NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH _WEEK. THE ENTERPRISE NEARLY 1AM MARTIN COUNT* * SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRISE LN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK. V OLUME XLVIII—NUMBER 36 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, May. 4, 1945. ESTABLISHED 1899 County Bookmobile Will Make Regular Schedule Next Week _ &W1 New Books Added To Collee* lion lor DislriLoliou In Tliis County As the bookmobile makes its scheduled trip next week it will pay its last visit to the schools this term. Teachers are urged to have all books belonging to the bookmo bile ready to return. Students de siring to borrow books for their summer reading may meet the truck at the scheduled stop in their com munity in June. Copies of the sum mer schedule will be available for the pupils in each school. Many new books are ready for distribution this month. Their types are as varied as a patchwork quilt. Excluding the new mysteries, west erns, and light romances, there are several unique items. There is Baker’s ’’Party Line”. No person could give such a vivid de scription without a background of definite experiences. For those who have ever listened in on a neigh bor’s conversation, here is a charm ing book, with Miss Elmira in con trol of the lines. More laughs from the Woollcotts. This time it is Alexander’s niece, Barbara, who gives from her pen the home life of four unpredict able youngsters with their lovable Pop and their Horn who hod “so cial sense”. “None But a Mule” is filled with the joys and heartaches of a happy, imaginative and quite unorthodox family. Those who have been reading with Dr. A. L. Crabb have enjoyed “Dinner at Belmont”, ai.d "Supper at Maxwell House”. An invitation is now extended for “Breakfast at the Hermitage”. This is the last of three novels on the rebuilding of Nashville, Tenn. Most fittingly this one is centered around “the Hermi tage, the home Andrew Jackson planned for his beloved wife, Ra chel”. It is 1he love story of a boy and girl of old Nashville. Ira Wolfert has another book, “America Guerilla in the Philip pines”. This is the story as told by Lt. Richardson who relates how a guerilla army must operate. It is an adventure story with much jungle life in it. “It’s a how-to-do j book—how to make fuel for your I automobile out of the sap of the palm tree; how to scrape your way through jail bars with a can opener; how to make field artillery out of a brass pipe; how to court a girl in the Philippines; how to tell time in the jungle at night when you don’t have a watch, etc. Most of all, it is a story of real people. For the history lover, Evelyn Eat- ' on has a new story of violence, love, and sacrifice with its setting on the island of Corsica in the middle of the 18th century. These are only a few of the many books ready for circulation this months. The old schedule of stops will be observed. Justice Calls Five Cases In His Court Justice J. L. Hassell handled five cases in his court this week, but three of them were out of his juris diction and he sent the defendants up to the county court for Judge J. C. Smith to pass upon their guilt. Lafayette Pearsall, D. D. Hill and Paul Griffin, charged with an af fray, were each fined $2.50 and re quired to pay $5.50 costs. James Slade was required to pay $7.50 costs for allowing a minor to work in a pool room. Charged with disorderly conduct and assault with a deadly weapon, Noah Andrews was bound over to the county court in $100 bond. Ted Scott, charged with an assault with a deadly weapon, was requir ed to furnish bond in the sum of $50 for his appearance in the coun ty court next Monday. Bud Freeman, laboring already under a suspended sentence, was bound over to the county court in $50 bond for interfering with an of ficer while in the performance of his duty. -ft Mother of Teacher j Dies at Ayden Home Mrs. J. R. Turnage, mother of Miss Frances Turnage, popular teacher in the local schools died at her home in Ayden last Tuesday morn ing following a critical illness of five weeks’ duration. Mrs. Turnage, the former Miss Eva Moseley, was 61 years of age. Funeral services were conducted at the home in Ayden yesterday aft ernoon at 4 o’clock and interment followed in the Ayden Cemetery. Besides her daughter here and her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Hal W. Stafford of Greensboro; a sister, Mrs. H. F. Laws of Kinston and a brother, Laurie Moseley of St. Petersburg, Fla. The local schools ended the daily session earlier than usual yesterday and many of the teachers attended the funeral. County Has More Farms Now Than It Had Five Years Ago The number of farms in Martin County as shown by the preliminary count of returns of the 1945 Census j of Agriculture was 2886, as compar ed with 2406 in 1940, and 2633 in 1935. This was announced today by Denton W. Lupton, supervisor for the 1945 farm census in the First North Carolina Census District with headquarters at Washington, N. C. The total land in farms in Martin County, according to the preliminary i945 census county w^as ‘95,230 acres, as compared W'ith 184,466 acres in 1940, and 198.109 acres in 1935. Av erage size of farms shown in the preliminary 1945 census count for Martin County was 67.6 compared with 76.7 acres nr--* ,j, and "3.8 acres in 1935. 1" announcing the 1945 census totals of farms and land in farms in Martin County, Supervisor Lup ton pointed out that the figures are preliminary and subject to correc tion. Final tabulations of Martin County farm census returns will be made by the Bureau of the Census and announced from Washington when completed, Mr. Lupton said. The census was started in this county several weeks ago, and while the field survey has been complet ed, it will take some weeks to tabu late the findings, it was explained. More Men Report For Pre - Induction Exams -- Eight Non-Farmers Included In Group leaving This Week Few Teen-Age Boys Are Call ed for Pre-Induction Yesterday -« Fourteen Martin County white men left yesterday morning for Fort Bragg to undergo pre-induction examinations for possible call into the armed forces. Fifteen were call ed originally, but one in the group chose the Merchant Marine and he was sworn in a short time before the time to leave for the preliminary examination at Fort Bragg. Only four in the group are in their teens, and all of them turned eighteen not so long ago. Four of the fifteen answering the call are married and they leave six children behind. Excluding the teen-age lads, the men called yesterday are from 22 to 33 years of age, the av erage age of the group being about the oldest of any other contingent to leave the county in recent months. Six of the fourteen men come from the farm. Most of the others were employed in industry, but one or two had quit the farm and were not regularly employed when call ed. Names of the men answering the call and their registration and last given addresses follow: Roland Chesson Raynor, RFD 1, Oak City. John Thomas Farmer, RFD 2, Wil liamston, and RFD 5, Greenville. Arthur Bailey Gurganus, RFD 3, Williamston. Marion Clyde Ward, RFD 2, Wil liamston. Thomas Earl Roberson, RFD 1, Williamston. James Russell Lee, RFD 2, Wil liamston. Tom Fenner Jackson, Roberson vilie and Baltimore. » William Robert White, RFD 3, Wil liamston and Norfolk. William Cairoll Fagan, RFD 1, Jamesville. Luther Faith Lynch, RFD 1, Oak City and Ahoskie. Thomas Cleon Pilgreen, RFD 1, Palmyra. James Lesley Williams, RED 3, Williamston and Portsmouth. Dennis Warren, Robersonville. El wood Preston Alexander, RFD 1, Jamesville. Tom Fenner Jackson was trans ferred to Baltimore for his pre-in duction test. LIBRARY According: to a report by Rev. John L. Goff, chairman of the Williamstnn Public Library, the response to letters sent out last Saturday for the annual support of the institution is very en couraging. A much finer re sponse must come, however, In order to insure a growing serv ice. The budget for the coming year cannot be set up until all those contacted send in their replies, it was pointed out. Every citizen is asked to help underwrite this excellent com munity service. Lt. Harris Awarded Bronze Star Medal First Lieutenant James L. Harris, Jr., was recently awarded the Bronze Star Medal for “heroic conduct,’’ his wife, the former Miss Eva Harrison, was notified here this week. The citation reads: “First l.ieutenant James L. Har ris, Jr., 01018082, Cavalry, Company B, 22nd Tank Battalion, 11th Arm ored Division, United States Army. For heroic conduct in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. From 5 February 1945 to 22 February 1945, while serving as Company Commander of Com pany B, 22d Tank Battalion, near Heckhuscheid, Germany, Lieutenant Harris contacted his three platoons personally each day .to see that they received adequate supplies. During these actions Lieutenant Harris was exposed to heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire and had to travel through heavily mined areas. Lieu tenant Harris often acted as liaison between infantry and his tanks, ex posing himself to enemy fire in an open vehicle. Through the untiring | efforts of Lieutenant Harris, both his company and the infantry were able to accomplish their missions. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army. Lieutenant Harris en tered the military service from North Carolina.” -a, Air Medal Awarded To Henry H. Rawls T/Sgt. H. Herman Rawls of Rob ersonville, was recently awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in accomplishing with distinction aerial operational mis sions over enemy occupied Conti nental Europe. The citation con tinues, “The courage, coolness and skill displayed by this individual in face of determined opposition ma terially aided in the successful com pletion of these missions. His ac tions reflect great credit upon him self and the Armed Forces of the United States.” Prior to entering the AAF in Oc tober, 1943, he was employed by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Baltimore. WARNING v,_ The warning issued a few days ago to draft registrants by the Martin County Draft Board against job changing applies to farmers also, Miss Mary Rodger son, clerk, pointed out yester day. While a farmer may move from one farm to another, he cannot quit the farm and enter any other industry without sub jecting himself to call for duty in the armed forces. Before a farm registrant may quit the farm without subjecting him self to call, he must first get permission from his draft board. Some few farmers are quit ting tlie farm without permis sion, it is understood, and they are subject to call; in fact, sev eral have already been inducted into the armed forces for quit ting the farm without draft board permission. Officials Are Named By Towns in County -- A few changes in the government of one or two towns in the county were made in municipal elections last Tuesday. Jamesville, reporting a light vote following a spirited convention the Friday before, retained only one member of the board of commission ers. G. M. Anderson was nominated and elected to succeed Joe Holliday as mayor. John Long, Clyde Brown and U. S Hassell were elected com missioners, Mr. Long succeeding him self as a member of the board. Oak City, according to reports reaching here, nominated J. N. Hop kins for mayor, E. N. Harrell, J. C. Johnson, Wheeler Daniel, J. C. Ross and J. H. Ayers for town commis sioners at a nominating convention this week. / ittle Business Scheduled. For County Commissioners -»y Very little business other than that of a routine nature, is on the schedule for consideration by the county commissioners at their regu lar meeting here next Monday. Jurymen for the one week term of the superior court will be drawn and it is possible that the officials will study preliminary budget figures for one of the county departments. I Seventh Army Men Pouring ‘Through The Brenner Pass Nazis Surrendering in Such Numbers They Are A Hies' greatest Problem -* With Allied forces pouring through the Brenner Pass and advancing on all major fronts, victory is appar ently at hand in Europe today. Ger mans by the hundreds of thousands are surrendering to the British and Americans, and they are becoming the Allies’ greatest problem. During the meantime, negotiations for a general surrender are in progress, and are nearing completion, accord ing to reliable reports heard this morning. The British are plunging into Den mark.^Patton's Third Army, despite a snow storm, is pushing on toward Linz and a junction with the Rus sians on the Danube, and the Amer ican Seventh is steaming through the Brenner Pass for a meeting with the American Fifth less than eigh teen miles away. A general surrender of all Ger man forces in ftaiy tame this week, and organized resistance in the north has collapsed, one report stating that the British yesterday took half mil lion prisoners, most of them fleeing from the Russians and seeking safe refuge. The British were said this morning to have landed at Putland in Denmark, and it is indeed appar ent that a genera] sui render will have to come shortly. The prisoner problem, during the meantime, is causing much concern. England is crowded with the once supermen, and their transfer to the i United States is out of the question. It has been suggested that they be returned to the Russians to be dealt with by them. German spokesmen despite the fiendish atrocities un (Continued on page six) Few Votes Cast In Municipal Election Here Last Tuesday Vole Almost Solid for Entire Ticket for New Term Be ginning in June -«, Williamston’s town politics were settled after a final fashion for an other two years last Tuesday when seventy-five voters participated in the biennial municipal election. Little interest was shown in the election, and Registrar J. E. Pope and Judges of Election O. S. An derson and Jesse T. Price had a dull time between 8 o’clock that morn ing and sunset. Completing the count without delay and with little effort, the election officials announced the following results: J. L. Hassell for mayor, 75 votes; N. C. Green, V. D. Godwin and r! i T. Griffin, 75 votes each, and G. H. Harrison and Lawrence P. Lindsley 74 votes each for commissioners. There had been some talk of an independent ticket, but no petition was prepared and filed and such a ticket could have been ruled out by default. However, if there was op position it could have been record ed by the individual voter by writ ing in the names of his candidates. There were no write-ins and not more than two tickets refused to advance a 100 per cent support cf the entire ticket All but one of the commissioners participated in the election. While the election supported the nominating convention’s ticket al most 100 per cent, the size of the vote was dangerously small. Out of a potential reserve of possibly 1,- I 400 voters, only seventy-five elect- j ors participated in the election. Al- ! though the vote count is one-third larger than the total vote cast two years ago, it is still quite small. It is quite likely that a primary will be asked of the next session of the legislature, and if one is creat- , ed a much larger participation in local elections can be reasonably ex pected. The old officials will hold their last regular meeting next Monday night and meet as a new governing body for the first time on the first 1 Monday in June. At the latter meet ing, they will consider budget esti I mates for the new fiscal year. MOVING After seeing action in the front lines on the Continent, Frank Saunders Weaver was transfer red to the Army Air Corps ground forces, and it is believed that he is now on his way to the Pacific theater direct. The young soldier has advised that his ad dress is being changed, and that he would hardly be in a position to write during the next sever al weeks. As far as it can be learned, no land troops have been moved di rectly from the European area to the Pacific, but the movement of air forces to that sector is well underway, according to re ports. I Grady B. Hardy Killed In Action In Germany County Young Man Had Been Overseas Nearly Two Years ——A Makes Supreme Sacrifice on April 25, Parents Are Ad vised This Week -« Pvt. Grady Burroughs Hardy, Mar tin County young man, was killed in action in Germany on April 20, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lon Har dy, RFD 2, Williamston, were noti fied Wednesday by the War Depart ment. The terse message, carrying few details, will be followed by a letter of confirmation shortly, the Adjutant General explained. Pvt. Hardy entered the service in July, 1941, and after receiving his training as a member of an air force ground crew, he left for England in September, 1943. He served woP in that position until a few months ago when many young men were trails ferred from the air corps to the in fantry. Since he was transferred the young man saw much land action in the German offensive. He was the 44th Martin County young man to lay down his life for his country during World War II. The son of Mr. Lon Hardy and Mrs. Nellie Burroughs Hardy, he was born near Williamston on May 10, 1916, and spent most of his lift' on the farm. He was employed by the North Carolina State Highway and Public Works Commission for several months, working out of Wil liamston. He later entered the cm nloy of the Williamston Package Manufacturing Company and was working at the local plant at the time he was called for service near ly four years ago. In early manhood he was married to Miss Hilda Roberson of near Wil liamston, and a daughter, seven vear-old Julia Dail, survives the un ion. Besides his parents he is also survived by a sister, Mrs. June Beach whose husband is in the Navy serving at Washington, D. C., at the nresent time, and three brothers, Pfc. Lance Dutton Hardy who is sta tioned somewhere in the Pacific, Pfc. Calton Hardy who is somewhere i i Germany and T/Sgt. Martel Har dy who returned a few months ago after fifty air missions in the Ital ian area. In a letter written on April 13th, the last word received from him by his parents, Pvt. Hardy slated that he was getting along all right. Ad dressing his young daughter, who is making her home with his parents and attending school at Bear Grass, Pvt. Hardy said he was anxiously looking forward to seeing her on or before next Christmas. Fifty-Foul* Tires Allotted by Board A record low issuance of passen ger car tires was reported in this county last Friday night when the war price and rationing board is sued certificates for the purchase of only thirty-nine. In addition to that number, certificates for the pur chase of fifteen truck tires were is sued. Certificates for the purchase of Grade 1 tires were issued to the fol lowing: John A. Ward, Jr., Raleigh Har rington, Geo. E. Peele, J. T. Bennett, State Highway Patrol, A T. Perkins, J. R. Rawls, S. T Brady I.. C Gardner, L. R. Beach, Dennis A Roberson, W. Bruce Johnson, Tom mie Whitley, Roland Harrison, D. C. Peele, F. D. Williams, J. L. Whit field, Elbert Roberson, G. P. Hall, W. A. Bailey, James R. Mizelle, K F. Woolard, Geo. A. Oglesby, J. O Stokes, W. V. Ormond, W. C. House, J. E. Copeland, Sr., Marie Johnson, Lester Scott, Foy Rogerson, Thad Newsome, Russell Collier, J. R. Mat thews, Charles Ferris, L. A. Croom, Jonn A. Griffin, W. S. Peele, G. W. Hodges. Trlick tires were issued to the fol lowing: E. E. Brown, Williamston Pack age Mfg. Co., A. T. Gurkin, Chas. II. Jenkins, Williamston Lumber Co., Lindsley Ice Co., J. F. Crisp. Issuance of Wine Licenses Delayed The issuance of wine licenses to retailers in Williamston is being de layed with the possibility that none will be issued, according to an un official report heard yesterday. It ! is expected that the commissioners will consider applications for licenses at their meeting next Monday. It is understood that the town and county can’t deny licenses to an ap plicant except in certain cases, but some are of the opinion that a gen eral lav: passed by the last session of the legislature outlaws the sale of certain types of synthetic wines. In that case licenses could be denied when such wines are included in the retailer’s stock. f k!LJLEi> I> «.Kini\\Y ' v___J Pvt. James William Manning, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Dave Manning, ItFD 1, Williainston, was killed in action in Germany on April 11, 1945. The young man was home on fiirloug/i last February 19 visiting his wife and young daughter and other relatives. County Women Will Head District Clubs Mrs. J. Eason Lilley of the Mace donia Home Demonstration Club was elected president of the 15th dis trict of the North Carolina Home Demonstration Club Federation at the annual meeting which was held in Swan Quarter last Friday. Mrs. N. It. Rogerson of the Hear Grass club was elected district secretary. Mrs. T. G. Whedbee of Ahoskie, retiring chairman, presided over the all day meeting, held in the Metho dist Church there. Words of welcome by the president of the Hyde Coun ty clubs were extended the dele gates from Bertie, Pitt, Beaufort, Tyrrell, Washington and Martin Counties. Mrs. R. L. Leggett of the Bear Grass club in Martin County, responded. Reports were given by each coun ty in the district. Mrs. Arthur Peaks of the Sweet Home club reported for Martin. Mrs. June Harris of the Sweet Home Club in Martin, chairman of the transportation committee, report ed that the attendance gavel went to Bertie County. Lunch was served to the delegates by the Hyde County club women at the agricultural building. Miss Ruth Current, State Horne Demonstration Agent, brought the highlight of the program with her greetings from State College and an inspirational message on Home Demonstration Club work in North Carolina. After the meeting adjourned a ten was given at the agricultural build ing for Mrs. Whedbee, retiring chair man. Wounded County Boy Home on Leave Pvt. Wiriford Mobley, slightly wounded iri Germany on last Febru ary 2.1, is spending a 30-day furlough in the county with his wife and fam ily Following the stay in the coun ty, he will return to the Finney Gen eral Hospital in Georgia to under go further treatment for his wounds. The young man was wounded in the right shoulder and suffered a broken collar bone. He just recent ly returned to the States following a stay of a few months in the European area. NEWS TO HIM Hugh G. Horton, local at- I torney, was recently mentioned as a potential candidate for the National House of Representa tives from this district. But Mr. Horton said yesterday that the report was news to him, and refrained from making any com ment at that time. A Raleigh colmunist for aft ernoon newspapers said that Herbert Bonner will almost cer tainly have vigorous opposition. He continued, “Thus opposition may be sufficiently divided to prove less threatening than if it gets together on one man.” The columnist then mentioned Mr. Horton, Arthur Corev of Pitt and W. C. Morse of Elizabeth City as possible candidates for the seat. At the same time, Attorney Horton has been mentioned as a possible successor to Don Gil liam, district solicitor, whose nomination for a federal judge - ship is now pending before the United States Senate. Twenty-four Cases !-Called~m fio»n£vV w_. __ _ J Court Last Monday jCouri Takes in MhmiI 8 *00 hi Session Lasting Late Into Afternoon Culling twenty-four cases, Judge J. Calvin Smith held the Martin County Recorders Court in session until 5 o’clock last Monday after noon before clearing the docket, and adjournment came then only after a few cases had been carried over for trial later, The session attract ed a fairly large crowd early in the day, but it dwindled gradually and by late afternoon, there were less than a dozen spectators on hand. Over $700 was taken in during the day, the figure including both fines and court costs. Proceedings: The case charging Harry Paul with careless and reckless driving was nol prossed. It was superceded by a warrant charging the young Greenville white man with man slaughter. He pleaded not guilty, but Judge Smith found probable cause of guilt, and the defendant was bound over to the superior court under bond in the sum of $500. Charged with drunken driving, Mayo Matthews was found not guil ty. Judgment was suspended upon the payment of the costs in the case charging Lafayette Pearsall with operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license. Pleading guilty in the case charg ing him with drunken driving, Hardy Williams was sentenced to the roads for six months. The term was suspended upon the payment of a $60 fine and costs, and $12.50 to P, T. Norwood for damage done to the prosecuting witness’ car. The de fendant’s license to operate a motor vehicle was revoked for one year. Charlie Mack Jenkins, charged with speeding, pleaded guilty and was sentenced In the roads for ninety days. All but the first two days of the term was suspended on condition that the defendant pay a $15 fine and costs and violate no motor ve hicle law during the one-year suspension period. Willie Jasper Jones was sentenced to the roads for sixty days for speed ing Tin' sentence was suspended for one year upon the payment of a $20 fine and court costs. Charged with drunkin driving, j William Archie Mobley pleaded [guilty and was fined $100 and taxed with the costs. His license to oper ate a motor vehicle was revoked for one year, the order to take effect at the termination of the present revo cation. Charged with speeding, Grover W. Jernigan pleaded guilty and was fined $15 and required to pay the court costs. M. M. Smithwick was fined $25 and taxed with the costs in the ease charging him with speeding. His license to operate a motor vehicle was revoked for ninety days. Leslie Vernon Dickerson, charg ed with speeding, was fined $20 and required to pay (lie costs. Ilis license to drive a motor vehicle was revok ed for ninety days. (Continued on page six) Teachers Resigning r r» In County Schools At least srvcn tenrhrrs have al ready resigned and a goodly number of others will likely withdraw from faculty positions in this county at the close of the current term, ac cording to information coming from tin1 office of superintendent of school this week. Willinmston re ports two, Oak City has two and Robersonville has three resignations in their fill's. Present indications point to an aggravated teacher shortage in the schools for the coming term. A few applications have been received, but even with those the prospects for filling faculty positions during the 1946-46 term are not as bright as they were about this time a year ago for the 11M4-45 term. Funeral Today For Respected Citizen Funeral ser iees are being con ducted this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock in the A. M. E. Zion Church here for Will Jos. Huff, respected colored cit izen, who died at his home on Syca more Street last Monday afternoon following an illness of several months duration. His pastor, Rev,. Lee, will conduct the last rites. He was born in Williamston 68 years ago and was employed by the A C L Railroad Company fur near ly half a century. In recent years he maintained a public dray. He was a hard worker and upright in his deal ings with his fellowman. He was a leader in his church and a good cit izen. He is survived by his widow, the former Annie Battle, and two chil j dren, William Huff and Dorothy Huff Thompson. I Interment will follow in the Odd I Fellows Cemetery.