OVER THE TOP FOR VICTORY UNITED STATES WAR 80NDS-STAMPS THE ENTERPRISE TAT BAY WAS BOND DAT ■un mum VOLUME XLVII—NUMBER 26 Williamston. Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, March 'H, I*) II. ESTABLISHED 1899 Court Clears Fifty F romJOiK^ During Recent Term -4*-— Seven Divorces Are Granted; "*■ ■■ TLlWy»HIWl.'Aef?»g--« Handled This Week ♦ . Although it was in session hard ly three and one-half days during a scheduled two-weeks' term, the Mar- j tin County Superior Court clear ed ten criminal cases from the dock et on Monday of last week and han dled thirty civil actions from Mon day up until shortly before noon on Wednesday of this week. At that time, the court under the direction of Judge C. E. Thompson of Eliza beth City, folded its tent to make way for Judge J. Calvin Smith and his court next Monday. The civil cases attracted very lit tle attention this week, but two story tellers on the jury were said to have ! kept their fellowmen smiling and the barristers awake. Seven divorces, ali based on two | years of separation, were granted, most of them going to colored plain tiffs. Proceedings not previously re ported follow: Divorces were granted to: William Lawrence Tyner against Emma Eliza Tyner; Mabel Lee Spel- j ler against William C. Speller; C. S. j Vanlandingham against Emily D. Vanlandingham; Mary Douglas' against Fred Douglas; Madelle Belle Cooke against Johnnie Cooke; Wil lie Williams against Odelle Ryan Williams. A survey was ordered in the case of William Little against William Riddick involving a boundary line dispute. In the case of Selma Fleming against L. B. Fleming, the court con- j firmed the report filed by the com- i mission for partitioning certain prop erty. A survey of certain property was ordered in the case brought by Noah Roberson against Joe Johnson. In the case brought by Fannie M. Peel, guardian of Sallie Jane Leg gett, against Stanley Ayers and oth ers, a settlement was reached by i agreement, the plaintiff to receive $150 and the defendant to pay the cost. A judgment in the sum of $172.87 , plus interest from March 28, 1944, j was awarded Lennie Manning in her case to recover damages done to her automobile by the defendant, J. C. Ruffin, Jr. Clarence Williams was awarded a judgment in the sum of $103.00 in his case against P. T. Edmondson. James Gray recovered nothing and was taxed with the cost in his case against C. C. Fleming. The case of Joseph Keys against Robert Boston was settled by agree ment, the plaintiff recovering $65. The defendant was taxed with the costs. An agreement was also reached in the case of Howard Hoard and his next friend, Clarence Griffin, against J. H. Chesson, the plaintiff recover ing $89.52. In tlie case of Hattie Ruffin against (Continued on page six) Record Rainfall Is Reported -■Here Dmm&Month of March The 6. <3 incnes of rain failing in this area during the month of March _aro helyrvc-d, ♦» W' estiOplis)^^ record, or. at least, the foil was tne greatest for any March since 1930 when the first recordings were offi cially kept. The rains were so num erous — eighteen, including two traces — and the precipitation so great that all talk of dry spelts bog ged down in the soggy soil and over flowing wells, swamps and streams. Earlier, it was reported by at least one farmer, the wells were actually overflowing the curbing one or two inches above th’ ground. The largest fall, 2.07 inches, was recorded on March 19th. There were some pretty days and the weather was ideal at times, but since Mr. Groundhog predicted bad weather back in February, rain fell on 32 of the forty-nine days. The wet weather has just about blocked fishing operations on the Roanoke and interrupted the farm ing schedule in this entire section. the 14th of March, is almost c tain to remain at or neat that level for another week or ten days. A ’ 'te re port states that the stream will reach 31 feet in Weldor- tomorrow, but that is not expected to materially affect the river at this point. Ordinarily, seine fishing is well underway at Jamesville at this time of the year, hut it will possibly be another week before operations are started. Hardly more than one-third and certainly not more than half the Irish potato crop has been planted in this area, and according to some reports many of the seed planted back in February have rotted in the ground. A few farmers have plowed the high spots, but the farm work is considerably behind sched ule. CANNERS 1 Preparing for another pre serving season, quite a few housewives have delivered their pressure cookers to the home agent's office here to be check ed and repaired by a represen tative of the manufacturers. Al ready one has been found where the pressure gauge had been im properly handled, making use of the cooker dangerous. The mechanic or engineer will be here next Tuesday, hut the canners must be delivered to the home agent’s office not later than 5 o’clock next Monday. No charge will be made for inspect ing the cookers and making mi nor repairs. On Thursday of next week, a demonstration in the proper care and use of the cookers will be given by the home agent. Jamesville Scouts Sell War Bonds —*..— During the Fourtli War Loan Drive, the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 127, Jamesville, did their bit for the war effort by selling bonds. The troop sponsored a contest be tween the two patrols with the Owl Patrol selling $5,8i2.50 worth of Series E and F bonds and the Bat Patrol selling $4,637 50 worth for a total of $10,450.00 worth for the troop. This sum was over half of the $20,000 quota allotted the township. Giles Stallings, with sales of $2175, took individual sales honors. This was the second drive that the Scouts had participated in, having sold $4, 000 worth in the third drive. The troop now boasts three patrols (and thirty-two members. Founda ■ tions, sills and sleepers have been laid for a 20x40 foot cabin which is , being built on Gardner’s Creek. — 1 Reported. More Men Report For Pre - Induction Exams « ■ ■ ♦ Men Leaving (bounty | This Morning Come From Single Group -- 4bmB ■ f w Colored Men Will Be Answered Soon -* More Martin County colored men left the county this morning for their prc-)induction examinations at a serivce center, and unofficial re ports state that a considerably larg er number will be called to report for the preliminary tests during the early part of April. The group leaving today was a comparatively small one including ten men who ad to this county from other boards for the initial physical examinations. Many of the group are believed to have been examined previously and are being called from the 4-F group. Possibly twenty of the men held a 4-F classification up until re cently, indicating that the services are searching the 4-F roster for man power or that the causes supporting the 4-F classifications have been remedied. j As far as it could be learned all the men are single, and only one was ruled non-essential to the farm program. Very few of the men are in their teens, the ages of the others ranging from around 22 to 37 years of pgi, seven of them being over thirty. The names of the men, and them addresses follow: Theodore Watson, Washington, D. C., and Williamston; transferred from Washington, D. C. William Edward Johnson, Wil (Continued on page »tf) PLEADINGS The proposed plan to draft all single men and non-fathers be tween 18 and 25 years of age, has brought forth a flood of ap peals in this county. At first, the draft authorities ■» Wheeler Martin, appeal agent for the draft board, explained that little or nothing could be done to have farmer deferments continued. Now, other changes are being proposed, and the of ficials are not certain what will be the course of the draft. They are merely advising the appel lants to wait developments. Vocational Groups To Promote Etfrifiil -s On April 6th, the WUliamston Col ored High School Home Economics and Vocational Agriculture Depart ments will exhibit a feature of the work completed for the Spring quar ter. In the afternoon at 2:30 p m., a short program will be given in the school auditorium by students of the departments. Following the program the exhibit which will be on display in the Home Economics Department, may be seen. The exhibit will consist of: Arti cles from the Clothing Construction I Classes, articles from the Horne ' Nursing Class, articles from the | Home Improvement Classes, Handi craft, Woodwork, Garden Plans, ex hibit of Canned Foods from Agricul ture and Home Economic F.P.W.T. Program. The public is invited to witness both the program and exhibit. I IRAF Loses Nearly Hundred Planes in Last Night’s Raid —*— j Turning I’oint Expected in The Italkun* As Kussians Plunge Forward Attacking the important industrial city of Nuremberg, the British Air Force suffered its heaviest single loss of the war last night when ninety-six of it;; planes were knock ed down over Germany. Few de tails of the raid could be had im mediately, but one report stated that fighter opposition was fierce, and the flak was ttiick. Apparently the attack was carried out by a near record or record number of bomb bers, but the effectiveness of the attack was not immediately reveal ed. Today, the American Air Force picked up where the British left oil' last night and are pounding im portant targets in Germany and con tinued attention is being given the French invasion coast. That the wave of air attacks is continuing to sweep Hitler’s "bomb proof” fortress, is evidenced in re ports released last night. Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, was bombed. Air fields in Holland and Germany were attacked. Rail yards near Paris, and an airplane engine plant at Lyons, France, were damaged, and Kiel, the German Baptic port, was heavily hit. No late news has come from Italy where the Allies admittedly lost ground at Cassino but are believed to be making preparations for a push in the Anzio beachhead. In the meantime, the great Russian of fensive continues to roll forward. Battering down the barriers of Hitler's cringing satellite states, the Red Army yesterday seized Czer nowitz, German fortress that had guarded the path to Rumania and Hungary, and climbed up the Prut River banks into the Carpathian Mountains to a point only fifteen miles from the Hungarian-held corner of Czechoslovakia. After storming Czernowilz and smashing its large German garrison, the Russians raced on through Storozhints, eleven miles to the southwest. No move beyond the 1SI41 bovlet borders was reported, although So viet troops remained poised along the I’rut where it forms the Ruman ian frontier southeast of Czernowitz, and broadened their gi ip on the north bank. Enhancing a plainly-implied bid to Hungary and Rumania to turn against Hitler or be invaded, the light communique told of surrenders by units of bo'li coun tries’ troops and the rout of others. In the Pacific an American task force attacked Palau Island at the extreme western end of the Caroline group, and Truk has been dealt an other blow, the two operations fea turing the* latest developments in the Pacific war. The Jap threat to cut Allied sup ply lines and the drive toward Manipur in India have met with reverses, and the situation there is ! slightly improved for the Allies. About '00 Japs, maneuvering to free 1,000 of their men Mapped ui't the Mogaung Valley, were killed without the loss ol u single Allied soldier. On the diplomatic front, the re ports from Italy are not encouraging. The economic situation there is bad —so bad that the people of Naples say that they were better off under the Nazis than they are under the Allied Military Government. Under the Nazis, the food allotment was ampie, and the quality good. Under AMG, a family of five does not get enough food to feed thbee persons. And the argument over who will or wdl not recognize continues. Many were disturbed because Russia recognized Badoglio, while if Rus sia had not recognized him, many would have said he was planning to spread communism in Italy. Our present policy in Italy can invite most any ism, some believe. And on the home front, Martin Dies and Walter Winchell are busy smearing, while Chas. Chaplain exemplifies the moral drift. J Fifty-two Tires Are plotted in Cmintv Rv Rationing Hoard . —— Application for Second-hand Approved -* The Martin County War Price and Rationing Board last Friday eve ning allotted fifty-throe tires—nine teen ("trade I's, twenty-eight Grade .Ill's and six for trucks—to vehicle owners and operators. An applica tion filed by Edward S. Dixon far the purchase of a 1912 used car was ap proved. Grade I tires for cars and pick-up trucks were issued to the following: Elmer R. Edmondson. RFD 1, Bethel, one tire and one tube. N T. Tice. RFD 1, Williamston, one tire. II. B Griffin, RFD 1 Williamston, one tire. VR. D. Purvis, RFD 1, Bethel, one tiro. Arthur Revels, RFD 1, Williams ton, one tire. Eva P. Jones, Parmele, one tire. Vernon Davis, Jamesville, one tire. George M. Peel, Williamston, two tires and one tube. D. Andrew Griffin, RFD 1, Wil liamston, one tire and one tube. Claudius Hardison, RFD 1, Wil liamston, one tire and one tube. Clelle Moore, Robersonville, one tire and one tube. J. C. Martin, Williamston, three tires. H. L. Roebuck, Robersonville, two tiros and one tube. J. R. Coltrain, RFD 1, Williamston, one tire. W. B. Harrington, RFD 1, William ston, one tire and one tube. Truck tires and tubes were ration ed as follows: Williamston Hardware Co., two tires and two tubes. Eli Everett, Robersonville, one tire and one tube. Farmviili-Woodward Lumber Co., Williamston, three tires and three tubes. Grade HI tires and tubes were re leased to the following: Sgt. C. C. Walters, Jamesville and Fort Bragg, one tire and tube. Chas. L. Daniel, Jr., Williamston, one tire. John Mason, RFD 2, Williamston, two tires and two tubes. Lawrence Williams, Oak City, three tires. J. H. Holliday, Hamilton, one tire and one tube. Willie Jones, RFD 1, Roberson ville, one tire and one tube. Mrs. Guy Napier, Jamesville, one tire. Marion E. Smith, Robersonville, one tire and one tube. J. O. Staton, Hamilton, one tire. Columbus Martin, RFD 1, Hob good, one tire and one tube. John II Rogers, RFD 2, Williams ton, one tire and one tube. Roy Beach, Hamilton, one tire and one tube. Elmei Ray Lilley, Williamston, one tire (Continued on page six) •» Announce Prizes lor Fat Livestock Show ■—<*>— The prize list for the first inde pendent fat livestock show to be held in this county was announced this week by the sponsoring commit tee. The show will be held in Wib liumston on April 27, the same date that the Martin County Farm Bur eau will hold its annual meeting and barbecue. Much interest is being shown in the livestock show which is open to any stockman or farmer living in the county. TSjv' .'j kT •' Y\r t»..c fOiiO Wh: Swine department, Class I, for 4-H club members. Pen of 3 fat hogs. weighing not less than 1110 nor more than 250 pounds each: 1st, $8; 2nd, $6.00; 3rd, $4.00; 4th, $2.00; 5th, $1.00; 6th, $1.00. Class II, for Adult farmers. Pen of 3 fat hogs, weighing not less than 180 nor more than 225 pounds each: 1st, $6.00; 2nd, $4.00; 3rd, $2.00; 4th, $2.00; 5th, $1.00. Champion Pen: Ribbon. Reserve Champion Pen: Ribbon. Reel Cattle department, Class I, for 4 H club members Individual j Fat Steer.-: show at halter 1st, $10.00; 2nd, $8.00; 3rd, $6.00; 4th, $4.00; 5th, $4.00. Class II. For Adult farmers. Indi vidual Fat Steers show at halter: 1st, $8.00; 2nd, $6.00; 3rd, $4.00; 4th, $4.00; 5th, $2.00. Champion steer: ribbon. Reserve champion steer: ribbon. Any person wishing to enter their stock in this show, please see Mr. K. P. Lindsley or the county agent, Williamston, on or before April 22. Justice 11 an aell Handles Tn-o Cases In His Court -& Justice J. L. Hassell handled only two eases in Ids court this week, and one of those was based on an alleg ed violation nearly five months old. A. E. Lewis, charged with start ing a woods fire without a permit, was required to pay $5.50 costs. Jesse Williams, charged with pub i lie drunkenness, was taxed $8.50 costs. Pre-Easter Service Schedule JLh Wafts Theater Announc&i I . 1 T>;< ■»•<>!, tiu-'/t'-rif -or: Hmr-'u-T serv ices to be held in the Watts Theater |and union services in the various pcnWSesWieff^^^^!™vKS^'arT nounced today by the local minis terial association. The services will be held in the Watts at 10:30 each morning with the following leaders: | Monday, Baptist leader. Tuesday. Christian leader. Wednesday, Epis copal leader Thursday, Methodist leader. Friday, Presbyterian leader. Mr. Marvin Britton and his com mittee has been asked to visit the merchants of the city and enlist them in cooperating with these morning i services- that will last but thirty min- i liter. The schedule for the evening i ii hi—iiiia ■ ii mm mmwrnii in nm follows: Monday: Christian Church, Rev Gower Crosswell, speaker. Tuesday: Methodist Church, Rev. i W. R. Burrell, speaker. Wednesday: Episcopal Church, j ; speaker to be announced Thursday: Baptist Church, Rev. John L. Goff, speaker. (Union Com munion service to which all Chris tians are invited.' Friday: Presbyterian Church, Rev. B. T. Hurley, speaker. Registrants 18 To 25, Inclusive, Are To Take Pre - Induction Exams Status Of Farmers In Draft Confused By Kerent Changes — a — Draft Hoard lias Not Horn Officially Notified Of Changes After receiving written amt oral instructions earlier in the week to draw heavily from the list of regis trants 18 to 25 years of age, inclu sive, draft officials learned unoffi cially that the production unit sys t in for farmers had been scrapped and that deferments were to be bandit J in accordance wilh instruc tions embodied in the Tydings Amendment. The scrapping of the emit system confuses the draft sta- ; tus of farm registrants eighteen years of age1 and under twenty-six. However, it is firmly believed that the news announcing the elimina tion of the unit system sounds bet | ter to the ear than it, will actually he1 when applied. No official instructions have been received advising the draft boards to scrap the unit system, and while such instructions are to be expect ed shortly, it is fairly certain that they will he clothed with rules and regulations requiring a heavy draft from those men over eighteen and under twenty-six years of age. During the meantime, official in structions have been received, di recting the draft officials to send all men between 18 and 25 years, in elusive, to the military centers for pre-induction examinations. This group will include, single men, mar ried men and fathers, irrespective of the type of work the registrant is engaged in at the time. Only a few can expect to escape the pre-induc tion call. The instructions, just re ceived this week, explain that it does not mean that the man making the trip to the service center will au tomatically lose his deferment il he passes the examination. The pre induction test will eliminate a ccr tain percentage, and then Selective Service will center its attention on the remaining 60 per cent, or what ever the figure may be. If a registrant passes the preinduc tion exam and he holds a vital job in industry, his claim for continued deferment will not be considered by the local draft board, but his case will rest witli State Selective Serv ice. That the scrapping of the produc tion unit system does not mean a con tinued blanket deferment for farm registrants hotwnelL^ho ages, of It) and 25, inclusive, is fairly evident when two recent pronouncements by military and manpower authorities are considered. The militaiy has said that it needed men 18 to 25, inclu sive, and must have them. It is also | believed that the military will raise the age limit just as soon as the 18-25 age group is exhausted. The other pronouncement that would seem to indicate a dark future for the 18-25 group as far as the draft is concerned was made this week by the manpower commission subject to cc ■;ressional action, ol course. The |manpower commission plop- cd the [drafting of all those 4-F’s who are not engaged now in vita! industry or work or who do not transfer to vital work by a certain time. It believed by some that the 4-F’s, many of whom lave been running wild and remaining indifferent to the war effort since their rejection, will either go to work in vital indus try or on the farm or be drafted in to labor battalions, and that this action will relieve, to some extent, the shortage of labor on those farms where the 18-25 group has been ex hausted. Secretary of War Stimson is op posed to the plan, hut the House Military Subcommittee continues to wim!: on a plan to place 4-F’s in essential work, including agricul ture, or place them in work bat talions at Army pay without 'he benefits enjoyed by the regular serviceman. The committee would make the law applicable to all 4-F’s up to 37, if married and up to 45 for non-fathers. I SO MEKTINC r rians for a closer cooperation between local authorities and the national organization for the operation of the local United Services Organization unit here are being discussed at a meeting here this afternoon in the Am erican Legion Ilut on Watts Street. Area Recreation Representa tive Harry Wellott is meeting with the local committee. A re port on the progress of the ses sion could not be had immedi ately. It is understood that the local unit hasn’t sufficient funds to maintain the renter, that its op eration may have to he curtail - ed unless the national organiza tion participates or additional funds arc raised locally. County Young Man Writes from Italy —— Writing recently to ;i cousin from somewhere in Italy, Pic. James R. Harrison, Jr., states that he is got ting along fine and hopes the home folks are too. The letter follows in part: "You asked me about these girls over here, but 1 don’t cater to these Italian dames as they are pretty dirty. "I II try and remember some of my experiences now but don’t let them bore you as they are not any too interesting. On July 10, 1943, at 1:30 ti. m. we were woke from our slumbers and told that the time had arrived so we went over the side of the big troop ship into the landing (Continued ori page six) Red Cross War Fund Materially Boosted Here Since Tuesdav -— All Rrport* \r»‘ A’liiounml hr* mi11 Colored Population -•— The annual Red Cross War Fund Drive is being brought to a close in the chapter today, V. J, Spivey, chairman of the campaign to raise $6,200, announcing late yesterday that a total of $7,641.9! had been raised and reported. The drive was announced virtually complete at that time for each of the five town ships in the chapter except for the colored population. Apparently those citizens have not raised their $800 quota, a report from the chair man stating that a three-day exten sion of time for completing the drive had been asked and granted. A collection of $207.73, raised at the Watts Theater, materially boost ed the fund just recently, and Chair man Spivey now believes the grand total will exceed $8,000, an amount $1,800 m excess of the original quo ta. Jamesville Williams Griffins Bear Grass Williams.ton Macedonia S. S. Colored Citizens (junta Amt rais’d $ 600 150 500 500 3650 800 $ 692.70 153.57 549.35 533.85 5444.33 25.00 243.11 $6200 $7641.91 Names of the contributors continue to come in by the tens of hundreds. The Jamesville list of donors ap pears elsewhere m this paper. The Griffins list will appear next week, and it will be followed by the names of the Williamston school contribu tors. Other contributions will be ac knowledged soon thereafter. in reporting Mrs. Sallie Lee's con tribution m Bear Grass Township, this paper listed it at 50 cents when it should have been $5.00. It was just another one of “them" things. The correction is gladly noted. The Swainsland Ladies Aid boost id the total in Griffins Township this week by $5.00. Donations not previously ac knowledged in Williamston follow: Mrs. Bill Myers, $1, Margaret Lil ley, $1; Myrtle Jones, $1; Gaylord Harrison, $15; Walts Theatre Collec tion, $207.73; Ruth and Joe Throw er, $2.50; Dorothy Godwin, $1; Mrs. II. F McKnight, $1; Mrs. L. T. Car row, $1; Hattie E. Edmondson, $5; Shop Roebuck, $1; John L. Goff, $2; Mrs. S. W. Manning, $1; Mrs. W. E. Old, $1: Carrie Goddard, $5; Virginia Everett, $1, Mrs. Marion Cobb, $1; Mrs. I! F. Baldree, $1; Christine Manning, $1, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Weston, $4; Mrs. Otho Willard, $1; Mrs, Clayton Revels, $1; Mrs. W. M. Baker, $1; Mrs. 1, Wynne, $1; Mary Maddux, $1; Merceil Lindsley, $1; Ollie B Bright, 50c; Mrs. A. E. Gur ganus, $1;; Mrs. Jeff Marriner, 50c; Mrs J. 11. Allsbrook, 25c A report from Roberson, the sec ond chapter in this county, states that slightly more than $1,700 of its $1,800 quota had been raised up to Tuesday of this week. Officials Plan To Get Ballot To Servicemen j VOLUNTEER V,y llewett Andrews, RFD 1, Wil liamston, volunteered for serv ice in the Navy here today, sub ject to the successful passage of the physical examinations. He it to report -to y.s.'v Re.rv. 14th. Two other 17-year-old boys offered to volunteer, but their parents had not signed, giving their consent at noon to day, Recruiter Dallas Taylor explained. Library Directors Hold Meeting Here —*.— The directors of the Williamston Public Library nwt W(idriyvs/t•■ymttM ternoon in the office of Mayor John L Hassell. Reports were had from the librarian and the treasurer. It was noted with much encouragement that more than eight thousand vol umes had been circulated during the past eight months. A plan for the en listment of more friends for the li brary was perfected. Some new equipment was ordered for tiie con tinued expansion of library service. Mrs. J. C. Cook was re-elected , as librarian and Rev. John L. Goff was re-elected as chairman. The local library was opened to the public on April 11, 1938. Since that time the library has circulated more than 65,000 volumes and now owns almost 2,100 volumes. Being a depository lor the BHM Regional Li brary Association, many hundreds of hooks outside of its own collec tion is made available to the reading public. A large collection of magazines is also available for reading in the li brary room in the City Hall. Application May Be Clipped From Paper For Primary Ticket J —•— To Fil<‘ Applications ami Give VoIpi’s Addrpss .■» Apparently well convinced that the man who fights is entitled to partic ipate in elections if he can meet cer I tain simple regulations, the Martin County Board of Elections, Sylves I ter Peel, Chairman, is making plans to get ballots into the hands of serv ! icemen, including members of the United States Merchant Marine. The procedure is quite simple, but II to time (lament otters a threat to ■foe ballot. This threat, however, can I possibly be overcome if relatives act j quickly and in accordance with printed instructions appearing else | where in this paper along with an I application form for a ballot. The relative, wife, husband, broth er, sister, parent or child, of a serv iceman may apply for a ballot for him. Only one application need be filed The application form may be clipped from this paper or it will be made available shortly by the county and precinct election offi cials. The relative will supply the proper information, including the home address and service address of the serviceman. The applicant will then sign his or her name and mail it to Mr. Sylvester Peel, chairman of the Martin County Board of Elec tions, RED 1, Williamston, N. C., and he will do the rest. The voter him self will declare his party affilia tion. The one application will entitle (Continued on page six)