Watch The Label On Your Paper, As It Carries The Date Your Subscription Expires. THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME XLIV?NUMBER 81 - Williamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, October 10, 1941. ESTABLISHED 1899 Judge W.H. Coburn Gills Fifteen Gises In Recorders Court Solicitor Don. E. Johnson Home Front School To Prosecute Docket Judge W. H. Coburn and Solicitor Don E. Johnson had a lengthy ses sion of the county recorder's court before they cleared the docket last Monday. Calling fifteen cases, the judge held the court in session until almost one o'clock. A large number was present for the proceedings, and some comparatively "stiff road sen tences were meted out during the more than three-hour session. Solici tor Johnson, studying Diesel engin eering at State College, Raleigh, in connection with the nation's defense program, was home for the day to prosecute the docket. Proceedings in the court: The case charging Willie Smith with an assault with a deadly weap on and non support was nol pressed with the defendant subject to be re called under a new warrant. Pleading not guilty in the case charging him with an assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly con duct, Jesse Warren was adjudged guilty and was fined $25. The court costs were also added to the fine In a'second case charging Warren with attempted assault, he was found guil ty of simple assault over his own plea of innocence. He was sentenced to the roads for 30 days, the court suspending the sentence upon the guaranteed good behavior of the de fendant during the next twelve months. No costs were assessed against the defendant In the second case. The case charging Joe Frank May born with bastardy was nol prossed with leave. Pleading guilty in the case charg ing them with an assault with a deadly weapon, Orlander Brown and Tony Manson were each fined $10 and taxed with one-half the court coats. Fined $25 and taxed with the cost in the case charging him with an as sault with a deadly weapon, Horace Dixon appealed to the higher courts. Bond was fixed at $200. The case originated when crime went on a rampage in Williamston during a week-end several weeks ago. The case charging Linwood Wil liams, of Jamesville, with an assault with a deadly weapon, was contin ued until next Monday A continuance was also granted in the case charging W. K. Parker with failing to list property for taxation. Charged with an assault and rob bery, Jasper Roebuck was not guil ty of an assault, and the case was nol prossed as to the robbery charge. Ben Little failed to unswer when railed in the case charging him with disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon. Papers were or - dered issued by the court for his im mediate arrest. The case charging Brownie White hurst with an attempted assault was continued until October 20th. John Moran, charged with the lar ceny of a dollar from a child at the fair ground last week, was sentenced (Continued on page four) Officers Wreck Two Plants In the County Following a period of little activ ity, Martin County ABC Officer J. H. Roebuck, asaistcd by Deputies Haislip and Roy Peel, and Jim Man ning resumed his work in the field this week. Operating under the cover of dark less and expecting to find an illicit liquor plant in full operation, the officers got a cold reception in Bear Grass Township last Wednesday night about 10 o'clock. The plant while cold was ready for operation, but good fortune smiled down on the owner. The 50-gallon capacity drum was wrecked and the approxi mately 2S0 gallons of beer was pour ed out. Yesterday morning in Free Un ion. the officers found after a long search a 50-gallon capacity copper kettle and poured out 450 gallons of beer. The fire was still burning at one of the two plants visited by the officers, but the operator had re moved the kettle and hid it almost a mile away from the scene of op erations. The officers tracked it down and brought in the copper. The second plant, partly dismantled, was wrecked. Plan Home-Coming In Hassell Church Sunday, October 12th, will be ob served as annual home-coming day at the Hassell Christian Church. All members, former members, friends and former residents of Hassell are invited to enjoy the services, the fel lowship and the basket lunch at noon. Bible school will be held at 10:00 o'clock. Morning services at 11 a. m. and a visiting minister will speak at 2 p. m. Evening service at 7:30 p. m. with an appropriate closing service for the day. Special announcements i and reports will be made at the eve ning ssi lit a. Growers Are Harvesting First OfCurrentPeanutCro p Today Basking in a hot summer sun and untouched by rain, the first of the current peanut crop is being harvest ed or threshed on the farm of Joseph R. Winslow. near Robersonville to day. The crop where early diggings were effected is ready for the pick ers in other areas. Farmer Winslow dug his crop more than three weeks ago, and as far as it could be learned he is the first to start threshing op erations. The threshing schedule will hardly get underway within the next two or three weeks on any ap preciable scale. Picker operators are making ready for the season, the office of county register of deeds stating yesterday that 18 operator permits had already been purchased. The office of the county agent is pre paring marketing cards for distribu tion, and the opening of the mar keting season is expected to be some what earlier than it was last year, weather conditions being favorable. The condition of the peanut crop is hard to guess However, it is gen erally agreed that production will fall considerably below the record reported last season. Farmer Wins low, harvesting 25 acres this season, believes he will get no more than fifteen bugs per acre against an av erage of 25 picked last year. The quality ranges from fair to good. No price quotations have been list ed in recent days, the marketing service stating that no goobers had been offered for sale. It has been ru mored that the market will open around five cents a pound, but buy ers and millers are withholding com ment on the market outlook. SWIFT Given final approval only this week, the Farm Life gymnasium project will be completed in time for play by early Decem ber, according to predictions coming from citizens in the com munity yesterday. Plans are being studied and arrangements are being effected for starting work on the struc ture within the next few days, Louis Roberson, builder-in charge, said. Carpenters and helpers are volunteering their services, for the most part, it was learned. Tobacco Allotment For County In 1942 Same As For 1941 Totul of 9,521.1 Allotted To Approximately 1600 Martin Farmers Despite uncertain conditions on the world front and'in the marketing field, the tobacco acreage allotment for this county and the State will re main unchanged another year, the iff ice of the county agent was noti fied this week by E Y Floyd, AAA executive at State College. Martin bounty tobacco farmers, number ng approximately 1,600, have been allotted 9,521.4 acres for the cultiva tion of the golden leaf, the acreage being the same as that allotted for the current year The allotment was nased on an average per acre pound age of 960 pounds, or about 100 bounds more than the average for the State, as a whole. The allotment for the entire Slate is 513,676 3 acres. Good, flue-cured tobacco prices on ill markets this season have cheer 'd farmers and promised good re turns for future crops as long as we farmers continue to plant only the amount of tobacco for which there is a demand," Mr Floyd said. The AAA?officer explained?im proved prices this year as having re sulted from a stronger domestic de mand a crop reduction of 20 per cent iue to unfavorable weather condi tions. "We may grow considerably more tobacco on the same acreage next year, however, if 'seasons' are right," Mr. Floyd continued. Agricultural leaders from flue cured tobacco states and federal AAA officials agreed at a recent [ood-for-freedom conference in Memphis. Tenn. to maintain 1B4I flue-cured tobacco allotments anoth er year. Flue-cured leaf is subject to marketing quotas until 1943 when farmers again may vote on the ques tion of marketing allotments "It should be remembered," Mr. Floyd explained, "that a big part of the foreign demand for our domestic tobacco has been lost because of the war, and that means the planting and marketing of tobacco will have to be more carefully planned and han dled in an even more orderly fash ion than heretofore. We tobacco far mers are fortunate in that circum stances have permitted a continua tion of 1941 allotments." * Commissioners Will Value Right-of-way Unable to gain a right-of-way over the landa of J. G. Staton along the Washington Highway for its power lines, the Virginia Electric and Pow er Company a few weeks ago resort ed to condemnation proceedings against the defendant. It was point ed out that the road had been desig nated as a defense highway, and that the company had been ordered to move its pole lihe a distance of not less than fifty feet from the mid dle of the highway. Clerk of Court L. B Wynne this week named Wood row Tlee, S. E. Manning and Garland Coltraln as members of a special commission tc appraise the damage, if eiy, that will result from the change in the loca tion of the line. The special com missioners are to make their survey next Wednesday morning at ter o'clock. Appeals from the special proceedings finding to the suparioi cooit are possible. Marriage License Issuance Is Fairly Stable In County Thirteen Couplet Marry in r.omity During Month Of September After reaching the fairly high number of twenty back in June, the issuance of marriage licenses in the county is now maintaining a fairly stable trend. Dropping to twelve in July, the number of licenses issued by Register of Deeds J. Sam Get singer climbed to thirteen in August and held to that figure in Septem ber. The record would indicate that young couples get married when they get ready and not in any par ticular month. There is one possible exception, however, ami that month -is December when the bureau ordi narily issues from thirty to fifty li censes. Last month there were seven li censes issued to white and six to colored couples. For a goodly num ber of years, the number of colored marriages was far greater than the white marriages, but the trend has taken a fairly definite turn with the whites holding the advantage m numbers. In 1933 there were 103 white and 166 colored couples mar ried in the county. The following year the count stood 116 white and 165 colored. In 1935, the gap began to c^lost* when 122 white aod 129 col ored couples were married in the county. A year later, the number of colored marriages gained slightly, 139 to 117, but in 1937 the count stood 147 white and 146 colored marriages. The number of colored marriages gained over tin- whites in 1938, but since that time there have been more marriages among the county's white population than among the colored race. Licenses were issued ot the follow ing couples last month in this coun ty: White James Exodus Moore, of Norfolk, and Alice Virginia Coltrain, of Rob ersonville. Mark W Anpo of Plymouth, and Irtna Marjorie Perry, of Dardens. Prank Edwards, Jr., and Geneva Adell Hobertson, both of Williams ton. Ruby Williams and Sallie Seutt, both of Oak City. Delmus Williams, of Roberson ville, and Ethel Bennett, of William ston. Ivey Miller Warren, of Plymouth, and Katie Gray Purvis, of Jtober sonville. Robert Lee Callahan, of Camp Lee, Va , and Viola Melito, of Erie, IT" Colored Jasper Purvis, of this county, and Loney Cherry, of Pitt County. Charlie Ben Wilson and Thelma Melton, both of Williamston. George E. Williams and Lizzie Hassell, both of Williamston. Sonnie Moore and Hope Basnight, both of Plymouth. Dave Purvis, Jr., and Annie Mae Johnson, both of Williamston. Robert Small and Florrie Mae Brown, both of Williamston. * Deep Well Is About Ready For Use Here Delayed by material shortages and unforseen mechanical difficulties, work on the town's new deep well is now complete and water from the new source will likely be pumped in to the mains within the next day or two or just as soon as the State Health Department approves the supply. Arrangements were virtually com pleted several weeks ago to place the well in production, but the contract ors, Layne-Atlantic Company, at the direction of their representative, Mr. Jack Sunquiest, removed the pump and several hundred feet of pipe and replaced them to eliminate excess ive vibration. lite well is now producing' nearly 300 gallons a minute. The clear and sparkling fluid will be dumped in to the storm sewer until samples are tested and the supply is approved by the State laboratory. During the meantime, the pumps at the old plant are being operated from fifteen to eighteen hours each r day to maintain an adequate tfrater ?uppiy G Highest Sales Of Season Reported On Market Ttulay An upward trend in tobacco prices was noted on the market today when new limits were reached by several of the buy ing companies. The change was centered in the better types of leaf, with most of the others showing added strength. Farmers declared that the sales today were the best they had seen this season, early esti mates placing the average at or above 40 cents. Approximately 125.000 pounds were on the floors today, boosting the total sales for the season to about six and one-quarter million. The average for the season is right at 30 cents. While a fairly sizable sale is expected next Monday, it is be coming more apparent each day that the supply is diminishing rapidly, and that the markets in the belt are almost certain to chalk up a record for a short season. Battle Participant Tel Is of Harrowing ExjKTieiuT In War ? J. Oliver, \\ ashiii^lon (louii ly Man. Working in Low cr I'arl nf (lonntv Now ? John I- Oliver. 30-year-old native of Washington County, returned to his old home this week after nearly 15 months of service with the Royal Canadian Air Force, during which he took part in over 20 raids over Ger many and German-occupied France, as well as being present when the British withdrawal from Dunkirk, France, took place in the spring of 1940. Mr. Oliver had a rank of quarter master sergeant major in the Canad ian air force, serving as a gunner with Bomber Section No. 2, Fifth Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force: He received an honorable dis charge from the service in May of this year as the result of injuries re ceived when the motor went dead on a plane in which he was a gunner, the ship cracking up in the English Channel. Mr. Oliver said that when he enlisted in October of 1939 he "asked for action and got it at Dun kirk, Scapa Flow and Dover" during the 14 months and 11 days he was in active service. His airplane cracked up in Novem ber. 1940, and after lie was rescued from the Channel he was taken to Westminster Hospital in London, where he had another narrow escape dui mg the intense bombing raids last winter A German bomb scored a direct hit on the west wing of the hospital, blowing it to bits, while Oliver, m the east wing, said he was yelling to be moved. After remain ing in the I>>ndon hospital from No vember to some time in January, he hud recovered sufficiently to make the trip, so he was moved to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Canada. Following fiis recovery, he was dis charged in May of this year and re turned immediately to the United (Continued on page four) Baptismal Service Held In Bath Tub Joining the Primitive Baptist Church during a special service held in the home of Mr and Mrs. Z D. F. White in Robersonville this week, Charlie James, Pitt County man, was Jiaptiznt m the bath tab there. Here's water right here, why wait, Mr James reasoned, and the baptismal service was consummated without delay. It is one of the few times on rec ord that a bath tub was used for a baptismal service. While the prac tice is really unusual, it is all right and may become a more common custom if the dry weather continues to drv up the creeks and other small streams in the county. Several churches have found it necessary to change their places of baptism in the county during recent weeks. I\ T. A. TO MEET The Williamston Parent Teacher Association will hold its second meeting of the school year nrxt Wednesday afternoon In the high school auditorium beginning at 3:30 o'clock. Mrs. John Goff, chairman of the pro gram committee, announces that a special program with the gen eral theme of "Security" has been arranged. A feature of the program will be a showing of two films, "Security for Today and Tomorrow" and "Families without Fear." The special program will be preceded by a discussion of as sociation problems and commit tee reports, the entire meeting being confined to one hour. Patrons of the school and members of the association are urged to attend the I Delinquent Tax List Is Smallest In Many Years Collections Largest Re|>orted by County In Quarter Century I-css Thau 500 of More Than 8.IHHI Accounts Keniuin I'ncollecteO Favored by a bountiful harvest and fair prices this fall. Martin County taxpayers, for the most part, moved to clear their tax obligations from the books. Reporting the largest collection percentage in nearly a quarter of a ceptury. Sheriff C B Roebuck, the collector, declared that the record is really an encouraging sign on the financial front in this garden spot of the world Leaning over backwards to overlook the num ber of delinquents, the sheriff takes a front scat when it comes to point ing out the big reduction in the de linquent list and the amount of taxes unpaid on real estate. Appearing for the first time in ac cordance with tile law which pro vides for a sheriff's sale of the de linquents' property on the first Mon d"> in November, the tax list carries 4H1 names against 696 and unpaid taxes in tile sum of $8,683.25 as com paied with $13,497 74 a year ago It has been an unusually good year for tax collections. the office of the sheiiff stating that several thousands of dollars in back taxes had been collected during the past few months. I here are two reasons for the splendid collection of back taxes. The improved financial situation was tin important factor, but court ac tion. suggested by Commissioner Carstarphen and other members of the board, really brought in the ba con. Improved conditions in all the ten townships are reflected in the de linquent list. For the first time on record, a township, Poplar Point, had no delinquents in the advertis ing list Only two townships. Wil lie mstun and Kobersorrvrlle, had more than KM) delinquents among its real estate owners Bear Grass dropped to a low of five, and Grif fin's seven owed only $39 99 when the deadline for collections was reached ?MthiliriLmay be fair, it is certain ly hard on some who owed as lit tle as seven cents and who because they could not or did not pay the small amount had to have their ac counts advertised for sale along with those owing several hundred dollars. A comparative study of the delin quent list wliile showing a marked improvement in the finunciul situa turn, reveals that the accounts, for the most part, are uguinst the same properties thut were adverised last year and the year before. Seen in the public print year after year for several years, the accounts are fi lially cleared by the property own ers or the property changes hands and the new owners settle the ac counts?11 IS a long drawn-out pr... cedure, hut so far this county has acquired very little property through the default route. If is quite likely that many of the delinquent accounts appearing for the first time today will be paid and cleared from the list before the sher iff's sale Oil the first Monday in No vember Wiiile the delay will add some cost to the accounts, the prop erty owners can hold the coat to a minimum by paying before the sher iff's sale is handled A late report on personal proper ty collections for the year 194(1 is not available, but it is understood that those accqunts have been whit tled to a low point, if not to a record figure A comparison ol the mlmber oTde1' (Continued on page four) ? Malarial Survey By Health Department In a very general report to the [yijird of county cororoiKsiorHTH this week, Health Officer John W. Wil liams briefly tnld about a malarial survey now underway in the coun ty, and mentioned a few other activ ities in the county health depart ment. According to the officer, 2,500 ma larial tests have been made among children in the first six grades. AH white children in the grades with th< exception of those in the Gold Point school had been tested prior to th< time the report was prepared. Tests in the several colored schools in the upper part of the county had beer delayed when the schools were clos ed by farm activities. The State de partment is to cooperate in the sur vey, it was pointed out. Although the Works Progress Ad ministration is no longer connected with the program, the sanitation project continues in the cuunty through private construction, the re port stating that additional objects are dotting the landscape from time to time. Pre-natal clinics are being well attended over the county with one exception, but it is understood that the drive againat syphilis is drag jtol CANDIDATE Appointed all-time tax collec tor for Martin County this week. M. Luther Peel Is not certain of his status as a member of the board of town commissioners, some saying that he can hold an elective office along with an ap pointive office and others say ing that his recent appointment would disqualify him as a mem ber of the board. While it is generally believed that he can legally hold both posts, a ruling has been asked of the attorney general. During the meantime, the shake-up in the county system is having its reverberations in the town's governmental system. Mrs. Kannie (irist Staton in an informal announcement yester day declared she would be a candidate for the position made vacant by Mr. Peel's resignation, if he does resign. The position made vacant by resignation is filled bv board appointment. Name Committees For Another ^ ear In Martin County ?*? Few Clian^cs Mailt' in County Agricultural Coiiwrva lion ecr?oniicl Holding their annual farm elec tions this week, Martin County far mors placed a stamp of approval on the old set up when they re-elected with only two or three exceptions the old community members of the county agricultural conservation as sociation Wlule much interest was shown in some of the districts, there were hardly enough farmers pres ent in other communities to carry on the elections. In Williamston last evening, only three farmers report ed voluntarily, and only after call ing seven other farmers was it pos sible to go ahead with the election. Several of the old committeemen res^gd, and a few changes were martr within one or two of the com-~ munity committees. On Wednesday, October 29th, del egates to the county convention will meet and elect a county committee which will head up the farm pro gram in the county for the next year. The results of the elections as an nounced by the office of the county agent, follow with the chairman named first, vice chairman, second; regular member, third, first alter nate, fourth; second alternate, fifth; delegate to county convention, sixth, and alternate delegate to the county convention, seventh, some serving in two places James'ville C. C. Martin, C 11. Gurkin, A L. Modlm. J. Carl Griffin. W W Walters, C. C. Martin and C. G. Gurkin Williams R. J liardison, O S. Green, Joe Ferry, Joe L Coltrain, W 1) Gurganus, R J liardison and O, S Green. Griffins. George C. Griffin, Asa J. Hardisoii, J C. Gurkin, N. R Peel, B F. -LiHey, George C Griffin and Asa J liardison. Bear Grass: T I,. Roberson, H (1 Harrison, Joseph S. Griffin, W. ~S7 Rogers, Dalmus Rogerson, T L Roberson and W M Harrison Williamston Poplar Point: M. L7 Peel, R. T Griffin, W M Hardison, Johnny Gurkin, E. L. White, R T. Griffin and II A. Bo wen Cross Roads W L Ausbdn, J. t'. Jesse Keel, W L. A us bo n and J. F Bailey. Robersonyille J R Winslow, R S. Everett, H. H. Roberson, S. T. Ev erett, A R Osborn, J. R. Winslow, j and S. T. Everett. Hamilton: I) R Edmondson. Wood row Purvis, W. J Beach, J. H. Lillard, George-A Oglesby, I>. R. Edmondson and Wood row Purvis Gnnsr Nest?H. A Early,?J. F. Crisp, L L. Harrell, Jack Smith, Jul ian Mi/elle, J. B. Whitfield and Jill lan Mizelle a Opening River Fill Early Wednesday The Roanoke River (ill will be opened in its entirety to two-way traffic early next Wednesday morn-: ing, Engineer Franks said yesterday. During the meantime, parts of the j road are being opened to double traffic almost daily. By tomorrow, all but about three-fifth of a mile of the road will be upcned. leaving only that portion of the route between the river and the first new bridge closed to dual travel. Workmen are rapidly rounding up the shoulders, and material has been unloaded and made ready for set ting the guard rails which will be constructed at the bridge approaches. It is understood that grass will be planted on the dirt fill to keep it from washing, but there is some doubt if honeysuckles will be trans planted again. Titanic Battle For Moscow Is Nearing A Serious Climax KtiMMiunrt, Fighting Desperate ly, Claim Invaders Check ed in Yvaznia Region ??? The titanic battle for Moscow with the future fate of the whole world snugly bundled up in it. is believed rapidly Hearing a serious climax to day as Hitler's hordes continue their push toward the Russian capital. The great offensive, into which Adolf Hitler hurler 200 divisions?3, 1)00.000 me n 11 ie 1 uding tremendous mechanized forces, raged along a 2,000 mile battle front, but the Ger mans made their supreme effort in the region of Vyazma, once a ram bling country town of two-story wood and stucco buildings that now in shambles. I*r0nt dispatches said the Germans had been beaten back in several rushes at Vyazma. The desperate nature of the fight ing there was indicated in reports of the encirclement of Soviet detach nentii commanded by General Ivan Boldin who, early in July, was en ?ireled with his division near Minsk md remained for 45 days behind the German lines before he fought through them to join the main Soviet forces near Smolensk Soviet spokesmen compared the situation now to that of the spring ?f 1918 in the West, when General Erich Ludendorff launched four great offenses in attempt to destroy the Allies before the United States could land effective aid in France. It was believed that Hitler is trying now to break up the Red Army be fore large-scale supplies of planes, guns and tanks, promised the Soviets under the tri-power agreement, can peach the battlefields. Accompanying the main thrust, the Germans apparently were trying to strike east from the Novgorod sec tor. and by way of Orel, 210 miles south of Moscow. The three drives were aimed at the encirclement of Moscow, it" was believed, since this would follow the usual German tac tics of double or triple break throughs. with long pincers eventual ly closing in on the objective. While aged men. women and even children are being called into actual combat service to help stem Hitler's supreme effort, the situation in Britain is packed with serious trou ble. according to commentaries in their late reports? The British peo phv htth versed nrarttial conditions, air even suggesting a shake-up in the Churchill government and call ing for more direct aid for the em battled Russians with the possibility of an invasion attempt somewhere in the West. The only bright spot in the war was painted by members of the spec ial commission sent to Russia by this country and Britain, Member Har riman stating that Russia will fight to the last, that even the fall of Mos cow does not mean the defeat of the Soviets. ? ' ^ ' '? The serious situation in which the Russians are now in is recognized in this country, and there is a definite trend toward a greater war prepara (Continued on page four) Extensive Aircraft Maneuvers Planned During the next several days ex trusive an maneuvers along the At lantic Seaboard from Massachusetts t?> North Carolina will be underway, it was announced yesterday by the ?7Tue of the Interceptor Command, Mitchell Field, New York. While a number of aircraft will likely be seen in this area, local observation posts will not participate tn tht tests;-an<t station ubservers in this county art.' advised not to report flights One report, released earlier in the week, stated that much activity could be expected over this area this afternoon and next Tuesday. The later report indicates that lim ited operations are to be expected in this vicinity. Ten or more planet were seen over here yesterday, one ?.f ilium pi Thinning a riivit)g Stunt near the river. John C. McDonneL Brigadier Gen eral, U. S. Army, announced that additional exercises are being plan ned apd that observation posts in this county would be asked to par ticipate Observation stations were created by Mack Wynn in this coun Ty several months ago.? Squirrel Hunter Kills Two Bears Taking his single barrel (un and a few No. 7 shells. Colon Perry, young white man, went out to kill a few squirrels over in Williams Town ship this morning. Instead of seeing squirrels, the young man saw two bears up un oak tree. The mamma bear started coming down, and Per ry fired on her. The tint shot only angered the animal, and while the hunter had only a single barrel gun, he operated it as one would an au tomatic and fired again, the seoond shot dropping the bear deed to the ground. Three shots were required to knock the cub out of the f

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