North Carolina Newspapers

Advertisers Will Find Our Col umns a Latchkey to over 1,800 Homes of Martin County. THE ENTERPRISE Watch the Label on Your Paper, As It Carries the Data Your Subscription Expiree VOLUME XLII?NUMBER 45 William?ton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tueaday, June 6, 1939. ESTABLISHED 1899 County Board Of Commissioners In Regular Meeting Order Strict Enforcement of Laws Governing Opera tion of Slot Machine* ? Meeting in regular session here yesterday, the Martin County Board of Commissioners discussed at length the slot machine problem and then ordered a strict enforcement of the laws governing the operation of the machines, the authorities also han dling a varied business program dur ing the meeting that was adjourned in time for the members of the board to attend the late rites held at 3:30 for little John Peel, accident victim. . There'll be no illegal operation of slot machines in this county if the board members can prevent it. re ports from the Monday meeting in dicating that tlie "operation of the gadgets would be outlawed in a hurry if the commissioners had the power to deny the owners license. Sheriff C. B. Roebuck was instruct ed to confiscate all machines oper ating illegally along with any that might be placed in operation with out the payment of the maximum tax allowed by law. The number of slot machines op erating in the county jumped from 16 last Thursday to 27 over the week-end, reports stating that the owners are planting the gadgets all over the county. Re-elected by a unanimous vote of the combined membership of the board of commissioners and county welfare board. Miss Mary W. Tay lor enters upon her third term as head of the county welfare depart ment. The department superinten dent, starting work on August 1, 1936, continues with no increase in salary. Appeals for rotid improvements in the county were heard from leading citizens in two townships, the ap peals being quite common in the meeting records but apparently proving of no great value in the past when they reach the higher-ups in the highway world. Some strong appeals were heard at the meeting Monday, however, and the petitioners await action by the proper authorities. The board, petitioned by Griffins citizens, recommended that the "Perry Road" in Griffins Township be taken over and maintained by the State Highway commission. The route leads from the old Jamesvlle and Washington road to the Man ning and Jamesville road via the old James W. Griffin and R. L. Per ry places. Carrying the names of 77 well known Jamesville Township farm ers, a petition was presented urging the sSle commission to rebuild the road leading from the Jamesville and Washington Road, Route 171, at the L. M. Brown intersection and leading through Poplar Chapel church section and Angetown and commonly known as the Jordan Thick Road, a distance of 6.4 miles The petition was supported by basic facts, the petitioners pointing out that there were 74 families directly dependent on the road, that 86 school children live on the rnntc that the road is on the R. F. D. map, and that the present road is narrow and not prnperly drained. The commissioners also recom mended that the State take over and maintain the Tarklin road in James ville Township running one-half mile to the homes of W L. Lee and Biscoe Mobley. Goerge M. Hardison, of Williams Township, was relieved of poll tax on account of physical disability. Luther J. Cordon was relieved of the payment of license tax on a fill ing station on account of his physi cal disability. Advised of the resignation of Stu art J. Tetterton as county forest warden, the board upon motion of C. C. Fleming seconded by R. A Hai slip, recommended the following ap plicants for the position, Marvin Leggett, Arthur Revels, T. E. Good rich, Luther Hardison, Carter Stud dert. It is expected the North Car olina Department of Conservation and Development will appoint one of the men in the group to fill the position that Tetterton vacates the last of this month. Parent-Teacher Drive For Fund* Meet* With Sucre** a The drive conducted by the local parent-teacher association tor funds to offset debts incurred by feeding needy children in the school lunch rooms here last season met with marked success last week. Com menting on the program centering around the formal opening of the municipal swimming pool and a dance in the legion hut that night, Mrs. J. B. Taylor said that much of the debt had been cleared from the l-i nrilr a 11,?4 gWmft o/4r4itiAnol fi ? rvci tj urora dooks, DuT inni aaouionai iunuv wert needed before the succesaful opera tion of the project could be carried on next term. Mrs Taylor, speaking for the ed great appreciation for the coop eration extended by the town offi cials and the general public-in mak ing the program successful despite unfavorable weather conditions. Incomplete Reports Indicate Small Gain in County Values Incomplete reports from the sev eral list-takers indicate assessed property values in the county this year will show possibly a $20,000 in crease over those of 1938. Anticipat ing a loss of about $64,000 in eight townships. County Tax Supervisor S. H. Grimes stated that the approx imately $81,000 increase in William - ston and a gain of about $6,500 in Jamesville Township will offset the combined loss in the other districts and leave a gain of about $20,000 in the county. With few exceptions, the loss in the listings have been in automobiles and farm provisions. Real estate values have shown a fairly consis tent gain throughout the county. Lists are not complete for Roberson ville and Griffins Townships, but no marked variation if any in the trend is anticipated there. Preliminary figures released to day by Supervisor Grimes shows two townships, Jamesvilie and Wil liamston with respective gains of $6,500 and $81,000, and losses in six other townships, as follows: Wil liams, $1,100; Bear Grass, $13,000; Cross Roads, $6,000; Poplar Point. $3,000; Hamilton, $5,500 and Goose Nest, $14,000. These figures are not complete, and a slight variation is to be expected, Grimes explained. Next Monday morning, the Martin County commissioners will meet as a board of equalization and review to hear complaints from those prop erty owners who are bf the opinion their assessed property values are listed too high. Chambei of Commerce Plans Well Advanced kulinc; Works Progress Administra tion work Is provided only for those people throughout ' the county who are unable to ob tain private employment, the authorities ruled today. If any one in the county offers private employment which pays the pre vailing wage rate for that par ticular type of employment, and the offer is refused, please re fer the matter at once to ttj Martin County Welfare Depart ment or to Miss Emma A. Maur er, area social worker at the lo cal WPA office, for a full inves tigation of the matter. Mrs. J. Eason Lilley Is Elected Tn 'asurer District Club Croup flout? Demonstration Club Members Meet u! Wind, nor Ijist Week Mrs J. Eason Lilley,. prominent home demonstration club woman of Martin County was elected treasur er of the 15th district federation of home demonstration clubs, meeting in annual session at Windsor last week Mrs Lilley has been active in club work since its organization a number of years ago. She took a prominent part in the meeting in Windsor where she served on sever al important commitees. Mrs. B L. Tyson, of Pitt county, was elected president for 1940-41 TUT county won 'the gaveTTor the largest attendance. Pitt county will be hostess in 1940. Other new officers are: Mrs T. G. Whedbee, of Bertie County, first vice president; Mrs. W. C. Owens, of Tyrrell County, second vice presi dent; Mrs. Mattie Swain, of Wash ington County, chairman of the Jane S. McKimmon Loan fund. Mrs. Geo Bowen, of Washington County, was chairman of the nominating com mittee and all elections were unani mous Mrs Wood row Collins, of Washington, gave the report for the courtesies committee. Resolutions were adopted as rec ommended by Mrs. J Eason Lilley, chairman, for the resolutions com mittee: support for the educational program of the state; attention to the historical significance of the State's sections; suppbrt of Governor Hoey in the State advertising pro gram, with assistance by making homes and roads more attractive; and continued opposition to obnoxi ous billboards. Reports in the form of skits were given by members from Washing ton, Pitt, Bertie and Beaufort coun ties. The morning program was open ed by a devotional conducted by the Rev. E. N. Harrison, of Windsor. The welcome address was given by Mri* T. G Whedbee. president of the county council of Bertie, and Mrs. J. P Bragg, of Beaufort- County;?re sponded. The main speaker. Miss Gertrude Carraway, of New Born, was intro duced by Miss Pauline Smith, dis trict supervisor. Miss Carraway traced the history of Coastal Carolina and urged that the heritages of the past be stepping stones to present endeavor. "Be proud of the past history, of your an cestors achievements but do not be content to rest on their laurels. This is an age oT progress; each can con tribute his part." _ Referring to a slogan used by Miss Pauline Smith, "Make your bit of the world more beautiful," Miss Car raway emphasized the great need for individual effort in preserving and conserving all that is best in our |fr. tion. The Eden ton high school band fur nished music during lunch and while tht group gathered /or the afternoon (Continued on paga six) Much Interest Is Shown By Business Leaders At Meet V' ? Yr MrmlM?r*!ii|> Drive Scheduled ' T(? Get Underway Here This Vl eek ?? Plans for the organization of an active chamber of commerce for Williamston were well advanced at a meeting of leading business men and civic-minded citizens held in the courthouse here last Friday evening. Considerable interest in the organi zation was evident among the thir ty or rpoi e citizens in attendance upon the session that lasted for nearly two hours. The need for such an organization was clearly pointed out by a dozen or more speaker in their impromptu talks which denoted a loyal support for the proposed undertaking. Taking the initiative in^the drive to perfect the greatly needed organ ization. Attorney Carter Studdert and Attorney E. S. Peel presided over the meeting which was called after Mr Studdert and Mr. C. B Clark had done considerable pre liminary work feeling out the public pulse and finding the time ripe foi advancing a movement to combine the forces of the town in an effort to keep pace with other progressive towns of the state and nation Messrs C. B. Clark, H G. Hor ton, G H. Harrison, J. L. Hassell. L. B Wynne, F E. Wilson, H. L. Swain, Charles Bowers, Henry D Hardi son, C. H. Godwin, J E. Pope, J. C. Anderson, D. V. Clayton, B. S. Court ney, J D. Woolard, ahd C W Baze more briefly addressed the meeting, The n<?ed for a chambr of com merce was pointed out by each of the speakers who also pledged their support in advancing and maintain ing the organization Upon the motion of J. D. Wool rd, seconded by C. B Clark, tion was unanimously carried to per fect an organization, and the chair man appointed a?nominating corn mittee to name the organization committee. Messrs. G H. Harrison, J. D. Woolard, C. B Clark, Marvin Britton and Drcd Darden were nam ed members of the nominating com mittee. and Messrs. Carter Studdert, E. S.'Peel, L. B Wynne, Marvin Britton, D E. Darden, J. C Taylor, D. V. Clayton, Garland Woolard and J. H. Edwards to outline plans for perfecting the organization at a meeting to be held shortly. Pending the completion of the organization work, the last Friday meeting took no definite action on any proposals, but the group did (Continued on page six) 1 Ilomi'-Makerg Invited To Free (looking School llpre All home-makers are cordially In vited to attend a cooking school which will be held in the home eco nomics department of the local high school on Thursday and Friday of this week. The home economics teacher of the local high school and the Virginia Electric and Power company home economist are working diligently to make the school a success. They have planned an enjoyable afternoon for the women interested in home economics and each person present will be given memographed copies of the recipes used The dishes prepared will be given to the persons holding the lucky numbers. Taken Suddenly III At Home Of Son Here Monrlay Taken suddenly ill at the home of his son, Mr. John R. Peel, here yesterday morning, Mr Pi-ny Peel well-known citizen of Griffins Township, was reported much better this morning. He continues in bed however. Mr. Peel came here to at tend the funeral of his little grand son, John R. Peel, Jr. Anti-Typhoid Drive Enters Third Week In Martin County at (llinie* Smoothed Out at Called Meeting of Board Entering its third week, the anti typhoid campaign continued to meet I with marked success yesterday as | old attendance records fell before a sizeable increase in some of the clin ics. ? Due to a misunderstanding in the schedule. the colored population was denied the injections at James ville last week, but at a meeting of the Martin County Health board called by Chairman J. E. Pope here last Friday afternoon, the misunder standings were ironed out and the I activities of the clinic continued to J show an increase during the third | clinic.? ???: Handling the campaign with little additional help, health department is saving the individuals in this coun ty approximately $12,000. Unable to establish separate clinics for the two races where the patronage is limit ed. the department heads merely fol lowed the old schedule in effect three years ago with few exceptions. Clin- I ics were advertised at Jamesville for | 10 a. in. each Monday for four weeks. The white population was received-.) first, and members of the colored race were then given the injections. | Late white comers were received, but that practice was discontinued | when possibly fifteen or twenty cit izens ap|>eared in person at the meeting and entered vigorous pro tests. The conditions under which the campaign is being conducted were explained, and a better under standing resulted, the health board agreeing to receive the white pop ulation during the first hour and the colored population during the re mainder of the period allotted to | each community. Reports released by official sources no longer than yesterday, state that typhoid fever is breaking out in sev eral eastern Carolina counties. In this county effective campaigns have been advanced during the past nine or more years, and while they have not reached more than two thirds of the population, the effect iveness will approximate possibly 90 per cent. Some cases are almost cer tain to break out among that ten per cent before the summer season is over, but regardless of .misunder standings, if the present campaign can be successfully executed, the people are assured there will be no | epidemic of the costly fever in Mar tin County during the next three year The health forces will complete the drive in the lower half of the county next week, and appeals go I out to the people in the other half | of the county, urging them to make definite plans to insure themselves | protection against typhoid when the clinics are scheduled in their respec-1 live communities the early part of | July. Sister County Man Dies In Plymouth Mrs. Cottie L. Bowcn, sister of S. J Teltmon, of this county, died at her home near Plymouth yester day morning at 11:30 o'clock fol lowing a stroke or paralysis sufier ed the Saturday before. She was 61 years old. the daughter of the late George and Susan Fulcher Tetter ton, of Washington county. Funeral services will be conduct ed tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock at Uw>n Chapel by Hev. I). W Alex ander, of Bethel Interment will fol low in the Weede cemetery, near Plymouth. Besides her husband, J E Bow.yn, she leaves five sons, Colon R , Sew ell, R. W. and J. D. Bowcn, all of Plymouth, and George D. Bowen, of Norfolk, and two daughters, Mrs. Pete Bunting, of Norfolk, and Mrs. G M Ellis, of Brooklyn She is also survived by two brothers, S. J Tet terton, of Williams Township, this county, and J. B. Tetterton, of Wind sor, and one sister, Miss Courtney Tetterton, of Greenville. I'roulprn Rpportpil To Have Tntrrrd I.oral I lorn pit I Ml ply Prowlers are said to have entered several homes on Haughton Street during the past few nights Appar ently in search ofcash, the prow 1 ers have troubled no other articles. Believed to be boys of tender age, the prowlers make certain that no one is at home before they enter, us ually by the front door. In one home a few nights ago, a prowler struck a number of matches and threw them on the floor. The activities have been reported to the police. Mother Of County Afcent h Quite III At Hit Homp Mrs. J. E. Brandon, mother of County Agent Tom B Brandon, is quite ill at the home of her son here. Coming here just?a few days ago from the home of another son in Halifax, Mrs. Brandon was taken ill last Sunday, and while her condi tion was slightly improved this morning she was reported still in ? semi-conscious condition. Lives of Two Children Snuffed Out On Streets and Highways of Martin County in As Many Days This W eek Colored Child Is Second Victim 01 Auto In County William H?i?<I- Five Yours Old, Killi-il. Iimluiitly on llniiiiltoii Highway William Bond, five-year-old color ed child was killed instantly on the Hamilton-Williamston highway, near the old Mobley mill, yesterday morn ing at 111 25 o'clock when he darted into the road and was run down by a car driven by Emmett Hardin Wilson candy salesman The child was the second victim to surrender his life to the auto in this county in as many days His little frail body broken, bruis ed and battens!, the child was pro nouiued dead upon his arrival at a doctor's office here Hardin picked doctors oilier utn r - the child up and brought him to Wil liamston Going with his brother. l?uis Bond. K years old. and two other small boys, the little fellow had crossed the highway to feed his fa ther's hogs. The task completed, the child darted into the road and into the path of Hardin's car which was traveling toward Hamilton Seeing the child in the road. Hur din apparently unable to stop the car. turned partly off the highway to his right and traveled 102 feet be fore dealing the death blow. Front that point, the car swerved into and sideswiped a ditch band and travel ed 19B feet before coming to a stop, according to reliable reports reach ing here Questioned by Patrolman W S Hunt and other officers, liar dm admitted that the brakes on the 1930 model car were not very effec tive A test Was made with Hardin under the wheel and the car travel ing at about the same rate of speed whn It struck the child, was brought t? a stop only after it had gone 5BI feet from the place where the brakes were first applied. Patrolman Hunt said. ? ? ? Hardin, a reprosntative of It lb Murphy, candy dealer, was placed under a $51X1 bond and will be given, a preliminary hearing here tomor row before Justice J. 1. Hassell. The driver maintalnd that he was not traveling more than 40 miles an hour hut the Bond child's compan ions'stated he was "flying" when he crashed into the boy. The child's parents, George and I I.cnora Bond, had not completed funeral arrangements according to last iepulis MaClved henv Clu ck Vaccination Of Dog* In County ?piupaintiiiy to launching a cum puign to exterminate every dog in the county that has not been vacci hilled, llie ollice III Hie Ingn sheriff is making a careful check of the tax books to determine the dog popula tion While the checks is far from complete, reports from the sheriff indicate tliut several hundred own ers failed, refused or forgot to have their dogs vaccinated Nearly sev enty dogs in one district were not vaccinated. A double-powered drive is certain to gel underway within the next few weeks Owners who did not have thi n dogs vaccinated will be made subject to indictment, and a firing squad will go into action to kill off the dogs no mkktim; In the absence of a quorum, the first regular scheduled meet ing of the new term for the re cently elected town commission ers was |>ost|>oned until next IXlonday evening. Two of the commissioners were out of town, and a third could not be present. Subscribing to the oath of of fice before Clerk of Court L. B. Wynne yesterday morning. May or llassell administered the oath of offices to Commissioners I,. P. I.indsley and Luther M. Peel last night, the three starting the new term together. In the strictest sense of the word, the town has two new commission ers and three old commissioners with a new mayor to balance the old and new count. Yet. the group in its entirety, was re elected the early part of last month. An impromptu discussion of the local traffic problem was discussed, but no official action was taken to correct a bad situa tion. It was intimated, however, that a study of the problem could be expected soon. Planning Study Of Cotton Problem at World Conference I'ropoM' Allotting Markets In Main ('niton I'rnilix'inu ComilrioM Proposing a bread, long term at tack on the problem of surplus cot ton, the United States called an in ternational conference of cotton-ex porting countries to discuss the pos sibility of world-wide control of production and marketing. The conference will be held in Washington begimunjj St^temb^ 5. Acting on behalf of Secretary of Agriculture Wallace, the State De part invited Argentina, Brazil, In dia, Fgypt, Mexico, Peru, Sudan, So viet Russia, France and Great Bri tain, the latter two for their cotton exporting colonies. The formal call came only a few days after Wallace had disclosed that these countries had replied favor ably to American inquiries regard ing such a meeting. Agriculture department officials emphasized that the conference wqulri be of an "exploratory" rhar acter only. Its only function would be to determine whether it might be advisable to recommend to the re spective Countries that a later con national agreement Such an agreement. if written along lines suggested by President Roosevelt and Secretary Wallace, would provide export quotas assnr. ing each country its "fair share" of world markets and production con trol measures designed to prevent .accumulation- u? price- depressing su rpluses. A somewhat similar exploratory conference on world wheat problems has been meeting in I>>ndon this spring Now in -short recess, this meeting is expected, American offi cials said, to recommend that a for mal conference be called to draft an international agreement authorizing export quotas and providing for eli mination of such price-cutting prac (Continued on page six) Highway Accident Record The grim reaper, aided by the automobile, jumped the num ber of fatal accidents from four to six on the highways of this coun ty during the first two days of this week and pointed to a record high death toll before the year is spent. Up until this time lUst year only one death had been written into the records, the number for the first five and a fraction months of_this year exceeding the to tal for the year of 1938. According to tin1 law of averages, the highways of this couti ty will be fairly safe during the remainder of this month, a period that has brought untold grief and sorrow, and possibly according to that rule the number will dwindle during the remaining months of this year. Rut the law of averages count for little; the number of highway and street deaths is dependent upon a united effort to throw a cloak of safety about the traffic problem in its entirety. The record to date in this county proves that danger lurks on the little used street in the town as well as on the main highway. That proof should be sufficient to cause everyone to exercise cau tion at all times and in all places. The following table n b ased by Patrolman W. S Hunt shows the gruesome facts during the one week period ending June 5 and for the combined months of 1939 to the beginning of that period: Accidents Injured Killed Damage Last Week's Record Prior Record TOTALS 18 0 14 14 riupril.T $ 75.00 3.825.00 $3,000.00 John |{. Peel, Jr. Is Killed On Watts Street Here Sunday laial Hiiro hir Mrigln I.ittlc Fellow llrld at thr Home VeMertluv \flrrnuon ? Cunung as a marked blow to the entire community, death claimed the ??f?John ftr P?rl, Jr , four years and live-inonths-old son of Mr and Mrs. John R Peel. or. Watts Street here Sunday evening at 6:50 o clock when he was struck and al most instantly killed by an auto mobile driven by Norfleet Whitfield .voung Rohersonville man Witness ing the tragedy, quite a few people remained motionless and horrified as the bumper of the car knocked tile child to tile pavement and a front Wheel passed over his head. It all happened within a matter of sec onds, reports from the scene of the tragedy stating that witnesses were so shocked and weakened that they were unable to lift the lifeless form as it lay with head down and arms stretched out partly under the car. A companion riding with Whit field picked up the little fellow in his arms and rushed to a doctor's office, hut death apparently had claimed his life before the trip to the doctor's office was started He was pronounced dead upon arrival there Most of those witnessing the trag ?'<ly could offer no detailed account of II, but it was generally agreed I iat the little fellow, accompanying his older sister to the municipal swimming pool pulled away from her and darted into the path of the cur m I tie narrow street, making it next l? impossible for Whitfield, the driver, to avoid striking him. The car was said to be running al a speed not III excess of eight or ten miles an hour and was stopped before the rear wheels reached him. Whitfield, wlin was exonerated up on the testimony of witnesses, said that he saw the child in company with his sister and one or iwo other children cross from the'wesl side of | tile street to the side toward the swimming pool Whitfield added "nil lie had gone only a short dis ' lance when the child darted hack in to tiie street from behind a parked car reports from witnesses stating that the driver of the death our did not have time to apply the brakes until the bumper had struck the boy. Cars were parked on both sides of the street, and there wasn't proper clearance room jn (he n,ir,?., lane. The driver of the death car, ques tioned by Chief of Police W B Dan " ' l"w"s ^ " 1*",buc'c ""d Patorl short time after the accident upon 1ST recommendation of th? parents after they had heard the giim facts related between sobs by *111 if?hov't tiirtiir, Trulab No ?.? ? TTT? further investigation is scheduled in the case, it was unofficially learned this- morning. Just four years old on January 9 of tills year, the accident victim was a bright little fellow, polite and alert. No finer companionship could have existed than that existing between htm and his father, the little fellow arising early and often to accompany his daddy to the several farma he ei ther operated or superintended. He was a favorite playmate umong the lots of the neighborhood, and rever ence and obedience to Ms parents and elders marked his character during the few brief years of his life. He was the only son and is survived be sides bus parents by two sisters, i rulah and Joan Peel. Yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock hundreds were present at the little fellow's late home on Main Street to attend the last rites, his many little friends deserting the recreational center to pay a fitting tribute to his memory The services were conduct ed by Rev. J H Smith, local Bap tist minister and family pastor as sisted by Rev. Z. T. Piephoff, of the Presbyterian church, and Elder B. S Cowtn, Primitive Baptist minister Interment was in the family plot in the Ttco Cemetery, Griffins Town ship Gilbrt Peel, Jr., Dallas Peel, w A Manning, Jr., and E Hoyt Manning, Jr., first cousins, were ac tive pallbearers. Lightning C.ul* Lamp Cord In Office Fete Wight* Ago During a recent electrical storm, lightning cut a lamp cuitl In tin of ficr of the Harrison Wholesale com pany here, dropping the shade and bulb to a table The cut was as clean as if it had been made with the pliers of an electrician. Other lights in the office were not affected and no dam age resulted to the building. No one was in the office at the time, and workers in an adjoining roam felt no shock from the bolt.