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THE ENTERPRISE
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VOLUME XLVII—NUMBER 24
Williamston, Marlin County, North Carolina, Friday, March 24, 1041.
ESTABLISHED 1899
Twenty-nine White
Men Accepted From
Countv For Service
Status of Four Men Uncertain
- —~ —W yf*wg,4ft£Kfiml ..
Audit Just Received
-®
Reporting for pre-induclion eyams
_ at an Army center on March lf'th,
twenty-seven Martin Countv white
men were accepted for general mil
itary service and two others were
passed for limited duty, according to
an official audit just received from
the center. Those men accepted have
at least 21 days from Wednesday of
this week before they are to report
for active duty. It may be that some
will not be called within ninety days,
but that is not at all likely. If they
are not called to report for induc
tion before the ninety days are out,
they will be subject to call any
time after that for another pre-in
duction test. At least two of the
group passing the pre-induction test
on March 10 have been deferred for
rV six months.
Fourteen men were accepted for
general service in the Army as fol
lows: Pete Ellic Cherry, Haywood
Woodrow Gardner, John Clayton
Davenport, Henry Stancill Manning,
Joseph Hilton Forbes, Earl Vincent
Tetterton, Phillip Otto Holloman,
Robert Leaverne Stallings, Thomas
Randolph White, Harry Jordan
Smith, William Thomas Brown, Ce
cil Clemons Ange, John Samuel
Rogerson and Vance Augustus Pow
ell.
Two were accepted by the Army
for limited service: Gorman Leslie
Parrisher, and Roy Zelior Braxton.
Thirteen were accepted by the
Navy: Joseph Adolphus Robertson,
Bernard Swain Harrison, Herman
« Richard Williams, Hiram Waller
Ford, Charlie Irvin Terry, Weldon
Jackson, Joseph Saunders Edwards,
Marion Cobb, Fenner Thomas Wal
lace, William Waddell Gurganus,
Floyd Edwin Bufflap, Durward Carl
Brown, William Galette Crawford.
The status of four of the men re
porting for the pre-induction test
has not been determined, the report
showing their records “incomplete.”
Their names are: William Herman
Everett, James William Riddick, Asa
James Manning, John Edward
Boone, Just when these cases will be
(Continued on page six)
I\’o One Injured In Minor
Car-Truck Accident Here
No one was hurt but considerable
^-\ property damage resulted when a
large transport truck driven by Wil
lie James Suthpin, 3210 Huntington
Ave., Newport News, and a car driv
en by Mrs. J. A. Eason sideswiped
each other at the Haughton and
Washington Street intersection early
lest Tuesday evening. The truck was
attached for damages but was later
released when bond was arranged.
Damage to the car was estimated
at $200 and repairs to the truck cost
$37.50, it was learned.
Candidate For House
Opens Political Front
State Ballot Likely
To Hold Spotlight
In Coming Primary
Terms of Fourteen County
And District Officers
Are Expiring
" '’Martin County’s political
but pushed into the background by
other events, showed its first sign
of life this week when Clarence W
Griffin, local attorney, announced
his candidacy to succeed himself in
the lower house of the North Caro
lina General Assembly. Th“ young
man’s candidacy is the first to be
announced for one of the fourteen
positions to be made vacant by term
expirations the latter part of this
year or early in 1945.
♦ possible political contests within the
county, attention for the present, at
least, is centered in the gubernator
ial and U. S. senatorial races, it will
be recalled that some of the offices
almost went begging for candidates
in this county two years ago, and
unless there is a marked increase in
political activity between now and
April 15 it is quite possible that there
will be more offices than there are
candidates to fill them.
The season is now open for the of
fices of: registey °f deeds, judge of
the county court, solicitor of the
county court, county commissioners,
county treasurer, county surveyor,
member of house of representatives
and state senator from this, the sec
ond senatorial district, and member
of the county board of education.
^ There has been some talk about
a contest for the county’s seat in the
legislature, but it has not reached a
head as yet, and all is quiet on oth
er sectors of the front as far as ccun
(Contlnued on page aix)
GETTING READY FOR THE BIG PUSH
DURING ALLIED TANK MANEUVERS In England, two of the world’* best
known soldiers take time out to examine s carbine Casting expert
eyes on the rapid-firer are Gen Dwight D Eisenhower, chief of Allied
forces for the invasion of western Europe, and Gen Bernard L. Mont
gomery. head of British ground forces for the big Job (International)
AWOL
■N
V.
Siding up to Sheriff C. B.
Roebuck right in the county’s
old hall of justice courtroom last
Monday, Pvt. Arthur Edmond
son voluntarily expressed his re
grets for having absented him
self from service some months
ago. He assured the officer that
it would not happen again. The
sheriff, after a fatherly fashion,
expressed his pleasure and en
couraged the boy in the line of
duty.
Yesterday, the officer receiv
ed a communication from the
authorities stating that the pri
vate had been AWOL since
March 14. “That boy certainly
was calm to have been AWOL
while he was talking to me," the
officer declared.
County Native Dies
In South Carolina
——
Roy Strawbridge, a native of this
county, died suddenly in Columbia,
South Carolina, last evening it 8:00
o’clock, Few details of his death
could be had here immediately.
He was born in this county, the
son of the late Adam Strawbridge
and wife. He married in this county
and moved to Soutli Carolina about
twenty years ago.
Funeral services had not been
completed early this afternoon, but
the body will be shipped here for
burial possibly tomorrow afternoon
or Sunday.
REAPPOINTED
v
Members of the Martin Coun
ty Board of Elections weie re
appointed for another term by
the State Board in session at Ral
eigh last week-end: Mr. Sylves
ter Peel of Griffins Township
who has served as ehairman of
the county board for fourteen
years, was reappointed along
gg£ith Mr. J. R. Winslow, Demo
crat of Robersonville, and Wade
Vick, Republican, also of Rob
ersonville.
The newly appointed board
will meet in this county during
the early part of next month to
set up election machinery for
the May 27th primary.
Draft Delinquent
- Is Arrested Here
—- •—
Said to have been delinquent with
his draft board back in Detroit, Har
old Frederick Grant, 35, was arrest
ed by local officers last Tuesday af
ternoon after roaming around the
country for about two years. His ar
rest followed a two-blow fight in
a local cafe, the man admitting to
officers that he was delinquent. The
case was turned over to the FBI here
a short time later, and Grant con
tinues in the county jail.
Said to have been drinking, the
man was sitting in the cafe when
■ Charlie Thomas walked up. The act
ual developments leading up to the
| fight could not be learned, one re
I port stating that Thomas, intoxicat
ed himself, struck Grant and that
' Grant retaliated with a damaging
i blow to the nose. Grant broke his
I thumb and several stitches were nec
[ essary to close Thomas’ wound,
i Grant, a roof werkej, Came here
| the evening before from Houston,
i Texas.
Forty-four Tires
Allotted in County
By Ration Board
—*—
Applications for Autos
Received Last Friday
Evening
Forty-foul tires—17 grade l’s for
cars and pick-up trucks, ten for
trucks and seventeen grade Ill’s —
were allotted !>v the Martin County
Rationing Board last Friday evening.
Applications for two cars were re
ceived, one from W. M. Scales Co.,
Robersonville, and one from Albert
S. Leggett. Action on the applica
tions is being delayed pending ap
proval by the State office. It was re
ported that an application previous
ly filed by Archie W. Griffin of Rob
erson vide for a car had been ap
proved.
Grade I tires and tubes for pick
up trucks and cars were issued to
the following:
N. C. Highway Patrol, Williams
ton, four tires and two tubes.
W. L. Brown, Jamesville, one tire
and one tube.
T. B. Brandon, Williamslon, one
lire.
Mrs. Effie G. Rogers, Williamston,
one tire and one tube.
Mrs. J. W. Peel, Everetts, one tire
and one tube.
R R. Thompson, Palmyra, one tire.
Kenneth H Roberson, RED 1, Rob
ersonville, one tir" and one tube.
Edgar 11. Harrell, Oak City, one
tire.
J. W. Perkins, Robersonville, one
tire.
L. L. Whitfield, Robersonville, one
tire and one 'ube.
G. A. Peel, RFD 2, Williamston,
one tire.
Roland C Bunting, Robersonville,
one tire.
H. H. Williams, Everetts, one tire
and one tube.
R. T. Chance, RFD 1, Bethel, one
lire and one tube.
Mrs. Ethel E. Leggett, Palmyra,
one tube.
Woolard Furniture Co., William
ston, one tube.
Roberson Slaughter House, Wil
liamston, one tube.
Truck tires and tubes were ration
ed as follows:
Martin County Board of Educa
tion, eight tires and three tubes.
Farmville-Woodward Lumber Co.,
Williamston, two tires and two tubes.
Grade 111 tires and tubes were is
sued vo the following'
(Continued on page six)
-«
Martin Lounty Man
Injured In Sicily
—s—
Pvt. Archie James, Martin County
colored man, was injured slightly in
Sicily Oil March 10, according to a
..telegraphic message received by his
Sj;.u-r, viola Peei, in Ouciuis Town
ship, late yesterday. No details were
offered by the adjutant general in
his message, but it did say that the
young man was injured in action.
A son of the late Kneezer and Jane
James of Jamesville Township, this
county, the soldier, about 27 years
old, was working in New York when
he was drafted almost two years ago.
He is one of the very few Martin
County colored servicemen to have
been reported injured or wounded
in the war to date, none having been
reported killed so far in the war.
-•
Jim Staton Is Exported
Home From Hospital Today
j After spending eight weeks in Dur
] ham and Washington hospitals, Mr.
J. G Staton is expected to return to
his home here today. Spending most
of the eight weeks right in bed, he
has been undergoing treatment for
rheumatism. He plans to leave as
soon as possible for Hot Springs for
further treatment.
IS. David Matthews
Died Last Evening
I Alter Short Illness
j Funeral Service* in Hamilton
i For Prominent Citizen
*BII,*^*TTTT??fWffnoon*"",*,—IB
Sunuu 1 David Matthews, promi
nent county citizen and one r.t' Ham
ilton’s oldest residents, died in the
local hospital last evening at 6:30
o’clock following a short illness. He
had been in feeble health for some
time, but through sheer determina
tion he continued unusually active
for one of his age up until last
Saturday. A victim of uremic pois
oning, he was taken critically ill that
morning about 11 o’clock' and when
he did not respond to treatment at
his home he was removed to the
hospital Wednesday. Mr. Matthews
underwent hospital treatment about
two years ago and his condition was
much improved at that time, but
when he suffered the relapse last
week he lost and never regained
consciousness and little hope was
held for his recovery.
The son of the late Dillard and
Emily Johnson Matthews, he was
born September 9, 1857 not so far
from Hamilton where he located with
his parents when a youth. Just be
fore his marriage to Miss Minnie
Ransom 62 years ago the 23rd of last
October, hi' designed and construct
ed a home and had lived there since
that time. Following his early life
on the farm, Mr. Matthews studied
architecture and was one of the first
blueprint building contractors in this
section. His main interest, however,
was in apiaries and for many years
he was recognized as a leading au
thority in the industry. He made a
minute study of the honey bee and
its habits, and no doubt, it was part
ly through his efforts that the Roa
noke River basin in this territory
became widely known as one of the
most ideal honey-producing areas in
the country.. He maintained large
apiaries ,and his products won covet
ed awards at world fairs held in
Jamestown, St. Louis, Chicago and
New York. He enjoyed a thriving
business for many years, but more
recently he confined his activities to
construction work, but virtually re
tired about five years ago to enjoy
(Continued on page six)
$7,242.61 Is Deported
In Red Cross Drive
In Chapter To Date
Cuinpuifgu in Support of War
Fund 1m Nearly Complete
111 Most liistriets
-i
The Martin County Chapter of the
American Red Cross had up until
late yesterday raised $7,242.61 for the
organization’s 1944 war fund, ac
cording to a report released by Fund
Chairman V. J. Spivey, who still be
lieved that total will approximate
$7,700 when the colored citizens
complete their canvass and a few
other scattered reports are included.
The diive, except among the color
ed population in the five townships,
is virtually complete, (lie chairman
said. One canvasser in Jamesville
Township declared that the roads
were impassable in her district, that
the canvass would be completed just
as soon as possible. Williams has not
yet made a complete report, and one
or two contributions in Williarns
ton are yet to be received, it was
stated. Bear Grass and Griffins have
completed the canvass and they are
safely over the top. Several colored
district chairmen have reported and
their reports were very encouraging
and indicated that the $800 quota
would be raised.
The results of the canvass is sum
marized by dish ids, as foil-iwr Vv;-.
liamston, $5,122.73; Bear Grass,
$533.85; Griffins, $542.35; Jamesville,
$692.70; Williams, $118.00; Colored
citizens, $232.98.
Contributions made in Williams
ton and not previously acknowledg
ed, follow:
Dr. and Mrs. J. F. Thigpen, $5; Mr.
and Mrs. LeRoy Perry, $1; Lindsley
Ice Co., $35; Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Ross,
$2; R. C. Davis Mule Co., $5; Margar
et Muse, $2; Mrs. Abner Brown,
$2.50; Mrs. J. II. Saunders, $!: Mrs.
V- < . AiJVoUi.a, ti, Mrs. W. O. White,-;
$1, Dr. W. R. Burrell, $i0; John W.
Manning, $5; John Peel, $5; Milton
(Continued on page six)
-*
Mrs. Katie Mayo
Dies In Pitt County
——«—
Mrs. Katie Mayo died at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. L. R. Mills,
Greenville, RFD 2, last Tuesday. Mrs.
Mayo, 84 years old, was one of Pitt
County's most prominent citizens
and was very active, despite her age,
until a few days prior to her death.
She is survived by two sons, C.
A. and Jplinny Mayo, of Grimesland;
five daughters, Mrs. W. L. Lee, of
Williamston; Mrs. Sam Ezelle, of
Newport News; Mrs. W. E. Berry,
Aurora; Mrs. Levi McGowan, of
Robersonville, and Mrs. L. R. Mills,
of Pitt County.
Interment was in the Cherry Hill
cemetery, Greenville, Wednesday.
Three Small Children Lose Their
Lives In Shack Fire On East Main
Street Here Early This Morning
Local Draft Board
Handles Forty-one
Deferment Appeals
Gillie (Consideration Possible
For Registrants in 1R
25 Age Group
»
Meeting in special session last
Tuesday night, the Martin County
Draft Board handled forty-one de
ferment appeals or claims. Acting in
accordance with recent instructions,
the meeting found it out of the ques
tion to give much consideration to
those claims coming from single men
and non-fathers in the lti 25 age
group.
The session was possibly the most
serious ever held by the board, for
in some cases the draft officials saw
the stark possibility of severe hard
ships and costly sacrifices for some
families. There is little doubt but
what some farming activities will
be suspended as a result of recent Se
lective Service rulings. In one or two
cases handled this week, deferments
were granted but for short periods
only when the facts supported
claims almost involving life and
death. The board members have rec
ognized all along the seriousness of
the draft situation, but the recent
rulings, it is quite apparent, are
causing more serious concern than
at any previous time.
In handling the cases before them
this week, the board members ad
hered to the essential and critical
lists of occupations for registrants
over 25 years of age, and followed
recent instructions in handling cases
of those registrants IK to 25, inclu
sive. Replacement schedules were
not touched, but it is likely that in
structions will be clarified at a
meeting of the authorities in Wash
ington next Wednesday, It is fair
ly apparent that no inductions in this
section maintaining replacement
schedules are included in the vital
list mentioned by the President a few
days ago, and indications are that
men between 18 and 25 years, inclu
sive, and deferred under replace
ment schedules, will be made sub
ject to call.
The following cases were handled:
Phillip Otto Holloman, w, William
ston, 1-A
Joseph Hilton Forbes, w, William
ston, 2-A, deferred six months
Joseph Adolphus Robertson, w,
Williamston, 2-A, deferred six
months.
Walter Woodrow Tyson, w, Oak
City, 2 A, deferred six months.
Murray Climmons Liverman, w,
Oak City, 1-A.
Whitney Everett Saunders, w, Wii
liamston, 2-A, deferred six months.
David Daniel Stalls, w, Williams
ton, 2 A, deferred six months.
Winston Elwood Holliday, w,
Jamesville, 1-A
Joseph Alfred Hardison, w, RED 1,
Jamesville, 1-A.
Daniel Wallace Fleming, vv, James
ville and Newport News, 2-A, defer
red six months.
Henry Lee Hardison, w, RFD 1,
Williamston, 2-A, deferred six
months.
David Jasper Langley, w, Ruber
sonville, 2-A, deferred six months.
John Thomas Williams, w, RFD 2,
Williamston, 1-A
Joseph Elton Andrews, w, William
ston, 2-A, deferred six months.
Andrew Jackson Osteen, w, Wil
liamston, 2-A, deferred six months.
James Lawson Spencer, w, Wil
liamston and Poitsmouth, referred
isrwssflif -
(Continued on page six)
-•
Consolidate Two
Warehouses Here
—«—
Forming a new partnership this
week, Messrs. Leman Barnhill, Jim
my Taylor and S. Claude Griffin con
solidated the opei ation of the Roan
oke-Dixie and Farmers tobacco
rehouses for the coining season
Under the old plan, each of the two
houses handled a sale only every
four days, making d difficult for the
individual group of operators to
meet their fixed charges during the
curtailed selling day and short mar
keting season.
The combined partnership will
make it possible for the operators to
better cope with the labor shortage
and at the same time afford their
patrons a better service.
■Mi
W oman Escapee Returned
To Institution in Ralei((h
-«——
Escaping from the State Hospi
tal, Raleigh, last Thursday, Mrs.
Lucy Whitehurst, former resident of
this county, was arrested by Corpor
al W. S. Hunt of the N. C. Highway
Patrol m Robcrsonvilie Tuesday af
ternoon. She was returned to the
institution that evening. Two other
women inmates, making their escape
with the Whitehurst woman, have
been recaptured, also
MISS1M
St. Sgt. Henry Wesley Allen,
Jr., son of Mrs. Kettle GTay
Jackson of near Jamesville, was
reported missing in a raid over
Germany on the fifth of last
January.
Plan Inspection Of
Pressure Canners
-«
Plans have been completed for a
pressure canner clinic to be held in
the Home Demonstration Agent’s
laboratory in the Agricultural Build
ing, Williamslon, on Tuesday, April
4th. The purpose of the clinic is to
check on pressure canner gauges to
see il they are accurate and to clean
and test all petcocks.
Miss Mildred Pigg and Miss Ida
Huberts announce that all canners to
be checked must be in the home
agent s oil ice not later than Monday,
April 3, 1944, at 5 p. m. We urge the
homemakers who own pressure can
ners to have them in for checking by
this time.
un Wednesday the manners will be
checked hy engineers from the Ex
tension Department of State College.
This will he the only opportunity for
this work to be done free for the
duration. Many runners in use in the
county are in need of repair.
All women who enter canners in
the clinic are urged to be present for
a demonstration on the rare and op
eration of a runner. This demonstra
tion will be given by Miss I’igg, home
agent, at ,'1:30 p. m., Thursday, April
6th. After the demonstration each
owner may take her runner home
with her.
Making Plans For Fat
Livestock Show Here
(iKITIN’ GOOD
(
General behavior of people in
this section is almost beyond re
proach, at least it is as far as
court and jail records are con
cerned.
According to a review of the
jail record, only one person was
arrested and jaiied during the
past few days, and only one case
Justice V I,, lias
^selTii^ms court this week. Ed
die Watson Brown, charged with
allowing stock to run at large,
was sentenced to the roads for
thirty days. The sentence was
suspended upon the payment of
$5.50 costs and hy assuring the
court he would keep his stock
penned.
Series Of Easter
Serviicrrl^aiiiied
In a tail meeting of the Williams
ton Ministerial Association Wednes
day morning plans were about com
pleted for the services that will be
held during the week of April 3-9.
Services will be held each morning
at the Watts Theater at 10:30. Some
event in the life of our Lord will be
the subject discussed by a represen
tative woman from each church. At
8:00 each evening services will be
held in one of the churches with the
pastor of another local church doing
the preaching. On Thursday evening
a Union Communion Service will be
held.
Merchants of the city will be ap
proached about cooperating with the
services during Passion Week, by
working a skeleton force and per
mitting every possible person to at
tend.
The Union Sunrise Service will be
held in Woodlawn Cemetery on
Easter morning. April 9.th
• -9
Mother Was Visiting
In Neighbor s Home
When Fire Started
— <s>
Crowded Quarters in Hovel
Made Humble Home Fire
And Death Trap
Three,' colored children, ten months,
two and three years old. lost their
lives when their humble lumber
camp home burned on Williamston’s
East Main Street at 9 o’clock this
morning. Two of the little charred
bodies were found on the bed and a
third was found in a corner, a few
feet away. Apparently the fire spread
so rapidly that the two on the bed
never woke up in time to move. The
baby was sleeping in a crib in a
corner, just a few feet away. All
three of the bodies were burned be
yond recognition.
me mother, hdith Daniel, said
she built a fire in the heater, that
a pile of wood was near the heater
and that it is possible the wood
caught file and fired the little two
room hovel After building the fire,
she went to the hut of a neighbor,
leaving the door unfastened. In less
titan five minutes fire was burning
through the door and it was impos
sible for one to enter No screams
from the children were heard, and
it is believed that they were over
come so quickly they never realized
what was happening.
The inside of the hut was charred,
but the frame structure was saved,
firemen stating that the children
had possibly been burned to death
before the alarm was sounded. Part
of the mattress was left along with
a few broken pieces of furniture.
Coroner S U. Iliggs, investigating
the tragedy, announced there was
no evidence of foul play and that no
inquest would be held. While no
blame for the death of the three lit
tle tots was fixed, carelessness and
(Continued on page six)
--si
Plunges Into Peiuler
Si vatu ft Last Tuesday
Losing control of his cur, a 1941
Plymouth, Norwood Lee Alcockc,
owner of the Rocky Mount Textile
Co., plunged into several feet of wa
ter in Pender Swamp between Rob
ersonville and Spring Green last
Tuesday afternoon. The man was
thrown into the water almost to
his shoulders, and while he came out
unhutt it is believed he would have
been drowned had the water been
as high its it was the day before. Very
little damage was done to his car.
Civic Organizations
And Farm Bureau to
Sponsor First Show
—•—
Splt-mliil Opportunity ill This
Section To Itnilil Up
Hig Show
-»
Meeting with Assistant ""effunty
Agent L. L. McLendon here this
week, representatives of ttie various
civic organizations in the county
formulated plans for holding Mar
tin County’s first independent fat
livestock show in Williamston on
April 27. The outlook is bright for
a successful show," Agent McLen
don said following the meeting.
Sponsored by the civic organiza
tions and Farm Bureau the show will
not be held for profit and will stand
pointing out^SiSrtrthSufa afford a
splendid opportunity to promote
livestock raising and that it could be
developed into a big thing for this
section The show is the only one to
be established east of Rocky Mount.
Talking with interested parties
some time ago, Mr. McLendon was
convinced that such a show would at
tract much attention, that the 199
4-H club boys, Future Farmers of
America, general farmers and even
the 250 4-H club girls are much in
terested in the project. Just now
| there are very few calf clubs in this
I county, but it is believed that the
I show will stimulate interest and that
farm youths and farmers, in gener
al, will give livestock raising more
time and thought.
The show, according to present
plans, will offer prizes for fat beef
! '•attle and hogs this year, but quite
a few farmers have agreed to enter
other stock, including cows, bulls,
milk goats and home-raised colts. It
(Continued on page six)