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VOLUME XLIV?NUMBER 95 William it on. Martin County, North Carolina, Friday November 28, 1941. ESTABLISHED 1899
Superior Court In
An All-Day Session
Trying Single Case
Tribunal Is Adjourned for the
Term Here Late Wed
nesday Afternoon
Judge Richard D. Dixon lowered
the curtain on an irregular two
weeks term of the Martin County Su
perior Court here late Wednesday af
ternoon, but not until the tribunal
had cleared a fairly large number
of cases from the docket, mostly by
compromise judgments.
Convening on Monday of last week
for the trial of civil cases only, the
court recessed that day until the
following Wednesday. A short ses
sion was held that morning and an
other recess was ordered until last
Monday Another recess was order
ed until last Wednesday when the
trial of a lone case carried the court
into a late afternoon session. Ad
journment was ordered at that time.
The long trial involved a $100
rental contract, the plaintiff, D. G.
Matthews, claiming that William M
Jones rented ? certain piece of land
and then broke ? the contract. The
jury, deliberating the case for more
than two hours, agreed with the
plaintiff in his complaint claiming
breach of contract, but denied him
damages
Other proceedings in the court not
previously reported:
Frances Roebuck Worsley was
granted a divorce from Julian B.
Worsley. The action was based on
two years of separation.
The case of John T. Daniel against
Jasper H. Harrell was compromised.
A compromise was reached in the
case of Mrs. Irene Roebuck against
Alvah Roebuck, and the case was
cleared from the docket without a
trial.
The case of S. R Biggs against C.
H. Briley was continued for the de
fendant, Judge Dixon setting it for
trial during the December term con
vening here on December 8th
"A compromise was effected in the
case of B. S. Courtney against Fred
Ayers, and the differences were set
tled without a trial.
In the case of R S. Critcher against
Oscar Jones, the court held that
plaintiff was entitled to recover of
defendant $195.78 and ruled that the
sum constitutes a lien on two oxen
bought by the defendant from Will
Waters.
Number of Red Cross
Members Continues
To Grow In County
Mrnib4?rttliip In Slill 8878.67
Short of Chapter Quota
Of $1,100.00
Getting off to a disgracefully slow
start, the annual Red Cross Mem
bership Roll Call in the Martin
County chapter is gaining momen
tum as canvassers in the town renew
their efforts and reports start com
ing in from the several communi
ties making up the district. A total
of $221.33 has been raised so far.
leaving the chapter $878.67 short of
its $1,100 quota.
If the human suffering could be
appraised in this free land, there
would be a greater willingness on the
part of everyone to support the Red
Cross. Only a few days ago there
came a pathetic story out of Greece
telling how women and children died
on the docks waiting for the return
of a Red Cross ship. Voluntary aid
outside of the Red Cross has petered
out, but suffering on an unbelievable
scale continues. There's a picture
direct from Russia showing a mother
and a daughter standing barefooted
in the snow, the daughter clinging
to her mother to keep her from.rush
ing into their burning home. Relia
ble reports state that a total of $27,
000 had been raised by voluntary
subscription for the relief of the
millions who had burned their homes
and food to keep the property out
of the hands of the German invaders.
In this Red Cross chapter, a total of
$221.33 has been raised. It is dis
heartening and truly disgusting.
The task of raising the quota is not
hopeless, and there are encouraging
reports. Bear Grass, canvassed by
Mrs. Noah R. Rogerson, yesterday re
ported $25. The drive was the most
successful since the last World's War
when approximately $700 was raised
in one rally in the little county town.
No other communities have been
heard from, and the drive continues
here. Members of the local Junior
Woman's Club will maintain a booth
in front of Clark's Pharmacy here
tomorrow for receiving memberships
and contributions.
Memberships not previously re
ported are, as follows:
Mrs. Clyde Griffin, Mrs. Roy
Griffin, Mrs. John Ward, Mrs. C. O.
Moore, Mrs. Edward Corey, Mrs.
Annie Roberson. Fred Taylor, Bill
Harrison, Mac Leggett, G. W. Har
ris, J. H. Terry, W. L. Mobley, W. A.
Brown, Irving Rogers, Mrs. W. S.
Gurganus, Mrs. Leroy Harrison, Mrs.
T. O. Hickman, Asa Harris, Sidney
Beacham, Irving Terry, Alton Har
ris, N. R. Rogerson, Lonnie Peele,
John Jackson, Mrs. Sam Mobley, To
be Bo wen, Mrs. Thurston Wynne,
(Continued on page four)
Preparations Go Forward For
Holiday Shopping Season Here
Preparations, following an in
formal schedule, are being advanced
rapidly for the Christmas holiday
shopping season in Williamston. Lo
cal merchants are already display
ing large assortments of attractive
holiday goods, and the trend will be
more marked as each of the 22 re
maining shopping days is checked
off.
In a meeting of Chamber of Com
merce directors last Wednesday eve
ning, tentative plans were advanced
for holiday decorations. Valuable
prizes will again be awarded for the
best municipal, doorway and yard
tree decorations. The prizes for the
contests will be announced by Sec
retary R. H. Smith within the next
few days. While present rulings pro
hibit Christmas lighting on the
streets, there is still some hope that
the rules will be altered and the ban
on the lights lifted. Permission for
lighting on municipal buildings such
as the courthouse, town hall and wa
ter tower, in homes and yards has
been given, and firmly convinced
that tha van-colored lights add to
I the Christmas spirit, local people are
j expected to offer one of their most
elaborate decorative scheme this
season.
Discussing the merchandising sit
uation, the commerce directors last
Wednesday night expressed the be
lief that there is likely to be short
ages in some articles, but that Wil
liamston stores have the largest
stocks thgy have ever had for the
[ holiday trade. While prices on cer
! tain articles have advanced slight
ly, shoppers in Williamston this sea
son will find them strictly 111 line
with those to be found anywhere, and
special appeals are going out for a
strong patronage for Williamston
merchants this season
This Week In
Defense
President Roosevelt sent identical
letters to UMW President Lewis anch
to the steel company representatives
Benjamin Fair less. Eugene Grace and
Frank Purnell stating "work in the
captive mines must recommence . .
The issue in dispute . does not
justify a stoppage of work in a grave I
national crisis . . ."
The President asked the four lead
ers to "allow the matter of the closed |
shop in the captive mines to remain
in status quo for the period of the
national emergency . . or else to i
accept final arbitration. He said any |
agreement reached would have no
effect -on the UMW's ^closed shop 1
agreement already in effect with
regular commercial mines.
In a message to the CIO conven- '
tion at Detroit, the President said
unless democratic freedoms are pro- j
tected from the "world scourge" of
Hitlerism. "free trade unions and all j
other free institutions will vanish." j
To protect these freedoms, he wrote,
"we must produce guns, tanks, ships
and planes without delay and with- |
out interruption, and the American
oeople and their Government are de
termiried that we shall have them." |
Lend-Lease Aid
The Department of Agriculture re
ported nearly 1,650,000,000 pounds of
most $200,000,000 were delivered to
representatives of the British Gov
ernment for Lend-Lease shipment
from the beginning of operations in
April up to October 1. Animal pro
tein products, including cheese, dried
milk, evaporated milk, eggs, pork and
lard, made up the most important
groups of commodities.
State Secretary Hull announced a
Lend-Lease agreement has been
signed with Iceland.
Arming of Merchant Ships
Navy Secretary Knox said the first
^rmed U. S. merchant vessels will be
olying the seas within a week. He
said ships plying both the Atlantic
ind Pacific will be armed. The arm-,
ing of the ships will require three
to four months to complete. The
Navy will put gun crews of from^42
to 18 men on all ships as fast as they
ire armed.
The Maritime Commission report
ed the keels of 21 Liberty ships were
laid during October to bring the to
tal to 76. Four of these cargo ships
were launched in October, compar
ed with three for September, and
'hree more are scheduled to be
'aunched this month. The Commis
sion added four ships to its six-ship
training fleet to help turn out 15,000
trained seamen for the deck, engine
and steward's departments during
1042 and 1043.
Symphonic Choir To
Present the Messiah
In Vi i 11iaiiiston Soon
Ten Local People Are Mem
bers of Recently Organiz
ed Choral Association
1
The Eastern Carolina Symphonic
Choral Association, of which Martin
County is a unit, will give Handel's
Messiah here Sunday afternoon, De
cember 21st. This will be the first
time this famous Christmas oratorio
has been given in Williamston. Dur
ing the meantime the singers will
appear in a number of Eastern Caro
lina towns and broadcast over radio
Station WPTF on December 7th.
The choir is trained under Lewis
Bullock, formerly of the Westminster
Choir. Mr. Bullock and a selected
group of young singers won wide
recognition last summer when they
toured the west, singing at the White
House for Mrs. Roosevelt enroute.
The local singers in this associa
tion are, Mrs. James Smith, Mrs.
John Hardy. Mrs. E. T Walker. Mrs
T. S. Critcher, Mrs. F. E. WynriV, Miss
Ruth Hurley, Miss Jerry Humble,
Miss Evelyn Lilley, and Charles
Leonard. It is hoped that other per
sons interested in good music will
join the association as singers or
sponsors. School girls and boys are
especially urged to affiliate. Anyone
contributing as much as one dollar
becomes a member of the associa
tion.
To date, membership tickets in the
symphonic choir have been purchas
ed by the following persons:
John D. Biggs, Norman Harrison,
N. C. Green, Mrs. J. W. Andrews, F.
U. Barnes, D. E. Darden, Mrs. J. G
Staton. Miss Anne Hanhsmi, Harry
Biggs, Mrs. J. A. Eason, Miss Mary
Taylor, Dr. E. T. Walker, Miss Thel
ma Lilley, Miss Lillian Breen, Dick
Miller, Wilbur Weeks, J. L. Hassell.
R H Smith, Z T Piephoff, Mrs R
rJ. Peel, C. B. Clark. Jr., W. G Perl.
B. T. Hurley. Mrs. B. T. Hurley. Miss
(Marian Hurley, Mrs. C. A. Leonard,
Sr., Mrs Henry Harrison, Mrs K. P.
Lindsley. K. P Lindsley, Mrs. A R.
Dunning, Mrs. J. V. Champion, Mrs.
Daisy Pope, Mrs. J. H. Saunders, Mrs.
Daisy Purvis, Mrs. N. C. Green, Mrs
J S. Rhodes, Mrs. C. A Leonard, Jr.,
Mrs. L. B Wynne. Mrs. J. W Man
ning, William C. Griffin, Joseph W
Griffin, Russell Roebuck, Nat Israel,
R .E. Peele, Hugh Horton, R. H
Goodmon, Bill Howell and George
Harrison.
I
Navy
The Navy announced capture by
the U. S. Cruiaer Omaha in Atlantic
equatorial waters of tl)e German ship
Odenwald which was sailing under
U. S. colors. The disguised merchant
ship was on its way from Yokohama
to Bordeaux with a cargo of 3,000
tons of war rubber and American
made automobile tires. Secretary
Knox told his jjress conference the
Odenwald was one of a number of!
German vessels which had been
chartered to Japanese interests.
Three destroyers, a submarine and
the battleship Indiana were launch
ed?making a total of three battle
ships. 18 destroyers and 13 submar
ines launched so far this year. The
three destroyers were five months
ahead of schedule and the submarine
three months.
Army Ordnance
President Roosevelt asked Con
gress for a supplemental appropria
tion of 38,687,000,000 for the War De
partment, including <3,720,000,000
for Ordnance and $779,000,000 for the
Air Corps. Army Chief of Ordnance
Wesson, speaking in Hartford, Conn.,
said U. S. light and medium tanks
(Continued on page four)
Board Of Education Will
Hold No Meeting Monday
The Martin County Board of Edu
cation will not meet next Monday,
Chairman J. D. Woolard stating that
there was no business on the calen
dar and that as faf as he could see
there was no reason for calling a
meeting of the board.
Substitution Made
In Selectee List
Believed to have been due to the
carelessness of some person in aid
ing a registrant prepare his ques
tionnaire answers, an injustice was
almost saddled on a family in the
county this week. The apparent in
justice was detected after induction
orders were issued by the county
draft board office and a substitution
was possible. Monnie Whitehurst, of
R.F.D. 1. Jamesville, was ordered to
report for induction on December 5, |
and Elbert Mitchell. Williamston col
ored man, was deferred.
Mitchell's questionnaire showed
no dependency, but an official re
port direct from the county welfare
office stated that Mitchell is the son
of a paralytic father, that there are
nine or ten children all under four
teen years of rfge, and that the reg
istrant's earn^igs at a local lumber
mill were hardly sufficient to keep
bodies and souls together.
POSTPONED
, V
On account of the serious Ill
ness of Judge W. Hubert Coburn,
no session of the county record
er's court will be held here next
Monday, Clerk L. B. Wynne an
nounced this morning. The nine
teen new eases and old actions,
scheduled for trial at that time,
will be continued until Monday,
December IS, It was announced.
All eases set for trial next Mon
day will be called on the latter
date. Bonds, under which de
fendants are now at liberty, will
continue in force.
Serious Climax To
Far East Crisis Is
Believed Imminent
Fierce Fighting Continues On
The North African and
Russian Fronts
A serious climax to the situation
in the Far East is expected momen
tarily following a virtual break
down of negotiations between Ja
pan and the United States in Wash
ington yesterday. Advised of Unit
ed States policy, the Japanese are
to take the next step for peace or
war Reliable reports state that even
while peace talks were in progress
between Secretary Cordell Hull and
special Japanese envoys in Wash
ington. the Japs were moving arm
ed forces into Indo-Ohina presum
ably for a march on Thailand. The
action would indicate that Japan
plans to threaten if not actually at
Tack vital supply lines over which
this country receives vital supplies.
While the?situation?in the Far
East held and continues in the spot
light on the diplomatic front, fierce
fighting continues on the Russian
antf Libyan fronts in North Africa. "1
The Russians acknowledged today
that massive German assaults are
gravely imperilling Moscow's outer
defenses, but said Adolf Hitler's
timetable had been knocked badly
out of line by Russian blows.
Typical of these counter-thrusts
were slaughter of 15,500 Germans in
one day's time at three points on the
Moscow front and destruction of 105
Nazi tanks by the Soviet air force,
the Russians said.
Included in the destruction of
Wednesday, said the Soviet informa
tion bureau, were at least 600 truck
loads of German troops, and smash
ing of 20 German earth-and-timber
forts and numerous field guns.
Aside from .these aid similar les
ser particulars, early morning an
nouncements broadcast by the Mos
cow radio were in the most general
of terms, saying only that fighting
continued throughout Thursday on
all fronts.
British imperial troops yesterday
smashed Axis tank lines four miles
north of the recaptured battleground
of Rezcgh to make a historic junc
tion with the beseiged defenders of
Tobruk, the high command announc
ed.
This vital desert meeting occurred
at Ed Duda on the tenth day of the
great Libyan offensive. That point,
itself was captured by the Tobruk I
troops in a. stab which carried them
~nr miles outside their defenses.
New Zealand troops, supported by
American-British tanks and planes,
joined with Tobruk's men in a push
from the south* after overcoming vi
olent Axis opposition. The desert
point of Blr El Hamcd was taken ei
route.
Thus, the British now have a ten
nous communication line curving ov
CT loo miles from the Egyptian 6of
der near Sidi Omar northwestwari
to Tobruk.
The link with Tobruk may be ;
decisive turning point in the whol<
campaign, a military spokesmai
said, but hi* emphasized that "form
idable pockets of Axis resistance
still exist on all sides of that narrov
tine. -
In addition, the Axis still hold
strong positions on a 30-mile ar
rimming Tobruk which must b<
broken if the Royal Navy is to feci
more men and equipment effective
ly into Tobruk for transportatioi
southward to the churning battl
arena of Rezcgh.
The Germans and Italians als
were reported rushing up reinforce
ments in men, tanks, and planes fron
the west in an effort to crush the To
bruk-Rozegh link.
-Rezcgh itself has become a tank
(Continued on page four)
1
W. Hubert Coburn's
Condition Is Critical
Taken suddenly ill last Monday
morning, Judge W. Hubert Coburn
was reported to be in a grave con
dition at a Rocky Mount hospital at
2:10 o'clock this afternoon. Prepara
tions were nearing completion at that
time for giving him a blood transfu
sion in a last effort to save his life
but reports from the hospital were
not at all encouraging, one stating
that the end was expected almost
momentarily.
Entering the hospital within a few
hours after suffering a relapse of an
old ailment, Mr. Coburn had his left
leg amputated Tuesday nooh. His
right leg was amputated abbut five
years ago He recovered from the
shock of the operation and his con
dition was first described as satisfac
tory. Early yesterday morning the
poison reached to other parts of his
body, but the local young lawyer
judge and business man made a de
termined fight for life. This morn
ing his condition became worse, and
heart stimulants were necessary. He
was fed glucose, but apparently fail
ed to rally from a coma, doctors then
virtually abandoning hope for his
recovery.
Much concern over Mr. Coburn's
condition has been expressed repeat
edly by numerous friends both white
and colored who almost continually
sought information from the hospi
tal or from other sources during the
past two days.
Board To Set Up Tax
Machinery For 1942
Reorganization Of
County Board Will
Be Effected Monday
Official* Expected to Appoint
Acting Judge For County
Recorder'* Court
Just about the time complaints ov
er 1941 taxes had dwindled to a
fairly low minimum, the Martin
County commissioners in their reg
ular session here next Monday will
take the first steps to set up the ma
chinery for handling 1942 taxes. The
board, completing an "off" year in
its current term will also effect a
reorganization of its body, and ap
point an "acting*1~judge for the Mar
tin County Recorder's Court. Then
there will be the "routine" business
on the calendar for consideration by
the board members.
Plans for handling the county-wide
tax business for 1942 have not been
mentioned so far. and it is next to
impossible to predict what action
will be taken next Monday. In years
past, the board turned to one of its,
own members to supervise the list
ing of real and personal properties,
|relying on u full-time supervisor to
handle the task in those years when
real property was revalued. S. Har
eum Grimes was appointed by the
board last year, but since no real
properties will be revalued for 1942
it is believed likely that one of the
commissioners will be appointed to
supervise tin* work.
No applications for the posts of
supervisor or list-takers have been
filed with the board clerk so far, and
it is quite possible that the positions
will go begging While the supervisor
is empowered 4o name the list-takers,
the appointments are generally ef
fected by the commissioners who
will likely handle that task next
Monday. The commissioners and list
takers are to meet on the third Mon
day in December with the supervisor
for a discussion of personal proper
ty values and listing methods.
Since there will be no changes in
real property values except in those
cases where improvements have been
made or where the values have been
altered by fire or alteration, it is
generally?believed the?tax-listing
job can be handled with little diffi
culty for 1942.
While the appointment of an act
ing judge is schedule for the meet
ing next Monday, action may be de
layed until a special meeting of the
board is held later in the month.
While it is entirely up to the com
missioners to make changes in their
organization, there has been nothing
said about altering the line-up and
it is quite likely that the board will
enter its rvew official year with its
old organization still intact. Mr. R
L. Perry is serving the board as
chairman, and E. S. Peel is the pres
ent attorney for the board. Bonds,
posted by the various officers, will
be examined in accordance with
law.
No other special business has been
placed on the tentative schedule, but
the board will handle the routine
business which centers principally
around departmental reports and
current bills.
?
Officers Continue
Raid On Distillers
During an offensive during the re
cent illness of ABC Officer J H.
Roebuck, illicit liquor manufactur-1
ers are fast taking to the defense in
the eotinty. Threatened by a well-1
directed blitzkrieg, the operators
have staged a noticeable retreat; The
officers state that the situation along
the entire illicit liquor front is fair
ly well under control.
Working in the Free Union section
of Jamesville Township last Tues
day, ABC Officer Roebuck, Deputy
Roy Peel and ABC officers from
Beaufort County captured three cop
per stills, one of 50-gallon and the
ather two of 100-gallon capacity.
They poured out 1,350 gallons of
beer. One of the plants was still
hot, and the operators had made
preparations for another "run". Fol
lowing up their work of the day be
fore, the officers Wednesday found
the manufacturers on the run. Two
plants and a small quantity of beer
were found, but the copper kettles
had been dismantled and placed in
hiding
r
i
COMMISSIONERS
1
J
The appointment of a com
missioner to succeed M. Luther
Peel who resigned to accept the
office of county tax collector
will be in the special order of
businrss before the regular
meeting of the town board next
Monday evening at I o'clock.
Mayor J. L. Haaaell said this
morning. In addition to that
special business and the handling
of routine matters, the board Is
also expected to name a tax list
taker for the year 1MZ.
REMEMBRANCES
By CHAS. SMAI.l.WOOl)
Williuiiiston, N. C.
Dl'RINC. 1870* and KO's
With Sister Sallies saying that the
whole town was on fire. 1 jumped to
the window, and there, beyond the
drug store and the buildings on our
side of the street, arose the bln/.o.
I think it had started, and was yet
confined, to the buildings up near
Hassell's Grove.
My first remark was And Mr.
Biggs is gone.
He had left a few days before for
Baltimore, to purchase a stock of
Christmas goodsr lcavil 1 g Tnrnin full
change of the drug store, with Dr.
or Mr. Walter Hassell to have an
eye "on me 4n Case need be: With
sight of the fire. 1 realized 1 had
job to do, and that, with Mr Biggs
4*Olic. I knew mure, about the dri
store than anyone else. As I bound
ed through the garden toward it (as
I now recall) and unlocked the door
for the last time, my thoughts were
of the safe, and whal^ was Mil it
There was not much casTT. ak Mr
Biggs had carried all with him he
could. 1111 Ins needs in buying stock,
but all the books, insurance policies
and othei such papers were in it I
had the safe key (a+i inch-long <>b
long hunk of steel with wire-like
prongs; combinations were not much
in vogue then) and opened the door,
took out everything including tin
sliding drawer, and carried them to
the keeping of Sister Sallie. By then.
Mr. Walter Hassell was on hand, and
Dr. Hassell, and many others, black
and white
We began at the prescription case,
where the most frequently used
drugs and implements were kept; pil
ing thenv into removable base-draw
ers, empty boxes, baskets, anything
which could be carried out the back
door, across the garden, and into the
yard at home; as it was thought the
garden-space was too great for the
fire to leap, which it proved to be.
Roofs were watched, and kept swept
off to prevent falling blazes from
catching From the prescription case,
we worked down the shelving, pack
ing bottles and boxes and packages
into oik;, and passing to willing
hands, taking them to our back yard;
where, ere the fire wan over, neeni
ed me half the town's savings had
been heaped.
We came pretty near emptying the
drug store before it caught, and as I
|saw this taking place, I strongly real
I ized an old friend was leaving us.
[especially me. Then on down, clear
? to the corner of Smithwick Street,
including the big C. B. Hassell build
jing, the biggest in town, the fiery
tongue licked everything clean. All
our side, and all the other side, from'
Hassell's drove to Smithwick street,
which constituted tin bulk of tin
business section, antf which took in
the big J. I). Biggs and Co's store
was gone
| /icross nmiuiwicK Mnci, uarstar
phen's was saved, though pretty
well scorched. And the Watts build
ing (I think it was called) on oppo
site corner still stood Smithwiek
street had saved the few stores be
yond.
Bedlam feigned, especially after
all possible savings had been accom
plished, and the fire-fiend had bel
lowed its bite, into a snarl of smoke
and crackle.
Many goods had been hurriedly
piled in the middle of Main Street
between two rows of fire, including
barrels uf whiskey from the bar
rooms, which caught ablaze, all go
ing to smoke. I saw heads of whis
key barrels knocked in, and cups
and buckets dipped in by the dozen,
which flames leaped xmrundrttirTiip^
pers-in gulpingly swallowing the
'bug juice," as if to "save" it from
the dastardly fiend which was tak
ing their town. Of course, many got
'soused." and some pilfering follow
d, but these same f el Iowa had work
d gallantly at saving that and more,
and I don't think anyone was ever
bothered for the bad things tlxal
were done at the time.
In the hubbub of saving, salvaged
goods of neighboring merchants were
unavoidably often piled together in
a jumble-heap, which took days and
days to separate^ if ever the job was
actually completed. Many used their
private cost-mark, often found there
on, as a guide, and which helped
much.
Many were the humorous inci
dences occurring during those hours
of trial and blaring privation. Mr.
Dawse Biggs (as was Mr. Rome
Biggs) was out of town, therefore
(Continued on page seven)
County Youth llomc From
Navy For A Short Vi?it
Recalling his recent experiences
as a United States destroyer crew
member, Mack G. Rogerson, young
son of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Roger
son, of thsi county, said this week
that he had seen much.duty in the
North Atlantic during recent weeks.
According to the young man, his boat
was less than an hour removed from
the ill-fated Reuben James when the
latter warship was struck. Rogerson
is of the belief that his ship has sunk
several submarines.
Civil Action Likely
\s Result Of Fatal
Accident Near Here
??
Rclntix's of Wreck \ irtini
Come Here front W. Va.
To Make Investigation
Court action to recover damages
alleged to have resulted in a fatal
automobile accident near here was
considered lijo ly this week follow
ing a preliminary investigation by
relatives of one of the wreck victims.
No formal complaint has been filed
in the courts, but it was learned that
counsel has been employed and that
it was quite likely action would be
taken m the Superior cfurt of this
county within a short tiniig. ?
It was also learned that William
Joseph Suggs, driver of the death
car in which Mrs. Fred Satterfield
and Darius Edwin Mitchell lost their
lives, was here a tew days ago with
counsel for a study of conditions sur
rounding the scene .of the wreck.
Tsuggs was accompanied by Attor
neys-- Marvin Blount and Hoover
Taftv.both of Greenville. They were
uiid to ti.iv v k isiled the scene of the
accident and talked with .a number
?f local people while here, but the
definite purpose behind their mis
sion was not disclosed Suggs, charg
ed with driving while under the in
fluence of liquor and with man
slaughter, is at liberty under a $2.
000 bond. He is to face trial in the
Bertie County Superior Court nevt
February.
Coming here from Fairmont, West
Virginia, Fred Satterfield. husband
of the young woman who was in
stantly killed when the car Suggs
was driving crashed into the Roan
oke River bridge, near here, on the
t veiling of November 15. talked yvith
local officers, visited the scene of
the accident and employed counsel.
He was accompanied by his "father
and a friend, the party leaving here
for Newport News where they were
tn spend a short time before return
ing To I hTrr homes
It could not he learned definitely,
but it was intimated in reliable, cir
cles that action would he brought
against Suggs, the driver of the death
car. and the estate of Darius Edwin
Mitchell, owner of the ear. and possi
bly against the Martin Contracting
Company
Propose Correction
01 Minor Physical
Delects Por 02 Men
Ki'ilcrul Cowriiniriil to Ki
iiiiik c Tr<-alm<-nl Vulliori/.
i'?l l>\ I .oral Draft Hoard
? A far reaching ftinvrmmt is being
advanced by Selective Service to
remedy minor physical defects of 92
registrant: in this county arid to
qualify, them for service in the
Army, accordion irrunofficial but
reliable information received here
this week. While details for handling
the rehabilitation program have not
been made public, it ik now certain
that those young men who escaped
induction on account of minor physi
cal defects will undergo treatment
aid be made subject to call.
- The .'treatment, Financed entirely
by the Federal government, will be
made available to the young men in
places of their own choosing if they
volunteei to have the defects rem
edied Those men who do not volun
teer to have the defects corrected,
yill be directed to report for treat
ment, it is understood. Under the re
habilitation plans, it wilt-lie possi
ble for the registrant to have an op
rat ion of most any kind free. Visits
to the dentist will be free to him. It
estimated that-there are 92 men,
-H^-wdTTtr7irrrt-4tUprjtnTT'Tt, in this coun
ty who can be rehabilitated and
made fit for military service.
Although regulations to activate
the program have not been drafted
in entirety, National Headquarters?
has indicated that the first men to
be rehabilitated will be those whose
defects can be corrected in the eas
iest and; most economical way. Com
plete details of the program prob
ably will be ready in the near fu
ture and will he forwarded to the
various State Headquarters for dis
tribution so that this important
work can hi- put underway in all lo
.cal hoard areas.
? After conferring with representa
tives of the medical and dental pro
fessions, officials at National Head
quarters are agreed that rehabilita
tion plans may vary in different
areas and they are making arrange
ments accordingly. It is probable,
however, that local boards will be
mpowered and directed to order the
rehabilitation of men with correct
ive minor defects, dental or physi
cal.
Since the inception of the Select
ive Service System, executives of Na
tional headquarters have repeated
ly advocated adoption of a plan
which would rehabilitate registrants
i having remediable physical defects.
As far back as last May, Brig. Gen.
Lewis B. Hershey, director of Select
ive Service, said that the physical
condition of this country's youth is
something of which "we nationally
should thoroughly be ashamed" and
predicted that the day would come
(Continued on page four)
.