North Carolina Newspapers

Your Old, Broken, Discarded Toys Will Help Bring Christmas To the Poor?Call 46 for a Messenger THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 97 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, December 4, 1936 ESTABLISHED 1899 COUNTY TO HAVE BUT ONE OFFICER FOR FEW HOURS All Terms Expire at Mid night Sunday Except Clerk of Court From Sunday midnight until the oaths of office are administered 9 or 10 hours later, Martin County will have only one officer, techni cally speaking. The terms of office for all county officers, with one ex ception, that of the clerk of court, expire at midnight, December 6, au tomatically throwing out the sher iff, register of deeds, treasurer, cor oner, judge and commissioners for several hours, or until they take the oaths of office on the morning of the seventh Now, if there was a "hot" tax payers' league in the county, action might be taken to "dock" the pay of the boys, but the few hours off duty will not amount to much, and nothing will be done about "pay docking," to be sure. Just what the officers can do when technically reduced to plain Mr. Citizen is not definitely known. It is a fact that the sheriff cannot leg ally serve a civil paper from mid night Sunday until he subscribes to the oath of office the following morning. Criminals can be run down during the particular period by the officer only after being so di rected by a justice of the peace The present board of commission ers will not meet as such next Mon day in strict interpretation of the law, it is understood. However, as citizens they will meet more out of sympathy for their successors and to render what aid they can in start ing the new officers off right. The whole matter could be cleared up by the present commissioners and other officers coming down just before midnight and turning the government over to the new officers just as they subscribe to the oath always been the custom to give the people a rest during the hours from midnight until about 10 the next morning once every two years, and there is no reason now to alter this fine old custom. 1 Mrs. Whitehurst Dies in Oak City Mrs. Daisy Whitehurst, wife of J. S. Whitehurst, died at her home in Oak City yesterday afternoon at 5 o'clock from an illness of about one year's duration. Mrs. White hurst, a native of Edgecombe Coun ty, was 46 years old. She married Mr. Whitehurst nine years ago, and moved to this county four years ago to make her home in Oak City. Her mother lives in Tar boro, and she also leaves one broth er, Chas. Tripp, of Roanoke Rapids, and one sister. Mrs. Stella Taylor, of Tarboro, and eight step-children, Lonnie, Jessie. Joseph, Mary ai Gladys Whitehurst, Mrs. Bessie Carlisle and Mrs. Francis White head, all of Leggetts. and Mrs. Flos sie Williard, of Kinston. Funeral services are being con ducted at 1 o'clock this afternoon at the home by her pastor, Rev. Fred Hardy, of Washington. Interment will follow in the Pitt Cemetery in Pitt County. e ? Final Rites Today For Mrs. Newman Mrs. Minerva Newman, widow of Samuel Newman, late at Jamseville Township, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. S. Hardiaon. on Simmons Avenue here yesterday morning at S o'clock following a long period of declining health. Mrs. Newman had been afflicted by blindness for years. Mrs. Newman lived all her life in JamesvUle until about fiva years ago when she moved here to make her home with her daughter. One son, Frank Newman, of Wil liamston, and two daughters, Mrs. Lizzie Hardiaon, of Williamston. and Mrs. Cynthia Simpson, of Dardens, survive She also leaves 14 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Funeral services are being eon ducted this afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Cedar Branch Baptist Church by Rev. W. B. Harrington. Inter will foUew in the churchyard Colored Farmer Loses $228, Fruits of Years Work, Here Tragedy overtook John Crom well, colored farmer living near here, yesterday when he lost $218 in cash on the local Main Street be tween the Branch Banking & Trust Company and the Atlantic Hotel corner. Selling his crop of peanut, the farmer cashed his check at the bank and started to settle all his out standing debts, knowing that there would be a little left to buy a few things for his home this Christmas. With tears in his eyes and his nerves shattered, the farmer reported the calamity, urging that an appeal be made for the return of his fortune. It is quite apparent that regard less of who the finder may be, he can have not greater need for it than Cromwell himself has. His money lost, and with pros pects of the bleakest kind awaiting him this joyous season, Cromwell still possesses a hope in his mind that the finder will remember him in this, his trying hour. Cromwell has ten children. I HOLIDAY LIGHTS v Thr Christmas spirit breaks forth in a big way here this eve vari-colored lights are turned on in the business districts. Work men completed the installation of the lighting decoration this afternoon, and from now until about the tost of the year, the glowing lights will add to the in Williams ton's Public and private decorations are being planned on a rather extensive scale here this year. The City Hall and Courthouse "gangs" are said to be anxious ly watchinc any step the other may lake, and some interesting competition with bright effects is expected between now and SWINE-BREEDING ram TOPIC AT FARMERS' MEET H. W. Taylor, Swine Spec ialist. Speaker at Watts Theatre on 9th Large numbers of Martin County farmers are expected to attend a meeting in the Watts Theatre, Wil hamston, next Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock for a study of swine raising methods, including manage ment of brood sows, feeding and pasturage, it was announced this week by County Agent Thomas B. Brandon. The school, lasting for a comparatively short lime, is being scheduled by the county agent's of fice in cooperation with the State Extension service, and farmers will find it very profitable to attend. H. W. Taylor, extension swine specialist, the man who bought thousands of feeder pigs in the drought areas of the west several weeks ago, will conduct the meet ing. Interesting discussions are planned, the agent said. A main feature of the program will be a moving picture showing "How to Grow Thrifty Pigs." No admission fee is asked, and a spec ial invitation is extended every farmer in the county to attend. Tests have proven that best re sults in hog raising are obtained when the fanner maintains his own brood, sows. County Agent Brandon said. "And the meeting in the Watts Theatre will deal mostly with that phase of hog raising," he added. $5,000 Paid Members Of Christmas Club Conducting a Christmas savings club during the past twelve months, the Guaranty Bank and Trust Com pany here is paying out approxi mately $5,000 to its club members this week. Cashier D. V. Clayton stating that the amount was dis tributed to 73 local people. It is needless to say that the $5,000 will come in quite handy, no doubt, for those who had enough foresight IS months ago to expect that another Christmas was coming and who had the courage to place aside a small amount each week. The bank will conduct another club tor the 1937 Christmas, and Mr. Clayton is expectijng all of his old members back and a number in of about 100 percent. Savings each week, starting will he returned to the County Officers Begin Terms Next Monday Only Changes Will Take Place in Make Up of County Board C. Abram Roberson and R. A. Haislip Succeed Col train and Taylor The installation of officers for the coming term wil feature the activi ties in the Martin County court house next Monday, when five com missioners, recorder's court judge, sheriff, register of deeds, and cor oner subscribe to the usual oath be fore Clerk of Court L. Bruce Wynne. The installation ceremony will be very short and without pomp. Or dinarily so little attention is given the matter that it has been known for some of the officers to forget to appear and subscribe to the re quired oath at the appointed time. In this connection, the records show that the commissioners on at least one occasion in recent years failed to appoint a prosecuting attorney for the county court. However, the installation program next Monday is assured sufficient interest to at tract all who have been elected, and a definite program of duties, includ ing appointments, has been outlined for the commissioners. Several of the officers starting a new term next Monday will prob ably subscribe to the oath of office at different times, but the commis sioners and register of deeds are scheduled to take their oaths at a joint visit to the clerk court. The new term gets underway with only two changes in the county's of ficial family, Messrs. C. Abram Rob erson and R. A. Haislip succeeding Messrs. Joshua L. Coltrain, of Wil liams Township; and V. G. Taylor, of Cross Roads, retiring members of the board of commissioners. The complete elective personnel of the county government after the instal lation ceremony Monday will be as follows: Sheriff, Charles B. Roebuck; treas urer, C. A. Harrison; register of deeds, J. Sam Getsinger; judge county court, Herbert O. Peel; cor oner, S. Rome Biggs; county com missioners,' J. E. Pope, C. C. Flem ing, R. L. Perry, R A. Haislip, and C. Abram Roberson. The board of commissioners is los ing two able members in the retire ment of Messrs. Coltrain and Tay (Continued on page six) Red Cross Drive Far From Quota The Red Crou membership drive was reported tar from its goal in this county today as the time for the canvass rapidly draws to a close. Several of the canvassers are yet to report their activities, and only a few of the schools have turned in donations, the county unit chairman said today. At the present time, $82.34 has been raised and turned in to the chairman. It is estimated thaUlata reports will increase the' amount to some over $100, or about| $100 less than the quota assigned the chapter. Names of members not previously reported are: J. E. King, W. I. Skin ner, Mrs. E. P. Cunningham, 8. Claude Griffin, Norman K. Harri son, Mr. Edwards. Prank's Sanitary Grocery, Mac Lamb, Mrs. Clayton Moore, Rev. J. H. Smith, Mrs. P. B. Cone, Mrs. S. W. Manning, Mrs. P. U. Barnes, Mrs. W. E. Old, Mrs W. S. Hunt, kfri C. G. Crockett; oth er mlacaHsneous contributions, 4$ cento. FARMERS AND BANKERS MEET HERE ON DEC 9 Dr. Dan H. Otis, of Madi son, Wis., Will Be Main Speaker at Meet Farmers and bankers of this sec tion will hoi da joint meeting in the Woman's Club Hall here next Wed nesday evening at 6:30 o'clock, it was announced today by C. D Car starphen. cashier of the Branch Banking & Trust Company The meeting^ arranged by the agricul ture committee of the bankers' as sociation. will promote a better un derstanding between banking and stress the need for more Grade A farmers in this section t Dr. Dan H. Otis, of Madison, Wis, will be main speaker at the meet ing. He is director of the American bankers' agricultural commission, and his address is looked forward to with much interest by leading farmers and bankers alike. Young Tar Heel farmers wil lalso have parts On the program, it was an nounced. The club hall will accommodate only a limited number of guests, and those farmers of this county who desire to attend the meeting are directed to any one of the four banks and amke reservations. Any farmer is invited to attend, but res ervations must be made not later than next Monday, it was explained. "The member of the bankers' ag ricultural committee will make a special effort to get the farmers in their districts to All out question naires by which they can be quali lied either as Grade A or Grade B farmers,'" T. B. Thigpen. chairman of the committee, said. "This year the questionnaires show the grade value of each question so that the farmers themselves can tell whether they will qualify for a rating of 75 to 90 so as to entitle them to Grade B, or from 90 to 100 to qualify them as Grade A farmers," he added. While Martin -Cnnnly _ prnhahly has a number of farmers eligible for high ratings, few have ever quali fied. The meeting is expected to create more interest in farmer rat ings and promote agriculture in gen eral. The meeting here next Wednesday evening is one of the two bjeing sponsored by the bankers' associa tion in this section of the state this year Weldon Man Finds Honest Man Here "Eureka," shouted Archimedes. theGreel^ of olden times, meaning he had found a method of determin ing the purity of gold And now Thurman E Williams. Weldon man. is shouting "Eureka." meaning he has found an honest man in this day and. time. Surely there are mil lions of honest men. but Mr. Wil liams, implement salesman, found one without intentionally hunting for him. Recently the salesman lost a poc ketbook in Williamston containing $100 cash and valuable papers, "and a few days later it was returned by Mr. Jack Daniel," Williams writes. "I appreciate very much this man's honesty and think he deserves recog nition." he continued. "I lost the pocketbook Thanksgiv ing Day, and it was sent to my ad dress, which was printed on an iden tiflcation card, by Mr. Daniel. And he refused to accept any cash re ward for finding and returning the pocketbook," Williams said in ex pressing the hope that such an hon est act would be given public recog nition. Critically Hurt in Car-Truck Crash William A. Jackson, 43-year-old white man of Plymouth, was criti! cally injured in an automobile -truck wreck near Dardens Wednes day noon, reports from a Rocky Mt. hospital, where he was entered, stat ing that it had been found necessary to amputate his left arm and that his condition today was very grave. Jackson was driving toward Wfil? liamston, when his car and a bottle drink truck, driven by Bill Daven pc-t, young white man of Washing ton, collided. Davenport escaped with minor injuries. The Jackson car was demolished. Following an investigation, the driver of the truck was exonerated of blame, it WW learned here today. County Board Will Perfect Its Organization at Meet Monday Holding their last meeting next Monday morning, the present Mar tin County Board of Commissioners WHI review current bills, handle any continued matters, and turn the duties of office over to their suc cessors, who will immediately go in to session to dispatch business on the calendar Other than perfecting an organi zation and the handling of routine matters, the new officers have very little work scheduled for consider ation at their first meeting. J Sam Getsinger, clerk to the board, said today. The first official act of the new officers will be the selection of their chairman. Commissioner J. E. Pope. who succeeds himself as a member of the board, is in line for that posi tion and he is almost certain to con tinue'as the Board's presiding offi cer. With the exception of about one "month in 1930, Mr. Pope has been a member or chairman of the board since 192ti Appointments will probably be considered after the board perfects its organization, present indications pointing to those of E. S. Peel as county attorney; W. Hubert Coburn as county prosecutor; and John W. Bland as county home superintend ent. Other employees of the coun ty np|H>inted by the commissioners do not complete their terms at this time, it is understood. Old Toy WillAdmit Ch i Idren To Movies Eight Local Finns Cooperating To Put On Show Phis Year Tickets Limited To 600; To Start Receiving Toys Next Monday Cooperating in the Chistmas Cheer campaign, the management of the Watts Theatre and several Williamston business houses will give a special show for all the kid dies of this community on Saturday morning of next week. December 12. at 10 o'clock. No cash admission will be charged, but each child at tending will be required to present a ticket showing that he has con tributed a discarded toy for distri bution among the needy children of mas. No established rule is set up as to the value of the toy. but those in charge trust the children will take into consideration the aim of the movement and donate accord ingly. The show has two purposes, one is to entertain all the children of the community, the other is to make possible some measure of hap piness for those who are not able to pay their way into a show at any time and who face the day of days barehanded, and in some cases even barefooted. The children are asked to look around their homes and lind some toy they are tired of and carry it either to Margolis Brothers' store, Davis' Pharmacy, Frank's Sanitary Grocery Store, or The- Enterprise office. A special ticket to the big toy show will be given in return. All children are directed to either one of the four places of business mentioned, carry their toys and get tickets early. Toys will be accept ed for the tickets beginning next [Monday. Only a capacity house will be admitted. Mr. Watts is booking an extra special program for the occasion, and children are urged to make their plans now to attend the show on Saturday morning, December 12, at 10 o'clock. The sponsors of the show, in ad dition to the firms mentioned, are Central Service Station, K. B. Craw ford, Insurance; Virginia Electric &' Power Company Tickets can be se cured only at Margolis Brothers, Da vis Pharmacy and Frank's Sanitary Grocery and Enterprise office. Come on, little folks, and let's make the Christmas Joy campaign a great success for the needy of the community this Christmas. Aged Negro Struck By Car Near Here i Abner Bennett, paralytic, and the I county'i No. 1 beggar. wm struck jandT knocked down by an automo i bile on Washington Street near the Columbian Peanut Co. plant here i last Wednesday about 6 o'clock. The old colored man. preferring to beg i for a living rather than enter the county home, was not badly hurt. Patrolman W. S. Hunt said follow ing an investigation of the accident. Bennett, his day of work over, was on his way to the home of a friend to spend the night when he hobbled into the middle of the road and into the path of a car driven by "Mrs N. M Mobley, of County. 17 SHOPPING DAYS I rhrutmas shopping in Wil liamston stores Ls already under nay on a very noticeable scale, tl oughtful purchasers taking pre caution to avoid the last-minute rush. Local stores hahve made extensive arrangements (or the advantage of their patrons this holiday srason. The town is fast taking on its Santa Claus at tire, and the stage ls all set for the one grrat season of all the year. To complete the task, to make every purchase you intend to make, there are only 17 more shuppmg days to do it in. Re member the home merchants first this Christmas season REGISTER DEEDS GROUP IN MEET HERE THIS WEEK Officers From 11 Counties Attend Session Held Last Tuesday Run-of-the-mill problems, fared al-| most daily in registers of deeds' of fices were discussed in a one-day j meeting of registers held in the courthouse here Tuesday of this week J Sam Getsinger, Martin County register of deeds, was host to the meeting, which was attended by registers from 11 counties. Dil lard S. Gardner, of the Institute of! Government, led the discussions.) which proved both interesting and instructive Statutes in connection with the of fice and duties of registers of deeds were reviewed, and systems for keeping records in the various Of fices were studied, Mr. Getsinger ex plaining that the records in thisi county were kept under one of the) best recognized systems in the state.) Experiences were exchanged, one! happening causing considerable laughter, according to reports from the meeting A colored couple in a county not so far away applied for a marriage license. The register of deeds was out of town, but the fee was left with the understanding that Die hook-up credentials would be mailed following his return. A chat tel mortgage was prepared for mail ing about the same time, the mar riage license going to the owner of the ?battel mortgage, and the mort gage going to the prospective groom. An old colored preacher, paying lit tle attention to the papers, proceed ed with the ceremony, had the wit nesses sign on some dotted lines. Returning the paper to the office for recording, as all marrying parsons asked if the license form had not been changed. The error was soon' mrrecwf, IM MUM 1ST holding KIs wife as a chattel the groom main tained possession of his bride with only the strings of pure and simple matrimony. Names of the registers attending the meeting are: J, C. Gaskins, of Pitt; J. C Spence, of Pasquotank; Miss M B Bunn, of Edgecombe; W. Sanfnrd Gregory, of Currituck; U S. Mi/elle, of Bertie; D. B. Spencer, of Pamlico, Mrs. Mary S. Cahoon, of Washington; H. V. Bateman. of Gates; I. W Davis, of Carteret; M L Bunch, of Chowan; an C. Powell, of Warren. PROCEEDINGS IN MARTIN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT $51,000 Damage Suit Grow ing Out of Auto Wreck Now Being Tried After spending the greater part of three days hearing the case of C M Minton against the Farmville Woodward Lumber Company, the Martin County Superior court final ly started its wheels turning rapid ly and disposed of eleven cases yes terday. Today the court is working on the $51,000 damage suit brought by Misses Helen Johnson, Louise Council and Cordel Daniel against W B. Kiker and L. C. Yount, of Rockingham County. The case is expected to last a greater part of the day. Judge A D. Folger, pre siding, stating that adjournment for the term would be in order fol lowing the disposal of the action. Misses Johnson and Council were critically hurt and Miss Daniel bad ly injured when the Ford coupe, driven by Miss Johnson, was claim ed to have been turned over as a result of the carelessness of B. C. Kirk, driver of the truck belonging To The defendants. The plaintiffs contend that they started to pass the defendants' truck and just as the right rear wheel of the car was opposite the left front wheel of the truek Kirk turned his machine to the left catching the truck bumper under the car fender and causing the coupe to turn over. The accident took place on the fifth of last Jan uary, near Hobgood Misses Council and Johnson are asking $25,000 each and Miss Daniel, $1,000. Attorney H. G. Horton is representing Miss Council and Attorney Elbert Peel is representing Misses Johnson and Daniel. Albion Dunn is defense at torney. The verdict in the Minton versus lumber company case favored the defendant, the court declaring the company of timber rights on certain Barber property Hr-WrBram* Town ship. An appeal to the higher court is considered likely, but as far as it could be learned today no notice had been filed. A $1,000 judgment was rendered the plaintiffs Garland, Russell and Claiborn Godard and Leroy Pitt and Robt. Harris against R. S. Ed mondson, Edgar Edmondson and W. W Taylor. Russell and Claiborn Godard and Robt. Harris were a warded $100 each, LeRoy Pitt, $500, and Garland Godard, $200. The (Continued on back page) To Start Wednesday Taking Applications For Soil Payments Applications Will Be Re ceived at All Towns In County Applications for soil conservation payments will be received in this county starting next Wednesday, ac cording to official announcement made this morning by Mr, T. B. Slade in the office of the county agent. Present plans call for a whirl wind sign-up for the money due under the soil conservation pro gram. the authorities arranging con venient stations over the county for the- program participants to apply for the payments. Cards will be mailed directly next Monday to all work sheet signers, directing them to their nearest station. The cards will carry the name of every farm er who must sign the application be fore payment is made. Mr. Slade said Applications win Do received at Robersonville, Everetts, Jamesville, Hamilton and Oak City during two days, after which time applications will be handled in the office of the county agent. Applications from far mers in Poplar Point, Bear Grass, ; Williams. Griffin* and Williamiton Townships will be receied in the office of the agent here. All work sheet signers are urged to apply for the payments as direct ed on the notification cards, the au thorities pointing out that a com plete sign-up rapidly effected will hasten the delivery of checks. Just when the money can be expected, the office was unable to say. Applications have bean delayed by a shortage of necessary forms, but arrangements are now complete for handling them, and the task should be nearly completed by the end of next wish