North Carolina Newspapers

THE ENTERPRISE CM VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 66 Williamston. Martin County. North Carolina. Friday. August 14. 1936 ESTABLISHED 1899 GREENVILLE NOW 11-2 GAMES BACK OF WILLIAMSTON Martins and Greenies Meet On Local Diamond Sunday 3 P. M. Williamston's Martins continue to bold top position in the Coastal Plain loop as the season draws to a dose, the locals holding the lead by 1 1-2 games over the Greenville Greenies. Developments since early in the week have changed the Mar ? tins' standing not a point, but the Greenies are now in striking posi tion for the top run in the standing. Tarboro, having climbed consider ably ahead at Use 8now Hill nine, is now battling Kinston for fourth position and a right to participate in the post-season play-off, while the locals and Greenville are almost certain of places in the semi-finals. Some mediocre baseball has fea tured several of the games lately, but renewed life is expected as the teams enter the last lap of the race. Ill Martins took two straight from Goldsboro Tuesday and Wednesday, but they were turned back, 5-1, by the Eagles at Kinston yesterday. Walters and Black featured the 4-to-l win over the Goldsboro Bugs in Goldsboro last Tuesday, with a home run apiece, Walters' four-base knock sending in Corbitt ahead of him. The two men and Sudduth, with 2 hits each, accounts for three fourths of the Martins' safeties. Wade, for the Martins, and Webb, for the Bugs, pitched on even terms, aach allowing 8 hits. Wade proved more affective in the pinches, how Errors figured in the 4-3 win over the Bugs here Wednesday, the locals taking the game in the fourth and fifth innings, when Black and Doug lass singled and Stowe and Lynn arrad to score 2 runs and in the fifth when two more rung, were added by Walters' and Sudduth's doubles and a single by Black. Cherry al lowed only ? hits, while his team mates got 8 off Wilson. Yesterday, the Martins bubbled over with errors, which coupled with 7 hits, gave Kinston a 5-1 win, that Keller fallow knocking for the cir cuit in the seventh with two on. Walters and Douglass, with 2 hits each, led at bat, while Gay lord fea tured afield with two star catches. A large attendance is expected here Sunday, when the Greenies meet the Martins. Next Friday, a double-header is being considered here with Ay dan. Lucky Teter Unable To Play Williamston Fair Again This Year Unable To Get Contract With Massachusetts Pair Cancelled Lucky Teter, the man who staged one of the moat daring acta at the local lair last year ever seen in this section, will not be able to return Williamston Fair regretfully an nounced today. Mr. Walker, local ntative of the fair operators, that Mr. Teter was forced lb abide by a contract made with Maeeachusetts fair association. He aapletned that Teter made the con tract with the Massachusetts fair and that later a flood washed the fair grounds away. Mr. Teter thought the fair would not be held and entered into a contract with the Williamston Fair, but since then the Massachusetts fair operators secured a PWA grant, rebuilt the fair build low and restored the grounds In a letter received this week by Mr. Walker, the daring Teter stated that he extremely regretted being tmabl to return, as he made many while in Williamston a year had looked furwaid to re ar BBMMd to to mpplMis the pdbgram now that Lucky Tatar would not be able to take part local people war* looking for Services at Church of the Advent Sunday, the 16th r. E. F. Sunday after Trinity. Church school, ? a. m Market-Fair Booster Trip Is Planned for August 28-29 Preliminary arrangements were advanced at a meeting of local warehousemen, business men and other interested citizens at a meet ing of the tobacco board of trade last Wednesday evening for a joint good will tour of several counties in the interest of the Williamston Tobacco Market and the Williams ton Fair. A special committee, composed of Mayor John L. Hassell, Holt Evans, N. K. Harrison, Leman Barnhill and Harvey Walker, resi r fair manager, was named and group will make immediate ar rangements for the tour. No dates for the trip have been definitely determined, the commit, tee stating yesterday that the good will work would he handled prob ably on Friday and Saturday pre ceding the opening of the market here on Tuesday, September 1. Present plana call (or visits in Mar. tin, Halifax, Bertie and Washing ton Counties, but the committee has not mapped out a schedule at this time, and other terriibry might be included. The fair management pledged its cooperation in the movement, and promised to provide special enter, tainment and souvenirs. A contract with the local high school band will be made, the band program to be an added feature on the tour that will last the greater part of two days. ' Liquor Profits Effect 14c Saving in Taxes Prices on Border Markets Higher "Good tobaccos are selling good, medium types are selling from 6 to 10 cents higher, and the common grades are commanding about the same prices, or probably not quite as much as they did last year," Holt Evans, proprietor of the Planters Warehouse here, said this morning following his return from several of the Border and South Carolina mar kets. The prices as a whole were described as very satisfactory by Mr. Evans, who said the American, Reynolds, Liggett A Myers, and Im perial were buying freely on the opening sales yesterday. Tobacco growers were jubilant as the prices on all the markets proved satisfactory and few farmers turned their tags indicating that they would not sel their loads at the price of fered. With sales blocked on nearly ev ery market, no official sales and price averages were compiled, but reports from many of the markets said that the opening day average would hit 25 cents a pound. From every market came the report that prices were higher than last year, although several reported that the higher prices for the better quality were partially offset by lower prices for the cheaper grades. Late reports from Georgia indi cate stronger prices on the markets there. No County Court Is Held Tuesday Called out of the county unexpect edly last Monday, Judge H O. Peel found It necessary to cancel the last Tuesday session of the Martin Coun ty Recorder's court at the last min ute. Receiving no notice of the post poned session, witnesses and defend ants out under bond reported in fairly large numbers at the court house, but returned home shortly when they learned the judge was gone. Several defendants will con tinue as guests of the county in its jail for another week, and probably longer, the judge failing to say just when he planned to return. A fairly busy session was in the making when the delay in trial was ordered. Clerk of Court L. B. Wynne stating that a dozen new cases had been scheduled since the last sss sion a week ago last Tuesday and that several were left over from the week before. e H. H. Cowen Suffers Bad Foot Injury Yesterday Mr. Herbert H. Cowen had his left foot badly mashed yesterday morning when a pile of lumber fell on it while he was at the plant of the Williamxton Supply Company here. The man's big toe was brok en, and a cast was placed around his foot. o i Infant of Mr. and Mrs. Wbitehurst Found Dead Martha Been. ftve-montha-old daughter of If rand Mrs W W. Whitehurst died suddenly at the home of her parents in Beaufort County, near the Martin line, Wed nesday morning about 3:90 o'clock. The child was apparently all right at two o'clock that morning when the mother fad her. About one hour and a half later, the infant was found dead beside its mother funeral services were held yes terday at the home and burial was in the Boas Gurganus cemetery in Rate Based on That Figure This Year; Is Believed Greater Added Requirements Taken Care of By Profits With No Increase in Rate "What became of the liquor prof its?" is a frequent question asked members of the Martin Cbunty Al holic Beverages Control Board and other officials by numerous property owners in all parts of the county, according to reports heard since the county tax rate was definitely deter mined the early part of this month. Once the 1936-37 budget estimate is understood, the answer to the ques tion, ig quite simple, but the general impression, briefly advanced, is that the tax rate should have been ma terially reduced if the county was actually receiving as much profit from the sale of legal liquor as re port! claimed. The budget estimate for the cur rent fiscal year anticipates a reve nue of around 915,000 from the sale of legal liquor during 1938-37, the amount equaling a like amount that 14 cents on the $100 property valu ation would raise. In short the li quor profits made it possible to hold the tax rate down to $1.43, and at the same time meet increased ob ligations, such as ah additional $6,000 for bonded indebtedness, a $5,000 anti-typhoid campaign, an all-time public welfare department, and several other items of lesser amounts. Had there been no liquor profits to consider in preparing the -1936 budget and had the budget carried all the new items now found in it, the tax rate this year would have been $1 57, or 14 cents higher than it is, according to the chair man of the county board of com missioners. The budget estimate as it deals with expected revenue from liquor sales is, to say the least, very, very conservative, and it is believed that the profits will probably be nearer $20,000 than $15,000. The liquor profits made it possi ble for the tax rate to show less than a 15-cent levy for the general fund for the first time in years. It was considered by the authpri ties at one time to use the liquor profits to buy in county bonds, elim inating interest and principal at the sairte time, but wben the final show down came, the commissioners de cided to divert the profits into the general fund and effect a reduction m the amount of taxes that would have had to be levied to meet the demands on that particular fund. Had the county decided to buy in its own bonds, the tax rate would not have been affected this year, but would have made lower levies pos sible in years to come At the pres ent time, the liquor profits are re flected in increased public activities and do credit to the management of those handling the sale of legal liquor. Regular Services Sunday In Presbyterian Churches Regular service* will be held at all points this Sunday. ITie WonUfl'l Auxiliary, ot the Presbyterian church will hold its August meeting in the church this evening ai > o'clock. The study in1 the Book of Genesis will be con tinued. e Service Schedule at Local ^ Methodist Church Sunday R. R. Grant, Minister Chueeh school, B:4* * Regular morning service, 11 o' clock. The union service will be held in the Methodist church in the eve ning, and the public is cordially in vited to l WARREN NOT TO ACCEPT PLACE IF OFFERED TO HIM Prefers To Remain in House Statement Issued This Week Says Commenting for the first time on repeated news articles that he would be appointed Comptroller General of the United States, Rep resentative Lindsay C. Warren 8tat. ed definitely today that If the po sition was tendered to him by the President that he would not accept same. The statement comas as no surprise to the people of the First Congressional District who in large numbers have urged Mr. Warren to remafn in Cnnqrtmt where- ha has already served 12 years and has been renominated for another term. Mr. Warren's statement: "If by any chances I have been considered by the President for the great position of Comptroller Gen eral, it is a distinct compliment and honor. All I know about the matter is what has come to be in the papers and in personal letters from friends. No man in public life has ever re ceived more loyal support and friendship than I have from the people of the First Congressional District. Large numbers of my friends in every county in the dis trict have been kind enough to say that 1 should remain in Congress. This I prefer to do, believing that I can best serve the district, state and our great President in my present position. Therefore, if the position of Comptroller General was tender ed to me, I could not accept it." ? Truck Driver Fined For Blocking Fire Apparatus on Street Mayor Directs Warning To Other Drivers Urging Care During Fires Philistine Barnhill, young colored man, wai fined $2 50 and taxed with the coat for the alleged viola tion of local traffic laws during a fire here Wednesday afternoon. In imposing the fine later that after noon, Mayor Hasaell sounded a warning to other drivers who take traffic laws lightly when Are alarms are sounded and the Are-fighting upparatuV starts moving. That there were other infringe ments of the traffic laws Wednes day afternoon and during dearly all other Are alarms, there is no doubt, but Barnhill, driving a big oil truck, blocked the street when he turned to the left of a double-parked car, causing the driver to bring the Are truck almost to a stop. Town ordinances make it unlaw ful for car operators to follow the Are fighting apparatus within one block, and when an alarm sounds, drivers are supposed to park their cars until after the equipment and firemen pass. Private cars are rushed right behind the Are truck in numerous cases, making it next to impossible for firemen who miss the truck nt the .1.1 inn and whn are forced to travel in their own cars to reach a Are quickly. During the Wednesday afternoon Are, sev eral small boys dashed into the main street at a busy .intersection on their bicycles, endangering their own lives and increasing traffic hazards at a crticial time. Special instructions have been given local officers to enforce local traffic laws, and auto drivers arc urged to exercise precaution In their wild runs to Area in the future. James D. Gurganus Dies in Bear Grass James David Gurganus, 66 years old, died at his home in Bear Grass Township Tuesday morning, follow ing a long period of ill health. He had been confined to his bed for a bout two months. Mr. Gurganus was widely known in this county through his travels. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the late home bv Rev. Z. T. Plep hofl, Presbyterian minister. Burial followed in the old Gurganus burial ground, near the home, Mrs Gurganus, with two children, J. D. Gurganus, jr., and Pinnie Gur. genus, survive. He also leaves three sisters, Mrs. Fannie Page, Mrs. Amanda Cannady and Miss Mag gie Gurganus. He was the son of the late Da vid and Pinnie Gurganus, and lived in this county all his life. e Extension worker* at State Col lege point out that now is the time to prepare to seed alfalfa and other legumes this fall. Pulp-Mill Officials Continue Investigations in This Section Continuing their inveftigation' this week, officials of a large pulp mill will probably decide within the next 10 days or two weeks whether they wil Uocate a branch plant on the Roanoke River here, according to unofficial information received this morning. While the prospects were considered bright for Williamston as a location for the plant, no definite action has been taken in that connection, it was learned. Coming here last Tuesday, four o' the company officials and represen latives have been making a first hand survey of the timber resources, [ transportation facilities and the proposed site on Roanoke River Just below the Standard Fertilizer Com pany plant. Two of the officials are returning north this afternoon, the other two gentlemen to remain here for about a week to continue the various surveys. No information has been made public as to the progress made in locating the plant here, but it is be lieved at this time that Williamston has an advantage over other pos sible locations. To Remodel City Hall For PWA Office Space Definite Assurance Of Location Here Is Given Yesterday Start Search for Available Apartments and Rooms To House People Definitely assured yesterday by State Administrator George W. Coan jr., that WPA districts No. 1 at Eliz abeth .City, and No. 2 at New Bern, would be combined with the head quarters of the enlarged district lo cated here, local town authorities started immediately making arrange ments to house the personnel and provide around 6,000 square feet of office space. County welfare workers, resettle ment administration forces, and the heads of the child welfare and sew ing room projects are moving their offices to the county courthouse to day. the agricultural workers there being huddled into two rooms to provide the space. The arrange ment is only temporary, or until the agricultural building is completed Present plans call for the com plete remodeling of the City Hall auditorium. Contractors are now figuring the cost of the project, and work is expected to get underway tomorrow or Monday. Measure ments made yesterday show thai two stories can be built within the present auditorium, each floor to have around 12 offlcea. The location of the WPA district headquarters here adds to the hous ing shortage, but efforts are now be ing mode to handle that problem. Between 25 and 30 of the PWA em ployees are already assured rooms, and several families have agreed to provide apartments for Some of the families. However, there is Still an urgent need for more apartments and rooms, and Mayor Hassell has been named to head a committee to handle the housing of the WPA forces. Williamston people who can possibly arrange apartments in their homes or who have one or more rooms for rent are urged to get in touch with Mr. Hassell at once. Kwugnized as uiie uf the greatest single assets the town has enjoyed in years, the WPA forces will be cared for, town authorities assured the directors, and local people are urged to cooperate in the movement to house and welcome the town's new citizens the first of next month The local tobacco market opens September 1, the schools open a few days later, and the fair getf under way here about one month later, adding to the housing problem, but It is believed that Williamston peo ple will adequately meet the emer gencies. , Mayor Hassell can be reached at telephone 6-W or his office on East Main Street, and he will appreciate a listing of all available rooms and apartments Religious Meeting To Be Held At Prison Camp e Under the direction of. the He v. G. T. Hill, local colored minister who has been preaching each Sun day afternoon in the prison camp since its erection near here, a one week meeting will get underway there nest Monday night. YES work has been supervised and cat - riad on under the leadership of the local Presbyterian minister with funds secured by him from a few Christian men in Williamston. Hymn books were contributed by an inter sated friend a few months ago. PtaseiU plans are to secure the loan of a piano for the week and Jd hay?Ta service each night about 8 o'clock. The members of the local Baptist colored choir will render selections and lead the sing ing each night. The messages will be brought each evening by the Weather Station Here Is Pending The location of a 6.hour off-air way weather reporting station hero is being delayed pending a further investigation, E M Barto, associate meteorologist with headquarters in Atlanta, stating this morning that telephone calls necessary in report ing the readings would run too high and that other arrangements would have to be considered at the direc tion of the Central Office, Weather Bureau, Washington, D. C. Equipment for the station here had already been requisitioned, and arrangements were complete for installing the station when the Washington Bureau asked a further investigation be made. At the pres ent time, the telegraph office could handle only one of the four daily reports, and the telephone costs were considered prohibitive, it was point ed out. The weather man did not say whether he would try to get the Western Union to alter its hours that it might handle at least three of the messages or that the bureau would consider another location for | the six-hour station. Defendant Is Denied Bond In W. G. Wvnn Murder Case Here Mrs. Wm. G. Wynn Waives Examination at Hearing Held Tuesday Arraigned on a charge of first degree murder, Mrs. Estelle Taylor Wynn, young white woman of the Bear Grass community, was denied bond at a preliminary hearing held before Justice of the Peace John L. Hansel! in the county court room Tuesday afternoon. Charged Willi killing her husband, William Gray Wynn, 32, with a .22 caliber rifle as he slept in a chair on the porch of their home last Sunday evening about 7:30 o'clock, Mrs. Wynn ja likely to have tu remain in jail-un til the superior court convenes in September, although her attorney, J. C. Smith, was said to have been considering demanding that she be allowed bond under a writ of habeas corpus No developments had been reported along this line of proposed procedure today, it was learned. Mrs Wynn waived examination at the hearing Tuesday, Sheriff C. B. Roebuck being the only witness, and it wan upon hit testimony?that the justice ruled there -was probable cause supporting a first-degree mur der charge under which no bond is allowed Very little evidence was offered by the officer other than that given by Mrs. Wynrr in her confes sion -of the killing the evening be fore. Arrested Monday afternoon fol lowing the holding of the last rites of her husband, Mrs. Wynn con fessed the killing, and talked freely of the events leading up to the trag edy. e County Club Girls Leave -For Camp Next-Tuesday A fairly large number of Martin County club girls will leave not Tuesday for a summer outing. The truck will be at the Robersonville elementary school building that morning at 0 o'clock, stopping in Everetts a few minutes later and reaching Williamston at 9:46. Hie truck will leave from the Central ruling station here. All girls are asked to carry a lunch for the noon meal e The club members with others from adjoining counties will spend several days at Camp ' ?*?K DEMURRER FILED TO ALLEGATIONS IN DAMAGE SUIT Defense Maintains John A. Davenport Hasn't Valid Cause for Libel Action Counsel for the twenty defend ants in the $20 000 libel suit brought by John A. Davenport, of Hamilton, last Wednesday filed a demurer in the case, maintaining that the plain tiff "does not state facts sufficient to consUtute a cause of action... As it is understood now, further ac tion in the case awaits a ruling by the trial judge who will be asked to pass on the validity of the com ulaint flletl by M' ' Paven port'a counsel, Cobufn and Co burn, the 23rd of last month. The demurrer, filed by Attorneys Peel and Horton, maintains that the facts are not sufficient to constitute a cause of action, and offers the following reasons in support of the claim: "First: The alleged libelous words were addressed to Mr. Slyvester Peel, chairman of the board of elec tions of Martin County, by voters who were interested in the election which was held on June 6, 1936 'Second: That under the law the county board of elections has power to remove registrars appointed by it for incompetency, failure to dis charge the duties of office, failure to qualify within the time prescrib ed by law, fraud, or any other satis factory cause. "Third: That the county board of elections is charged with the duties to investigate irregularities, non performance of duties, or violation of law by election officers and other persons; to administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, compel the production of books, pa pers, records,' and other evidence in connection with any such investiga tion. "Fourth: That oil its face, the complaint shows that the alleged libelous matter was a peititon to the proper legal authority for the purpose of starting a legal investi gation of the conduct of the election held on June 6, 1936, and the quali fications of the person holding the office of registrar of Hamilton Pre cinct. "Fifth That on its face, the.com plaint shows that the alleged libel ous matter was a petition died in a judicial proceedings, and that same is a privileged communication, and that plaintiff's complaint does not, therefore, state a cause of action," Names of the defendants cited in the complaint died last month are: S M Ewell, B. B Taylor, Hubert Everette, Asa Johnson, W. Herman Everett, W W. Davis, L. H. Rouse. R W. Salsbury, J. E. Hines, W. F. Thomas, G. W Still. Joe H Clark, Roy Beach, John C. Pittman, G. Al ltgood, J S. Ayers, F. L. Haislip, Henry Thomas, H L. Everett and W. B Everett. $200 Damage by Fire At Service Station Fed by n pipe line evtending into an eight-thousand gallon gasoline storage tank. Are threatened the Central Filling station and large blocks of property nearby at the corner of Main and Washington Streets here Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock. The Are, burning raw gasoline and escaping fumes, was brought under control by the local Are company volunteers before any great damage resulted, "Chick" Man ning, operator of the station, esti mating?tire?tow at about $300 Chemicals were used to check the Are that at times extended 10 or 12 feet into the air. Bill Bailey, special agent for a Are insurance company qut of Raleigh, had just had his car gas tonk filled, and as he started to drive from under the station the back bumper of 'the car caught the gasoline pump hose and pulled the pump down. Friction caused when the metal struck the concrete is believed to have started the Are. Bailey quit his car, the motor running, and hur ried across the street. Filling sta tion attendants pushed the car out, while spectators Aed rapidly to points of ta!?y Officers Capture Two Stills la Bear Grass This Week ? Raiding in Bear Grass Township yesterday and today, Sheriff C B. Roebuck and Deputy J. H. Roebuck destroyed two liquor distilling plants of the steam type and Wreck ed much equipment. Nearly AM flak Ions of beer were poured out at the plant yesterday. This mornii*, the officers found a still running full ast, but the three operators es caped when signals were Bed. Nine