Watch The Label On Your Paper. As It Carries The Date Your Subscription Expires THE ENTERPRISE Advertisers Will Find Our Col umns A Latchkey To Over l.P Homes Of Martin ver 1.IOU Countj^ VOLUME XLIV?NUMBER 22 Williamslon, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuculay, March lit. 1941, ESTABLISHED 1899 Good Government Is Stressed By Jurist Before Court Crowd Atlclre** Regarded A* One of Strongest Heart! in Coun ty in Reeent Years ? Making what was regarded as one of the strongest addresses heard in the Martin County courthouse in re cent years. Judge W. C. Harris, opening a two weeks term of super ior court here yesterday morning, stressed the importance of good gov ernment and urged the grand jury men to break away from routine schedules and do an effective job While his order calling for a check of those persons who failed to list for taxation commanded strictflftten tion, the jurist's charge from tlfe be ginning to end was featured by rec ommendations and pleas for better government. The Raleigh jurist, seldom ever raising his voice, put force behind his remarks, and frankly told the jurors that he was not talking just to be talking. "I hope and possibly I beg you to do your part," Judge Harris said. Pointing out what it means to be a grand jurorK the speak er said, "It means more than the av erage persons think it does; it means more than passing on a few bills and making routine inspections with the view of getting through and going home. That's the wrong idea, and good citizens should be glad to serve as members of the grand jury Grand jurymen are the trustees of this county, and they have more power than any other organization or agency in the county." Without citing crime conditions and making only one reference to any particular law?perjury?Judgc Harris stresses the duties of the grand jury. "You are to discuss con ditions in the county and see that law is enforced. Then if conditions are not remedied and violations of the law are not checked, you are to see what's wrong and see that violators of the law are indicted and brought to justice. As representatives of the public, you should see that the of ficers and employees are properly handling their duties, and you should inform the public in your report your findings." The jurist directed a double-bar reled blow against some agencies when he declared that there should be no secrets in public offices. "When the public pays the bill, then it should know all the facts," he de clared. In this connection, the names of those receiving old-age assistance and the amounts they receive are, by state agency rulings, withheld from the general public. The inspection of county offices, schools, county home and other pub lic properties will not follow a rou tine order if Judge Harris* instruc tions are followed. "Go into the of fices and learn the facts, see that public documents and records are safe, and see that no economy move is launched to impair the efficien cy of the offices and officers. Call in the sheriff and ask him about crime conditions in your county, and co operate with him. Check up on the f police chiefs and see if they are working with the office of the sher iff and the sheriff with the police de partments. Learn if there is any fric tion in the law-enforcement agen cies. Do something to improve your law enforcement work now and don't wait until some one is murdered to take action where it is needed." The jurist suggested that a finger printing system be maintained, that proper-criminal records are kept, and that the officers be encouraged and provided with Adequate transporta tion facilities and free gasoline. The judge commended the officers for the work they do, and stated that many are prone to criticise and with hold any encouragement. In conclud ing his remarks on law enforcement, Judge Harris said, "Our defense movement lagged ,but we are now waking up. We must do the same in (Continued on page six) Henry Grimes Dies In Robersonville Henry Grimes, well-known Martin County citizen, died at his home in Robersonville this morning at 1:30 o'clock following a long period of declining health. He was 69 years old, the son of the late James and Caroline Roberson Grimes. Mr. Grimes .a native of Roberson ville, was a faithful servant of the government for a long number of years, retiring not so long ago. He was a devoted member of the Christian church for a long period, and was highly respected by a large number of friends in his home town and throughout the section Humble in his walk before the Mas ter, his life was marked by its un derstanding of others and in the service of his fellowman He leaves his wife, Miss Isolar Brown before her marriage, and twc daughters, bevora and Vera. Hi also leaves two sisters, Mrs. R. L Smith, of Robersonville, and Mrs A. R. Dunning, of Williamaton. Funeral services will be conduct ed tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clocl in the Christian Church at Rober sonville by hia pastor. Rev J. M Perry Interment will follow in thi cemetery there. Ill Luck Strikes the Whitfield Family in the County Monday Ill luck pounced on the Whitfield family in this county yesterday af ternoon when the home was de stroyed by fire in Gold Point and one of the members was in an automo bile accident at Spring Green. Just about the time the family was sur veying its loss, word was received from Fort Bragg stating that B H. Ross, a relative and a former mem ber of the household until he went to the fort, had been in an automo bile accident. Its origin not definitely known, fire thought to have been started from a spark, threatened a greater part of the little county town yester day afternoon, and if it had not been for the Robersonville Fire Depart ment at least several other build ings would have burned The A. B Whitfield 8-room house was a total loss. The roof on the Clifton Row ell home was damaged, and virtual-' ly all of the contents moved from the home to the yard caught fire and were burned The furniture belong ing to Mrs. J R. Smith, a school teacher and an occupant in the Pow ell home, was damaged. The home of J. L. Croom caught fire, but it was checked before any great dam age resulted. The Robersonville firemen had a difficult time saving the filling station and store owned and operated by Harry Roberson No estimate on the loss could be had immediately. It was a hot time in the little town for a short while The local fire de partment was called, and just be fore the volunteers started to take the equipment out, Fire Chief G P. Hall learned that the fire was be ing brought under control. Several firemen went there by private con veyance. Two Are Sentenced to The Roads For Attack SEINE FISHING Plans are suing forward rap idly for opening the seine fish ing season in the Roanoke at Jamesville within the next few days, Manager-Owner C. C. Fleming stating yesterday that they planned to make the first haul not later than next Mon day. If weather conditions are favorable and arrangements are completed, the first "haul" will be made possibly day after to morrow. The weather outlook is not considered very favorable just now. I?ast season the Jamesville fishery had a very successful season. No one can guess with any degree of accuracy the prospects for the season now at hand. Man (?ets If)-Year Term in Rape Case In Superior Court Court In h\|M-rlt'\ (lotiii Next June Cli.-.-k of Draft ami Vutoiiio liili- Kejii-lralioii- Now Minont ( Vrtain The whwls ??I justice for fax dodg eis were set iti motion here yester day mmtilMg when Judg.- VV C Har it in Ins charge t?? the grand jury ordered tli. ?nuid> and tax lists checked ti?r_jion i.ix 11. t?? i ? "It has hecij surprising to learn in othej counties how many have been es caping taxation,'' Judge Harris said in instructing the jury to have the tax authorities of the county and several towns to appeal and make a complete report. "You," the judge addressed the jurymen, ought not to have to pay taxes when others ale allowed to go free " He added, "I understand there were nearly 3,000 | noli-listers found tti Wake County You can't get a man for not paying taxes, but you cqn indict and prose cute him in the courts for not list - | ing." According to Judge Harris tax ; dodging is common in North Caro I I ma. and there is a isfncerted drive (?n the part of the superior court judges to break it up Indictments have been made by the hundreds in some counties Tax authorities in this county > aren't agreed as to the conditions ex isting m this county with respect to tax evasion Some believe there are .it least 300 people escaping their fair share of the tax load. Others say 1 then are \ . i v few tax evasion cases i It is an established fact that there are a few persons who did not list their holdings even aftei they had been warned by the county commis stoners publicly and hv the list tak ? is personally lip until two years ago. very few indictments were made in cases I charging--citizens with evading tax i ation. Last yeai and the year before a few cases wetv carried into the courts, and others who had evaded I the obligation listed this year. Ev I ei y possible warning w as given this year, and the rion lister has very lit | tie ground to tight an indictment and '?iihscquet.it action m the courts Commenting on the situation as it exists in some counties, Judge Harris said that it had been found that those peisons who evade their shaie of the tax burden are often the ones who offer the most criticism j against the government and its of ficers He also intimated that they should he made to answer, and that prosecution in the courts is indeed necessary t'lans tor checking the lax books have not been completed following the judge's chaigt to the jury yestei | day, hut it i understood that the j tax refolds will be compared with the last October draft registration and with automobile registrations in Kalcigh. In a number of counties it has been customary to include the names of noti-listers in the grand jury report with an order from the court directing its publication. A complete tax list is recognized .. .in 1111j?