THE ENTERPRISE
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Vamb B h l|,, I nil W I
1 ??? r?u dsc n prion ExpirH
VOLUME XLI?NUMBER 68 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, August 26,1938. ESTABLISHED 1899
Record Market Openingj Prices Satisfactory
Officers Balked In
Efforts To Handle
'Fake' Doctor Case
Toxicologist Wants $100 to
Analyze "Medicine" Said
To Have Caused Death
Martin County officers this week
were again balked in their efforts
to establish evidence in the case
charging George Barnes. Tarboro
colored man, with practicing medi
cine without license and administer
ing "medicine" that caused the
death of Chaney Williams, colored
woman, near Hamilton on Saturday,
August 13.
Samples of the medicine said to
have been concocted by Barnes,
aged, colored man, and given to the
Wiggins woman at his direction,
were sent to the State laboratory irt
Raleigh on August 15. Officers were
advised that there was no appro'
priation available for making an
analysis of the "medicine". Officers
then contacted a private chemist in
-Durham and yesterday they were
advised that an analysis could be
made for $100, the toxicologist ex
plaining that in case he was called
upon to testify against the defen
dant be would have to make a
charge of $50 a day or fraction
thereof. Expenses were to be added,
it was explained
Considering the cost don trigtv the
county Officers today are consider
ing turning to the State Bureau of
Law . Enforcement, and if that
agency cannot have an analysis
made they plan to take a sample of
the medicine to* the Federal Bureau
of Investigation laboratories in
Washington City.
"I can't say and won't say that
the medicine cohcocted by Barnes
and given to the Wiggins woman is
poison, but there is evidence the
Wiggons woman died of poisoning,
and we are going to make every ef
fort possible to get the facts in the
case," Sheriff C. B. Roebuck said
Barnes was to have been given a
preliminary hearing here last Tues
day, but a delay in getting the
"medicine" analyzed necessitated a
postponement, and it is likely that
the hearing scheduled for next
Tuesday will again be postponed.
Barnes was arrested in Tarboro
early on the morning of August 14
following the death of the patient
the evening before. He is at liberty
under a $1,000 cash bond.
? ?
Few Go From Here
To Bridge Opening
An estimated 10,000 people crowd
ed on and around the new $1,300,000
bridge across the Albemarle Sound
yesterday for the formal opening of
the three and one-half mile long
structure. Notables from up Raleigh
way started passing through here
the day before, but Governor Clyde
Hoey was a little late going through
for the exercises. Williamston and
this immediate community found
themselves too busy with a tobacco
opening to attend the event.
Robersonville's high school band,
already occupying a high rank in
many sections of the State, added
to their laurels in the Albemarle
section yesterday, when the young
musicians, under the able direction
of Professor Aiken, struck up the
first tune, they attracted attention
and became the favorites. Traveling
on a large truck, the bank threw
out a holiday spirit across the broad
waters of the Albemarle as the pa
rade move over the bridge
The bridge celebration was held
without accident, and some able
speeches were heard during the
day
?
Large Crowds Attending I
Smithwicks Creek Meet
Faithful followers of the Primi
tive Baptist church in this county
and neighboring sections, are return
ing this week-end in fairly large
numbers for the annual meeting at
Smithwicks Creek, reports received
here today stated.
?
Meeting At Macedonia
Begins Next Sunday
Rev. John W. Tyndall will begin
? aerie* of revival fervice* in the
Macedonia Christian church next
Sunday, it was announced today.
The public is cordially invited to at
tend. v .
?
Professor Z. Hardy Roae, of Nash
County, is hare visiting his son,
Mr. Tom Rose, and Mrs. Rose.
Tobacco Farmers Are
Pleased With Quotas
FINDS MONEY
i
A widow, living near William
ton, literally found money when
she sold tobacco on the local
market yesterday.
Disheartened when she took
her first curing from the barn,
she offered to sell the tobacco
for $5. Unable to sell at that fig
ure she started to throw it away,
but later decided to grade it.
Once graded, the tobacco was
offered for sale at Ilk, but the
best offer received was only
I7.56. She bundled up the small
lot and sold it here yesterday for
$61.
She immediately fitted up her
children with clothes for school.
Sixteen Cases Are
Called In Coyntv
Court Last Mondav
Tribunal Is in Session Un
til Late in the
Afternoon
? !
The last Monday session of the
Martin County Recorder's court re
flected an increase in crime activi
ties in this section, the heavy docket
of sixteen cases appearing several
days in advance of an expected re
vival in general business.
Sitting until four o'clock with
Judge H. O. Peel on the bench and
Solicitor W. Hubert Coburn prose
cuting, the court cleared its docket
in anticipation of a fairly heavy
schedule next Monday.
Proceedings in the court Monday
are, as follows:
Judgement was suspended in the
case charging Marcilla Coltrain with
allowing a minor to operate a mo
tor vehicle.
Jesse Mayo, charged with operat
ing a motor vehicle with improper
equipment and without a driver's li
cense, was fined $10, the court rec
ommending that no license be . is
sued the defendant within the next
twelve months. In hundreds of cases
the court has revoked licenses of
automobile drivers, but as far as the
records show this is the first instance
a court has accomplished about the
same thing before a license was ac
tually issued.
Judgment was suspended upon
payment of cost in the case charging
Hattie Bullock and Roxanna Crom
well with an assault.
Lester Bland, charged with the
larceny of a watch, was sentenced
to the roads for three months.?tS
Jesse Whitley, charged with an
assault, was found not guilty.
Judgment was suspended upon
payment of the cost in' the case
charging David Savage with rack*
less and careless driving.
Albert Clark, colored man who
was arrested at a liquor still last
Saturday, was fined $25 and sen
tenced to the roads for three months
when he was adjudged guilty of
manufacturing liquor. The road sen
tence is to begin at the direction of
the court at any time during
next twu yean.
Gorham Hodges was adju
guilty of violating the liquor
the court continuing the case
prayer for judgment until the firct
Monday in November.
W. A. Walker was found not guil
ty in the case charging him wifh
simple assault.
The case charging George Wal
ker with an assault with a
weapon was continued undaa
er for judgment until the firat Moo
day in October.
W. E. Rhodes, charged
ing and abetting in assault, and
Nick Baker, charged with false pre
tense, were found not guilty.
R. D. Spruill, charged with pos
session, was sentenced to the roods
for two years, the court suspending
sentence upon condition that the
defendant leave the county for a per
iod of two years. If defendant re
turns during that time he la to serve
the two-year road sentence Without
further formalities.
Joseph James, Jr., charged with
being drunk and disorderly, was
sentenced to jail for three months,
the court ordering his transfer to
the county home as a helper in the
institution.
The case charging Frank Powell
with defamation was nolprosaed.
Their differences amicably settled
the action against Joe Everett Cof
field brought by his wife, was vaoat
ed upon payment of the case costs.
Nearly 1,200 Cards
Are Delivered Here
In First Two Days
Believe Allotment Will Ex
ceed Production This
Season
? i
Greatly satisfied with their pound
age allotments, Martin County to
bacco farmers with very few excep
tions voluntarily expressed a con
tinued support of the Agricultural
Adjustment Administration program
when they called here in great
numbers for their marketing cards.
Issuing the first card Wednesday
morning to Miss Annie Glasgow, *t
Jamesville, the forces in the county
agent's office worked until late in
the evening handling a rush that in
creased as the day wore on until late
afternoon. Some farmers found it
inconvenient to \Ait but moat of
them took seats in the agricultural I
building auditorium and patiently
waiting their turns, complaining lit
tle.
Satisfaction was cxpreaMd in the
smiles on farmers1 faces as they left |
the building with thair cards wav
ing in their hands. Out of 100 far
mers questioned as they left the
building. ninety-nine expressed 1
great satisfaction arith the liberal
allotments. The one complaining far- |
mer was not dlmppointed so much
with his poundage quota, he said,
admitting that he was against the
cdfltrol progaam in its every detail.
The disgruntled farmer, it was unof
ficially learned, had an allotment of
around 025 pounds to the acre, or
just about 75 pounds above the av
erage acreage production in the belt
a year ago and possibly 200 pounds
oi more greater than the estimated
yield this season.
Sherrod Corey, the first man to t
get a card, said, "I am well pleased ;
with my allotment." Johnnie Hardi-1
son said, "I got more than I really
expected, and when a fellow gets
more thaw he expected he ought to
be satisfied, sure." "I am pleased,
with my duota." Mr. C. C. Coltrain
voluntarily spoke up as the farmers
were interviewed by an Enterprise
reporter Jn front of the agricultural
building. Mr. Marion Green express
ed satisfaction with his allotment,
and so did 98 of the others out of
the 100 farmers questioned.
There are quite a few cards yet to
be deliv ered, but the major portion
of the task has been completed. No
permanent allotments have been as
atgned about 10 per cent of the tar
in this county, but in those
where the grower wishes to
ket tobacco a temporary or pre
liminary allotment card is issued. It
was explained that the cards for the
ten per cent were delayed in Wash
ington, that the marketing slips
should be made available within the
next few days.
Nearly 12000 cards have already
been distributed, and it is almost
certain that the task will have been
completed by next Monday.
production curtailed by unfavorable
weather conditions during moat of
the growing season will not equal
the allotment this year. However,
there are quite a few farmers who
will exceed their allotments, but the
county, as a whole, will be below the
quota.
C
Building And Loan
Here Matures Stock
The Martin County Building and
Loan Association is paying out to
stockholders this month more than
$21,000, bringing the total paid to
its patrona within two months to
more than $33,000.
On Saturday of next week, the as
sociation will open its 42nd stock
series, the officers of the organiza
tion stating today that present in
dications pointed to a large share
tale at that time.
In recent months, the association
has made possible the construction
of a large number of hornet, and at
the tame time, it has offered a
unique saving plan to those who op
erate on a small seals. Its stock it
non-taxable, and its saving and land
ing features compare favorably with
any in existence.
a
Mrs A. T. Whitley and children ot
Tim Life, were here yesterday.
Directory of Visiting
Tobacconists on the
Local Tobacco Mart
Large Group Making Their
Homes Here for Next
Several Months
Williamston thii week welcomes
thoee young men and their assistants
who come here to serve the tobacco
market as representatives of manu
facturing companies in this country
and abroad. Local citizens wish for
them and their families a pleasant
stay her* during the coming months.
Many warm friendships have been
formed in past years, and local peo
ple are glad to renew those friend
ships and extend a hearty welcome
to all visiting tobacconists, their
families and friends.
? directory of the visitors, giving
their home addresses, company af
filiations and their present addresses
was released this week by the tobac
co board of trade, as follows:
Imperial Tobacco Company: Mr,
A. S. Ballon, of Richmond, buyer.
Mr. and Mrs. Ballou are at home in
the Tar Heel building, apartment
No. 12.
J. P. Taylor Company: Mr. N. B.
Thomas, Jr., of Wilson, buyer, at
home with Mr. and Mrs. C. J, Rob
erson, South Haughton Street. Mr.
J. W. West, Jr., of Live Oak, Fla,
bookkeeper. Mr. and Mrs. Wust aro
at home with Mr. and Mrs. B. B.
Rogerson, Warren Street.
Export Leaf Tobacco Company:
Mr. G. V. Boyd, of Warrenton, N, C.,
buyer; Mr. J. G. Staples, of Rich
mond, factory man; Mr. R. J. Ram
sley, bookkeeper, and Mrs. Ramsley,
of Danville, Va , at home with Mrs.'
Kate York on Simmons Avenue.
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Com
pany: Mr. R. H. VanMeter, buyer,
of Lexington, Ky. Mr. VanMeter and
Mrs. VanMeter are at home with
Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Dunn on South
Watts Street. Mr. B. F. Doty, factory
man, of Louisville, Gy. Mr and Mrs.
Doty and their two children, Misses
Mary Jane and Margaret, are in the
F. W. Sparrows' home on Marshall
Avenue Mr. Harry Schultz, book
keeper and Mrs. Schultz are in the
John L. Rodgerson home on West
Main Street.
American Suppliers' Company, |
Incorporated: Mr Dale Harper, buy
er, of Horse Cave, Ky. Mr. and Mrs.
Harper are at home with Mr. and
Mrs. Marvin Britton on Simmons
Avenue. Mr. Marfan Sophia, of
Kentucky, bookkeeper. Mr. R. M.
Thompson, bookkeeper, of Lexing
ton, Ky., and Mrs. Thompson are at
home with Mrs. Myrtle Brown on
West Church Street.
Liggett and Myers Tobacco Com
pany: Mr. J. I. Buster, of Harrods
burg, Ky., buyer; Mr. Dodd Best, of
Lexington, Ky., bookkeeper. Mr. and
Mrs. Buster and Mr. and Mrs. Best
are at home with the John L. Rod
gersons on West Main Street Mr.
Darvin Henry, factory man of Mt.
Sterling, Ky, at Mrs. Harry Mea
dor's on South Haughton Street.
Washington Tobacco Company:
Arthur Beale, at home in Washing
ton.
a
Legal Liquor Sales
Continue To Decrease
Legal liquor sales in the Martin
County A. D. C stole-lieie--?wtrrle
showing a marked increase over
those for the past few days, yester
day were $45.50 less than the receipts
on the day the tobacco markets
opened a year ago. Yesterday, the
sales totaled $423.20 against $47.70
a year ago.
Sales on Wednesday, the day be
fore the markets opened, totaled
$175.20.
PATIENCE
One of the most patient eats
in the world it in the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Sherrod Corny oat
in Griffins Township.
"He'll just an old common
house cat, one that is far re
moved from the pedigreed
stock," Parmer Corey went on
to say, while visiting here this
week. "The other day he spied
a mouse crawling in a email
hole In the wall. Twenty-four
hours later, the eat of much pa
tience was still malntainlnf
watch ever the hole. Refusing
food and drink the eat was serv
ed from a waiter while the
watch was continued."
Tea, old Tom eaurht the
moose and two others, accord
ing to Mr. Corey who told a
short time ago about a mule
turning on an electric light in
his ban.
Official Average of $24.71 Paid
Growers for 225,000 Pounds on
Tobacco Market Here Yesterday
Plan Big Drive Against Illicit
Liquor Trade in This County
A revival in the Illicit liquor busi
ness in this county during recent
days is bringing forth an answer
from the enforcement group. Al
ready plans have been advanced to
battle the business that was built up
over night in anticipation of an In
creased flow of cash from tobacco
sales.
Working night and day. Special
Enforcement Officer J. H. Roebuck
assisted by special forces assigned
by the sheriff's office was unable to
cope with a revival of the liquor
traffic which was centered around
small manufacturing units scatter
ed in nearly every section of the
county. Studying the situation, the|
enforcement bureau officials em
ployed a special assistant, Hewitt
Edwards, for thirty days. Starting
this week, the special assistant has
participated in raids that netted
four stills and over 2.000 gallons of
beer.
Supplementing the county forces,
the federal government has been
sending revenue department agents
into this territory, and reports now
indicate that the sudden upturn in
the business is about to be checked
However, plans are being advanced
to continue a concerted drive against
the traffic, unofficial reports stat
ing that two federal men will likely
be ussigned to this immediate ter
ritory within a short time. -
Illicit Liquor Trade in
County Booms Again
Officers Capture
Seventeen Stills
So Far In August
Record Established When
Four Stills Are Taken
In Half Day
The illicit liquor business is boom
ing again, or rather it was booming
until enforcement officers under the
direction of the Martin County Al
coholic Beverage Control Board di
rected a costly blow against the bus
iness in recent days. Up until noon
yesterday, officers, led by Special
Deputy J. H. Roebuck had wrecked
seventeen liquor plants in the coun
ty since August 1, the activities
breaking a record of fifteen stills
taken in a single month soon after
legal liquor stores were established
in 1033.
A record, equalling if not surpass
ing the activities reported when pro
hibition was in its prime, was es
tablished on Tuesday of this week
when enforcement bureau officers,
aided by federal agents, captured
and wrecked four stills in less than
half a day, the short raid climaxing
a week's work that netted ten illi
cit distilleries and several thousand
gallons of beer. One alleged manu
facturer was arrested, and the drag
net of the law was extended to re
tail sections in several townships.
On August 18, soon after news of
a revival of the illicit business start
ed trickling into the enforcement
bureau's headquarters, Special En
forcement Officer J. H. Roebuck aa
sisted by Deputy Sheriff Bill Hal"
slip and Roy Peel, went into action.
Two sizeable stills were captured
in Jamesville Township and eight
fermenters and 400 gallons of beer
were destroyed.
The following day, the officers
went into Bear Grass and wrecked
two plants and poured out seven
hundred gallons of beer. One of the
plants was equipped with a 50-gal
lon capacity gas drum, and the oth
er had a 50-gallon copper kettle for
brewing the R.F.D, spirits.
A 30-gallon capacity still was
wrecked and 100 gallons of beer
were poured out in Hamilton Town
ship on Thursday.
Returning to Bear Grass the next
day, the officers wrecked a 100-gal
lon capacity still, poured out 600
gallons of beer, confiscated ten gal
lons of liquor and arrested Albert
Clark, colored operator. Clark was
fined $23 and sentenced to the roads
for three months by Judge Peel in
the county court last Monday.
Withdrawing from the manufac
turing fields, the officers later that
day investigated the retail end of
the illicit business. Behind a chick
en coop in Griffins Township, they
found buried two quarts and four
pints of raw liquor. Gorham Hodges,
colored, was carried in the county
court Monday, but the case was con
tinued under prayer for Judgment.
(Continued on page fix)
GREEK TO THEM 1
-J
"It'a all Greek to us," three
Northern tourists said after lis
tening to the auctioneer's chat
ter and observing *the auction
sales on the Roanoke-Olxle
Warehouse floors here yesterday
afternoon.
"Is he calling for help?" one
asked when Jlmmle Taylor
yelled, "Come here, somebody."
"Yes, he's calling for financial
aid for his customers," an old
market observer said.
"And what Is that other man
(auctioneer) saying?" The old
market observer broke down
and admitted that he did not
know.
Thousands Present
For Leaf Opening
Williamston's tobacco market
opening, the one big annual event in
this section, attracted possibly the
greatest number of visitors yester
dey than atany previous time. Es
timates, at course, varied, but con
servative guesses placed the num
ber of visitors at between seven and
eight thousand people
No urrests were mode, Sheriff C.
B. Roebuck stating that it was a
peaceful group. No thefts were re
ported und the flimflammcrs took
a holiday.
Cars were parked well into the
residential sections, some going as
far out as Marshall Avenue from the
business district. Solid lines of cars
were parked from the brink of the
rivei (nil1 tin the east to a point four
blocks beyond the business district
to the west on Main Street. No traf
fic accidents were reported.
Crowds were present for the pro
grams in the two theatres and the
ball game attracted many that af
! ternoon Farmers, estimating when
the buyers would reach their tobac
co, vacated the warehouses ut times
I to visit here and there in the town.
I No one appeared down-hearted,
' and the day was apparently enjoy
lable to all.
Firemen Get Local Call
First Time In A Month
The local volunteer (ire company
was called out Wednesday evening
shortly after six o'clock when (ire
was discovered in a shanty on the
FarmviUe-Woodward Lumber com
pany property on the Washington
Road. The fire caused very little
damage and was out when the ap
paratus was carried to the scene.
It was the first call the fire com
pany had received locally in more
than a month, and the third one an
swered here since May 10.
IN MANTEO TODAY
Mrs. W R Roebuck, Mrs. N. W.
Perklnson, of Baltimore, Mr. and
Mrs. Marvin Cowen, Mrs. Bessie
Cow en, Mrs. Gilbert Rogers and
William Vernon Roebuck are In
Manteo today for the showing of the
Lost Colony, .
Market Will Clear
Block Of 225,000
Pounds Late Today
Common Tobacco Is Selling
Good, Good Tobacco
Selling Common
Thr largest poundage ever offer
ed in a single day and fair prices
marked the opening of Williamston's
tobacco market yesterday, the ini
tial sales being described as the
most successful held since the mar
ket was founded thirty-six years
ago.
The market sold right at 225,000
pounds yesterday to set a new rec
ord for an opening day, the official
average standing at 24 71. When
sales were ended at five o'clock yes
terday afternoon equally as much
tobacco was awaiting the buyers as
had been sold during the day. Far
mers, coming here from euunties all
over eastern North. Carolina, some
from as far away as Currituck and
Pamlico, were very patient as the
sales organizations worked steadily
at the two-day task before them.
Prices received yesterday were
nut in the fancy class, but farmer
alter farmer said they were fair,
that the opening figures were satis
factory. "Common luluMiswaold good
and good tobacco sold commdn," one
furmer said in sizing up the price
situation. Prices ranged from eight
een to thirty-seven cents, but it was
very seldom that a pile commanded
more than 32 or 33 cents. Tobacco
that sold for eight or nine cents last
year was selling from fourteen to
eighteen cents yesterday
Quality of the crop on the floors
yesterday and today was described
as superior to that on the opening
last year, and when this factor is
considered the average price is rec
ognized as little higher, if any, than
Inst season. Farmers report that they
are marketing their best tobacco,
one farmer stating that he sold half
of his crop on the opening day sale.
There were fewer complaints
heard on the sales yesterday and to
day than in many seasons. Quite a
few farmers average nearly thirty
cents for their individual offerings,
and those who fell below the 20-cent
figure appeared pleased when they
considered the quality of their to
bacco.
Every farmer selling on the mar
ket here yesterday had his market
ing card, but one or two having pre
liminary cards exceeded by a few
pounds their allotment The sales
operated smoothly, and with three
government men writing the tax
warrants there was no delay in is
suing checks.
Today, prices are holding up well,
some farmers stating that possibly
the market is some stronger than it
was yesterday. Buyers, after retting
overnight following the strenuous
day yesterday, appeared more eager
for tobacco as the sales got under
way at nine o'clock this omrning.
It was estimated this morning that
there remained on sale from yester
day around 225,000 pounds, ware
housemen explaining that the block
would be cleared and the market
would start with a clean slate next
Monday morning. However, deliver
ies were underway this morning,
and if the market clears the block
it will du so with no time to spare.
Inspecting the market yesterday
and today, numbers of farmers told
local warehousemen they planned to
start hauling tobacco tomorrow for
sale next Monday, and it is believed
that the selling organization will
have a complete day's work as the
market enters its second week.
l>ie buying organization, crowded
into a huddle by the throngs com
ing here for the opening, made a de
cided hit with market patrons.
"They seem unusually interested and
they can stand plenty of punish
ment," a farmer remarked at the
close of the sale yesterday.
Warehousemen were pleased with
the first-day activities, and predict
Wllliamston has started one of the
most successful seasons in the his
tory of the market.
Large numbers of foreign cars,
some from Kansas and California,
have passed through here during the
past few days for liantao.