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VOLUME XLII?NUMBER 15 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, February 21. 1939. ESTABLISHED 1899
Physical Defects
Found In 700 Out
Of 1,000 Children
Seventy Out of the l.OOOj
Enjoy Perfect
Health
?
Examining 1,008 children in the
first, second and sixth grades of the
white schools in this county, the
health department uncovered some
startling facts surrounding the phy
sical fitness of the children.
Exactly TOO, or 69 44 per cent ofj
the group examined, had some phy
sical defect. Dr. F. E. WtUon, head
of the department, explaining thsU
at least 186 of the number needed
medical attention immediately and
needed it badly. At least 514 others
need attention if they l?
their best work in school, the health
of ficercontinued. While 238 others
had no apparent physical defec .
they would not rate a perfect health
score. Seventy were rated in perfect
health.
Grouping the defects. Dr. Wilson
pointed out that possibly bad teeth
headed the list. Poor vision ranked
second and bad tonsils were third in
number. Quite a few of the little
folks had defective hearing.
There were bright spots in the re
nort Dr. Wilson explaining that the
number of children having physical |
defects was slightly below the e^
tlmated average for the United
States as a whole. Comparatively
faw cases of malnutrition were
found, but two or three rather P*
tBetTc ones caSe to tne aiwi.UolTbr
the examiners. One little tot was 32
pounds underweight There are
very very few cripples in the group
examined, the doctor stating that
the cripples apparently h?d ^een
well cared for. Quite a few children
in thft county received treatment at
the orthopedic clinic conducted by
the Tarboro Rotary club in past
months, and the people of this coun
ty have taken advantage of the clin
ic there.
A close study of the report shows
that health conditions do not vary
to any great extent in the_several
parts of the county. Examining the
children in District A-Ja
Williamston, Farm ^
Grass Dr. Wilson found 69 89 per|
cent of the subjects with some phy
sical defect. One per cent fewer pu
piU in the schools at Robersonville. I
Everetts, Oak City, Hamilton Go d
Point and Hasaell were 'ound with
some physical defect. Jamesville led
the list with the largest percentage |
of children enjoying Perfec
health. Eighteen out of 141 exam
ined there had no apparent Phy??
defects. A review of the number_of |
? healthy" children by schools fob
lows: Robersonville, 8 out of
examined; Everetts, one out of 108,
Oak City, one out of 78 examined,
Hamilton, none out of n
Gold Point, none out of 28, Hass ,
one out of 34; Jamesv.llelSouio
141 Farm Life, two out of 53, Bear|
Grus 13 out of 118, and Williams
ton, 36 out of 356 examined.
Besides examining 1,008 children,
the doctor, assisted by the county
health nurses, vaccinated 311 agains |
smallpox and nine against diph
theria. ..
Possessing the information rela
JeT^dividual defect* the heel*'
department appeals to the P?r?""
for cooperation in remedying those
defects. If theae defects can be elim
inated, it is reasonably certain that,
many children who are now repeat
ers wiH be able to pass their work
and save the State on an average of |
834 annually for each repeater.
A series of exearrpnations in the
colored schools is now underway by|
Dr. F. E. Wilson.
Will Permit Sale of Peanuts
At World's Fair in New York
Censored lor the reported refus
al to allow the sale ol peanuts at
the World's Fair in New York this
year, the management explains in
a letter than the ruling has been
rescinded and arrangements made
to operate a concession for the dis
tribution of the goobers among the
millions who are expected to at
tend the exposition within the next
few months.
Several Martin County farmers,
considering the action prohibiting
the sale of peanuts contrary to
their interests along with thousands
of other peanut growers, declared
they would not attend the fair. It
is understood that quite a few far
mars wrote to the fair management,
and Z. L. Davenport, Oumberry far
mer, was assured by a fair official,
that arrangements had been made
for selling peanuts. It is apparent,
however, that the sals will be lim
ited to shsUsd nuts, according to the
following letter.
"World's Fair
"New York
"February 11, 193#.
"Mr. Z. L Davenport,
"Gumberry, N. C.
"My dear Mr. Davenport: *
"Mr. Whalen has asked me to re
ply to your postcard of February 8
in regard to the sale of peanuts at
the New York World's Fair.
"We are glad to advise you that
a concession for the sale of shelled
nuts, which will include the safe of
shelled peanuts, has been awarded
to Fiber, Coe and Gregg, Inc.
"We believe that you will also be
interested in knowing that Planters
Not and Chocolate Company are
planning an exhibit at the New
York World's Fair that will feature
both the^r nuts and chocolates.
"Cordially yours,
"Rowland P. Bardell,
"Director at Concessions."
Increased Activity Expected
In the Legislature This Week
Alter remaining idle during a
greater part of the seven weeks it
ha. t-.i. in .r? niliii, Ihp Nprth f^gm
lina legislature is expected to go in
to action this week, Representavie
H. G. Horton said during his week
end visit at home.
There has been much wrangling
going on, to be sure, but most of the
arguments have been centered in
the committee and at committee
hearings, leaving the ledger sheet
of accomplishments blank as far as
any state-wide constructive law is
concerned.
The revenue bill is due to reach
the floor possibly this week, obser
vers having anticipated its arrival
before this time.
A bill to create a commission for
a study of road claims is also due
to make its appearance in the
house this week, but final action on
drafting the proposal has not .been
taken at this time
As a general rule, all proposed
legislation is bogged down in the
committees, leaving the legislature
wide open for the law makers to
play up to the galleries and to the
lobbyists who are swarming around
Raleigh as the birds of the air
iwarm over a carcass
A seven weeks watch over the
legislature has just about proved
that the South Carolina man was
right when he said the Palmetto
legislature was superior to the one
in the Old North State, and South
Carolina ranks mighty low when
t comes to comparisons with other
states.
Tomorrow, the legislature will go
t gallavanting down to Charlotte,
the program of the day centering
iround entertainment and more en
tertainment and little or no work.
Possible Solution To
? ?r
Lilley Murder Found
EAT SOON j
"No, we haven't forgotten It,"
Farmer Van Taylor said yester
day in announcing the Farm
Bureau was going to hold its
free membership dinner In the
eounty within the next two or
three weeks. "We are making
plans for the feed and trying to
get a prominent speaker to ad
dress the meeting," Mr. Taylor
The meeting is expected to
bring together the largest group
of farmers to assemble in the
county in several years.
Marked Drop In
Influenza Cases
Influenza cases That were fast
reaching the epidemic stage in this
county during recent days, are not
quite no numerous at this time, ac
cording to reports coming from pri
vate physicians and the heads of
several of the county schools.
"We have comparatively few cases
here at the present time," a local
doctor said today, adding that there
had been right many cases during
the past two weeks.
School attendance figures, drop
ping off as much as 20 per cent of
normal in some schools as a result
of influenza and sickness, in gener
al, are beginning to show an up
ward climb. Yesterday, Farm Life
reported only 20 absent from tU
classes
Most of the cases have not been
very severe, but the victims declare
that they are left weak and listless
Scout Banquet Here
Next Thursday Night
?*
Martin Oounty Boy Scouts are
eagerly looking forward to Thurs
day evening when they will meet
their fathers and others at a ban
quet in th Woman's Club hall here.
The troops at Jamesville and Rob
ersonville as well as the one here
will be well represented at the
meeting, unofficial reports stating
that the banquet will bring togeth
er more than tut) youths and par
ents.
District Scout Executive Sigwald
and George Tomlison, of Wilson,
and C. G. Craighill will have parts
on the program.
Arrest Colored
Man For Robbing
Filling Station
???
Saturday Morning kobbery
Similar to One Last
December
A possible solution to the Haul
Lilley murder case on the Wash
ington Road, near here, last Decem
ber 24, was found Saturday morn
ing when county officers arrested
Joe Johnson, young county Negro,
for the robbery of the C. B. Allen
filling station on the Hamilton Road
earlier in the day. Officers refused
to connect Johnson directly with the
Lilley murder case, but they admit
ted that the robbery Saturday
morning was almost identical to the
one that took place almost two
months ago No one was killed at
the Allen station, officers said, but
the "tracks" left by the robber were
identical to those at the Lilley sta
tion.
Johnson's accounts of the last Sat
urday morning robbery have var
ied, and while he finally admitted
breaking into the station, mystery
continues to surround the case. The
man was badly shot and he has told
several different stories about the
shooting, officers stating that they
believed he was shot by a colored
woman on Harrell Everett's farm
after he broke into the station. Some
one tried to break into a tenant's
chicken coop on the Everett farm
early Saturday morning, and the
woman of the house raised a win
dow and fired twice, not knowing
whether either shot hit its mark
The intruder left, and a short time
later Johnson went to the home of
Mr. Claude Jenkins on the Hamil
ton Road and asked to be brought
to a doctor. Johnson, given first-aid
treatment here, was later removed
to a Washington hospital.
First denying that he entered the
filling station, Johnson admitted
that he stole several hams, a pistol
and a few articles from the station,
but he did not confess the nut; uii
til officers explained they had his
fingerprints. "We have some other
fingerprints of yours," officers told
Johnson and he immediately asked
if they had any fingerprints taken
at the scene of the Lilley murder,
and that remark centers suspicion
on Johnson.
According to officers, Johnson
claims he was accompanied in the
robbery last Saturday morning by
two colored women who live on
the Washington Road not far from
the Lilley filling station." An inves
tigation proved that they were not
with Johnson at the time, but the
story is indirectly connected with
the Lilley case, officers believe.
Johnson then said that a colored
man, Jesse Adkins, of Oriffins
Township, shot him. Officers arrest
ed Adkins and released him after
proving him ipnocent. Johnson
later admitted that he shot himself
accidentally, that he was carrying
the barrel of a 22 calibre rifle in
his trousers.
Most of the stolen goods were
found along with the bullet rifle be
side the road where the man be
came so weak he could not carry
them further.
Johnson, shot in the shoulder, is
expected to recover, and officers are
working to piece together supple
mentary evidence to face him with
when he gets weiL
Young White Man
Is Killed In Road
Accident Saturday
Two Others Are Hurt in
First Fatal Wreck of
Year Here
?
Coy VanHorn. young Burke
County white man. was killed and
Vester Land and Clyde Brown, both
of Tarboro, were hurt in an automo
bile wreck one mile west of here on
Highway 64 last Saturday morning
at 3 o'clock. VanHorn, the back of
his head badly crushed, died before
he could be carried to a doctor's of
fice here. Brown, removed to a Tar
boro hospital, was discharged later
in the day after a slight head wound
was treated 1 and, suffering a bruk
en collar bone and other injuries to
his shoulder and chest, continues in
a Tarboro hospital, reports stating
that he will recover
Prepared for burial by Biggs Fun
eral Home attendants, VanHorn's
body was removed late that day to
his home in Drexel where the last
rites were conducted Sunday after
noon. VanHorn, 25 years old, is sur
vived by his widow and one child.
Investigating tjy accident, the
first to take a life on the highways
of" the county this year, Patrolman
W. S Hunt said that the car, a Ford
coupe driven by VanHorn, was be
ing driven apparently at a rapid
speed. It ran off the pavement on
the right, and the driver lost control
us he tried to turn it back on the
curve just a short distance beyond
the fairgrounds. Traveling across
the road on the left, the car struck a
post and turned bottom side up
wards, the top giving way and
crushing VanHorn's head against the
steering wheel.
Passing through Robersonville a
few minutes earlier, the car sound
ed like an airplane, officers there
said.
VanHorn, who was engaged in
installing some machinery in a Tar
boro mill, accompanied by Land
and Brown, was making his first
trip to see the coast country when
he lost his life.
Section Had Cold
Weather That Was
Cold Back In 17%
Governor Johnston Tells in
Old Letter About Little
Farm Income
?
They had weather here that was
really cold back in 1798 according
to an old letter written by Former
Governor Sam Johnston to his bro
ther-in-law, United States Supreme
Court Justice James Iredell back
tn December, 1796. The mercury
dropped to as low as eleven degrees
below zero at one time, and was
up to 75 above a few days later.
According to the old correspond
ence now in the hand? of Mr W H.
Biggs, here, there was little profit
in farming then just as it is today
Mr. Johnston, who made his home
here for several years and who was
prominent in the early affairs of
the U S Government, wrote to Jus
tice Iredell under dateline of Her
mitage, December 12, 1796, as fol
lows:
Hermitage, Dec 12, 1708
Mr Dear Sir:?I have not yet
heard for whom our electors have
voted, but have understood from a
gentleman from Haleigh, that there
would be at least three votes in
favor of Mr. Adams, some thought
four. I am not acquainted with any
of the Virginia electors' except Jos
iah Riddick, and he, I think, will
vote for Mr Jefferson, as he is one
of the family of the "Wrong-heads. '
The weather has been colder than
I have ever known it at this season
and the frost of longer continuance.
The mercury in the thermometer
was at one time eleven de
degrees below, and only a few days
after, it was as high as 75. This sud
den change gave me a cough, that
will probably- stick" by me until
Spring, though I am no way con
fined by it. I am constantly busy
about my little farm, which turns to
very little other account than to
afford me exercise, and to secure me
effectually against hypochondria,
vapors and melancholy, attention to
it gives me a good appetite for my
food, and disposes me to sleep
soundly at night, without any other
medicine, my cough notwithstand
ing.
?
Little Heat Wave
A little heat wave struck here this
week, pushing the mercury almost
to the eighties. Compactions are
not available, but yesterday was be
lieved to be the warmest February
day here on record.
Plans Are Nearing Completion for
The Operation of the Tobacco
Market Here This Coming Season
EXPAND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP HERE
Forming a partnership here two
years ago for the operation of the
New Farmers Warehouse, Messrs.
Leman Barnhill, Holt Evans and Joe
Moye have expanded their activities
and will in addition to the Farmers
houso, operate the Planters Ware
house here this coming season. Pic
tured here are Messrs Moye and
Evans, top, and Mr. Barhhill, right
These men are well known to the
farmers of Eastern Carolina, and
look forward to a successful season
for the Williamston Tobacco Mar
ket
tTHt Miry Li I le v
Dies At Home Of
Soil, John Lillev
Funeral For Native of Grif
fins Township Held
Sunday
Louis Henry Lilley, retired far
mer and well-known citizen of this
section, died at the home of his son,
John D. Lilley, near here on the
Washington Road last Saturday af
ternoon at 2 o'clock. He had been
in declining health for several years
being confined to his home during
most of that time. Pneumonia was!
given as the immediate cause of his'
death.
The son of the late Daniel and
Bettie Griffin Lilley, he was born
in Griffins Township 81. years ago.
Mr. Lilley married Miss Susan B
Griffin, also of Griffins Township,
and she survives with two children,
Mr. Lilley with whom he was mak
ing his home, and Mrs John Smith
wick, of Griffins Township. He was
the last member of his immediate
family.
Born just prior to the outbreak of
the Civil War, Mr. Lilley experienc
ed many hardships in his early
youth, but during that period and
the reconstruction area that follow
ed, the foundation for a useful and
honorable life was laid. He was a
hard worker, and in addition to his
work on the farm he helped to make
plows and tools that were used dur
ing the trying years for the South
Mr. Lilley was an unpretentious
man, one who scorned the fancy
things in a modern world, and one
who held to the simple but finer
things in life Mr. Lilley valued an
obligation, and was held in high
esteem by all who knew him. |
Funeral cervieou were conducted
at the home Sunday afternoon by
Hev. J. M Perry, Robersonville min
ister, assisted by Rev. M L. Am
brose and Daniel Hardison. Inter
ment was in the Tice Cemetery in
Griffins Township.
4
Junior Club Elects
Officers at Meeting
???
Meeting in the Baptist church last
evening, the local Junior Woman's
club elected officers for the new
year amLtentatively advanced plana
for a special entertainment feature
for the late fall.
Mrs. Sam Woolford was elected
to succeed Mrs. H. O. Peel as presi
dent. Other officers are Mrs. Irving
Margolis, first vice president; Mrs.
J. Paul Simpson, second vice presi
dent; Mrs Curtis B I^-ggett, secre
tary; Miss Sara Cone, corresponding
secretary; Miss Josephine Harrison,
treasurer and Mrs. E P. Cunning
ham, sponsor,
The special entertainment feature
will center around several programs
offered by the Collins Entertain
ment Festival, including a aeries of
timely lectures and the appearance
of several well known artists. Thi
series will be scheduled in late Oc
tober or early November, it was
learned. '
Mother Of Local
Man Dies Sunday
Mrs W A Knox, mother of Mr
Wilton A Knox, of this place, died
at her home in Raleigh Sunday
night at 11:20 o'clock from a heart
attack Mrs Knox, 74 years old, had
made many friends in Williamston
during visits to her son, and was
held in high esteem by all who knew
her.
In 1931, Mrs Knox moved from
Wilson to make her home in Kal
etgh She was^-devoted- member oL
the Baptist church, and the last rites
are being conducted by her pastor,
Rev. Carl M Townsend, in the
Hayes Barton church in the capital;
city this afternoon at 1 30 o'clock
Inform f>nt will follow ill the Ma
plewood Cemetery, Wilson.
Besides her son here, Mrs. Knox
is survived by two daughters, Mrs.
Graydon Preddy and Mrs Hex
Stephenson, both of Raleigh, and
two sisters, Mrs. F W. Andrews, of
Elizabeth City, and Mrs. H P But-j
ler, of Goldsboro.
L._ ... -? ? ' L
Local Church To Observe
World Day Of Prayer
On Friday afternoon of this week
in the Episcopal church at 3:30 p. m.
the churches of Williamston will ob
serve the World Day bT Prayer." For
twenty-four hours continuously the ;
r hrfcfhwi nf the wnrld
meeting for the purpose of prayer.
Last year in the McAll mission in
Paris little children in their service
prayed, "Lord, grant that men may
fight no longer, but shake hands."
The observance of this fellowship is
being strengthened each year
l wo Groups ^ ill
OjMTate The Four
Houses This Year
Predict Record Sales For
Williamston Market
This Season
. ~7~*
Preliminary and important ar
angements for the operation of the
Villiamston Tobacco market were
f fitted last week-end when two
xtrtnershipa were formed to han
lle the four tobacco auction houses.
Messrs. S. Claude Griffin. Jimmie
raylor, Arlie T. Belch, Sylvester
i Lilley and Johnnie Gurkin will
rperate the Roanoke-Dixie and New
Carolina houses, and Messrs Lemftti
Jarnhill, Holt Evans and Joe Moye
vill operate the New Farmers and
banters warehouses. W. R. Ingram,
or ten years a prominent figure in
he operation of the local market,
will not be associatetl with the
warehouse personnel. Mr. Ingram,
n a signet! statement today, points
>ut that he decided to withdraw
rom the warehouse business after
giving the matter much considers
Williamston's warehouse operat
ing personnel last year was recog
iized as the strongest in the east
jrn belt, and plans are being ad
r a need for a successful season this
/ear "We sincerely believe we can
ierve the farmers of this entire sec
ion to a better advantage under the
lew partnership arrangements than
we did last season," one of the mar
ket operators said yesterday.
Jakie Taylor, auctioneer on the
local market for several seasons, has
been signed by the Roanoke-Dixie
and New Carolina partners, and an
;nu twiiu'nr ?.f u-idr anH
id her capable, men will be employed
to give the farmers of this section
in able and satisfactory service.
The operating personnel includes
the best judges of tobacco in this
entire section, and they are well
trained in the operation of tobacco
warehouses. With this combination
n action, the Williamston market
lias the stage already set for a rec
?rd season this year. ? .
Although it was located in an
ilea where one of the poorest crops
in years was experienced, the Wil
liamston market ranked at the very
lop in the average pile** paid last
teason. Its poundage record, while
'ailing below the 1937 figure, was
musually high considering the short
Top
Dinner This Evening To
Climax Masons' Contest
i .
A special program, featuring lad
es' night and climaxing an attend
ince contest will be held in the Wo
nan's club hall this evening at 7
;even o'clock by Skewarkey Masons.
Wore than 100 Masons and special
guests are expected to attend the
neeting An interesting and enter
aining program has been outlined
jy Charlie Davenport.
Divided in two teams, thg M"n?r>n^
.tarted an attendance contest sever -
il months ago. The "Whites," head
>d by J C. Manning, out-numbered
he "Blues" headed by J. C. Ander
son, and this evening the winners
are guests of the losers of the con
test
Tax Bill Less Per Person In
U. S. Than In Great Britain
The bill paid by taxpayers of the
United States ih 1937 was an esti
mated $15 less per person than that
)>aid in Great Britain, a compara
tive study by the Federation of Tax
Administrators showed. Citizens of
Great Britain paid $107 per person ]
for all taxes, while the total local,
state and federal tax bills for the
United States figured $92 per capi- J
ta, according to the study.
From sources of tax revenue
which varied widely in yield be
tween the two countries, Great Bri
tain's taxes totaled $4,908,410,000
and those of the United States, with
a population a little less than three
times as large amuunted to $11,838,
700,000. In Great Britain 34 per cent
of this total came from income
taxes. In the United States proper
ty taxes constituted 38 per cent as
the largest source.
Custom duties- in Great Britain
produced approximately one-fourth
of the total tax revenue?about the
same proportion as yielded by va
rious excise taxes in the United
States. The British income tax
brought in $ 1,692,000,000 and cus
toms $1,075,000,000, while in the
United States the property tax rev
enue totaled $4,500,000,000 and ex
cise taxes $2,806,000,000 as the sec
ond and most important sources.
Besides the outstanding differ
ences in yields of the various taxes,
there were also a wide difference in
the amount of taxes collected by the
national and local governments in
the two countries, the study show
ed.
Combined state and local tans in
the United States totaled about $T,
000,000,000 in 1037 as compared to
about $327,000,000 In Great Britain.