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 PART3 OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK. VOLUME XLVH—NUMBER 95 ir illiarnston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, December 1, 9 ESTABLISHED 1899 Leave For Service Early Wednesday Five of'Croup Vr«* Married ■Only TV© Come From County Farms Seven Martin County white mer including two youths who just las August reached their eighteenti birthdays, left here Wednesda; morning for final induction into tb armed forces at Fori Bragg. Fivi of the group are married and the; left behind beside their wives, sevei children. While the past few call drew heavily from the eighteen year-old group, the one this weel centered on those young men 2i years old and older. Two were 27 one was 28 and another 29, the maxi mum age limit subject to the drat at this time if the registrant hold: a job in one of the thirty five classi fications. Recent calls also drew heavily from the farms, but the one this week into industry for most ol its inductees, taking only two fron' the farm. Tiie names of the men ar.swerinf the current call, their r gistratior and last-given addresses, follow': William Marvin Coltrain, William ston. James Taylor Whitley, Everetts. Marion Thomas Hardison. RFD 1 Jamesville. Hubert Gray Coltrain, Roberson - ville and Greenville. William Edgar Price, RFD 1. Oak City and Hamilton. Charles Clancey Carson, Hamilton. Garland Staton Barber, RFD 1, Jamesville. According to unofficial reports, no calls for final induction have been received in this county for Decem ber, but calls for white and colored men for pre-induction examinations have been received. It is understood that no large number will be called, but the exact size of the call and the dates the men are to report could not lx- learned. A fairly heavy registration of eighteen-year-old youths was report ed in the county for November, meaning possibly that the next calls for final induction will center on those lads in their teen ages. There are a few eighteen-year-olds now in the reserve list but they had not been in that list long enough to be subject to the call answered this week. In addition to the young men leav ing this week for final induction, one youth, Fred Wheeler .volunteer ed a few days ago for service in the Navy, and Collins Peel reported to Baptimore last week-end for service in the U. S. Coast Guard. Americans Pushing On Toward Roer While the intensity of the fight grows day by day, gains on the West ern Front are being measured in yards and even feet. Where the Al lies once swept across France at the rate of 20 miles a day, travel has been reduced to 1 -25th and much less in most sectors along the Ger man-French border in recent weeks. However, several divisions in Gener als Hodges' and Simpson’s Armies are still advancing and the drive is centering on the Roer River with Cologne and Dusseldorf as the ap parent objectives. Several more tow'ns have been tak en in that area, a report staging that more and more of German deau are being found piled up in the new ly captured centers. The enemy is fighting back east of the Roer, and the struggle has reached a new high in destruction on both sides. During the meantime, Allied air men are pounding strategic targets in Germany and lending every pos sible aid to the Allied Armies. The Russians this week opened a new drive toward Vienna, capturing several important centers during the past few days. In Italy, General Mark Clark’s men have suffered slight reverses, the fight there clearly indicating that the enemy’s resistance is strong in more than one place. The Japs are still trying to rein force their men on Leyte in the Phil ippines and the Americans are still wiping them out. A seventh convoy was destroyed yesterday, the action boosting the total loss of Japs trying to reach Leyte to almost 30,000. The approximately 50,000 Japs on Leyte are weakening fairly rapidly, accord ing to latest reports. Reports gradually leaking out of Tokyo indicate that the damage done to the Jap capital by Superforts is running into big figures. Three raids have been made there in six days. -it, — County Boy Is Promoted To Rank Of Sergeant In Italy Marvin B. Manning, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Roy Manning, RFD 3. Williamston, was recently promoted to the rank of staff ..ergeant over in Italy, it was announced by the Pub lic Re-ations Office, Fifty Army, in Italy, recently The young man is a squad leader with the 34th “Red Bull” Division of Lt. General Mark W. Clark’s Fifth Army In Italy. J&mmimQim&QfJGiMHiip-Qrb Start New Year Next Monday ••—a , Hokhr.g their last meeting of the current term, Martin County's* Com pirsiy.‘i&nf'f& B T. 'v-rrv T j Colfrrdn, C. D. Carstarphcn, C. A. I Roberson and R. A. Haisiip will wind up their business and make ready for starting a new fiscal year. With one exception, there’ll be no change in the personnel and it'll be hard to de termine where the old board leaves off and the new one takes over. Com missioner Carstarphen has announc ed that he will not qualify for the position to which he was re-elected the 7th of last month. The appoint ment of his successor by Clerk of Court L. B. Wynne is not expected immediately, certainly not in time fur the appointee to enter upon the duties of the office next Monday. During the meantime, the four number board is expected to pro ceed with rts reorganization which, in all probability, will remain un changed. Bonds will be prepared and appioved for Use vs'nous county of ficers, and other business will be bandied incli.’d’Mg the appoir'tjr.PPt •of a tax suj >; visor fur -5845. No form al applications have been received for the tax supervisor's jot, it was learned yesterday. It was also stat ed that few or no applications for the listakers’ jobs have beer receiv ed to date. A revaluation of all real property is scheduled for 1945, but it is under stood that the authorities have al ready tentatively agreed to maintain the old schedule of values primarily because the list is in the best shape it has ever been and also because of the shortage of help. Asked yesterday if he was consid ering any applications for the com missioner’s post. Clerk L. B. Wynne said that he had received no appli cations and up until that time he had no one definitely in mind for that position. IfOLII) VYS V._/ Meeting in regular session here nest Monday, members of the Martin Countv Board of Education will fix the Christmas holiday dates for the schools, it was announced this week by the office of the superintendent. In all probability, a short holiday will be ordered. Very little business is sched uled for consideration other than that of a routine nature, and the board will be in session | only a short time, it is predict ed. B. Frank Copeland Dies In Guilford —-*— B. Frank Copeland, Guilford Col lege lumber dealer and builder, died at bis home near Guilford College, last Saturday afternoon at the age of 63 year. He had been in declin- j ing health for three years. Mr. Copeland was a native of Northampton County and when a young man was married to Miss Jospehine Nolan, a native of Martin County and a granddaughter of the late Abram Fisher who was promi nently associated wjth the old . Jamesville and Washington Land and Railroad Company at Dymond City in this county for a number of years. Mrs. Copeland died about three years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Copeland moved to the Guilford College Community forty-four years ago, but returned to this county for regular visits with old friends. Funeral services were held at New Garden Friends Meeting House at Guilford College Monday afternoon by Rev. Joseph Peele and Rev. Rus sell Branson. Interment followed in the Holly Springs Friends Cemetery near Ramseur. Surviving are five sons, S/Sgt. Leslie Copeland and Sgt. Howard |F. Copeland, in the army overseas; Walter P. Copeland, Upper Darby, Pa.; Bevan H. Copeland, Guilford College, and John I. Copeland, vice consul, Costa Rica; two brothers, Ernest H Copeland, Fair Hope, Ala , and Elton A. Copeland, Guilford | College; two sisters, Misses Ruth W. , and Cora I. Copeland, both of Guil 1 ford College, and two grandchildren. -- i Two Dozen Case* On J he Docket in County Court A busy time is almost certain for Judge J. C. Smith when he reopens his county court here next Monday following a two weeks' holiday. Up , until late yesterday twenty-four! cases had been placed on the docket and others are expected to crowd their way into the list before the docket is closed. A fairly good assortment of cases is in the list, including seven for drunken driving, seven for speed ing, three for assault with deadly weapons, three for no drivers' li censes or allowing unlicensed driv ers to operate cars, and one each charging assault on a female, pos session of illegal liquor, improper parking and bastardy. f LAST SALES | v_' The last sales of the 1944 to bacco marketing season were held on the local warehouse floors yesterday when 25,108 pounds were sold for $10,063.33. Prices held up to the very last pile. However, the average— about 40 cents—was not up to par, but the lower figure was traceable to inferior quality of the tobacco offered. Grade for grade, the price was right there. According to semi-official and recognized figures, the William ston market sold 10,769,306 pounds of tobacco during the 1944 season, the figure toppling all previous records. The gross income was $4.616,6?I.Q2 o: an average of $42.87. The season was a hectic one in that the market was blocked j week after week for nearly two months. Ten County White Men Pass Initial Test For The Army Seventeen Reported To Have Been Rejected Recently At Pre-Induction Center Ton Martin Cfounty white men out of approximately twenty-seven re porting were accepted by the armed services at Fort Bragg on November 20, according to an unofficial audit just recently returned to the coun ty draft board. The names of those passing the initial examination follow: Hoke Smith Roberson, Benjamin Franklin Lilley, Jr., Russell Bailey Wynne, William Gray Waters, Jr, Luther William Respass, George Tilghrnan Lilley, John Daniel Lilley, Jr., Mar vin Richard Knox, Ramon Otis Far mer, Willie Lilley, Jr. One young man, Joseph Thomas Johnson, scheduled to answer the call, failed to report. No official list could be had, but it was learned from one of the hoys making the trip and passing that seventeen were rejected, including Hubert Lilley, Leslie Manning, Har per Peel, Jr., Hoson Burroughs, Har ry Avers, Frank Harrison, Jerry Ray nor, Thos. Martin. Ernie Mobley, J. D. Willoughby, Ballet Davis, War ren Whitaker, Jimmy Mitchell, Dan iel Hardison, Richard Williams, Wil liam Nelson and Thurman Bowen. Out of the last group of about forty-nine colored men called for pre-induction examinations in Oc tober, eleven were accepted. It is understood that 27 were rejected, that six failed to report and five oth ers were transferred to other boards. The names of the colored men passing the pre-induction test on October 5, follow: R S. Howell, Wil liam Thomas Smallwood, William Os car Andrews, Arthur Brown, William ] Jasper Keel, John Davis Staton, Geo. Henry Lyons Jr., Samuel Norfleet, John Lee James, Wiliiarn Arthur | Bell. The following men were transfer red to other boards for the pre-in duction test: Robert Small to Phila delphia, Thurman Bell to Norfolk, D. Leonard James to Richmond, Listus Herring to Warsaw, and Fate Albert Spruill to Baltimore. James Edward Thompson, George William Mayo, Herious Little, Sam Rogers, William Bluford Wilson and Booker T. Bridges .failed to make the trip. Local Boy Promoted In Italian War Area --<*; 15th AAF In Italy.—James W. Watts, Jr., Williamston, N. C., has been promoted to staff sergeant at his bomber base in the Mediterran en theater. An aeria Igunner on a B-24 Liber ator, Sergeant Watts arrived over seas last August. Since that time he has flown eighteen combat missions over enemy territory. He was awarded recently the Air Medal “for meritorious achievement ir, aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activities a gainst the enemy.” Sergeant V/atts, a graduate of Wil liamston High School, and former student at North Carolina State University, enlisted in the Army Air Force on June 6, 1943. He attended AAF technical schools at Keesler | Field, Miss., and Laredo, Tex., grad uating with his wings in March, 1944. ->i> Tico Cases Heard During Past Fete Days by Mayor Business has been very dull in the mayor's court here recently, the trial justice, J. L. Hassell, handling only two cases since the latter part of last week. LeRoy Godard, returned soldier who was charged with operating an automobile with improper licenses, was fined $10 and taxed with $G costs. Joe Nicholson, drunk and disor derly, was required to pay $8.50 costs. ‘ A special call was issued io dav by the office of the county agent, urging all farmers in Martin County to surrender their tobacco marketing cards t' to the agent or his representa - tive. The can's, it was pointed 1 out, must be turned in before . new allotments can be issued, and since it will take some time for the office to handle the task, farmers are asked not to delay in delivering or mailing the cards to the office in the agricul ture building. Robt. W. Perry Dies 1 At Daughter’s Home l ate Tuesday Night I Ft moral Sort ires for Retired Farmer Are Held Here Yesterday Robert W. Perry, retired farmer, fin'd at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Robert Jones, on the Jamesville I Road, near here, lust Tuesday night at iO o'clock following an illness of a little over two months’ duration. He had suffered heart trouble for some time, hut was getting along about as well as usual until last Sunday when lie suffered a stroke of paralysis. His condition was recog nized as serious, pneumonia develop ing and causing his death. The son of the late Simon D. and Martha Hardison Perry, he was horn in this county 78 years ago on Sep tember 22 He iivrd in Griffins Township most of his life, farming there until he was forced to retire on account of the advancing years. Following the death of his wife, the formet Miss Emma Griffin, he made his home with the children, and was living m the home of his daughter here when tie was stricken a short time ago. In addition to his farming ! activities, Mr. Perry, an able mech anic, maintained a blacksmith and repair shop for a number of years, rendering a valuable service to the j people of his community and sec ! tion. Mr. Perry was a member of the church at Smithwicks Creek for many years. He was regular in at tendance upon its services and was loyal m its service and to its f“aeh ings. He is survived by the following children, Will Perry of Rocky Mount, ! Simon- Perry, Mrs. Minnie Ward, Mrs. Martha Ann Jones, Mrs. Don j nie Corey, Dewey Perry and Mrs. Annie Hardison, all of Martin Coun ity' Funeral services were conducted ; in the Smithwick's Creek Church yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock by j Elder P. E. Getsinger, assisted by j Rev. W. B. Harrington, county Bap hist minister. Interment followed in the J A. Revels'Cemetery in Grif fins Township. Funeral For Native Is I Ield Wednesday Funeral services were conducted in the Church of the Advent here Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock by Hev. Jos. Huske, Jr., for Mr. Ameleck Campbell Roberson who died sud denly at his home on Staten Island, N. Y., last Sunday night. Interment followed m Woodlawn Cemetery here. Reaching here about noon from New Yoik, the body was removed to the church where it lay in state un til time for the service. Those attended the service from out of town were; Mr. and Mrs. W T. Alexander of Portsmouth, Lt. and Mrs. William Roberson and Mrs. A. C. Roberson and Jerry Roberson of New York, Miss Emily Roberson of Raleigh, Hubert Cooke of Ports mouth, Mr. and Mrs. Radford Hoi den of Ayden, Mr. and Mis. Robert Harrison of Greenville and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Coltrain of Farm Life, Sheriff Undergoes Treatment For Eye In Durham lloH/tital Almost blind in one eye since his serious illness in a Washington hos pital during most of October and November, Sheriff C. B Roebuck entered McPherson’s hospital this week for treatment. It could not be learned how long he would be there, but a late report states that the con i dition of his eye is much improved. Cotton ginning*, recognized as being well on toward com plete for the season, are the low est this season than at any other time in years, according to gov ernment reports just released by the United States Bureau of Census through its agent, Mrs. Strelssa Y. Griffin. According to the report, there have been 2,033 bales of cotton ginned from the current crop up to November 14 as compared with 3,123 bales ginned during the corresponding period from the 1943 crop. AhA f Completed in County ($138,015.00 of die E* I Bond Quota Already Sold In This County -9 Sales Zoomin'* in Jamesville, Williams, Hear (>arss and Rohersonville Distriets An unusually encouraging report was released late yesterday by Coun ty Chairman Herman A. Bowen on the Sixth War Loan Drive in this county. It is now believed that the drive will be well over the top before December 1(1, but 't is not yet time for anyone to rest on the oars, but invest in another war bond. The quota may be exceeded, but we can't buy too many as long as Martin County boys are fighting, suffering and dying on the foreign battle field. According to Chairman Bowen’s latest report, the “L bend sales now stand at $138,0)5.75, or $6,984.25 more than half the original quota. The sale of negotiable bonds real ly tore loose from the moorings since the last report and jumped from a comparatively small sum to $412, 500.00, a figure just $42,500.00 short of the original quota. To date, a to tal of $550,515.75 has been invested in war bonds during the Sixth Drive m the county. Seven out of the ten townships re porting since earlier in the week, have increased their “E” bond pur chases After going over the top early in the drive, Jamesville added anoth er $2,000 to its total, and it is possi ble that Chas. Davenport, the chair man, and his people will subscribe the over all amount in “E" bonds. The district has a $500 negotiable bond to its credit also. Williams is less than $300 short of its quota. On ly a small purchase has been report ed recently in Griffins, but they a»e holding a rally at Farm Life tonight with Jimmy Taylor auctioneering, and it won’t be at all surprising to see that district over the top in the next report. Bear Grass more than doubled its purchases since the last report and is now within about $2, 000 of its quota. Williamston, still lagging, did very well since the last report, the chairman stating that sales jumped from around $17,000 to $32,250. Cross Roads possibly made the greatest percentage gain, but like Williamston, its $918.75 is far short of the quota. They are sched uled to hold a rally there tonight and a good report is certain before next Monday afternoon. Buying more] than $24,000 since late Tuesday, Roh ersonville is just a little over $10,000 short of its quota. Three townships, poplar Point, Hamilton and Goose Nest made no report since early in the week, but the facts now at hand are really encouraging. In the negotiable list, Williamston is leading the county with $316,000, or $21,000 in excess of its negotiable bond quota. Robersonville reported $95,000 negotiablcs, leaving the dis trict about $41,000 short of its quo ta. Jamesville reported a $500 nego tiable bond, and Oak City listed a $1,000 negotiable in its latest report. Several counties in the nation have already reached arid passed their (Continued on page four) f PRISONER OF WAR J v___; -m | Reported missing in action on September 11, 1044, in France, Private First Class James Sam uel Roebuck, son of Mr. and Mrs, R. ('. Roebuck, is now being held a prisoner of war by the fierm- I ans, it was revrlaed in a mes sage received this week through the International Red Cross. Soldier Is Wounded In (/iin Accident Cpl. Barney I.<*<• Conway, sf>n-in liiw of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Gurkin of near here, nearly shot off two fingers on his left hand accidentally yesterday afternoon, reports from the hospital stating that there was: some doubt if the fingers could be saved. The young man suffered severe shock and details of the accident could not be had immediately, lie had just come in from squirrel hunting about five o’clock and is thought to have been cleaning the gun when it accidentally fired. He was on the back porch of the Gur kin home at the time. Given first aid treatment here, he was remov- ! ! od to a hospital in Washington. A native of Memphis, Tenn., Cpl. Conway has been stationed at Camp Butner for some time, and was com i pleting a thirteen-day furlough with ! his family near here today. -* County Youth Returns From The Puri fir Area ~—Q/— After a stay in New Guinea, Clar ence Thomas, county boy, returned ! to his home in Hamilton last week end for a 25-day furlough. Troubled , with some type of skin disease, the | young man has been receiving treat ment in hospitals in this country since his return to the States. He will leave at the end of his furlough for Swananoa for reassignment. Thomas was one of about a dozen Martin County boys stationed in i New Guinea. He state's that he left 'hem in good health and still long ing and hoping to be abla to return home ere long. Thm* Motor Wrecks Reported In County One person, a young colored girl, was known to* have been hurt and possibly others were slightly bruis ed in a series of auto accidents on the highways and streets of the county during the past few days. Lillie Stokes, ten years old, was dangerously hurt when she walked into the side of a truck driven by B Frank Lilley, Jr., on U. S. Highway | 17 at the Staton farm last Tuesday morning at !) o’clock Struck by the body, the child who lives on the W. L. Taylor farm, was thrown down and it is believed that one of the rear wheels of the truck passed over her arms, breaking both bones in her left arm and breaking her right arm near the shoulder. She was treated in a local doctor’s office, and is getting along as well as could be expected, according to indirect re ports received here today. The truck driver and owner, while cleared of any responsibility, accepted the ex penses, it was learned. The child, on her way to school with others, was said to have care lessly walked into the side of the truck C. B. Ayers, Cross Roads while boy riding with Pete Coltrnin in a 1938 Ford, barely escaper1 serious injury when they struck a truck parked in front of the II M. Burras home on West Main Street here early last Tuesday night. Ayers mov ed quickly or just before the light side of the car was ripped and al most torn off. The truck, owned by the Planters Oil Co., was not badly I damaged, but damage to the car will run possibly as much as $250 or $300. It is believed that one or more per I sons were hurl when an Oldsmo | I bile from Virginia turned over on the Rohersonville Spring Green road | j last Wednesday afternoon Three! j colored persons were in the car j and they righted it and continued their trip before an investigation j could be made. tloi'xiiisld s«F iaaL ! Session of Special Term \\ ednesdav T Frv* <!«■«<•'* H<*ac.h Jury Rut A ■(jootUy \uniher Cleared From The Calendar I Opening a two weeks term on Monday of last week fur the trial of civil cast's only, the Mir tin Coun ty Superior Court adjourned late Wednesday afternoon of this week ( Few cases, other than the ten di i vorce actions, reached the jury hut '■ a goodly number was cleared from the calendar, either by agreement | or voluntary non-suits. The Stevenson will case with the ten children divided six to four, was bitterly contested, the court, after working two full days hearing the evidence and thrashing out the is sues, refusing to set the docu ment aside. Evidence in the case was heard during all of Monday and some little time was spent for rebut ilal Tuesday morning. Attorneys j argued and argued until early aft j ernoon. and Judge Jeff Johnson, pre reviewed every bit of the evidence, delved into the law and of ft red instructions in a charge lasting about one and one-half hours. The jury took the case at 3:55 o’clock that afternoon and reached a decision fifty minutes later, the verdict fav oring the propounders or the four younger children, Roland and Ben Long Stevenson, Mrs. Marie Coburn and Mrs. Frances Coburn. The six “older” children, E. C. and Eli Stevenson, Mrs. Mattie Sterling, Mrs. Mary Berry, Mrs. Eva Coburn and Mrs. Beulah Gurganus, maintained that the will of Mrs. Mary Stevenson was drawn after the propounders had exercised undue influence, and they further claimed that Mrs. Stev enson was in feeble health and not mentally able to prepare a will. 11 was intimated that the will rep resented an estate valued at between $12,500 and $15,000. The court directed Attorney J. C. Smith to proceed witli the orderly J administration of the estate. A fee of $400 was fixed for the propounders’ attorney, II. G. Horton, and J. C. Smith was allowed $350 by the court. B. A. Critcher, attorney for the caveators, was allowed $250 by i he court, the total to bp paid out of I the estate. l)i J. E. Ward, qualify ing as an expert witness in the case, was allowed $30. Squeezing in one or two minor Cases foi trial, the court granted Charlie Mack Mi/elle a divorce from Annie Bailey Mi/elle, the action be ing based on Iwo years’ separation. A judgment in the sum of $80 was granted S. J. Tetterton in his case to recover on a note from Walter Bailey. Frances Whilley war, granted ali mony without divorce in her case against Jesse Wlulley, the plaintiff to receive $20 a month for the sup per! of h"r three children. The plain tiff was also given possession of one house table, one wardrobe, one dresser, one linoleum rug, one crib, even chairs, two beds, mattresses and springs, one table set and one sheet While denying responsibility, the fli fendant in the case of Mildred Wobbleton, who brought suit by her next friend, Mrs. Lewis Wobbleton, to recover damages sustained in a fall from a truck, against Garland Woolard, agreed to pay $342 to the plaintiff plus $50 for plaintiff’s at torney’s fee. Based on two years of separation, a divorce was granted Jasper An dtews in nis case against Louvenia Andrews The case brought by Beltie Out (Continued on page four) J. V,. (Uulurd Cril'nully III At IIin Homo lloro -«• J. G. Godard. retired farmer-bank < r, continues critically ill at bis home here on Marshall Avenue, late re ports stating that he was taking v< ry little nourishment. Mr. Godard, H3 years old, broke two of his ribs in a fall in his room a short time ago, and he has been confined to his bed since that time. LICENSE TAGS ] Alter handling what is be lieved to be the greatest issu ance of automobile and truck li censes ever recorded for this im mediate section, the local bureau of the Carolina Motor Club of fered the first 1945 motor ve hicle state license tags for sale today. A few sales were made, but the rush is not expected un til a little later in the month. Located in the hotel building next door to Ann's Variety Store, the license bureau, operated by Harrison and Carstarphen in surancc firm, sold <1,206 plates for 1944, handling approximate ly $116,900. Since November 15, 24 car owners bought plates, paying one-fourth the annual cost when they could hive waited a few more days cr until today and saved quite a few dollars. But, what is a dollar now? The new tags may be displayed on cars now. Over 5,600 Register For Liquor Coupons —<*>— Signing 5.663 potential customers, the registration for new liquor ration hooks closing in the county late yes terday afternoon fell short of the high peak reached a year ago by an estimated 300 or 400. The decrease i traceable mainly to those persons entering the armed services during the past year and to those who were ruled ineligible foi rations because they had violated some law since the 1943 registration. Williamston, reporting a last-min ute rush that reminded one of the .depression bread lines back in the thirties, registered 3,975, and Rober* sonville signed up 1.688. Apporximately half of the regis trants were women, a majority of them colored. There may be trans portation problems, but there was little evidence of such problems when the Goose Nest colored popu lation and others swarmed into the 1 registration c. nt-r here in droves 1 yesterday and a few days before. | County Boy In Promoted To Bank Of Sergeant In France Charles W. Gurkin, Jr., 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Gurkin, RFD 1, Williamston, was recently promot ed to the rank of sergeant over in France. Stationed at a Ninth Air Force Bomber Base in France, the young man is an engineer-gunner in an A-20 light bombardment group.