NEARI.Y 4,000 COPIES OF THE
ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE
HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY
AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN
THE ENTERPRISE
NEARLY 4,000 COPIES OF THE
ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE
HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY
AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN
VOLUME XLVIil—NUMBER 48
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, June 15, 1945.
ESTABLISHED 1899
Liquor Sales in County
Pass $27000,000 Mark
A
4
4
4
4
4
4
*
*
4
4
r
Total of $2,087,845.01
Is Spent For Liquor
Since Stores Opened
Sales Last Quarter Highest or
Record For That Period
Of The Year
-®
Legal liquor sales in Martin Coun
ty poured over the two million-dol
lar i lark during the first quarter ol
this year when $115,984.40 was taken
in by the four ABC stores to boost
the total to $2,087,845.00. The sales
last quarter were $38,884.25 larger
than they were in the corresponding
period of 1944 and the third largest
recorded for any quarter since the
stores were opened in July, 1935. In
less than ten years about as much
was spent for legal liquor, not to
mention the white lightning kind,
beer and wines, as farmers received
for their crops in any one normal
ye«r during the period. The sales
during the period and for the last
quarter especially offer the people
of this county a challenge to meet
the current war bond quota. One has
not to be for or against liquor to
recognize a great lurking danger.
Up until last Saturday approximate
ly $238,000, had been invested in
war bonds by Martin County peo
ple. Go back to the first three
months of this year and it is found
that just about half that amount was
spent for liquor. The facts will not
be very well accepted out on the
wide expanses of the Pacific and the
dotted islands in that theater where
young inen are offering their lives
while the people back home are
spending such tremendous amounts
for liquor and investing, after earn
est pleading and begging, so little in
war bonds.
When illicit liquor sales are con
sidered along with the money spent
for beers and wines and rum, the
picture is even darker, for estimates
place the money spent for intoxicat
ing beverages outside the four legal
stores at between one-fourth and
one-half the amount handled after
the legal fashion.
It is possible that liquor price ad
vances account for some of the
startling increase in sales, but there
is every indication that rationing
was indeed liberal.
The large sab's in the first months
of this year follow record expendi
tures for liquor reported in the pre
ceding quarter when the four stores
reported a gross income of $172,
525.25. Only in one other quarter
have sales been greater, the stores
reporting a gross income of $137,-!
476.80 in the last three months of
1942.
A review of the audit iust recent ;
ly released for the months of Janu
ary, February and March of this
year, shows that of the $115,984.40
sales $87,730.08 was sent to distill
ers in other states. Operating ex- i
penses were placed at $4,231.14,
leaving a net profit of $25,499.59 less ,
$60.99 for deductions from income.
Direct store expenses were listed as
follows: salaries and wages, $2,594;
rent, $306; supplies, $16.43; heat, wa
ter and lights, $102.67; cash under,
$111.10; unclassified, $12.00. Admin
istrative and general expenses were
placed at $1,311.14—stationery and
office supplies, $315.43; salaries,
warehouse, office and administra
tive, $525.00; insurance, $176.79; tel
ephone and telegraph, $21.74; heat,
water and lights, 20 cents; travel and
hotel, $30.60; audit and legal, $67.50;
drayage, $169.73, and unclassified,
$4.25.
The system assets were placed at
$78,345.11, including $3,505.89 in
cash, $74,642.54 in inventories, and
$2,441.22 in fixed assets less $2,
244.54 reserve for depreciation. Lia
bilities were listed as follows: due
distillers, $11,365.43; accrued taxes,
$3,202.80; withholding taxes, $260.80;
due county and towns: Martin Coun
ty, $29,839.66; town of Williamston,
$3,907.18; town of Robersonville,
$2,033,44; town of Oak City, $777.87;
town of Jamesville, $741.43; reserve
for law enforcement, $14,216.50, and
surplus, $12,000.00.
Profits for the first quarters were
apportioned as follows: State of
North Carolina, $11,792.60; Martin
County, $9,825.12; reserve for law
enforcement, $1,364.60; town of Wil
liamston, $1,292.00; town of Rober
sonville, $614.07; town of Oak City,
$289.84, and town of Jamesville,
$260.37.
A comparison of profits for the
first three months of this year and
the corresponding period in 1944
(Continued on page six)
-*
Infant Dies In Rocky
Mount Hospital Monday
-«
Robert Earl, one-year-old son of
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Beach of Cross !
Roads Township, died in a Rocky j
Mount hospital last Monday after-;
noon following a short illness of co-j
litis.
Funeral services were conducted
at the home last Tuesday afternoon
by Rev. D. W. Davis. Interment was
in. the Bowen Cemetery in Bear
Grass Towu'tip
STUDYING BUDGET
Meeting here this morning at
9.30 o'clock. Martin County’s
commissioners are giving budget
figures serious study for the new
fiscal year. A reduction in the
rate, according to preliminary
estimates, is just about out of
the question and the authorities
will possibly do well to hold it
to its present figure of $1.10 per
$100 property valuation.
There are slight increases in
the budget, put there to meet
increasing costs, and the proper
ty valuation increases, consider
ably less than expected, will
hardly offset them.
; Von Ribbentrop Is
Taken in Germany
By British Agents
—t—
Six Thousand Tons of Bomb?
Daily Aro Promised The
Japs Beginning Soon
Germany’s ace diplomat, Von Rib
bentrop, was captured this week by
British agents in Hamburg, the ar
rest accounting for all of the top
Nazi leaders with the possible excep
tion of one Adolf Hitler, whose fate
is not yet definitely known. Ribben
trop, the man who forced one coun
try after another to yield to the
Nazi yoke, is wanted by at least
ten countries. Going under an as
sumed name, the man was captur
ed in a cheap boarding house in
Hamburg and was definitely iden
tified. He had a vial of poison on
him, but the first reports of his ar
rest indicated that he had no an
xious intention of ending his life.
He declared that he was waiting for
Allied hatred to cool, that he had
planned to surrender later when he
thought a fair trial would be possi
ble. His sister was later arrested.
Allied forces are rapidly restoring
order in Europe, and quite a few lo
cal boys are seeing the sight in
helping handle the restoration job.
Writing a short time ago, Billy Biggs
says he is seeing Europe in a jeep.
The young man led a convoy mov
ing thousands of liberated Italians
out of Germany to their homeland.
"The Italians could not do enough
for us when we moved into Italy
with their relatives and friends,’’
the young man said, adding that he
was looking forward to a similar trip
into France.
On the Pacific side, the tempo of
the war is gradually and steadily in
creasing. Tokyo says that air power
has already started arriving from
the European area and is now be
ing based in the Philippines and oth
er areas for an attack on Japan.
According to reports coming out
of Washington, the Pacific war is
almost certain to take one of two
courses. American military authori
ties are said to believe that Japan
may possibly surrender in ninety
days, that if she doesn’t then the
United States may choose to wage
a long war of attrition and starva
tion rather than launch an immed
iate frontal assault. Military prep
arations are being advanced for a
long war of attrition. The Japs have
been notified that beginning the first
of next month at least 6,000 tons of
bombs will fall every day for a year
on their factories and lands.
Japan’s Premier Suzuki said a
short time ago that the battle for
Okinawa would just about settle
the war. Now, he admits the battle
is lost, but that the defeat will not
force his resignation and that the
Japs, including civilians, would
fight to the death. The last main de
fense on Okinawa has been taken
by the Americans and the Japs are
now reported to be surrendering in
numbers, and the end of the fight
thee# is expected shortly. Already
more than 10 air fields are in use
by American planes,
The Australians, landing on North
(Continued on page six)
-«
Mrs. S. Whitehurst
Died Last Thursday
—<*.—
Mrs. Lula B. Whitehurst, member
of a prominent Pitt County family,
died at her home in Bethel last
Thursday night after a brief ill
ness.
Mrs. Whitehurst was 79 years old
and the wife of the late Samuel
Clayton Whitehurst, and the daugh
ter of the late B. L. T. Barnhill and
Mrs. Barnhill. Funeral services were
conducted in the Bethel Methodist
Church last Saturday afternoon.
Surviving are four sons, L. J.
I Whitehurst of Bethel, L. A. White
; hurst of Greenville, S .C. White
hurst of Bethel and George White
i hurst of Williamston; Mrs. J. J.
Marlow of Wilmington, Calif., and
Martha Whitehurst of Bethel. Two
sisters, Mrs. Nettie Barnhill of
Miami and Mrs. Maude Ward of
Norfolk also survive.
Eleven Marriages
In Martin Comity
During Past Month
.?-<f—-*
> I issuance Is One ol Smallest
Reported for May in
Ten Years
Eleven marriage licenses were is
sued by Register of Deeds J. Sam
Getsinger in this county last month,
the issuance being one of the small
est reported for May in ten years
Five years ago there were only six
licenses issued, but with that excep
tion the bureau reported business
from fair to good since the depres
sion years when the issuance drop
ped to six for May, 1932.
The eleven licenses last month
were issued five to white and six
to colored couples, as follows
White
Jay Eddie Keel and Odessa Kirk
man, both of Pitt County.
John Raymond Roberson and
Elizabeth Peele Bailey, both of Wil
liamston.
Joseph C. Olschner. of Nashville,
Tenn., and Lucy Evelyn Lilley, of
Williamston.
Pvt. Evan Franfr.im Moyer, of
I Reading. Pa., and Williamston, and
Kathleen Gurganus, of Williams
ton.
1 Robert T. Taylor and Eris Delores
Stallings, both of Williamston.
Colored
James Biggs, Jr., and Mary Lee
Wiggins, both of Williamston.
Cecil Ernul and Nettie Brown, both
of Williamston.
George Hayes and Vinie Smith,
both of Williamston.
Oscar Cherry, RFD 1, Bethel, and
Mattie Evelyn Lynch, of Oak City.
James E. Purvis and Allie Mae
Moore, both of Williamston.
William James Morris, of Camp
Lejeune, and Orlando, Fla., and
Mary Vivian Harris, of Williamston.
-a
Goes To Rescue Of
Men Near Bastogne
o
-»
Cpl. Joe E. Hudgins, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Iludgins who live
on the Sherrod farm near Hamilton,
and two other youths played a prom
inent part in getting aid to Ameri
cans trapped at Bastogne. Hudgins
and his companions, one a classmate
in high school, were dropmasters on
Troop Carrier C-47’s which flow in
through a heavy barrage of flak and
ground fire to parachute supplies
and relieve the encircled American
garrison and enable the troops to
thwart von Rundstedt’s all-out
counter-offensive. They were charg
ed with the responsibility of send
ing down the vital supplies to the
right place.
Cpl. Hudgins was recently award
ed the Air Medal for his meritorious
conduct during similar air supply
missions in the invasion of France
and Holland. He has been overseas
about seventeen months.
— ——s
Local Youth Awarded
Combat Infantry Badge
-*
With the 103rd (Cactus) Division
of the Seventh Army—Pfc. Simon
C. Griffin of Williamston, North
Carolina, was recently awarded the
Combat Infantry Badge for out
standing performance of duty with
the 103rd Infantry Division in
ground combat against the enemy.
The young man is serving with the
410th Regiment of the Cactus Divi
sion.
-»
Undego Major Operations
Mrs. Editli Ayers Martin and Sam
H. Mobley are getting along very
well following major operations in j
the local hospital this week.
IN THE ARMY )
V_____;
In reporting an induction call
eerlier this month, it was stated
that Luther Hugh G. Hardison
and Joseph Alexander Martin,
fsaih wf Itmaville, did not an
swer, It was known at the time
that two young men owning
those names were already in
the service, but since there are
duplicates, the facts were re
ported as they appeared.
Checking the report in more
detail, it was learned from the
records, that both men entered
the service one day and were
discharged the next. However,
the discharges were granted
that the men might volunteer
for other branches of the service,
and they just did not report their
action. Hardison is a lieutenant
and Martin is a staff sergeant
in the service now.
0. S. Anderson, Jr.
Awarded Air Medal
■—$—
Headquarters, Third Air Division,
England—Not satisfied with super
vising the supply of ammunition for
B-17 -Hying Fortresses from an
Eighth Air Force divisional head
quarters, Major Oscar S. Anderson,
27, of Williamston, N. C., participat
ed in a number of bombing attacks
to observe the functioning of ord
nance equipment in the air and has
been awarded the Air Medal for
‘'meritorious achievement."
Major Anderson, recently awarded
the Air Medal, flew in heavy bom
bardment missions in the air offen
sive against such targets ns the oil
plants at Nuremberg and Neuberg,
the tank factories at Plauen, and the
marshalling yards at Aussig. The
B-17 bombing attacks which pulver
ized these targets contributed to the
ultimate defeat of Germany.
The citation, accompanying the
award, stated in part, “The courage
coolness, and skill displayed by Ma
jor Anderson on these occasions re
flect great credit upon himself and
the Armed Forces of the United
States.
Major Anderson serves as an as
sistant to the director of the ord
nance section at the headquarters
of Major General E. E. Partridge's
Third Air Division, the division
which has received a Distinguished
Unit Citation for its England-Africa
shuttle bombing of Messerschmitt
plants at Regensburg, Germany.
The young major was also recent
ly awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Major Anderson served as an as
sistant superintendent for the Stan
dard Fertilizer Company, of Wil
liamston, prior to his entry into the
armed forces in August, 1941. His
home address was 214 Muin Street,
Williamston.
SAW WAR’S END
T/5 Hattie E. Bass, the young
woman who saw history made in
the little red schoolhouse at
Rheims, France, last May 6, went
with General Eisenhower’s staff
to witness the signing of the
German surrender. Miss Bass’
father, L. G. Bass, is a former
resident of Martin County and Is
a half brother to Mrs. Joe L. Hai
slip of the Hassell community.
Her parents are now living in
Wilmington.
In a recent letter she said:
“Although there was work to
be done, no one was in a work
ing mood, and spent most of the
day watching the Russians and
Germans coming in and out of
the building. I even saw the
people who signed the surren
der and was right here when it
all happened.’’
1 Twelve Colored Mer
Reported For Fina
Induction Thursdav
i —-<*-—
(Group Iiirlmlet* Only. On<
Married Man and Four
Farmers
Twelve Martin County colorec
men were called yesterday to re
port for final induction into the arm
ed services, the call being aboul
normal.
Only one man in the group was
listed as being married and he is
reported without children. Four of
the twelve were listed as farmers.
With one exception, the call includ
ed youths in their teen ages. About
half of them just recently attained
their eighteenth birthdays, five were
nineteen years old just recently and
one is 27.
Names of those called, their regis
tration and last-given addresses foi
low.
Arthur McIntyre, Williamston.
Quinton Durward Jones, Parmele.
Sammy Thomas Roberson, RFD 1.
Robersonville and Stokes.
James Edward Stokes, Williams
ton.
Berlin Baker, Williamston.
James Willis Williams, RFD 2,
Williamston and Norfolk.
Joe Walter Williams, RFD 2, Wil
liamston.
Walter Anderson, Williamston.
Essell James, RFD 1, Jamesville.
Louis Daniel Ormond, Williams
ton.
James Robert Leo Jenkins, RFD 2,
Robersonville.
Even before the group left for fi
nal induction, a call had been issued
by the draft board, directing a fair
sized number of colored men to re
port for pre-induction examinations
next Monday.
A goodly number of white men re
ported for pre-induction examina
tions on Tuesday of last week, and
a fair-sized number will be called
to report for final induction about
week after next.
Funeral Wednesday
For Sylvester Lilley
Funeral services were conducted
at the home in Griffins Township
last Wednesday afternoon at 4:30
o’clock for Mr. Sylvester B. Lilley,
prominent farmer-business man,
who died suddenly near here last
Tuesday morning. Rev. D. W. Davis
and Rev. W. R. Harrington officiat
ed, and interment followed in the
Lilley family cemetery, not far from
the home. The last rites were at
tended by a large crowd, including
business associates and friends from
all parts of the county.
Mr. Lilley was 64 years old last
November 11, and was born in Grif
fins Township, the son of the late
Kadcr and Mary Griffin Lilley.
While he had not enjoyed the best
of health for several weeks or more,
his condition was not considered
serious at any time. He, with J. C.
Norris, local contractor, was in
specting a tobacco barn furnace near
Dardens Tuesday morning, and they
were on their way to Williamston
when he was taken critically ill, dy
ing a few minutes later and before
medical aid could be rendered.
Besides his widow, the former
Miss Sarah Rogerson, he is survived
by three sons, Elmo, Roland and
Ralph; two brothers, Messrs. J.
Dawson and J. Eason • Lilley, and
two sisters, Mrs. Garland Perry and
Mrs. Jno. W. Manning, all of this
county
-$
Farewell Sermon
Rev. E. C. Wilkie will preach his
farewell sermon in the Everetts
Baptist Church at 8:30 p. m.
Real Property Values in Martin County
The ban on building construction is again reflected in Martin County real property values,
a comparison for the years 1944 and 1945 showing little change in the figures, according to in
formation released a few days ago by M. Luther Peel, county tax supervisor. Two townships
reported losses of a few hundred dollars each, but most of the districts reported slight gains. As
a whole, the building program was virtually at a standstill, one report stating that the small
gains were traceable to repairs rather than to new building construction. The new construction,
valued at $63,750, was about equally divided, the white owners reporting an increase of $34,
554 and the colored owners showing a gain of $29,196. The gain in real property values is not
of sufficient size to influence a change in the tax rate, and if any decrease in the rate structure
is to be had it will have to be based on lower budget figures. The figures below, showing a
comparison of real property values for the years 1944 and 1945, gains and losses and percent
age variations, are listed by townships for white and colored owners.
1944
796,264
247,614
431,888
442,162
1,936,962
452,709
1,471,758
264,642
693,482
855,216
$ 7,592,697
Denotes decrease.
Jamesville
Williams
Griffins
Bear Grass
Williamston
Cross Roads
Robersonville
Poplar Point
Hamilton
Goose Nest
Whits
1945
795,820 i
254,906
437,828
446,292
1,942,147
452.038
1,475,307
265,722
694,152
863.039
7,627.251 $
Gain
444*
7,292
5,940
4,130
5,185
671*
3,549
1,080
670
7,823
34,554
Pet.
00.0
02.9
01.3
00.9
00 2
00.0
00.2
00.4
00.0
00.9
00.4
1944
113,276
34,946
10,245
18,843
159,565
28,071
117,526
5,670
73,514
168,184
729,840
Colored
1945
$ 113,864
36,780
11,395
19,275
173,297
24,375
129,480
5,670
76,014
168,886
$ 759,036
$
Gain
588
1,834
1,150
432
13,732
3,696*
11,954
000
2,500
702
$ 29,196
Pet.
00.5
05.3
11.2
02.3
08.6
*13.1
10.1
00.0
03.4
00.4
04.0
Superior Court Opens
Short Term June 18th
1
HIS FIRST LETTER
The first letter written per
sonally by Pvt. George James,
Jr„ since he was wounded on
t April 10, 1!)J5, was received by
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo.
James, RFD, Robersonville, this
week.
The letter stated that he was
recovering rapidly from the
wounds and that he expected to
be home within thirty days. The
cast covering his arm has been
removed, and twenty-seven
stitches were taken to sew up
wounds on his chest and stem
ach..
Judge Calvin Smith
Calls Eleven Cases
In County's Court
Number of Eases Holds IJji
Rul Finances Now In
Summer Slump
Judge^ J. C. Smith called eleven
cases in the Marlin County Record
er’s Court last Monday and finished
his work in about two hours. Only
a fair-sized crowd attended the ses
sion, and the proceedings attarcted
very little attention.
While the number of cases con
tinues to hold up. the summer slump
has struck the court revenue. Fines
were rather limited, but costs were
only slightly below normal, Clerk
L. R. Wynne said.
Proceedings:
A $25 cash bond was ordered for
feited when Seymour PortnofT,
charged with speeding, failed to ap
pear in open court.
The case charging Burt Scott with
bastardy was continued until the
first Monday in July.
Entering no plea, Herman Wilson,
charged witli drunking driving, was
adjudged guilty. Judgment was con
tinued under prayer for judgment.
Mayo Andrews, charged with vio
lating tiie health laws, pleaded
guilty and was sentenced to the
roads for thir ty days. The road sen
tence was suspended upon the pay
ment to a $10 fine and the costs, and
on further condition Ugh lie com
ply wi111 certain health law require
ments.
Pleading not guilty in the case
charging him with allowing an un
licensed driver to operate a motor
vehicle, James Kelly Moore was ad
judged guilty. He was fined $10 and
taxed with the costs.
Pleading guilty of operating a mo
tor vehicle without a driver’s li
cense, Thomas Raymond Gibson was
fined $10 and required to pay the
court costs.
Curtis Willis, pleading guilty, was
fined $15, taxed with the cost and
had li is license revoked for ten
days for speeding on the high
ways.
Charged with larceny and receiv
ing, Edgar Holmes was found not
guilty. Herman Johnson, a second
defendant in the case, was adjudged
guilty, and judgment was suspended
by the court.
Charged witli assaulting a female,
Prim Sherrod pleaded guilty and
was sentenced to the loads for four
months. All but the first day of the
road sentence was suspended upon
the payment of a $20 fine and cost,
and on the condition that he is not
to mistreat his wife in anyway dur
ing the one year suspension period.
Charged witli non-support, Ervin
Ross was adjudged guilty over his
plea of innocence and was sent* ic
ed to the roads for six months. The
sentence was suspended for two
years upon the payment of the case
costs and the payment of $25 now
and $20 a month for the next two
years for the benefit of his wife and
children. He is to reappear at the
end of that time for further judg
ment.
In the civi lease of J. T James
against Chas. H. Jenkins and Com
pany, the defendant asked for a jury
trial and thi case was automatical
ly placed on the superior court
docket.
Judge Smith and Solicitor Rober
son will have a holiday next Mon
day when the superior court will
convene for the trial of both crim
inal and civil cases for a week.
Colon /f. Harrison, Five
Months Old, Dies Tuesday
-ss——
Colon Gray Harrison, five months
old, died en route to a local doctor’s
office last Tuesday evening about
7 o’clock. He had been undergoing
(treatment in a Washington hospital
and was thought to be improving
I until he was taken worse suddenly
I Tuesday and died before medical aid
j could be rendered.
Funeral services were conducted
Wednesday afternoon at the home of
his parents, Mr. Roland Harrison
and wife, the former Miss Marie
Martin. >n Ecar Grass Township. In
terment was in the Mobley Ceme
tery ir. Bear Grass Township.
I Expecting Action on
Two Cases Jnst Back
From High Tribunal
-s
| Twelve Criminal Cases Have
Been I’laeeil on Docket for
I rial and Consideration
-*■
With Judge Q. K. Nimocks of Fay
etteville scheduled to preside, the
Martin County Superior Court opens
a one week term for the trial of
both criminal and civil cases here
next Monday. Twelve cases have
been placed on the criminal docket
for trial or consideration, but as far
as it could be learned today no civil
calendar has been prepared.
Newly appointed to succeed Don
nell Gilliam as solicitor, George M.
Fountain, young Tarboro attorney,
will prosecute the docket. The young
man has served as solicitor in only
one or two courts, and makes his
first appearance here in that capacity
next Monday.
Most of the cases on the criminal
docket were sent up from the coun
ty recorder’s court, several of them
going there when the defendants
called for jury trials.
The case against Herman Manning
and Joe Martin, convicted and sen
tenced to two years in prison by
Judge Leo Carr at the last Septem
ber term for allegedly aiding and
abetting in an illegal operation, is
expected to come up for final re
view. At the trial last September,
Martin pleaded guilty and Manning
was adjudged guilty. They appealed
to the State Supreme Court and
were denied a new trial. The deci
sion of the state court was reached
before last March, but it did not
clear official channels in time for
the case to come up for final review
at the regular term held that month.
The decision has been certified and
ordinarily action, directing the de
fendants to start their sentences,
would have followed in due course.
However, the case has its implica
tions and apparently justice was
trampled in the dust. There is some
doubt as to how the case will be
handled in this county.
While the two defendants were
convicted and sentenced in this
county for aiding and abetting in
the crime that allegedly resulted in
the death of Beulah Brown, the prin
cipal in tin’ case was in some way
not yet fully explained adjudged not
guilty. When the principal, Dr. Heck
Person, of Wayne County, was plac
ed on trial for having performed the
operation, several of the principal
witnesses were never called. As fur
as it could be learned here, the solic
iotor made no comment and offered
no explanation. Legal opinion dif
fers on the case as it stands now,
some saying that the positive and
negative of courthouse justice lias
clashed head-on, that it is hard to
understand why the principal should
go fiee and those aiding and abet
ting are convicted and sentenced ♦/>
prison. Other legal opinion main
tains that the peculiar situation as
it relates to the principal cannot in
fluence the case in this county, that
those tried in this county had a fair
trial according to the findings of
the state court, that they committed
a crime, a serious one against so
ciety, and that they should pay the
penalty.
Even from this distance the case
smells, and the public who still looks
upon tin courts as places of justice
await developments from now on
out.
Another decision was handed down
by the state court and calls for a
new trial in the case against Lucile
Bowen Brown. It is understood that
some error was found in the judge’s
charge to the jury, and that a new
trial was granted on that count ra
ther than on several other exceptions
filed by defense counsel. Lucile Bow
en Brown, a Washington County col
ored woman home on visit from up
north, was returning when she al
legedly violated consolidated statute
60-136 governing the seating in
public transportation vehicles. On
July 14. 1944, the defendant was or
dered to move back on a Carolina
Trailways bus at Robersonville. She
refused, and she was first charged
in the county court with violating
the “seating" law and using profane
language. Adjudged guilty, she was
fined $25 and taxed with the cost.
Appealing her case, she was tried
in the superior court last Septem
ber and Judge Leo Carr sustained
the sentence after she had been ad
judged guilty by jury. The decision
(Continued on page six)
j Liberated, Local Yonhg
Man Expected Home Soon
Liberated a little over a month
ago after being held prisoner by the
Germans, S/Sgt. R. J. Hardison is
expected home this week-end or
early next week. The local young
man, an aerial gunner and crew
chief of a B-24, talked with his
mother, Mrs. Bessie Hardison, this
week and stated that he would be
home in a few days.