North Carolina Newspapers

NEARLY 4,000 COPIES OP THE ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN HflTirfig NEARLY 4,000 COPIES OP THE ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMES OP MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN VOLUME XLMII—NUMBER 65 r William at on, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, August 17, 1945. T ESTABLISHED 1899 First of New Tobacco r t ► r 9 More Than Quarter Million Pounds On Floors the First Day Opening Sales To Get Under Way Tuesday Morning At 9:00 O’clock -«■ Opening for the first deliveries of the current season yesterday morn ing, Williamston warehouses report ed a busy time and unusually heavy receipts for the day. No one can foretell with any degree of accuracy, but if the deliveries are maintained at the pace set yesterday up until selling time next Tuesday morning, a record poundage will be on the local warehouse floors. The first loads of the new tobacco reached here yesterday morning at 5 o’clock, and they were followed almost without interruption during the day, and by nightfall the first sale was just about loaded, and to bacco started moving into the other houses. It is estimated that about one-quarter million pounds of leaf are on the first-sale floor this morn ing, and some are predicting that possibly close to a million pounds will be on the market during the early days of next week. Tobacco is moving in from nearly every coun ty in the eastern section, it was stat ed. There is some difference of opinion as to the quality of the early de liveries. Some say it is possibly bet ter than It was on opening day last year, while others say it just does not measure up in looks, at least. It was agreed, however, that most of the leaf delivered yesterday was of j the smoking type. While the first sale is made up mostly of primings, there are a few tips scattered on the floor. Tlie piles, while fairly large, are not weighing as much as they did a year ago, some pointed out. As to the price outlook, market , authorities sound an optimistic note, ' and are fairly confident that the ] average for the first sales will range ; between 43 and 45 cents per pound. It is fairly certain that the war’s end will not affect prices, not this year, at least. The companies need and want tobacco, and they are expected to compete for every pound. In accordance with cooperative agreements, each warehouse firm | will put out no more tobacco in any one house than can be sold in one day, meaning that the parton will have a pretty good idea when his tobacco will be sold. Under the i selling arrangements this year, the J companies can buy no more than J,- j 400 miles in any one day. However, j the warehouses can buy a limited number. Warehouse purchasers are to be made during the regular sale,j however, and as members of the Bright Belt Warehouse Association, local warehousemen have pledged to ‘‘preserve the auction system and eliminate entirely private buying and selling of tobacco on warehouse floors.” A closer cooperation between the growers, warehousemen and buying companies has been pledged, and a closer cooperation with the grow ers in maintaining a stabilized mar ket at satisfactory prices throughout the season has been pledged. The Bright Belt association will check the sales on all the markets in an effort to promote smooth and (Continued on page six) ---- Reconversion Plans Advancing Rapidlyj —*— . Although poorly planned ahead of time, reconversion plans from war to peace were placed in operation , soon after the surrender of the Japs ; last Tuesday. War contracts, total ling a reported 23 billion dollars, were cancelled, and the first of the unemployed started moving toward home. The number will approxi mate seven million or more by next spring or before the reconversion job is com jilt ted. At the same time Selective Serv ice was ordered to reduce its month ly inductions from 80,000 to 50,000, and take no men over 26 years of age, as a rule. The order was just in time to save Moses Wheeler and John Gurganus, two local boys, who reported for final induction that day. “They were just getting ready to call our names when the order came to send all men over 26 back home,” W'heeler was quoted as saying. Gas rationing was lifted Wednes day along with points on all canned foods. Fuel oil is no longer on the ration list, but sugar, shoes, meats | and some other items are likely to ! be there for some time, with the j possibility that the supply of tires will be ample to meet the demand without rationing in a few more weeks. Plans have been made to return five million army men and two mil lion navy men home within the next twelve months. Transportation bans are being lift ed to a certain extent, but crowded conditions are to be expected for quite a while. 11 _ SPEAKER r Kay Bandy, National Vice j President of the Junior Cham- | her of Commerce, will address I the organizational meeting of local Javcees this evening in the Woman's Club here. Members front Jaycee clubs in other towns of eastern Carolina are expect ed here for the meeting. Judge Calvin Smith Calls Fourteen Cases In the County Court —®— Long Road Term* Imposed Substantial Fines Exacted Monday ——<» Judge J. Calvin Smith in a regu lar session of the Martin County Re corder’s Court last Tuesday started clearing from the docket quite a few cases that had been continued so as not to interrupt the tobacco harvest. Fourteen cases were called during the session, one of the longest held by the court in recent weeks. All but one were disposed of, and that one was continued until next Mon day. i The session attracted a fairly large number of spectators, and several long road terms were imposed along with one or two substantial fines. Proceedings: Herman Mooring, charged with an assault with a deadly weapon, plead ed not guilty. Adjudged guilty, he was sentenced to the roads for four months. In a second case, Mooring j was charged with assaulting a fe inrale and fornication and adultery. He was sentenced in this case to the roads for twenty months, the sen tence to begin at the expiration of | the first. Charged with an assault with a deadly weapon, Tom Brown was sen tenced to jail for five days and fin ed $25. He was taxed with the court costs. Charged with an assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly con duct, John Nicholson was adjudged guilty of simple assault, the court suspending judgment upon the pay ment of the costs. Judgment was suspended upon the payment of the cost in the case charging Johnnie Moore with as saulting a female. Charlie Thomas, charged with an affray, was found not guilty. Dallas Gurganus, charged with carrying a concealed weapon and with disorderly conduct, was found guilty of being drunk and disorderly and was fined $10 and taxed with the costs. Charged with an assault with a deadly weapon, Laura Edwards was found not guilty. The case in which William Henry Williams stands charged with lar ceny and receiving, was continued until next Monday. (Continued on page six) War Veteran Suffers Nervous Breakdown —*— Sgt. Hubert Bland, returning last week after going through the entire African-European campaign, this week suffered a sei ious nervous breakdown at the home of his mother, Mrs. J. T. Bland, here on Smithwick Street. He was said to be in a coma much of the time, and paid little attention to anybody or anything. He was removed to a Veterans’ hospital in Virginia Wed nesday afternoon, and one report | stated his condition seemed to be 'slightly improved. The young man, a member of the armed forces before Pearl Harbor, returned home last Thursday after noon. Ten minutes later his brother, S/Sgt. John IX Bland, who had been wounded four times in the Italian | campaign, reached home, the two meeting for the first time in over three years. I Beth of the young men have been I honorably discharged. Lest We Forget— County's War Dead- In Pacific Tiieatre K~ mm tv men today sleep the eternal sleep m foreign soil or in the clean grave.of the sea Tno bodies of two others rest in home soil, all of them going to premature graves that we might live and enjoy the good things in life in a world at peace. That there are not more names in the list of honored dead is cause for rejoicing, but if a people ever owed a debt of everlasting gratitude to anyone they owe it to the young men who so willingly and gallantly gave their lives for country and humanity,—for you and for me, for those who follow after us, and for all that which is good and noble. It’s good to celebrate the coming of peace to a war-torn world, but in our celebrations now and the years to come let us not break faith with those who sleep. Let us ever hold high the torch of righteousness, liberty and freedom, and join in the good cause for which they so ably and nobly made the good fight. To succeed in that solemn obligation is as little as we can do in striving to pay the great debt due them in their everlasting sleep. And let us remember that while they are not here in person with us to celebrate the accom plishments of their sacrifices, they are the ones who made possible the celebrations which shall give first place forever and ever glowing tribute to the memory of our war dead and to those who made the good and noble fight for mankin. Fifty-three Martin County men are known to have made the supreme sacrifice in World War II. The names of those who surrendered their lives in the great Pacific strug gle follow with a brief sketch for each: MURRAY CARGILE—Son of Mr. and Mrs George M. Cargilc of Parmele, was one of the first two Martin County men to make the supreme sacrifice in the war. He was killed on that day of infamy at Pearl Harbor while on the USS Oklahoma. JOHN GOLDIE LEGGETT—son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Leggett of Pop lar Point, made the supreme sacrifice at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, while serving on the “Arizona” He was one of the first two county men to die in the war. AUSTIN RANDOLPH JACKSON—Son of Mrs. Ora Jackson Burnette and the late Austin Jackson of Jamesville, lost his life at Pearl Harbor on February 16, 1942. WILLIAM FREEMAN HAISLIP, II.—Son of Mrs. Nannie Haislip and the late H. J. Ilaislip of near Oak City, was the first Marine youth from this county to fall mor tally wounded in the bitter struggle for Guadalcanal. Wounded on October 22, 1942, he died the following day. WILLIAM THOMAS SULLIVAN—Son of Mrs. Blanche Sullivan Jones of William ston and Elizabeth City, lost his life during a naval engagement off Guadalcanal on November 12-14, 1942. The young man was on the USS Atlanta. DONALD CLARK GODWIN—Son of the late B. F. and Emma Wentz Godwin, was accidentally killed on January 21, 1943 in a plane crash while returning from Pearl Harbor. A captain in the Navy, he is be lieved to be the highest ranking officer from this county ever to die in the service of our country. ROLAND MOORE—Son of Mr. Whit Moore and the late Mrs. Mony Perry Moore lost his life in the Pacific Theater on March 23, 1943. WILMER T. GLOVER—Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Glover of Oak City and Scot land Neck, was reported dead on May 8, 1943 after being missed for one year fol lowing the naval battle in the Coral Sea. LEMUEL DANIEL ROEBUCK—Son of Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Roebuck of near Ham ilton, was reported dead on August 10, 1943 after being missing since August 9, 1942, when his ship, the USS Quincy was sunk off the Solomons Islands. EARLY BRILEY—Son of Ed Briley of near Robersonville, was drowned at Oahu, T. H., on December 23, 1944. J. R. MINTON—Son of Mrs. Gussie Min ton, formerly of Robersonville, was kill ed in the Philippines in February, 1945. CECIL B. BONDS—Son of Mrs. Ella Alien Bonds of near Williamston and John Bonds, lost his life in the South Central Pacific in early June, 1944. EDWARD S. BROWN-Son of Mrs. Dare Brown and the late Archie Brown of Jamesville, was mortally wounded on June 21, 1944, in far-away North Burma, dying there four days later. VERNA LAND—Son of Harrison Land of RFD 3, Williamston, was killed in a ship munitions blast at Port Chicago, Calif., on July 17, 1944. He was the first colored man from this county to die in the Pacific. ARTHUR T. BROWN-Son of Elijah Brown and his late wife. Eulalie Wig gins Brown, died on New Guinea on Oc tober 2, 1944, presumably of natural causes. LOUIS THOMAS HOLLIDAY—Son of the late Will Holliday and Mrs. Holliday of Robcrsonville, died in a Japanese prison camp on or about May 3, 1943, in the Philip pine Islands. He was a veteran of Bataan. DENNIS MAYO HARRISON—Son of the late Redmond Harrison and wife, was fatally wounded on Luzon, P. I., on March 30, 1945, dying later that same day. HUBERT DAVIS BROWN- Son of Guil ford Brown and Hattie Brown Dempsey, died in a Columbia, S. C., hospital on May 27, 1945, of tuberculosis contracted while serving in the Southwest Pacific. REGINALD FLEMING RAWLS—Son of Mrs. Dora Rawls and the late J. D. Rawls of near Robcrsonville, was killed on Oki nawa May 27, 1945. He was the second of two county youths to lay down his life in the bitter fight for that island. DAVID WILSON HARDISON—Son of Mr. and Mrs. Lee D. Hardison, RFD 1, Williamston, made the supreme sacrifice on Okinawa May 26, 1945. VERNON EVERETT CASPER—Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayon W. Casper of Oak City, lost his life on the destroyer “Luce” near Okinawa on May 9,1945. NATHAN T. EDMONDSON—Son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Edmondson of RFD 1, Robersonville, was killed in operational combat in the Pacific, presumably in the Okinawa area, on July 15, 1945. He was the last action casualty reported during the war. CLYDE E. MIZELLE—Son of Mrs. Minnie Moore Mizelle Roberson and the late Jos. Mizelle of Jamesville, died in the Philip pines on July 26, 1945. He was the last casualty reported during the war. r DRIVERS LICENSES __—-' Beginning next week, the North Carolina Highway Safety Division will receive applica tions for drivers’ licenses in the Martin County courthouse each Wednesday and Saturday morn ing between the hours of 9:00 a. m. and 12:00 o’clock, noon, it was announced today. James Boyce, formerly with the division, was recently dis charged by the Navy and he is succeeding Miss Howard who has served as examiner in this » district for the past several months. County Young Men On Their Way Home Writing in to have his mailing ad dress changed, Pfc. Harry M. Peel, RFD 1, Williamston, stated that he was at a redeployment center on August 6, and “on my way home, I hope.” He was scheduled to have sailed last Sunday. Continuing, the young man said, S. C. Griffin, Jr., is in the same camp and I hope we can go home together. “I went to Paris last Saturday on a 24-hour pass, and had a pretty i good time for the length of time I was there. But the town is too big for me, and it goes without saying that I’d rather see Williamston than all the places over here.” Wounded Soldier Home For Visit With Parents -<» Losing his left foot as a result of wounds received when his tank struck a land mine on the Italian front last February 7, Pfc. William C. Bunch, Jr., returned home recent ly for a visit with his parents and friends. He had been a patient in an Atlantic City hospital for a num ber of weeks. FACULTY VACANCIES j After searching for talent here, there and everywhere, school authorities said this week that approximately a dozen po sitions were yet to be filled in the various county school facul ties. At that time two prin cipals places were vacant, one at Farm Life and the other at Everetts. It was learned that Professor G. W. Iauudter, Farm Life principal last term, was going to Battleboro. All positions in the local school faculty have been filled, provid ed contracts outstanding are ex ecuted. Miss Helen Summerrell of Ayden, former teacher in the Jamesville school and mors re cently in Moore County, was elected this week. Contracts have been mailed to Miss Ada Morris of Edenton for the first grade, and one to Miss Evelyn Case for the eighth grade posi tion. DAY OF PRAYER r V. y Sunday, August 19, has been proclaimed a day of prayer by President Harry Truman to mark the return of peace. The Chief Executive is calling upon all Americans to find their way into houses of worship and bow down on that day and give hum ble thanks for victory and peace. No formal program for the day has been announced, but surely the services will center around and carry out the meaning of the proclamation. Victory Celebrated Very Quietly Here ——«— Martin County people celebrated victory over the Japanese in a very quiet and thoughtful manner last Tuesday night and Wednesday. While there was cause for rejoicing, the celebrants apparently were con scious of the sorrows of others, and acted accordingly. The town’s fire siren was sounded for several min utes, and auto horns blasted away for a short time. Children paraded the streets, heating on old drums and cans. Church bells were sounded in most of the county towns, and the populace rejoiced in the knowledge that however bad the struggle was, it could have been worse. Delay Experienced In Sriiltrml Ri.^istaiwr Likely To Continue For About Ten Days Occupation of Japan Delayed \l Request of Japanese Authorities -<t Following the announcement last Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock by President Harry Truman of the Jap anese surrender, considerable trou ble lias been experienced in getting the Japs to cease firing. Late re ports state that resistance is still be ing offered in scattered areas, that possibly representatives of the Im perial family will have to go in per son and give the order to cease fir ing. During the meantime, delay has been experienced in fixing a definite date for the formal signing of the surrender terms. Representa tive. oJ the Japanese government were scheduled to fly to Manila foi the formal signing, but late yester day the Japs were quoted as saying that they could not meet the sched ule on account of the “scarcity of time". The report went on to say that instructions as to the type of plane to be used were not clear. It is believed by some that all’s not well among the once high and mighty in Japan, that final plans for signing the surrender terms are be ing advanced with great difficulty. However, universal peace will gain a foothold soon, it is expected, pro vided a postwar war does not break out in China. News of victory came last Tuesday evening after long hours of anxious waiting. A( 7 o'clock that evening. President Truman announced: "I have received this afternoon a message from the Japanese govern ment in reply to the message for warded to that government by the Secretary of State on August 11. “I deem this reply a full accept ance of the Potsdam Declaration which specifies the unconditional surrender of Japan. In the reply there is no qualification. “Arrangements now are being made for the formal signing of sur render terms at the earliest possible moment. “General Douglas MacArthur has been appointed Supreme Allied Commander to receive the Japanese surrender. “Great Britain, Russia and China will be represented by high-ranking officers. “Meantime, the Allied armed for ces have been ordered to suspend offensive action. “The proclamation of V-J Day must wait upon the formal signing of the surrender terms by Japan.” And thus World War II which had its beginning at the Marco Polo Bridge, in the streets of Madrid and over the plains of Ethiopia, and which for more than a decade roar id unchecked to all parts of the world, was over except for scatter ed resistanci in isolated areas. The Japanese note received last Tuesday after false rumors had been freely circulated, made no specific reference to the great power demand that llirohilo become the puppet of the Allied Supreme Commander, but the Emperor’s statement that he would insure the surrender and thus become the Allied agent in the all important act of compelling the Japs to lay down their arms, made it quite clear that the Imperial throne of Japan is now ready to go under 1 < i:?! i’UA no\ j\ .,!«nn v---/ Enthusiasm runs riot in New York “Little Italy" as news of the Jap surrender is received there Tuesday night. Special Servic es Are Held Here To Mark The Return of Peace -® Small (>roii|)H OfTor IYay«*i> Of 'liiaiiks<!iv I'or Peact> Thin Week Services of prayerful thanksgiv ing were held in local church this week following (lie announced sur render of the Japs by President Marry Truman last Tuesday evening. While not largely attended, the services were marked for their solemnity and impressiveness. The first of the services was held at 8:15 o’clock Tuesday evening in the Episcopal church where the rector, Kev. Joseph S. Iluske, Jr , led the prayers. In accordance with a previously arranged program a service was held in the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon tit 4 o’clock with ap propriate music, prayers and a brief talk by the pastor. In the course of his talk, the pastor, Rev. R T. Hurley, said that without the help of Almighty God, we could not have won the war. "God is always on the side of right,” he said, adding, "Even though at times it seems that lie is far away and unconcerned, but in due time He stretches forth His mighty arm in defense of the rigid Therefore, we should give thanks unto Him for this great victory over the fanatical forces of tin' aggressor nation.” Tribute. was paid to the men of the armed forces for their .valor and sacrifice. Soon, many of them will be returning to their homes and loved ones. A silent prayer was of fered for tiie loved ones of those who lie under the while “crosses row on row” in tiie war cemeteries in the islands of the Pacific and on the I continent of Europe. “While the war is over,” the min ister said, “the lug job of recon struction and rehabilitation is before us.” Tiie people were urged to sup port this work with the same vigor and fidelity as they supported the war. “If the United Nations stand by the terms of tiie San Francisco Charter, the dreams of Isaiah and Tennyson of a warless world can be made a reality.” Wednesday morning at !):80 o’clock (Continued on page six) Two County Mon Missing in Pacific Of the twenty-three Martin Coun ty men reported missing in World War II, all but five have been ac counted for, and it earnestly hoped now that hostilities have ceased, that news—favorable news—will be re ceived from them. Two of the men—Lt. Col Wheeler Martin, Jr., of Wiiliamston, and Steward 2/C James Edward Crom well, RFD 3, are listed as among the missing in the Pacific theater, Col. Martin over Tokyo last March 10, and Cromwell "in the Pacific” last October 6. In the European theater, according to Enterprise war records, Lt. Jesse Wilson Price of Wiiliamston, S/Sgt. James Burnette of Jamesville and Sgt Henry Wesley Allen also of Jamesville, are still missing, Id Price over Germany in February of last year, Sgt. Allen, son of Mrs. Bettie Allen Jackson, over Germany on January 5, 1944, and S/'Sgt. Burnette over Italy on February 28 of this year . (Continued on page six) -. . - -<$ Martin County Men Wounded in Pacific —»— Twenty-one Martin County young men were wounded, some of them more than once, in the Pacific The ater of Operations, the count in cluding those injured in accidents on the west coast, according to Enter prise war records. The list does not include those young men who died of wounds. Names of the wounded and their addresses follow: Captain Roscoe Everett of Rober sonville, Duke Walston of Williams ton, Howard B. Cone of Williams ton, Geo. H. Wynne of Williamston, Jimmie B. Taylor of Williamston, Dallas Marion Taylor of RED 3, Wil liamston, Melvin D. Bennett of RFD 3, Williamston, Harold Nicholson of Williamston, E. P. (Ned) Cunning ham of Williamston and Smithfield, Jasper S. Brown of Robersonville, Marvin Price of RFD 1, Jamesville, George Norman White of RFD 1, Oak City, Joseph Paul Simpson of Williamston, James E. Moore of Wil liamston, Franklin V. Modlin of Jamesville, Thomas Boston of RFD 1, Jamesville, George Griffin. RFD 1, Williamston, Kenneth 11. Rober son of Robersonville, Simon A. Perry, Jr., of RFD 2, Williamston, Bruce Lambert Peel of RFD 1, Wil liamston. William Vi rnon Roebuck of RFD 2, Williamston. Eighty-eight Martin County men were reported to have been wound ed in all theaters of war fropn Pearl Harbor through V-J Day last Tues day evening at 7 o’clock.