continued on page six)
?
Directors Coastal
Plain League in
Meeting Tuesday
Season Opens June 2 With
Williamston Playing
Tarboro There
Arrangements for opening the
Coastal Plain Haseball season the
2nd of June were completed at a
meeting of league and club officials
in the Woman's Club hall here last
Tuesday evening, the discussions
centering around salary limits,
bonds and schedule.
To insure good faith, President
Eure, of Ayden, called for the $500
bonds from each club, the amount
t obe forfeited by any club failing
to complete the season or in case of
violation of certain rules. Under a
new ruling adopted by the officials
Tuesday evening, any club exceed
ing a $450 weekly salary limit will
automoaticaly forfeit the $500 bond
and lose its franchise The salary
limit does not apply during the first
15 days of the season, and the clubs
may carry as many players during
that time as they desire. Last year
the clubs were allowed only 10 days
to carry as many players as they
desired. The $450 salary schedule
is to include the manager's salary.
A proposal to permit one profes
sional player on each team was vot
ed down, Williamston, Goldsboro,
and Kinstun voting for the meas
ure.
The schedule calling for Sunday
ball and a rest day on Monday, was
adopted 7 to 1, New Bern voting
against it.
Tonight officials of the local club
are meeting to handle several busi
ness matters.