*AT DAY
WAS
BOMB DAT
i-un Miuar
THE ENTERPRISE
OVH THE TOP
FOR VICTORY
UNITED STATES WAR
BONOS-STAMPS
VOLUME XLVI—NUMBER 34
Williams ton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, April 27, 1943.
ESTABLISHED 1899
AlMed-Foixoj (mm
In Tunisia But Lose
On Diplomatic Front
"Terrific Fighting Reporte
. Allies Push.. On lew?*
Bi/erte anti Tunis
a*
Despite terrible opposition offered
by select German troops, Allied for
ces are steadily marching, slowly to
be sure, toward Tunis and Bizerte in
Northern Tunisia today. Terrific
fighting is in progress, and prelimi
nary reports indicate that losses are
heavy on both sidea. The four
groups—the Americar®, the British
First and Eighth Armies and the
Fighting French—are handling equal
and daring roles in tightening /the
noose around Rommel’s neck. Late
reports state that the Germans are
retreating before the Americans in
the north, that the British First
Army is threatening a breakthrough
on the central front, and that the
Fighting French are making progress
in their drive toward Pont Du Fahs,
not so many miles from Tunis.
The Americans are about ten
miles out of Mateur, a key junction
town just a few miles from 3izerte.
German resistance, anchored in the
hills, is gradually softening before
the onslaught in that sector. Allied
artillery is pounding the enemy po
sitions, one report stating that the
Germans were pounded with 15,000
shells from Allied artillery within
a short time during the week-end.
While the Allies are making prog
ress on the actual fighting fronts,
they have suffered what some de
scribe as a serious setback on the
diplomatic front. Russia has broken
relations with the exiled Polish gov
vernment, and it appears from here
that German propaganda is outdis
tancing Allied diplomacy. Swallow
ing Axis propaganda, hook, line,
sinker, boat and all, the Poles re
cently charged the Russians with
killing 10,000 Polish officers in the
Smolensk sector months ago, Rus
sia reported the murder of the Polish
officers by the Germans at the time,
but German propaganda now ap
parently succeeded in splitting two
of the United Nations. Similar
propaganda is being swallowed in
this county and throughout the en
tire world despite the fighting record
of Russian against a common enemy.
The break on the diplomatic front
is just so much more evidence sup
porting charges that diplomatic re
lations on the Allied side are heing
bungled. While Franco’s Blue Di
vision is in action against the Rus
sians on the Eastern Front, the Al
lies are coddling Franco on other
fronts and are still holding prisoner
those men who fought Hitler and
Mussolini and the Vichy crowd from
(Continued on page four)
County Colored Man
Is Fatally Injured In
Car Wreck Saturday
Robt, Lee, 24 Years Old, Dies
In Hospital Last Night
From Broken Neck
Saturated with liquor and wine,
Robert Lee, 24-year-old Bear Grass
colored man, drove to his death on
the old Bear Grass-Williamston
Road last Saturday afternoon. His
neck broken, the man died in the
local hospital last night at 11 o’
clock, the third person in the county
to lose his life in a highway motor
accident since the first of the year.
Said to have consumed a pint of
wine on top of a liberal supply of
liquor, Lee picked up a young fel
low named Rogers and started to
Williams ton. Driving an old model
car, Lee was literally flying when he
reached a small bridge In the road
near the Mobley Cemetery. He
struck the bridge with such force
that the car hood flew up and off.
From there to Farmer Mack Leg
gett’s home, he travelled all over
the road, darting first to one side
and then to the other. When in front
of the home, he mnde a last turn,
one so sharp that it caused the car
to turn over. The door flew open
and the man’s neck was caught be
tween it and the standard where he
was held until Mr. Leggett and
others could get the car off him.
“I begged him to slow down, to
let me out, but he continued the
wild ride,” Rogers, his companion,
was quoted as saying. “Just as we
were starting off, Lee wanted to
know how long another car had been
gone. I told him the boys were half
an hour ahead of us. ‘We’ll catch ’em
before they get to Williamston,’ he
told me, and ihe chase was on,”
Rogers added.
Lee was apparently so drunk it
was impossible to determine the ex
tent of his injuries at the time, but
Patrolman W. S. Hunt had him
brought to Dr. Early’s office here
in an ambulance. A few hours late!
the man had sobered up some, ans
wered questions and apparently was
not seriously hurt. A short time
thereafter he was removed to the
hospital where lie was treated for
a broken neck. Soon after he was
admitted to the hospital, doctors
Stated that the man did not have a
chance to recover, that it would be
a matter of only hours before the
end.
bounty Men .4 re Scattoro&i#
Nearly Every, Part of World
Martin County young men are be
over the world to
take part Tn the global war. It is
weii established that the county is
represented on every battle front in
ihe world, that one or more are in
nearly every country in the world
outside of Germany and a few of the
Balkan States. If there isn’t one in i
every state in the United States now i
there will be one or more when the |
distribution is completed within the j
next lew days.
Most of the boys leaving the coun
ty on April 13 for active service were
sent to Keesler Field. In that group
was Jimmie Watts. Another youth,
Orlander (Jack' Green was sent to
Florida, and or e or tw’o remained at
the induction station, possibly for
the duration.
A majority of the group leaving
the county on Tuesday of last week
for aciive symccj^^j^nt to Mis
sissippi, brt fourT^PSCi Paul ana'
Reginald Simpson, R. Edwin (Flip)
,P“e>® aisst SheJbon Hal1. shewed up
in Miami last Saturday 01 about the
time some ot their wives were dis
cussing plans to visit them at the
induction station on Sunday. Sever
al were still at Fort Bragg Sunday,
Franklin Bruce Whitley, former key
man in the Enterprise aggregation,
sending word from the Fort Sunday
that he had already gained sufficient
experience in housecleanmg and
kicthen work to make some man a
good “wife". A report coming from
the soldier following the first two
days he spent in camp stated that he
had done more work in that time
than in any two other days d iring
the past twenty years. It was pointed
out that he was not complaining, that
he was feeling the best, in his life and
getting along fine.
(tificeFS Are Checkins:
Alleged Law Violators
Indications Point To
The Use Of "Loose"
Gas Coupon Tickets
Some Are Being Asked to Ex
plain Liberal Mileage on
Limited Gas Rations
Representatives of the State Of
fice of the Office of Price Adminis
tration are in the county checking
alleged violations of the rules and
regulations covering the purchase
and use of gasoline. The two repre
sentatives could not be reached for
a direct statement, but according to
one report it is expected that formal
charges will be brought in due time
and that several cases will be dump
ed into the federal court hoppers.
Pointing out that trouble was
brewing in quite a few cases where
rations were issued for specified pur
poses and diverted for other uses,
a (member of the rationing board
said this week that a showdown
was to be expected soone or later.
The rationing rules now in effect,
will hardly support' tne volume of
traffic being reported on the roads
now, and it is likely that the users
will have to offer good reasons for
some of that traffic, the ration board
member explained.
As far as it could be learned, the
special representatives of the State
office are checking the use of “loose”
gas coupon tickets, Just how far the
investigations have progressed could
not be learned, but after recognizing
the full worth of rations in one or
two cases, the representatives are
said to have found thrt the alleged
violators traveled an extra thousand
miles or so in the course of a very
short time. It is also understood that
holders of limited rations are stretch
ing them as far as 3,000 miles, and
what the investigators want to
(Continued on page four)
-<*,
NO NEW ELECTORS
Williamston had a registration
period for the last three Satur
days for the town election to be
held next Tuesday, but not a sin
gle new name was added to the
books, Registrar John E. Pope
said yesterday. Next Saturday
was set aside for the challenge
of new electors, but since none
was added there’ll be little rea
son for the registrar to keep
open house that day.
There have been listless elec
tions here in years past, but the
one scheduled for next Tuesday
apparently will hardly attract
enough voters to give it the
proper legal standing.
Wm. Jesse Cherry
Passes at Home in
Williams Township
-*
Funeral for Respected Farm
er To Be Held at Holly
Springs Todav
-... ...
William Jesse Cherry, respected
farmer and citizen of Williams Town
ship, died at his home there Sunday
evening at 9:30 o’clock following a
long period of declining health. He
had been confined to his home for
some over two years, spending the I
iast seven weeks in bed. Death was
attributed to a complication of ail
ments.
The son of the late William An
drew and Louise Gurganus Cherry,
he was born near Williamston 65
years ago, the 27th of last Novem
ber. When a young man he was mar
ried to Miss Loletta Roberson, of
Williams Township. Two children,
Mrs. W. L. Manning and Mrs. Lillian
Long, both of Williams Township,
survive the union. Some time after
his first wife’s death in 1912, he was
married to Miss Bettie Young, of
Kinston. She died in 1915 and in 1919
he was married to Miss Della Hol
land, of Greenville. No children sur
vive those marriages. Besides his
two daughters and his last wife, Mr.
Cherry leaves one brother, Mr. N.
S. Cherry, and a sister, Mrs. Annie
Roberson, both of Williams Town
ship, and Mrs. Lyda B. Thompson, of
Robersonville.
Possessed of a quiet and unassum
ing character, Mr. Cherry was held
in high esteem by all who knew him.
He lived peaceably with his fellow
man and was valued as a friend and
neighbor. He was interested in the
welfare of his community, and serv
ed as a school committeeman • for
several terms as a member of the
old Sandy Ridge School before its
consolidation with the plant in Wil
liamston As a member of the Holly
Springs Methodist- Church, he was a
loyal supporter of its activities dur
ing the greater part of thirty-five
(Continued on page four)
NOTED SPEAKER
---
Dr. R. H. Crossfield, former
president of Transylvania Col
lege in Kentucky and a noted
lecturer, will deliver a public
address in the local grammar
school this evening at 8:30
o’clock. His topic will center
around the Orientals, principal
ly the Japanese. The speaker has
traveled extensively in the Far
East, and is qualified as a stu
dent of Japan, China and Rus
sia.
An added feature on the pro
gram will be the dedication of a
new stage curtain and equipment
ment to the memory of Mrs. W.
H. Harrell, a faithful teacher in
the schools for nearly a quar
ter of a century. Pupils and
1 teachers are responsible for the
marked improvement.
Victory Day Event Is
J J
Planned At Parmele
A Victory Day Institute will be
conducted at the school in Parmele
Thursday,' April 29th. The theme of
the occasin is “Working Together to
Win the War.” Among the many
subjects to be discussed are Victory
Gardens, poultry production, pig
raising, the dairy cow. the import
ance of a health program, the pro
gram of the church and the home,
cooperation of landlord and tenant,
adjusting our educational program
to meet present day needs.
There will be morning and after
noon sessions. Prominent speakers
WKo will appear on program during
both sessions are. Dr Meadows, pres
ident of E.C.T.C.; Mayor B. B. Suggs,
of Greenviiie; J. C. Manning, H. G.
Horton, Br. W. R. Burrell and Dr.
John W. Williams, Williamston; Mrs.
Vernon Ward, and Rev. J. M- Per
ry, Robersonville; R. E. Jones, State
Farm Demonstration agent; Miss
Jennie L. Douglas, State Health co
ordinator, Raleigh; Dr. J. T. Taylor,
Dean McLaughlin, of A. and T. Col
lege, Greensboro.
The public is invited to attend.
Two Escape Injury In
Truck Wreck Near Here
Faye Walker, of Memphis, Term.,
and JNfci S. Crandall, county man,
escapefl injury when a truck turned
over with them near the prisryi camp
on ths old Greenville Heed lete leet
Thursday afternoon. About $50 dam
age was done to the vehicle, Patrol
man Whit Saunders said after inves
tigating the accident.
The woman, driver of the truck,
was detained and formally charged
with operating a motor vehicle with
out a permit and with reckless and
drunken driving. Crandall was
charged wiih allowing her to drive
his truck without a permit.
WS- FARM
IN WARTIME
j (A weekly news digest from
5 the rafa! pr «wwnN»tirn-ct.f
itf)
Ration Reminder
G. soline—“A” book coupons No
5 good for three gallons each until
July 21.
Sugar—Coupon No. 12 good for 5
pounds, must last through May 31.
Coffee—Stamp No. 23 (1 lb.) good
from April 26 through May 30.
fuei Oil—Period coupons now
valid and will be until Sept. 30th.
Shoes—No. 17 stamp in War Ra
tion Book One good for one pair
through June 15.
Red Stamps—Red stamps lettered
“E” became valid April 25. Expira
tion date to be announced. Unused
A. B, C or D stamps good through
April 30.
Blue Stamps—D, E. F expire on
April 30. G, II, J, became valid April
24, and are good until May 31
War Ration Book No. 3
War Ration Book No. 3 will be dis
tributed through the mails to more
than 120,000,000 individuals begin
ning late in June and ending July
the OP A has announced. Mail
men will leave postcard application
forms at every home between May
20 and June 5. The postcard, proper
!y filled out by the head of the house
and mailed to OPA, will bring Ration
Book No 3. Prentiss M. Brown, Price
Administrator, emphasized that Book
No. 3 is a replacement book only,
containing a new supply of stamps
to take the place of those now being
used up. He said if any more ra
tioning programs were necessary
there would be official notices by
the government.
Poultry Price Violations
The Office of Price Administra
tion in North Carolina is starting an
intensive drive to wipe out. black
markets in poultry, and to end sales
at higher than ceiling prices.
Sweeping changes in poultry price
ceilings were recently announced
as part of the campaign to stop il
legal sales, with prices reduced from
one cent to 10 cents per pound on
expensive birds and raised one or
two cents per pound for cheaper
poultry Revised prices are expect
ed to effect substantial savings to
consumers.
Loans for Conserving Fuel
Virginia home owners who want
to convert their oil heating equip
ment to use other fuels or to install
inside insulation, weather-stripping,
storm doors, or storm windows may
get FIIA loans on a delayed pay
ment plan, initial payments on loans
made between April 20 and Septem
ber 1 may he deferred until Novem
ber 1, 1043, if the entire loan is used
for such work.
Live Hog Ceiling Threatened
State livestock producers and
packers were warned last week by
Chester C. Davis, food administrator,
that n ceiling would have to be cs
tablished on live hogs if prices did
not adjust themselves in line with
wholesale ceilings. He remarked,
however, that the recent course of
the hog market has been most satis
factory.
Afore Soya Foods
Edible soya products— the high
protein foods soon to have an im
portant place in both military and
civilian diets—are expected to reach
1 1-2 billion pounds annually. The
quantity available for civilians will
be many times as large as in the past
year. Soya products have already
played a significant wartime role.
Rich in valuable proteins, minerals
and vitamins, they are readily adapt
able to large scale use as a human
food to supplement meat, milk and
eggs.
Scrap Drive Lagging
In spite of the fine cooperation giv
en to the farm scrap drive by the
Virginia rural press, reports indi
cate that the farmers are failing to
get out all their scrap, which is so
vitally needed for the prosecution
of the war. Reports on the sinkings
of American ships show what an en
(Continued on page four)
i
Funeral For Mrs. Grimes
In Hamilton Saturday
-#
Funerai services for Mrs. Wrn. T.
Grimes, a native of Hamilton but
more recently a resident ef Albany,
Ga, were held in St. Marti., s Epis
copal Church, Hamilton, last Satur
day morning at 11 o'clock. Interment
was in the cemetery there.
The services were to have been
held Friday afternoon but late train
schedules made it necessary to alter
the original plans.
ROUNDUP
v.
J
With the high sheriff, patrol
men and local police cooperat
ing ,the law rounded up and jail
ed nine persons in the county
hoosegow here last week-end.
Two of the u«ne were hooked for
drunken driving, three for pub
lic drunkenness, one for larceny
and receiving ,one for murder,
one for non-support and one for
assaulting another with a deadly
weapon. It was Easter time, but
crime took no holiday.
Three of those arrested and
jailed were white, the ages of
the group ranging from *ii to
40 yean.
ofricti vi ties'
Observed Here During, Easter
A varied schedule- malna
marked the observance of Easter
'note. The period seeing"a ma'drscram
oie for v,eating apparel in the shops,
a mixture of religious worship, a
continuation of many business op
erations and a fling at pleasure.
Shop owners and employees last
Saturday were reminded of a Christ
mas eve. the shoppers crowding the
stores and clamoring for merchan
dise. Easter stocks, in many rasi-«
were depleted, and even though the
feminine finery was not as notice
able as in days past, no one was ill
clad, and a joyous day was joyfully
spent. Traffic started increasing late
Friday, and during the two days that'
followed the movement of cars ap
proached normalcy and set a ni/w
record for volume in war time, •'
The weather was ideal Sunday
and the day saw possibly the great
*g',v and cars of
the year. up on hard
ly a t»>'cd 100 worshippers at the sun
rise service in the cemetery, but the
ministers preached to large -congee
nations during the regular morning
hours. With tin several ministers of
the town participating, the service
in the cemetery was an impressive
one. The religious program for the
day was climaxed when Rev. B. T.
Hurley, Methodist minister, deliver
tK«,\ y«p. ^ rv-c • v ^ :' * T* 4,Y'
high school to a large congregation.
Declaring the future did not look
bright for the seniors .the minister
pointed out that an opportunity to
Ido good awaited them. He urged
them to have faith and courage.
Fishermen, coming from quite a
distance in some cases, were seen in
numbers on the river Sunday, and
[ others were seen going to routine
I jobs.
Forty-six Seniors Are
Graduating Thursday
_«■ ----
Graduating Class Is
Largest In History
Of the Local School
Closing Kvert To Bo Without
Feqfure Speaker for First
Time in Many Years
-■*>—
Forty-six seniors will receive their
diplomas at graduating exercises to
be held in the Williamston High
School auditorium Thursday eve
ning, April 29, at 8:30. Twenty boys
and twenty-seven girls comprise
what will be the laregst graduating
class in the history of the local
school.
The special commencement pro
gram will have a patriotic theme,
“America Marches On,” and will be
a student program entirely. Richard
Margolis and Bill Peele, valedictor
ian and salutatorian, respectively,
will be the principal speakers. It is
the first time in many years that no
outside speaker has been given a
part on the program. The streamlin
ed program is traceable to the war,
Principal Hix explained.
Awards to be presented during the
student program are the, W. C. Man
ning Valedictorian’s Cup; the Sar
ah Manning Home Economics Cup;
the Goodman Athletic Trophy; the
Civic Cup; the Kiwanis Debating
Medal, and the B. S. Courtney
Science Medal.
Joseph Wynne, chief marshal, will
lead the processional.
School days for the pupils of the
Williamston community will offi
cially end next Friday morning with
the distribution of report cards. The
local school will remain closed on
Thursday to give teachers ample
time to grade examination papers
and complete school records. Buses
will operate on Friday, and the school
will remain in session only a part
of the day.
(Continued on page four)
Firemen Shortage
In Local Company
—«. —
With its ranks decreased by one
fourth as a result of wai calls, the
local fire department is now facing
a serious manpower shortage. Urgent
invitations have been extended to
quite a few to join, hut so far only
three places have been filled, leav
ing the strength of the department
below normal.
W Clyde Griffin, John Cherry and
Henry Griffin were added to the de
partment personnel by a unanimous
vote at a meeting of the volunteer
group last evening.
Local firemen are paid $2 50 per
month if they attend all regular
meetings. If they miss the meetings
they are fined $1.00.
Slill expressing a desire to serve
the town to the best of their ability,
ihe firemen as a group last night
considered tendering their resigna
tions. The discussion was prompted
by recent criticism the firemen con
sidered unjust as far as they were
concerned. “It is a bad time to with
draw now, and we are willing to
stand by and do the best we can, but
any time some one is ready to re
lieve us we are ready to get out,"
one fireman volunteered, his words
expressing the sentiment of most if
not all of the group.
-<*,
Airplane Recognition
School For Observers
Regnining next. Tuesday evening
May 4th, at 8 o'clock, “Professor”
John D. Biggs will conduct a series
of classes in airplane recognition at
the Legion Hut on Watts Street.
The classes will be held each Tues
day and Friday evening during the
next three weeks. AH observers at
the local spotters’ post are urged to
make arrangements to attend the
' special school.
HIGH WATER
Fed by recent rains falling in
the upper Roanoke basin, the
river here is expected to reach
a crest at this point late tomor
row, Hugh Spruill, bridgekeep
er, stating that the stream would
flood its banks here by eight or
ten inches.
It is not certain, but the high
water will hamper fishing activ
ities in tile stream, and loggers
will be forced to suspend opera
tions for a few days, it was point
ed out.
County Boys In The
Service Find Time
To Write "Home”
“Sammy” Taylor Tells of
Unique Hardening System
'Mie>, Have iu Uolorudo
--
While there are worries, trial and
tribulations on the home front, the
folks back home have their real in
terest centered in the hundreds of
young Martin County men in the
I service. Letters from the “toys” are
always welcomed and are read with
interest.
Eli Marion “Sammy” Taylor and
Pfc. Onward L. Gardner, both in
distant states, found time a few days
ago to write to The Enterprise. Ser
geant Taylor told of a unique hard
ening system they have out at Camp
Hale, and his statement that he has
a $1,100 “Easter” outfit will, no
doubt, make members of the fairer
sex burn with envy
Sergeant Taylor writes from Camp
Hale, Colorado:
“Ttiis is the place where rugged
men are trained. Within the short
six or eight weeks of ski training and
mountain climbing, they make crack
mountaineers. The camp would like
to have volunteers join the ski troop
ers paradise. Why, Uncle Sam even
furnishes each troopei with $1,100
worth of the best clothing and equip
ment one ever put on. We could use
good, hardy men like Edwin E. Hold
ing, J. Paul Simpson, Reginald Simp
son, Bud Crockett, N. R. Manning,
Tom Barnhill, Rupert Cowan, J. O
Daniel, H. O. Peel, “Lindbergh”
Cherry, Cecil Bullock and others.
Why, in a short space of time we
could make them as sturdy and hard
as the rocky cliffs. It would be a
great pleasure to teach them the
ways and means of Army life and
see them toughening up so fast in a
short period of time that the Jap
bullets would glance off their backs.
Then some day we all could eat
Christmas dinner together. (What
Christmas?)."
Writing from Camp Van Dorn,
(Continued on page four)
r
MOSQUITOES
N
J
Relishing and thriving: on hu
man blood here last season,
mosquitoes are making: an early
return visit for more. The ad
vanced guard arrived some few
weeks ago, and Sunday they
were followed by swarms of
their brethren and sisters.
Their victims are already con
vinced that the bite is equally as
bad as it was a year ago. Batter
ed by the attacks last year, many
local people are wondering if
they will be able ot drag
iliiuu(li another peiiou when
their laziness is aggravated by
spring fever and malaria.
More than one is pleading for
a report on the mosquito con
trol program, telling how many
ditches have been cleaned out,
how many private lots and yards
have been cleaned up, and what
other steps have been taken to
protect the people from a dan
gerous plague.
Memory Of Hero
Vi ho Made Sacrifice
H<’ (*um* His Life . . Wliat
'«*<* ^ vilify** Is Show
^ indow Display Theme
Howard Hancock, writing in a re
cent issue of the Roanoke Rapids
Herald, tells how a firm in the Hali
fax County town dedicated a dis
play in its show window to the mem
orv of Rolnnr^Moorf' Mr*ri»r. rv-^y^
ty lad who mode the supreme sacri
fice for his country as a member of
the United States Marine Corps.
Devoid of any commercial theme,
the display urges the purchase of
more bonds. Young Moore was an
employer in the store before volun
teering his services.
Hancock writes:
“A nice window display—was fea
tured over the week-end by Mc
Crory’s 5 10-25c Store dedicated to
memory of Roland Moore, who
served as stockroom manager or tile
city store up to his entering the Ma
rines about a year ago, and who was
killed overseas sometime during the
month of March.
tiie window display advocated
the purchase of War Bonds in the
Government’s Second War Loan
Drive, and was very effective, with
clippings of the account of the death
of young Roland. A mound of earth
in the window indicated a miniature
grave, and inscribed on a placard
nearby was:
“lie gave his life . . What are you
giving?
“I believe Roland would be glad
if he knew that window display in
fluenced more people to buy war
bonds.
"I knew Roland pretty well dur
ing his brief stay of a year in our city
and he was a fine young man.
“The war comes closer home to us
when we read of such casualties. It
seems only yesterday that Roland
was bringing my little girl a toy, or
a piece of candy when we went in
McCrorys . . . and now' he is gone
... a mound of earth in a show win
dow reminding patrons of the store
where he worked that he died in the
service of his country . .
“Roland never needed a build-up,
for those who knew him instantly
recognized in him qualities not to be
found in the average youth of his
age. but had lie needed one he cer
tainly got it in a letter his dad, who
lives on a farm near Williamston, rc
ceived from Colonel James Roose
velt, son of the President, when he
said:
“ ‘Roland has been rny orderly and
triend ever since the formation of
the battalion. He bad exhibited a
high degree of devotion to duty, an
intelligent application of initiative
(Continued on page four)
Colored Farmer In
County Killed Mis
Young Wife Sunday
Sheppard Spruill Claim* the
Shooting Accidental, But
Delayed tailing Doctor
Sheppard Spruill, 50-year-old col
ored tenant farmer on the Mizelle
farm, near Palmyra, shot and fatal
ly injured his 21-year-old wife, Ka
therine, at their home last Sunday
noon. She died a few hours later
without medical attention being
summoned to her side.
Arrested by Sheriff C. B. Roebuck
at the home early Sunday evening,
Spruill maintained that the shooting
was accidental. He went on to ex
plain that he was shooting at a
snake, missed and that the entire load
of gun shot struck the woman in the
abdomen. Details could not be learn
ed, but it is believed he picked her
up and placed her on the bed where
she apparently bled to death in the
course of a few hours. Neighbors
went to the home that afternoon and
when told of the shooting they call
ed a doctor, but she died before
medical aid ranched her Called to
the home, Sheriff C. B. Roebuck
found the man sitting on the front
porch and the body untouched on the
Spruill and his wife were the on
ly ones at home during most of the
day. Neighbors heard and saw them
fighting early that morning, the
farm owners stating that he saw the
wife cnasing the husband with an
axe, that she threw the weapon at
him but the throw was wild. A short
time later, the husband was seen
whipping his wife with a stick.
About noon a gun shot was herad,
but little attention was given it. Oth
er neighbors visited the home later
and discovered the tragedy.
The couple had been married only
four or five months, and during that
'ime it was said they engaged in
fighting every Sunday almost with
out interruption. During the week
he was a hard worker, and the two
apparently got along all right. They
had moved to the Mizelle farm only
about two weeks ago.
Tlie murder is the first one report
ed in this county in quite some time.
Spruill will be given a preliminary
hearing before Mayor John L. Has
sell here Saturday morning of tins
week at 10 o’clock.