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VOLUME XLIY?NUMBER 9 It ill uuu at on, Martin County, Morth Carolina, Friday, January 31. /9|/. ESTABLISHED 1899
Judge W. H. Coburn
Handles Ten Cases
In The County Court
Several Sizable Fines Imposed
And Number Road Sen
tences Meted Out
?
While the little crime wave that
swept over a portion of the county
last week-end had not reached the
court for unraveling. Judge W H
Coburn and Solicitor Don E. John
son had a fairly busy day clearing
the docket in the county's tribunal
last Monday. Ten cases were on the
docket, the court completing its work
and ordering adjournment at 11:30.
A fair-sized crowd was present and
heard Judge Coburn impose sub
stantial fines in a number of cases
and heard his stern voice calling out
road sentences for defendants in
several cases.
Proceedings in the court:
The case- charging E. L. White
hurst with violating the liquor laws
was nol prossed with leave.
A former judgment of the court
having been complied with, judg
ment in the case charging C*y
Whitehurt with an assault with a
D. D. Hill was sentenced to the
roads for a term of three months in
the case charging him with trespass
and larceny and receiving. He plead
ed guilty in the case.
Charged with drunken driving.
Booker T. Teel was fined $50, taxed
with the cost and had his license re
voked for a period of one year
Hopie Brooks, adjudged guilty ov
er his own plea of innocence, was
sentenced to the roads for a term of
six months in the case charging him
with an assault with a deadly wea
pon.
Joseph R. Whitaker, charged with
drunken driving, was fined $50, tax
ed with the cost and had his driver's
license revoked for one year. He
pleaded guilty to the charge.
Charged with selling wine without
license, Clarence Tapir was fined
$15 and taxed with the cost. He
pleaded guilty.
M. C. Brite, the Elizabeth City
man who was on his way to Holly
Ridge last Sunday evening when he
was arrested on Williamston's main
street for drunken driving, was sen
tenced to the roads for a period of
three months, the court suspending
the road sentence upon payment of
a $50 fine and the costs of the case.
His license to operate a motor ve
hicle was revoked for one year.
Brite, stopping when the bumper of
his car locked with that of another
machine on the main street, was said
to have tried to push one of his com
panions under the wheel, but was
caught in the act by Patrolman Whit
Saunders. Brite's two companions.
Cary Ballance and William C. Easoii,
pleaded guilty in the cases charging
them with public drunkenness. They
were each fined $15 and taxed with
the costs.
Infantile Paralysis
Drive Is Successful
The drive for funds to combat the
dread disease of infantile paralysis
was regarded today as the most suc
cessful ever advanced in this county,
according to incomplete reports com
ing through the office of Dr. E. T
Walker, chairman of the campaign
for Martin County
Approximately $50 was realized
from the President's birthday ball
here last Tuesday night, and the
March of Dimes, still in progress, is
said to be meeting with a marked
success. Robersonvlile, reporting ap
proximately $25 from its tag sales,
more than trebled its sales over the
I MO figures, and Oak City, reporting
$10, had a similar gain. Other dis
tricts have hot submitted complete'
reports to the county chairman, but
it is estimated that the March of
Dimes will net approximately $100.
A year ago, the amount raised in the
March of Dimes totaled hardly $20.
Appreciative of the cooperation ac
corded him in advancing the worthy
nmnsisn. Dr Walker will submit
a complete report just as soon as aTT
of the district chairmen are heard
from.
Judge Winston Dies
At Home In ^ indsor
Judge Francis D. Winston, "Grand
old man" of Bertie County and a
congenial neighbor and friend of
Martin, died at his home in Wind
sor last Tuesday evening. He was 83
year* Old. The last i iles were com
ducted in the Episcopal Church on
Wednesday afternoon, many from
here and other parts of the State pay
ing a tribute to his memory by at
tending the service.
The venerable old gentleman is
remembered in this county by his
friendliness which was readily ex
tended to persons in all walks and
stations of life. He attained promi
nence in several fields outside the
field of law and the bench. The
judge was a favorite after-dinner
speaker, prominent churchman and
a leading figure in the Masonic lodge
of North Carolina. Enrolling as the
first student in the University of
Norht Carolina following the Civil
War, Mr. Winston was one of the
institution's oldest trustees.
THEY'RE IN THE ARMY NOW
Pictured above are sixteen voting Martin County men, fourteen of
whom were accepted for Army service at Fort Bragg a short time ago.
All of them volunteered, but Harris and Nicholson were rejected on
acount of physical defects.
They are: First row. left to right: Jesse Koberson. Williamston. R.
F. D. 2; Charles Elbert Bullock, Williamston, R.F.D. 3; Marvin Theo
dore Koberson. Williamston; Julian Albert Roebuck, Williamston.
Second row, left to right: Claude Elmer Jenkins, Williamston, R. F. I).
3; Hildredth Rogerson, Williamston. R.F.D. 2; Joseph Elmer Griffin.
Williamston, R.F.D. 2; Robert Claborn Harris, Hamilton. Third row,
left to right: John Davia^Warren, Williamston, R.F.D. 3; Dennis Hard
ing Whichard, Williamston. R.F.D. 3; Heber Taylor. Williamston, R.F.D.
2. Fourth row, left to right: James Oliver Wynn, Williamston, K.F.D.
3; Paul Cleveland VanLandingham. Williamston, R.F.D. 3; Grover
Raymond Moore. Williamston. R.F.D. 2; Nathan lledrick Mobley, Oak
City; View Vister Nicholson, Williamston, R.F.D. 3.
FARM FORUMS
A series of forums for the dis
cussion of farm problems will
be held in the county agricul
tural building during the course
of the next several weeks fol
lowing action taken at a meet
ing of the Farm Bureau members
held here earlier this week. The
first of the meetings will be held
on Monday. February 10. at 7:30
o'clock. All farmers are invtied
and urged to attend and partici
pate in the forums.
Dr. I). V. Clayton and other
representatives of the County
Farm Bureau at the national con
vention in Baltimore last Decem
ber will address the first meet
ing.
Forest Protection
Growing In Favor
In Martin County!
_ J I
Firr Wunlt'ii Imiicn His An
nual Report; Brush Burn
ing Kn|iiircn IVriilit
?
That the forest fire protection serv
ice is rapidly gaining in favor in this
county is pointed out by County For
est Warden Marvin H. Leggett in I
his annual report just released. j
There is yet much to be accomplish- I
ed, however the warden declares j
that the general public is realizing ;
the value of forest protection and
that more people are willingly co
operating in advancing the service in
this as well as in other counties.
Martin County appropriates approx
imately $800 each year as its share
of the cost in maintaining the serv
! ice.
The past year was a busy one for i
the warden and his assistants. Dry
weather prevailed during most of j
the fire season in the fall and winter. [
During the past twelve months there j
were 81 forest fires in the county. A |
few more than 3,100 acres were]
burned, the fires damaging on an I
average 38T.34 acres. Carelessness on]
the part of cigarette smokers and
farmers burning brush was given as
the cause for 70 per cent of the fires,
the origin of {many of the others be
ing unknown. Damage to timber
lands was estimated at $5,260. Charg
ed with violation of the forest fire
laws six persons were convicted in
the courts and fined $87. this amount
including the costs.
Warden Leggett worked 2,493
hours, traveled 8,983 miles in the in
terest of the service and in fighting
fires. Assistant wardens and spec
ial helpers worked 6,974 hours fight
ing fires.
One story has it that the tower
man in Griffins Township cited a
fire in Cross Roads Township, that
the warden and assistants reached
the scene before the owner, hardly
a quarter of a mile away, learned his
woods were burning.
Effective- tomorrow, ? Towerman
Goodrich at Hassell is resigning,
Warden Leggett stating that his suc
cessor has not yet been named.
A closer check on brush burning
is to be made this year at the direc
tion of the State department. Be
ginning tomorrow all persons who
plan to burn brush on their farms
are directed by law to get a permit
either from the warden, towermen
or district wardens. Permits are is
sued without cost, and without them
the persons burning brush or small
tracts of woodslands are subject to
prosecution in the courts. The war
den has been as lenient as possible
in enforcing this section of the for
est law, but specifif instructions have
been received to warn against vio
lations in the future.
Lumber Business
Approaching Peak
In This Seel ion I
Dt'friiM' Orders
Idle Mill* into Operation
Over Wide Area
Literally swamped with orders, I
lumber mill operators are working |
night and day to give this and oth
er communities removed from the
defense centers an idea of what is I
going on in this world Possibly if |
it were not for the lumber manufac
turers this and other peaceful com
munities would doubt the fantastic
stones as they tell about the mush
room growth of such centers as Hot- J
ly Ridge. Fort Bragg and other Army |
posts.
The manufacturing business is
fast neanng a peak in this commun
ity, hut already the activities here
are fitting well into the defense pro
gram and in a big way, ton. The G
and II Builders Supply Company
are making ready to place in opera
tion a ground saw mill on their prop
erty just off the Jamesville High
way Tfear the plant of the Columbian
Peanut Company. H Ft Thompson,
independent lumber dealer and op
erator of several portable saw mills,
is making plans to install and oper
ate a planing mill on the G and 11 I
property just across the railroad
from the Farmville Woodward mill
More than half a million feet of
lumber have been placed on the lot
already and the planing mill will
likely he placed in operation with
in the next few weeks.
Independent owners are placing |
old mills hack into operation, somc
of them almost obsolete, some are
small and some are of moderate size
The defense program has issued an
urgent call for lumber and while
supplies have been virtually deplet
ed, the manufacturers are appar-1
ently doing a good job in answering |
the call.
The Farmville-Woodward Lum
ber Company is now working on a
| big defense order. Plant Manager
Dean SptMghl siaung yesterday that
three carloads of dressed and man
ufactured lumber were moved out
of the plant yard in a single day
this week for the defense project at
Holly Ridge. The company has been
(Continued on page six)
Condition Of Knife
Attack Victim Crave
Carlton Reason, victim of a death
ly knife attack near Dardens last
Saturday night, continues in a ser
ious condition. However, late re
ports from his bedside at +iis home
in the Piney Woods section of James
ville Township, state that his recov
ery is expected if no complications
develop. Yesterday it was stated that
|the knife wounds requiring fifty ur
more stitches to close, were healing
up very well, but that the man was
in a weakened condition and that he
had contracted a chest cold He com
plained of being "touchingly" sore.
Nathan Cole, a second victim of
the attack, is said to be up and get
ting along all right.
Alton Lilley, the county's No 1
carver, and Joe Lanier Godard, Sr.,
his companion in the last Saturday
night crime, continue in jail. Bond
has been denied the two men, and
a preliminary hearing in the case is
being delayed pending the outcome
of Reason's wounds. Two main wit
nesses, Bertha Morgan and Minnie
Owens, who were arrested along
with Lilley and Godard, continue in
the county jail.
Building And Ix>an
?p
Association Issues
Annual Statement
Local Organization'*
Arc Now Ncariua Half
Million Dollar*
The Martin County Building and
Loan Association last year rounded
out the most successful business per
iod in its history, *lhc assets of the
organization Hearing the half-mil
lion dollar figure at the close of bus
iness on December 31.
The value of the association as it
relates to the material growth of
this community is reflected in the
mortgage loans which total $441.
556 46, the loans on shares amount
ing to $8,73ft 30. The association's as
sets. including $8,873.33 in cash and
$3,000 in government bonds, total
$475,042.31. The organization has un
divided profits in the sum of $29.
187.(53 and a reserve lor contingen
cies in the amount of $7,000 lis stock,
including installment and full-paid
shares. amounts to $345,222.80
Against its accounts payable of
$328.05. the organization has ac
498.16.
Williamston reported the con
struction of almost fifty new homes
last year, the building and loan par
ticipating to* a large extent in fi
nancing the construction. Other type
construction, including repairs to
homes, was also financed in many
cases by the organization. In addi
tion to its activities on the home
building front, the association re
ported increased accounts carried as
investments. The association's sav
ings feature is now regarded as one
Of the most inviting to ho fun ml
Next month, the association has
two stock series. No. 35 and No. 41-c,
maturing. A total of $23,800 in stock
will be matured, $17,000 of the
amount to be paid in cash to the
shareholders and the remaining $6,
000 to be applied on mortgages held
by the organization.
The association will open a new
stock series in March
Hitler Defies II. S.
To Send Help To
Embattled Britain
Committw Support of Lciim'
LoimI Kill Offered \n
llireel Answer
The Mouse Foreign Affairs Com
mittee in direct answer to Adolf
Hitler's attack on American efforts
to aid embattled Britain, yesterday
approved the administration's lease
lend bill with only minor changes
proposed. Recognized by some as a
warning to the United States to go
slow in extending aid to England,
Hitler's 90-minute speech was one
long boast. He threatens to destroy
England in the spring and in defying
American aid he declared that every
supply ship moving American goods
to England would be smashed and
sent to the bottom of the sea.
Hitler spoke, with explosions of
hatred and a smattering of wise
cracks, before a wildly cheering
crowd of more than 13,000 at the
Berlin Sportspalast on the eighth
anniversary of his rise to power as
the Chancellor and master of Ger
many.
Germany has secret weapons ? he
called them "blue wonders," the Ger
man idiom for big surprises ? in
store for the mighty assault on Brit
ain by land, sea, and air, Hitler boast
ed.
His 90-minute speech promising a
final German victory in 1941 was
hfarrl throughout Germany anH Na/i
conquered Europe as well as by mil
lions abroad through radio hook-ups
extending to Italy, Japan, Slovakia,
Hungary, Bulgaria, Finland. Jugo
slavia and other countries.
Declarations
He declared:
1. If the United States attempts to
send aid to Britain, "Ihen we say
this: Every ship with or without con
voy that approaches England will be
torpedoed."
2. Britain is "pinning hopes on
(Continued on page six)
(;rkkk fund
Although steeped in sorrow as
a result of the death of their
leader, Premier General John
Metaxas, the Greeks are show
ing a greater determination to
repulse Italian Invasion at
tempts. As the Greek people ral
lied anew to their cause, local
sympathisers boosted the relief
fund for the little nation to al
most $100 since last Tuesday. Ad
ditional donations will be receiv
ed by the local fund treasurer,
John Hardy, The Enterprise, of
Gun Riga* will call In person for
a donation any one wishes to
make. Contributions not prev
iously reported.
P. P. Peele $ 1.00
Gus Rig as 1.00
Collected In coin box tn
Wllllamston Cafe 11.00
Previously reported 71.00
$01.00
London After a Night Bombing
The havoc of war, which descends nightly upon a great city, is shewn
in this dramatic picture taken during the height of the great tire
which ravaged sections of London after recent intensified incendiary
bombing of the metropolis. Large areas of the city have been set atire
and blasted to the ground, but the city k?'??ps on ''living"
Penalties For Late
Tax Listing Likely
No Extension Eor
Listing Property
Is Thought Likely
. |
OommiHsioiier* lljt\r Nen
l.iltlr On lliilcii
ilur Kor !\V\I MoihIun
As the (tendline for listing proper- |
ty for 1941 taxation rapidly ap- i
preaches, there are quite a few own i
ers win* have not listed their hold '
ings or polls, according to unofficial I
reports received here this morning
from several of the personal proper- |
ty list-takers According to unoffi |
cial reports, no extension of time i
for listing property will he granted
when the commissioners meet in i
their regular session here next Mon i
day L^ate listings, it is understood
will he dated and penalties added to !
the regular tax accounts of the late
listers Those who fail to list will he
made subject to prosecution ui the
courts
Possibly the commissioners will, in
the event 110 extension of time is
granted for listing, establish a pen
ulty schedule for late listing 111 ac
cordance with law which provides a
penalty ranging from $1 to ten per
cent of one's taxes.
It has been reliably learned that
some members of the hoard are in J
favor of invoking the penalties this 1
year. They point out that delayed
listings add lo the tax cost, and that j
prosecution should follow in all
cases where property owners at
tempt to escape taxation It has also
been rumored* that a new deal is to
he expected by those property own
ers who list their holdings and .who
try to meet their tax obligations. The
new Seal in taxation is expected to
center around property listings, non ;
listings and unpaid taxes. According
to one report there are tax accounts
approximately $50,000 uncollected
on the county books at the present
time.
Several of the township boards of
property-ussrssors have completed ?
their work, but in at least two town
ships the work can hardly be 00m
pleted before the second week in
February. With the figures now
available, it is impossible to esti
mate the trend in values with any
degree of certainty. Some list-tak
ers and several boards of assessors
state that indications point to an in- J
crease, but they &ould offer no es- 1
timate as to percentage gains.
The commissioners in their meet j
ing here next Monday have very lit
lie scheduled business on their cal !
cndar. A jury list will be drawn for ,
the two weeks term of March super
lor court, and possibly the condition
of secondary roads will be discussed j
or petitions submitted for consider
ation.
No One Injured In
Highway Accident
No one was Injured and very little
property damage resulted in an au
tomobile-truck accident ui Hamilton
Wednesday morning at 7 45 o'clock
Mr. Henry S Johnson Hamilton
merchant, was driving into town!
from Oak City and slutted to turn
into South Street when a tluci; truv
i ling in the some direction and driv
en by Henry Lewis Milehell, of liln
Carolina Avenue, Crew Va., crash
ed into the rear of his car.
v Damage lo the car was estimated
at $20 and damage to the truck was
placed at $39 Patrolman Whil Saun- 1
ders investigated the accident. Ac- j
cording to unofficial reports a civil
action is likely to grow out of the
accident.
< \M.K1> TO COI.OKS I
A captain in the Cnilcd States
Army Reserve Corps, Arthur IK
tlertolett left today lor a year
of service at Fortress Monroe,
near Norfolk, lie is the first re
servist in this county to be call
ed by me Army for active scrv
ice in the present emergency.
Mrs. Ilertolett, a native of Rhode
Island, and two children, will
continue to make their home
here.
icars rrom
Lo'j; Rar?t\ IMejjro
llclicvnl Drowned
No Truer of I <Mic Moorr
lto<l> I oiiikI in lliiaiiokr
\l Juiiichv i 11 ?*
Eddie Mimhc, 2(> yeai old Negro,
disappeniI'll from a log barge "i the
Roanoke River at Jamesville about
Tmd afternoon Wednesday, -reports
fiuin tin* hlirriff'i office heir as well
as those coming from fellow work
ers advancing tin- belief that he fell
into the stream and drowned While
mystery surrounds I he man's disap-1
pearance, officers investigating the!
case are satisfied there was no foul!
play, that he either fell into the riv
er and drowned or that he left the
lunge inniiM ireil .mil di.s.ippcui ed
He has not heen seen since While
feeble efforts were made to drag
the river for the body yesterday
morning no trace of it was found
Moore, employed by the Foreman
Blades Lumber Company, was work
ing with Eugene Singleton and Dav
id ^Stancill unloading an old log
barge at the company's mill. Sin
gleton was working on top of the i
pile of logs, Stancill on the shore j
side and Moore was stationed on the,
river side Moore and Stancill would
fasten cables around the ends of the
hie into a crane hook. Neither work
er could, hardly see the other and
one's absence could not he easily
detected. A batch of logs was lifted
from the barge and placed on the
mill yard A ten minute delay fol
lowed before' the i rane was placed
iri position for another batch. Dur
ing that interval. Moore disappear
ed It was first thought that he had
left the barge and another worker
was stationed on the barge. That eve
ning about H o'clock, Lena Moore,
the boy's mother went to the mill
looking for him. She explained that
he never failed to go home for his
supper, that she was uneasy about
him. She appealed to the sheriff and
a search of the barge was made. It
(Continued on page six)
Respected Citizen
Dies At Her Home
Here This Morning
l.u%i Rile* for Mr*. Hi/.ilietli
(fiar|tuniH To lie 11?*l?l
Snn?lav XfltTiioon
?Blount. tdurgaruis;
highly respected local citizen and
member of a prominent Washington
County family, died at her home on
East Church Street here this morn
ing at 0 o'clock following a two
years' period of declining health.
I Suffering an attack of influenza v<
shortly after Christinas, Mr.--. CJui
ganus, was getting along very weU
juntil last Wednesday afternoon when
|.she was taken suddenly and serious
ly ill. Within a few hours she had
lost consciousness, the end coming
gradually. Pneumonia was given as
the immediate cause of her death
The daughter of the late Alfred
and Nancy Huhht U-Mounh she was?
horn in Washington County, near
Roper. 70 years ago. She spent her
early life there, marrying Nicholas
'Mobley. of this county, in IHHti. They
built a new home on West Main
Street and lived here a few years be
fore moving to Belhaven where they
I spent about two years. While there
Mr. Mohley's health failed and they
leturned t?? Williamstou Following
the death ?.f Mr Mohley in iti91, she
returned to the home ut her parents
jin Washington County and lived uri
| til her marriage to Samuel fl New
berry, of WiJliamston, in IH9fl They
I made their home here on Church
I Street and following Mr. Newberry's
death about 1910 she returned to
:liV(g with her father A few years la
per she was married to Eli Gurganu*
of Williamston, and since that Jime
she made her home here
A direct descendant of a family
?prominent in Colonial affairs and
leaders in the Revolutionary cause.
Mrs Cturganus received hei educa
I lion and training at the direction ot
] her parents and private tutors, a
custom that marked the educational
movement of that period. She joined
the Episcopal Church when a young
girl, and held membership in the
Church of the Advent here for
more than half a century She was
liberal in its support and humble
ill her worship Thoughtful and
neighborly, she was devoted to her
family. Only a few "days before her
death she visited the sick and ex
pressed an interest in the welfare of
others. Her acts-.of kindness were re
moved from the public eye, but her
alk through life was marked by
Christian ideals and by a Willing
ness to help others She had a mo
therly understanding for her grand
children, ami in the home she cher
ished and enjoyed the companion
ship and love of her family.
Members of the immediate faintly
were at her bedside when the end
(Continued on page six)
Mrs. Louisa Lean
Dies In Hear (?rass
Mrs Louisa Kogrison Leary, high
ly respeeted Hear UrasiB citizen, died
at the home of her son. William
Leary, there early yesterday after
noon following a Irrtig period of de
clining health.
Mrs. Leary was born in Bear Grass
Township on May 20, 1872, and spent
her entire 11ft* there In 1880 she was
married to Levi Harrison who died
a few years later. Two children born
to the union, died in early youth
In 1897 she was married to J G
Leary, of South Carolina, but con
tinned to make her home in her old
neighborhood. 'I'hree children, Mrs.
J-?Ci?Bailey, William?and?Jesse
Leary, were born to this union, Mrs.
Bailey dying suddenly less than two
weeks ago Mrs. Leary's condition
was regarded as serious at that time.
She was numbered among the
first to affiliate with the Presbyter
ian Church at Bear Grass Humble in
her walk through life, she was held
in hn.'h esteem hv all who knew her
She was devoted to her family and
friends, and her life was marked
for its Christian character.
Funeral services are being con
ducted in the Bear Grass church this
afternoon at 2 30 o'c lock by her pas
tor, Kev Z. T Piephoff. Interment
will follow in the Bailey Cemetery,
near Bear Grass.
Changes Announced
In V.E.P. Personnel
Several changes in the local office
personnel of the Virginia Electric
and Power Cornpuny were announc
ed this week hy Manager R. H. Good
mon Arthur D. Bertolett, of the
company's engineering department
and a reserve Ariny captain, is leav
ing today for u year of active serv
ice with the armed forces at Fortress
Monroe, Va. His successor has not
been named.
Jesse Wilson Price, accounting
clerk, is being transferred to the
company's Norfolk division. He ia
leaving today. For lite preaent, Mrs
Price and daughter will raaku then
home with relatives in Wlmfcor.
Wheeler Manning, cashier, succeeds
Price as accounting dark and Mips
Ruth Ward ia the new cashier.