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VOLUME XLII?NUMBER 61 ttilhamston, Martin County, Xort/i Carolina, Tueiday,jjttgttjtl,1939. ESTABLISHED 1899
Congress Expected
By Some To Ad j ourn
At End of This Week
Others Say It Will Run (>,,
Through To Next
Week
Congress, after sweating through
a sweltering July, apparently is de
termined to take as much of August
as possible for a vacation. The law
makers are~hopIng~to close up shop~
by Saturday of this week.
Although encountering tough sled
ding at the moment, the administra
tions lendlng-spending program is
slated for passage. Anti-admimstra
tion leaders are trying desperately
to beat the measure or at least 10
strip from u some of its more ini
?jiortitnt features
A reactionary coalition in the
House is now threatening housirfk
legislation, amendments to the"Wagc J
Hour act and to the Walsh-Iiealey
act all considered vital to organu- !
ed labor
It is pretty clear that there will be I
no changes in the Wagner Labor act
or the wage-hour act at this session
The committee on education and
labor this week urged the Senate to
pass the oppressive labor practices
nr i ijy Senators Robert
W T aroIctte^Jr.. of Wisconsin, and
Elbert D Thomas, of Utah, and de
signed to stop evils revealed by their
three-year civil liberties probe
These evils, as named in the re
port arc "the use of labor spies.!
strike-breakers, and strike-breaking
agencies", private armies, ar,d pri
vate arsenals?composed of such -in
dustrial munitions" as machine
Suns, sawed mff shotguns ami bom lis ,
" - ? ?o U I
containing chemical gases."
? ? p.
The bill also contains sections
strongly supported by the American
Federation of I,abor, forbidding in
terstate commerce in goods made by
State manufacturers who engage in
these "oppressive labor practices"
and providing that the government
shall not buy from or loan money I
to such employers
The housing project is considered
an integral part of the lending pro-1
gram, and leaders thus far have re
jeeted any suggestion that is be sidej
tracked to smooth the way to ad
journment.
Proposed changes in the wage
hour law are another adjournment
obstacle. The coalition wants to
make changes which the President
said would exempt 2.000.000 low
paid Workers, and he has warned
that he would veto such action. Even
If the House passes the legislation
Hie Senate is not expected to act at
this session
The leaders told Mr Roosevelt last
week that the session probably could
be brought to a close on August 5
-At that time, however, they did not
anticipate the amount of opposition f
which has thudded against the lend
ing and housing measures House Ma
jority Leader Sam Rayburn, (Dem).l
Texas, and Minority L< ader Joseph
W Martin. Jr., fRepj. Mass. saidi
friday that longer time would he re
-UUjred incomplete the slate
One authority has indicated that?
the August 5 goal could be achieved
only if the administration would cast
aside some of its program Other
wu-, ii is though! thai in. session1
will go into another week
Two Martin Men
Added To Patrol
Two Martin County men, Karl
Parker Downs, of Hamilton, and
James Douglas Mallory, of Oak City,
Saturday were selected, along with
49 other North Carolina young men
for jobs on the State Highway Pa- :
trol.
The selections were announced by
Major John Armstrong Saturday,
following a month's training for 77
candidates, at Highland Lake, Hen
dersonville. It is reported that Mr
Downs, was considered one of the
outstanding students at the school. .
Major Armstrong said the 26 men
not getting jobs probably will be put
to work within six months. The
school started out with 94 persons,
but the number was reduced to 77 at
the end of the first two weeks. ^
The addition of 50 men was au
thonzed by the 1939 General Assem
bly. The extra man selected will fill
a vacancy.
The school came to an official
close Sunday. Capt. L. R Fisher, of
Charlotte, head of the Western dis
trict of the patrol, directed the
school
William S. Clagon, of Plymouth,
was also among the 51 chosen
9
July l? Dull Month In
County Police Circle
A new low record in the number
of arrests was reported in this coun
ty for the month just ended, Sheriff
C. B. Roebuck stating that only 28
persons were jailed durihg the per
iod. A year ago, 43 persons were
jailed in the county, the jail popula
tion reaching an all-time high last
April when 108 persons were held
behind the bars. During the month
of June, 48 persons were arrested
and jailed in this county.
BROWN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OPENS HERE
Iht Brown Community Hospital will hold its formal opening here next Friday, the ownrr-opera
tor extending to the general public a cordial invitation ti^visit the institution and inspect thr equip
ment. Fulfilling a great need in the county, thr hospital was conceived and promoted Tiy Or. Victor "F.
Brown, who is to be commended for the forward slep. The hospital is localrd on West Main Street,
near Martin Heights.
Liquor Sales in County
Decrease Last Quarter
PROBABLE CAUSE
Finding probable cause of
guilt. Justice J. L. Hassell early
this afternoon sent the case
charging l? B. McCormlck with
the operation of slot machines
without proper state licenses to
Ihe county court for trial. The
case will be docketed for trial
before Judge H. O. Peel on Mon
day. August 14.
Mct'ormick. represented by
Attorney Worthington, main
tained that he had applied for
licenses for all his machines in
Martin County, but had not re
reived them.
New Marriage Izaw
Doesn't Seriously
Curb License Hate
Six While, Four (nlored <.011
|>h>s Got l.irriiHP* i?
July
Despite the new State law requir
ing health examinations before is
suance of marriage licenses, the mar
ital rate in Martin County is hold
ing up pretty well, according to re
ports from the office of Register of
Deeds J. Sam Getsinger
During July of this year. den li
censes were issued, as compared with
19 last year. Six white couples ob
tained licenses in July both years,
hut only four licenses went to col
iired couples this July, whereas in I
the same month of last year there j
were 13
So far. the ttikln effect the health 1
requirements seem to be having is |
in number of colored licenses issued I
Through July. 35 licenses had been 1
issued Una yui?m wind ,,,uples, j
and 42 had gone for colored splicings
Following are the names of the
white couples to whom licenses were
issued during July:
Noah Woolard Leggett and Flor
ence Wiggins, both of Martin Coun- |
ty
James O Winborne and Alma j
Flanagan, both of Martin County |
W Eli Roberson and Effie Cook
both of Martin County
William A Knox and Fannie Dail.
both of Martin County.
Clarence William Vernon, of
Stoneville. and Thelma Edmundson,
of Martin County
The four Negro licenses were is
sued to
?John Ell" It iipruill and?Bertha
Brown, both of Martin County.
Cleveland Ernest Clark and Er
nestine Davis, both df Martin Coun
?Xjr;?i
Jesse Andrews and Lizzie Little,
both of Pitt County.
Caesar Gorham and Ruth Brown,
both of MarLn County,
Norfolk N<>ia.ro Likes
Luxury of Local Jail
The Williamston ahd Martin Coun
ty jail is considered one of the most
modern in the State, and the fame
of its luxury is spreading.
Sunday night a watch was stolen
from a Negro woman in Roberson -
ville She reported it to Sheriff Roe
buck's office. Elizabeth City police
were called, asked to meet the Nor
folk bus and pick up a Negro man,
James Henry Jackson, of Norfolk,
suspected of watch stealing
Jim Henry spent three hours in
the Elizabeth City jail, before Offi
| cer J. H. Allsbrooks, of Williamston,
| called for him. The officer was pinch
| hitting for the sheriff, whose car, at
the moment, was acting up.
| Jim Henry, taking his arrest philo
sophically, made no complaint about
the Elizabeth City jail, but told the
officer! calling for him "Ah aho' will
be glad to get to that hotel in Wil
liamston."
Total Of $.m?.r>7
Since Stores Opened
Is S|M'iit In County
l.awl Quarter Snli* Show a
Continued Deeliue in
(loiiHiiiiiptioii
During the first four years that
legal liquor stores operated in Mar
till County, more tliun half a mil
lion dollars' worth of "fire water"
tias trickled down the throats of the
populace, according to the second
quarter audit released by V J. Spi
vey, chairman of the Martin County
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
The audit showed a gross sale of
$24.174 25. and a net profit of $5,
^51T4n, for the quarter ending June
.10 last. The gross sales showed a de
crease of $2,792 10 from the figure
for the second quarter of 1939. and
a decrease of $397 42 in profits.
The last quarter's sales ran the
total sale in the county since the
opening of the first store in July
1935, to $509,988 57, and increased the
net profit to $112,345 00.
Thus the sales during the first
four years averaged about $125,000
a year The county's population is
I about 23,000 So the average liquor
| expenditure for every resident lias
been something over $5 a year.
Tile latter figure would easdy-4akeJ
care of the average man's medicinal
need foi liquor during a year How
ever, some people would not use that !
much "medicine" in a year's time '
Then there are more tltqn a few who ]
hail lathee rtmrrfhe fust pluci tliun
to take such medicine.
AH of which-indicates tiial there
are some residents who are using
the beverage for reasons other than
medical ? or maybe they require
"" " '' medico... '? | [11?" I
sionally, somebody gets an overdose,
becomes dizzy and winds up behind
the bars. In such cases, the judge us
ually administers a different kind of
"medicine".
The gross sales for the quarter just
ended were the lowest for a second
quarter of the year since the first
year the stores were in operation
The net profits were lower than last ;
year, but higher than for any other
similar quarter since the ABC law
went into effect.
Of the $24,174 25 gross sales dur
ing last quarter, $15,467 26 went to
liquor manufacturers for purchase'
of liquor, leaving a gross profit on !
sales of $8,706 99 from this amount
was deducted $3.377.57 for operation
| expenses After additions to and de-'J
ducta.ns from income, the net profit
w as $5,456 4(J
?Qf this amount, Martin County got
$2,507.96, and the State received $1,
909 88 Into the reserve for law en
forcement went $354.85 The store
towns received the following
| amounts Williamston, $426.76 Hob
ersonville, $150 42; Oak City, $58 11;
and Jamesville, $48 62
^Sales, by stores, for last quarter
(Continued on page six)
!\eu Hern Minitler In
Called To Dardenn
Rev. Preston Cayton was called to
serve as pastor of the Dardens Chris
tian church Sunday at a brief busi
ness session, presided over by Mr
jJimmie Taylor. Rev Cayton sue
cteds Rev. Garland Bland, who re
signed, following his transfer to
the Baptist church in Williamston
Rev. Cayton is from New Bern. He
preached the morning sermon at
Hardens Sunday morning and fol
lowing the service the church by a
unanimous vote called htm as pastor
It was also voted to change the date
of the regular preaching service
from the second Sundays to third
Sundays due to the fact that Rev.
Cayton could not serve on any other
Sunday.
Prices Might
r
Be Aided By Joint
Action. Says Floyd I
Stttl** AAA EMTiiliv Say*
Producer*, Buyer* Mti*l
('.ou|?erale
Unless buyers and producers reach I
an agreement on reduced acreage for 1
next year, tobacco in North Carolina ;
will bring only about 15 or 16 cents,
in the opinion of E V Floyd. State
AAA executive,
Mr. Floyd believes that a price of
18 or 20 cents might be obtained, if
any agreement similar to the one of
1933 is reached Mr Floyd is the first
State agricultural official this year
to estimate the price on the North
I Carolina markets.
| The Border Belt, with markets at |
| Chadbourn, Clarkton, Tabor City
i and Whiteville. will open Thursday
Prices obtained there are expected I
to be a barometer for judging the i
probable opening prices when the
Bright Belt opens August 22
Last year, North Carolina farm
ers sold 498.343.000 pounds of tobac
co at an average of 22 96 cents, and |
received a total ??f $114,439,956, ac
cording to W P. Hedrick, of the State
Department of Agriculture This
year, after scrapping crop control,
Tar Heel growers increased their |
acreage by 21 per cent, and a record
breaking crop is expected.
In Martin County, approximate
ly nine million pounds were pro
duced last year, bringing an average
of 23 1-2 cents. This year's county
production is expected about II mil
lion pounds. A 15-cent price would
mean a ~ drop "of one-third in the
price.
The.low prices in Georgia last
week?the average was only 14 7
cents, compared with 25 56 cents last
year indicate low prices for North
Carolina. Both Mr. Hedrick ami Mr.
Floyd point out, however, that North
TTnrntrrra tobacco usual ly comma rids
?a higher price than Georgia and
Florida weed, because growers in
this State carefully sort and grade
their crop
Four farm leaders have gone to
Washington for a conference with
AAA officials on methods to boost
tobacco prices They arf^C. T Hall, of
Wood dale, member of the State
Board of Agriculture, K F. Arnold, |
of Raleigh, secretary of the State
Farm Bureau; J. F. Winslow, of I
Greenville, president of the bureau, |
and Mr. Floyd
1
Superintendent Of
State Schools Pays
Dr. Wilson Tribute
Sa)? Martin County Health
Report Wum |te?t
Reeeiveil
Dr. F E. Wilson, Martin County |
rhealth officer, received a fine cor
pliment last week from Clyde A. Er-1
win, State superintendent of schools, j
In a letter to Dr Wilson, Mr. Er
win stated that the recent Martin I
County health report Was the "best |
that has come to my office."
Mr. Erwin's letter continued "I
want to congratulate you on the very
excellent manner in which you are
cooperating with the school pro
gram"
The superintendent further refer
red to Dr. Wilson's report as "a fine I
indication of the splendid work that |
is being done in the schools."
In the report to which Mr Erwin |
referred, Dr. Wilson presented fig
ures showing that the county is put 1
to much expense each year when stu- |
dents have to repeat grades because
of physical defects.
The report also showed that, with
proper care, many of the defective
students, who make up 67 per cent of
the county's school enrollment, can
be put into good health, thus enabl
ing them to pass their schoH work
and save the county thousands of
dollar*.
Marked Decrease
iin* *. i?
In IIlicit Liquor
Traffic In ('ounty
No Slill> < ;i|?lurril in Bear
(?rus* During Month
Of julv
$ L_
The illicit liquor manufacturing
business is apparently on the de
crease irr Martin County, reports
this week from the enforcement di
vision of the .-ilrnhnlir h.'v.M-ig.'
trol board stating that fewer stills
were captured during the month of
Juiy than in any other period since
last January.
Releasing the report. Enforcement
Officer J H. Roebuck stated that it
was the first time in many quint hs
that no stills were captured in Bear
CJrass _ Township, the officer adding
that ho < considered that feature the
high spot in all Ins reports combin
ed It us fairly evident that the
Bear Or;iss sectiuii is IujUub its wide
reputation as a center for the manu
facture of illicit liquor," the special
officer concluded.
During last month, the enforce
ment division captured eight stills
in the county, and poured out 3,050
gallons of beer and fourteen gallons
of liquor. Most of the plants were lo
cated in tut' Free Union section of j
Jamcsvillc Township and in the
i (loose Nest sector.
KIoven persons wen* arrosp'H tlw
j enforcement division scoring less
| than 50 per cent in its convictions in '
the courts Five of tin* eleven de
fendants facing the court last month
drew jail sentences.
Commenting further on the illicit
I liquor situation in the county, Offi
cer J II Roebuck stated that he be- I
lieved the manufacturing business
was fast losing ground, bqt that the
bout loggers were apparently enjoy
ing an increasing trade The manu
fact urn s, according to the special
"officer, are busily engaged in-har
vesting'a lecord tobacco production,
and those who are not busy with to
bacco .art;, unable to finance manu
factunng operations even on a small
scale The five and ten-cent trade,
more common when the economic
situation is pinching sizable pur
chases. is generally increased dur
ing tin summer months, but the offi
cer is of the opinion that the increase
this Slimmer is alibye normal .
i During the past month, the spec
ial officer and his assistants, Roy
Peel and Bill Haishp, traveled 803
miles investigating the illicit husi
ness and effecting arrests and mak
ing raids
July lias Hi 'aviest
Bain tall This Year
Show* Mom IVfcipitulion
Since Jmir of I it -1
1 fiir
??
?William-stun--had its heaviest rain
fall of the year during July, accord
ing to Hugh Sprui.ll, bridge keeper,
Who registered?a?precipitation?of
7.85 inches. Tins was also higher than
the rainfall of any mouth last yi'ar
with t|a exception of June, which
had 971 inches
The most ram recorded on any j
single day a i>?, on July 10, when tin?
rainfall amounted to 1.98 inches. The
smallest actual recorded was on July
20,-when the precipitation was .02
inches
Altogether it rained on 18 of the
31 days, but only on 13 of the days ,
was there any actual recording, j
Three other days saw traces of rain,
but not enough for a recording.
July's rainfall was considerably
above that of July, 1939, when there j
were only 8.49 inches.
Hospital Here Friday
I'OSTOFFICK
Making a personal survev this
morning. Postmaster Pete Fow
den announced that he hoped to
move into the new postoffice
ahmit the middle of this month.
He explained, however, that the
date for the move cannot he de
termined until the front door to
the building is received. The
structure is virtually complete,
and the door was to have been
shipped last week.
Postmaster Fowden stated
that Fourth Assistant Postmaster
Purduiu was planning to attend
Primiti\e Bajitisls
Hold Services \t
Sin it It wicks ( reek
I'mo'Duy Scr?ice Sclu-ilulr U
ljir({i'ly VltrmliHl I.us!
Week-end
By lll'CII H JOHNSTON. Jr
On Saturday morning July J'J,
1 '.Kill, tin' Primitive Baptist Com
spondence of Eastern North Cam
Una met with the church at Smith
wicks Creek, in Martin County, to
hold their second regular meeting
Tins church is situated a tew- miles
-fmrm-Wilhamston, and three m11rs_
to the left of the highway leading to
Washington The large, unoruament
yd, rectangular building is painted
White, and the green shingle roof
blends pleasantly with the grove of
tall, long-leaf pines that decorate the
extensive grounds The preacher's
stand inside the church was decor
ated with a multitude ,of beautiful
Ilowers of several varieties. Elder
Denny referred to them fittingly in
the language of Christ, as is found in
Matthew VI. 28, 28 "Consider the
lilies of tlie field, how they grow
They toil not, neither do they spin.
And yet I say unto you, That even
Solomon in all his glory was not ar
rayed like any one of these."
Services were opened by the sing
ing of a number of the old Gospel
hymns. There is no choir at Smith
wicks Creek, hut the congregation
really knows how to "make a joy
ful noise unto the Lord." After the
singing came a prayer by Elder J1
E Getsinger. pastor of the church It
was a wonderful prayer, the like of
which was never heard read out of
a prayer book. The morning sermon
was delivered by Elder R Price Vass,
of Woodlawn, Va. He came from the
New River association,, which holds
thirty four churches and is said to
he the largest Primitive Baptist a.s
sociation in the United States Eldei
Vass preached from Revelations
XXII, 10 "Seal not the sayings oF
the prophecy of this hook, for the,
time is at hand." It is to be regret
ted that only half a houseful were
present to hear this able address El
der Vass emphasized the present
lord M the?people.?In follow r+rr
teachings of the Bible, which are
higher than the law of the land be
cause they require more of a man
or a woman. The sincere conscien
tious Christian never goes in fear of
the law or of those who represent
[ the law. He also spoke of the duty of
young people J^o honor their parents,
and the even greater duty of the par
cuts to instruct and watch over the
(Continued on page six)
Highway Accident Record
Jhor till? first lime in three weeks, a traffic aceuient involving
injury and damage to property was recorded in the county last week
The only accident ic ported last week, however, did not chum
-.serious injury. Thomas Liwoncc Roherson suffered a hruised right
arm in an auto-truck smash-up at the western edge of Wilhamston.
The automobile crashed into the rear of a truck which was
about to turn from the highway into a side road The damage to
the car was estimated at $300
Many drivers in Martin County have been riding the luck that
seems to hang over the Martin County roads right now They ap
parently think that danger is not existent because there have been
but few accidents lately.
However, the records show that seven have been killed in the
county already this year. And, since luck runs in cycles, there is
bound to be a turn of bad luck before much longer
A successful gambler plays closely when his luck is bad, then
rides high, wide and handsome when it turns his way. Hut the mon
ey gambler is counting on his own luck and skill against the same
two elements In hi.s opponents.
The gambler on the highway is not playing against merely the
luck and skill of other drivers. He is playing against a hundred and
one other elements over which n? ither he nor the other driver has
any control.
So it would be a pretty sound idea for the motorist to keep in
mind always that the highway is no place to depend upon luck
An unofficial comparison of accident records in the county for
the past week and for previous weeks in the year follows:
Last Week's Record
Prior Record
TOTALS
Accidents Injured
1 I
26 23
27 24
Killed
0
7.
Property
Damifr
$ 300.00
$0,950 DO
$7,250.00
Dr. Brown To Hold
Open House For
Diildic Inspection
Patient?. Vre \ I ready Beingj
lrcaf?'?l; Hospital (iom
|delel\ Modern
; Hie Brown Community Hospital,
only hospital in Martin County, re
| ceived its first patients last week Dr.
I \ h Brown, head of the corporation
; ovn Hint*?the" lm inital. ; aid yc::trrdav
| that it will he open eontimioucly
: Iroin now on
No set program has been advanced
f"i ITU1 I'm 11 l.lI i'|)i 11nir nn F'lidaj of
j this week, but the general public is
I invited to visit the institution at any
time during the day
All kinds of medical work, with
the exception of major surgery cases,
will he handled at the hospital, Dr
Brown said Although there is still
some equipment to he installed, any
general medical work and miuor sur
gical eases can be handled now
I he hospital is not a large one, but
-rr-Ts-ii.u?di I., in-evn-v--inspect -^he
rooms are well lighted, and have
regulation hospital beds and other
standard furnishings Above and
outside each door is a red light,
which comes on when the patient
rings for a nurse.
hvery room m the hospital opens
off one corridor Thus the nurse on
duty can sit at her. desk and Watch
Lull room snmal light*, and at thf
.same tune be in sight of people com
ing in the..main entrance or cithei
of the side entrances
The hospital. situated on West
| Mam Stn et in t west .if tB.? Athmt.y
J Coast lane Underpass, has its main
rentrance on Main Street, There is a
spacious yard between the building
and the street Dr 'Brown says this
will f>e made into a lawn, with a
walk leading across it from the hos
pital to the street
There is a comfortably furnished
the mam entrance The hospital has
ten rooms foi patients If it became
necessary, some of the rooms could
be made semi private, thus provid
mg for about. 14 patients, according
to I)r Brown.
rive delivery room will be equip
ped with a modern operating table
and standard operating room light
mg. It has a tiled floor, and will be
suitable for minor operations
Next to the operating room is the
nursery,; w ith accomodations for six
new i min is to the world There is
space for additional cradles, should
| d'e birthrate of the county take a
sudden jump
| The kitchen is outfitted with all
electric looking and refrigerating
(apparatus Across the half is a cab
! met fdr drugs
j There is strong possibility that
j tin Brown Community Hospital will
become truly a "community" pro
j J?'i't Di Brnwn said he had offered
j t>tlrei--f-?hv^4e4ao>;of tin* .minty f^e
us. ot the hospital He added that
several physicians had indicated
j thi-ii ri111 111u111 ul taking advantage
of his offer. - -
Miss Myrtle Daniels; m trained
nurse, is now in charge of the hos
pital when I)r Brown is not present.
The physician said it is Ins intention
ultimately to have a trained nurse
on active duty at all times and that
| nurses will he added to the staff as
j the 'need arises
I'oi the tinrf* being only white
patients will be treated ?t the hos
pital due to limited space. However,*
it is Dr, Brown's plan to build an ad
dition. as soon as practicable, to care
for colored patients.
The hospital head is a graduate of
Syracuse University, where he work
ed foi a time after finishifig medical
?'eh""l Then he set ml for It tlhie on
the- staff ol the Baptist Hospital at
| Winston Salem, before going to the
layloe Hospital in Washington.
Brown came to Williamston, and for
the last year and a half has practiced -
I with Dr J H Saunders, veteran
physician. He will continue his as
so( lation with Dr Saunders.
iVegro Limes 7 Immh
In Smnnill Accident
John Watson Barnes, Negro, of
Kim Street, had his left thumb cut
off Friday afternoon by a saw while
working at Norton's Mill, on the
Plymouth highway near Williams
tOTT.
Barnes, spending his first day on
the job, got his hand tangled in the
saw while making tobacco sticks.
The whole thumb and a small por
tion of the lower wrist were taken
off by the saw
The injured man was rushed to
WiUiamston, where Dr. V. E. Brown
treated the ragged wound and sew
ed it up Due to the terrific shock
which Barnes had already gone
through. Dr. Brown felt it unsafe to
give him an anesthetic. He was kept
at the office of Dr. BTown and Dr.
Saunders for several hours, until the
shock of the accident had worn off.