THE ENTERPRISE
VOLUME XLI?NUMBER 9 Williamston. Martin County, North Carolina. Tuesday. February 1.1938. ESTABLISHED *1899
Slot Machines Are
Now Operating In
Few County Stores
Second Hearing Scheduled
to Be Held in Raleigh
on Thursday
While their legality hangs fire in
the federal courts, slot machines or
"silent salesmen" or as some better
know them as "one-armed bandits"
are operating in a few places in this
county, according to information
coming ffom the sheriffs office to
day. Two of the machines were run.
ning full blast a few days ago in the
George Reynolds hotel and in a fill
ing station at the Jamesville-Wash
ington road intersections, reports
reaching the sheriffs office.
Faced with a restraining order.
Sheriff Roebuck reiterated today his
plan announced last week when he
explained that he would not con
fiscate a single one of the machines
or interrupt their operation until
^udge I. M. lfeekins. of the federal
courts, rescinds or cancels the in
junction. "As far as I am concerned,
they are being operated legally in
this county at the present time, but
if the order is vacated the machine
owners had better moved them in a
hurry." the officer said from his sick
bed this week.
Judge Meekins signed the injunc
tion week before last when the State
offered no defense. A hearing was
held in Washington last Friday af
ternoon at which time Attorney Gen
eral Seawell explained that he had
not been properly notified of the
hearing scheduled earlier before
Judge Meekins in Elizabeth City.
Considerable argument featured the
hearing last Friday, but Judge Mee
kins postponed a decision at that
time. Final argument will be made
in Raleigh on Thursday of this week
when the judge is expected to either
sustain the injunction or dismiss it.
Thomas Dixon, district court clerk,
points out that.the injunction only
enjoins the interference with the
business of the plaintiff in using the
machines in question for the sale of
candy mints, and did not protect the
use of th emachines of any gambling
purposes, but left the prosecution of
any abuses of the machines for gam
bling up to the local and State offi
cers.
To Formulate Rules
For County Tourney
The several high school athletic
coaches in the county are to meet in
the Wilhamston High School build
ing Friday afternoon of this week to
formulate rules and determine dates
for a county-wide basketball tourn
ey. Most of the schools are planning
to participate in the county champ
ionship contest, and they will be
represented in most cases by both
the boys' and girls' teams.
Coaches Martin, of JamesviHe, Kil.
gore, of Farm Life; Vann, of Bear
Grass; Edwards, of Williamston and
Leidy, of RobersonviUe. are expect
ed to attend the meeting. The Oak
. City High School will not participate
in the tourney, it is understood.
Several of the schools in the coun
ty are boasting able teams this year,
and a warmly contested tourney is
in the offing.
*
County Teachers To Get
Fifth Month Salaries
White teachers in the Martin
County schools will receive their
fifth month salaries within the next
day or two Checks for approximate
ly $11,000 are being drawn in the of
fice of the board of education today.
Salaries for colored teachers will be
paid next week.
\ COMMISSION
v. /
Three Critically Hurt
When Tank Explodes
Highwaymen Rob
Traveller Here
Held up by two colored men at
the intersection of the Jamesville
and Washington roads here at one
o'clock yesterday morning, a white
man whose name was given as Ange
was robbed of $47.00 in cash
Coming into Williamston on a late
bus from Elizabeth City. Mr Ange
walked to the road intersection and
was waiting to catch a ride to Plym
outh where he is employed by the
North Carolina Pulp comany While
waiting there two colored men ap
proached him and asked for a cigar
ette He willingly obliged, and the
cigarettes Tied Tuirdly pasaed hands
when a pistol was stuck to his back,
the men directing him to walk down
Sycamore street toward the munici
pal water plant. Just before reach
ing there, he was told to turn and
cross the municipal tennis courts.
From there he was marched to a
dark spot along the Plymouth rail
? oad branch and robbed While his
life was threatened, he was not
harmed.
Police were notified, and they
called bloodhounds from the prison
camp, the dogs losing the track near
Roberson's slaughter house, near
the fairgrounds. Poller worked on
the rase all day yesterday and part
of last night without success.
Raise $100.40 At President's
Ball Last Friday Night
?
The President's Ball here last Fri
day night netted $100.40 for carrying
on the fight against infantile paraly
sis, Chairman L T. Fowden announc
ing today that the charity event re
ceived a stronger support this year
than it did last.
One-half of the proceeds go to the
national fund, and the remainder
will be used in this community.
Reports from over the country
state that the chanty events are re
ceiving a better support than they
did a year ago
0
To Undergo Operation
In Washington Hospital
W. T Padgett, critically injured
the early part of last December by
gunshot, will undergo a major op
eration in a Washington hospital
some time this week, reports receiv
ed from the hospital last evening
| stated. His bladder shot away. Pad
| gett will be given one possibly from
a sheep, it was unofficially learned.
The man. shot by Clayton Beecham,
I is getting along unusually well at
' the present time.
Open Season Again for State,
District, and County Politics
With the primaries just four
months off, state, district and coun
ty politicians are now opening the
season with their candidacies, inter
est to the voters of this section cen
tering at the present on a promised
senatorial contest in the second dis
trict. No candidacies for other of
fices except a judgeship have been
filed in this district or county up to
the present time, but an interesting
list is said to be in the making.
O. U Williams. Hyde County attor
ney. announced from his home in
Swan Quarter a few days ago ihat
he would be a candidate for State
senator from this. Use second sena
torial district. Wantn W. Watson,
chairman of the Hyde County board
the house. Is considering withdraw
ing from the house race and an
nouncing for the senate. Reports,
earning from unofficial sources, in
dicate that Julius Dees. Pamlico at
torney and an unsuccessful candi
date in the race for the senate from
this district two years ago. will again
enter the race And then W. B Rod
man, of Beaufort. Is espected to
re-election.
In the county, terms of all officers
expire this year with the
of register of
bees on the board of education No
Paul Clemmons And
Three Sons, Colored,
Are Badly Scalded
Star Light Inn Wrecked by
Explosion Here Last
Friday Night
Paul Clemmons. 50-year-okl color
ed man. is in a Washington hospital
and not expected to live and his two
sons. Elisah. 10. and William Har
dy. 16. are in a critical condition as
a result of a water tank explosion in
the Star Light Inn on Washington
Street, near the Columbia Peanut
Company plant, here last Friday
night at 8:35 o'clock. His body scald
ed from the neck almost to his feet,
the father was reported yesterday
to be getting along as well as could
be expected unofficial reports stat
ing. however, that there was littly
hope for his recovery. He is in a hor
rible condition and last reports
from the hospital stated that he was
suffering great pain. Scalded on
various parts of his body and injur
ed by broken timbers, the youngest
ron was removed to the hospital
Saturday Although his condition is
critical, he is expected to recover.
The other boy. holes knocked in his
head and chest, is getting along very
well at the Clemmons home on Syca
more street here. He was not badly
burned
The Star Light Inn, a source of
trouble for police during the past
several years until Clemmons took
over its operation last Wednesday
was wrecked. So complete was the
was planted in the building. The
foundation timbers of the small one
story building were torn down and
the pillars were twisted. The rear
end of the structure was blasted
away, the timbers falling in all di
rections and as far away as 150
yards. A partition in the building
was torn away, splinters and glass
flying through the front of the build
ing and covering the highway for a
distance of 30 feet or more The 30
gallon water tank, tearing a hole in
the top of the roof, was found a
block away.
Members of a family living ui
an adjoining room were knocked
down, but were not injured. Houses
a mile away were jarred, but win
dow panes in homes nearby were
Knocked unconscious. Clemmons
and his boys were unable to five an
account of the explosion The father
stated Sunday night that he hard
ly believed a water tank explosion
could do so much damage Clemmons
made no charges against anyone, but
it is evident that he thinks some
one planted dynamite under the
foundation of the building, and that
the jar from the tank explosion
caused it to go off. "If I had known
they wanted me out, I certainly
Clemmons ^atr|
Hundreds rushed to the wreckage
and found Clemmons trapped under
a hot cook stove. Almost certain at
first that dynamite caused the great,
er part of the damage, police order,
ed the families living in adjoining
parts of the building to vacate until
an investigation could be completed
the next morning No signs of dyna
mite having been planted in or near
the building could be found, the
wreckage offering mute evidence
evidence that there was a whale of
an explosion
First Car Poultry
Loaded In County
Martin County fanners coopera
tively shipped their first carload of
poultry of the season last week, the
shipment moving out of Oak City
Sunday morning for the New York
market.
The car handled 18.53# pounds, the
farmers receiving (3.7S7 18. James
ville loaded 1.048 pounds last Wed
nesday, and Williamston delivered
7.111 pounds Thursday Roberson
viile loaded 8.813 pounds on Fri
day, and Oak City reported 2,064
pounds the following day
Heavy offerings were handled by
individual trucks at Robersonville
according to unofficial reports, and
a few fanners patronized the tracks
at Jamesville, Williamston and Oak
City.
County Agent T. B Brandon a
nounccd this week that a second c
would be operated cooperatively in
the county some time during the lat
ter part of this month.
Start Canvass For
Funds To Finance
Local Ball Team
Estimate $2,000 Will Be
Necessary to Supple
ment Gate Receipts
Starting this morning the task of
raising $2,000 in cash, canvassers will
learn by tomorrow night whether
Wilkamston will have professional
basebal? this cocnftig season Early
reports from Solicitors R H. Good
mon and Pete Fowden were encour
aging. but the $2,000 goal was still in
the dun background at that time.
If just a fern offer substantial dona
tions. the rank and file of the com
munity citizenship will offer an
able support, it was stated
_ Di cussing the financial ' require
ments. Ray Goodmon. president of
the club, stated that at least $2,000
in donations would be necessary to
operate the club assuming gate re
ceipts equal those of last season and
I the working agreement now pending
| with the Cincinnati Reds is consum
ated Last year, donations amounted
| to $1.316 05 The approximately $700
increase this year will be needed to
support a longer season, a higher sal
ary limit, enlarged roster and a dou
ble umpiring system The season is
scheduled to get underway April 27
or more than a week earlier than it
did last year
Costs for operating the club last
season amounted to $11.530 76. the
treasurer stating this morning there
was a deficit of $56 62 A financial
statement for the season follows:
nismuiwnus expense
I'mpire expense, local
Umpires* salaries
Players" salaries
Manager's salary
Other salaries
Lilley Bras, grandstand
S 3.897 84
221-47
487 00
4.551 15
U30.OO
272 25
851 05
Total
Dale iyffi|<l.i
St. Louis. agreement
Donations
Advertising
Total
Deficit. ?56 62
$11,530.76
S 7,778 60
1.470 00
I 31665
879 50
$11,474 14
The lletn of miscellaneous expense
includes training period cost, trans
portation. balls, bats, bases, dues, etc
The expenses of umpires were
charged to the club while the urn
pi res were in Williamston Other sal
aries went to the*score keeper, jan
itor. ground keeper, ticket takers
and sellers As owners of the grand
stand, l-i I ley brothers receive one
half of the receipts or $851 05 for the
past season
The working agreement with St.
Louis called for $1?500. but two per
cent of that amount was held back
foruse by the national association
Farm Bill To (?et
Attention Shortly
Waiting its turn while the Senate
filibustered week alter week, the
farm bill is expected to get consider,
ation before Saturday of this week
At the present time, the Congress is
wrangling over a federal housing
measure, but reports indicate that
that bUl tTijj Jbe out of |the ^waj_ in_
time tor Congress to start final work
on the farm measure
The farm bill should be in effect
within 30 days after its passage
Large Numbers Apply For
Farm Security Financing
Large numbers of Martin County
farmers are turning to the Farm
Security administration for funds in
financing their 1938 activities. Dav
id Modlin. field supervisor for this
and Edgecombe counties, stating to
day that 30 applications were receiv
ed at his office Monday. It was the
largest number of applications ever
received by the office in a single day.
he said
F*
farming, and are in a hurry to get
their financial support
The seed-feed loan office in this
county has not been opened this
season, but that agency is expected
to advance loans as it has done
the past and under much the same
rules and regulations.
I LIBRARY CALL )I
J. C. Caaba. Iinini. am aarty
am |ii illi. Uf mail la Id all
In. J. U Gan ?
New Post Office Building To
Be Located on Hoyt Property
WiUiamston's new iwrtofflcf will
be located of) the Simpson or Hoyt
property on East Main street, ac
cording to information released yes
terday by Postmaster Leslie T Fow.
oen The bid entered by Mr Fred
erick Hoyt. on net oi the property
was accepted yesterday morning.
Mr Fowden explained Receiving
bids from five ptupetty on nets, the
Treasury department has been near
ly six weeks in selecting a site
The delay in selecting a site ts ex
pected to forestall construction work
until early fall it is thought Mi
Fowden said yesterday that Mr
Hoyt will be given thirty days fol
lowing not if icatorn to dear the
property (or thr new building
~I am looking for government en
next few seeks, and then it will
take some time for the preparation
of the plans and the awarding of the
contract. Mr Fowden continued The
postmaster pointed out that these
plans could hardly he completed be
fore early spring and at that time,
the government centers its attention
on building activities in the North.
j ,
leaving as many southern contracts
mS possible (or winter construction.
The new building, estimated to
cost approximately $78,000. mill be
completed within eighteen months.
Mr Fowden believes, but lie could
not say when actual construction
work w ill get underway
Formal Opening Here
For Equipment Firm!
Demonstration. Fret4
Movies and Luneh to
Feat tire the IVopni
North Carolina Equipment
Company Expecting Big
Crowd Saturday
Plans were announced virtually '
cttmplHr today for an interesting
and entertaining program mar kin;
tin? formal opening u4?the?North j
Carolina Equipment Company here
on Saturday of this meek. Hundred>
of farmers are expected here dur
ing the day .the officials of the own- j
pany slating that they mere making j
every efftrt to make the program
enjoyable for their guests
The program mill center around
demonstrations of nearly every type
of machine used on the farm, free
moving pictures and a barbecue din
ner Factory representatives and.
others from the nuin office in ital
eigh mill be here to assist in the
program. and the machinery demon ;
strations are certain to prove of !
value to farmers of this and adjoin- j
ing counties. The moving picture,
taken in the huge plant osf the In
ternatMwial Harvester company at
Chicago and Milwaukee. is unusual
ly entertaining The picture mill al
sc show International machines
handling nearly every task on the
farm_ll will bebrought here by a
special representative of the com
pany A large order has been placed
for barbecue which will be served
free. Officials of the company
that every farmer who can attend
to fill in the invitation blank and
icturn it to them as soon, as possi
ble '
While the program marks the
formal opening of the new business
in this section activities of the day
will follow an informal course The
firm mill open early that morning
and receive farmers at any lime.
ftHH jwl.be ** Mod M. 12 He ?I
dtmonsliiliuiu will br hrld during
Ihe day TV moving fnrturrs m ill V
shown frutn law to In r .
Offiriab of IV ampin) air ex
prrtrd Vn Inm irinal of IV large
offices in thr country Mi .A II I'm
ley president u( thr North Carolina
Equipment Company and (rmnl
manager of thr hranrh hrrr will at.
?rnd from Raleigh Mrun J K Reg.
istrr. W C Gallon, and J M Krt.
nrdy, also of Raleigh. will area
(Continued an page four)
I ASSISTANT CLERK )
Mm Man lluaMk KcH.
fMUf Mirtn r*Ht> (ill. kas
km apfanM anaslul to
Ckii mi r?ut 1- Bran M t mo,
it was ismsmiJ ypOntiT by
Mr. Mlur fallawH* tbr drath
at Dryslt Clrrb A. Hawwtl la a
Wasbiactoa kmibl last Tbars
day. Mis Kt/l bas bora asast
iajc tbr clrrb dariaf tbr Ulans
at Mr. HasarU.
Sbr is tbr daacbtrr of Krabca
Krrt. mi Bear l-rxa. aad tbr latr
Mrs. Brabra Hal 11 <? Keel
(loach Martin Savs
Charges Unfounded
AcctisatHms a?lvanced by an Elu J
abeth City paper sp.?rt> mriler or
representative and directed against
the referee and umpire in the Eliz
abeth City-James v illc basketball
Kanu- played in Williamston week
Mine last were declared unfounded
by Coach Ku ell Martin of James
\ iHe. today It was pointed out that
the game w? nt into extra periods,
that a calico foul in the first extra
period enabled Elizabeth City to tie
the score
It is impossible to understand the
attitude of the Elizabeth City High
Scho>l *?a .-'ketball team in regards to
Hie n ent game played in William
-Hon-and-e-pecraUy 4he accusation
made again t the officials by a rep
lesrntativc of an Elizabeth City
daily pap**r ** Coach Martin said
Continuing Mr Martin said. "I ask
id the coach of the Elizabeth City
learn several tunes if he mas satisfied
mith the officials, and he replied in
the affirmative each tune"
The officials of the game are
known for their honesty and mtegri
ly are beyond reproach. Coach Mar
tin maintains adding that he con
sidered no apology is due the oppo
nents of his team
.. JL Pirtwlcd te?t to. the
tliat he knew nothing of the charges
until they mere pointed out to him
m an account of the game, which
maintained that the contest was
tainted with unfairness, and intimat
ed that the officials. Messrs Blount
and liassell. of Jamesville. gave the
Martin team the 2ft-26 victory
Sheriff C. B. Roebuck
Enters Hospital Today
Suffering with an infected tooth.
Sheriff C B Roebuck mas removed
to a Washington hospital for treat
ment at noon today The officer was
imported suffering much pain, and
his condition, while not critical, de
mand* hospital
cians advised this morning
U illianistoii l/)ses
To Washington Hi
???
The boys baskcibsll team ul Wil
liamston high school suffered dc
Int by a sran of 39 to 19 last FVi
lay night in a game played Ul Wash
ington high arhooTs gymnasium
With Kelly and Duke shooting lit*
ly for a total of 31 posata. the Beau
fort county boys wttt never in dan.
(er William-ston s attack aetted only
even field goals aa offensive drives
Logged down repeatedly m the
neighborhood of the basket. Rjddxrk
srith four field goals aad Me with
three, accounted for all of Willi lea
iton'l action shots, the other ft
joints coming from the free tlnaei
lute.
Boys and girls teams erill go ?
Dr. ^.F. Evans To
Leave February 15
For Special Studv
?>
Dr. V. E. Brown Conies To
day from Washington to
Take Over Practice
Or W F Evans, well-known lo
cal physician, will leave about the
15th of this month for a year's study
in several of the leading medical
sAools of the country the physician
announcing just before departing
for a brief vacation down in Florida
last Saturday, that he planned to
resume his practice in Williamston
possibly the early part of next year
Dr. V. E Brown for the past sev
enteen or eighteen months connect
ed with the Tayloe hospital staff in
l Washington, locates here today to
I take over Dr Evans" practice
' During his stay here. Dr Evans
I has become recognized as an able
' physician by the people of the town
I and throughout the county. His ser
i vices, reaching the poor as well as
i the rich, have been of untold value
to the health of the people, general
ly. He has played the role of a true
country* doctor, and at the same time
has been instrumental to a marked
extent in advancing the blessings of
medical science among our people
It is with regret that the people
whom he has served learn of his
planned leave of absence, but thev
eagerly look forward to his return
follow ing the completion of his spec
ial course of study Dr Evans plans
to enroll for the first course of his
special training in the University of
Virginia. Charlottesville About six
months later he plans to study in
one or two of the leading clinics of
the country.
His successor here. Dr Brown, is
already w idely known to the people
-.pF thia county through his work in
the Tayloe hospital where he is held
, m high esteem and where fro ranks?
high in the medical profession Dr
Brown is a native of Greensboro He
studied at Wake Forest and complet
ed his medical training in Pennsyl
vania where he earned recognition
as an able scholar, and later as a
practicing physician The town and
community are fortunate in having
him locate here. He is taking over
the office and equipment of Dr Ev
ans and w ill carry on his practice
fiom there on Smith wick street
Unable to find a home just at this
time. Dr. Brown and Mrs. Brown
will be at home temporarily in the
Hotel George Reynolds
Jamcsvillc Forms
(lomnimr (>rouj>
Showing an unusual interest in
the advancement of their town and
community, twenty or more progres
sive eitlzens have perfected a cham
ber of commerce in Jamesville. the
organization taking on a degree of
permanency last night when officers
and committees were named
"Considerable interest has been
shown in the organization and -its
work, and vie believe much good can
he accomplished through it." Mr. A
Corey, one of the organizers, said
Or W T Glbapn was chosen to
head the organization, and L H
Ange was elected secretary and
treasurer. On the project and inves
tigation committee are. A. Corey,
chairmanrr-Walter Brown and Paul
Ifolliday H C. Sexton heads the
utilities committee as chairman and
he will be assisted by C A. Askew
and Q. G Carson Other committees
will be named later During the
meantime, the organization will
make plans tor having new indus
tries locate in the town
Rctari Frwi
Mr and Mrs. G. Burroughs have
returned from Durham where they
carried their?infant arm to Duke
hospital for an examination.
W. R Daniel and Jim Staton
Vouch for Unusual Dog Story
Some time doling U? UN? put
of Ihr put ctfilunr, Tabitha Lrftril
and his family pulled up thetr
stakes, packed their earthly btloiif
inp m a imutd siiuo. crawled
aboard and started the kmc trek in
to Tennessee an old hound dog
named Wagner folluwing on foot
The Leggetts lived in the Macedonia
section and old Wagner enjoyed his
native haunts However, the
later, according to Barcil Uaniet and
Jim Staton. old
on the stops of the Leuctts' I
home in this county He ran his
backtrack all the war home, and
lost little time in making the trip.
When first seen following his return,
the hound was stretched iwt on the
front steps asleep in the hnaae sun
Neighbors corresponded with the
Ltgfdti and told them that Wagner
had returned home Tabitha Liggett
the neighbors to beep the
if the
all the way I
effort would be