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VOLUME-KKiV?NUMBER 3* (? 3 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, August 9, 1938. , ESTABLISHED 1899
Small Tax Sums
Are Paid Over To
County And Towns
Intangible Tax Received
By County Drops
Nearly $4,000
Martin County and the several
towns received this week their share
of the intangible tax listed, assessed
and collected by the State Depart
ment of Revenue, the income fall
ing about $5,000 below the amount
assessed by the several towns and
counties a year ago.
The county received a check for
$1,346.28 as compared with $5,264 80
charged against owners of intangi
ble properties a year ago. The
amount received by the county rep
resents half of the tax collected
from intangible properly owners
less the collection costs which are
regarded as abnormally high by
some observers. The State treasur
er horned in to get the other half
of the amount collected.
In accordance with the law, the
money received by the county was
turned over to the county board of
education for the retirement of
school debts. But where the county
had a promise of an income in the
sum of $5,264.80 from owners of in
tangible property last year, it only
h?? 11 346 M thi? year, a decrease of
$3,918.52.
Last year, the town of Williams
ton collected $1,152.76 from intan
was allotted $343.56 as its share in
the intangible, making it appear
that that which was intangible a
year ago becomes more intangible
this year
The town of RobersonviUe stands
to lose even more than the $809.20
lost by Williamston, it is estimated
that the intangible property listings
were considerably greater than
they were in Williamston. The
amount paid Robersonville is not
known at this time, but it could not
in ?v??? of $146.61, the amount
left after the county and Williams
ton had been paid a total of $1,689.84
of the original allotment of $1,826.45.
There are several other towns and
special districts in the county, and
it is thought they have a claim to
a share of the intangible tax
Commenting upon the new system
of handling intangible taxes, a pub
lic official referred to it as "one big
steaL"
?
G. P. Hall Named
Acting Fire Chief
Volunteer Group
Alleged Violation of Fire
District Laws Causing
Much Concern
Williamston's volunteer tire com
pany disrupted by alleged violation
of thoae laws regulating building
construction in the tire zone, was
reorganized last night when G. P.
Hall was recommended for the post
of acting chief, the department mem
bership looking to the town commis
sioners for a permanent organiza
tion, James Herbert Ward, serving
as acting chief since George Harris
tendered his resignation, continues
as assistant chief
Refusing to offer direct recom
mendations to the town authorities,
members of the volunteer company
discussed the advisability of em
ploying a full-time man to head the
department, one who can possibly
divide his time with another depart
ment - of the town. The members
pointed out that it was hardly rea
sonable to expect them to devote the
lime necessary in keeping the fire
fighting equipment in condition,
that they had given and would glad
ly continue to give their time in
answering calls or serving in any
emergency. Damage to clothes and
bodily injury prove costly, the fire
men explaining that after experienc
ing such losses they did not feel it
was their duty to handle a task that
should be assigned to a regular em
ployee of the town. Firemen, an
swering a recent call, experienced s
damage to clothes approximating
$100 or mere, and no provision is
made to reimburse them for such
Guided by rules and regulation]
designed to prevent fire hazards
past chiefs of the fire department
have triad to enforce those regula
tions In the issuance of building per
mits Repeated violations of thosr
rules and regulations have caused
some friction, and the construction
of such buildings is likely to reducs
the fire insurance rating on proper
ty in what is known as the fin
zone. If the class rating now enjoy
ed by the town is lost, it will meat
that insurance premiums will tx
increased by several thousand dol
lars annually.
Farm Bureau Names New
Officers for the Coming Year
C. Abram Roberson. county com
missioner and prominent farmer of
RobersonviUe Township, was elect
ed to head the Martin County Farm
Bureau Federation unit at a meet
ing of the organization's member
ship in the agricultural building here
last night. Herbert L. Roebuck. Cross
Roads citizen and another well- \
known county farmer, was named
vice president. Mr. Roberson suc
ceeds Sam T. Everett who, as presi
dent of the unit the past year, has
carried on a valuable work both for
the organization and the farmers in
Martin County. Mr. Roebuck suc
ceeds Mr. J. Marion Griffin who
has shown much interest in the
bureau program.
J. P. Woodard, assistant county
agonti succeeds T B, Slada at serrp
tary-treasurer of the county bureau.
The attendance upon the meeting
was small and the election of town
ship committeemen for the bureau
was postponed until Friday evening
of this week when a meeting will be'
held in the Agricultural Building at
7:30 o'clock. All Farm Bureau mem
C. ABRAM KOBKKSON
bers attending the meeting will re
ceive a free ticket to the barbecue
dinner at the organization's state
meeting to be held in Greenville on
Wednesday of next week.
Attempts To Break In
Store, Man Badly Shot
Trapped By 0 wner
Of Jamesville Store
Charles J. Griffin Shoots
Man Early Sunday
Morning
Shot while attempting to break
into Mr Charles J. Griffin's store
in Jamesville last Sunday morning
a4 three o'clock, Arthur Harrison,
30-year-old colored man. is in a cri
tical condition in a Washington hos
pital, late reports stating that the
man has hardly one chance in a
thousand recover.
Fired at close range from a gun, J
he load of shot tore away part of
Harrison's stomach, a number of
shot tearing into his intestines. Hos
pital attaches pointed out that peri
tonitis was certain to develop, and
added that the man did not have a
chance to recover.
As Harrison lay critically wound
ed in the hospital, officers started
an immediate investigation to learn
his identity, but his life could be
traced back only a few weeks when
f Wi,h El,zabe,h Pitman
at 200 Walnut street, Tarboro H<
came to this county only a shorl
time ago and was employed by a
lumber mill in Jamesville, little hav
ing been learned about him during
his stay there. Efforts are now being
made to establish his identity by
submitting finger prints to the de
partment of justice
Sunday morning about 3 o'clock,
Walter Rhodes, colored man living
in an old store on Jamesville's al
most deserted Main Street, left the
building to escape the heat. He
eard some one pounding on the
Griffin store door, but the noise sub
sided when a group of young boy
?nd girls rode by. Rhodes, seen b
the joy riders, reasoned that h
would likely be connected with th
robbery and he decided to notify th
owner who lived about three or fou
block, away. Taking his gun, M.
Griffin hurried to the store, ap
proaching from one side. As he look
ed around the front, he saw Harri
?on raise a sizeable piece of iroi
and he fired the gun. "I did noi
know whether he was going to strikt
me or hit the door again," Mr Grif
fin later explained Apparently ex
cited and thinking the first shol
**mark, Mr. Griffin fired
a second time, the load taking ef
fect in Harrison's back as he ran
across a vacant lot adjoining the
?tore. Harrison, who had torn the
front door almost down, threw up
his hands and surrendered. He col
lapsed soon after that and was re
moved to Dr. W T. Gibson's office
for treatment. A few hour, later
Harrison was removed to a Wash
ington hospital where an operation
l7" ?rderWl in "" e"0'1 to "ve h"
No charge has been filed against
the Store owner, it was learned at
the office of the sheriff tddayT~
Series Of Services In
Hassell Christian Church
?
Rev. J. M. Perm Robersonville
minister, will start a series of reviv
al services in the Hassell Christian
church Thursday night of this week.
The series will be held each eve
ning at eight o'clock during the sev
era! days, it was announced.
ELECTION
The pu?(e of a $72,000 bond
election for advancing a gener
al Improvement program here
was predicted earl) this after
noon, election officials estimat
ing that 95 per cent of the 75
votes cast at that time were in
favor of the plan. Eighty-one
votes are necessary for the pas
sage of the election.
Young Negro Loses
Life In Roanoke
Wading in the overflow waters of
the Roanoke River, near Palmyra,
Otis Bowers, 25-year-old negro,
stepped into a hole and was drown
ed last Friday afternoon. Officers,
investigating the case, ruled " the
drowning was accidental and no in
quest was held.
Tom Bowers and Floyd Bowers,
brother and friend of the victim,
I were in wading also. None of them
j could swim and Otis' companions
were unable to help him when he
stepped into water over his head
The three men were not in the riv
er, but were wading in a territory
inundated by the overflow waters of
the Roanoke.
Help was summoned and the
man's body was recovered two hours
later.
The drowning was the second r
ported in the county this summi
Johnnie*Miller, colored man, having
lost his life in the Roanoke at James
ville on June 23 when he, for some
reason that has never been explain
ed, stepped into the treacherous
stream knowing that he could not
swim. Miller's body was never re
covered.
Fined For Operating
Car Without License
*
Simon Walker, Bertie colored
man, was fined $10 and taxed with
the coats for the alleged operation
near here of an automobile without
a driver's license. He was also charg
ed and convicted for driving an au
tomobile with improper brakes.
Four Injured When
Truck Crashes Into
Wagon Near Here
Driver Asleep at Wheel of
Machine When Crash
Happens
?
Four people were badly but not
seriously hurt, a mule was killed
and another injured and a load of
tobacco was .scattered when a
freight truck crashed into a wagon
near here on the Washington High
way this morning at 8:30 o'clock
The injured inelude:
Lewis Harris. 26, severe cuts on
left arm and leg and face;
Calvin Parker, 21. long gash in
neck and abrasions on arm andi
back;
William Stnkpg 17 rut .in :?rm
and leg, and bad foot injury;
Dock Parker, 30, dislocated shoul
der, multiple abrasions and possibly
other injuries.
A fifth rider on the wagon, Hor
ace Rackley, 16 Jears old. escaped
injury when he saw the truck was
going to strike the wagon and jump
ed to safety. The injured were treat
ed in the offices of Drs. Rhodes, Ea
son and McAllister.
One of the mules drawing the wa
gon was killed almost instantly and
the other is expected to die. The
wagon-was reduced to splintera and
a load of tobacco just taken out of a
barn was scattered all over the
road. |
J. G. Staton, owner of ihe learn,
wagon and tobacco, had not estimat
ed the damage this morning, but the.
loss is expected to approximate >1.
1)00 or more i
O. D. Moots, young white man
who was driving the truck for
Buryn, Old and Eaton, Norfolk
hardware firm, escaped injury, and
no great damage was done to the
machine. Moots stated that he had
worked ail night, and that he drop
ped asleep at the wheel just before
the truck plowed into the wagon
Number Of Martin
Farmers Anxious
To Purchase Farms
More Than Twenty-five Ap
ply for Farm Security
Loans
Offered a splendid opportunity to
purchase and operate their own
farms, many farmers are planning
to take advantage of that opportun
ity in this county, David G. Modlln
of the Farm Security Administra
tion, said today. More than thirty
five applications have already been
filed in Modlin's office here, and
considerable interest is being shown
in the plan. It is very likely that
more than 100 tenants will apply
for loans in keen anticipation of
launching out on their own.
Martin County has been designat
ed by the Secretary of Agriculture
as one of forty counties in the State
where farm-purchase loans will be
made available this fall. The num
ber of loans will be limited, of
course, but every tenant farmer de
siring to own and operate a farm js
eligible to apply for one of the
loans. The government is anxious to
halt the ever increasing number of
farm tenants, and where the farm
purchase plans has been inaugur
ated, it is meeting with marked suc
cess.
Any tenant in this county wishing
to apply for a loan is directed to the
Farm Security office in the court
house Applications must be filed by
the last of this month. A committee
of three farmers will study the loans
(Continued on page four)
Miss Katie Philpot Is Now Only Woman Mail
Carrier Remaining In U. S. Postal Service
The recent transfer of Anna
McDonald from mail-carrier In
Anaconda, Montana, to a clerical
Job In the Post Office Depart
ment, left only one woman mall
earrier in the United States
postal aervice. What the Post
Office Department apparently
overlooked, John Martin, the
keen-eyed editor of Time maga
stne, remembered while hinting
In and around Wllliamston a
year ago this winter.
When the Montana city of
about 13,Mg population hailed
the retirement of "the last wo
man city mall carrier in the
United States", Editor Martin
set the record straight by re
viewing the record of Miss Ka
tie Philpot as carrier in Wll
liamston since the war.
Classifying the type of mail
handled by Williamston's mail
carrier, Editor John 8. ("8"
probably " for "Slew") Martin
did not mention all that litera
ture lent out by hia publishing
house "begging" renewal sub
scriptions. But anyway the keen
observer got the records straight
as to woman mail carriers in the
following article appearing In
yesterday's edition of "Time":
Having trudged 65,000 miles
carxying 283 tons of mail since
1918, Anna McDonald, IS, of
Anaconda, Mont., was last week
transferred from mall-carrier to
a clerical Job by the Post Office
Department. Anaconda hailed
the retirement of "the last wo
man city mail carrier in the
United States".
But Anaconda was wrong.
Though lt? records on the sub
Ject are vague, the Post Office
Department did know that An
aconda's Anna was not the last
of her species. During the War
many a strong girl got a man's
Job toting letters from door to
door. At least one who still
functions Is Katie E. Philpot, 44.
of WiHiamston, N. C. Famed
otherwise for fine tobacco, corn
meal and wild turkeys, Wil
llamston takes pride in the slim,
resolute figure of Katie Philpot
marching dutifully through the
north end of town every morn
ing and afternoon, her slim back
bent under the weight of farm
papers, religious tracts and
mail order literature, her slim
legs encased In black cotton
hoae below neat knickers of Post
Office grey.
Successful Season Is Predicted
For Williamston Tobacco Mart
Despite Short Crop In Section
ATTENDING SPECIAL SESSION
Attending a special session of the State Legislature this week.
Senator K. L. Coburn. left, and Hugh G. Ilorton, right, are almost
certain the group will pass a law enabling the State to participate
in an eight million dollar PVV'A building program and adjourn
early next week. Some observers point out that the session is^'cuT
and dried" to order, that there will be little for legislators to do.
CARDS
I nofficial reports heard to
day still maintain that Martin
County farmers will receive
their tobacco marketing cards
in ample time for the opening
in this belt on August 25. There
are a few who were late in fil
ing an application, and they are
likely to receive their quotas
too late for the opening.
(Inly one temporary market
ing card has been- issued Ja_lWa_
county to date, the farmers be
ing virtually assured that their
marketing activities will not be
delayed.
A second card was issued to
day to a Bear Grass farmer.
Several Arrested
In Li<]iior Raids
*
Several alleged bootleggers were
taken in a series of raids conducted
by Special Enforcement Officer J
H. Roebuck and Deputy Bill Haislip
here last week-end.
Andrew Everett, aged colored
man who has been in the courts sev- ,
eral times on similar charges; was '
placed under bond when the officers I
raided his small shop on Washington
street and found about one-fourth j
of a pint of rural liquor iii his pos^
session. It was a very small quan
tity all right, officers explained, but
there was evidence of sale. Two or
three gallon jugs were found.
?Although she poured must of tin
liquor into a slop bucket, Clara Da
vis, colored, was booked for trial
io the county court next Monday
when officers found a small quan
tity of liquor in a refrigerator at!
her home on Elm Street.
Sam Hardison was also booked
for trial when officers found him
with a small -quantity of legal li
quor in a garage on Railroad Street
"There was evidence of sale," the
officers explained, adding that a
man recognized as a "customer" was
seen leaving the place just as they
arrived.
A quart of legal liquor was found1
in another home, but no evidence'
of sale could be established, and no
charges were brought in that case
Kr^rlatiun^fw
Marketing of Fine,
Cured Leaf In'3S39
???
Each Farmer Will Receive
Marketing Card With
His Allotment
?
Regulations covering the market
ing of flue-cured tobacco for the
1938-39 marketing-season have been
released by the Agricultural Adjust
ment Administration, it was announ
ced from the office of the county
farm agent.
These regulations were issued in
accordance with the market quota
provisions of the Agricultural Ad
justment Act of 1938.
In administering the quotas, each
farm operator will be given a mar
keting card showing the amount of
tobacco he can sell without penalty.
I he card is to be presented to a rep
resentative of the AAA at auction
warehouses for all sales of tobacco,
and all sales within the quotu will i
be recorded on the marketing card I
farms on which th,e tobacco I
available for marketing does not ex-1
coed the quota, each producer hav-'
inga share in the tobacco will be
titled to market under the quota his
share of the crop. However, if the
total amount available for market
ing exceeds the quota, each produc
er will be entitled to market only
his pry ratu share of the quota with
out penalty.
Transfer of Quotas
The regulations provide for the
transfer of quotas among farms
which means that a farmer who has
a quota exceeding the tobacco avail
able for marketing may authorise
the transfer of that part of his quo
U not needed. Quotas may be trans
ferred directly among farmers at
the county office or warehouse, or
through warehousemen who agree
to act as agents.
If quotas are transferred from one
farm to another through direct ne
gotiations between the operators of
he farms concerned, the considera
tion for the transfer may be what
ever the operators agree upon If a
warehouseman acts as agent in the
transfer, the rate of consideration is
fixed at five cents per pound.
I he payment received by the op
erator for the transfer of any pro
portion orthe quota -win bo divided
among the producers on the farm in
proportion to their share of the crop
unless the producers agree among
themselves to a different division of
the payment.
A warehouseman acting as agent
<rny- charge ??. operator ufche farm
to which he arranges a transfer of
tContinued on page four)
-??
Few Stills Found In
Robersonville District
?
Raiding in the Great Swamp sec
lion of Robersonville Township last
week, special enforcements officers
found and wrecked a complete li
quor still of the steam type. It was
the second illicit distillery found in
the township within the past three
or four years, officers explained.
Sunday morning, the officers con
ducted a search at Gardner's Creek
?nd, found about one-half gallon of
liquor. No arrests were made at ei
ther the still or the creek.
? .
Market Is Better
Prepared To Serve
Growers In Section
Growth Last Season Sets
Pace for Entire
Bright Belt
Despite a short crop in the section
tins year the Williamston tobacco
HUIU'I Is uesimed lo experience a '
very successful season beginning on
Thui-sday. August 25, Henry John
son, who returns here for his second
year as sales supervisor, predicted
today. "I do not base the prediction
an my own observation, but on re
ports coming direct from the farm
ers over a wide area," Mr Johnson
explained And he offered proof to
support the encouraging prediction
Learning of the added preparations
that the Williamston market has
made for serving them, farmers who
have-never .sold tobacco here before -
can now be listed as regular patrons
this season." the sales supervisor
said.
II ilns section nad the size of?
crop this year that it had last. Wil
liamston could have been depended
upon to_gajn_a Tanking position win,
the larger markets of the belt, but
we are not discouraged, for we earn
estly hope and honestly believe that
the short crop is going to bring
more money than many farmers
think it will," Johnson continued.
The Williamston tobacco market
established a new record for the
entire bright belt last year, making
a gain of nearly 88 per cent in its
salwi -last- season ever 4hose-for-the
previous year The force that made
that record possible 4s_ back m its
entirety and supplemented by sev
eral of the ablest citizens of two
counties. "Upon this force of promi
nent citizens, all able tobacconists
and warehousemen, Williamston is
certain to grow," - the supervisor
pointed out, adding that he had trav
eled over the marketing area and
while he found the crop curtailed,
he had every reason to believe that
the local market is now nearing the
biggest year in its history. "Farm
ers say voluntarily that Williamston
is the coming market, that it prob
ably holds more promise than most
any other one in the belt." Contin
uing, Mr Johnson said, "I have had
so many farmers tell me that up un
til last year, they never sold tobac
co on the Williamston market, but
experiencing noble treatment and a
marked appreciation last season
they are returning this year strong
er for the local market than ever.
ihe market operating personnel
for the Williamston market cannot
he matched. As citizens, they occupy
prominent places in the religious
civic and business life of the com
munity Long years of experience in
the business place them in a splen
did position to serve their patrons.
Messrs. John Gurkin, Arlie T.
Belch, Sylvester Lilley and Bob In
gram will operate the Planters
Warehouse and the New Carolina
Warehouse, the latter just recently
completed being one of the largest
and most modern houses in the belt
Messrs. S Claude Griffin and Jim
mie laylor with their auctioneer Ja
kte Taylor, will return to the Roan
oke-Dixie house.
The Farmers Warehouse, greatly
enlarged, will be operated by
Messrs Leman Barnhill, Holt Evans
and Joe Moye again this year.
Arrested In Bertie, Man
Is Placed In Jail Here
???
Appearing mentally unbalanced,
Hubert McNish, young colored man,
was arrested in Bertie County yes
terday morning and placed in the
hands of Martin County officers a
short time later.
?Maintaining "htr-was?not their
charge, but not knowing what else
to do, county officers placed the man
in jail while they assumed the re
sponsibility of investigating the
case McNish, it was learned from
the sheriff's office in Beaufort
County, had served two sentences
on the roads at Gainesville, Gsu
Roaming across the country. McNish
was arrested in Beaufort County a
short time ago under the assumed
name of Robert B. Jones, report)
stating that a Robert B. Jones was
wanted in another county for mur
der. Cleared of that charge, McNish
was released and enjoyed freedom
until picked up yesterday morning
by a Bertie officer who brought
him here for Martin authorities to
handle.