Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / April 21, 1939, edition 1 / Page 1
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Advertisers Will Find Our Col umns s Latchkey to over 1,000 J Hamas of II a r 11 n County. THE ENTERPRISE Watch the Label on Your Paper, As It Carries the Data Your Subscription Expiree VOLUME XLII NUMBER 32 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday. April 21. 1939. ESTART.TRWTm taoo Court Takes Recess Thursday After Five Cases Are Handled Caveators Fail To Set Aside Will of Robersonville Colored Man Attacked by Maude Ward and Anne Purvis and about eighteen others of bloodkin. the will of Gus Coffield. a late colored citizen of Robersonville, was held intact by a Martin County Superior Court jury here last Wednesday afternoon fol lowing a trial that lasted the great er part of two days. Centering around the man's men tal ability at the time he prepared a codicil to his will on February 2U. the case attracted the cream of col ored .society from Robersonville, Bethel ana a tew more froth other places. At one time there were near ly 100 colored spectators in the courtroom for the proceedings. Preparing the amendment to his will ten days before he died, Cof field left the property, valued by some at around $14,000, to Jane Ov erton, a Rocky Mount school teach er of light complexion and a niece of Coffield's first wife, William Cherry, a nephew of the man's first wife and now a student in a Tennes see school, Sandy Brown, a cousin. Whit Briley and Fannie Coffield, his wife. The property consisted most ly of real estate, including two farms and a number of houses and lots in the Town of Robersonville. Taken seriously ill with cancer early in February, Coffield placed himself in the care of a physician, and once advised of his condition made plans to wind up his worldly affairs. He wrote a codicil to his will 011 the 20th of that month, the pro pounders apparently proving to the satisfaction of the jury that Coffield prepared the document in proper form, that it was done without influ ence and that he possessed normal mental facilities when he made the will. In effect, the court directed the answer in the first two issues, and the jury deliberated leas than five minutes in answering the third issue. The pro pounders and caveators of fered the testimony of about 20 wit nesses, including one or two profes sional men. All of last Tuesday and a part of Wednesday morning was devoted to the submission of evi dence. Argument by four of the sev en attorneys in the case lasted sev eral hours, and Judge H. A. Grady 'completed his charge in about thir ty minutes, the jury returning its verdict shortly before 3 o'clock Wed nesday. Pole Bell, colored attorney for the caveators, intimated he would ap peal to the State Supreme court for a review of the case. A lone case, involving only $200, occupied the attention of the court all day last Monday, and following the trial of the Coffield will case on Wednesday, the court granted two divorces, both on the grounds of two ySBfs' separation, in the cases of Ka therine Gibson Mizelle against Chas. H. Mizelle, and Will B. Knox against Myrtle Knox. Completing the Coffield will case, the court immediately started work on the $10,000 damage suit brought by J. E. Pope, administrator, against Homer Glosson, J. C. Whitehead and W. M. Bingham. Making progress in the suit, the plaintiffs experienced a reversal before all their evidence was completed. Ownership of the truck could not be definitely estab lished, and the court granted a mo tion for judgment of non-suit as to Defendants Whitehead and Bing ham. The plaintiffs then accepted a voluntary non-suit as to Gloasor? It is likely that the case will be reop ened. The suit was started by Mr. Pope as a result of a fatal accident on the Jamesville highway, near Dardens, last September when Glos son, employee of a lumber company or a contracting firm, was driving a truck and struck Isaiah Hardison, fatally injuring him. Granting a judgment in the sum of $38S.02 with interest from Octo ber, 1938, to the Standard Fertilizer Company in the case against W. K. Blackmore and others, the court or dered a recess until next Monday when the court will continue the second of a two-weeks term for the trial of civil cases only. Jamesville Schedules Nominating Convention A convention (or the nomination of a mayor and three town commis sioner* (or Jamesville will be held in the school house there on rriday evening of next week, it was an nounced today by C. A. Askew, clerk to the board. Jamesville dtixens are expected to show much interest in the con Startling Allegations Follow Young County Girl's Arrest The arrest of a young Martin County girl this week disclosed some startling facts allegedly chargeable to several "prominent" men. Not certain as to the foundation of the charges, officers and welfare author ities closely guarded the allegations which were regarded as "startling" to say the least. Records in the case are not being freely advanced, and little informa tion is yet available in the case that at least one person described as car rying "potential dynamite". The girl, said to be hardly sixteen years old, was arrested allegedly for public drunkenness and placed in the common jail. Her removal to the county home was later ordered by welfare authorities, but reports from the institution say that she has again been transferred presumably to the home of her parents. Additional facts of a recognized nature in the case are not to be had. but information coming from other sources states that the victim of a cruel society has encountered the strong arm of the law before, on one occasion, at least. Her tender age apparently kept her out of the courts for seasoned criminals, and it is believed that her case was made subject to fatherly advice ra ther than to drastic action in the courts. Allegedly keeping company with several other girls of teen age, the victim of society is said to have re mained away from home for short periods to finally fall in a drunken condition into the hands of the law. MORE CHECKS After a lull In the distribution of soil conservation checks dur ing the past week or ten days, benefit payments to Martin County farmers are setting un derway again, the office of the county agent announcing today that approximately 100 checks, representing $6,981, are ready for delivery. Nearly $100,000 has already been distributed to farmers com plying with the soli conservation program and approximately $40,000 more Is expected. The delay in getting the checks to Martin farmers resulted when the check writers turned their attention to other counties throughout the farm belt. No as surance can be given for the immediate receipt for addition al checks, but others are expect ed daily. Fair Attendants Make Short Visit Here Wednesday Mayor Hassell Greets Group Interview -? The following attendants selected to man the North Carolina Exhibit at the New York World's Fair whicn officially opens on April 30 and closes November 1, were here for a| few minutes Wednesday morning on an educational tour of North Caro lina, which started in Charlotte April 10 and which will be conclud ed on April 20. The group of young women and men were greeted at the City Hall by Mayor Hassell, and during their brief stay here the visitors took notes on various points of historical interest, and hurriedly sketched a few facts about the economic condi tions. The group, traveling in a spec ial bus, continued from here to Greenville and will report in New York about May 1. Miss Miriam Converse Johnson, chief hostess, Aberdeen: Miss John son attended Roberts Beach Pre paratory school, attained an A-B de gree at Simons College, Boston, and has had special courses in salesman ship and personnel work. Miss Anna Corinne Jones, Nash ville: Miss Jones is a graduate of Salem College and has taught Eng lish and history in North Carolina schools for 7 years. Miss Frances Roughton, Old Fort: Miss Roughton is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and has had special courses in North Carolina social economics. Miss Anna Bellamy Williamson, (Continued on page six) ? Two Escape Injury In Wreck Last Wednesday Mrs. Elizabeth Eberle, driver, and her husband escaped injury lasi Wednesday morning when their car, a 1936 Ford coupe, skidded and turned over on the Washington high way at the Staton farm, near here. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eberle were thrown into a ditch when the car turned over and came to a stop with all four of its wheels in the air. Their car repaired, the young cou ple continued on to their home in New York yesterday. ? Building And Loan Stockholders To Meet ? The annual meeting of the Martin County Building and Loan Associa tion stockholders will be held in the county courthouse on Tuesday, May 2, at 11 a. m., Wheeler Martin, sec retary of the organization, announc ed today. John Madson Given Hearing Bv Justice A. Corey This Week Civil Action Reported To Have Been Settled in Lanier Killing John Madson, Lexington man charged with manslaughter and passing a school bus while it was standing, was released following a hearing before Justice A. Corey here last Tuesday afternoon. Madson, driver of the car that struck and fa tally injured Hulet Lanier, colored high school girl, on the Jamesville highway last month, pleaded no* guilty to the charge of manslaugh ter, and his plea was supported by evidence offered by two witnesses, W. H. Sexton and C. D. Cooper, both of Columbia. According to the evidence offered by Sexton and Cooper, the school bus after discharging the Lanier girl was placed in motion and had mov ed down the highway possibly 100 feet before the girl darted into the TfigHway end into the path of the Madson car. Sexton and Cooper, op erating a truck, had brought their machine to a stop behind the school bus They saw Madson approaching and told the trial justice that he slowed down his car and apparently planned to stop, that the car driver resumed his speed when he saw the school bus in motion. They also stated to the court that Madson was not driving in excess of 35 miles an hour when his car struck the girl and nearly tore off one of her legs. Their testimony virtually support ed statements made by Madson to Highway Patrolman W. S. Hunt who investigated the accident shortly af ter it happened on the afternoon of March 24. The accident victim died in a Washington hospital the following Tuesday morning. ?? A suit to recover damages in the sum of $7,500 was filed a few days ago by the girl's parents, Octavious and Emma Lanier, against Madson, but according to unofficial reports the civil action has since been set lied, the administrators receiving approximately $1,800. Farm Life "Breaks' Into N. C Magazine Masterfully handling two interest ing projects, the third and fourth grades of the Farm Life school will be given well-earned recognition in the North Carolina Education Mag azine in the Ma'y and September numbers, J. C. Manning, superinten-1 dent of county schools, was advised here this week. The third-grade project, handled under the supervision of Mrs. C. B. Martin, centers around "transporta tion", and the second project direct ed by the fourth grade teacher, Miss Marguerite Cooke, deals with "light". The subjects were greatly expand ed for the children by the unit meth od of teaching, it was pointed out. An extensive supply of material was Used in advancing" the projects, and the children, their interest greatly stimulated by the method, respond ed splendidly to the task assigned them. Commenting on the method, C. B. Martin, principal of the school, said, "It provides for better individual in struction and creates an outlet for individual desires and abilities. In general, the unit method provides an opportunity for discovery, diag nosis and development of the child's interests." ? Mrs. W. S. Lilley, of Winston-Sal em, is the guest of her daughter, 'Mrs. J. D. Taylor, and Mr. Taylcfr, for about ten day*. County Man Gets $8,(HHMH) Verdict Against Railroad ___?: ? Nathaniel Coltrain Injured In Truck-Train Accident Near Gardners Creek Nathaniel Coltrain, Williams Township young man, was awarded an $8,000 verdict against the Atlan tic Coast Line Railroad last Wednes day afternoon by a Washington County jury for injuries received in a truck-train accident near Gard ners Creek in this county on March 8, 1937. His back broken, young Coltrain remained in a critical condition for months, and now has to wear a brace on his back. The accident took place oil a grade crossing just Una side of Uaidtieis Creek. Coltrain claimed in Ins com plaint that he could not see Uie ap proaching train because of tree tops that had been cut and piled on the railroad right of way. obstructing the view. Railroad attorneys coun tered wiUi Uie charge that Coltrain was negligent and that he did not have brakes on his car. Trial of the case was started. Mon day and continued until just befur noon Wednesday, when Judge C. Everett Thompson, of ElizabeUi City charged the jury. They took the case at 1 p. ni. and returned the verdict Wednesday evening at six. Attor neys W. B Rodman and Z. V. Nor man represented the railroad and W. L. Whitley represented Coltrain. Unofficial reports indicate that unless a compromise can be effected the defense Will appeal to the Stale Supreme Court. ? ? Robersonville Mail Is Killed In Wreck Harvey Murchinson, Robersouville colored man, was fatally injured and about fifteen children were injured, one badly, when a fertilizer truck crashed into a school bus a few miles east of Rocky Mount early last Wed nesday morning Major Brown, driv er of the truck belonging to Tom Bunting, of?Ho be r so n v 11 It ?, esc a ped unhurt. He was taken into custody and jailed in default of a $1,000 bond. Brown, also of Robersonville, claims the truck came to a sudden stop, that he could not stop the heavily-loaded truck in time to avoid the crash. He tried to turn out and go around the bus, but failed to clear it by about two feet. The bus was knocked off the road and turned over in a field. The right side of tin truck cab was smashed and Mur chinson, riding with Brown, was killed instantly. The fifteen children were treated in a Rocky Mount hospital for frac-j lures, bruises and cuts. Fishing Is Not So Good in Roanoke Fishing on the Roanoke is betwixt good and bad these days with pros pects for a herring catch far below normal Early this week, fishermen took fish from the streams in tens of thousands. This morning at JamesviTle, the catches were down to about one thousand. So far this season, the plant at Jamesville has netted about 400,000 herring, fair rock catches, but few shad. More fish have already been caught this season than were taken from the stream all last year, Man ager Ange of the Fleming plant stat ing that possibly a hundred thous and or so more herring would be caught before the season comes to a close about three weeks from now. With catches below normal, a her ring shortage is almost certain again this season. However, current prices are unusually cheap, quota tions standing at 50 cents a hundred Tor the fish just as they are taken from the river and 60 cents per hun dred after the fish are prepared and Local Youth Wins Honors In State Music Contest ? E. G. Wynne, Williamston high school youth and student of J. E. Aiken, won third place in the an nual state music contest held at tha Woman's college In Greensboro last Tuesday. Competing in Class A, a class usually reserved for students from schools with enrollments of six hundred or more, the young man won third place as trombone so loist and received an honor rating of III. First and second places were won by students from Burlington and Raleigh high schools. Several Schools End Successful Term in the County Next Week; Nearly 200 to Receive Diplomas Few Changes Anticipated In Faculty Personnel For 1939 Other than ten or twelve resigna tions in two schools, comparatively few changes are anticipated in the teaching personnel in the schools of this county for next year, according to unofficial reports received here from most of the local committees! throughout the county. Several res ignations have hren filed with the local boards in the Oak City and Ev eretts districts, and possibly one or two changes in the faculty person nel will be effected in several of the other districts, but still other dis tricts anticipate no resignations or changes, it is understood. Love affairs, culminating at the altar, are taking several teachers out of the profession. Others, local ed in the county for quite a while, Program 01 Events For (Commencement In the Local Schools Secretary of State School Commission To Speak Thursday The first in the final series of com mencement exercises in the local school will be held in the . high school auditorium Sunday morning at 11 o'clock when Rev. Z. T. Piep hoff, of the local Presbyterian church, preaches the annual sermon to the seniors and the general pub lic. No services will be held at thai hour m the several churches* and everyone is urged to worship with the members of the senior class. A detailed program for the Sun day morning service follows. Processional for seniors, invoca tion, hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy"; scripture reading* prayer, "O Sacred Head Now Wounded," from the Passion Choral by Hassler, harmony by Bach, quartet; "The Cherubim Song," by Rortniansky, high school chorus; commencement sermon, "Get the King," Rev. Z. T Picphoff, pas tor of the Williamston Presbyterian church; hymn, "Come Thou Almigh ty King", benediction. Ntxt Wednesday evening at eight o'clock, the seniors will hold their class exercises in the high school auditorium. On Thursday iilgill the term. wlJ_ be brought to a formal close witn graduation exercises, and an address by Lloyd Griffin, secretary of the Stute School Commission. The high school glee club will appear in brief concert during the program that evening. For the first time, the local school is issuing special certificates of merit to a number of pupils who have tak en advanced work supplementing the regular course of instruction and equalling a twelfth grade. Clinic Attendance Shows A Decrease Opened with a rushing business in the lower part of the county thei early part of last week, pre school clinics, conducted by the health de-! partment staff, are now reporting low attendance figures At one time the indications pointed to a substan tial increase in the number of begin ners for the next fall school term, but more recent reports point to de creased numbers in the first grades, as a whole, next season Only 24 pre-school children were present for the clinic in Roberson ville Monday as compared with 26 a year ago. In the first clinic a week prior to that time, 3S children reported at Jamesville and 13 at Farm Life. Other points reported, as follows: Williamston, 64; Evcretts, 22; Bear Grass, 20; Hamilton, 9; Oak City, 12. Today, the health staff is conduct ing clinics in the schools at Gold Point and Hasaell. The clinics have met with mark ed success in that the way was open ed for the correction of a number of physical defects among the little j tots entering school next fall for the first time. The correction of the defects has been proved to place children on an equal footing with the average or normal child. are resigning to explore new terri-1 lory, the reports state. Definite appointments, already j considered by several of the local i committees, are not available at this ! time. Board meetings are being held I in other districts this weeks. the law | requiring the committee groups to j notify teachers of this appoint 01 . rejection at or before the cIojo of school No definite time for a meet ing of the Williamston committee has been determined, one report stating that the members, MeSsrS. R L. Coburn, u. B. Clark and K. H Goodmon, will consider applications not later than the early part of next week. It is understood that no ma terial change in the local school personnel will be effected for th > 1939-40 term. I FEW REGISTER li v * Willi the addition of seven or eight new names to the regis tration books, it Ls apparent that more interest is being centered in the coming town election than was manifested in the con vention a week ago. Moot of those placing their names on the registration books for the first time are newcomers here. Tew votes are likely to be cast in the election 011 Tuesday, May 2nd. \\ i 11 iam I). ( Hark Dies At His Home Near IIere Today Funeral?Services?Saturday Afternoon At His Late Home William K. Clark, retired farmei and highly respected county citizen, died at his home in Bear Grass Township at 6:30 o'clock following a long period of declining health. Suf-1 fering a stroke of paralysis nearly three years ago, he was confined to his bed during the past two. Mr Clark was 80 years old and prior to his last illness he was very active despite his advanced age The son of the late (Jutland and Km ma Mobley Clark, he was born i in Bear Grass Township, spending j all ins life there.- Mr. Clark was a high esteem by all who knew him. He was recognized as a kindly old gentleman, and as a member of the old school he valued high ideals, honesty and the friendship of his l'ellowman. He was known during most of his life as Buck Clark. In early manhood he married. Miss Mary Swain and she with three daughters, Mrs. John Leggett and, Mis. L). L. Heel, both of Bear Grass, and Mrs. John Page, of Koberaon . ville, survives, lie was a thoughtful [ provider in the home, and a good citizen in his community and coun ty. Funeral services will be conducted; from the late home Saturday after noon at 3 o'clock by Hev. J. M. Per ry, pastor of the Hobersonville Christian church. Interment will fol low in the Peel cemetery, near the home, in Bear Grass Township. Singing Class Agent Dies Of Heart Attack Leltoy W. Alderman, for 28 years agent and manager of the Oxford Orphanage class, died suddenly of an heart attack in Stokes last Wed nesday afternoon while on tour with the orphanage singers. A native of Sampson County, Mr Alderman was 84 years old. He had visited Williamston many times with a young group of children raising funds for the orphanage at Oxford. He made many warm friendships here and throughout the State. Bible Class Enjoys Rock Muddle Supper ? Climaxing an attendance contest, about forty members of the Meth odist Adult Bible class enjoyed a rock muddle at Mobley's mill near here last evening. Jimmie Taylor, assisted by Sam Edwards, was the chief cook. Sermons Scheduled For Sunday In Most Of the White Schools Prominent State Figures To Appear on Various Programs Bringing to a close another very successful term, the several white xehonls lit T)ip rmmtv trill hold their? finals programs next week, begin ning in most cases with the annual commencement sermons * Sunday morning, afternoon or evening. The closing programs ar.e attracting prominent State figures to the coun ty this season, including Governor Clyde K. Hoey who speaks in Hob ersonville Wednesday evening at 3 o'clock. _ Six of the ten whitp schools will? #lose the term with graduation ex ercises on Wednesday evening, fol lowed by finals programs in Wil liamston, Hamilton and Hassell on Thursday, and in Oak City on Fri day. All colored schools except those in the north end of the county will close the term next Wednes day. Delayed one week last fall by cotton picking, the schools in the upper end of the county will not end the term until May 3. The white schools of the county are establishing new records this year, according to preliminary re ports coming from the office of the county superintendent. Nearly 200 >oung girls and boys are being grad uated by the six high schools, and a record number of youths will move out of the seventh grade into the high school. Final figures as to the number of graduates and the num ber gaining entrance into the high school will not be available until examinations are graded and the giades are checked. Ai. the til in draws to a Close, lo c'al and county school authorities are expressing themselves as being well pleased with the progress made ind are already making arrange ments for the new term beginning next fall. Finals programs have been an - nounced, as follows: Jamesville Sunday, April 23 Commence mont sermon by Dr. S. A Maxwell, of the Williamston Methodist Church. Tuesday, April 25, 8 p. in Class Day exercises. Wednesday, April 28, 8 p. m. ? Graduatioit exercises. Dr. R. C Ueal, professor in the East Carolina -Teachers'- College, Greenville,?wtti? deliver the commencement address. Farm Life Friday night, April 21 Elemen tary program. Sunday, April 23, 11 a. in Com mencement sermon-by Elder?J?-Br Lee, of Four Oaks. Wednesday, April 28, 11 a. m. ? Class Day exercises; 12, noon, pic nic The Hon. J M. Broughton, of Kaleigh, will deliver the commence ment address at ?. 3n that-afti'Hi'""1!! " Hear (Iras* Friday night, April 21 ? High school play. Sunday night, April 23. ? Com " (Continued on page six) Few Dogs Re|)orted In Bear Grass Area An apparent increase in the num ber of dogs found in Jamesville, Williams and Griffins Township earlier this month has been offset by a marked decrease in the num ber of the canines in the Bear Grass area, according to Dr. A. J. Osteen who is handling the county wide cumpaign against rabies ilardty more than half as many dogs were vaccinated there this year as compared with the number vac cinated a year ago. "We don't know whether there has been a high death rate among dogs there or whether the owners forgot or failed to com ply with the law and have their dogs vaccinated," Dr. Osteen said. The campaign is underway in this township today, and tomorrow the doctor will vaccinate dogs at his office in the J. A Manning peanut building near the Plan tars ware house. Next Monday, the campaign will be centered at Beddard's store in Poplar Point at 1 o'clock and on Wednesday at Ctoaa Roads at the same hour.
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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April 21, 1939, edition 1
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