North Carolina Newspapers

Watch The Label On Your Paper. As It Carries The Date Your Subscription Expires THE ENTERPRISE Advertisers Will rind Our Col umns A Latchkey To Over 1,800 Homes Of Martin County. VOLUME XL1II?NUMBER 91 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, November 12, 1940. ESTABLISHED 1899 Man's Death Caused By Poisoned Liquor In County Yesterday Last for M. F. Stalls A Beinfg Held Near Hamil ton This Afternoon -? re M- F. Stalls. Martin County farm er, died at his home near Hamilton yesterday morning about 11 o'clock, the apparent victim of alcoholic pois oning. It was the second death chargeable to alcoholic poisoning in I the county this year, Charlie C. Car sbn having died in Hamilton of an heart attack last February follow ing the consumption of liquor said to have been poisoned Stalls, a hard-working and relia-i ble farmer, worked at a peanut pick- i er Saturday and was in apparently good health. Sunday he was said to have visited one of possibly a "dozen'' bootleggers in Hamilton and purchased a pint of liquor. During the day he ate freely of canned oys ters. Several hours later or about 2 o'clock Monday morning he was taken violently ill. Hardly a spoon ful of the liquor was left in the pint bottle found in his room Called to investigate the death, Coroner S. R Biggs slated that the smell of the liquor was enough to make one sick. In his preliminary report, the coroner quoted the at tending physician as saying that there was no doubt in his mind but that death was caused by alcoholic poisoning. "The case is baffling," Coroner Biggs stated "There is no evidence of foul play. The family called the doctor just as soon as it was learned he was ill. There was hardly enough liquor left in the bottle for an analysis of its content, and when it comes to finding out who made and sold the liquor we recognize a big problem," the cor oner added. As far as it could be learned, the coroner will continue his investiga tion, but no inquest had been plan ned at noon today. It is apparent that manufacturers of illicit spir its serving the apparently flourish ing trade in the Hamilton commun ity are using gas drums and turning out poison liquor, according to the coroner. Mr. Stalls, the son of the late James Stalls and wife, was born and reared in the Hassell section of this county about 58 years ago. He mar ried Miss Chessie Thomas, of Ham ilotn, about 28 years ago, and she survives him. He leaves no children. Two brothers, Floyd Stalls, of Nor folk, and Ben Stalls, of Hamilton, and a sister, Mrs Elizabeth Craft, of Portsmouth, survive. Mr Stalls made his home in the Parmele-Bethel area for a number of years, but moved to a farm near Hamilton about a year ago. He and Charlie Clarence Carson, the other apparent victim of alcoholic poison ing, married sisters. Funeral services are being con ducted at the home this afternoon and interment will follow in the fam ily cemetery, near Hamilton. Await Outcome Of Molotoff - Hitler Conference Today World History U Relieved To Have Been Made By Die tatora in Berlin The world, torn with war and un rest, anxiously awaits the outcome of Soviet Russia's Premier-Foreign Commissar Molotoff's conference with Adolf Hitler in Berlin today By early noon the conference had been completed, but not even a hint on the discussion topics or the de cisions reached by the two men could be had immediately. Hie con ference is almost certain to have a far-reaching effect on world history for many years to come. While it is generally believed that Russia will not act contrary to Hit ler's wishes, it is also believed that the Soviet will not enter the war It is possible that Molotoff trad ed the rights of Turkey to the Dar danelles for part of the Danube and other concessions. During the mean time Turkey is declaring that she will resist any invasion attempt against her territory. The Hitler Molotoff mystery will soon be re vealed, and the world will then bet ter know who's fighting who. Encouraging reports are coming out of Egypt where General Wey gand, supposedly the representative of the Vichy government, is not act ing in accordance with the likes and dislikes of Hitler. The general re fuses to leave Algiers, and to aggra vate the situation for Hitler, Gener al DeGaulle, leader of independent Frenchmen, is scoring victories in Egypt. Hie British air force is increasing its activity over an expanding terri tory, and today Hamburg is in eco nomic ruin as a result of air raids. The Greeks are claiming added victories, one report slating that the brave Greeks had wiped out 12 of ficers and 800 more men in ambush fighting. Successes have been scored on all sides against the Italians who are retreating from Greek territory and burning bridges behind them To date, the Italian drive on Greece has been marked by com plete failure. OpenGovernment Warehouses For Peanuts Here Tomorrow After an unexpected delay of sev eral days, government warehouses will be opened here late tomorrow afternoon, according to an official announcement released by- the Pea nut Growers' Stabilization Coopera tive at noon today. Final plans are 1>eihg~llraffed by the directors in meeting today, and representatives of the organization will immediate ly enter the field to effect arrange ments for receiving the goobers, it was officially announced The representatives will reach here early tomorrow morning, but it will possibly take several hours to set up the books and perfect the lo cal organizations, it is understood | The first peanuts can possibly be handled by the organization by late afternoon tomorrow. The second point for receiving peanuts will be in Robersonville. the representatvies going from here to the neighboring town to complete the local organi zation. "We are definitely going to open the houses tomorrow in Williamston and Robersonville, but possibly it will be late afternoon before any peanuts can be handled." an official I of the cooperative announce at j noon today. Pending official announcement from the cooperative, the open mar ket has been bearish, the farmers ad vancing a selling movement while the buyers remained hesitant to en ter the market. Price schedules wen weak on all markets today, with the very best offerings commanding hardly three and a quarter cents Sales as low as three cents were un officially reported, and buyers hes itated to act under that price sched ule. Deliveries are fairly heavy today, farmers almost blocking the factory and storage houses with their trucks First Dralt To Take 147 Men From County GOES TO DI'KI1\M Rev. S. J. Starnes, after a suc cessful year's work in the local Methodist Church and in the community, leaves Thursday for his new charge In the Durham district. Rev. B. T. Hurley Succeeds The Rev. S. J. Starnes Here Mr, Slarni'M Moving To Diir huni District On Friday ?Of-Titin Wcrk Rev. B T. Hurley will succeed Rev. S. J. Starnes to the pastorate of the local Methodist" Church "this week, the change having been effected by the North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church at Wilmington last Sunday evening. The transfer of the two ministers was one of many ef fected by the Bishop during the re cent conference which attracted throngs of prominent churchmen to the coastal city last week-end. Mr. Hurley comes here from the Red Springs Church. A native of Montgomery County, he is a force ful preacher and able religious lead er. During his pastorate he has serv ed the church at Elizabeth City in this district. Mr. Hurley and his family pla nto move into the recent ly completed parsonage here Fri day. It is with regret that the people of the town learn that Rev. Starnes Mrs. Starnes and their family are moving to their new home in Dur ham where he will serve the church near Watts Hospital. The minister and his family have made many strong friendships during their one year stay here. Reviewing briefly the minister's work, one will find a progressive program has been advanced during the year drawing to a close A new parsonage has been recently com pleted. Forty-two members have been added to the church rolls here and at Holly Springs. The size of the congregations has been mater ially increased, and a newly organ ized prayer meeting is now one of the largest here. As a whole, the church is completing one of its most successful years. Rev. Starnes will hold his final service tomorrow evening at 7:30 o'clock during the regular prayer meeting hour. The membership is urged to be present sod the public is invited. The minister and his family will move Thursday to their new home in Durham. During his stay here, Mr. Starnes has been active in community aj>d civic life, serving the Lions Club as its able president during the past eight months. Board Places First Questionnaires In The Mails Monday (iroHH-Referencp Li?t of Order INiniilirr* for floiuity \p |Mkar^ in This Paper One hundred and forty-seven Mar tin County young men will t>e call ed to the colors between November 28 and next June 30. Draft Board Chairman K. H. Goodmon announc ed today upon the receipt of call quotas for this county Whether this number is exclusive of credits gain ed by volunteer enlistments. the hoard chairman could not say as he I has received no official instructions. for handling credits.?ft is generally I believed, however, that the 147 men now subject to the first-year draft are in addition to those men who vol unteered for service, meaning that about 180 Martin men will be in service ere next June 30 rolls around. The first call for men is expected on or about November 28. The num i her that will be called on or about ! that time is not yet known "Possi bly, ten men may be railed, or pos sibly credits for volunteers will Jx* I allowed and no men will be called . from the county al that time We do not know." Mr Goodmon said to 1 day. The second call is expected some I time in January and a third about March By next June possibly all of the 147 men included in the first draft quota will be soldiering for the government During the meantime, plans for i getting up Martin County's quota ! are being rapidly advanced. The first batch of questionnaires for regis j trants in the one to 51 order number j class was placed in the mails Mon day. Others will he mailed at the I nf fifty fijfih d?y until lht> t.-isk [is completed The first question naires are scheduled to be returned I not later than Saturday of this week. The, draft hoard is expected soon thereafter to hold its first meeting for the classification of registrants Those men who fall into Class No 1 and whose order numbers are hi the lower brackets can make ready to | receive a call at any time, bu^ hard I ly within five days after their class ification has been effected Numbers, designating the order in which the registrants will be called, ; were posted in the courthouse Mon j day. As a public service and with I out cost to anyone, this paper is publishing a cross-reference list of the county order numbers. On Tues day, October 29, the registrants' ser i lal numbers were published by post office and race and in alphabetical | order. The registrant, desiring to learn in what order he will be cali ber and then find his order number in the cross-reference list. The num bers are being printed in blocks of fifties, the serial numbers appearing in black at the top of each block of (Continued on page six) Red Cross Drive Is Off To Good Start The annual Red Cross membership campaign opened in the local chap ter yesterday, first reports from the canvassers stating that one of the largest roll calls in the history of the local chapter was in the making today. - ? "If ever the Red Cross was need ed, it is needed now to help alleviate the suffering and misery of a peo ple stricken over a world-wide area." officiate sey Campaign chairmen have been named in the various districts, and in Williamston the Junior Woman's Club is handling the roll call under the direction of Mrs Joseph A. Es son. The local committee U maintain ing an office in the Branch Banking and Trust Company building. Four Injured In County Accidents During ^ eek-end ?*~ Fi\c Automobile ^ reek* Re porter! Over Sf?Hrml Area in Three Days While a htt le ertmr- - wavt- swept over the county during the week I nd. the automobile squeezed its way into the picture to claim a part of lhe spotlight. Pulling memorandums from nearly every one of his pockets. Patrolman Whit Saunders today started entering his official reports covering five accidents, two of which resulted in serious injury for three1 persons Seven cars, a truck and a 'passenger bus figured in the series' of accidents from Friday to Sunday afternoon Little Leathier Murriel Bunch lies in a hospital with a brok en leg and Thurman Wilson and J H. Quinn are nursing bad shoulder and back wounds as a result of two of the wrecks The first in the series of accidents took place in Oak City last Friday [evening when James Cole drove in to a highway intersection without |stopping. Farint r Henry Early driv ing from Hamilton crashed into the Cole car. Jesse Rogers, local color ed man. traveling from Hobgood. crashed into the other side of the Cole car No one was hurt, but dam age to the three machines was esti mated at $175 Cole was arrested and is now facing a reckless driving cnargr in the courts. Saturday morning jusl before noon, the little Bunch girl darted in to the highway and into the path of a car driven by Mrs. Louis Earl Schmitt. of Scotland Neck. The girl suffered a broken leg just above the ! knee, reports from the hospital where she was carried by Mrs. Schmitt stating that she was also painfully bruised and that the leg injury might prove serious. Mis. Schniitt. accompanied by Mrs. 11 M Dunbar, was coming into Williams ton to visit a sister. Mrs. Samuel Pa trick. when the child darted into the highway just outside the town lim its on the Hamilton road The girt was playing with two companions in the road, it was said. Mrs Schmitt sounded her horn and tile ehildien moved off the road, but the Bunch child ran back, one report stating that she was frightened by a dog and unconsciously jumped back into the highway Witnesses stated that Mrs Schmitt could hardly have pre vented the accident Satuiday evening about 11 o'clock a car driven by Andrew llardison, Jr , and a truck driven by Gene Bed well crashed on the highway about one and one half miles this side of Jamesville No one was injured. The car damage was estimated at $75 The truck is the same one that was believed to have figured in an acci dent in which Mrs Jane Perry was hurt near Sweet Water Greek on the Jamesville Road several months ago Sunday afternoon about 2 o'clock .1 large Carolina Coach Company passenger bus curtailed its speed for a bad place in the highway near Rob i i son villi1 and Henry Raw Is ran his Model A into the back of it. Raw Is lost a tooth and was slightly bruised. No one 111 the bus was injured, und ,l:im;u'e to both vehicles was hardly more than $1", according to Patrol man Saunders Kawls is to face a Robei sonville justice of the peace on a charge of operating an automo bile with improper brakes. Sunday afternoon about 4 o'clock on "dead man's curve" between Rob ersonville and Everetts, J. H. Quinn and Thurman Wilson, Greenville men. were badly hurt when the car m which they were riding crashed with one driven by Mrs Monk Wells, also of Greenville Wilson suffered a fractured shoulder and Quinn's back was injured. The two men were riding with Fred Warren, of Green ville Damage to the cars was esti mated at $25(1. ?> - J. I'anl Sim/moti To lli'iul Kitraniann llrrr Nexl 1 rar J Paul Simpson, local insurance man, will head the Wilhamston Ki wanis club next year as president Dr. J. L. Spencer is the club's new vice president, and Lawrence P. Lindsley, Jr. will serve us secre tary-treasurer. These men were elected to their respective positions in the club by the membership at its last meeting H G' Horton, president; J H Smith, vice president, and Dillon Cobb, secretary-treasurer, are the retiring officers CALL FOR NKKDY No money is being solicited and no one is being asked to deny himself, but an urgent ap peal is being directed to the peo ple of this community to donate old clothing for the needy and half-bare tots in the local schools. It has been pointed out ih.t a cold wave, reported Just at hand, will head off quite a few tots, that a few warm clothes will enable them to attend school and at the same time keep their little bodies protected. Any one who has old clothing to spare Is urged to call Mrs. Joel Muse who will call for It and effect distribution In the schools. Crime Wave Reported Here and In the Countv Last Week-End; Attempt Made To Burn Sehool Nine Are Jailed In This County During The Past Week-end Several Seriously Hurl Dur ing Drunken Brawls Here Salurtluy Niglii Crime, reaching little blitzkrieg proportions, swept over sections of the county lust week-end. leaving in its wake several seriously wounded and one dead Drunken brawls wliih centering on Williamston's famous Washington Street beer garden block, were also reported m other sections. Up until main today few ,,f the brawls and attacks had been an I'd in the courts. Warrants are pending in several eases, the, courts yesterday spending much time in emptying the county jail Nine persons were jailed and sev eral others were arrested but escap ed jail by furnishing bond. Five of tin- nine, Willie Thomas. John A Rice, John Smith, Sylvester Scott and James Mason, were booked for public drunkenness. James Cole was arrested for reckless driving follow ing a wreck at Oak City Friday night. Joe James was jailed for an I alleged assault with a deadly wea pon. John Sam Moore and Johnnie | I'arker were taken into custody for alleged assaults One of the two serious attacks was reported at Everett* where Fan nie Crowd! hit Bessie Moore over the head with a shot gun, inflicting a serious injury. The Moore woman retaliated with a meaningful knife swing, opening a gash 111 the Crowell woman's neck that required twelve stitches to close When officers reach ed F.veretts. (K Moore woman's bus | band, Sam, hail taken up the fight and was holding a fortified rank on Crowcll's front porch Crowell was in a Robersonville doctor's office with his wife, and Sam, with gun in hand; was patiently awaiting his re turn The free use of liquor, said to have been poisoned .caused one death near Hamilton. Repeated ground raid alarms were, sounded in the beer garden area on Washington Street While the op erators are credited with trying to maintain order and peace, the crowds went out of control and fighting was reported off and on during a great or part of Saturday night and at in torvals on Sunday i Local police haul ed the disturbers of the peace down 111 carload lots, while several were carried to doctors' office for atten tion. James Pippcn, Bear Grass coloi ed man, was dangerously slabbed by Booker T Bradley in a brawl at the beer garden. The weapon barely missed the man's heart, and one re port stated that when he breathed air was inhaled and exhaled through the wnuTwT~T7rppe nwas saidto be out yesterday but unable to work Ed arid Leon Goss were said to have tig ured in the fight leading up to the knife attack on I'ippen. The general disorders were in ad dition to a series of daring robber ies on Williamston's main street and at the grammar school building some | time during Friday (light. Robersonville had its outbreak of disorders, but nothing serious re j suited, one report stating that the ' jail was almost filled during the per-1 I iod. Little activity was reported on the crime front in other sections of the t-i iiiiv. ? ? ? ?? ? county during the period according 11 ' tt 111 j m n ? I to incomplete reports heard through I the sheriff's office here. , Native Of County Dies In Hospital Joseph Jordan Lillcy, native of , Martin County and prominent Washington business man, died in a I hospital there last Friday. His condition had been critical for some time. ! Mr Lilley was born December 1,1 i 1878, a son of the late Harry F and Mary Bryant Lilley, of Martin Coun ty. His boyhtsid was spent here and I he' moved to Washington in early manhood, making his home there since For a number of years he owned and operated the Joe Lilley Grocery on West Main Street where he acquired a wide circle of friends who were attracted to him by his. many sterling qualities. v . I For many years he was a pillar of the First Christian Church where fie served faithfully and loyilly as a member of the board of deacons He is survived by his widow, who before marriage was Miss Linda Pearl Bwanner. of Boauforl Count)', one son, Joseph Jordan, Jr., and a daughter, Mrs Randolph Harris, of Rocky Mount. Funeral services were held from the First Christian Church Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, conducted by his pastor, the Rev. Harold Tyler and interment was in Oakdele. (Utttou (winnings C.limbing Tn IS'oir ho vol In (Bounty Cotton production after reach in* * record low p<iint in recent year* is climhin* rapidly to new hi*h levels in Martin County. Possibly w ithout exception. >lar tin cotton rarmrrs are makin* this year the lar*est |?ercenta*e *ain in production than any oth ers in North Carolina. Cp until the 18th of last month. Martjn farmers had *in ned almost 25 times as much riH ton as they had ginned in the corresponding period of last sea son. A government report re leased this week shows that 2. 181 bales or the staple had been Kinned from the current crop up until October 18 as compared with 88 hales in the correspond in* period of 1939 No late fi*. ores are available, but it is es timated that *innin*s up to this lime Will exceed three thousand bales, and that the season's to tal W ill approximate a fi*ure be tween 3.500 and 4.0(81 bales Other than the pickin*. the cost of producing the crop this year will not be materially great er than that incurred in produe ^Jn* I be 1939 crop. Farm Bureau Will Close MemlxTsli in Drive Next Week ? Over .'{00 Farmer* utiil Hnsi ncss Mm Hnvc HwchiH Joim-il (Irpiiii/uiinii 4 Meeting in the county agricultur al building lust Friday evening, membership teams of the Martin Farm Bureau reviewed the cam paign to date and advanced plans for bringing tin- membership drive to an end by Friday, November 22 Mole than 31)0 farmers and business men have taken membership m the organization, and during (lie next ten days tile canvassers hope to boost the number to 800 or 1.000 Speaking to the group last Friday evening. Mr Charles I. Daniel, pros ident of I lie county unit, pointed out that it was more iinportunt than ever before to perfect and maintain a strong farmer's organization The work of the Farm Bureau, it was do clared, will mean extra thousands of dollars to the farmers and bus! ness establishments in this county this year Two-cent peanuts were in prospect just a short time ago, hut work was done by the organiza tion and stabilization methods will lie continued during die current sc.-. son. it was learned President Daniel made an earnest plea for the people of this county, farmers and busi ness men, too, to get behind the or ganization with a strong support. Membership canvassers are work mg without pay, and on Friday eve rung of next week, the losers in the campaign will pay for their suppers as well as those of the winners Additional members, not previous ly acknowledged, are as follows Williamston W. A Mohlcy, S II Grimes. Central Cafe, B S Court ney. Clark s Drug Store, Keonomy Auto Store, Davis Pharmacy, W j Miller, Guaranty Bank, J S Whit ley, G Hi II Builders, Woolard Furn I ,'Jure. Central Service Station, Soda Shoppe, John Gurkin, Henry D Har rison, Margolis Bros., Nat Israel, J F Weaver, I). G Mod I in. Rose's, Harrison & Carsturphen, J H Cher (C ntinued on page six) Clear Up Series Of Auto Thefts With the arrest of Roosevelt Fagari, Martin County colored man. last week, officers are of the opinion that they have cleared up a series of uu tomobile thefts in this community. Fagan, arrested by Officer J H. AlUbrooks and Patrolman Whit Saunders last week, denies stealing any one of four cars missing from local streets. Officers are working on the case and have already gained much evidence which will be used against Fagan when he is called to trial. Cars belonging to Jack Leggett, Alton Barnhill, Sylvester Taylor anil Farmer Griffin, of Williams Town ship, were stolen from local streets _during the past four weeks Fagan would drive the cars a while and then leave them Charged with forgery, Fagan was tried in the Beaufort County Super ior Court last week and sentenced to prison for four years. At the ex piration of that sentence he will be brought here for trial in connection i with the alleged automobile thefts. Daruiii Robberies T Here Friday Ni^ht Baffling To Police Tlirw Sliirc? I'ulii'r \r?- \i Work on Several "l.rail?" \l IVrwiil m ?? Williumston police are still baffled today as they continue the task of trying to clear up a series of rob beries and an attempt to' burn the local grammar school some time dur inn last Friday night or early Satur day morning. Chief of Police W B. Daniel had little comment to offer this morning, hut it is believed that the officer and other members of the force, working in cooperation with the sheriff's office and other law -enforcement agencies, are fol lowing several leads that will throw some light on the daring robberies and the attempt to burn the large graded school building. Preliminary investigations- have cm i ied the officers outside tin- coun ts. hut th< y reserved comment upon their return yesterday afternoon. No direct report has been received from fingerprints taken at the school and at the scene of the three robberies Believed to have gone to the school building first, the robber or robbers forced an entrance by tear ing off the screen wire over a base rnent window Nothing was missed there, hut a burned space of small dimensions was found on the floor by the school people Saturday rnorn j ing. The intruders apparently had burned paper on the oily floor School authorities state that they Icould not understand what prevent ed the tire from spreading and dam aging the entire building. . The robbers next struck the Wool nrd Hardware Company's front door on Main Street. Using a tire tool or pinch bar, they quickly and without very much noise gained an entrance there Two Winchester rifles, .one a repeater and the other an automa tic. a pistol and several dollars in icash were stolen there Possibly oth er articles were stolen, hut they could not he missed immediately, doing from there, tin- robbers tail (Continued on page six) Joe Henry Li I lev Is Killed In Train Auto ^ reck Today (iranltCH into MouhI Line Mil" tfiiie with Mar at Washing ton Slrrrt LroNHing 0 Joe Henry I alley, 32-year-old far mer of near here, was instantly kill rd at?13 3d (lie. afteiomMi?when hlo car crashed into the engine of an Atlantic Coast IJne train at the Washington Street crossing near the plant of the Williamstoii Peanut Company plant His skull fractured, I alley died instantly or before mem bers of the train crew or witnesses could reach him Ialley, coriu/ig to town for a sup ply of peanut hags, was thrown part ly from his car, Ins head striking the concrete Seeing the approaching train too late to stop, Ialley applied the brakes and the ear swerved first to one side of the road and tfien to the other, finally careening to the left before it plowed into the en gine near the fireman's cab. A heavy rain was falling at the time, and vis ibility was poor. A preliminary report released soon after the accident by Patrolman Whit | Saunders stated that the engineer of the train saw the approaching car and applied the emergency brakes on the train. When the ear crashed into the engine, the train was, according to reports, traveling hardly 15 miles I an hour, that it continued hardly 20 feet after the crash Very little dam age was done to the car which was turnefPuver when it struck the train. Apparently the left door of the ma chine flew open and Lilley fell out. When aid reached him his head was on the ground and his feet still in the car. The car was on the edge of the highway when wreckers went to move it. The son of Mrs Genny Lilley and the late Joseph S. Lilley, he was born near here about 32 years ago In early manhood he was married to Mis*Gray Wynne, who survives with three children, Holly Marie, Joseph Clifton, and Bobby Shelton. He also leaves his mother and four sisters, Mrs. Annie Cassell, of Hertford County; Mrs. Roy Sherrod, of Sharpsburg; Mrs. Roland Goff and Mrs. Joseph Whitaker. both Qf Wil Tiamaton. Funeral arrangements had not been completed early this afternoon, but it is understood that the funeral will be conducted at the late home juat off the Washington Highway to morrow afemoon and that burial will follow in the family plot on the hqme farm.