North Carolina Newspapers

Ml Z< FifW, aa It Carriaa Taw VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 93 Williamston, Martin County. North Carolina, Friday, November 20, 1936 ESTABLISHED 189V LOCAL TOBACCO ?I V vulUL/ 1 vl/i?vvv MARKET SELLS 4,773,432 POUNDS Record for This Season Is Around 3,000,000 Less Than Year Ago Closing the season last Tuesday, the local tobacco market handled during the 1936 season 4,773.432 pounds of the leaf, the sales bring ing to the market patrons $984. 680 47. The average for the season stood at $20.63 One year ago the market sold 7. 794.460 pounds for $1,578,156 88. an uveiage of $20.25 a hundred pounds. In 1934 there were 6.298.032 pounds told en the market for $1.799,803.g'i ail average of $28.59. Conditions looked bad in 1933, when the mar ket sold 4,833,442 pounds for only $684,415.39. The average was only 514.16. but the low price that year stirred the growers to action, con trol went into effect and record re ceipts were recorded the following year. Considering the short crop, es pecially centered in the yield per acre, the local market made a cred itable showing during the season just ended. The record is nothing to boast about, to be sure, but when a market sells in the neighborhood of 5.UUU.0UU pounds of tobacco it will get recognition along with the larg est. No official announcement has been released in connection with the warehouse personnel another sea son, but it is understood there will be one or two changes and that plans wil be made on a more ex tensive scale than ever before to advance the interests of the market and its patrons in 1937. ?a? Consider Leniency For Jot4 Davenport Joe Davenport, 86-year-old iwamp codger, who shot and killed his young wile, Maggie Barber Daven port, in the "Islands" section of Wil liams Township two years ago the 3rd of last April, is again in the luneligbt. Since June, 1934, the old man has served time in the State prison, his conduct and advanced age greatly impressing prison au thorities, and now his case is being investigation by Edwin Gill, with| - the possibility that Davenport may gain his freedom before he will have served one-fifth of his minimum sentence. As far as it could be learned here today, no recommendations have been made by the prosecution in the case, t^hf wife killer's freedom de pending largely upon what the so licitor, trial judge and others ac quainted with the circumstances have to say. Judge Walter Small sentenced Davenport to prison for not less than 15 and not more than 20 years, many believing that the old man would spend the remainder of his days in prison. Old man Joe's daughter, the mis chievous red-headed tot who was painfuly shot in the legs as she rest ed in the arms of her mother when the fatal shots were fired, is grow ing rapidly and getting along very well at her adopted home here. Session of Industrial Commission Is Held At Courthouse Here Evidence Is Taken in Two Cases at Hearing Held Thursday Holding a session here yesterday morning, members of the North Carolina industrial commission heard evidence in two caoas, hut took no final action in either. Th; case of Lucy Bryant, colored woman whose husband was killed in an au tomobile accident near here last April 18, was continued. Action in the case against the National Han dle Co. and an insurance Arm was dropped, the plaintiff centering her claim against G. H. Hales, logging operator. It is possible tar the plaintiff to recover as much as 86,000 in the ease. Attorney H. G. Horton, representing the plaintiff, said fol lowing the hearing that he did not know just when the case would be called again. In the other case. John H. lloore, colored, was asking compensation for injuries received while working for the F. C Cline Company wider, ing the local Main Street. Buren Jumey, commissioner, and Dewey Dorsett and T. A. Wilson heard the evidence offered In the Kieckhefer Plant Will Locate Near Plymouth I SPEAKS TODAY Ciinx as her topic, "The So cUl Security Act," Mian Laviaia Enzle, of Washington, D. C.. is the annual North District Welfare Confer in the Woman's Clnb here this afternoon. Several People Are Seriously Injured in Bus Wreek Tuesday Big Bus Turns Over After Running Over Dead Mule Near Windsor Several people were hurt, two seriously, when a northbound Car olina Coach Company passenger bus turned over between here and Windsor last Tuesday night about 9:10 o'clock. No one was killed, but two passengers, Miss Annabel White, 20, of Portsmouth. Va? and F. H Horton, 45, of Atlanta, arc confined to a Windsor hospital, re ' ports describing their condition as "critical" Miss Ethel Taylor, 20. of, Edenton; Mrs. Pat Harmon, 40, of Candor; Miss Lula Netherland, 30. [of Norfolk, anfr Wallace Jurney, of Atlanta, were painfully bruised and scratched but they were able to con tinue their journey with nine other passengers in a special bus after re ceiving first aid at the Windsor hos pital. F. L. Childress, driver uf the bus |and an employee of the Coach com pany for 15 years, was held blame less by passengers in the bus who saw the conditions under which the 'accident took place, it was said. | About 25 minutes before the bus | accident, Thomas M Parker, Ahos kie man, driving a Chevrolet, crash ed into and killed a mule about 3 I miles this side of Windsor. Parker was carried to Windsor for treat ment and the dead animal was left on the highway, but officers were notified and they started for the scene. Just as they neared the spot they saw the left wheels of the bus strike the animal, bus and passen gers turning over on the right side of the road It was pointed out that a Car traveling west was stopped on the highway near the dead mule, end that its lights kept the bus driver from seeing the obstruction in time to stop. Infant Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Gurganus Dies Funeral services were conducted last Monday, afternoon for James Reddin Gurganus, 14 weeks old, at '.the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Gurganus, in Bear Grass Township. The child died Sunday morning following a short illness. The baby was the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Gurganus to die dur ing the past year. One child died ahout a year ago after eating boa lye. Another, about 10 years old, died from a tumor of the brain in a , Richmond hospital just a few months ?*? ' The parents survive with two daughters, Gertie and Eula Mae, and four sons, Vernon, Moses, Clifton, and George Floyd Gurganus. Federal Inspectors Gives County Jail High Rating Inspected yesterifiy by a federal inspector, the Martin County Jail was given a high rating, and it is almost certain that the bastile will be placed on the federal approved list. The inspector commented fav orably on the condition of the Jail, and indicated that it would be rec ommended for use by the govern ment There are only two or three Jaila i'm eastern Carolina on the govern > ment's approved list at the lttme, it is Decision Reached at Meeting Last Night; Site in This County Railroad Officials Here for! Session Say Work Will , Begin Immediately The Kieckhefer Container Com-j pany. a New Jersey concern, will locate a pulp mill estimated to cost, between one and a half to two mil-! lion dollars on the Roanoke River! in Martin County, it was unofficially learned following a meeting of the company officials here early this' morning Few details could be had in connection with locating the plant, reports from railroad traffic men stating that spur tracks would be built immediately to the site on the Lucas farm at the mouth of the Cashie and Middle Rivers, about 1 miles this side of Plymouth. Official information received yes terday from the company headquar ters in Delair, N. J., stated that the site on the Roanoke at this point could not be used to advantage and that the mill would be located near here Unofficial reports received a few hours later, stated that the site near Plymouth had been selected C. A White. W M Carey, J F Dalton. E. L. Walker, L. J. Menuir, Joeph Frey, William J Myer, An drew Fischer, jr., O. C. Lee, C. F. Marshall, F. H. Cothran, Kieckhefer Container Company and railroad of ficials, met in the George Reynolds Hotel here last night, the decision | to locate the mill at Plymouth being learned after the meeting adjourned at 1 o'clock this morning. An option on the 7S-acre Lucas farm was announced only a few days ago. all indications prior to that time pointing to a site in Bertie as a possible location for the mill. The location of a pulp mill in this section was considered several months ago. when Mr. H. M. Kieck hefer stopped here and conferred with Mayor J. L. Hassell. Plans for |the project were advanced immedi ately. and it was generally agreed at one time that the plant would be located at this point just below the plant of the Standard Fertilizer Co. Officials of the company, for some reason that has not been fully ex I plained, withdrew their considers tion from this point as a possible lo cation, and under the direction of Mr. Clarence A. White, who will be general manager of the plant, start ed taking options on sites in Bertie on the Cashie River, and at James ville and also at Plymouth. The op tion at Plymouth was just recently renewed, it is understood Local authorities, including the county commissioners, could not be reached for an official statement to day, and it is not known just what, if any, agreements were effected be tween them and the pulp-mill offic ials. It had been agreed to allow (the mill owners certain concessions if they located the plant here, but whether the concessions are to be allowed now that the plant is to be placed near Plymouth could not be learned. Negro Barber Shop Destroyed by Fire Fire wrecked the barber thop of Eddie Watts Brown, colored, on Washington Street yesterday after i noon at 2 o'clock, the volunteer fire men delayed by a dead battery in starting the truck engine, arriving there in time to save the site. The barber chairs and a few other arti cles were removed from the build ing. but most of the contents went , up in smoke with the one-story tin 7 wood building. [ No estimate on the amount of the , loss could be had today, but the ! damage will hardly exceed $500, it is believed. Unable to start the truck engine, , the volunteers were longer answer - Iing the call than at any other time since the apparatus was purchased i eight years ago. When last used early Tuesday morning of this week, : the truck functioned properly, but it is believed that some prowler slipped into the truck room and turned on the lights on the dash board and under the hood, exhaust ing the energy of the battery. An Orange Crush truck pushed the fire wagon off finally, the equipment reaching the fire about 8 minutes late. The trouble came just when Hubert Smith, truck mechanic, was i' confined to his bed with injuries re ceived in an accident last week and ; the fire chief, H. D. Harrison, was out ?f SOCIAL SECURITY IS TOPIC AT MEET IN SESSION HERE Welfare Leaders From 22 Counties Hear Number Noted Speakers North Carolina is on the threshold of a great social security program, and lets work to put i, over. Mrs " Bost- Commissioner of State Public Welfare, told 200 or more welfare workers of the northeastern welfare district in conference here a.v Support of the federal gov ernment's soc.t.l security plan was utged. the conference appealing to the workers and the public in gen f*1 to g<* m touch with state legis i town. and urge them-toptaee North Caroline in step w.th other states I ln PUttmg the program over The morning session of the an ! nual one-day conference crowded1 the main auditorium of the Baptisl church, the program there including ' addresses by welfare and social se curity leader* from both State and Nation. i The requirement of every family IS a plan of living." Mrs J M Hob ttood P"t County weir.re chairman toM the assembly ,n the opening ad 1 j dress. The federal government of-j |fers such a plan, and if it is to sue ! t-eed the power must come from the home." Mrs. Hobgood said ml app.al.ng for public sentiment to I support the plan Mrs W T. Bost, whose lovely character and understanding places her at the heart position in welfare work, pointed out the responsibility esnl^ SUI! S?CIa' legislation.| explaining that it should not be the' am. of state and local agencies to) lower their appropriations when fedeial aid is received, but that it s ould be the combined aim of all | a,d the nw<ly and the less fortu-' Inate. Mrs. Bost dispelled the idea lhat the Social Security Act would , wreck State finances when she esti-i mated the program would cost not! , to exceed five millions of dollars, and lhat she believed it would ncj between three and four millions ! The ? needs of the thousands of les fortunates were pointed out the speaker showing the advantage and plan S'ate m *""Porting the Mrs Blanche Carr Sterne, speak me as president of the State Assoc-, ation of County Superintendents ,.f Pub he Welfare, reviewed the work . ?v.iiwcu ine ' Of the organization, and urged it; ... ??? urged |ts members to see their State legisl, U>rs m the interest of the vast se curity program now being launched under the direction of the federal government. Centering her address around th children as the nations greatest re source. Miss Mary Labarre. of th. federal Children's Bureau. Wash ington. D C, explained that the so Clal security act has faced the need of youth She pointed out the in adequate health services, the high mortality rates among infants and mothers, adding that only in recent yws has the federal government offered aid to youth similar to that extended in matching state funds road building and forest protec tion. Welfare leaders are in attendance upon the meeting from 22 counties in the district, the program, dealing with one of the greatest social pro grams ever undertaken in this nation, attracting minute attention Of everyone of them. Miss Mary Taylor, president of, the district group, presided at the morning session This afternoon, M?s I.avinia Engle. of the Social jSecunty Board educational division, |Washington City, is addressing the Iwelfaie leaders, her topic having to do w.th the Social Security Act A, large representation U priaent fori the address which is considered the main feature of the entire program.1 Superior Court? To Convene Monday The Martin County Superior Court will convene next Monday for the trial of civil caaes. Judge A. D. Folger, of Dobson, recently appoint ed to Ail the position made vacant by Judge Clayton Moore's resigns lion, coming here to preside over his third term of court. The court is scheduled to run dur ing the first three days of next week I only, recessing cm Wednesday tor I the Thanksgiving holidays. Work will be resumed on the following [Monday. Very few of the M cases on the calendar are considered o. any great importance. The $1,500 damage suit brought by Mn. C. O. Codard against Joe Lawson on Tues day of the second week will prob ably attract more witnaaaas and spectators than any other case on the Homestead Amendment Likely To Reduce Property Valuation In County One Million Dollars It Won't Be Long Now?Just 28 Christmas Shopping Days Time continues to chop awty the days, and now there are on ly 28 of them left in which near ly all of the 1938 Christmas shopping must be done. The wise shopper is giving the task some consideration As the Chi istmas season ap proaches, Williamston merchants are fast completing arrange ments for one of their busiest periods in years. Through long months these merchants have sc?cr" 'h? people of this sec ti r, making hardly enough to miei the costs that must be r.. .. in support of yours and 01 11 mmunity. At this time stmui-' our Ctartstmas shopping r? i ng full well that the sue ce % of each of us is measured to ?:me extent by the success of thi home merchant. To Resume Boundary Hearing December 21 Around 7.000 Acres Swampland All Now Involved in Dispute Martin County Scores Point At Hearing Held This Week by Commission Merlin County was reported to nave scored a partial victory in the, Beaufort-Martin boundary line dis pute last Wednesday, when Grimes & Grimes, representing Beaufort, admitted the location of the present line was correct from Turkey Swamp to a point on the Thorough tale Road, a few miles from Smith-1 wicks Creek church Darkness end ed the investigation by a special con.mission at that point late Wed nesday, the investigators setting De cember 21 as the date when the in xi'sligalion will be resumed and com pleted Continuation of oral evi dence wil be heard and possibly a visit will be made to the territory in question at that time, it was said. Very little difficulty was report ed in reaching an agreement as to the location of the boundary troni Turkey Swamp to- the point near Smith wicks Creek. However, the 'task now becomes greater in estab lishing the line from the point near Smithwicks Creek to the head of j Welch's Creek. In that "dismal" ' territory the main controversy iseems to rest. Martin County main tains that the line runs from the point near Smithwicks Creek to a 'cypress and then in a straight course to Welch's Creek. Beaufort claims the line follows a straight course from the point located near Smith wicks Creak. .'('Continued on page six) Peanuts Start Moving in Quantities During Week Peanuts started moving to mar ket this week in considerable quan tities, some of the buyers receiving several thousand bags in a single day, reports state. Prices are cen tered around the 3-ce'nt mark with an occasional purchase reaching 3 3-4 cents for the jumbo type of nut. TOTAL OF 9 CASES TRIED IN COUNTY COURT TUESDAY No Sessions During Next Few Weeks Account of Superior Court The county court called nine cases jTue day, and after clearing the docket adjourned until the second Tuesday in December, the superior, courjt holding forth during the nextl few weeks for the trial of civil cases! The proceedings Tuesday attracted; only a small number of spectators.} iand the cases were of recognized little importance. Charged with drunken automo pbtte^ driving. W B Gay lord appealed] to the higher courts from the judg rr.ent of $50 fine and costs. Golden Bryant was sentenced to' the roads for six months on a lar-, ceny and receiving charge James Dixon, charged with oper ating a motor vehicle without a drivj er's license and with reckless driv . ir g. was fined $25 and taxed with! the cost. John Price, charged with being tdrunk and disorderly, failed to an ,swer when called. j Jeff Slade, charged with an as ; I aull with a deadly weapon, was! [found not guilty. The case charging Daniel Williams' with an assault with a deadly weap . on was nol prossed. | William Brown, charged with car j tying a concealed weapon and with disorderly conduct, was fined $50 :?r.d taxed With the cost. ! The case charging N. B. Lilley with disorderly conduct was nol-, prossed. I Adjudged guilty of trespass and ;? tempted larceny, Herbert Brown. Jack l*anier, and James Walston' r'iciL sentenced to the rtnids, BroWnj : >r six months and the other two idefendants for three months each jThey appealed, the court requiring I bond in the sum of $200 for Brown1 ;and $100 each' of the other two I m Red Cross Campaign Is Far From Goal of $200 | No complete report had been filed [today, but it is generally believed I that the Red Cross membership drive in this county is far from its? goal as the end of the campaign nears. This county is asked to raise only (200 as its membership quota, but that figure will not be reached unless there is more interest shown in the movement between now and next Wednesday, when the drive is scheduled to end IVPA Project Near Here Is Approved by Officials A project lor clearing grounds for I the new highway radio station near here was aprpoved by the district and state offices of the relief organi sation this week, the work estimated to cost (026. Work on the project is expected to get underway immed lately. i Contracts for the construction of the radio base here are still pend ing, the State Division of Purchase and Contract postponing work until changes in building plans can be ef ftcted in an effort to hold the costs within certain figures, it Is under Preaching Mission Attracts Attention The National 1'reacliing Mission is expected to attract considerable i.tlention next week, when some of the greatest church leaders on both : ides of the Atlantic are to broad last at regular intervals during the period, according to Kev Charles H l.'lckey, of the Baptist State Con vention of North Carolina, who will Lo in charge of the program. While the main program does not1 get underway until Thursday cf next week, special broadcasts will be made beginning Sunday accord-I ing to the former local minister. The Fehedule is as follows: Sunday, November 22: 5.30 to 5:4, p m . Wedneaday, 5 to 5:15; Thurs day and Friday. 11:30 to 11:45 a. m. and 5 to 5:15 p. m.; Saturday, 10:45 to 11 a. m. and 5:43 to 6 p. m.; Sun day, 10 30 to 11 a. m. and 5:30 to f p. m Presbyterian Woman's Auxiliary Meets Tonight The circle meeting of the woman'.*1 Auxiliary of the local Praabytcrtan church will meet tonight at Mrs. B B Rogeraon't on Main Street at 7:30 P m. | Accurate Estimate Difficult Due To Method of Listing Review Shows Present Sys tem of Listing Is Likely To Be Revised new constitutional amend ment making possible a $1,000 maxi mum exemption on homestead list ings will reduce the present proper ty values by about one million dol lars in this county, a hurried review of the tax books shows. The method of listing property in this county makes it next to impossible to get any accurate estimate as to the ex tent property values will be affected under the new amendment. At the present time a man's home and a part or all of his farm are listed jointly, and in some the description does not mention a home owned Uy the taxpayer. Under ti e new amendment* tax ing officials will be forced to change their antiquated methods of listing taxes Values will have to be as signed to definite piece and certain types of property. In this connec tion probably more adequate de scriptions of all property will be necessary Until values are set up on the books for those homes owned and occupied by the taxpayer, it will be impossible to get a definite idea as to how much the homestead amendment will affect the total prop erty valuation in this county. A study of property owned by white property owners in Jamesville shows seven homes valued at less than $300. some of them ranging in value as low as $50. If the legisla ture arbitrarily sets the exemption figure at $300 for the first year, then property valued at $1,110 will be totally lust to taxation among white home owners in that district. In the class having a value be tween $301 and $750. there are a round 30 homes, and they carry a total value of $12,925. If the legis lature places the exemption figure the first year at $750. then the total (Continued on back page) Union Thanksgiving Service Next Week Fulolwing a long-established cus tom the church of Williamston will join in a Union Thanksgiving Serv ice next Thursday morning at 10 a. m in the Baptist church. The min ister who will bring the message will be announced later It is hoped that all the members of the various churches will use this outward means to show their inward grati tude to God for the many blessings of life ? Around 50 Game Law Violations Prosecuted Aithnugti the main hunting sea son is just getting underway, near ly 50 game law violations have been prosecuted in the county to far. Warden Abbitt said today. Maagr arrests are expected during the next few days, when large numbers of i.unters enter the woods and fields (or quail and rabbit John Best. Gibb ..and Herbert Spruill. apprehended by Deputy Warden Bland in the Hassell sec tion. were lined a total of $29.10 by Justice C. L Nelson there this week The three men were charged with hunting without license Hearing Held Thursday h For Alleged Hog Stealers Charged with stealing hogs from Farmer Herbert Manning in Griffins Township week before last J- P Puwell and Nicodemus Barrow, col ored. were given a hearing by Jus tice Hassell here yesterday, the judge releasing Powell and ordering Barrow held for trial in the super ior court under a $200 bond. Un able to raise that amount is spending time in jail. Repairs Being Made To Tar Heel Store Building Repair work on the Tar Heel Apartment building stores eras start ed this week, the owner to have the two stores ready for the Belk chain on or about the first of the year. It is umlei stood Youngs has surren dered its laaae oa one ad the two stores and will vacate by the ant ad