Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / Oct. 28, 1941, edition 1 / Page 1
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Watch Tha Label On Your Paper, Aa It Carriaa Tha Data Your Subscription Expires. THE ENTERPRISE t Advertiser* Will Find Our Col umns A Latchkey To Over 1,600 Homes Of Martin County. VOLUME XLIV?NUMBER 86 WUliamiton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, October 28, 1941. - . ESTABLISHED 1899 ? George Purrington Murdered On Street Here Late Saturday Mack Peterson, Colored, Ar rested Soon After Attack, To Get Hearing Tonight George Purrington, 33-year-old colored man, was fatally stabbed by Mack Peterson, notorious colored bootlegger, on Washington Street in front of Buck's Place late last Satur day night, the attack climaxing a quarrel of short duration. Purring ton, his heart partly cut out and with a wound almost large enough for one to push a hand through, died about the time he reached the hos pital, a few minutes after the at tack. Contradictory evidence has featur ed the early reports describing the attack, and no coherent account of the trouble leading up to the fight and to the attack itself could be had. Justice J. L. Hassell is scheduled to unravel some of the conflicting evi dence at a preliminary hearing to be held in his office this evening at 7 o'clock. Peterson was run down and arrest ed at Mildred Rascoe's beer garden just this side of Windsor by Patrol man Saunders accompanied by Of ficer John Roebuck and Chas. Moore at 1:30 o'clock Sunday morning af ter William Owens, Peterson's col ored neighbor,?had carried him there. Unofficial reports coming from some of those witnessing the attack stated that Peterson was picking on Purrington, that after being struck by Peterson asked him to go away and leave him alone. Purrington was said to have gone into Buck's beer garden, and borrowed Sterling Wil liams' knife through an intermed iary. He returned to the porch of the beer garden, and according to one report drove -the knife into Pur rington. It was stated that Purring ton grabbed Peterson around the neck and the two fell off the porch to the street, that Purrington after delivering a few blows got up and staggered about fifteen feet before falling to the cement. Other reports state that Peterson came out of the beer garden, struck Purrington with his fist and that Purrington pulled him down and started beating him, that the fatal attack took place on the ground. The cause of the trouble could not be learned, but one report declares that a woman figured Th The case, and that both Peterson and Purring ton had been drinking. Purrington, widely traveled and a willing worker, was well known here. Peterson, about 36 years old, has a colorful reputation as a boot legger. He is the man who drew an open knife on Patrolman H W Rothrock a few years ago. Sheriff C. B. Roebuck stated some time ago that he thought he would have to shoot the man on one occasion, and the courts have had him several times for alleged violation of the li quor laws. Following the attack last Satur day about midnight, Peterson ran out Washington Street and north on Sycamore Street to his home be fore calling Owens from his bed and making arrangements for his escape Officers picked up his trail in a hur ry, but Peterson would possibly have eluded them at the Rascoe beer gar den had there been no one to block him when he dashed to a side door to run. Library Directors In Meeting Friday The board of directors of the Wil liamston Public Library held its Oc tober meeting In the office of the Mayor, with the chairman, Rev. John L. Goff, presiding. Mrs. James C. Cook, librarian, made a brief statement as to the an nual report sent the North Carolina Library Commission. The report was very favorable in view of the limited number of new books that were add ed to the coll?ction during the year. Mrs. Cook, who attended the annual convention of North Carolina Librar ians and Library Workers, brought several suggestions to the board that Kill be considered and used in the very near future. Among them waf one considering the financing of a public library. It was commented on at the convention that our local li brary is the only one in the State so regulated and financed. The week of Nov. 2-8 is National Book Week and will be observed by the local library. Posters will be dis played and an open house will be held With a sizable collection of new books to be examined by those at tending. In addition to the observ ance of Book Week, it was felt by the board that suitable recognition should be paid the city and its offi cers who have made the new library home possible. A dedicatory program is shaping up under the leadership of the following committee: Mrs. J. C. Cook. Mrs. J. F. Thigpen, Mrs. F. M. Manning, Mr. D. N. Hix, and Rev. J. L. Goff. This committee will an nounce their program the latter part of this week and at the same time urge the citizens of the community to contribute liberally toward the support of this splendid community asset, since no solicitation of funds has been made in over two years. Little Crime Wave Is Traced To Two Jamesville Children A little crime wave sweeping ov er Jamesville during the past few weeks was traced last week-end to two small boys, one a colored youth of hardly more than 13 years of age and the other a white lad of about 15 who was deserted by an evan gelist mother at the close of a tent meeting in Jamesville eight or ten years ago. Formal charges are being brought against the boys and their cases are scheduled for consideration by the grand jury in pecember. Caught by T. B. Blount, Jr., last week trying to break into the store of Sexton and Long, "Frosty" Teel, the colored tot, and the white lad named Respass, were hot turned ov er to the authorities immediately, but after Blount had remonstrated with them the boys went off and hid for several days near the Coast Line sta tion in Jamesville. They maintained headquarters there night and day, foraging here and there until hun ger forced them out. Teel, arrested Saturday and jailed by Sheriff Roe buck .admitted breaking Into Clyde Glass' home, Modlin's Barber shop, and Garland Anderson's home and stealing a $45 wrist watch. He also admitted that he failed in two at tempts to break into the store of Sex ton and Long. Teel first associated Respass with each of the crimes, but it was later learned that the white lad accompanied him when they en tered the barber shop and when they failed to enter the store. Deserted by his mother who has not been heard from since she left this section to continue her preach ing, the Respass lad found a home with Hoyt Modlin, near Jamesville. The lad, after attending school sev eral years, went out of control,,re pnrts state, snmr lime ago and his foster-father could do nothing with him. The Teel boy is the offspring of a troublesome family for Chief Gray in or near Robersonville. He has been living with his grandmoth er on the outskirts of Jamesville and reports state that she had been un able to do anything with him for some time. Nothing of any great importance was stolen from the homes and place of business entered except the $45 wrist watcn wnicn, according to the latest information reaching here had not been recovered early today. r \ i LAY DAYS 1 ?> Lay days for taking quail in this county have been fixed by the North Carolina Board of Conservation and Development, It was officially announced here today. "It will be unlawful to hunt or take quail in Martin County except on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of each week during the period from November 20th to January 31st for the season of 1941-42," the official announcement read. Action to limit quail hunting in this county was taken at the suggestion of sportsmen who pointed out that lay days were in effect in several adjoining counties, that hunters In other sections would be attracted to this county if no restrictions were effected. Insurance Men In Regional Meeting Monday Morning Fifty Agents from Sixteen Counties Hear Promi nent Leaders An educational program, dealing with various types of coverages such as fire, public liability and property damage, was outlined by prominent insurance men at a meet ing of District One of the North Car olina Association of Insurance Agents held in the agricultural build ing here yesterday morning Fifty or more agents, coming from the 16 counties in the region, were present for the program While the meeting promoted an educational program for the repre sentatives in particular, it did dis cuss several topics of public con cern. The leaders considered the in crease in highway accidents and fa talities as alarming, and considered the formation of local committees or groups to work with the public au thorities in curbing the accident toll. These committees or groups, it was said, can work for a more effective enforcement of the traffic laws and cooperate with the authorities by pointing out death traps on the high ways and streets and by making sug gestions in a spirit of helpfulness ra ther than from a critical standpoint. The meeting was one of several being held in the State, the leaders going from here to Kins ton where a session is underway today Among the leaders attending the meeting here yesterday were, R. L. Price, president of the State organization of Charlotte; Frank S. Williams, vice president of Rocky Mount; S. G. Ot stot, executive secretary, and Wil liam P. Hodges, North Carolina Dep uty Insurance Commissioner, both of Raleigh, and H. Pierce North, of the business development office of the United States Association of New York City. CURED IN GROUND Id drying the wells and streams and causing a lot of weather talk, the record dry spell gripping this section during the past two months is having an unusual effect on some crops. Reliable reports state that most of the sweep potato crop actual ly was cured in the dry warm sands, and that peanuts were al most dry enough for the thresh ing machines when removed from'the ground. Peanuts would actually rattle in their rimlla, the farmers stating that the goobers were stacked more or Ism out of custom and to cure the vines Many swest potatoes from the ground as they were af ter a stay of a few weeks In the earing I Forest Fires Burn Large Areas During Past Several Weeks Fire* Were About Under Con trol When Heavy Haiti* Fell l4i*t Night Sweeping over large areas and in several sections of the county during the past several weeks, forest fires have caused a damage possibly run ning into the thousands of dollars No estimate on the fire losses eould be had immediately, but the damage is believed to be the greatest in many years. Flaring up during the past two weeks, nearly all of the fires had been brought under control before the heavy rain fell last night, but the forest warden stated yesterday that only a heavy rain would lessen the menace to forests to any great extent. * During recent weeks, eighteen for est fires have been started in the 000 acres of timberlands The ex treme dry season has made it diffi cult for the forest fire system and cooperators to do an effective work Several of the fires were checked, but caught up again from sparks j coming from smouldering mold burning underground. County Com j missioner Abram Roberson spent $75 and worked himself in cooperation with the forest warden in checking a fire in Robersonville Township. The fire was brought under control only after two weeks of stubborn re sistance. Seven of the fires are be lievgd to have been started by care less smokers. Six were thought to have been started by sparks from a railroad engine. One fire, spreading from a house yard wash pot, was reported in Wil liams Township. Another fire was started by a saw mill, and three oth ers were of incendiary origin. The forestry department spent $238 15 in fighting the fires while faimeis and others cooperating in the movement contributed labor val ued at more than $140. Starting in Beaufort County last Thursday, fire burned its way across the county line and was still burning (Continued on page six) This Week In Defense Aid To Britain, Russia Lend-Lease Expediter Harriman. returned from Moscow conferences on aid to Russia, reported to the President that the Russian govern ment and people are determined to fight on at all costs but the Soviet armies "need substantial quantities of munitions and raw materials. Treasury Secretary Morgenthau ad vanced the Soviet Union another $30,000,000 against gold Russia is sending to this country. The Defense I Supplies Corporation authorized payment of $36,889,000 to the Russian louni'd Aintoig Tiuding-eompanyfor imports of manganese and other ma terials necessary to U. S. defense in dustry. The Federal Loan Agency an nouneed disbursement to Great Brit ain of another $100,000,000 on the $425,000,000 loan to that country for which Britain put up as collateral ?British-owned American factories and investments. Both lluuses uf Congress passed the $5.985,Will 000 new tend-lease, ap propriation and sent it to conference to adjust minor differences. Production Progress OPM Production Director Harrison issued the following summary of production progress: Ships?All Na vy and Maritime Commission con tracts are ahead of schedule and by the end of November one 10,000-ton cargo ship will be turned out every day. Bombers?designs ready for mass production and four gigantic new plants will be in operation by next summer, Tanks production be ing doubled by farming out to make 2,000 a month; Powder and Small Anns?abreast of schedule with 30 of 70 planned plants now in produc tion, 61 by spring The President announced that by January 1 he will place before Con gress a program to step up tank out put to double the present contem plated production lie said the pro-1 gram is being developed primarily for this country's own needs MaJ Gen Devers, armored force com mander, speaking in Philadelphia, said there are already ample tanks for training purposes. Subcontracting The OPM Defense Contract Distri bution Division issued an Army com pilation of existing contracts offer ing the best subcontracting oppor tunities and announced a plan for prime contractors to "adopt" whole small industries for the duratlon-Di -vision Director Odium said the Cur tiss Wright Airplane Company, for example, has adopted the aluminum industry and will farm out parts of its orders to those aluminum plants hard hit by curtailment of civilian production Living Costs and Prices The Labor Department reported living costs for moderate income families in large cities are now 9^6 per cent higher than before the out (Continued on page six) PEANUT MARKET J Heavy rains falling in the section last night interrupted a full schedule of activity on the local peanut market today, but with clearing weather harvest ing operations will likely be re sumed before the week Is spent tivities can be expected. Little or no change has been reported in the market prices which continue to range from 4 1-2 to 5 cents a pound. Most of the sales were made at 4 3-4 cents. Backbone of Dry Weather Is Bent By Two-Inch Rain Here The backbone of one of this sec tion'? most severe and prolonged dry speHs was badly bent last night when approximately two inches of rain fell, preliminary reports stating that the fall was general over a large area. While the dry spell, dating bark to last August, had already en tered the serious stage it did not greatly impair the harvest of most crops in this section, farmers declar ing that had it struck last June and July it would have spelled ruin for this section. ' The rainfall last night while bad ly bending the backbone of the dry spell did not break the drought that had made it necessary for farmers to clean out' their wells and to haul water from springs and even from the town's water system. Cover crops are few and far between as a result of the dry season, and while late plantings are now expected, the out look for the winter crops is not very encouraging. Following a sprinkle at noon yes terday. the rain started pouring down last night about 11 o'clock The fall continued throughout the night, reaching the proportions of a cloudburst at times. It was the first rain of any size to fall here since August 20th when 1 03 inches were recorded at the river. About one quarter of an inch of rain fell oft September 20th umt?rhrre was trace on October 2nd. but the dry earth ate the offerings up in a Hyr fy While the ram last night greatly relieved the seriousness of the dry season, it has virtually stalled farm operations as they centered around peanut threshing and potato digging. No damage, however, is expected to the crops other than the delay m harvesting. The Roanoke River fill was washed a bit. but not badly by the rain last night. Strong Farm Bureau Perfected In County National President Will Be Invited To Attend Big Meeting ('.uiupuign Workers Pushing For 1,000-Member Goal By Friday Night Ncaring a membership goal of 1, 000. the Martin County Farm Bureau is believed to be one of the largest in North Carolina, it was stated at a supper meeting of the campaign committee in the legion hut last Fri day evening. Reporting 913 members signed up. the campaign committee agreed to extend the canvass until Friday evening of this week in an effort to round out the number to 1,000 or more Reports are encour aging, and when the 1,000 or more are signed plans will be made to in vite Ed O'Neal, president of the Am erican Farm Bureau Federation, to address the annual meeting at a bar becue to be held for the entire mem brrshtp possibly during the early | part of 1942. A final report on the membership drive will be submit ted at a meeting in the agricultural building on Friday evening of this week when the Farm Bureau is slat ed to hold the first of its bi-weekly forums. No program for the meeting has been announced, but some im portant and timely farm topics will be discussed, possibly in connection with the defense movement. Divided into three teams, the membership committee ran a close ran for the free supper served by the Macedonia Church circle The teams of Bill Beach, D. V. Clayton and Mayo llardison signed up 423 mem bers, and the teams of Joe Winslow, Heman Peel and Frank Bailey sign ed 490 members, the latter group en joying turkey at the expense of the losing team members. President Charles L. Daniel pre sided over the meeting and he intro duced Mr B B Sugg, one of the founders of the organization in this State, who declared that the organ ization was deserving of a strong support from all farmers, business and professional men in this section of North Carolina. Paying a flatter ing tribute to Martin County for its tContinued on page six) c:i,osi:s - J Williams ton's tobacco market closed one of its most -success ful seasons this morning. Around 20,000 pounds were sold with prices holding fairly stable right up to the last. Selling approximately six and one-half million pounds, the market this season increased its volume nearly one and three quarter million pounds oyer the sales a year ago. The market is one of few, if not the only one, in the belt to show such a large percentage gain. Farmers who had not sold here in many years returned this season and sold their entire crop, and they were well pleased. The official price average could not be had im mediately, but it ranges around 30 cents. Respected Williams Township Citizen Died This Morning -t> Funeral Services Tomorrow Afternoon at the llome For (rohlen (?o<lar<i Golden Godard, well-known coun ty citizen and a prominent retired farmer of Williams Township, died in a Washington hospital this niorn ing at 7:00 o'clock following a long period of declining health Suffer ing with diabetes and a complication of ailments, Mr. Godard was taken quite ill two weeks ago. On Monday of last week he was-removed to the hospital where his condition became gradually worse. The son of the late George and Sal lie Williams Godard, he was born in Williams Township nearly 59 years ago He never married, hut he and his bachelor brother, Goethe, who died a few years ago, lived a congenial life together and were al most inseparable in their daily liv ing Following his brother's death, Mr. Godard's health l>egan failing rapidly, and while he continued ac tive in various phases of life, he re tired from furming and took little interest in the events of the day. His business dealings were beyond reproach, and he was highly regard ed by those who knew him He was possessed of a quiet and unassuming character, and had a large circle of friends. He never affiliated with any religious denominators, but often at tended the little country church at Holly Springs. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Roy Hudson, of Harnett County, and a brother, Grover Godard, of Wil liams Township Funeral services will be conduct ed at the home Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Definite arrangements had not been completed early this afternoon other than the hour. In terment will follow in the family cemetery near the home. INCREASE Judging from current reports, the Martin County cotton crop this year will show a gain over the 1940 production. A tinners' report, released today .by the Department of Commerce through Special Agent Vernon W. Griffin, shows that 3,492 bales of the lint had been gin ned from the current crop up to October IS as compared with 2. 161 bales ginned from the 1940 crop up to the corresponding date. It is possible that late corapar laons will show a decrease In 1M1 glnntngs The planted acre age this year Is hardly as large In the eoanty as It was last sea C/ias. Smallwood Recalls Boyhood Days In WilliamstonMore Than Half Century Ago "By CIIARI.es SMALLWOOD school and its oeneiiu oeing me prime reason for my advent as an obscure addition to Williamston's then 500 population, the remember ed outstanding spirits of the Acad emy make-up, might as well be of early mention. That "Miss Sue" Williams reign ?d supreme, was not to be doubted by observation or experience. Aa her aide, handling the smaller chil dren, and supervising the conduct of the girls, was Miss Lizzie Slade; meek, good-hearted, and lenient to a fault; and who occasionally, "heard me a lesson" in "her room" where clustered the girls and the tots. Miss Sue had huddled under her personal and watchful eye all the 'rough-necks" and "rampagers" of the do-or-die class, and seemed to glory in her task, though usually "wearing a worried look" as though facing the handicap of realization that all hoodlums must be handled by expressive authority of the "big stick," and that but few, if any, of her herd were "sissies" spoiled with goodness. Therefore, her oft-appointed dele gations to charge on Dinah's Hill and harvest the toughened sprouts from the previous year's stumpage, charg ed, and gathered, and realized that they themselves might be the ob jects upon which the surrendered batteries might be turned. If Miss Sue's reign had been dele gated to the present-day "spare-the rod" theory, no doubt she would have abandoned the profession of trans ferring knowledge, and taken to "herrening" the Roanoke, as my previous Washington tutor had tak en to "shadding" the Pamlico. Amojig the outstanding war-lords of her army to be tamed and taught was Charlie Carstarphen, with whose family she roomed and boarded, and it was a case to wonder at, if she was trying to pay extra, for extra good eats, that caused her to peck on Char lie's bones mornings, noons, and maybe nights, in her endeavor to make him better than she thought he be. Anyway, Charlie got a full one-man's benefit of Dinah's Hill product, and for what causes was hard for me to conjecture, for he was one of the most congenial boys of the school, and had not an enemy among us. Then the Crawford boys stood out in the terrible gang that never did seem to me to be so terrible, and came in for repeated shares of Din ah Hill dividends. The Crawford boys included Henry, Asa-Tom, Kader and Ben One day Asa-Tom felt his dander to the extent that he talked back at Miss Sue over some matter, which caused Miss Sue to cast at him a side glance it had never been my opportunity to observe before. Then she reached for a product or two of uinan's Hill, and (aid to Asa-Tom ?Stand out. Asa-Tom said?No. Mias Sue said back?Stand out, Sir. Asa-Tom said back ?No, Sir. And that was the end of orders, al so the end of wordy rebellion, ac tion then took the place of words Miss Sue stepped down from her rostrum and firmly clutched the col lar of Asa-Tom, yanked him out, and with him came all his dander and determination not to bow down to Dinah's tjill Well, there was no book studying in our room or Miss Liz zie's room during the length of the conflict, and it lasted almost as long as it took Mussolini to realize re cently, that the Greeks were Greeks and that he needed to reach for re enforcements Miss Sue seemed tc realize that she was not to easily make Asa-Tom bend his knee to Di nah's Hill, so she bent her own knee She maneuvered to get Asa-Tom where she could get the pressure ol that knee against him and down he went, pinned under the pressure oi Miss Sue's 160 pounds and a good ly portion of Dinah's Hill combined Asa-Tom soon realized he had tak en in too much territory, and aftei a pretty good resistance, finally suc cumbed to the pressure from above and came up "wusted," and Mias Sue apparently not eager for anothei fray, just then at least. My memory (Continued on page thraa) United States Been Attacked, President Roosevelt Declares German* V<l m it Their Rus sian ('.ainpaign I* Stalled Bv General Mud "The shooting has already started and America has been attacked by Nazi rattlesnakes," President Roose velt >aid last night to highlight a Navy Day address to the nation in which he declared that the United States is now ready to face Hitler's challenge Asking that the Neutral lty Act be amended to permit the arming of merchant ships and free range for all American ships, the President added that the ships must >be protected by the Navy "Wo had |wished to avoid shooting, but the shooting has started, and history htuk. recorded who fired the first shot," the President said. The chief execu tive continued: "The U. S. S. Kearny is not just a navy ship She belongs I to every man. woman and child in this nation I have in my pns>?es [moti n secret roup made in Gci'muny by Hitler's government- by the plan ners of the new world order It is a map of South America and a part of Central America as Hitler pro poses to reorganize-rt^? Your government has in its pos session another document made in Germany by Hitler's government . . It is a plan to abolish all existing re ligions. Very simply and very bluntly ? wp are pledged to pull our own oar in the destruction of Hitler-ism And when we have helped to end the curse of Hitlerism, we shall help to establish a new peace which will give to decent people everywhere a lietter chance to live and prosper in security and in freedom and in faith. It is the nation's will that Amer ica shall deliver the goods. In open defiance of that will, our ships have* been sunk and our sailors have been killed I say that we do not propose to take this lying down. Our output must be multiplied It cannot be hampered by the selfish obstruction of a small, but dangerous minority of industrial managers who hold out for extra profits, or for "business as usual " It cannot be hampered by the selfish obstruction of a small but dangerous minority of labor leaders who are a menace to the true cause of labor itself, as well as to the nation as a w hole We Americans have cleared our decks and taken oiir battle stations. We stand ready in the defense of'our nation and the faith of our fathers to do what God has given us the power to see as our full duty. Eight out of nine of the tens of thousands of telegrams sent to the White House early today weie fav orable. but in Germany the press broke into an unprecedented rage and culled President Roosevelt cra zy, a liar, a fakir and a criminal. In Home demonstrations broke out against this country. Tokyo regard id the address as a virtual declara tion of war Senator Nye said the speech reached a new low in execu tive leadership. Passed by the House last week, the Neutrality Act is now before the Senate where. Senator Conally pre dicts a quick victory for the propos ed amendments. As a result of John I.ewis' stubborn stand, action against strikes is now expected in Congress. On the war front, German admits her Russian blitzkrieg is bogged down, but maintains that Russia is (Continued on page six) 4?? (Guaranty Banks Formal Opening ?? Attracting prominent figures in this section's hanking field, the form I opening of the Guaranty Banking and Trust Company's modernized building was an enjoyable and gala evenf here last evening. The main banking room was spotted with fall flowers and TtfieshmenTs including ice cream sandwiches and cool drinks were served in a corner of the lob by. Smokes were conveniently avail able at several of the tellers' win dows I) V. Clayton, cashier of the bank, greeted the several hundred visitors who called by from here and over? the section ?for-1 lie informal? program, and introduced them to high officials in the Guaranty or ganization. The informal program followed possibly the bank's most successful day since opening here in 1935. Ev en though sales were light on thftlo caT tobacco market during the day and general business maintained a slackened pace, the institution re ported record deposits and extensive activities in the general banking field. Numbered among the special visi tors for the formal opening last eve ning were Messrs E. G Flanagan, president; W H Woolard, executive vice president, N. O. Warrenr direc tor, of Greenville; J A. Staton, di rector. of Bethel; R. M. Riddick, of the Hertford Banking Company, Hertford; H. S. Gurganus, cashier of the Washington branch; A. Q. Small, cashier, and Dallas Brick house, assistant cashier of the Eliza beth City branch; J. E. Edwards, cashier of the Belhaven branch, and , R. W. Salsbury, member of the board of managers of the Hamilton bank.
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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Oct. 28, 1941, edition 1
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