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VOLUME XLII?NUMBER 35 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday. May 2*1939. ESTABLISHED 1899
Listless Meeting
Town Authorities i
Here Last Night
??? I
Refuse To Accept Responsi
bility in Car-Bicycle
Accident
?
Holding a listless session, the lo-j
cal town commissioners last night
held their last regular meeting as
members of the old board, the group
to meet as a new board on June 5,
subject to the outcome of the elec
tion in progress today. Very little
new business came before the meet
ing, the members handling that with
dispatch and adjourning before nine
oclock.
Explaining that he had a nurse's
bill for $178, Joe Mitchell, father of
little Jimmie Mrtehell, who was cri
tically injured in an automobile-bi
cycle accident during a fire call here
last March, appeared before the
board and asked for any help the
commissioners might be willing to
offer. Mitchell explained that no
consideration or thought had been
given to the possibility of bringing
?Mt against Fire Chief G. P Hall,
driver of the car figuring in the
crash, or against the town. Ruling
that the town and fire chief were
not responsible, the authorities with
KaU nisi
The last chapter in the town's
proposed improvement program was
written last evening when the board
abandoned all hope of executing a
contract for a $128,000 PWA project
Granted $50,200 outright by the
PWA early last fall, the town could
not sell its bonds at an attractive
figure and before it could apply for
a loan direct from the government,
the deadline for receiving applica
tions had passed The matter was
carried direct to Washington, and
after receiving some encouragement
from minor officials in the PWA of
fices there, local authorities were
advised last week that it would be
impossible to reopen the applica
tion under the 1938 law governing
PWA applications, loans and grants.
While that apphcatiun has met
with failure, local authorities are
hopeful Senator Meade's proposal to
appropriate half billion dollars for
taking care of projects proposed drat i
not accepted under the old PWA. I
The proposal to appropriate the half
billion has been attached by Sena
ator Meade as a "rider'' to another
bill which is awaiting action in Con
gress at the present time.
Arrangements were made for
holding the election today, the board
members stating that they believed
only a small vote would be cast to-1
yay.
The only other business before thel
meeting was a request by Roy
Ward, wood and coal dealer, urging
the board to tile a ditch across a lot
on South Railroad Street,' just off
Pearl Street. The board ordered no
action taken there at the present
Charles Toxey, Jr., teacher in the
local schools last term, applied for
the managership of the municipal
swimming pool, but no action was
taken at the meeting. '
The board was advised that the
filtering plant for the swimming
poolhad Been shipped and would
probably be ready for installation
Wltfein a short time. The foundation
for the bathhouses will be poured
this week, and it is possible but
hardly likely that the project, a ver
itable white elephant, will be ready
for use by June 1.
Negro Critically
Stabbed Sunday
"Preacher" Pettiford, colored em
ployee of the Saunderi and Cox
Lumber Company, was critically
stabbed by Booker T. Williams at
Ward's Store on East Main Street
here last Sunday evening about 8
o'clock. Treated locally that eve
ning Pettiford was removed to a
Washington hospital yesterday
where his condition was described
as grave today.
Without warning, Williams, an
employee of the Standard Fertilizer
Company, was said to have sbpped
up on Pettiford and driven his knife
blade into the man's head. The
first blow did no serious damage the
blade of the knife glancing off the
man's skull, but striking a second
time, Williams is said to have driv
en the several inch blade into the
man's head up to the handle.
Dancing in the small store, Petti
ford fell to the floor and had to be
carried bodily to a doctor's office.
He was said to have been drinking,
and his condition was not thought to
be serious until a second examina
tion was made early yesterday.
Williams, fleeing the scene of the
attack, has not yet been apprehend
One Hundred and Fifty Are
Graduated by County Schools
The closing of the six white high
schools in this county lost week saw
? record number of graduates going
into the various channels of life, re
ports stating that comparatively few
of the 150 boys and girls will con
tinue their education in the institu
tions of higher learning. Again the
number of girl graduates is far
greater than the number of boys
completing the 11-year course of
study in the schools of this county
Hardly more than ten or twelve
per cent of the graduates will enter
college. A fairly sizeable number
will enter business schools and sev
eral of the young ladies plan to en
ter hospitals for special training in
nursing, leaving quite a number
with nothing definite to do.
As the! Ml completed their work
in the high school, the nine elcmen-1
tary schools moved 22t> seventh
grade graduates into the high school.
Jaking into consideration the large
number of students who drop out of
high school before completing the
course of study, it is apparent that
the number of graduates is now ap
proximating a peak because it is
likely that more than 76 of the 226
will quite the school room before
another four years are spent.
Following is a list of hfgh school ,
and seventh grade graduates, by
schools, the first figures represent
ing the high school and the second
figures representing the seventh
grade output: Jamesville. 14 and 30.
Farm Life, 10 and 11: Bear Grass,
10 and 14. Williamston, 42 and 57.
Robersonville, 53 and 53, Oak City,
21 and 16 The strictly elementary
schools are sending the following
number of seventh graders into
high school: Everetts, 31: Hamilton,
7, and Hassell, 7.
EPIDEMIC
A whooping cough epidemic is
sweeping through Jamesville
Township and a part of Griffins,
according to a report coming
from the county health office
today. Thirty-one rases were re
ported in the Jamesville area
yesterday, the office stating that
approximately 60 cases had been
reported previously. The cough
is no respector of color, the re
ports stating that both the white
and the colored are falling vie
tims to it.
Dr. Wilson, head of the de
partment, said today that the
epidemic could have been check
ed weeks ago had proper reports
been filed. Pointing out that the
cough takes more lives below
one year of age than any other
disease, the director said that
the individual violates the law
when a report of a communica
ble disease is not reported.
lamesville Names
New Set Officials
Showing a marked interest in pol
itics, leading citizens in Jamesvillc
braved stormy weather to settle
their town polilics for another two
years when they met in convention
in the school auditorium there last
Friday evening and nominated a
new mayor and a new board of com
missioners.
Their selection for mayor was
readily agreed upon when Dr. W. T.
Gibson was nominated to succeed
Mr. Luther Hardison, resigned. Dr
Gibson asked to be relieved, but the
convention would not listen to his
objections and he was chosen unan
imously *
When nominations lor commis-~
sioners were called for, nearly one
half the convention was offered. The
names of A. Corey, U. S. Hassell, J
G. Long, E. H. Ange, R. C. Sexton,
W W Walters, Jr., C. A Askew,
Stancil Brown, C. C. Fleming, J. H.
Holliday, and O. W. Hamilton were
placed, before the convention.-Alley
five ballots were taken, C. C. Flem
ing, J. H- Holliday and O. W. Ham
ilton were selected as the conven
tion nominees.
Called in accordance with a recent
act of the legislature, an election
will be held there on May 30, re
ports stating that there is little or
no likelihood that an independent
ticket will be offered. Registration
books have already been opened
and will be held open during the
next two Saturdays. On the Satur
day before the election, the books
will be opened for challenge.
Parents-Teachers Sponsor
Convention-Square Dance
Badly in need of funds to meet
some urgent obligations incurred in
providing lunches for needy chil
dren during the term just ended, the
local parent-teacher association will
sponsor an old-time fiddlers' con
vention in the high school auditor
ium Friday evening of this week at
eight o'clock. The convention will
be followed by a square dance in the
school gymnasium.
Cash prizes in the sum of $11 will
be offered along with valuable
premiums to the winners. Four of
the leading string bands in this sec
tion are slated to compete, but the
competition is open to all. A sound
system will be used, and the spon
sors are looking for a packed house
at both events. The program is be
ing advanced for a very worthy
cause, and the patronage of the gen
eral public is cordially urged.
Mesdames Rush Bondurant, C. G.
/Crockett and Tenner Wallace were
visitors in Norfolk today.
Oak City Seniors
Hear Address Bv
State School Man I
Clyde A. Erwin Delivers
Commencement Talk
Last Friday
Marking the close of the last white!
school in the county last Friday eve
ning. Clyde A Erwin, State Super
intendent of Public Instruction, de
livered a timely and fitting address
ty the Oak City graduating class of
twenty-one members and a large
number of patrons whu braved a
stormy night to witness the first
real crowning event of the thirteen
young girls und eight young men
Following a number by the glee
club. Superintendent of County
Schools J. C Manning introduced
the speaker, and during the course
of 45 minutes the State school man
encouraged the young graduates to
seek the finer things in life, urging
-them to be Haliiutic, liave~TaTlTr UT
God and man, cooperate in the mu
tual advancement of mankind and
work diligently and honestly.
Paying a tribute to the head of the
schools in this county when he said
that the department recognized J
C Manning as one of the moit able
and efficient young school men in
the State, the speaker then directed
his remarks to the young graduutcs,
inviting the large and appreciative
audience to sit in and listen.
The school man was strong in his
defense of modern youth. "They are
not irresponsible as many claim
them to be," Erwin said, referring to
an article that described youth as
being irreverent, worthless and
shiftless as far back as 1803 "You
graduates will at some future date
Jook back upon your work today and
recognize it as a period of valuable
training "
In his smooth flow of oratory, the
speaker expressed the keen hope
that every graduate would pause
long enough to think what it means
to be an American, the blessing
found in free onterpric.
that there is only one law to obey.
In substance that law gives one the
right to do as he pleases in this
country as long as his acts do not
conflict with the rights of others, it
was pointed nUt "IE Is great io be
an American citizen,' the speaker
continued, urging his listeners to be
patriotic. "We have our ups and
downs, but when we compare our
land with others, we have much to
be thankful for," he said, referring
to the little immigrant girl who saw
the immense show windows in an
American city and termed this "the
promised land".
"In the midst of depression we
have more than other nations And 1
want you to work for it, learn to
love it and reflect the same zealous
ness 'reflected by your forebears in
making it great," he said speaking
to the graduates.
The spirit of faith was stressed as
a vital necessity when youth looks
(Continued on page six)
-4?
Music Pupils In Recital
Tonight At 8:00 O'Clock
?
The piano pupili of Mrs. W. K
Parker will be presented in a reci
tal at the Williamston high school
auditorium at eight o'clock this eve
ing.
The following will take part in
the program: Millie Biggs, Minnie
Chesson, Marjorie Grey Dunn, Anne
Fowden, Sylvia Greene, Thelma
Griffin, Patsy King, Alberta Knox.
Dorothy Leggett, Letitia Maxwell,
Lillian Maxwell, Anne Meador, No
nie Melson, Elizabeth Parker, Lau
ra Frances Peele, Mary Trulah Peel,
Betty Rogers, Dora Twiddy. Helen
Weaver, and Evelyn Wynne.
Reviews Results of
Examinations I n
County's Schools
More Defects Found Among
White Than Colored
Children
?
By F. E. WILSON, Director
Martin County Health Department
During the first quarter of the
year 1939 the first systematic and
complete examinations were made
in all the graded schools of Martin
County by the Martin County Health
Department. This was then a fertile
field in which to gather statistical
data for an accurate knowledge of
the physical defects found among
school children who had hcretofoic
never had the advantage of health
education through a local health
aepartment. The table at the end of
this article gives more details and a
comparison between the two halves
of the county, and also a compare
?on between the white and colored
children examined.
Two thousand three hundred and
fourteen (2314) children in the first,
third and sixth grades of the Martin
County Schools were examined by
the health officer during the part
school year Of this number, 1556, or
67 24 per cent, wore found to have
physical defects, and only 90 were
found to be entirely free of any
handicaps Of Uie total number u
children examined 1156 had rrpwl
ed one or more grades, and 132 of
them having repeated three or more
grade, and a few had repeated as
many as six grades Tlwsc repeaters
were studied to detciminc whcthei
their physical defects retarded them
in school and it was found that 67
per cent had preventable defects
which if corrected early enough
might have saved them from hat
ing tu repeat, and thereby saving
the taxpayers over $25,000, since a
wost this much for the 776 to repeat
at $34 00 per child per daily attend
unce during the year
Comparing this amount to the to
tal population of Marlm Cuunly it
would mean thai every v-ni:iii
and child in the county .would have
to pay over one dollar each to bear
the expense of these defects This
does not take into
tact that these children have to bcu
the insidious suffering of their ban
dicaps which must ncccssai ily du
plicate their time in school and post
pone their graduation, thus depnv
ing them of an earlier start toward
making their livelihood.
Mental deficiencies were not stud
led in these examinations, and of tin
physical defects decayed and infect
cd teeth and poor vision head thi
list. Infected and enlarged tonsil
and adenoids with an associated di
nunution of hearing were responst
hie for many of the defects, am
chronic skin diseases contribute!
largely. Nutritional defects wen
comparatively-few?Marry isitentia
defects such us incorrect posture
glundular enlargviiiciii, and poo
oral hygiene were not counted a
defects unless they were to the de
gree of causing actual discomfort
Many cass of congenital and func
tional heart defects were found am
this knowledge was
(Continued on page six)
Schedule Tonsil And
Adenoids Clinics Here
i Arrangements for holding a ser
ies of tonsil and adenoid clinics here I
beginning on Thursday of next
week, were announced complete
.today- oy?-Dr. Charles J.?SawyctV
Plans have been made to hold the
clinics each Thursday during the
summer at special reduced rates
Similar clinics have met with much
success here during the past sever
al years.
LISTLESS
One of the judges ot election
was asleep, another was merely
twirling his thumbs and still an
other was busily engaged doing
something else as they patient
ly waited tor Wtlliamston voters
to participate in the biennial
town election. The election is
proving a listless a/fair, Regis
trar J. E. Pope announcing at
1:30 this afternoon that less than
two dosen people had cast their
votes.
No independent ticket has
been mentioned and if there has
been any scratching done it was
not detected by the election of
ficials. Last year, 53 votes were
cast. The ticket today carries the
following names: I. L. Haasell,
mayor; O. H. Harrison, N. C.
Green, L. P. Ltndsley. Luther
Peel and V. D. Godwin, commis
sioners, all renominated at the
Commissioners of County Show
Conservative Trend in Their First
Discussion of Proposed Budget
MERIT HONOR AND DISTINCTION
Of the several Thousand pupils and
tin* mare than 100 teachers in this
county no two people merit the hon
or and distinction recently accorded
them more than Miss Sullie Gray
Gurkin. Willianiston High School
graduate, and Miss Lcona Moore,
teacher in the Robersonville Schools
Neither absent nor tardy during her
eleven years in school and averaging
96.45 111 her studies, Miss Gurkin.
daughter of Mr and Mrs. Johnnie
Gurkin, ol near here, was presented
thy valedictorian's cup last week.
Miss Moore, completing fifty years
of faithful service in the public
schools, was recently honored by
the parent-teacher association in
hobersonv i 1 le where sTTe has been
a hiember of the faculty since 11)15
This paper and surely all of its l,ti(K)
subscribers salute Miss (iurkin, left,
and Miss >ore, right, for their un
usual records.
Jas. k. (hi realms
Dies Last Saturday
In (?reone ('ountv
Funeral Held at Skewarkey
Church Here Sunday
Afternoon
James K Gurganus, native of
this county and* u retired farmer,
died at the home of his son, Norman
Gurganus, near Snow Hill, in
Greene County last Saturday morn
ing at 2 30 o'clock following a long
period of declining health Making
his home with a daughter, Mrs.
Charles Keel, near F.veretts, Mr.
Gurganus ft last February to visit
his son and was taken ill a few days
later About three weeks ago he
suffered a stroke of paralysis which
wis followed by another just a
short time before the end
The son of the late Simon I) and
Mahala Woolard Gurganus, he was
born in Robersonville Township
seventy years ago last February.;
About 1H92 he was married to NTisiT
Alice Bennett and bought and locat
ed on a farm near Williamston. He
later moved to Cross Roads Town
ship arid directed farming activities
in other parts of the county, living
in Martin all his life with the ex
ception nf a few months
During the past twenty years he
v.as partially and later totally blind
from cataracts with the exception
of about 30 days following an oper
ation. A member of the Primitive
Bapiisi churcTT~at Skewarkey for
more than 40 years, lie possessed a
quiet demeanor, and was highly re
spected by all who knew him. He
bore his affliction without complaint
and enjoyed a wide friendship cir
cle over the county. He was recog
nized as a leading farmer in this
county for a number of years
Besides his widow he is survived
by five children, Mrs Charles Col- !
train, of Robersonville; Ralston Gur
gaous aiwf Mcs Charles Keel, both
of Cross Roads Township, Norman
Gurganus, of Greene County, and .1
Simon Gurganus, of Williamston He
also leaves three brothers, William
D. Gurganus, of Williams Township
and J Henry and Robert Gurgan
us, both of Williamston, and ten
grandchildren and two great grand
children
Funeral services were conducted
at the Skewarkey church Sunday
afternoon at 3 o'clock by Elder B S,
Cowin. Interment was in the
churchyard cemetery
Game With Wilson Is
Postponed; Martins Idle
The game with Wilson postponed
on account of rain and wet grounds,
the Martins are idle today The game
will be made up in Wilson on Friday
of next week by a double schedule
Tomorrow the Martins go to Snow
'Hill. The Billies will come here
Thursday. The Martins will be hosts
to New Bern here Saturday andj
Goldsboro on Sunday, two games in
6 row at home.
t
MORE CHECKS
Soil conservation checks arc
still coining in lor farmers in
this county, the office of the
county agent announcing that
an additional $7,300.81 is heing
distributed this week to 104
farmers. To date, $119,748.17,
re prose n t i n g 4jO?9 upplica t ions,
has been distributee! under the
1938 program. There are approx
imately 258 applications now
awaiting attention.
Reappoint Local
School Teachers
| The Wilhamston school faculty
wus reappointed in its entirety for
the 1939-40 term t>y the local.school
coinhiittee in session last week as
follows
Misses Josephine Harrison, Re
hccca Harrison, Mr.-. Paul Simpson,
first grade;
Misses Mary Benson and Kstelle
Crawford, second grade.
Misses Lela Barnhill and Ruth
Manning, third gradr\
Mrs W?Li?Cohort! and Miss Dor
cas Knovvles. fourth grade,
Lewis Enloe and Mrs Charles
Godwin, fifth giade,
Misses Mildred Talley and Mary
Whitley, sixth grade;
Mrs r It Hiissell :iml?Mrs. Ar
thui White, seventh grade;
Miss Clara Louise Jones, public
school music;
High school: Frank Neely, Charles
B. Toxey, Miss Irene Mizelle, Mrs
14 R Edwards. S it -Edwards;-for
ter Fergerson, Miss Nancy Glover,
Mrs. Garland Harnhill. and David N
llix
Board Mural ion
In Mret Monday
Thr Martin County Board of Kdu
| ration met in regular session here
[-?yesterday, the mlonciar for tin- day
tarrying very little business for con '
sideralion by the group
A proposal to consolidate the Gold
Point school in its entirety with the
plant at Hohei sonville was settled
amicably when it was pointed out
that a reorganization of the school
would possibly be effected for the
next term.
The proposal to consolidate the
school had its beginning in the Gold
Point district, according to unoffi
cial information received here
More than two dozen interested
citizens appeared before the hoard
of education in the interest of a bet
ter .school in thfffr district:
Last Rites For Infant
Held This Afternoon
Last rites for the few-Uours-old
taby of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Ivey
were held this afternoon at the old
Ivey home in Johnston (jounty. Mr.
Ivey and two children, C. L. Jr., and
Mi&i Edna Ivey, and Mr Albert
Coltrain were among those from
here attending the last rites.
Refuse To Crant
Increase Asked Bv
The Welfare Unit
No Extension Allowed For
Listing Property in
County
?
Meeting in their regular monthly
session lure yesterday. the Martin
County Commissioners struck a con
servative note in the discussion of
the first budget proposed for the
_>eai 1939-40. An increase asked by
the welfare department was denied
by the board, but after a lengthy
discussion of the figures two of the
members agreed that certain de
partments should have their funds
supplemented No vote was taken
- of the commissioners was
I called home that afternoon and the
i chairman was called out by urgent
I business, leaving the budget open
j for a later discussion
I Making; a survey of the county re
! eently, the welfare department
I pointed out in its budget require
ments the need for accepting forty
five additions to the old-age list and
a lew needy tots to the dependent .
children group Two of the commis
sionors agreed that provision nh"u|d
be made to care for 30 additional
old people, but expressed themselves
as being opposed to any increases
whatever for dependent children or
r other divisions in the depart
nient. It was estimated the increase,
based on the acceptance of ,30 old
people, would call for an increase
in the county budget of about $f>10.
It was apparent that an increase
from $0,840 to $7,200 for the admin
istration of the entire welfare seT-~
up would be denied by the board.
The departmental budget called for
an increase of $1,615.00 for old age
assistance and $730 for dependent
children, placing the figures lespec
tively at $0,075. and $3,700 The to
tal budget, considering all icquests,
would be increased fiom $24,350 to
$27,452.96, a gain of $3,102 90 While
this amount represents the entire
I budget, the county would only have
to raise a part of that sum, the State
i and Federal governments participat
ing to a large extent.
No material changes were noted
in the budget figures as they re
lated to the operation and mainten
ance of the county home, outside
poor relief, local medical care, de
I pvndent blind, hospitalization and
the burial of the indigent
L I'beic IS ,i drfnntr tn-iul U>W-aid
| conservatism among the board group
reports stating that at least one mem
ber would oppose all budget mcre
| incuts arid propose a curtailment
of present activities before he would
i vote for an increased tax rate for the
| new year.
| Gi anting no extension for listing
| taxes, the commissioners subject late
property listers to the dictates of
the law l>ate listing provides a ten
per cent penalty and double listing
iii some instances and even_ indict
ment and prosecution in the courts.
Unofficial reports state that the
listing work is fairly complete in
j the county
A delegation of colored citizens,
appearing before the meeting, asked
the board to appropriate $30 a
month for a colored home demon
stration agent. The group, includ
ing representative colored citizens
from several parts of the county,
was assured no definite action. The
(Continued on page six)
Thousands Attend
Cross Roads Union
An estimated crowd of 3,000 peo
ple from all part> of Martin County
and numbers from adjoining coun
ties was in attendance upon the
union church meeting held with
Christian Chapel at Cross Roads last
Sunday. It was one of the largest
crowds to attend a religious meet
ing in the county in recent years, re
ports claim.
The church and the old school
v. ere crowded to capacity as two
ministers delivered forceful ser
mons that morning. The afternoon
program was featured by a special
song service by the Maple Grove
I choir.
Anticipating the visits qf thous
ands. the entire community
pared a bountiful dinner which
served on the grounds. .