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PAY DAY
WAS
BOND DAT
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THE ENTERPRISE
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ov*# mi iST
FOR VICTORY
with
L UNITED STATES WAS
39NDS-STAMPS
VOLUME XLVI—NUMBER TO
W illiamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, September 3, 1943.
ESTABLISHED 1899
Tobacco Market Glut Follows
Stop Grading Until
Blocks Are Cleared
—*—
Sales on Local Market Well
Over Two Million Pounds
For Season To Date
m
A regular marketing jam has fol
lowed generally throughout the belt
following the sudden curtailment ot
selling hours, the situation, approach
ing a near desperate point, reflect
ing a critical labor shortage in the
redrying plants aa well as in the
warehouses and intermediary points.
The rush here late yesterday and
last night almost got out of hand de
spite pleadings of the market oper
ators who urged Ihe farmeis to use
discretion.
The buying companies, thinking at
the first of the season that a reduc
tion of one hour in the daily selling
schedule would solve the problem,
now are convinced that ihe curtail
ment is not sufficient. Receiving sta
tions and redrying plants are block
ed. and pressure is being forced from
the top all the way down the line,
and it is indeed clear that the farm
er has the only solution lo the prob
lem. While reports from some sec
tions state that grading is actually
being rushed, other reports state that
farmers are closing their grading
rooms and will try to alter their mar
keting schedules to fit in with the
pace the markets can maintain in
the face of serious labor shortages.
Unofficial reports state that some
markets have more tobacco on their
floors than can be sold before next
Tuesday. The Williamston market
had approximately 300,000 pounds on
its floors this morning, and li. is fair
ly certain that about one-third of the
amount will be carried over until
next Monday before it can be sold.
The sudden introduction of the
curtailed selling day caught many
farmers with graded tobacco on their
hands, and naturally they are anx
ious to get it marketed. Warehouse
men and buyers are doing every
thing in their power to help relievo
(Continued on page six)
Will Inspect Farm
Security Projects
Congressman Herbert Bonner,
representatives of the State and Re
gional Farm Security offices, coun
ty officials and others will make an
inspection tour of Farm Security
projects in this county tomorrow, it
was announced this week. While
the group is at liberty to choose its
own route of travel, the following
tentative schedule has been offered:
Lea-ire Wi;-ijanretwrr-at*S\'3& for -Hera-*
ard Hopkins’ in Williams Township,
thence to Clyde Williams’ near Wil
iiamston, thence to S. H. Roebuck’s
in Robersonville Township and to
Robersonville for lunch in the Ho
tel Wilson at 1:20. That afternoon
the party plans to go to Geo. Ayers’
and Mack Cherry’s in the Hassell
community, and on to the Oak City
Hamilton area, stopping at the Whit
aker farm, near Williamston on the
return trip.
The party will travel in about six
cars and plans to return to W'illiam
ston between 4 and 5 p. m.
-$
Infant Injured In Auto
* Av&dent Lust
Nina Paul, eleven-months-old
daughter of Seaman and Mrs. Jack
Edmondson, suffered a double skull
fracture and u concussion last Wed
nesday morning when the car in
which she was riding struck a tele
phone pole in Snow Hill. The child
was removed to a Kinston hospital
where her condition continues ser
ious, according to last reports reach
ing here.
The little girl and her aunt were
passengers in the car.
Exceeding the 3,000 mark, opening-day enrollment fig
ures in the ten white schools of this county were consider
ably higher than were expected. While school officials ar..
not very optimistic over the prospects for an increase as
the term progresses, they were well pleased with the first
day record. A total enrollment of 3,008—2,224 in the ele
mentary and 784 in the high school departments—was re
ported opening day. It is 130 short of the first day enroll
ment figure, a year ago. While eight of the ten schools re
ported a decrease in enrollment, a sizable portion of the loss
is centered in the figures coming from Jamesville where
the count was 49 points below the one of a year ago. Bear
Grass and Everetts actually had fairly sizable gains.
The tabulations below offer a comparison of the enroll
ment figures in the ten white schools, by departments for
the opening day on Wednesday of this week and the one a
1942
1943
Jamesville
Farm Life
Bear Grass
Williams ton
Everetts
Robersonville
Gold Point
Hassell
Hamilton
Oak Citv
Ele.
351
123
220
579
198
294
60
60
187
217
H. S. Total
97 448
69 192
61 281
204 783
198
249 543
169 386
60
60
187
Ele.
309
125
239
564
228
283
55
51
169
201
H. S. Total
90 399
64 189
66 305
185 749
150 351
228
229 512
55
51
169
2289 849 3138
2224 784 3008
More Martin County
Men Called By Army
BLACKOUT
The Williamston Air Raid
Warning district had its seventh
test blackout last Wednesday
evening when the multiple sig
nals were employed for the first
time. While the signals weire
possibly not well understood,
darkness held the district in its
grip with one or two exceptions
until the all-clear was given
about fifty-five minutes later.
According to the district war
den’s report, there was some mis
understanding of the signais in
Oak City, and the test was not
a complete success in Everetts.
Plymouth, Williamston, Colum
bia, tyindsor and several of the
smaller centers in the district
reported a successful test.
County Youn" Man
Wounded In Action
—•—
John Goodmon Getsinger, young
Martin County man and son of the
late Mr. and Mrs. John A. Getsinger,
of Dardens, was wounded in action
during the Mediterranean campaign,
supposedly in Sicily on or about July
11, according to unofficial informa
tion received here a short time ago.
Few details could be had, one re
pk.a L *U liUU .jUilt -• fU ei
foot wound and that possibly he
would be in the hospital for two
or more months. It is understood he
was a member of a tank corps.
A graduate of State College, Ral
eigh, First Lieutenant Getsinger vol
unteered for service soon after the
start of the war. Just prior to that
time he was employed as a chemi
cal engineer in Asheville. He mar
ried in western Carolina.
He is the ninth Martin County
man reported to have been wounded
in the war.
Nearly Half Of The
(iroup Reported for
Previous Inductions
—-#
Kiglit Marriwl Men, Two with
Children, Included in
Current Call
A fairly large group of Martin
County colored selectees left for an
Army induction station this week in
answer to Selective Service’s Sep
tember call for men. Finding its sup
ply of men about exhausted in the
1-A classifications, the draft board
reached into the 4-F group and pull
ed about sixteen men or nearly half
the number answering the current
month eaii. With the exception ol
eight married men, two of whom had
children, youths recently becoming
eighteen years of age constituted vir
tually the remainder of the group.
The draft isn’t taking bona-fide mar
ried men with children as yet, one
unofficial report stating that the two
included in the current call had left
or deserted their families and were
not contributing to their support.
Five or six hungry mouths were left
behind by one selectee, and with the
soldiers’ allotment act in effect those
mouths possibly will get more with
their papa in the Army.
istered for the draft as late as the
latter part of last May.
One farmer had lost for one rea
son or another his “C” classification
and he was included in the group
answering the current call.
Quite a few of the selectees'‘were
working in industry at various points
in the country and they chose to be
inducted there rather than make
the trip to the induction station from
their home county.
The names, registration address
and last addresses of the men an
Can 7 Find Owner of Tobacco
Believed To Have Been Stolen
Many, many times, officers admit
they have been unable to find goods
stolen from rightful owners, but few
times have they been unable to find
or even search for an owner of stol
en property. According to reports
coming from Sheriff C. B. Roebuck’s
office today, approximately 750
pounds of tobacco on a Roberson -
villa warehouse floor are literally
begging for an owner.
Last week, Paul Bullock, Tarboro
man, delivered the 750 pounds of to
bacco to ths market presumably for
Farmer Arthur Hale, Pitt County
farmer. Something raised suspicion,
and officers entered the case. They
learned that no tobacco had been
prepared for market on the Hale
farm at that time. It was later ad
mitted, according to the story, that
Hale had been asked by Bullock for
permission to sell the tobacco on his
(Hale’s) marketing card.
Bullock was seen near the ware
house later or about the time the lo
cal and county officers were work
ing on the case, and he has not been
seen since and no one has called at
the warehouse for the check. The to
bacco was of good quality and was
properly graded.
No report claiming a lot of tobacco
had been stolen has reached the sher
iff’s office, and the officers have
been unable to trace the ownership.
It is understood the money is being
held for the rightful owner.
The tobacco theft is the first re
ported in this county so far during
the current season, and one of few
| reported in the county during the
| past two or three years
on page #ixj
-^
Mysterious Plane
Flight Reported
—.•»—
A plane flight, described as a bit
mysterious and certainly unusual,
was reported in the Hamilton area
Wednesday afternoon. Only a few
scattering reports have been receiv
ed here, but it is fairly certain that
no plane crashed in that section that
day.
Maintaining the afternoon watch
in the new Hamilton observation
post that afternoon, Stanley Ayers,
Hamilton mechanic, heard the mo
tors of a plane cut off and then cut
back on. He hqprd them cut off a
second time but did not hear them
cut back on. He lost sight of the
plane by that time. Mr. Ayers sent
in a ‘ Red flash” message and with
in thirty minutes four planes were
said to have circled the area. Oth
er planes were heard in that area
later during the evening and night.
Red Cross Bandage
Room Scheduled to
Ryoiuni ye.vt u*>U
.■-/ P**f
account of the shortage of ma
terial* ihe Martin County Ked
Cross Chapter bandage room
will reopen in the quarters over
the Western Auto Store next
Monday night, the chapter chair
man announced today. The Sep
tember quota calls for the fold
ing of °,000 16x12 gauze ban
dages, and it was pointed out
that the production is urgently
needed, that delivery is want
ed as soon as possible.
A second and much largr r
quota is expected within the
next few days, and more volun
teers are asked to report to the
bandage room from time to time.
Mrs. John W. Williams will
open the room next Monday
night, and it is hoped other lead
ers will report according to their
old schedules. At the present
time the project has no chair
man .and it is quite possible that
the loom will be closed after the
current quotas are met unless
someone agrees to accept the
chairmanship. Any one who will
consider the assignment is di
rected to contact J. C. Manning,
county chapter chairman, at the
courthouse.
Successful Opening
Of County Schools Is
Reported This Week
-*
“Short” Sclinlnli-M Apparent
ly Working Well in Most
All the Districts
-&
Despite war, labor shortages and
uncertainties, the ten white and
twenty-three colored schools report
ed a successul opening in this coun
ty last Wednesday. Enrollment fig
ures were very encouraging for the
most part with only a few disturbing
situations in the county. Over-all en
rollment figures were 130 below
those reported a year ago, but even
then they were better than had been
predicted. The outlook is not very
bright, however, since attendance
figures yesterday and today started
tumbling in some of the schools. Ev
eretts, the school that is struggling
to regain a lost teacher, reported 22
absent this morning. However, the
attendance is higher than it was a
year ago.
It is fairly apparent, judging from
reports coming from various districts,
that the parents and other patrons
are ready and willing to make every
effort to keep their children in
school. Upon that attitude rests
largely any degree of success the
schools attain this term.
A book shortage was reported in
seven* 1 districts, unofficial reports
stating that the state distribution
follows a slow system, but that suf
ficient quantities of the text are to
be made available shortly
The comparison of school enroll i
merits for the current term and lie
previous one offers a fairly good pic
ture of the attendance trend for the
first days of the two terms, but it
should be remembered that there was
a drop last term from the preceding
one.
Incomplete reports heard here to
day indicated that the “short” sched
ule is working fairly well in all the
colored schools and in the eight
wiiite schools where the system has
been adopted. Williamslon and Farm
Life are maintaining a regular
schedule, but ibis week the local
plants operated until 1:10 because
'll f /I;?! •• I w
operation. Next week the school will
open at 8:30 here and adjourn for
the day at 3:10, and the lunch rooms
will function. However, a poll of the
rural patrons is being taken and if
there is sufficient demand for it, the
“short” schedule will be adopted
here. It is possible Farm Life will
maintain a regular schedule for the
present, at least.
All teachers were present for the
opening except two, arid those posi
tions will be filled within a few
days.
Bus operations are being advanc
fContinued on page six)
CHAMPION j
;
More evidence in support of
splendid prospects for a bump
er corn crop in this county was
offered by Farmer Jos. R. Harri
son yesterday when he plucked
an ear of corn at random from
his twenty acres and counted
an even 1,300 grains, his count
beating the previous record of
1240 grains reported by Farmer
C. B. Fagan, of Dardens.
Mr. Harrison, who lives not
far from Everctta, is really piuud
of his corn crop. Iaut year the
dry weather got his crop and he
hardly raised enough to furnish
his table with bread, but this
season the crop is the best he has
ever seen on his farm.
It’ll be corn bread and her
rings another year in this coun
ty—if the herring run in any
quantities at all.
County Is Asked To
Invest $918,000.00
For the War Effort
—<*>
11 iiarli G. Horton Appeal* To
Group for Support in All
Out Financial Task
Meeting in the county courthouse
here last Wednesday evening, Coun
ty Chairman D. V. Clayton, district
chairmen and other interested citi
zens, numbering about fifty, made
ready to launch one of the greatest
financial drives in the hi.stoiy of the
county. Starting next Thursday, the
group, aided by willing volunteers,
will go out and sell during the Third
Wat Loan DJTVi $‘JI6,00u.uinn unit
ed States Government bonds. The
district leaders while recognizing the
size of their task did not complain
and they did not say the task could
not be successfully handled.
Briefly addressing the meeting,
D. V. Clayton, county chairman, out
lined the mission to be handled. Mar
tin County was asked to raise $328,
000 in April More than $452,000 was
invested at that time, and “1 believe
we can subscribe and possibly over
subscribe the new quota.” Accord
ing to Mr. Clayton, the nation is be
ing asked to invest 15 billion dollars
in bonds during the Third War Loan
drive opening September 9th and
continuing through the 30th Of that
amount, North Carolina is being ask
ed to raise 145 million dollars. On
a quota basis, Martin County is
slightly below the average for the
State. “It is a huge task and it will
call for a direct house-to-house can
vass throughout the entire county,”
Mr Clayton said It means that on an
average, every man, woman and
child in the county must invest at
least $30.72 in bonds, a mighty small
sum when placed beside the sacrifices
made by some over 2,000 Martin
County men in the line of personal
duty.
Addressing the meeting, Attorney
Hugh G. Horton referred to the
drive as one of the most important
in the history of the county. While
he was pledged to secrecy, Mr. Hor
ton, making a trip to the Norfolk
Naval Operating Base last week-end,
said lie saw enough to know that
what we are asked to do and are
about to do light here m Martin
County during the War Loan Drive
(Continued on page six)
--<4n
Big Reduction In
County Taxpayers
Traceable mainly to the withdraw
al of young men for service in the
armed forces, a big reduction in the
number of taxpayers is noted this
year as compared with the listings
of January 1, 15)42. According to a
fairly complete comparison of the
lists for the two years, the number
of taxpayers in the county dwindled
during the past year from 7,587 to
0,959, a decrease of 528. It was be
lieved in some quarters that the re
duction would be even greater since
it is conservatively estimated that
more than 2,000 Martin County men
are in the service. Apparently the
number was drawn mostly from the
>:> up •'?
age, or else the draft got some the
tax books did not get.
A comparison in the number of
taxpayers for 1942 and 1943 follows,
by townships:
1943
Jamesville 780
Williams 321
Griffins 423
Bear Grass 428
WilHamston 1747
Cross Iioads 422
Robersonvil le 1203
Poplar Point 208
Hamilton 027
Goose i\ : - -l' 34""
^_ smi.74ar
-^
Few Cases Heard
1942
809
351
428
404
1910
451
1353
220
049
Bv Mayor Hassell
Whether it is the quiet before the
storm, Justice John L. Hassell would
not venture to say when he report
ed three lone cases called in his court
during the past several days.
While the world prays for peace,
the Mayor’s subjects are taking up
fighting on an increased scale. De
fendants in past months have sel
dum stood dunged with fighting, hut
during recent days three such cases
were heard by the justice.
Lossie Hagans and Hilda Mae Reed
were each taxed $6.50 as costs in
the case charging them with an af
fray. Oscar Whitley and Jeremiah
James, facing a similar charge, were
each fined $2.50 and taxed with the
costs. A simple assault cost “Swee
tie” Williams $6.
CHAIRMAN
The basic organization for ad
vancing a $9,500 war relief fund
drive in this county about the
middle of October was finally
and definitely formed this week
when Mr. N. C. Green accepted
the county chairmanship. De
spite his many and pressing du
ties, Mr. Green, recognizing the
value of the United War Relief
movement, willingly accepted
the big job and pledged his best
efforts in proving to the fight
ing men on the fronts and suf
fering humanity in Oreeee and
other distressed areas that Mar
tin County people are ready and
I willing to do their part on the
I home front.
-!- Mr. Green- will be assisted in
1 perfecting his organization by
Bill Spivey and J. C. Manning.
Plans will be laid for that ob
jective within the next week or
ten days, it was learned.
Mrs. C. T. Roberson
Passes In Hospital
Tuesday Afternoon
-1>
Funeral Services for Promi
nent County Citizen Are
Held Wednesday
Mrs. Allie Griffin Roberson, high
ly respected and well-known county
citizen, died in a Washington hospi
tal at 12:45 o’clock last Tuesday af
ternoon following an illness of two
weeks’ duration. Taken ill about two
weeks ago, Mrs. Roberson suffered
an attack of pneumonia and com
plications developed. A blood clot
was given as the immediate cause
of her death.
The daughter of the late William
J Griffin and wife, Mrs. Roberson
was born in the Fairview commun
ity of Williams Township on April
(>, 1H114. As a young woman and af
ter completing her education, she
started teaching school, and for al
most a quarter of a century worked
with the youth in the Hardison, Cor
ey and Lilley’s Hull school districts.
She endeared herself to those she
served, ever striving to better the
lot and welfare of the common man.
Her untiring work in those little
country schools has yielded a boun
tiful harvest, and her fine ideals and
Christian-like character live in the
actions of many today.
About 1912 she was married to
Charles T. Roberson who died in
1935. They made their home in the
Farm Life - community' of Griffins
j Township and six continued her un
f iring win k m the schools fvii a
number of years. She joined the
Primitive Baptist Church at Smith
wicks Creek more than a quarter of
a century ago and was faithful in
her attendance upon its services, en
joying the fellowship of a people she
loved and to whom she had endear
ed herself as a public servant.
For a number of years after re
tiring from the teaching professions
she and Mr. Roberson operated a
store on the site where she once
taught school. It soon became the
center of community activities, large
numbers of people gathering then
friendly atmosphere and exchange
the views and news of the day.
About a year following the death
of her husband, Mrs. Roberson mov
ed to Williamston and built a home
on Marshall Avenue. She was first
employed by the Williamston Hard
ware Company here, later going with
the Martin Supply Company as its
capable and efficient bookkeeper.
During her stay here she was ac
tive in civic affairs and was a val
(Continued on page six)
Quotas For Various
Districts Are Fixed
By County Chairman
Chairmen Name Their Assist
ants in Nine of the Eleven
County 0i»triets
Volunteering their services, be
tween 75 and 100 Martin citizens will
I carry the Third War Loan drive in
| to every home in the county begin
ning next Thursday. In behalf of
I these people who have to make a
living, too, it is pointed out here that
they are receiving no remuneration
and any and all expenses are borne
he them .ms 'ndmduMvr," They am
not begging for themselves or any
one else; they are merely trying to.
help finance the herculean task this
nation is forced to handle and to
help bring peace. Everyone is urged
to buy a bond, anil to remember not
to a:-u\ ttK k .i i . to call back
at such and such a time. Act for their
convenience.
Roberson vi lie and Williamston
have not announced their canvassers
as yet, in fact, some have been a bit
reluctant to enter into the task in
Williamston, but others are pledging
their services. The names of the
chairmen and canvassers in the nine
other districts are, as follows:
Jamesville: Chas. Davenport,
chairman: J P. Jordan, J. A. Gard
ner, O W. Hamilton, C. C. Fleming,
It. !.. Stallings, Geo. L. Cooper, Dav
id Holliday, H. L. Davis, Leo Gard
ner and Clarence Barber.
Williams; Joshua L, Coltrain,
chairman; C. L. Daniel, O. S Green,
W. J. Gainer, Mrs. Fannie Mvrt Har
dison.
Griffins: Geo. C. Griffin, chair
man; Mrs. J Eason Lilley, Mrs. Na
than E. Roberson, Oscar B Rober
son, Tommie Gaylord.
Bear Grass: T. O. Hickman, chair
men Mrs 11 U Peel, It. L, Perry,
(Continued on pagt six)
Big Truck Wrecked
IN ear River Bridge
V
-»-—
A big tractor-truck loaded with
13! eases of blue fish, trout and
croakers, was wrecked on the fill
near the Roanoke River bridge near
here yesterday morning at 2:18
o'clock. No one was hurt when a
spring shackle broke and the pow
erfui vehicle buckled and went to
the side of the road but not all the
way off the embankment. Damage
to the rolling equipment and cargo
was estimated right at $3,00(1 by Pa
trolman Whit Saunders who with
Corpora] W. S. Hunt handled traffic
until 1:00 o’clock yesterday after
noon while special wrecking equip
ment from Rocky Mount cleared the
wreck.
Traffic was blocked at intervals
during several hours.
The truck, owned by H. E. Hudg
ins, was being driven by Grayson
Edward Forrest, of Port Haywood,
Va. He was accompanied by J. H.
Owens, of Perry, Va The truck was
traveling from Cobbs Creek, Va.,
to Hampstead, below Camp Davis.
Minor ivcidvnt (hi The
Evereltniocd ine^"*'
No one was hurt and the damage
was estimated at hardly more than
$50 when two cars, one driven by
Alton Buck Raynor, of Plymouth,
and the other by Thurman Coolidge
Perry sideswiped each other on a
narrow bridge on the old Everetts
Williamston road late last Tuesday
afternoon.
A fender on the Raynor car was
i ipped off and the Perry car lost a
light.
Long A waited Second Front
Opened In Italy Early Today
The long awaited opening of a
second front against Hitler and his
hordes was reported this morning at
4:30 o’clock when General Mont
gomery’s Eighth Army, including
British and Canadian forces, stole
across the Messina Strait and landed
on Italy’s mainland. Only meager
reports came out of the area im
mediately following the drive, but it
was admitted that the defenders
were offering a stubborn opposition.
Allied puiutiuopeis have been
dropped behind German lines, and
a firm beachhead has been establi
shed by the invaders. German
spokesmen said that no Americans
took part, that the raid was only a
feint. They also declared that the
Americans now idle, are marking
time preparatory to a big drive
somewhere else. Few details of the
invasion are expected before to
morrow when the second official
communique is scheduled to be re
leased.
Observers were quick to look up
on the invasion as a matter of di
version, but they admitted that the
annexation of Italian airfields would
improve the Allied position and the
psychological effect would be great.
While the Eighth Army stole a
cross the narrow strip of water un
der the cover of darkness, Allied
airmen were closing a possible ave
nue of escape for the Germans in the
north by bombing and wrecking im
portant transportation routes lead
ing to the Brenner Pass. It is esti
mated that thirteen German divis
ions or about 200,00 men are now in
Italy to meet the invaders.
On the Eastern front, the Germans
(Continued on page six)