NEARLY 4,(100 COPIES OF THE ENTERPRISE OOINrj ^?TO THE HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN NEARLY 4,0ft0 COPIES OP THE ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN ▼ VOLUME XLVIII—NUMBER 53 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, jvly 6, 1945. ESTABLISHED 1899 Countv Bov Submits •' •* Account of the 83rd Infantry Engineers 4 Highlights of' Long Trip from Indiana to Junction with Russians on the Elbe -« A member of Co. B, 308th Engin eers, 83rd Division, Sgt. Ernie Lee Modlin, son of Mr. Joe Gray Modlin, RFD 1, Jamesville, submits an in teresting story of his outfit from the time it was reactivated at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, until it met the 4 Russians across the Elbe in Ger many. " The second installment of the story follows: LOIRE VALLEY Following the successful conclu sion of the St. Malo-Dinai'd cam paign, the 83rd moved to the Loire Valley to protect the entire right flank of the Third Army in its dash across France. The mission began on August 22nd and concluded Septem 4 ber 20th. The zone of responsibility assigned to the Division extended along the Loire through Nantes, An gers, Tours and Orleans to Auxerre This is a distance of more than 200 miles—the longest line of responsi bility given any division in this war. An 83rd Reconnaissance Troop pa trol went south to Bordeaux without mishap. Another went south from Orleans and near Geneva contact ed elements of General Patch’s Sev enth Army moving north from the • Mediterranean. During the month on the Loire approximately 20,000 Germans, including Brigadier Gen eral Botho Elster, were captured. This surrender included all vehicles, arms and other equipment of the March Group which Elster com manded. Formal surrender ceremon ies were held at Beaugency Bridge on September 17th. General Elster turned his pistol over to General Macon and then his 20,000 men 4 marched to a prisoner of war enclos ure. This was the largest mass sur render of the war. The 83rd trans ferred from the Third to the new Ninth Army during this operation. LUXEMBOURG On September 24th, the Division moved across France, into Luxem bourg to take up positions along the Moselle and Sauer Rivers and re lieve elements of the 5th Armored and 28th Infantry Divisions. Enemy _ pockets on the Luxembourg side of ™ the Moselle and Sauer were elimi nated and patrols sent across into Germany. From positions on the Luxembourg side of the rivers, 83rd artillery units smashed at enemy rail movements and knocked out sever al enemy troop and supply trains. While in Luxembourg, the Division was in the Third, Ninth and First (Continued on page four) Firemen Get Two Calls This Week Local volunteer firemen were call ed out twice this week when fire was discovered in the laundry and when a small fisherman’s shack ♦ burned on Roanoke River. Called to the laundry last Sunday morning shortly after five o’clock the firemen found a rack of clothes burning. No material damage was done to the building and no accur ate estimate on the clothes loss could be had, but the damage will run well into several hundred dollars. It is believed that some one broke in to the building, stole two overcoats and other clothing and then start ^ ed the fire to cover the theft. Believed to have been of Incen diary origin, fire destroyed the small shack near the river yesterday morning at 4:15 o’clock. The proper ty was owned by W R Cherry and houses a few fish. nets. The loss was negligible. --- Soldier Seriously f Hurt In Accident Pfc. Carol T. Noble, a member of the guard personnel at the local prisoner of war camp, was seriously hurt and Pvt. William O. Blaine was painfully but not badly hurt when an Army truck driven by Pvt. Blaine went out of control and 4 wrecked on U. S. Highway 64 in Rocky Mount last Saturday. Removed to a hospital, Pfc. Noble whose home is in Texas was said to have suffered a skull fracture and other injuries. His condition is im proving, last reports from the insti tution stared. Pvt. Blaine, a Penn sylvania young man, was discharged this week from the institution and is getting along very well. --- ff'ni. F. Whitaker Passes At Parents* Home Sunday William Pranklin Whitaker? sev en-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Whitaker, RFD 2, Washing ton, died at the home of his parents last Sunday. Besides his parents he is survived • $by two sisters, Errra Marie and Joan. Funeral services were conducted at the home Monday afternoon at 4 o’clock by Rev. C. F. Heath of Wash ington. Interment was in the family cemetery in this county. •Lee-Goss-Deiiiecl Bond luJLuut ^!.,JULmsder Case DIES OF WOUNDS 1 Pfc. David Wilson Hardison, promising county youth, died of wounds on Okinawa May 20, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Har dison. RFD 1, William-ston, were advised a few days ago. Town Authorities In Regular Meet Last Monday Night E.\|HM‘tiii» Delivery of New Fire Truek Possibly Latter Part of Next Week -9 Meeting in regular session last Monday night, local town commis sioners discussed a varied business calendar, but final action was limit ed to a few isolated cases. Representing the Williams Chapel A. M. E. Zion Church, Sam Faulk discussed the possibility of provid ing sewer connections for the church and parsonage on Rhodes Street. It was pointed out that plans for sew er and water line extensions were pending, and that the request would be handled as a post war project. The spokesman also asked for a sew er line on Washington Street and pointed out a bad sidewalk situation existing after each big rain on Elm Street near the Carolina warehouse. Treasurer N. C. Green explained that work on the new fiscal year budget was being delayed pending the completion of the annual audit which is to be handled shortly. The board was advised that the new Mack fire truck ordered some months ago was about ready for shipment and that delivery could be expected possibly next week. Advised that the new acreage re cently added to the local cemetery had just about been sold the com missioners ordered the purchase of the old colored school site from Mrs. L. B. Harrison. It was the opinion of the commissioners that the addition could be had for about $165. The board agreed to include a $600 ..ppropnation in the new budget for the local public library. Appearing before the board, Mr. Jeff Ray maintained that he had not been receiving fair treatment a citi (Continued on page four) Pump In Hamilton Street Torn Down Afh i' withstanding batterings and knocks over a long period of years, Hamilton's street water pump was i -t about cleared from the inter dion site there about 2 o’clock last Saturday morning. The water sys t. m was so i**dly wrecked that the town fathers are having it replaced by a small electric pumping system which will be located just, off the street. According to reports reaching here Mark Bunting, accompanied by an other young man and two young girls, was traveling down the street in a pick-up truck and tore into the town pump, wrecking the shelter, | fence and leaving part of a cement trough. No one was hurt and very little damage was done to the truck. | QUIET OBSERVANCE July 4 was observed very quietly in this county, fairly complete reports indicating that the day passed without accident or untoward incidents. Not a single fire cracker was heard, and activities were limited to work schedules at one or two mills. The main business district was as quiet as it usually is on any Sunday. — Only one arrest was made, and the charge was an old one. Traffic was unusually light on the highways ia this section, pa trolmen stated, and bus travel was possibly below week-day loads. Probable Cause Of Guilt Uncovered at Hearing Last Night —*— j Perlie Coffield. Young Color ed Woman, Fatally Stab bed Late Last Sunday -- Probable cause of guilt having been found at a preliminary hear ing held in the county courthouse here last evening, Justice John L Hassell denied Lee Goss, young col ored man, bond in the case charg ing him with the cold-blooded mur der of Perlie Coffield, young color cd woman, just off Hill Street here late last Sunday night. H. S. Ward one of the two defense attorneys i maintained that the state's evidence was not sufficient to support a charge of murder in first degree. H. G. Hor ton. private prosecutor, declared tha1 it had every appearance of first de gree murder. Justice Hassell agreed and ordered the defendant held without the privilege of bond for trial in the superior court during the term beginning next September 17. Only two witnesses were called by the state, and possibly much im portant evidence was not offered. A fairly large crowd gathered for the hearing, and the case is expected to attract much public attention, espec ially from the colored population. Chas. R. Moore, local officer and the first witness called, stated that Goss surrendered to him at the po lice station about 11 30 o’clock last Sunday night. “Goss told me to put him in jail, explaining that he had just cut a colored woman,” the of ficer said. "I took Goss to Dr. Early’s office and saw she was dead,” he added. The officer went on to say that the victim was cut or stabbed in about seven places, that possibly an inch and a half or two-inch cut m her back resulted in death. Eleanor EvereM with whom the Coffield girl lived stated that Goss and Perlie Coffield came to her house late Sunday night, that they were talking about some clothing missing from the Coffield girl’s room since the night of the Florida Blos som show here. Goss told the Cof field girl, his sweetheart who was just 21 years old that day, that he had her clothes, that he would give them to her if she would accompany him to get them. The witness then said that the Coffield girl was afraid to go with Goss for the clothes and asked her to go along. They started out for the clothes and along the way I Goss reached in his pocket, got a match and lit a cigarette. “It’s no iv^uiiuimeu on jjcigt; iuui/ Veterans Committee Meets Here Friday —#— A Veterans Service Committee meeting was held in the courthouse in Williamston Friday evening at eight o’clock. This meeting was sponsored by the local Selective Service office and the U. S. Em ployment Service The purpose of this meeting was to organize the Martin County Veterans Service Committee and to have the provi sions of the G. I. Bill of Rights ex plained. Ray H. Goodmon, chairman of the Martin County Selective Serv ice Board, presided. The meeting was open to the public but representa tives from the various government agencies, civic organizations, and leading citizens in the town and county were asked to be present. Ap proximately fifty persons attended. Mr. Goodmon asked each person present to introduce himself, tell the kind of business he is engaged in, and any committee or organization of which he is a member. Hugh G. Horton, local attorney and chairman of the Martin County Veterans Re-employment Commit tee, was introduced and made a short talk on the duties of the re-employ ment committee and our responsibil ity to the veterans. Mr. Horton com pared the provisions of the G, I. Bill to those provided for the returning serviceman at the close of World War I. Mr. Goodmon introduced Mrs. Al vis Jordan, manager of the local of fice, who in turn introduced the area director. The area director pre sented Mr. R. C. Godwin, the main speaker. Mr. Godwin very ably ex plained the provisions of the G. I Bill of Rights and the agency respon sible for administering each title. He concluded his talk by stating thai the best form of readjustment is te allow the veterans to approach theii own problems in their own way without directly directing them Mr Godwin stated that the prospect ol jobs in the state for veterans will be | a real j§b for all organizations work ing together. At the conclusion o: | Mr. Godwin’s talk, the area directoi commented on the work pt the loca office which is rated one of the besi in the State. The meeting was throwr open for questions. Due to the in tense heat, the people were more in i rested in getting out than in ask ing questions and as a result very few questions were asked. 1 DIES IN HOSPITAL 1 * ----:------_> John R. Peel, highly respect ed and well-known local man, died in a Raleigh hospital last Monday afternoon following an illness of a few weeks. John Roberson Peel Passes In Hospital at Raleigh On Monday i —<►— j Funeral Tuesday in Baptist Church for Prominent Local Citizen -• John Roberson Peel, widely-known and highly respected local citizen, died in Rex Hospital, Raleigh, last Monday afternoon at 12:35 o’clock following several months of declin ing health. Although he had not been feeling well his condition was not regarded serious until he enter ed the hospital four weeks ago to day. He did not respond to treat ment, and pneumonia, developing about the middle of last week, was given as the immediate cause of his death. The son of Mr. Pleny Peel and the late Ida Corey Peel, he was born in Griffins Township forty-six years ago last October 8th. He attended the local community schools as a youth and spent his early life on the farm, coming to Williamston as a young man to work on the tobacco market and later to supervise extensive farming interests for J. G. Staton for a number of years. More recently he had devoted his attention to individ ual farming interests with the ex ception of that time spent in the employ of local tobacco warehouse men and on southern markets. Mr. j Peel was secretary of the Roanoke Tobacco Warehouse Company for 'many years, and held other positions (Continued on page tour) -4 Mrs. Frank S. Daw Dies In Washington -. I Mrs. Eva Holliday Daw, native of Jamesville Township, died at the 'home of her sister, Mrs. John E. Sexton, in Washington last Monday evening at 6 o’clock following a long period of declining health. She was getting along very well earlier that day, but was taken critically ill in the afternoon and died a short time later. The daughter of the late Jeffer son Holliday and wife, she was born near Jamesville 64 years ago. She was first married to Dolly Hardison and following his death she married Frank S. Daw who died about ten or twelve years ago. With the ex ception of a few years spent in Gold Point and other areas, she spent all her life in the Jamesville commun ity and had been visiting her sister in Washington about two weeks when she was taken fatally ill. Funeral services were conducted at the home of her sister in Wash ington last Tuesday afternoon by Dr. R. H. Crossfield and interment was in the Holliday family cemetery near the old home in Jamesville Town ship. Besides her sister with whom she was vi.uting she is survived by a brother, Mr. Wilmer J. Holliday, of Jamesville; two sisters, Mrs. L. W. Mizelle of Jamesville, and Mrs. F.oxie Smithwick of Washington, arid a half-sister, Miss Grace Holliday of Jamesville. | POSTPONE TRIALS vJ In an effort to help relieve the labor shortage on farms dur ing the tobacco harvesting sea son, Judge J. C. Smith this week directed an appeal to all jus tices of the peace, mayors and other lower court officials to schedule no cases for trial in the county recorder’s court before August 13 if the eases would take many witnesses or others away from the tobacco harvest. Harvest plans for several far mers have been upset recently when numbers cf witnesses were called from the task to appear in court. Judge Smith pointed out that only those cases involving farm labor should be continued until or after August 13. County Invests “E” Bonds To Quota By Mon $391,915.75 In Exceed Original * Than $20,000. Board Members Impressed by New Highway Commissioner Appearing before the Martin County Commissioners at their reg ular monthly meeting last Monday, Murriel Evans, Ahoskie man who was recently appointed highway commissioner for this district, made a very favorable impression on the group when he said that he wanted to work with them, that while he could not guarantee to meet every request, he would do all in his pow er to work with the local authorities. Mr. Evans, well known to many peo ple in this county, intimated that a closer cooperation between local au thorities and highway officials was to be expected, that the county’s needs and requests would receive every consideration possible. Commissioner R. A. Haislip was unable to attend the meeting on ac count of illness, and the other four commissioners handled the day’s work and adjourned before lunch. Very little business was consider ed by the officials during the briel j session. The board denied claims for I tax exemptions on property listed ! by members of the armed forces oth-! er than poll taxes. Claims were pre sented for tax exemptions in the sum of $128.f>6, the commissioners reason 1 mg that it was hardly fair to allow the exemption claims where other members of the family continue to use and handle the property. It is apparent that the commissioners will continue to exempt members of the armed forces from the payment of poll taxes, but they are of the opinion they have no legal right to exempt property. The bouid recommended that the i road running from Manning and Gurkin's store in Griffins Township via Maple Grove Church and others and back to Highway 171 be widen ed. It was pointed out that the road •serves 14 families and a church of 300 members. A contract calling for repairs to tiie courthouse walls was let to F. B. Birmingham Williamston Native Dies in Norfolk Last Saturday Afternoon Funeral Service Held Sunday For Durward Dur^ami* In Virgnia Cily Durward E. Gurganus, native of Williamston, died in a Norfolk hospi tal last Saturday afternoon at 12:15 o'clock following a long period of declining health. His condition was considered critical only a few days before the end. The son of the late Eli and Sarah Mobley Gurganus, he was born in this county 54 years ago. He was as sociated with his father in the pea nut business here for a number of years and engaged in the ice manu facturing business for several years before locating in Norfolk about fif teen years or more ago. He was first married to Miss Sal ly Brown of Williamston and one daughter, Miss Shirley Gurganus, of | Norfolk, survives the union. He was later married to Mis .Eva Gainor Tucker who survives. He also leaves a step-son, Bruce F. Tucker, and a step-daughter, Mrs. S. J. Alexander, Jr., both of Norfolk; a brother, Mr. Leroy H. Gurganus, of Williamston, and a sister, Mrs. M. G. James, of Norfolk. After a stay of several years in Moyock he moved to Norfolk where he was in the employ of a construc tion company for a long time. He suf fered a stroke of paralysis several years ago, but was able to return to his work and continued there until a few weeks ago when heart trou ble developed and he entered the hospital. He suffered a second stroke on Thursday of last week. Mr. Gurganus was a veteran of World War I, serving from August 24, 1918, until 1919 when he was honorably discharged while holding (Continued on page four) -JT/ Religious Grou|>s Welcome Minister —®— Dr. !’D. S. Knight, entering upon his new duties as pastor of the Wil liamston Memorial Baptist Churc :i, was extended a welcome by tin; var ious religious groups assembled in a union service at the Baptist Church last Sunday evening. Following a custom established by the local Ministerial Association in welcoming any pastor, the president i of the association, Rev. John L. Goff, I presided and conducted the devo ■ tional part of the service and ex pressed “the hope that Dr. arid Mrs. Knight might have a most fruitful and happy ministry in our fine little city.” Then Dr. Knight was present ed and delivered the evening mes sage taking h s scripture from 2 Kings 2:1-15. The minister using the desire of Elisha for a double por tion of the spirit of Elijah, and be ing promised that he would receive it if he saw him (Elijah) when he was taken up. Dr. Knight continued, “Saying that Elisha did not girt Side tracked nor did he look at the fiery chariot, but concentrated on seeing Elijah. He saw him and called to him, and therefore received the blessing. Many people miss the main thing by allowing smaller things to come in and absorb their attention It is needful for the Christian to keep his eye on Jesus Christ and not let the chariots of fire of whatever kind to distract.” A goodly number of people were in attendance upon this service, de spite the unusually warm weather. WOITNDKI) Pfc. William Vernon Roe- | liuck was wounded in his leg on Okinawa last June 12, his fath er, Mr. W. It. Roebuck, RFD 2, Williamston, was advised a few days ago. Preliminary Trial Is Held in Bigamy Case Here Last Monday j It. Cornelius kirlvlaiiil Being; Delimit'd in Jail ill De fa nil of 8 1.000 Bond Probable cause of guilt appearing in the ease charging him with big amy, Ruby Cornelius Kirkland, member of the guard personnel at the local prisoner of war camp, was bound over to the Martin County Superior Court for trial during the term convening the third Monday in September. Unable to give bond in the sum of $l,()(Jli, the 34-year-old sergeant was returned to the coun ty jail. The defendant offered no testi mony at the preliminary hearing held before Justicn John 1,. Hassell here last Monday morning, but, ac cording to reliable reports, lie has not denied having more than one wife. Very little evidence was offer ed at the hearing and details of the alleged crime could not be learned officially. was revealed, however, that wiiiie the defendant and '.is bride of only a few days weie away on their wedding trip, a message was received hy the local authorities di recting them to inquire wny allot ments to a former wife had been stopped Kirkland was arrested here last Friday night by Sheriff C. B. Roebuck who told at the hearing that he had information purporting to show that the defendant had a wife in Ireland. During the meantime, it, was rumored that the defendant hud a wife in Alabama. Relieving Mrs. l.va M. Cr'-ies j as Red Cross Home Service worker in this chapter for the \ next few months, Mrs. Mary Henson Carstarphen opened an I office on the third floor of the town hall this week. Red Cross chapter officials stated that Mrs. Crimes was expected to resume her duties as home service work er on or about the time the schools are opened for the fall term fContinued on page four) r----—--\ RED i ROSS W ORKER V --mmJ1 Only Two Districts Have Failed So Far To Meet Their Goal —■&-— B'mhIh Purchased Up Until Noon Tomorrow To Count In Current Drive Investing an additional $60,000 or more since Tuesday of last week, Martin County citizens pushed the sale of “E” bonds well over the top with more than $20,000 to spare. Up until yesterday afternoon, the peo ple of this county, including the young men in the armed services, ha dunes' J !,0t5 70 e “E” bonds or $20,015.75 in excess of the as signed quota for the Seventh War Loan Drive. Today, nine of the elev en districts in the county are over the top with some to spare. Two dis tricts, Williamston and Griffins, are short, of their assigned quotas, Wil liamston by $1,463.75 and Griffins by $587.50. The drive has been ex tended a second time to include bond purchases made up until noon to morrow, and it is believed that the two townships will pull up to and pass their assigned quotas to make the drive unanimously successful. The lagging townships last Friday really settled down and went to work this week, according to the latest figures released by County Drive Chairman D. V. Clayton. Five town ships, Jamesville, Bear Grass, Cross Roads, Poplar Point and Hamilton, were over the top the early part of last, week and they rested while sales continued to climb in the other dis tricts. Rohersonville and Goose Nest were over the top, but they added to their totals, Robersonville jumping from $110,118.75 to $122,098.25, an amount $10,798.25 in excess of its original quota. Williamston after holding a low and almost hopeless position for weeks, pulled almost up to its goal during the past few days when over $39,000 was invested in “E” bonds. Williams added $1,443.25 to its to tal to go over the top. Griffins ac counted for $7,000 in sales to pull within a few hundred dollars of its goal. Hassell, one of the smallest dis tricts in the county, turned out after i liberal fashion, boosting its sales b.y $7,008.75 and carrying its drive over the top with nearly $2,000 to spare. In addition to the $391,915.75 in vested in “E" bonds, Martin County citizens have invested $1,217,686.50 in negotiable securities, making a to ol of $1,537,247.75, an amount $702, 147.75 in excess of the over-all quo H. Chairman I). V. Clayton plans to make a complete report on the “E” mil negotiable bond sales next week, md if Williamston and Griffins come lcross and meet their “E” bond quo as the report will be perfect, it is jelieved. A review of the "E" bond sales up jntil yesterduy afternoon: ramesville $ Villiams jriffins 3ear Grass Ahlliamslon Press Roads itobersonville Poplar Point fumilton Hassell joose Nest Quota Sales 11,250 $ 16,200.00 7,300 7,537.50 18,500 17,915.50 13.000 13 725 01? 157.500 150,036.25 11,'PIO 12,337.50 111,300 122,098.25 7,300 8,212.50 14,750 15,058.25 7,500 9,431.25 11,300 13,368.75 $371,000 $391,915.75 -v S hoots Relative In Foot With Shotgun Frank Moore, colored, was painful ly hut not seriously hurt when his arother-in-law, Willie James Whit ley, fired a load of gunshot into his foot last week-end to climax a fam ily quarrel. Reports reaching here stated that Whitley and his wife quarreled, that the wife returned to her home and her brother, Frank Moore, took his pistol and went after Whitley on the R. T. Chance farm not far from Hassell. Whitley was prepared for I he visit and opened fire on Moore who was said to have been shot in the head over in Edgecombe County about a year ago. Given a hearing before Justice J. B. Whitfield early this \ 'eek Whit ley was bound ever tin superior court in bond of $750. Purchases Culpepper Store Hii hlmif ~*h tfari Street -*—» * Mr. Sainul Z‘'mon recently pur rhased the store building and lot owned by Luther Culpepper on Main Street here, next to the Virginia El ectric and Power Company build ing. The purchase price was not announced, but it was reported that between $7,500 and $10,000 was in volved. The new owner plans to de velop the property in the post war period, it was learned.