THE ENTERPRISE
VOLUME XL?NUMBER 12 Williamston. Martin County. North Carolina. Tuesday, February 9. 1937 ESTABLISHED 1899
LEGION OFFICERS
ATTEND DISTRICT
SESSION MONDAY
More Than Fifty Claims
Are Handled by Legion
Officers from District
Offering a very helpful aervice to
disabled veterans and others entitled
to compensation. American Legion
state officers reviewed 50 or more
claims from former soldiers in this
district at a meeting held m the
county courthouse here yesterday
A larger number of claims were re
ceived than the officers expected,
but each case was carefully handled
and those who are entitled to hos
be given due consideration by the
proper authorities in the legion or
ganization
Following the receipt of claims,
the legion held a meeting in the
court auditorium which was fea
tured by addresses by Fred Stubble
field. executive secretary of the na
tional rehabilitation committee of
the legion, and State Service Officer
Jack P. Lang and Department Com
mander Wiley M. Pickeys, on his
tour of the districts. All posts in
the district were represented ex
cept Hertford.
Last evening, the legionnaires and
members of the district auxiliaries
enjoyed supper and an impromptu
program in the legion hall.
Number Arrested
Here Late Sunday
WilKamston's police force was
swamped with calls Sunday evening
about 8 o'clock, the night shift mak
ing six arrests almost within an
hour Eli and Arthur Evans and
James Slade were jailed for a mur
derous attack on Lazarus Williams,
deaf mute, at their home down the
river hill. Joe Phelps. Iver Hedge
peth and Joe Nathan, charged with
being drunk, were arrested when
they were alleged to have attempt
ed to break into the home of Mollie
Jacobs, colored, on Railroad Street
Williams was cut in the back,
the knife blade reaching almost to
his heart. His condition is critical
Unable to talk and too weak to
write, Williams has not explained
his side of the fight during which
he was cut. The trio maintain Wil
liams chased them home with a
stick, and they turned on him with
a knife.
State Legislature
Now. in Sixth Week
Opening its sixth week yesterday.
now considering changes in the e
lection laws of a more or less reform
nature, a new set-up for the high
way commission, special security
and aid for the aged and dependent
children with public interest center
ing on a hearing on the liquor ques
tion in Raleigh Thursday.
The proposed bill that has reform
of election laws as its aim would
take the election of judges and so
licitors out of the ballot box and
place it in convention: change the
day for holding primaries from Sat
urday to first Tuesdays; provide
new ways of marking a ticket, and
allow markers for disabled persons,
illiterates and others who want
markers "for any good reason"; re
quire registration of absentee vot
ers and their ballots with name of'
raters and a serial number in a
book to be made a public record;
and order a new registration of
voters before the next State prim
?*T
The reorganization bill for the
highway commission provides ten
districts with a commissioner from
each district.
Local Church To Observe
World Day of Prayer
World Day of prayer will be ob
served in the local Qgutian church
Friday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. A
cordial invitation is extended every
one to attend the special prayer
Infant Son of Mr. and Mrs.
Modlin Died Last Evening
The seven-weeks-old son of 1
and Mrs. Willie Modlin died at the
home of his parents in Jamesville
last night at t o'clock from an at
tack of pneumonia. The child had
ill only a very short time:
this afterimon at 3:30 o'clock at the
home.by Rev. W. B. Harrington. In
terment was in the Gardner
?eey. am
Liquor Sales First 17
Months Are $180,000
[ SCHOOLS CLOSED )
Ma; in reopeninc ot
at Oak City, Hamilton.
Mart last. Ike authorities
plan to itipcu the plants next
Mandsy. Jamesville. now claw
ed, plans to renew next Monday
and pstoihlt before that time.
Farm Life, dosed yesterday,
plans to start class work to
ty are rswtinning operations.
County Ministers on
Record Against Bill
For County Option
Dry Leaders Will Circulate
Petition in This County
Beginning Today
By Rev. Z. T. FIEFHOFF
The Martin County Ministers As
sociation. meeting in Robersonville
Monday, had its attention called to
the fact that there is a belief in the
minds of many of the leading citi
zens of the county that the minis
ters of the county are satisfied with
the present County ABC control of
whisky While in session the Asso
ciation unanimously voted its dis
satisfaction of the present method
of control and wishes further to say
that it has never been satisfied with
this method
During its session. Mrs. V A.
Ward, of Robersonville. who is a
member of the state advisory board
of the United Dry Forces of North
Carolina brought a petition before
the ministers and asked for their
endorsement of the petition. The
association approved the petition,
which , is to be circulated through
out the county bv interested persons.
The petition reads as follows:.
"To the Hon. R. L Coburn and
?he Hon. W B Rodman, district
senators, and to the Hon. Hugh G.
Horton. county representative, in
the legislature assembled
"We. the undersigned citizens of
Martin County (21 years of age or
above) do most earnestly oppose the
present system of county liquor con
trol and do most respectfully re
quest you. our honorable represen
tatives. to vote against the county
option liquor bill adopted by the
house, or any other legislation pro
moting the manufacture and sale of
intoxicating liquor (except for me
dirinal and scientific purposes)."
The ministerial association urgent
ly requests all Christians and other
citizens of the county interested in
signing this petition to do so when
presented to them and in case it is
not presented to write to Mrs. V. A
Ward at Robersonville. N. C . a card
or letter advising her to add your
name to the list.
Accepts Position With
Local Firm; Sells Grocery
Accepting a position recently with
the Standard Fertilizer Company,
Dallas Frank today sold his Sani
tary Grocery to the Meessrs. Mc
Clees. of Columbia The business
transfer will be publicy announced
shortly, it is understood.
Two Martin Youths Join
The U. S. Army Recently
Two Martin County boys, Leslie
Bullock and Dalburgh Riddick, of
Eveietts. applying for admission in
the army two weeks ago, have suc
cessfully passed their entrance ex
aminations and are now at Fort
Meyer. Va.
J. & W. Timber
Sold Saturday
Timber rights on a considerable
portion of the old J. and W. tract
of land in Jamesville and Griffins
Township were sold last Saturday
by R. G. Hancock to W. M Bing
ham. of Asheboro. The deed calls
for all timber in exces* Of 8 Inches
in diameter, the title of the land re
maining in the hands of L. A.
Thompson. Chicago man
The purchase price of the timber
rights could not be learned, some
estimating that possibly $30,000 was
paid
According to unofficial informa
nt or near the tiro
Increase in Profits
And Sales Shown in
Final Quarter 1936
More Than $23,000 Turned
Into County's General
Fund To Date
Supported by a slight increase in
sales, profits from the sale of legal
liquor in the four stores in this
county last quarter reached a new
high level, Chairman V. J. Spivey
turning over to the county treasurer
for the general fund a total of $11,
442.42 a few days ago. Profits for
the period were approximately $2,
000 greater than for the three
months ended on December 31, 1935.
the sales for the last quarter exceed
ing those for the fourth quarter in
1935 by $6,000.
Since starting operation in this
county on July 19, 1935, the county
control board had sold, up to the
first of this month, $180,200.30 worth
of liquor. The store at Williamston,
with sales amounting to $97,136.11,
led the county, followed by Rober
sonville, with 47.432.70; Jamesville,
with $19,806 56; and Oak City, with
$15,806.56 Profits for the period be
ginning July 19, 1935. to the first of
this month amounted to $38,019.40.
The control board holds approxi
mately $15,000 of this amount for
operating or working capital, the
remainder. $23,019.40. having been
turned over to the county general
fund. The law enforcement fund,
created by a specified percentage of
the profits, now shows a balance of
nearly $1,000
Total cost of sales, that is the
amount paid liquor manufacturers,
are placed at $115,672.91, present in
ventories representing approximate
ly $17,148.22 in cash. Liquor costs
average about two-thirds of the
gross income from the sales, the
net profits ranging around. 25 per
cent.
Operating expenses have re
mained fairly constant and average
around $3,500 a quarter The oper
ating and administrative costs for
the entire time the stores have been
in operation amount to approxi
mately $21.167 56. this amount in
cluding salaries for six regular em
ployees and members of the control
board.
Total sales and profits by quarters
from the time the stores were opened
in July, 1935, to the first of this
year are;
Quae. End'g
Sales
Profits
Sept 30, '35
$ 22.249 35
$ 2,743.11
Dec 31. '35
38,500.42
9,76649
Mar 31, '36
25,274.96
4,759.91
June 30, '36
21,584.05
3,425.70
Sept. 30, '36
27,864.59
5,643.05
Dec. 31, '36
44,727.00
11,661.14
Totals
$180,200 37
$38,019.40
Killer Returned
Here For Courts
Oliver Grimes, wanted for the
murder of Richard Smith in this
county 14 years ago, was brought
here last evening from Philadelphia
by Sheriff C. B Roebuck and placed
in jail to wait trial in the superior
court next month.
Extradition papers were executed
by the governor of this State and
Pennsylvania promptly, but Grimes
made every effort to block his re
turn. A Philadelphia judge signed
the necessary papers after Grimes
admitted his identity and the shoot
ing that cost Smith his life.
Sheriff Roebuck left here Sunday
evening, taking a train out of Rocky
Mount, and was back early last
nigni.
Grimes' crime career was brought
to light when he told his common |
Jaw wife of the shooting and she
reported him to the police follow-!
ing a family quarrel.
?
Group I Bankers To Hold
Meeting Here February 22
Group One of the North Carolina
Bankers' Association wilt hold its
annual meeting here the 22nd of
this month, it was decided follow
ing a meeting of the executive com
mittee here last Friday.
A large meeting is expected, C.
D. Carstarphen, cashier of the
Branch Banking and Trust Com
pany here, said. An interesting
program is now being prepared for
the meeting Mrs. Carstarphen said
today.
LUKE ROBERSON
DIES AT PARMELE
HOME SUNDAY
Native of Williams Town
ship, Was One Time
Deputy Sheriff
Luke L. Roberson. one of Martin
County's oldest and most highly re
spected citizens, died at his home in
Parmele last Sunday afternoon, fol
lowing a long period of declining
health. He would have been 80
years old at his next birthday
The son of the late Nicholas and
Nellie Ward Roberson. he was born
in Williams Township, this county,
where he spent his early life on the
farm, laying a foundation of honesty
and friendliness that characterized
his walk through life to its end. Mr.
Roberson was a gentleman of the
old school, and placed a high value4
on the better things in life, and this
county has produced few more hos
pitable men than he was.
Quitting the farm years ago, Mr.
Roberson moved to Williamston and
served as deputy under the late
Sheriff J. C. Crawford. About 25
years ago he moved to Parmele
where he made his home until his
death.
Funeral services were conducted
Monday afternoon by Elder Wm. E
Grimes at the late home at 2:30 o'
clock, interment following in the
New Cemetery, Robersonville
Besides his wife. Miss Bcttie
Green before her marriage, he
leaves five children, Mrs. E. E. Ed
wards, of Snow Hill; Nicholas Rob
erson, of Parmele; Mrs. B. F. Man
jning, of Parmel^; Stephen L Rober
son. of Roanoke Rapids, and Wil
liam K. Roberson. of Richmond, and
eleven grandchildren.
Min G. Wynn Dies
Suddenly Todav
Min G. Wynn, 53-year-old farmer,
died suddenly at his home near
Spring Green in Poplar Point Town
ship this morning, the apparent yic
tim of a heart attack. Mr Wynn
had worked in the preparation of a
tobacco plant bed yesterday after
noon and retired in his usual health I
last night, it is understood.
The son of the late State and
Patsy Wynn. he was born in Cross
Roads Township where he spent his
early life. He moved from there
to Robersonville, settling three
years ago in the Spring Green sec
tion of this county.
Besides his wife, Miss Flossie !
Leggett before marriage, he leaves .
seven children, Sylvester, Beulah, I
Nellie, Allie Mae, Pauline. Mack
Gilbert and Doris Wynn, and two
brothers, Will Wynn, of Williams
ton, and Pat Wynn. of Henderson.
and one sister. Mrs D B. Lanier, of
Greenville.
Funeral services had not been
definitely completed at noon today,
but the last rites will probably be
held tomorrow afternoon at the late
home
Farm Life School
News of Interest
Starting classes in piano, violin
and banjo the first of last month.
Miss Melba Russ. of Washington,
now has 30 pupils enrolled in the
Farm Life district, Principal C. B.
Martin reported yesterday.
During the first four months of
the term, 23 children moved out of
the Farm Life district, a section
where, as a rule, very little mov
ing is reported. The number of pu
pils moving into the district dur
ing the period was not given
The boys' and girls' basketball
teams are ready for the county
tournament opening in Williamston
Thursday evening of this week, and
they will be on hand promptly if
the roads are passable.
Bad roads in the district duriDg
the past few days, made necessary
the closing of the school yesterday
and today, but class work gets un
derway again tomorrow morning,'
Principal Martin said.
The school has raised a consider-,
able sum for flood sufferers, and
the contributions will be acknowl
edged shortly.
Masons Will Hold Big
Meeting Tonight at 7:30
Skewarkee Lodge of Masons will
hold its regular meeting tonight at
the usual time, it was announced by
the master, James C. Manning, this
morning. This will be the last meet
ing to be held that figures ill the]
attendance contest which has been
in progress since Navember.
J. F. Criswell Explains Methods
By Which Soil Conservation Plan
Will Be Administered This Year
Basketball Tourney for High
Schools of County Is Scheduled
Five .schools will be represented
in the Martin County basketball
tournament to get underway in the
Williamston gymnasium Thursday
evening at 7 o'clock, athletic direc
tors announced this week. The semi
finals and finals wil be held Satur
day evening
The Bear Glass and Farm Life
girls open the play Thursday eve
ning at 7 o'clock, followed by a
match between the Williamston and
Jamesville sextets. Winners of the
Jamesville-Williamston match meet
Robersonvflle ITie following night,
and the winners of the Bear Grass
Farm Life game will meet the win
ners of the semi-finals with Rober
[ sonville.
Robe rsonville and Farm Life boys
meet Thursday night, the winners
I to meet Bear Grass on Friday. James
yille and Williamston play Friday
night. the winners to go to the finals
with the winners of the Bear Grass
send finals.
j The finals open at 7:30 Saturday
night, the admission each evening
! being 15 and 25 cfeftts.
Bear Grass Seeking
Hard-Suri'aced Road
Delegation Is Likely I
To Go Before State
Body in Ft nv Days
Bear Grass Not Impressed
With Recommendations
Made by Board
Traveling in mud knee deep, citi
zens of Bear Grass were here yes
terday planning to send a delegation
before the State Highway-Public
Works CoiTTfftJssion in the interest of
a surfaced road from Bear Grass to
U S. Highway 17. Just how many
the delegation will include and when
an appearance before the comrnis
sion will be scheduled could not be
learned. It is likely the claim will
be pushed within the next few days
Action by the Martin Commis
sioners at their recent meeting is
said to have beenw a bit disappoint
ing to the Bear Grass citizenship
who will ask that their claim be
considered along with those previ
ously made by delegations from tin
Farm Life area. The commissioners
went on record at their regular
meeting this month petitioning tin
commission that when any further
road surfacing is done in this coun
(y thai it be done in GiifTins Town
ship. This recommendation was
supported by the fact that Griffins
Is ihe only district m the county
without a foot of hard-surface road
in it. but aside from that the two
districts, as well as the Hassell sec
tion. have strong claims for consid
erations.
Fate played these three districts
a bad deal lit is believed that had
Mr "Jeffries Wntimicd~~m the ''ig"
way commission chairmanship thai
all three roads would have been
surfaced before this time. It is ?
known fact that the three roads
one from Bear Grass to Highway 17.
one from Hassell to N. C. 125, and
one from Farm Life to Holly Springs
?were on the map in the order giv
en here, and were to have received
attention some time ago. Contracts
were being considerd at one time,
hut in the shufTle at Raleigh follow
ing Mr Jeffries' retirement, the pro
gram went helter-skelter, atid it li
not certain that the commission even
knows there is a mud path leading
fiom Bear Grass, one fr?.m the Farm
Life section, and one out of Has
sell, though delegation after dele
gation appeared before the authori
ties with claims far more justifiable
than the big hold-up on Albemarle
Sound.
Complete facts found by the road
claim commission have not been re
leased, but, if their recommenda
tions are carried out, Martin County
is entitled to one of the biggest road
building programs in years. One of |
the recommendations of the fact
find commission, it will be remem
4?ered, wea to equalize the debt doe
counties by furthering the highway
program in those counties.
Bear Grass Girls and Boys
Win Three Games In Row
Bear Grass added two victories
to its list last week, defeating Wil
liamston 48 to 13 and turning back
Roper 34 to 31. While the boys
captured the two games, the Bear
Grass girls won over Roper 38-11
Rawls, Rogers, White, Rogerson and
Raw Is featured in the games.
SEVERAL HURT IN
ACCIDENT NEAR
MILL INN MONDAY!
Hit-and-Run Drivers Take
Three Lives In Section
During Week-end
Several people were injured, none
thought seriously, when two cars
collided at the Old Mill. Inn on the
Washington road yesterday after
noon. H J. Benton, of Newport
News, suffered a severe arm injury,
probably a fracture, and his two
grandsons were hurt, one on the
neck and the other had nd- "n
face.
The Bentons were traveling to
ward Washington and crashed into
Fawn Coffield's car as it was being
turned around by Caroline Faulk,
local colored woman Coffield and
the driver of his car were not hurt
Both cars were badly damaged.
Coffield accepted the responsibil
ity. sending the Bentons on to Wil
mington in another car and agree
ing to pay all damages
Several hit-and-run drivers oper
ated on the highways in this section
during the week-end, but none in
this county?Hoy Haul, 2W years old.
vs as killed almost instantly near
Plymouth when struck hv ;i truck
there Saturday evening. An arrest
in the case is expected momentarily,
Patrolman Hunt said Two othei
people were killed by hit-and-run1
drivers during the period, one near
Washington \nd another over in
Pitt Coimiyr reports received here
stated. \ !
One of thc,.most horrible accidents
and the worst airplane crash in the
history of aviation in this state was
reported Sunday afternoon near I
Louisburg Four people! traveling I
I in a private plane from Miami?to-j
Kentucky, were killed, th'eir bodies'
being mangled beyond recognition
Local All-Stars Add Two j
Victories To List Recently i
The Jocal all-stars added twoi
more victories to their list over the:
week-end by defeating Washington's'
strong town team at the local gym
Friday evening and the Bear Grass
Team 45 to 10.
Anderson with 14 points and
!>i!ton Cobb with 12 featured fori
the locals in the 42 to 16 win over '
Washington. The Saturday after |
noon game with Bear Grass saw a |
division of honors among all the j
players. Manager Price using all I
the squad in the contest.
Lenten Services In Local
Church Tomorrow 10:30
Wednesday. February 10, marks
the beginning nf Lent An Ash
Wednesday service will be held at
the Church of the Advent at 10:30
I
a m.
~ Oh Thursday and Fridays during'
Lent, the services will be at 5 p m.
The Thursday services will be de
voted to a "school of prayer " The
Friday services will feature a junior
choir of over twenty children's
voices. The subject of the Friday
services is missions.
Bishop Oarst will make his an
nual visit on March 7 and confirma
tion classes will start during this
week
Explanation Heard
By iNuiiiIht Farmers
At Meeting Saturday
Farmers Will Be Notified
Direct of the Minimum
Plan Requirements
"We are not telling the farmer to
raise so much of this or that crop,
irat-we are telling him how to ar
range his farm program to partici
pate in the benefits," J. F. Criswell,
of the State Extension Service, said
in a clear-cut explanation of the
1937 soil conservation program be
fore a large number of interested
farmers in the county courthouse
last Saturday afternoon. A splen
did idea of the pregrarfa was gained
from Mr. Criswell's talk, and there
is no doubt but that the soil con
servation system gained in great
favor among Martin County farm
ers
The backbone of the 1937 program
icmams unchanged. Mr. Criswell
said in his frank discussion, explain
ing that u could not meet the needs
of every individual farmer, but that
it represented well agriculture as a
whole, especially as to a sound pro
gram to be followed year after year
in the future.
Two types of payments-?diversion
and soil-building?were explained.
Diversion payments are made pos
sible when the farmer diverts soil
depleting crops into conserving
crops, the speaker stating that each
acre of soil-depleting crops must be
offset by an acre of soil-conserving
crops, thai any additional acreage
planted to soil-building crops would
entitle the farmer to soil-building
payments
Diversion payrrtcnts will remain
ion-hanged, but the extent of par
ticipation ip tobacco will be reduced
from 30 to 25 per cent of the base
and peanuts from 20 to 15 per cent
of the base, the extent to which cot
ton will participate remaining at 35
per cent of the base
The soil conservation program is
designed for building up the soils
of America, and it is one for the
people and one that will work. Cris
v\efl said Its requirements are rea
sonable. but each requirement must
be met if the farmer is to partici
pate in the benefits, the speaker
pointing out that manv Martin farm
ers would not get checks for 1936,
because they failed !<> plant conserv
ing imps cieii alter ihey naa re
duced their acreage to so^l-deplet
ing crops
The program, while quite simple,
i is extensive in that it provides so
many things, and the farmer will,
no doubt, find it advisable to con
fer with the office of the county
agent to make certain that his indi
vidual case meets with the program
requirements Provisions are made
for doubling up crops, the speaker
| explaining that 10 acres of corn with
; soybeans planted 111 between the
jcnrn rows would count as 10 acres
I of soil depleting crops and 5 acres
of soil-conserving crops. Example
after example in this connection was
j cited, the speaker explaining that
when cotton was planted in 7-foot
rows with potatoes in between the
count would be divided, but if the
rows were less than 7 feet apart the
count would be all cotton and one
half potatoes.
! Farmers who have winter soil
building crops should notify a town
ship committeeman or have at least
two farmers witness the crops be
fore turning them under this spring,
Crisweil said
j Division of payments was ex
plained. Mr. Crisweil said that for
loot ton and peanuts, 37 1-2 per cent
of the benefit would go to the own
jer of the land. 12 1-2 per cent to
the owner of work stock and equip
ment, the remaining 50 per cent to
be divided as the crop is divided.
For tobacco and general base crops,
the division allots 12 per cent of the
benefit payment to land, 15 per cent
to stock and equipment and 70 per
cent to be divided as the crop is di
vided. Crisweil explaining that to
bacco and other general base crops
required more labor than peanuts
and cotton. Soil-buiiding payments
go to the one bearing the expense,
|or in proportion to the participation
in expense by landlord and tenant.
Farmers will receive direct no
tices from the office of the county
agent setting out the minimum re
quirements that must be met fog the
farmer to receive the maximum ben
effts under the program.