North Carolina Newspapers

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'<l To Tak<- a Keren* Thin Afternoon ( mil Ncvi Week Joseph Thigpen, 23-year-old Oak City Negro, was sentenced by Judge W C. Harris in superior court here this morning to not less than fifteen and not more than twenty-five years in State's Prison in a case charging him with raping a child under ten years of age. Thigpen, through his counsel, pleaded guilty of carnal knowledge and it was accepted by the State. De plorable conditions in the home of the attack victim and surrounding the crime itself saved Thigpen's life. It was pointed out that the girl was drunk when she was attacked, that Thigpen had been an intimate guest of other members of the family on the day of the attack. "I ani sending you to prison for at least fifteen years, and I hope thai it will be a lesson to other members of. your race," Judge Harris told Thigpen in pronouncing the sen tence. During the process of anothei trial, Judge Harris admonished mem bers of the colored audience crowd ing into the courtroom. "You should have more respect for your own race," he said after several had lathed out loud at a remark heard from the witness stand. After spending much time in the trial of the Godard-Lilley assaull case yesterday, the court started working toward a recess early this morning. The grand jury was said to have been well up with its worl( shortly before noon, and the court ii likely to recess this afternoon unti next Monday when it will call civi cases for "trial. Eddie Salsbury, a thief with a lcnj reputation, pleaded guilty in the cas< charging him with breaking and en (Continued on page six) PRE-SCHOOL CLINICS A series of pre school clinics for the examination of those lit tle tots who are to enter school next fall will be held in the coun ty beginning next week, the of fice of the superintendent of schools announced" today, as fol lows: Williamston, March 25 and 26; Jamesviile, March 27; Bear Grass, March 21; Farm Life, March 31; Hamilton and Has sell, April 1; Oak City, April 26; Everett*. April 2*. and Rober sonville Gold Point, April 36. Parents of all the little folks entering school next term for the first time are urged to have them ht the appointed places for physical examinations on the de termined dates. Beer Hall Dynamite Case Blows lip in the Court Here Monday Brealer Purl of Yesterday Devoted To Trial of (rodurd-IJllev Little did they realize it at tire time, but Alton Lilley and Joe Lan ier Godard last January 25 in a brawl at a Negro dance hall and pool room near Hardens carved them selves out a two-year sentence on the roads of North Carolina The trial of the two white men required a greater part of yesterday, and would hardly have been cleared from the docket before this morn ing had the defense carried their cause to the jury. After hearing much testimony, including that of fered by the defendants and star witnesses, Bertha Morgan Price and Minnie Owens, the defense counsel, J C. Smith and E. S. Peel, pleaded the two men guilty of an assault with a deadly weapon. The plea was ac cepted and Judge W C Harris, pre siding over the current two weeks Jerm of the superior court, sentenc ed them to the roads for a term of two years each. There were marked variations in the testimony heard, but summed up in a few words the trouble start ed when Godard and Lilley accom panied by the Morgan and Owens girls went to a Negro pool room and dance hall at Piney Woods near Har dens on Saturday night, January 25. Carlton Reason and Nathan Cole, young white men, were there play ing pool. One of the young women claimed they made a slurring re mark to her, and Lilley and God* ard, armed with their pocket knives, immediately went into action. Lilley carving Reason almost beyond re pair. Godard, fighting against a cast Cole was wearing to protect a re cent injury, made little progress in his attack. While there is some doubt if the jury would have found the two de fendants guilty of an assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, it is reasonably certain that had a verdict been returned against the two, Judge Harris would have in i relied the length of the road terms The action of the court temporarily at least, halts a yard-long crime rec ord for Godard. In a second case charging Lilley with a knife attack on James Holli day and coming up from the county court on appeal, the court sentenced the defendant to the roads for a term of 12 months. The sentence is tc begin at the expiration of the first but Judge Harris suspended it upor good behavior on Lilley's part dur ing five years following the comple tion of the first sentence. Williamston's dynamite case in (Continued on page six) Germany Now Faces Stiffer Opposition In Aggression March \ arit'il Devrlopmeut* Report etl On the Furopean War Front $ Facing a stiffening opposition along all fronts, diplomatic as well; as military, Germany has the work!; guessing as to what Hitler will dure do in the immediate future or in the few weeks just ahead. Movements I and activities in the Balkans would indicate that a day of reckoning is near in the war in that sector with | the Italians virtually obliterated in i eastern Africa and beaten in Al bania The movement of thousands of ^British troops into Greece and pos- I sibly Turkey, and a counter move | ment of German troops into the j Bulgarian-Greece frontier sector are causing much speculation in the world toduy Some say a clash is im minent while others say no immed iate show-down" is expected on the part of Germany. A delay in Yugoslavia's action to sign with Germany is seen as a stif fening opposition to Hitler in his march of aggression. Turns in the diplomatic world are attributed, more or less, to Presi dent Htnisevelt's fire-side chat last Saturday night, which was acclaim ed throughout the democratic world and which created a new hope for Britain, Greece and subjugated coun tries.hi support of that talk and in support of the lease-lend bill. Con gress is now considering a 7-billion dollar appropriation for financing aid to Britain, Greece, China and other countries taking a stand against Nazism The air warfare that exacted heavy hills on life and property in Liver pool. and on German centers, too, during last week, has apparently slackened Mussolini apparently is on his last legs in east Africa, thanks to the British forces, and in Albania thanks to the heroic Greeks. A new war threat was reported in the Atlantic yesterday when Ger man long-range submarines were re ported this side of the 42nd rneridian or about 500 miles off Newfound land. Coast Guard patrols, working in that area, said they had seen no signs of any German war boats of any description. British shipping' losses continue to climb and are now past the five million-ton mark, one report stating that 100,000 tons of British shipping went down last week Along with the British ship ping loss came a report stating that Germany's queen of the seas, the Bremen, was burning possibly in the Kit ! Canal. Showing every willingness to give all-out aid to Britain, the House Appropriations Committee reported the 7 billion dollar bill to the floor today, and its passage is expected shortly, possibly by tomorrow Higher Crop Loans Expected To Boost Income of Farmers Adniiiiihlrutioii Dctcrmiiieil To Keep Farinrrh In St<*|? Willi Industry Washington Authoritative farm officials said last week it was a "good guess" that the Administra tion soon would propose an increase in rates of Government price-sup porting crop loans as a method of boosting agricultural income. The higher loan rates, they indi cated, would be accompanied by changes in farm programs which I would give the Agricultural Adjust ment Administration greater con trol over production. These officials predicted that loan 1 rates would be increased from pres ent levels of 9 cents to about 12 cents a pound on cotton and from 65 to about 85 cents a bushel for wheat The corn loan rate, they said, prob ably would be left unchanged at 61 cents a bushel. The higher rates would be offer ed on this year's crops. Officials said (Continued on page six) Martin County Draft Board Making Ready For Increased Quotas Beginning in A pril If Martin County's first-year quo- I ta allotted under the Selective Serv- 1 ice Act is filled, approximately 30 men will have to leave in each of the months of April, May and June, Clerk Marion Cobb said today. An ticipating calls for increased num bers Of men, the ill aft board office 1 is speeding up its machinery to fill the quota, the clerk stating that thir ty men have been instructed to re port for physical examinations dur ing this week and next. The draft board is expected to meet not later than next week possibly to issue ad ditional questionnaires and very likely to review its classification work. To date, Martin County has furn ished 44 men to the Army, leaving 103 to find their way into the serv ice between now and July 1 if the original quotas arc maintained Four volunteers leave tomorrow morning and ten more are slated to leave Fri day, reducing the quota to 89 to be filled between the last of this month and the last fo June. The four col ored volunteers leaving tomorrow ari1. Jamen Bavin. Jnmcii Morris Bal lance, William Cleve Bell and Lee Andrew Griffin A shift in the white ; contingent for Friday was made nec essary when it was learned that Mel vin O'Dell Crisp had married last December. Willis Robert Crandall, of Norfolk and Oak City, was moved into his place in the draft It was pointed out by a draft official that marriages arranged to defeat the draft would not be recognized, and that parties to a wedding are sub jected to be separated. Only two volunteers are included in the list of ten men scheduled to leave here next Friday, and it is quite likely that one of them, Ben Bullock, will not be able to report It was learned yes terday that the young man is a mi nor and that his parents had not giv en him permission to join the army ?The names of the nine men slated to leave are, James Claude Am brose, a volunteer; Julius Melvin Warren, Roy Avant Hinson, Wheel er Martin Ward. Woodrow Wilson Ray, James Elmer Stalls, Arthur Nicholson, James Rossel Silver thorne and Willis Robert Crandall. Lance Dutton Hardy, the first draftee to leave the county, was re jected at Fort Bragg last Friday on account of a dislocated cartilage in his knee. His reunion with his fam ily was said to have been a happy one Judge W. C. Harris Orders Fax List Cheeked For Non - Listers In Charge To County Grand Jury Tobacco Plant Shortage Now Expected As Result of Cold A tobacco plant shortage was fear ed by farmers in this county today following a cold wave that sent the mercury into the teens late last night. The extent of the damage could not be learned immediately, but farmers feared the worst when they found the ground frozen to a depth of about an inch and then young plants turning black It has been an hectic season for starting the 1941 tobacco crop Many farmers state that their plants were killed days ago by cold weather,, while others state that they had bright prospects for a plentiful sup ply They are not so certain about their supply following the cold at tack last night Plants made their appearance in many iases but Were later cut down by freezing weather, causing farm ers to sow their beds as many as three times in some instances Far- ' liters, questioned here this morning, were of the opinion that plants of any size were not damaged by the severe cold last night, but the gen 1 era I opinion is that a shortage in to | bacco plants can well be expected i this spring in this section. Property Owners File First Tax Objections Equalization Board Patient In Listening To Tax Complaints lit-lii-vt-il (Jiaiigo Will Itr Or<l?-r in a IVw Ca?<-? lh'?r<l Momlai Meeting as a board of equalization and review in an effort to iron out all possible tax inequalities, the j Martin County commissioners held [open house in the agricultural build iing yesterday morning, and patient ly listened to twenty-nine complaints | directed by owners against the re cent values placed upon their prop erties by thi' boards of assessors. The authorities remained in session un til late afternoon, listening to every claim and every point supporting that claim. It was apparent that the commissioners were anxious to do what was right, to meet the com plaints half way and at the same time play fair with those who ac cepted the decisions of the assessors Some of tin* complainants appear id to the board just to complain, more or less, as a force of habit. Oth ers presented well-founded claims, and still others proved errors of no great consequence had been made. While the hearings were marked by a genuine friendliness on the part of the board, a ft^vv cutting remarks were heard from one\complainant The patient group did n^t fight back but proceeded in the spirit of fair ness and with an apparent desire to do what was right No final action was taken on the complaints which Were carefully en tered in the records for later discus sinn It is not quite clear just how the board will handle the complaints but it has been suggested that the assessors be called in for advice be fore taking final action in every case. Possibly, the board will settle some (if the cases without first going to the assessors, and will seek their iidviec in other cases. A hurried review of the complaints 10 niVjp' a' change in the e will follow even if all shows that no tax structure of the requests are granted. It is also apparent that the saving to some of the complainants if their requests are granted will hardly offset the cost of a visit before the board But every property owner has a perfect right to appeal his case, and the com missioners are anxious to hear ev eryone. Property owners were heard yes I terday principally from four town ships, Jamesville, Williams, Bear Grass and Griffins. Today, property owners from Williamston, Poplar Point and Cross Roads are appear (Continued on page six) yi'OI V Baaed 011 the State quota just recently announced. Martin County will he chilled upon to furnish between 30 and 30 men for the Army in April. The State has been asked to furnish 3,050 men during next month, about 1,500 white and approximately 500 colored men. Unofficial reports state that this county already lias a credit of 83 men which will apply against the next fiscal year quo ta. it is understood. The draft board was official ly notified this morniug that the county is to send ten colored trainees to camp on April 1st. and that is 110 April fooling. Mrs. Melissia Old Passes At Home of Son This Morning Iiiikt.iI I'or \^ril ( ili/rii lo III- llrlil in Norfolk. Hit OIiI IIoiiic Mis Mrlis.siii. Ki filch Olii tiled at tile home of her son, W E Old, on East Church Street here this morn ing at 8 4(1 o'clock following a long illness Suffering a stroke of paralys is while visiting in the home of a daughter in Brooklyn a year ago Mrs. Old had been m feeble health since that time Coming here sortii after she was stricken. Mis OKI ph tiently awaited the end which came peaceably while she slept this morn mg. Confined to lu i bed during her stay here, Mrs Old made few ac quaintances hut in her community circle she made many warm friend ships. The daughtei of the late Captain W II and Anne French, Mrs. Old was born in Norfolk seventy years ago She spent hei eai;ly life there, but following the death of her hus band, George Y Old, she had visit ed with her children Mrs Old was a devoted follower of the Methodist faith, holding membership with the church at Norfolk for a IttfTg number of years Besides her son here she is sur vived by four children, Messrs. H K. Old, of Fredericksburg, and Geo Y Old, Jr., of Brooklyn; Mrs E B Heath, of Brooklyn, and Mrs. F. L Shivey, of Norfolk. She also leaves one sister, Mrs L. M I a.* wis, of Farksley, Va , and a foster brother W. N. French, of Annapolis. Definite plans for the funeral had not been completed at noon today but the last rites will be held ir Norfolk by a former pastor, assist ed by Rev. J II Smith, pastor of tht Williamson Memorial Baptist Church. Interment will follow in tin family cemetery at Norfolk K\|MVt llulictllUMltS III Time For \ction l>\ (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?<?i hint foundation to good government which Judge Harris so strongly stressed in a fifty-minute charge to the grand jury yesterday morning. Two Escape Injury In Auto Accident ( t Mrs. Dewey Edmondson, i?f Has sel.1, and J It Whitfield, of Oak City, escaped uninjured in an automobile crush at a road intersection just a few* feet from the Spring Green Primitive Baptist Church yesterday afternoon about 3 45 o'clock. Mrs Kdmondson, driving a 1940 model Chevrolet, had started across the Gold Point-Hamilton Road high way when Mi Whitfield's car, trav eling from Gold Point, struck the rear right fender. The Edmondson car swerved and came to a stop un der a pump shelter on the church grounds. The shelter collapsed when the car was removed, it was stated. Mr. Whitfield had just been to Gold Point where the home of his father. A B. Whitfield, had burned a short time before. Damage to the Edmondson car was plared at $75 and that to the Whitfield car, a 1941 Pontiac, was estimated at $50. 4 Fire /him#'* /{??<#/ On Humble Negro Home Here # Starting from a spark, fire dam aged the roof on the humble two room home of Matilda Wiggins, col ored, on South Elm Street at 12:45 this afternoon. Firemen, using a small tank hose from the fire truck, brought the fire under control and no great loss was reported. # * s * * Small-wale farm operators are In Quite a few instances, said In be thumbing their nusea at the loan sharks in tjie county this year With big nionet coming to them under the soil conservation plan, they will be able to finanre their own operations, for the moat part. Vesterday, the office of the county agent received $7,704.17 for distribution to ISO farmers. The amount represents 63 appli cations. To date, a total of $13, 9S3.5S, representing 976 of the approximately 1,500 applica tions, baa been received In the county for distribution to 1,614 farmers in this county.