North Carolina Newspapers

tukx mn iMBR ' PAT DAT r fHE ENTEl JPRICP OVER THE TOT FOR VICTORY K. bond DAY stop mmm?uvt oouak j \I JVIuIj UWTtD STATK WAR Vv BONDS-STAMPS VOLUME XLV?NUMBER 40 Williamrton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, May 19, 1942. ESTABLISHED 1899 Rationing of Tires in County Relieved By Emergency Reserve Twenty-nine New Truck Tires And Tubes Are Allotted To One Operator The aggravated tire rationing sys tem in this county was relieved, partly at least, this week when the county board called on the Federal Emergency Reserve tor a number of tires. Literally swamped with de mands, urgent demands (or tires and tubes, the board was about ready to throw up its hands. The tire situa tion was bad enough and when the gas situation mixed with the sugar situation, the work was just too much but there was some relief to be had when the emergency reserve came to its rescue. Hauling workers to war camps, the Martin County Transfer Com pany, Robersonville, was allotted twenty-nine new truck tires and 29 new truck tire tubes by a special or der from the government. The al lotment is not chargeable to the county quota, and Mr. Charles Car raway, manager of the transfer com pany, told the board members that _ they need not look for him any more right away Operating an extensive transfer system, the transfer com pany had been a frequent visitor be fore the board Tires and tubes were allotted to the following: N. W. Worsley, Oak City mail carrier, tire and tube Two obsolete tires and tubes were allotted F. C Williams. Jamesville. Two trailer tires and tubes were allotted Rufus Lynch, Hasscll, for farm use Retreaded truck tires were allot ted, as follows: Willie Boston, Jamesville, two tires and four tubes for hauling pulp wood. J. M. Highsmith, Robersonville, two tires and tubes for farm use. Rogerson Brothers, Robersonville, two tires and tubes for distributing meal. Mrs. Noah J- Corey, Williamston RFD 1, two tires for hauling farm supplies. Frank F. Carstarphen, Williams tan, one tire for hauling fuel. ffoj- J. Hardison, Williamston RFD . T^ine truck tire for farm use. , Martin County Board of Educa tion, fourteen tires. Recapped tires were allotted for cars, as follows: P. C. Edmondson, Hasscll, three tires and three tubes for farming. Clyde Waters, Williamston, four tires for WPA defense work. Jack Everett, Parmele, two tires and tubes for distributing patent medicines. New truck tires were allotted: E. M Taylor, Williamston, two truck tires and tubes for hauling produce. John A. Manning, Williamston, one truck tire and tube for hauling lumber and fertilizer Harvey Roberson, Robersonville, four tires and four tubes for hauling gas and oil. J. B. Parker, Robersonville RFD 1, two trailer tires for farm use. M. E. Rogers, Williamston RFD 3, was allotted a tube for a tractor tire. A request filed by G. F. Fitzgerald, Jr., auxiliary fireman, for two re capped tires, was rejected. A request for a new car by F. F. Pollard, farmer, was rejected. Up until recently the board could not issue tubes when allotting pur chase certificates for recapped tires. Under a new ruling the board may issue tubes along with retreaded tires. The following applications were rejected: J. E. Parrisher, Robersonvijle, (Continued on page six) s High School Band To March Thursday The WiHiamston High School'! smooth-working drill band will pre sent its final marching program of the season on Main Street Thursday night at 8:00 o'clock. The organiza tion has received much favorable comment on its recent appearances, and is in receipt of a letter from the parade chairman of the Raleigh Ses quicentennial commending them for their fine performance in Raleigh on April 30th. The band presented a fine program for the Home Dem onstration convention here last Fri day, but due to the competition of the free lunch much of the effort seemed to have been in vain. With this tune-up program behind them the band members are work ing diligently this week in order to polish up their series of drills and music for the TTiursday perform ance. The program will last approxi mately a half hour, and will include drills and some extra music which will be played in front of the posi office building. Head Drum Major ette Delia Jane Mobley will be ir charge, supported by Mary War ren, Sylvia Green, Rose Leggett anc that new twirling discovery, Bil Peele. In case of continued rain thi program will be shifted to Fridaj night at the same time. The final ap pearance of the band will be Ma; 31st in concert on the high schoo lawn. "X" Cards Liberal With Gas But Limit Types Of Travel The general belief that an X-type of card entitles one to three extra gallons of gasoline for pleasure rid ing under the rationing system has been knocked into a cocked hat by reliable information coming from high rationing officials. While it may not appear fair, the rationing sys tem does not allow the business car operator much leeway, any many X card owners have already done so or are considering exchanging them for the A cards Information, coming direct from a high rationing official to the board in this county yesterday, stated def initely that the X cards while allow ing the holders unlimited gas allot ments did not provide for travel oth er than that designated in the appli cation The regulations, appearing just above the penalty provision, state that all or substantially all of the gas allowed under the X type cards must be used for the purpose HERE AND THERE \ Recently graduated by the Army Air Corps in Texas, Chas. Daniels, Jr., Martin County youth, was married in New Jer sey last week and yesterday his parents received a cablegram stating he was in England. He is believed to be the first Martin County youth to fly the Atlan tic. Willie Rossis Victim Hit-uml-Kuii Driver Here List Saturday Officers Suitl To lie Closing In On Driver lay (lieekiiiK Old Cur Registration ? Willie Ross, young county white man of the Hassell area, was l>adly but not believed critically hurt when he was run down by a hil-and run driver on West Main Street, near the Drown Community Hospital, last Saturday night about 8:20 o'clock. Walking on the edge of the highway with-his father, the young man was struck from the rear by an old-mod el car, suffering a severe injury on the back of his head. One of his legs was badly skinned and one of his shoes was torn from his foot and knocked several feet up an embank ment Picked up and carried into the hos pital, Ross was given immediate treatment by Dr. V. E. Brown who left a sick bed to answer the call. Ross, said to be recovering rapidly, was reported to -be resting very well today Called to the scene of the accident Highway Patrolmen Thompson and Saunders combed miles of highways in the county in search of the crim inal. Several leads were established and it is believed that the case will be "broken" sooner or later. Stop ping their search on the highways and by-ways, the officers started checking the registration of old cars and last reports stated that they had narrowed the list down consider ably and that numbers of old cars had been checked. "We believe we are on the right track and some ac tion is to be expected just as soon as we are better satisfied that we have sufficient evidence to support our charges," an officer was quoted as saying this morning. Young Ross, a worker in the Navy (Continued on page six) EXTRA CARDS Not certain how they are sup posed to handle the task, the gasoline rationing board in this county has issued do supplement ary cards Several applications have already been filed, but no issuance has yet been scheduled. Instructions are being awaited from Raleigh, Chairman Martin said yesterday. The man who uses more gas than his card allows for his reg ular business is entitled to a supplementary card. He must file a special application, show ing mileage estimates certified by his employer and signed and sworn to before a notary public by the appUeaat. designated. Very few definite cases were mentioned, but it is under stood that the holder of an X card may take his children to school when it is raining, go places in an emer gency, and possibly drive to church, but under the regulations as they now stand he is violating the law when he drives his car strictly for pleasure. Any person with an. X card and whose activities designated by classification do not constitute all or substantially all of his driv ing then it will be to his advantage, certainly in Hie eyes ol the Taw, to exchange the card for one in anoth er classification preferably for an A card if he can operate on 21 gal lons of gas between now and June 30. The holder of an A card has the right to drive where he pleases as long as the supply lasts, and the B card holder may use his car for pleasure, but when he does so he rules himself ineligible for a supple mentary card. Vomiiient Farmer Ends H i s Life In County On Sunday Kutit'ral SmiiTK Meld Mon day Afternoon For l)a\e ( ?ri fn 11 Dave Griffin, prominent county armer and substantial citizen of iriffins Township, ended his life it the home of his brother, George ? Griffin, last Sunday afternoon. ?Jo note was left and no reason could >e given for the tragedy which is teeped in mystery. Relatives and riends could not advance a single inderlying cause to support the act vhich came as a marked shock to nembers of his family and a host of 'riends throughout this section. The oss of a child a few years ago had iffected Mr Griffin greatly and it is possible that he was a victim of nrrel incholia, but any troubles he may lave had he kept to himself In his home he was a thoughtful lusband and father, and only re ehtly modernized his home, install ng lights and making alterations, lis business dealings were based on Christian ideals, and while he was lot rich hi- had ample means to pro ride well for his family, meet all of lis obligations and have plenty to pare His relations with his fellow nan were congenial and friendly, ind for a number of years he was ictive in and a loyal and liberal iupporter of the Primitive Baptist Church at Smithwicks Creek. His amily life was ideal and lie was hglily respected by all who knew 11*11. He held no malice toward any ine, and he apparently enjoyed his vork and the fellowship of his fel owman All of this merely aggra vated the mystery surrounding the ragedy. Just recently he had made plans o attend a church meeting a few veeks from now, leading the family 0 believe that the act was conceived >n the spur of the moment. Sunday afternoon he accompanied 11s family to the old home place to visit his sister. While they were valking around the yard, Mr Grif in stepped over to his brother's lome, a short distance away. Find ng no one there, he took a shotgun ind found the lone shell on the place n a bureau drawer. He went to the voodshed, pulled his hat off and lung it up, removed his coat and arefully placed it on a basket. Sit ing down he placed the gun barrel igainst his neck and pushed the rigger with a broken broom stick, t is believed that he shut himself ibout 3:00 o'clock that afternoon, -lis brother, returning home later hat afternoon found the body about 1 o'clock. He was the third brother o end his life, and the others like his one are still steeped in mystery. Mr. Griffin was the son of the ate Simon Daniel and Margaret (Continued on page six) I = Man Arrested For Possessing Liquor Riding through the Free Union lection of Jamesville Township last Saturday, Officers Roebuck and Roebuck happened to see a man dart into a barn and rapidly close the door behind him. The officers, look ing after other business, became suspicious and investigated. They found Abraham Pierce in the barn with a ten gallon keg partly filled with illicit liquor. He admitted his guilt and was scheduled for trial in the county court next Monday. Extending their search on the premises, the officers found about fifteen pounds of new sheet copper, the scrappings from a liquor plant manufacturing outfit Pierce main tained that the copper belonged to James Keys and that Keys was serv ing in the army. The copper, while looking quite new, was supposed to have been left on the Pierce prem ises some time ago. Officers state they have no idea where the now precious metal can be obtained by illicit liquor manufacturers, but they seem to get it along with sugar de spite rationing. Faithful Democrats In Convention Here Last Saturday Noon Group Kndoweti Policies and | Achievements of Roose velt Administration The Martin County Democratic convention, attended by the faith ful few, was called to order last Sat urday at noon in the courthouse by Elbert S. Peel, Chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee. Elhert S Peel was elected perma- _ nent chairman of the convention and Paul D. Roberson was elected per manent secretary of the convention. The precinct organization was per fected as follows: Jarmesville, A. Corey, chairman; | C. B. Martin, Stancill Brown, F. W. Holliday and C. W Mizell, Williams, Joshua L. Coltrain, chairman; W W Griffin, Mrs. R J. Hardison and S. J. Tetterton; Griffins, Plenny Peel, chairman; C. C. Coltrain, Mrs. J. Eason Lilley, George C Griffin and | W. T. Roberson; Bear Grass, J. D Wynne, chairman; Mrs. Dewey Lig gett, Leroy Harrison, T L. Roberson and Gomer Harrison; Williamston No. 1. C. B. Roebuck, chairman; J Sam Getsinger, Miss Clyde Hassell, C. H Godwin. Sr. and S. C Griffin. Williamston No 2. 11 G Horton. chairman, C I) Carstarphen, Iver son Skinner, C. 11 Godwin. Jr., and Mrs E S. Peel; Cross Roads, J. S Ayers, chairman; Mrs. V. G. Taylor. D. C Peel, W L. Ausborn and H. L. Roebuck, Robersonville. A E. James, chairman; A M. Hasty, J A James, Paul D. Roberson and Mis. W. 11. Gray; Gold Point, J R Winslow, chairman; 11. H Roberson, Henry | Johnson, J L. Croom and P. T Ed mondson; Poplar Point, W S. White, chairman; L. H Taylor, W. S. Leg- | gett, Herman Harrison, Mayo Hardi son; Hamilton, L. R Everett, chair man; Miss Effie Waldo, W. J Beach, K. B Etheridge, and R A Edmond son; Hassell, John W. Eubanks, chairman; R. T. Johnson, Woodr<>w Purvis, I) R. Edmondson and E. R. Edmondson, Goose Nest, J F. Crisp, | chairman. N. W. Johnson, J. R. Per ry, N M llyman, Jack Smith and | J B Whitfield The Democratic Executive Com mittee of Martin County was elect-1 ed as follows: A. Corey, Joshua L. | Coltrain, Plenny Peel, J. D. Wynne, G-B Roebuck, H G Horton, J S. | Ayers, A. E. James, J. R. Winslow, W. S. White, L. R. Everett, John W. Eubanks and J. F. Crisp. Elbert S. Peel was elected chair man of the Democratic Executive I Committee and Mrs. Sallie Jones was elected vice chairman, ami H G. | Horton was elected secretary. The convention endorsed H G. llorton as | its candidate for member of the State Democratic Executive Com niittee. A. E. James as its candidate for the Congressional Committee, J. C. Smith as its candidate for mem ber of the Judicial Committee, and T. B. Slade as its candidate for mem ber <?f the Senatorial Committee The (Continued on page six) ^ Anti-Typhoid Drive Is Opened In Comity ??? launching the annua! antl typhoid drive In tins county yesterday, health authorities immunized 375 persons in the Jamesvilla clinic. The number reporting was a bit disappointing, but it is believed that the response to the call for safer health will be larger in the future as the drive progresses throughout the county ac cording to a schedule previously an nounced by the department. Many of the fathers are carrying their families to the clinics and dodge the immunization themselves, a re port states. "This is to be regret ted," Health Officer Williams said, explaining that the bread winner is the very one who should insure him self against the fever. Every person in the county urged to check the immunization schedule and attend the clinic near est him. _ .. MAI) HOUSE? The rationing board office in the courthouse would have been reckoned as a mad house by an indifferent observer yesterday when tires, gas and sugar got all mixed up in the conservations and as large numbers crowded into the little room to see about this card, that card, sugar for preserving, sugar for retail, su gar card surrenders and trans fers, tubes, recapped and new tires and above all?gas. Motorists who had misplaced their registration cards and > could not find them in time for the regular registration and a few others seeking supplement ary cards squeezed into the little office along with the sugar and tire folks and it was a general mixture of gas, sugar and tires for a while. Board chairman call ed the board to order and cen tered attention on tire ration ing, but there were frequent interruptions and after six o'clock the board members em erged from their room without having pulled all the hair from their heads. Registration For Gas Just About Complete Registration Flaws Apparent in First Unofficial Reports ??? Over Kuliou (lard* Are l)i?lrihiilrtl in I'a^l Few Day* ? ? The first round of the gasoline ra tioning is just about complete, ac cording to unofficial reports coming Aut of the rationing board office here yesterday. And what a mess the ra tioning board is facing the average person will possibly never know. Preliminary reports, admittedly lot accurate to the last figure be cause of late registrations and an cxchnage in cards, indicate that the registration is packed with flaws. These flaws are not chargeable to the registrars in every, case or even in a small number of cases for the forms were sworn to by the appli cants, and there was little that the registrars could or would do. There is earnest talk in the high places supporting the belief that something is going to be done about it, and that someone is in for some tough trav eling. Without saying that a single claim is unfounded, one can say that the registration in Robersonville is pos sibly the most representative of the true meaning and purpose of the ra turning plan. In the group of figures below the Robersonville registration stands out, and in pointing out there is no reflection cast upon the other registration centers where the reg istrars and volunteers pleaded with sweat rolling down their faces and disgust in their hearts for a repre sentative registration. Each group of figures are standing on their own ivith the possible exception of the X" group in Williamston where the publie officials are more numer ous. Local, county, state and federal workers boosted the total. No accur ate check could be had, but it is la id fairly apparent that some of the >ther registration centers placed trucks in the "X" class when it was not necessary to register and ration those types of vehicles at all. The gas rationing plan produced new crop of colored preachers, or it least the system brought them to the surface. As many as eight were counted in one small district, and the ?heck was not completed. I'armclc is a business town as far as the colored population is concern (1. Not a single pleasure card was listen, inn the llule community had its "X" claimants. Few boats were included in the registration list, but Register Martin counted one out at Farm Life. Just i few motorcycles were registered. A tabulation (if the registration, showing the issuance of the various types of cards by registration cen ters, including three held in color ed centers follows: A HI H 2 B 3 X I'VI1 If, w 17 21) 35 78 4 J'villf, c Ifi 2 4 III 12 Farm LilV 6 12 55 114 18 Bear Grass 34 32 45 76 4 IV'ston, w 153 55 lift 373 103 Wston, c MI5 n 6 20 25 R'ville 232 1)4 68 225 24 Parmele, c 0 4 2 7 4 Oak City 111 42 53 158 25 674 276 365 1061 219 ? There were 2,595 vehicles regis tered during the regular registration according to a preliminary reports released by the rationing hoard The registration by districts follows: Jamesville, 208; Farm Life, 205; Bear Grass, 191; Williamston, 942; Rober sonville, 660; Oak City, 389. The registration in the Williams ton colored school included nine trucks, one boat and two funeral coaches. Church Women Will Hold Meeting Here ? The annual get-together meeting of the women of the eighth district, Diocese of East Carolina, will be held in the Church of the Advent on Wednesday of this week. The meet ing will open with a celebration of the Holy Communion at 10:30 a m. The business meeting will follow immediately. Mrs. Stephen Norfleet of Kelford, is chairman of the district, which is made up of the Episcopal churches in Bertie and Martin Counties. Miss Stella Phelps, of Woodville, is sec retary. The theme of the meeting is "The Place of the Woman's Auxil iary in National Defense." Some of the speakers on the program are: Mrs Harry G. Walker, Washington; Mrs. Frank F. Fagan, New Bern, Captain Robert Olton, Chaplain of the U. S. Marine Corps, New River, Mrs. James G. Staton and Mrs. John Hardy. Lunch will be served on the church lawn following the adjourn ment of the meeting Attendants are expected from Roxobel, Woodville, Windsor, Avo ca, Hamilton, Robersonville, and Jamesville. * GRVI>ll\TKI> Russell T Roebuck, son of Sheriff and Mrs. B. Roebuck, was graduated a week ago to day from the t'nited States Nav al Reserve Midshipmen School in New York with honors. Among his classmates was Wen dell Willkie's son. frlnsign Roe buck is to report for duty next week. (lulling More Men From (lounty For Service In \rmy Induction Order- Mine Keen Delivered Tii Numlter Of Srltvlrrn Induct urn orders have been issued for a number of Martin County col :>red men to report for possible serv ice in the armed forces within the near future, an unofficial report lea i d just recently stating that oth ?l calls are pending arid that large numbers of men are to report to the induction centers between now and the lattei part of next month It is believed that many of the next group of men to leave the L'punty will be rejected for one rea son or another. It is understood that none of them has had complete phys ical examinations and that some of the group will hardly measure up to ?durational standards. The names of the colored. men in structed to report follow: James Edward Snuthwick, KFD 3, Williamston Charles Edward Hill, Jamesyille. Calvin Sharp, Oak City and Rox >bel. Loivnza Council, Jr , KFD 1, Ueth ?!. King Limuel Council, Oak City. John Thomas Rhodes, KFD 1, Jamesville Randloph Taylor, KFD 2, Rober sonville. Abraham Jones, Williamston. Percy Tyner, RFD 2, Williamston. Geo. Daniel Lynch, RFD I, Oak City Julian Smith, Hardens. Jesse Barficld, RFD 1, Oak City Octavis Daniel, Williamston. Robert Mitchel, Williamston and Elizabeth City. Fate Little, Robersonville. Aulandei Brown. Robersonville. Charlie Collins, Oak City and Newport News. Octaves- -&ta4on, RFD 1, Oak City. Isaiah Short, Robersonville Joseph Carr Ebron, Robersonville It was reported a few days ago that the Draft Board had received orders to materially increase the number of men going to tin- induc tion centers. According to reliable information, the board was asked where it wus possible to do so to send extra men that were available. The next two calls were not increas ed because the board did not have extra men available and did not have time to complete necessary tests. STILL hiding There may have been a de crease in motor traffic in this part of the country last Sunday,i hut there was quite a bit of riding still going on in some of the streets. Holding his porch seat down for an hour, a main street resident counted 237 cars as thry moved in front of his home during one hour that af ternoon. While all the riding was in progress the riders did not think about the supply being nearly exhausted in the east. Only a few gallons were in certain com pany storage tanks and very lit tle in others in this part of the country. Had it been necessary to evacuate the coastal areas, there would not have been en ough gas to get the travelers through this section. Some of the distributors have replenished their supplies, but other tanks are still almost empty. Germans Jittery As Soviets And A.E.F. Offer New Problem Many Duys K?-<|iiir<-<l To Un load I,ar(j<--| Convoy in IliKlory at Irish Port Battered and bleeding on the East ern Front around Kharkov and with the opening of a new and second front in tile offing. Hitler is suffer ing from a severe case of the jitters. However, it would only be wishful thinking that Hitler is whipped for Germany is still a power in this world Kerent reports from the war arena would indicate, however, that the tide is beginning to turn, that now is the time for the Allies to light all the harder and push on toward complete victory. Activities in tin' Kharkov area hold the spotlight in the war today us comparative quietness obtains in the Puefnc. A million strong, the Russian forces, equipped with Am erican and British tanks and other armaments, are pushing the invad eis back in and around the base that is so important to the German cause Death and destruction are approach ing new high figures as millions of men meet with matched machines of modern warfare. The Germans are said to have lost 339 planes as com pared w ith a few over 100 for the Russians during the past few days m the Kharkov sector Reinforced tank corps are coun ter-attacking strongly m some sec tors of the Kharkov front, but the Russian assault army estimated at 1.000.000 men is steam-rolling over all resistance and advancing every - whree, the Soviet high command an nouncde today. ( 1 he Russians have a superiority on the Kharkov front of five or six. to one a regiment for every Ger man battalion according to a Un ited Press dispatch from Stockholm, quoting Swedish correspondents in Berlin. The Russians are using ar t'llory up to 21 centimeters?i?iyhf inches" are are attack in wave af ter wave, creating the most critical situation at some noints. the Swed ish Berlin correspondents reported. Counter-attacks, led mostly by Rumanian troops and including many teen age German lads, have been re pulsed by the determined Russian forces Late reports indicate that the fierce battle, possibly one of the most furious of the war, is proving costly to both sides in human life and equipment Down in the Crimea, the Germans hold an advantage in gains, but fieree fighting continues in the city of Kerch While the Russians are lighting a life and death fight in the East, then are growing signs of invasion plans in the West. The United States in it forces ever moved across any ocean. Days and days were required to un load the ships at an Irish port, one report declaring that tanks and oth er equipment rolled off the ships in steady streams day arid night for about a week. The thousands of troops, equipped and ready for ac tion, were preceded by powerful contingents last February and March. It is now reasonable to be lieve that a second front will be created somewhere, the date and place being about tfit- only policies yet to t>e determined. Hitler, jittery and more'n likely disappointed in the recent trend of events, is mov ing more men into Norway where he apparently is anticipating trouble and more trouble. On the other side of the world, suf fering and bleeding China is calling for help. Weary under the weight of long years of battering at the hands of the Japs, the Chinese continue to fight gallantly, Out the Japs are -I I 1 L II 1U M , I I . I I I . . I I . | ', , . I I , , , I , , | Lk4 t , MU " ln,"h f*" ""I * ? *11 iJttlliirt rtim CIV X Uj" conquered provinces. The British are blasting Jap posi lions as the enemy moves nearer In (Continued on page six) Bible School Opens Term H< 're Monday Tlu' Union Vacation Bible School got underway on Monday morning with 18 beginners and five helpers it the Episcopal Church; 38 primar ies and 8 helpers at the Methodist ?hiirch: 58 juniors and five helpers it the Baptist Church; and 21 inter mediates and one helper at the Christian Church. The handcraft workers met the girls at the Pres byterian Church where plans were made to devote the first week of ac tivity in preparing useful items for the Brown Community Hospital. The boys met in the Manual Arts building at the high school where materials were selected for the sev eral projects chosen by them will be made. TTie girls handcraft work will be under the supervision of Miss Madge Glazner and a number of Home Economics students, while the boys will be led by Mr. T. B. Bran don, Martin County Agent. The first day showed an enroll ment of 135 pupils and 25 helpers, making a total of 160 in the school. The primary children will be moved from the Methodist Church to the American Legion building in order that they might have more room. With the prospect of a still larger enrollment, the school is in need of several more workers.