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VOLUME XLII?NUMBER 73 Williamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday. September 12, 1939. ESTABLISHED 1899
Plaintiffs Seeking
$46,900 Damages in
The Su|>erior Court
Alirnutioii* Suit Brought By
Colored Man Settled
Out of Court
Eleven damage suits, asking a to
tal of $46,900. have been placed on
the calendar for trial in the Martin
County Superior Court convening
here Monday, September 18. The
number of cases is possibly the larg
est ever placed on the calendar at
any one time for consideration in
the courts of this county.
What held the promise of possi
bly being a near sensation in the
county's colored society was headed
off a few days ago when the $10,
000 alienation suit filed by Henry
Lewis against Claudie Francis, was
settled out of court. Lewis, in his
complaint, stated that he and his wife
Adeline Spruill Lewis, were living
together on July 12, 1939, that Defen
dant Francis made frequent visits to
the Lewis home, the plaintiff alleg
ing that the defendant had misrep
resented him to his wife, had pois
oned his wife's mind and alienated
her affections and induced her to
leave the Lewis home. The defend
ant vigorously denied all the charges
in his answer to the complaint, and
then the settlement was effected.
The plaintiff takes nothing in the
case, the judgment setting out that
the defendant at all times hereafter
will have nothing to do with plain
tiff's wife. The $8 60 costs were tax
ed against the defendant The re
moval of the case from the docket
leaves three other $10,000 damage
suits on the calendar
Annfe Mae Harris, by her next
friend, H P. Williams, is suing the
Tayloe hospital for $10,000 damages,
alleged to have returned from the
"carelessness and negligence" of the
defendants The complaint points out
that the plaintiff, a resident of Pas
quotank County; underwent an op
eration in the hospital on May 11.
1936, and alleges that the defendants
left part of a cheese-cloth sponge in
her abdomen, and that as a result
she was sick for a number of months
or until February, 1938, when the
nies the allegations, and sets up as
its defense the claim that the plain
tiff "recovered" from the operation,
that when she was discharged from
the hospital she was advised to con
sult her local doctor for a "check
up" or if she did not get along all
right to report back to the hospital.
The defense maintains that the first
it knew of any complaint was when
the suit was filed.
This case was started in the Pas
quotank Superior Court but was
moved on motion by defense to this
county.
The Isaiah llardison case, tried
once in the courts, is again slated for
trial, but this time the personnel of
the litigants has been changed. Filed
by J. E. Pope, administrator, the suit
is asking $10,000 damages from R.
G. Hancock, of Chatham County, as
a result of the death of Hardison, a
colored man, near Dardens, on the
night of September 14, 1938 The
complaint alleges that Hancock was
the owner of the truck driven by
Homer Glosson and alleged to have
struck and fatally injured Hardison
In his answer to the complaint, Han
cock maintains he was not engaged
in any business in this county in
1938. that he had sold his interest
to W M. Bingham
The fourth $10,000 damage suit on
the calendar is being brought by
George Bond, administrator of Wil
liam Bond, against R. B. Murphy and
Emmett Hardin. The complaint al
leges that Hardin carelessly and ne
gligently ran down and killed Wil
liam Bond, small colored child, on
the Hamilton Highway, near Mnh
ley's Mill, last June. Murphy denies
Hardin was an agent of his, and Har
din denies he was driving careless
ly and recklessly when the child ran
into the road and was killed.
Claimed to have suffered a brok
(Continued on page six)
Special Festival
Scheduled Here
The Collins Fall Festival, sponsor
ed by the Junior Woman's club, will
present four varied programs in the
Williamston High School auditorium,
beginning Thursday evening. Octo
ber 12th. The programs will con
tinue for three consecutive Thursday
evenings
The Mordelia Merry-Makers will
present on October 12, a piano-accor
dian program. Pietro Mordelia will
be assisted by his daughter. Flora,
and Barbara Taylor, well-known
Boston artists.
Dr. Frank G. Sayers, widely known
traveler and speaker, will speak on
October 19, using as his subject,
"American Cavalcade.'
On October 26, the Doris Davison
Melodears will present a concert fea
turing harp and violin.
The final program on November
2, will be a three-act comedy-drama,
"Youth Carries the Torch," present
ed by the Glen Wells players.
The Collins group comes highly
iring entertain
Jiclaas"
ment considered "high class" but not
"high
Poles Offering Foes
First Strong Defense
BOGUS BILLS
v
Bogus $5 bills ?rr apparently
still in circulation in these parts,
according to reports coming from
police headquarters over the
week-end. A stranger last Satur
day night ordered a pint of li
quor at the A. B. C. store here
and offered one of the funny
bills in payment. Clerk Z. H.
Rose, Jr.. detected the faulty
bill, and the owner snatched it
out of his hand, paid for the li
quor with ready change and
darted out of the store before po
lice could be railed. The man was
said to have been a stranger here.
The Federal Bureau of Inves
tigation was notified, but no re
port on its activities in connec
tion with the rase could be had
here.
Town Tax Rate To
Remain Unchanged
For Current Year
CommiHttioiiertt Onler Sulr of
Delinquent Tax l.i?t
On Selieilule
Williams ton's town tax rate for the
current fiscal year was left unchang
ed at $2.60 by the commissioners in
session here yesterday afternoon, re
ports from the office of the treasur
er indicating that an increase was
forestalled by a strict economy
schedule for the period.
Starting the year 1938-39 with
$21,000 balance, the treasury was
drained of slightly more than $10,
000 for the construction of the ?wim
ming pool. That one item, sclieduled
to have been cared for in a bond is
sue that never materialized, stared
the commissioners in the face at
every turn Heavy bond and interest
payments fell due during the last
period, and this ycui the town $iurt
ed with a balance of only $3,000 in
the banks.
Based on a $1,790,000 assessed tux
valuation, the $2 60 rate will raise
$46,540. Other sources of revenue are
slated to care for the difference in
budget needs which are estimated at
$66,513. Last year the total budget
was $71,867 These other sources of
revenue are water sales, profits from
the A. B C. board, intangible taxes,
paving assessments, rents, penalties
j on taxes and so on.
"There will be some month* in the
current year when we will possibly
be financially embarrassed, but we
believe we can pull through the per
iod without any danger of default
ing." Treasurer N. C. Green said fol-'
lowing the meeting.
Attorney R L. Coburn was direct
ed to start proceedings for reopening
an alley leading off Smithwick Street
between the Mack Simpson and ho
tel propertie*.
In accordance with law and assur
ed that action hud been delayed as
long as possible under the present
law, the commissioners ordered the
town's delinquent list advertised
next month for sale in November
Local Schools On
Regular Schedule
With nearly eight hundred stu
dents in their classrooms, work in
the local school was carried out yes
terday on regular schedule. Testing
was completed for the 81 little folks
entering school for the first time, and
they were assigned to the three
teachers who will direct their learn
ing for the next eight months. In the
other grades a few pupils were shift
ed from room to room to relieve ov
ercrowded conditions and equalize
teaching load, thereby virtually com
pleting the pupil classification until
the close of the term.
In the high school two hundred and
eight students were in attendance
and busy in their classwork. Twenty
six students have enrolled in the
commercial department and are tak
ing bookkeeping, - typing and short
hand under the instruction of Miss
Everett. ? 4t
Operator of an Illegal Slot
Machine Fined in the Courts
The drive to hold down and if pos
sible eliminate the slot machine nui
sance in this county met with mark
ed success in the recorder's court
here yesterday when Mrs. Myrtle
Knox was fined $50 and taxed with
the costs for the alleged operation of
a "one-armed bandit" in Roberson
ville.
Operated hardly more than three
days before it was confiscated by
Sheriff C. B. Roebuck, the machine
was ordered wrecked by the court
following the trial here yesterday.
One hundred and forty nickels were
removed from the machine treasury
and turned over to the county school
treasury.
L. B. McCormick, charged with the
distribution and ownership of four
"race horse" machines, is now fac
ing the courts in this county, the
cases having been continued in the
county court yesterday
Virtually ignored by law enforce
ment officers in some counties, the
Flannagan slot machine act is now
receiving the attention of superior
court judges and large numbers of
machines allegedly of the illegal type
are being confiscated in a number of
places.
The action of the court in the Knox
case here yesterday was directed
against the person in whose posses
sion the machine was found. Similar
action is subject to be taken against
other* who allow the operation of U
legal machines in their places of bus
iness, officers point out
World Gradually
Being Drawn Into
The New Conflict
No Peace in Prospect as Lou#
As Hitler Is Master
Of Genuanv
War tightened its grip on Europe
this morning as the Poles ottered
their first determined stand against
the German invaders and plans were
rushed for a major battle that was
described as eminent in late news
dispatches from France's western
front.
The war is playing havoc with sea
traffic, the number of British ships
standing at 16 today as a German
submarine added another to the
previous day's list. Hitler advanced
another claim today when he stated
that England's economic front would
possibly be shattered. It is apparent
that Hitler has a large number of
submarines to molest the British
merchant men, and that with Russia
to furnish him supplies he needs no
ocean shipping to maintain his eco
nomic balance in the present strug
gle
Running into Poland at the rate
of five, ten and fifteen miles each for
almost a week ,the Germans are now
facing a determined Polish army
which is being supported by old men.
women and children Repeated at
tacks have been made on Warsaw,
but the attack yesterday cost the
Germans 2,000 dead and several
thousand prisoners. The fall rains
are now falling, and the Poles pre
dict that the German mechanized
units will bog down. Hitler, yester
day predicted that Poland would
raise the white flag within two hours.
Later he offered an excuse for his
first defeat by saying that his men
were withdrawing to attack other vi
tal spots in the raped country.
Air attacks on Warsaw have been
terrific, DOT Hie determined Poles
fight that much harder as they see
their children and women murdered
by the barbarians.
France, making fair gains along
the western front, is digging in to
hold those gains against counter at
tacks. Activities along the front have
caused Hitler to rush reinforcements
there. The British are going into ac
tum and while their forces have not
participated in any fighting they are
moving uj large numbers to the west
ern front where observers at noon
today said that major battle was
eminent.
Entering its second week, the war
is spreading as though it will en
gulf the world. Britain and France
declared war. Australia followed a
short time later. Africa joined in with
England. Canada issued its declara
tion this week, and the Arabs and
Jews in the Holy l^and agreed to
forget their differences and go to
the aid of the allies.
While the war rages in Europe, the
(Continued on page six)
School Attendance
Shows An Increase
Gradually climbing aince the open
ing of the term last Tuesday, attend
ance figures reported in the various
white schools in the county are now
well over the 3,300 mark, according
to an unofficial estimate advanced
here today. A still greater increase
in the attendance figures is antici
pated as farm activities are lessened
by ttie tobacco marketing holiday.
There is little excuse to keep chil
dren at home now, a representative
of the county board of education
said today, and an all-time attend
ance figure is anticipated.
The increase is not likely to be of
sufficient size to create an urgent
need for additional teachers, it was
pointed out. However, the teacher
load is nearing the breaking point
in some schools.
A complete check on the attend
ance upon the colored schools is
nut available, but It Is bfiHtVed that
some of the school houses are bulg-,
ing with little tots.
Predicting Early
Vote On Tobacco
Control In State
Bi-lit-vt' lloliiluv Will l.a*l
I mil K?-f< TC ml inn
U Held
A partial answer to the question of
how long the tobacco marketing hoi'
iday will last, was advanced unoffi
cially today when a movement was
started for holding a tobacco refer
endum just as soon as possible. In
cidentally. the action moving for an
immediate calling of a referendum
indicates that the Imperial Com
pany's withdrawal will be of long
duration.
In a jitter over the events sur
rounding the marketing activities,
farmers are not certain as to the fu
ture It has been suggested by some
that the control vote would be sched
uled for the latter part of next week. ]
Others are of the opinion that al
lotmehts should be determined be
fore a vote is scheduled, and in that
case the referendum could hardly be
held before the middle of nekt
month. County agents have been ad
vised to rrtake preparations for an |
early vote, it was unofficially learn
ed here today, but if the instruc
tions are followed it will be several
weeks before farmers can express
themselves on the matter of leaf
control
It is apparent that control strength
has been materially increased, but
there are those who openly declare
their opposition to planned produc
tion. "I will sell my mules, lock up
my house and beg on the streets be
fore I will vote for control." one Mai
tin County farmer was quote as say
ing recently. "I'll not vote for control
until tobacco averages two cents a
pound." another Martin County far
mer was quoted as saying last week
end
Reports from the other side indi
cate that the opposition is breaking
dov\;.h rapidly, in the face of the low
prices that have prevailed since the
^pening of the markets three weeks
ago
Control advocates are working on
the assumption that once production
control is assured domestic compan
ies and independents will boost
prices. If control were to fail of pas
sage and the Imperial Company does
not come back on the markets, then
the advocates of the measure point
out that there will be every reason in
the world for the markets to break
down.
Postoffiee Holds
To Its Patrons
Moving into a homo of its own
after many long years, the William
ston postoffiee boasted yesterday that
it had not lost a single customer.
Postmaster Pete Fowden explained
that a few patrons, forgetting the
move had been effected, called at the
old office, and were a hit late get
ting around. By noon yesterday, the
office reported an increase in busi
ness with nearly all the keys to the
regular boxholders distributed.
"It will take us a few days to get
straightened out, but activities in
our new home are moving along
smoothly," Postmaster Fowden said,
adding that he and his forces were
well pleased with the new building
and that the general public had com
mented very favorably on the new
postal headquarters.
The old postoffiee was a deserted
spot yesterday but for workmen
who moved out the old fixtures for
shipment to Zebulon where they will
be installed. Repairs will be made
to the building just vacated here
preparatory to occupancy by a cafe
operator, of Elizabeth City.
Week-end W recks
Three persons were injured, none
seriously, in a series of automobile
accidents in this section during the
week-end.
Gussie Rogers, colored, was pain
fully cut and his girl friend suffer
ed a fractured rib when his car
crashed into the Old Mill Inn bridge
abutment Saturday night about 9
o'clock. Rogers said that the lights of
he could not see the bridge. The front
part of the car was smashed. The
damage to the car was fixed at $100.
Sunday afternoon, the cars of
Sam Mabry and R L. Commander
crashed at ihe colored school build
ing on the Washington road. Mrs
Commander suffered a severe arm
injury, but others in the two cars
were not hurt. Damage to the cars
was estimated at $200
Yesterday morning the cars of
Capt. W. S. Pritchard and Ben Har
dison crashed at the corner of Elm
and Washington Streets, doing about
$40 worth of damage to the Hardi
son car. No one was hurt.
Revival Being Held At
The Sweet Home (Juirrh
A revival meeting if being held in
the Sweet Home Christian Church
this week wifK' the Rev. H. E. Har
den, of Norfolk, conducting the spec
ial services.
Mr. Harden, the regular pastor,
?taUd tha meeting which began-on
Monday night, September 11, will
continue for at leaat 10 days.
Tobacco Markets Start Holiday
?/
Of Indefinite Duration Today;
Four Million Pounds Sold Here
Prospects Not Very Bright for
Peanut and Sweet Potato Crop
Early reports from Martin Coun
ty farmers point to poor peanut and
sweet potato crops this year both as
to quality and yield. While it is dif
ficulty to forecast the conditions of
the crop this far in advance, some
few farmers are of the opinion that!
they will not produce half of a nor
mal crop, and still others maintain
they will get no fruit but plenty of
hay.
The season for digging peanuts is
two or three weeks away, but Far
mer J Alfred Revels dug his crop
the early part of last week to estab
lish what is-believed to be an early
record
Heavy rains during August are
said to have damaged the peanut and
Sweet potato crops, past records show
the lau of nature providing heavy
trains in that month always affects
the two crops.
Possibly there is a slight increase
in the planted acreage in the county j
this season, but according to reports
the production will be far below nor- ,
mal.
Reports contrary to those coming |
from farmers in this county are be
ing received from other sections,
Down in Washington County the
growers are anticipating a per acre i
production of 1,500 pounds on ap
proximately 3,000 acres The expect
ed yield is about 240 pounds above
the per-acre average in past years
Heavy production of sweet pota
toes is being reported in Currituck
County where the government
making plans to divert a portion of
the crop.
Farmers in this county explain that
weather conditions durine the next
two weeks will have much effect on
both these crops, and that possibly
all hope for a medium production is
not yet gone
Plans Go Forward For
Fair Week After Next
Checks Arc Issued
For IM8 Premiums
By Fair This Week
INi-arly #1,000 Paid To l.iirp
Nuiiilicr of l'.xhil)ilor?,
\p-nt \illloiin<'t'H
Following the-payment of the 1938
premiums, the Wiliiamston fair man
agement today immediately threw
the machinery in motion for holding
the 1939 fair here week after next,
|n Y. Chamhliss, manager and a
'member of the North Carolina Fair
Operating Company, stating that the
Art Lewis Shows had already been
booked and that the grandstand acta
had been arranged through the. of
' fices of George Humid. Mr. Cham
bliss, spending- several days here last
week, explained that a detailed pro
gram for the fair would be made
public within the next few days. The
fair is slated to open on Tuesday,
September 211
Mrs. J. E Harrison. Jr , has been
named as local representative and
will maintain her offices at the fair
grounds beginning Tuesday of next
week.
Delayed in their plans for operat
ing the fair this year, the managers
were unable to publish a regular
premium list, but the list is appear
ing in this paper today with instruc
tions It isn't likely that farmers and
others will have time to plan exten
sive exhibits, but quite a few per
sons have called for premium books
and it is thought that the agricultur
al feature will not be lost.
The entertainment program will
be advanced on a larger scale this
year than last, according to the man
agement
Approximately $819 is being paid
\ry the fair management through the
office of the county agent to those
exhibiting at the fan lust year. A
large number of exhibitors called for
the checks over the week-end and
others are reporting for the special
premium money. Fairly sizable sums
have been paid to several of the
schools and to club exhibitors.
Commenting on the delay in mak
ing the payments, the fair manage*"
ment explains that the operuting
company had lost nearly $8,000 on it*
venture here, and that it was neces
sary to wait for the preparation of
the 1939 budgets before the pay
(Continued on page six)
first mkktunc;
The first regular fall meeting
of the Woman's Club will be
held in the club rooms, Wednes
day, September 13, at 3:30 p. m.
At this time the teachers will be
the guests of the club members
and during the social hour. Miss
1 ora Sleeper will k'1" ?> short
talk on her trip to Curope.
t'ach member is requested to
bring some gift for the club
kitchen. All members are urged
to be present.
Number Marriage
P
Licenses Issued In
(lountv Decreasing
It'll Marriage* Ui|>oil?<l
Comity During Mtmlli
Of \l^llr<l
Tht* marriage license issuance in
this county was the smallest last
month than 111 any August since
1932, but at the same time it was
about the largest for any month since
the new marriage health laws were
enacted by the North Carolina leg
islature.
A study of the bureau activities
ievents a marked decline m the num
ber of licenses issued to ctdored cou
ples in this copnty Since February
of this year only 25 licenses have
been issued to colored couples. Dur
ing the same period last year, (i6 li
censes were issued to colored eou
pies in the county. Thirty-two li
censes have been issued to white cou
ples in this county since last Febru
ary as compared with 41 issued dur j
ing a corresponding period in 1938.
It is apparent from these compare
sons that tin health law has effected'"
a decrease in tin- number of colored ,
marriages in the county, but that it
has had little or no effect upon the :
number of marriages among tin
white population.
Licenses were issued in this coun I
ty last month to the following eou .
-fries:
White
Kusscll K Williams, of Martin
County, and Margarit Moffit, of I'itt
County.
Joseph W Griffin and Lillian Grey
(Continued on ppge six)
Highway Accident Record
Following a week of little activity in the realm of highwuy ac -
cidents, Martin County motorists renewed the costly game last week
end to boost the figures and barely dodge the death column. Three
accidents were officially reported from Saturday evening through
early Monday. Three persons were hurt but none seriously. Prop
erty damage was estimated at $340
Housewives and others living in the school zones report fast
driving in those districts, the motorists apparently failing to real
i/.e the increased danger that presents itself when nearly 800 youths
travel to and from school. Drivers are urged to exercise every care
at all times and especially in the school zones.
An unofficial comparison of accident records in the county for
the past week and for previous weeks in the year follows:
Property
Accidents Injured Killed Damage
Cast Week's Record 3 3 0 $ 340 00
Prior Record 39 " 33 7 8,475.00
TOTALS 42 32 7 $8,813.00
Price Average For
Two Days Shows INo
Marked Variation
Cloning Orilt-rt'il in an Kffort
I n tori-Mall Cmiiplt*!**
Markt-I Hri-akilnu n
Faced with low prices since the
season opened three weeks ago to
day. farmers are now facing a per
iod nf greater uncertainty with the
closing of the markets today through
out the tobacco-producing areas. The
action virtually necessitating the sus
pension of sales was taken last* Sat
urday after the Imperial Tobacco
Company announced the withdraw
al of its personnel from all the mar
kets The immediate cause for the
w ithd r a wain mains amatter of con
jecture, and the results that will
follow tin- closing of the markets us
a matter of speculation
A great deal of guessing was done
following?jthe Imperial Company's
announcement, and various stories
were received from unofficial
sources The general opinion is that''
the company withdrew from the
market When it exhausted immediate
storage spaces and shipments to
Great Britain were blocked by Hit
Ici s war It was reported that
around 300 carloads of tobacco were
tied up on railroad sidetracks, and
that tlic company with its outlet
blocked was paying $5 a day de
murrage charge on each car. It was
rumored that the company not "only
withdrew from the markets, but that
it actually suspended operations in
several of its plants Just a few days
before, it was reported that the com
panv had added '2 000 tn itu?
payroll m this section of the State.
Just how long the markets will re
main close, no one knows Officials,
announcing the withdrawal of the
Imperial buyers, stated that it would
be for an indefinite period. During
the f'r.t world war. markets were
I closed for two week , but it is gen
i orally believed that too holiday start
ing tonne will continue for a longer
period
| As tin* sales close-'here this after
I noon, the in, ket is jn t about pass
ing tin- foui in111 ion pound mark.
I'i ices yesh .-day and today were
| firm .despite the withdrawal of the
Imperial, unofficial reports stating
that tlie general market average will
! run from two to three cents higher
j than it did last week. However, there
\ was a slight drop m prices paid for
the Imperial grades, unofficial Ye
j ports stating that the decrease rang
ed from two to five cents under the
figures ordinarily associated with
those types
Farmers, observing the sales early
yesterday morning, rushed to their
homes and returned with all the to
bareo they had ready to market.
Sales today are almost certain to re
sult m a block, hut every pound not
sold by 5 o'clock wdl be carried over
into the holiday period
It was generally agreed that do
mestic companies rallied to the de
fense of the markets yesterday and
today as they held to their posts and
[held price averages up for most
I grades Hut it was also generally
[ agreed that the pace could not be
i maintained, and that a holiday could
I "My prevent a breakdown in the
I 111111 lo ting <u tiv ities
' Cinod sales were reported here yes*
terday when farmers reported aver
I ages of 25, 2f> and 27 cents. Tobacco
held over from last Friday was said
I to have actually averaged from two
to three cents higher on the sales
yesterday
Thieves Raiding
In County Again
Conducting tin* ninth raid in the
county during recent months, thieves
stole eight or ten chickens from Far
mer John Powell near Kveretts, late
last Friday night. Commenting on
the latest in the series of raids, Sher
iff C H Roebuck admitted that he
had been unable to establish the first
clue in the case, and that he had fig
ured about every way Tie could to
run down the rogues. "We have ac
tually maintained a watch several
nights, but without success," the of
ficer uddisl.
The rogues, thought to be mem
bers of the same gang that has lifted
meat from several smokehouses and
chickens from several coops, went
to Farmer Raymond Stalls' first that
night, but left there empty-handed,
and went to Farmer Powell's. Appar
ently travelers frightened them away
before they could clean out the Pow
ell coop.
Sheriff Roebuck said that smoke-,
houses and chicken coo pa had been
raided in various sections of the
county during?leceiit weeks, that"
heavy raids were centered in Wil
liamston and Cross Roads Township.