North Carolina Newspapers

Do Your Part By Supporting 5th War Loan Drive Now Underway OVER THE TOR FOR VICTORY UNITED STATES WAR BONDS-STAMPS THE ENTERPRISE MAKE EVERT PAT DAT WAS BOND DAT i-un mum VOLUME XLVII—NUMBER 50 Williamslon, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, June 23, l()ll ESTABLISHED 1899 Thirteen Divorces Granted During Two Days In Court Here Few Other Civil Cases Handl ed Before Short Term Is Ended Tuesday -@ There were very few criminal cases on the docket and the regular run of civil cases hardly scored, but the superior court almost ran the divorce mill hot before ending a short term here early last Tuesday afternoon. Five divorces, all based on two years of separation, were granted the first day of the term af ter the criminal docket was cleared in one fashion or another. On Tues day the divorce mill was placed in high gear again and by early after noon eight more divorces were grant ed. Based on two years of separation, divorces were granted Tuesday in the following cases: C. M. Burden against Lillie Burden, Cass Robert Leary against Sailic Woodley Leary, William Thompson against Emma Brown Thompson, John Luther White against Minnie Hurdle White, Rossie Edwards against Matilda Ed wards, Emily Davis and Alma Da vis, William Staton against Clara Ann Staton, and Allie Mae Pritchett against Simon Joshua Pritchett. All of the parties, except those in the last case, are colored. Out of the 13 divorces granted during tne term, eleven of the cases were brought by colored citizens. Up until a compar atively short time ago, few colored citizens ever went to the court in this county to have their matrimon ial bonds severed. One or two other divorce cases scheduled for trial dur ing the recent term were continued. In the case brought by the Primi tive Baptist Corresponding Associa tion of Eastern North Carolina against Julian Callier and others, the court dissolved a restraining order and calendared the action for trial at the next term of superior court in September. It is understood that some of the flock are alleged to have wandered from the straight and nar row path laid out by creed and doc trine, and a dispute resulted over the rightful owner of the church properties. The association, created and maintained by colored citizens, is made up of several churches in this and surrounding counties. A motion for a non-suit was allow ed in the case brought by Realty Associates, Inc., against L. B. Cul pepper. The action was brought in an effort to have a deed to certain properties set aside. The plaintiffs were taxed with the cost. Notice of appeal was given, and bond in the sum of $100 was fixed by Judge C. Everett Thompson who presided ov er the term. In the case of Janie Dempsey against William Henry Dempsey, the court ordered the defendant to pay $20 a month through September to the plaintiff for the support, of her children. The case was calendared for trial in September. R. L. Coburn was appointed ref eree and he is to hear the evidence and make his report in the case brought by J. C. Anderson and oth ers against J. B. Cherry. The court attracted very small crowds during the two brief ses sions, and there was little interest in the proceedings. Some Tobacco Farmers Plant In Excess of Assigned Quotas According to unoffida^mtomui- j farmers in this county have plant ed in excess ol their tobacco allot ments, one report stating that sup ervisors making spot checks had found the planted acreage to be in excess of the measurements report ed by the growers. Possibly the ex cess acreage was not planted inten tionally, but it was learned that the quotas had been exceeded by as much as an acre and a half or more. Only forty spot checks have been made, the supervisors finding about 25 per cent of the number planting in excess of the allotments. It is understood that no excess acreage is to be destroyed, that in all such cases, the grower wir^ be expected to pay a •penalty on his sur plus production. According to one report, plans are being considered I for oxtending the spot chock system, j .-.sat passib)F*cj • ■ will be surveyed to determine com pliance. Despite the excess plantings found in some Cases, it is still believed by many that the acreage planted to to bacco in the county will hardly be as large as it was last year, and it will be recalled that the 1943 plant ings were nearly 3.000 acres below the quota maximum. In addition to the limited acreage, tobacco production prospects are be ing dangerously aggravated by wea ther conditions. The crop is badly broken and considerably behind growing schedules as a result of the dry and hot weather. Some farmers state that their crops are literally burning up in the fields, and that the prospects are not very encourag ing. Preliminary Reports Made on Bond Drive Renewed Effort Is Asked On Part Of The General Public Only $125,014.50 of Quoin of $856,000 Has Been Subscribed Following the receipt last night of the first preliminary reports, County Chairman Herman A. Bow en issued a strong appeal to all the people of Martin County, urging them to renew their efforts and of fer a stronger support for (he Fifth War Loan Drive now underway throughout the nation. The reports, while admittedly in complete, show that only $125,014 50 of the $856,000 quota has been sub scribed to dale. At the same time, nearly every report pointed out the apparent indifference on the part of so many people, how so many, white and colored, rich and poor, were squandering their time and money that could be put to such vital use. Several canvassers, giving of their time and means, were said to be ter ribly discouraged, but they were ask ed to go back and make a second ap peal in their assigned districts. Near ly two weeks of the time set aside for the drive are gone. “E” bond sales to date total hardly more than $52, 000 or less than $2 per capita. And the less than 2,000 service men from Martin County bought $8,877 of the “E” bonds reported to date, or about one-sixth of the total. According to incomplete but lat est figures available, eight town ships have subscribed to bonds in the following amounts: Jamesville, $168.75; Williams, $075; Griffins, $1, 143.75; Bear Grass, $400; Williams ton, $52,400; Cross Roads, $131.25; Robersonville, $28,931.25; Hamilton, (Continued on page four) r IMPROVING J I»r. Victor E. Brown was re ported to be improving today in a Durham hospital where he has been undergoing treatment since early last Sunday morning. While he was said not to be feeling so well today, his condition is much better and it is expected that he will possibly be able to return home some time next week. One report stated that he had had a light attack of pneumonia, possibly the result of over-work, but that it had been brought un der control by penicillin. He was running a little temperature this morning. Propose Ten-Cent Cut In County’s Tax Rate Over-All Budget Is Slightly Increased Over 1943 Figures Rale for New Fiscal Year Is Fixed At $1.10 by the Commissioners Subject to finar-se&jJllliH ter jr art of July or early lugust, a tax rate cf $1.10 the $100 assessed property valuation was fixed for the new fiscal year, 1944-45, by the county commissioners in special ses sion here this week. The rate, show ing a ten-cent reduction, is the smallest enjoyed by property own ers in this county in many years and continues to reflect a downward trend in the county taxing system. While the rate is ten cents below the one now in effect, the total bud get estimates are slightly higher, but the increase in the proposed ex penditures for the new fiscal year is offset by an estimated balance of $5,817.76 anticipated at the end of the current tax year, by a gain of nearly one million dollars in per sonal property values and by an an ticipated increase in revenues other than from general taxation. It was explained that the main source of revenue other than taxation is ex pected to flow from liquor profits. (Continued on page four) WOOL SHIPMENT Nearly two tons or 19,645 pounds of wool were received and loaded here last Monday and Tuesday in the first cooperative shipment ever handled here, it was announced yesterday l»y the office of the county agent. The wool netted the farmers $6,517.33 and dividend checks are to be ex arc made trom *;«><>/, ii was ex- j plained, Coming from the counties of Martin, Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Northampton, Pitt, Edgecombe, Nash, Halifax, Washington, Tyr rell, Beaufort and Hyde, the wool was sold by 195 farmers. German prisoners *.vere used in packing the wool, the grad ers and workers continuing at their posts until 11 p. m. Mon day and until 4:30 Tuesday af ternoon. Farmer Lester K. Meeks Reports Cotton Blossom Farmer Lester R. Meeks, RFD 1, Robersonville, was the first man in the county to find and report a cot ton blossom this season. Mailed un der date of June 19, the blossom was of the pink variety. Farmer Dalton Brown of Rober sonville, submitted four fresh cot ton blossoms—two white and two red—this morning. County Bookmobile Will Make Regular Schedule Next Week Nrw Hooks Added To Collec tion for Distribution In This County When the bookmobile begins its regular schedule in this county on Monday, June 26, there will be new titles from which the borrowers may choose. One which should bring comfort to many in this time is Mar garet Lee Runbeck’s The Great An swer. Here are related the exper iences of fighting men and women who turned to God in time of peril and how they were answered. Captain Retread by Donald Hough relates the' reaction and experiences of the men of the last war commis sioned in this. "Retread officers,” is what the army calls them. Here the author uses a splendid chance to pay fine tribute to the American soldier. Eisenhower Man and Soldier by Miller is a most readable biography of a typical American boy from a typical American town who is doing the outstanding job in this War II. It is also the story of the Eisenhower family and background. Fair Stood the Wind for France is not for those who want to escape war reading. This story ranks high among the war novels and yet does not have too much of the horror incidents. The forced landing of a bomber in occu pied France brought new experiences to the English crew who were shel tered in a farmhouse. The injured pilot, unable to escape with the oth ers by the French Allies, found com fort in the development of a tender love affair. To take the mind off the war, Meet the Malones. There is never a dull moment in the motherless Malone family. The succession of problems eouneU taidft. «.'iLh| i:i,. .1 wildest day d,Fenm» fevwcde Tiigntfui experierifces lr ’•’only hie. Quite a contrast to the London of ' today is that of Charles Lamb’s time. Howe’s book, Charles Lamb and Ilis Friends, gives a vivid picture of Lon don in the days when it was a small and cozy town and people knew one another and visited and enjoyed good talk and plain food and some drink on Wednesday evenings. Another novel promising choice reading for the history fan is Fran ces Gaither’s The Red Cock Crows. The setting is in a Southern com munity of the early 19th century to which came a young teacher from Maine—a fellow to fall in love with the Southern belle, but not without difficulty. There are also new books for the children and teen-age readers. The schedule follows: Monday, June 26—10:00, Edward’s Service Station; 10:30, Sherrod farm; 11:00. Hamilton Bank; 1:00, Oak City; 2:30, Smith’s store (Palmyra road). 4 (Continued on page four) 'Bernice L. Roberson i o j And Asa Taylor Give (Lives For Country i • \ By Parents in Bear Grass I This Week Bernice Let and Rogerson and Asa J. Taylor, both of Bear Grass Town ship, were killed in action in Italy a few days ago, their parents were advised by the War Department this week. No details were given in the brief messages. Bernice Rogerson, the son of Chas. Gilbert and Ethel Mizelle Rogerson of Bear Grass, was born in this coun ty on March 25, 1923. He entered the service the 19th of last August, and after completing his training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and a short stay at Fort Mead. Md., he was trans ferred to North Africa last Febru ary. The young man was there only a short time before he was sent to Italy where he took part in the An zio beachhead fighting. It is believ ed he gave his life in the battle for Rome, the message stating that he was killed in action on May 20. In a last letter to loved ones back home, he told his mother and fath er that he was getting along well and asked them not to worry about him. He told his younger brothers and sis ters to keep the home band playing, that he would be back some day to play with them. The youth had very little to say about his part in the great battles he participated in, but he told of a visit to Naples. It is a beautiful city but so many are pov erty stricken there, he was quoted as writing. Full of life and promise, the young man was most accommodat ing and was ever ready to help oth ers. While he enjoyed the freedom of youth, he recognized his obliga tions and could be found carrying his fair share of the work on the home farm, and he was a cherished link in a happy family. Besides his parents he is survived by the following brothers and sis ters, Mrs. Jap Lilley, Samuel, Car roll Gray, Amanda Faye, Emily Grace, John Prentess and Leuvenia Rogerson, all of this county, Miss Obvia Rogerson of Norfolk, and a brother, Mack Gilbert Rogerson, who has been in the Navy about four years and who was badly wounded soon after the war started. Asa J. Taylor was born in Beur Grass Township on Api.l 12, 1923, the son of George Robert and Annie (Continued on page four) Last Rites Tuesday For Chas. Wilson Of The U. S. Navy Local Young Colored Man Died Follow ing Operation In Government Hospital Funeral services were conducted from the colored Holiness Church here on the Jamcsville Road last Tuesday afternoon for Seaman Chas. Ben Wilson, local colored young man who died last Friday following an operation in a government hos pital at Hampton, Virginia. Elder Clemons, his pastor, conducted the lust rites and interment followed in the Odd Fellows Cemetery here. The son of James and Delia Wil son, the young man was inducted in to the Navy in May of last year. A complete record of his service1 could not be had immediately, but it was learned that he was on the U. S. S. New York for several months. Be lieved to have been taken ill about three months ago he w'us removed to the government hospital and la ter underwent an operation. It is not believed he was wounded, but the nature of his illness was not disclos ed. His condition had been critical for several weeks. He is the second Martin County colored man to die while in the serv ice of the country, Leo R. Wilson, of Everetts, having been killed in a bus ;o at an Army Wilson was buried in the Odd Fel lows Cemetery here May 21. Chas. B. Wilson, besides his wife, leaves his parents; four brothers, Buck, James Henry, C. B. and Jesse E. Wilson, and two sisters, Emma Mae Wilson and Frances Rogers. 1 In fail I Dios In Local llos/iilal Last Saturday Nancy Dail Bailey .eight days old, died in the local hospital last Satur day night. Funeral services were conducted at the home of her par ents, Mr. and Mrs. Seth Bailey, in Bear Grass Township Sunday and interment followed in the Bailey Cemetery. The services were conducted by Elder B. S. Cowin. The baby had been ill only a few days with kidney trouble. Besides her parents she is sur vived by a brother, A, D. Bailey, and two sisters, Hilda and Shirley Bai ley, of the home. Two County Boys Are Killed And w » Four Others Wounded In Action In Italy ancITSew Guinea Recently Killed on Italian Front Asa J. Taylor, young son of Mr. and Mrs. George Robert Taylor, and Bernice L. Rogerson, right, young son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Gilbert Rogerson, were recently killed in action on the Italian front, possibly in the drive on Rome. Neighbors and good friends, the young men entered the service in August of last year and were together until they left Africa for Italy. Two County Youths Are Killed In Action In Italian Campaign Billy Biff's, Joe Taylor, Har old Nicholson and Marvin Manning Wounded The war exacted a heavy toll among Martin County’s gallant fighting men on widely separated battle fronts in recent days, it was learned here this week when casual ty messages arrived one after an other announcing the deaths of two young men and explaining that four others had suffered wounds in the fight for their country. Few de tails were offered in any of the terse messages, but in most of the homes words heaped upon words could hardly lighten the burden of sorrow and lessen the distress and keen anxiety, Between deep sobs, members of the families yesterday shared will ingly the little bits of news they had received from the War Department, and while they earnestly tried to be brave, a tear would flow unchecked first down one^rheek and then the other. It is now apparent the war is coming home to many of us, but surely news from the invasion or other fronts can be no worse than that tearing into a half dozen or more homes in the county this week. Two of the messages came from far-away New Guinea and the other four came from Italy, and since no news from the invasion front is con sidered good news, there is hope that casualties were light or non-existent among Martin County's youthful fighting men. Two of the men, Pvt. Bernice , Deland Rogerson and Pfc. Asa J. | Taylor who laid down their lives for I their country, were neighbors and I lived on the same farm in Bear Grass Township. They gave their lives in the battle for Home, the message received early this week by Mr. and Mrs. Cha.x. Gilbert Rogerson stating that their son was killed in action in Italy on May 2(1. Mr. and Mrs. George Robert. Taylor were advised yesterday that their son had been killed in action on June 2 in Italy. These two youths, hardly ten months in the armed services, were tlie twenty-first and twenty-second Martin County men to make the su preme sacrifice in the service of their country. Wounded in Action Joseph Chester Lee Taylor was slightly wounded the early part of this month somewhere in New Guinea, according to information re ceived this week by his aunt, Mrs. Rudolph Goff, RFD J, Wniiamston. In the service about two years, he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Tay lor who moved from this county last February and located near Conetoe. (Continued on page four) FLOOD CONTROL l_ A postwar project for flood control along the Roanoke River gained its first support in Con gress this week when a propos ed $36,140,000 appropriation was included in the development program now under considera tion in the House, according to a message just received here from Congressman Herbert Bon ner. The proposed program calls for reservoirs on the Roanoke in Virginia and North Carolina and oil the Smith River, a tributary in Virginia. Americans Continue Stubborn Fight For Port Of Cherbourg ,|;i|t Itinis for SIiHiit Aflrr Loshph An* Inf'licU'il Bitter fighting was reported in the ( Cherbourg area on the French in avsion coast today as American ' forces launched a massive attack to wipe out the enemy in the great sea- ( port, late reports staling that the ( battle was raging toward an ex- ( plosive climax now that the enemy lias refused to surrender and Ameri can big guns are trained on the city. The last, ring of steel around the port has been cracked and just as soon as the field artillery completes its job, the infantry will move in for the final kill. It is estimated that there are 50,000 German troops and workers in the trap and there is no escape for them. For some reason hard to explain, the defenders refused to surrender at the request of General Eisenhower, one report stating that they had de fied the request and had planted guns throughout the city for a street by-street and house-to-house defense and almost certain suicide. During the meantime, British and Canadian forces are ably handling the situation at the base of the peninsula. The Pacific war came to the front again this week when u sea battle loomed as a pot ibility. The_Jap . links from its Philippine base to ward the Marianas, ar.d was attack ed by carrier-based planes. At least fourteen Jap hips, Including a bat . tlewagon and four aircraft carriers, i were sunk or damaged and nearly 400 enemy planes were downed by American airmen. The Japs turned tail and ran for shelter before a sur face engagement could follow. It is f estimated that there are 100 Amer ican plane carrier task forces are in , now, and carrier task forces are in - range of Japan. The retreat ot the 3 Japs in the Philippine-Marianas area - means that the enemy land forces on i Saipan are in a bad plight, that re 1 inforcements are just about out of / the question. According to German reports, the / Red Army has launched a big of fensive on the Eastern Front m White Russian. The report lias not been confirmed. The war in Fin - land is well under control, and since i the Russian (lank has been relieved - there, other offensive are to be ex peeled. Wounded In Italy, Lt. Williams Home For A Brief Visit -» — Yomi” (.old I’oinl Ylan Itailly WoiiiuIcmI in Rolh la'j's And On Face 3.- 1 First Lieutenant Maurice Williams, wounded three times on the Anzio beachhead in Italy, arrived at his home in Gold Point last Friday after spending several weeks in the Val ley Forge hospital in Phoenixville, Penn a Lt. Williams, son of Mr. .1. L. Wil liams, of Gold Point, received shrap nel wounds on both legs in addition to a severe face wound bordering near the nose. Although one of Lt. Williams’ leg wounds is still bandag ed, he expects to return to the Penn sylvania hospital soon where' all three of the wounds will be collect ed with plastic surgery. The young man entered the serv ice in June, 11)41 He received his trainjng in all sections of the coun try before he was shipped to the North African area. On the morning of March 5, 11)44, he was wounded and m April was returned to this country. "While leading a platoon 1 was wounded on the beachhead at nine o’clock in the morning. I was not evacuated until 8 o’clock that night,” (Continued on page four) Fire Destroys Lumber Plant’s Dry Kiln Here NKi;n \ ()lijm i:i:hs I i v---J\ An urgent tall,is being sent nut from the Surgical Dressings’ I Itoom for extra volunteer work 5 rrs. The War Department has given a certain quota to be com pleted and in medical depots be t lore the end of the year. All d.e&ings now on hand and quo tas received during the next few most la rWflfZTTnT’ _^ i j i < i-> f tn rw snipped tmt laid than Novem ber 30th, so a greater «. .'.Art on the part of the volunteers must be made in order to meet the quota assigned to this area. D' the assignment is not met, then the quota for this chapter will he cut. Shipment of a quota assignment thirty days after receipt of ma terial should he the objective of every chapter. The Surgical Dressings’ Room is open each afternoon from two to four thirty and each night from eight until ten o’clock. if r n it l e d Officers IT reek Still Seur Robersonville On Tuesday Raiding two miles nortli of Rob ersonville Tuesday, Officers J. H. Roebuck and Roy Peel wrecked a liquor plant, destroying six ferment ers and other equipment and pour ing out 50 gallons of cheap beer. The plant bad not been placed in opera tion. Large Lumber Stock And Kiln Valued At More Than $20,000. Eirrmt'ii Driven Hack by Fast" Itiirnin^ Si rue tu re Early Wednesday Afternoon ' po fjj a from the exnaust of a tractor or an over-heated bearing, fire destroyed the large dry kiln and an estimated 150,000 feet of choice lumber at the Saunders and Cox lumber plant on East Main Street here early last Wednesday afternoon. The kiln was valued at about $10,000 and the tim ber cannot be replaced for less than $10,000, according to reliable esti mates. Only $10,000 insurance was carried on the properties. Receiving the call at 12 o’clock, firemen laid three lines of hose and fought the fire for more than two hours, their work preventing the fire from spreading to the firm’s main plant, lumber sheds and lum ber piles on the yard. The fire had a firm hold apparently before it was discovered, and was just before burning through the top when fire men and other volunteers took their positions. When the blaze broke through the top and sides, firemen were driven back, and at one time (Continued on page four)