North Carolina Newspapers

NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK. THE ENTERPRISE NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK. : VOLUME XLVII—NUMBER 92 Williamston, Martin County, ISorth Carolina, Tuesday, November 21, 194-1. ESTABLISHED 1899 Allied Drive Cains Momentum Along* Enemy’s West Wall Fierce lies/stance Reported fov F*r«tARrdr' cli Armies Driving on Cologne -«■ Despite terrible and fanatical re sistance, Allied armies are gaining momentum in their drive through Hitler s West Wall, late reports de claring that the enemy's defenses are crumbling west of the Rhine before one of the greatest blows in modern warfare. An early report stated to day that forty towns, most of them inside Germany, had been wrested from the Germans, that tens of thousands of prisoners had been tak Apparently the greatest advances have been made to the south where the Fighting French are said to have ripped three holes into the German line and pushed on to the Rhine, one yet unconfirmed report stating that the river had been bridged at one point. At the other end of the line, the British are making progress in a movement to outflank the enemy, The ^cen^gjy^^^reat west push, howeverTi^oCTmTa centered east of Aachen where the American First and Ninth Armies are pushing on toward Cologne. Aided by a part of the British Second Army, the Amer icans were said today to be half way from Aachen to Cologne. In mud and freezing rain, the drive is encounter ing every known obstacle. The enemy is counterattacking and positions are changing hands in fairly rapid or der. Last night the drive encounter ed a never-ceasing artillery fire. Metz, the great stronghold, has been taken by Patton’s Third Army, and the French have advanced through Belfort Gap. It was the first time that Metz had fallen to an at tacker in 74 years. While these gains stand out, the big show is centered in the rich industrial Ruhr and the Saar Basin. On the Eastern Front, the Russians have launched a 500,000-man offen sive and are driving to annihilate 400,000 of the enemy along the Bal tic. The Russian drive around Buda pest is gaining momentum, and it is believed that the concerted actions on all fronts will either knock out Germany or force it to the brink of destruction. Hitler, his status not known, is believed dying following a throat operation in Vienna. In the Philippines, the struggle for j (Continued on page six) Oak City Young Man Wounded In Action Pvt. Waylon R. Brown, Martin County young man, was slightly wounded in Germany on October 9, according to a message received from the War Department a short time ago by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brown, RFD 1, Oak City. The message revealed few facts, but in a letter received later from the young man, it was stated that he had been wounded in the left hand. He is now in a hospital somewhere in England and believed to be getting along very well. The Purple Heart has been awarded him. The young man has been overseas since last December, and a brother, T/5 Aaron Brown, has been over seas a little over two years. The brother volunteered before Pearl Harbor. Pvt. Brown is the forty-fifth Mar tin County man to have been report ed wounded in the war to date. -« Sheriff's Return Home Delayed for Day or Two Looking forward to returning to his home heie yesterday following a six weeks stay in a Washington hospital, Sheriff C. B. Roebuck is be ing detained by doctors there a day i or two longer, but the popular coun- : ty officer is betting on eating turkey ; at home Thanksgiving day. More Men Report For Pre - Induction Exams TOBACCO SALES'" Tobacco sales are pushing on toward the ten and one-balf million-pound mark on the lo cal market today with prices holding to about the same aver age reported for the past few weeks. Up until this morning, the market had sold 10,435,104 pounds for $4,541,205.25 or an average of $43.52. Yesterday the market sold 85,226 pounds for an average right at 45 cents. Closing after sales tomorrow for the Thanksgiving holiday, the local market will reopen on next Monday with a full corps of buyers. It is possible that the market will not run but a few days next week, but no closing date will be fixed until all crops in this area are marketed, a rep resentative of the tobacco board of trade announced this morn ing. Soldier Is Ready To Trade Places —«— Writing from somewhere in France under recent date. Pvt. Bruce Whitley said he was ready and even anxious to trade places with anyone out of the Army and at home. Little sympathy was expressed for those who bellyache and complain about rationing, and like many others who are slugging it out with the enemy, there is a tendency to frown upon those who are faltering or failing to get greed and pleasure madness out of their systems. He said, in part: “I am not kicking and I’m doing everything I can. It isn’t an easy job and there are a lot of things to make one mighty miserable, the way you have to live and everything. “You know if some of the people back home could come over here for a while, they surely would be more than willing to sacrifice all their gas and pleasures they have just to be able to stay home, sleep in a house and not go hungry. “The news may look good in the headlines, but it is a big price we arc paying to be able to print those headlines. “I am hoping it will be over and I can get back.” Firemen Are Cailed To Home on Haughion Street — ♦ Local volunteer firemen made their annual visit to the Ep r ->pal rectory on Haughton Street about 11:30 o’clock last Saturday night when a chimney blazed out and the sparks threatened to fire the shingle loof. Mr. Robert Everett and his family were firing only moderately when the soot caught fire and the sparks flew high. An accurate review of the fire rec ord could not be made immediately, but the volunteer firemen have an swered four or five calls to the rec tory when the chimney would go on a tare. IMPROVING 1 S/Sgt. i. Paul Simpson, wounded in the hand and knee, is improving in an Army hospi tal somewhere in the Pacific theater. According to a message received by his wife here a few days ago, the young local man stated that his wounds were healing, and that he was getting alopg very well. Sgt. Simpson, an Insurance representative before he enter ed the service, was wounded when the bomber on which he was flying crashed into the sea in the Pacific, presumably not | far from the Philippines. One member of the crew was killed and several others were hurt. First Bond Sales in the Sixth War Campaign Are Reported -- While not large and representing only a portion of the county, the first sales in the Sixth War Loan Drive reported yesterday were considered very encouraging. Only one issuing agency, the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, had a report on the initial sales, but it was learned that other issuing agencies had sold sev eral thousand dollars worth of bonds in the current drivm.'s- first day. Reporting for the Guaranty Bank here, Mr. D. V. Clayton stated that the issuing agency had sold $9,093.75 in “E” bonds to citizens who made the purchases voluntarily or with out direct solicitation. The bonds were reported as follows: Williams ton Township, $3,262.50; Goose Nest, $75; Griffins, $2,700, and Hamilton, $3:058.25."' Several of the townships' 'trarr hardly completed their canvassing organizations, put tfie iltTvi H tX pected to gain momentum by the lat ter part of this week. It is hoped by the leaders that no extensive solici tation will be necessary, that the peo ple of this county will go directly to the issuing agencies and buy bonds direct. In pgjpdrives, the banks have handled most of the sales, but the bonds may be bought at post offices and in some cases direct from the township chairmen. To make certain ' that proper credit may be given the townships on their quotas, the pur chasers are reminded to designate the district they would have their purchases credited to, Martin County people are being asked to buy $700,000 worth of bonds —$245,000 in “E” and $455,000 in negotiables — during the current drive. The quota for the entire na I tion is fourteen billion dollars, and j j reached and passed their quotas the , Most Of The Group I Are Teen-age Lads; I Three Volunteers -—®— Twenty-eight of Thirty Called Report for Trip to Fort llrugg Monday -$ Answering the first pre-inductior call received in this county in sever al weeks, twenty-eight white mor: left Monday for their pre-inductior examinations at Fort Bragg, the group including twenty-three cigh tecn-yoar-old lads and three volun leers. Thirty men were called, but two did not make the trip. One, Joseph Thomas Johnson, did not re port. It is believed that the young man is in the Merchant Marine, but no papers have been cleared with the draft board since he registered last July and he was listed as a delin quent. The other one who did not make the trip was Luther William James, of Robersonville. The young man was excused at the last minute after he was accidentally hurt in an automobile accident on Wiliiamston’s main street when he was in sight of the draft board office where he was to report. Two of the thirty men called are married and they left one or two children at home. Sixteen came from the farms. It is understood that one or two of the group had left the farm and made themselves subject to immediate call. None was taken above 28 years of age. Three of the boys volunteered. Benjamin Clarence Pate quit the Merchant Marine to join the Army. Herbert Leslie Manning and Benja min Franklin Lilley, Jr., failing to pass the physical examinations some time ago, asked to be allowed to try again. It was said that the two boys were getting lonesome at home with most all the other boys their ages already in the service. Jimmy Mike Mitchell, the boy who just turned 18 and who has a record of one hour’s service in the Navy, made the trip this week. Mitchell, stretching his age a bit some time ago, was in the Navy only an hour before the authorities learn ed his age and bounced him. Since that time he has camped or the steps of the draft board, pestering the em ployees for a chance to report for the examinations. Names of the men called this month and their addresses follow: Benjamin Clarence Pate, RFD 1, Williamston. Boston Reuben Burroughs, Nor folk and Williamston. Joseph Thomas Johnson, Rober sonville. Harper Marshall Peel, Jr., Hamil ton. William Gray Waters, Jr„ William ston. Russell Bailey Wynne, Everetts. Arthur Frank Harrison, RFD 2, Williamston. Luther William Respass, RFD 1, Jamesville. Harry Calvin Ayers, RFD 2, Wil liamston. Thomas Olen Martin, RFD 1, Jamesville. Jerry Saunders Raynor, RFD 3, Williamston. Earnie Claude Mobley, RFD 1, Jamesville. Thurman Rudolph Bowen, RFD 2, Williamston. George Tilghman Lilley, RFD 1, Williamston. Herbert Leslie Manning, RFD 1, Williamston. Benjamin Franklin Lilley, Jr, RFD 1, Williamston. Hubert Vergil Lilley, RFD 1, Wil liamston and Norfolk. Luther William James, Roberson (Continued on page six) I Sixth Grade Position lg Filled In Faculty Here Handled bv volunteer substitutes during most of the current term, the sixth grade in the local school final ly has a regular teacher, and a high ly recommended one, too, according to information coming from the of fice of the county superintendent. Retiring some time ago after teach ing in the Marshall County Schools of West Virginia for five years, Mrs. Wilma Duncan McCracken, of Cam eron, W. Va., accepted the position here to help relieve the shortage of teachers. A graduate of Fairmont College, West Virginia, and Duke University, Mrs. McCracken succeeds Mrs. Elizabeth Eagles, resigned. She is making her home with the Char lie Mobley? on Haughton Street -# Several Dogt Poisoned Here in Past Fete Days -1 Thought to have eaten garbage in tentionally or carelessly poisoned, several dogs died here during the past few days. Half dozen or more dead dogs were removed by the gar ■e truck since last Fridav. Henry I Mobley's spitz was a victim, and Miss Maintain Tradition Established by Old Hickory’" Division j Pfc.Jluirr} H. White Writes J From Rplksii tfev iittw Pari of September -... Writing from Holland the latter i part of September, Pfc. Larry H. 1 White, Martin County boy, declared that the tradition established by the Thirtieth “Old Hickory” Division is still being maintained. He wrote: “It is a pleasure to read the home town paper. Although it has been over a year since I was home, the news is still good. Since you are sending us the news, 1 thought you would like to know what we r.re do ing over here. F‘or the older men who were in the 30th Division, better known as the “Old Hickory” Divis ion in the last war, I cut out a piece of news they will be interested in. We want you people to know' we will maintain the good name you made for the division in the last war. And for the mothers, fathers, wives and sweethearts who have loved ones in this division, we are proud to have a chance to fight in it. And for! those young boys who didn't get a ! chance to take a hand in this war, j buy bonds with that extra dollar and support the War Fund and lied Cross. And remember, when you are taking out some one else's girl, we envy you.” Written by Paul V. Connors, the article forwarded by Pfc. White tells of the Mortain Battle and how the division earned praise for itself. Clipped from “Stars and Stripes", Army newspaper, the article reads: "A year ago this month, the 30th Infantry Division was going about the rather boring business of ma neuvers in Tennessee wondering if it would ever get the chance to wear combat ribbons. The ‘sharps’ said the division would never go over seas, that it was a training unit pre paring men who would serve as re placements for other organizations. The ‘sharps’ were wrong. “Last week the 30th Division re ceived a special commendation giv en by Major General Lawton J. Col lins, Seventh Corps Commander. The award was given for the magnifi cient job the 30th had done in bold ing off the last major attack of the German Seventh Army in the vicin ity of Mortain early last month. Ad dressed to the Division’s command ing general, it read, in part: “ ‘Your division, with the aid of the 3rd Armored Division and an in fantry regiment of the 4th Division, bore the brunt of the desperate at tack of the German Seventh Army. With the assistance of the artillery (Continued on page six) Several Cases Heard By Justice Hassell —*— Following a period ot little activ ity, business picked up in Justice J. L. Hassell’s court here during the past few days. Up until last evening, five cases had been heard by his honor. Charged with being drunk and dis orderly, Clarence Pate was fined $5 and taxed with $5.50 costs. Biz Leggett was required to pay $5.50 costs in the case charging him with disorderly conduct. Publicly drunk, John Henry White was taxed with $7.50 costs. Marshall Scott, charged with dis orderly conduct, was required to pay $5.50 costs. Drunk and down, Lawrence B. Bowen was taxed $8.50 costs. -- Officer* Take Still And Beer In This Township Raiding not so far from William ston last week-end, Officers J. H. Roebuck and Roy Peel wrecked a li quor plant and poured out 300 gal lons of sugar syrup mash. The plant was equipped with a 50-gallon ca pacity drum and an oil burner. WANT ADDRESSES 1| VJ Anxious to remember those Martin County servicemen who have returned to this country and who are undergoing treat ment in hospitals, interested par ties in the county are asking rel atives to forward the addresses of their sons or brothers to Mrs. Eva A. Grimes, care the Red Cross, Williamston. Just the addresses of those men who have been wounded and returned to this country are wanted since it will be impos sible to care for those cases still overseas at this late date. In those cases where the young men will be out of the hospital in time to come home for Christ mas, it will not be necessary to report their addresses. The Home Economics Depart ment at Bear Grass, Mrs. Borel, teacher, is preparing a number of appropriate gifts for the wounded servicemen in hospi tals in this .country, and others ers to the boys at Christmas ■ -fte*—„ : i i ] 1 1 I 1 1 1 t 1 1 I I c l < l i ( l 1 t t \ 8 in 1 r Than ksgiving Proclama tion Whereas, the President of the United States and the Governor of North Carolina have issued their proclamations declaring Thursday, November 23rd, as Thanksgiving Day throughout the state, and nation.Whereas. — Vv e have been greatly b4e«sed and no one lacks some thing for which to be thankful to a bounteous Benefactor and Whereas, if ever there was a time when people should think in terms of gratitude it is now. Wo should be thankful to a gracious and merciful God for a bounteous harvest, that we have been free from stoim and pestilence, that the princi ples of free government still prevail in our fair land, thank ful for the prospects of victory over our enemies and for the perpetuation of our system of government based upon equal ity, liberty and justice, not only for America but for the world. Therefore, I, J. L. Hassell, Mayor of Williamston, here by proclaim Thursday, November 23rd, 1&44, as Thanksgiving Day in Williamston and call upon all of our citizens to make it a day of thanksgiving and prayer to the Creator for these wonderful blessings. J. L. HASSELL, Mayor. Williamston Native Passes Suddenly At Robersonville Home -♦ Funeral Service Held Monday For Herbert Pope, Well Known County Citizen -@ H. Herbert Pope, native of Wil liamston and well-known county cit izen, died suddenly at his home in Hobersonville last Saturday evening at 8:30 o'clock. Although he had been in declining health for a year or more, Mr. Pope was getting along as well as usual until last Friday night when he became suddenly ill, suf fering with an acute pain in his side. Medical attention was rendered and he rested very well during that night and a greater part of Saturday. His condition took a turn for the worse that afternoon, death following a short time later. The son of the late John E. and Elizabeth Waters Pope, he was bom in Williamston 71 years ago, the 15th of last O'.ober. He attended the pub lic schools and studied telegraphy along with friends and relatives un der the late W. A. Ellison, and com pleted his training in Halifax. In 11)01 he was married to Miss Fannie Bonner Ellison of Williamston and located in Autryville, Sampson County, where he held his first agen cy for the railroad. Two years later in 1903 he moved to Robersonville to begin a long period of faithful service as agent and telegrapher for the Coast Line. Devoted to work, he continued at his post several years after retirement age, finally surren dering his duties about five years ago. Since that time he was unusual ly active and enjoyed taking his gun and going to the woods and open fields in search of game. When a youth, Mr. Pope joined the i Williamston Methodist Church, later transferring hr membership to his; adopted home where he continued I loyal and active in the support of! the church to the end. He was active in fraternal organi zations, devoting much time and in terest to the Masons. Devoted to his home and loved ones, Mr. Pope was interested in and worked for the good :>f his adopted community. He serv ed as a member of the town board of aldermen for several years. He is survived by his widow, four children, Mrs. T J. McKim, of Ashe boro; Mrs. J I. Taylor, of Bethel; /Sgt. H. Herbert Pope, Jr., who is ■serving with the U. S. Armed Forces in France, and James E. Pope, of New York; one sister, Miss Anna Williamston and six grandchildren. Pope; a brother, John E. Pope, of Funeral services were conducted at the home Monday afternoon by his pastor, Kev. T. II. House, assisted by Rev. E. C. Wilkie and Rev. J. M. ; Perry. Interment followed in the Robersonville Cemetery. VI an Hi ft Hand Rally At Everett* Friday Night Anxious to put Cross Roads over ;he top without delay, Chairman Paul Bailey is planning a big war bond rally in the Everetts School lor Friday night of this week. The brogram, including free pictures and ither entertainment will get under lay at 7:30 o'clock. An auction sale zvill feature the program, it was an lounced. Cross Roads has a quota of only 121,750, including $8,750 in E bonds. The public is invited, and the good :itizens of Cross Roads are earnestly 1 urged to report in large numbers and relp put the drive over the top. Stolen Car Recovered In Wooda Near Old Sparta -« Stolen from his yard between Ev ■ ;rctts and Robersonville on Sunday, November 12, the Ford car belonging ,o S. R. Jackson was recovered in i ;he woods near Old Sparta last,. week by Cpl. W. S. Hunt and Deputy 1; I. H. Roebuck. Officers are still!: ;earching for Henry Taylor, color-1 ( vj man who is believed to have at- I •Mr... J :.!.c fc on.. Jluiik. jus-ay■.. ■ ■ >100 off bib 'pe. bbi: and a rove away »** fa»>«S8«r* > -• ROUND-UP After leaving: Ihe doors un touched during the previous week-end, local and county of ficers tested the hinges time and again last Saturday and Sunday when they arrested and placed seven customers in the hoosegow. Five of those forcibly detained were white. Five were booked for being drunk and disorderly, one for drunken driving and one for being just plain drunk. The ages of the group ranged from 18 to 43 years. Slightly Hurt In Main Street Wreck William Luther James, 28, of Rob ersonville, suffered a slight knee in jury yesterday morning when the car in which he was riding crash ed into another on the main street in front of the bus station here yes terday morning. Pvt. Ix>roy Godard, Martin Coun ty boy who lost a leg in France and who just recently returned home from an Atlanta hospital, was driv ing his brother’s newly purchased old model Ford and started to turn into the filling station when the James car, a Plymouth driven by Leroy James, and the Godard ma chine crashed. Mr. James was on his way with his brother to report to the draft board for pre-induction He managed to report, but local doc tors advised that he be excused tem porarily, at least. Damage to the cars was estimated at about $175.00, young Godard agreeing to pay the damages, ac cording to one report. It was an unusual case in that a returned soldi,.! blocked the path of a civilian going to be a soidier. CONTINUES QUITE ILL -«>-. Mr. Henry Gurganus continues quite ill at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry D. Harrison, here. Late reports state that he was not as well today as he was a few days ago. OPENING Traveling with an auditing firm and finding it inconvenient to attend the meetings regular ly, C. D. Carstarphen will not of fer to qualify to succeed himself as a member of the Martin Coun ty Hoard of Commissioners, he announced during a brief visit home last week-end. As far as it could be learned no candidates have offered them selves and none has been men tioned to fill the position made vacant by Mr. Carsfarphcn’s ac tion. However, an appointment by the clerk of court is expect ed on December 4 when the new board enters upon another two year term. Grant Six Divorces At Special Term of The Superior Court Mill (Grinds To Stop When Judge l,<nnl Stat us of Advertising -® Six divorces were granted in fair ly rapid order during the first day of the two weeks session of the Mar tin County Superior Court conven 1 mg here yesterday for the trial of civil cases only. While the action established no new record, it left eighteen similar cases pending. The divorce mill ground to an unexpect ed stop in at least two cases when Judge Jeff Johnson of Clinton ex pressed the opinion that the notices of publication did not measure up to exact legal requirements. The no tices referred to provided for the de fendants to answer or demur with in thirty days after a certain date, hut the judge ruled that a definite date should have been mentioned. In a third case the jurist withheld his signature when he ruled that he could not recognize a deposition in which the witness alleged he had had I intimate and illegal relations with a defendant while she was married. In each of tile three cases the jury had answered the issues in favor of the plaintiffs. Several other divorce cases were continued for one reason or another and two were non-suited. The case ol George Shannon against Esther Shannon for divorce was non-suited when the plaintiff failed to appear. Mrs. Shannon, com ing here from New York, sought ali mony without divorce, but a non suit resulted in the case when it was learned that some technical provi sion had not been complied with Divorces, based on two years of separation, were granted the follow ing: Frank Spruill against Mary Spruill, Luetta Knight against Jon ah Knight, Ethel Dickerson against Robert Dickerson, John Terrell against Ruby Terrell, Stanley Hol lis against Elizabeth Hollis, Alexan der Hodges against Gladys Hodges. Divorces are pending; that is, the jury answered the issues in favor of the plaintiffs, hut the judge did not sign them: Lillian Rodgers against Octavious Rodgers, and William Ev erett against Susie Everett. In a third case, Marshall Gray Moore against Wannie Mae Moore, the court inti mated that it would not recognize a deposition stating that the affiant hSd had improper relations with the (Continued on page six) Divide Time For Hunting in Swamp —$— Tii<- dispute over hunting rights on several thousand acres of swamp land along the lower Roanoke River was temporarily settled here last Friday when Superior Court Judge Everett Thompson ruled that mem bers of the Conine or Broad Creek Hunting Club could hunt there so many days and the plaintiff, J. G. Staton, could hunt so many days each week or at any time under certain conditions. The plaintiff may hunt three days each week with his guests or he may hunt alone at any time. The several defendants in the case are to have possession on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week and on Monday, Tuesday and Wed nesday of next week. The plaintiff will have full possession the latter three days of next week and the first three days of the following week and so on until the ease is carried to trial for final settlements in the Bertie Superior Court next Febru ary. Car Stolen Here Heeuvered In Tarhoro Sunday Night Stolen off the main street here last week, the Ford car belonging to Gar land Whitley, ABC store employee, was recovered in Tarboro last Fri day night. The machine was not damaged, and two gallons of pres tone and a few cigarettes were not touched, but the gas supply was just about exhausted. Will Observe Thanksgiving Day As A General Holiday Thanksgiving Day on Thursday of this week will be observed as a gen era! holiday by business in this com Tiunity with the exception of heavy industry and possibly by a few farm ars. According to present plans, the peanut plant will operate, but no deavy deliveries are expected that day. The observance will center around religious services in various parts of the county, including a union serv ice in the local Baptist Church at 10 o'clock that morning. The day narks the opening of the quail hunt ing season and many hunters are planning to turn to the woods and fields despite shell shortages and 5ther drawbacks. The fiist of the religious services '••V. 4 V. - » A. VllillJ^ i V V Uyt.T. rhe offering usually accepted on Thanksgiving will bo taken next Sunday, the Rev. J. S. Huske, Jr., deadon in charge, announced. Rev. Huske will deliver the union Thanks giving sermon in the Baptist church at 10 o’clock and the combined choirs will be in the choir loft. A special Thanksgiving Day serv ice, held annually for many years and attended by representatives from all churches, is being scheduled again at Smithwicks Creek for 11 o’clock that morning. That evening at 7:30 o’clock, the pastor, Rev. W. B. Harrington, will conduct a special Thanksgiving Day program in the Piney Grove Baptist Church. Large attendances upon all the services is expected. -it scnooJ5~mU suspend classes about 12:30 for the day.