North Carolina Newspapers

NEARLY 4.00# COPIES OP 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 XLI.Y—DUMBER 18 WiUiamitdft, Martin. Cmnty+.$fogth Cacrdit***- Friday, Mitr.-h 1* 2916 ESTABLISHED I Rf)'J Annual Ked Cross Fund Drive Starts In Country Today —.» Chairman V. J. Spivey Urging Public To Help Pul County Over Top In a Hurry The annual Red Cross Fund Drive got under way today throughout the nation with the possibility that it will be carried over the top in record time. The people of the nation are being asked to donate 100 million dollars to the fund this year. Completing plans for handling the drive in this chapter, Chairman V. J. Spivey is appealing to the people of this chapter to liberally support the fund and help carry the chapter over the top in a hurry, possibly be fore or by the latter part of next week. This chapter is being asked to raise $3,600, an amount consider ably less than half the total raised a year ago. Of the $3,600 quota, the people of Williamston Township are being ask ed to raise $1,940,000. Twenty solici tors were named yesterday by Chair man Spivey to canvass the town, and several of them are already at work. The names of the local canvassers are: Mesdames Joel Muse, S. H. Grimes, H. L. Barnhill, Asa Craw ford, E. S. Peel, V. J. Spivey, E. L. Sherman, J. E. King. Bill Howell, R Vernon Bunting, Rev. J. L. Goff, Rev. B. T. Hurley, Dr. Ira D. Knight, G. H. Harrison, Jr., K. D. Worrell, H. P. Mobley, Clarence Griffin and Misses Edna Barnhill, Mary Taylor and Dorothy Manning. Headquarters will be maintained in the Branch Banking and Trust Company building. Many local people are being assess ed very considerate amounts under the premise that there will be 100 percent participation in the drive. Individuals will aid the drive by re membering that the solicitors are working without remuneration, that they are giving their time and means of transportation. Miss Ruth Manning, principal, said yesterday that the elementary school here could be counted on to support the drive. No report could be had from the high school. The several ministers in the chapter are again asked to give a few minutes of their next Sunday sermon time for the ad vancement of the drive being made in the name of needy and suffering humanity. Every district in the Martin Coun ty Chapter has been organized for the drive, and in several districts preliminary work was handled the early part of this week, the drive chairman said today. General Dwight D. Eisenhower says of the Red Cross: “During my years with our troops in Great Britain, North Africa and on the European continent, I devel oped a warm admiration for the friendly, understanding and highly efficient service performed by the American Red Cross for our fighting men. The close of hostilities brought no conclusion to the neces sary function of that organization with the Army. The work must con tinue as long as our troops are sta tioned in foreign lands. “I express the earnest hope of the Army that the American public will continue its generous support of the Red Cross during 1946.” Speaking in behalf of the Red Cross, Fleet Admiral C. W. Nimitz said: “In my capacity as Chief of Oper ations, I am pleased to have this op portunity to lend every support to the American Red Cross. “Major hostilities have now ceas ed, but that does not in any way mean the end of the work of the American Red Cross. In addition to the members of the naval and other armed services who are now station ed in Germany and Japan, there are those in various other outlying sta tions for from their homes who are still on active duty—including those waiting for an opportunity to return to the United Slates. tinue to concern ourselves as to the welfare of these men, particularly those who are wounded or incapaci tated in any manner. “I wholeheartedly urge continuing full support of the worthy efforts of the American Red Cross during these critical times of readjustment from war to peace, a period which will di rectly influence the peace and stabil ity of the future.’’ -Si Mayor Expected Home Soon From The Hospital Undergoing treatment for high blood prossure in a Washington hos pital for several days, Mayor John L. Hassell was reported last evening to be improving rapidly, and that he expected to return home shortly. If he is unable to attend, Mayor Pro-tem L. P. Lindsley will preside over the regular meeting of the town commissioners here Monday evening. Constructing Soda Shop And Store In Hamilton store and^soc^*sl^?,n?75tin;iilon. Un able to get brick, the t>uilc5*r is nsftig,' cinder blocks. Returns From Hospital Master Randy Allen returned home Wednesday from Durham where he underwent medical atten tion for about a week. Your Red Cross watches over the eoasforta of hospitalised ret. erans and service people everywhere. Help pat IU Fund Campaign Hold Long Session Of Recorder’s Court Here | DAY OF PRAYER | v/ Members of the several religi ous denominations will join in the observance of the World Day of Prayer in the Methodist church here on Friday afternoon of next week at 4:00 o'clock, and an urgent call to prayer is being sounded by the religious leaders of the community. The service will center around the theme, “The Things That Make for Peace." Mrs. V. J. Spivey will lead the program and Mrs. Ira D. Knight will present the project which is being advanced on a world-wide schedule. World Day of Prayer has been observed by local churches since 1938, and the event next Friday is expected to establish a record , for attendance. Exhorbitant Charge For Stove Repairs ——— According to reliable reports reaching here, self-styled experts are charging exhorbitant prices for making repairs to various types of stoves in this section. The names of the itinerant trio could not be learn ed, but one of the group gave his ad dress as WiUiamston. Authorities, flabbergasted by the exhorbitant charges reported to them, investigat ed and found no trace of the car us ed by the three men and no such persons are known here. The practice, recognized by some as being worse than highway rob bery, reached a climax this week when the three men placed a part in a cook stove, smeared a little lamp black on a few vulnerable spots and presented a bill for $40.32. Reports reaching here declared that the stove owner was placed at an undue advantage, that the repairs possibly cost more than the price paid for the stove when it was new. -« Purchase Equipment For New Hamilton Theater Projector equipment toi itu new V* 1 ■ V' be built it. Hamilton >i:k purchased a few days ago by repre sentatives of the project. The equip ment purchased was described as the most modern on the market. Materials have been placed on the lot but construction is not yet under way on the new movie house. -i. Accident Victim Continues Quite III In Hospital — —-—• ■' His skull fractured when struck by a motorcycle driven by Sammy Taylor, local young man, on West Main Street last Saturday morning, Dock Kennedy, colored man, was said late yesterday to be slightly im proved. His condition, however, is still serious. v TOBACCO PLANTS 's The first of the new crop of tobacco plants are up and grow ing fairly rapidly, farmers in several of the county townships said this week. “There’s a good stand of the plants,’’ several of the farmers declared. . a pis:A ■ this year passHf;/ twice the yardage needed to produce, un der normal conditions, enough plants for their allotted acreage. However, a few were late getting their plant beds sown, some completing the task only a few days ago. Eleven Defendants Sentenced To Jail; Fines Total $385.00 -. Prosecuting Witness Taxed With Cost When Evidence Is Ruled Frivolous -»> Judge J. Calvin Smith and Solici tor Paul D. Roberson held the Mar tin County Recorder’s Court in ses sion until late afternoon Monday, handling thirty-one cases on the docket. A few cases were continu ed, but most of them were cleared from the docket. Eleven of the defendants tried dur ing the long session were sentenced to jail or the roads for a combined term of about thirty-two months, several drawing terms ranging from one to ninety days. Fines imposed during the day amounted to $385, not to mention the court costs which will 1 run into the several hundred dollars. There were several "high” spots in the proceedings Monday. One or two witnesses were said to have showed little discretion in their re marks and other were considered very impolite. The court ruled the prosecution “frivolous” and “unnec essary” and taxed the prosecuting witness with the costs in one case. In another case, the prosecuting wit ness asked the defense attorney if she were on trial. Proceedings: In the case charging S. L. Corey with hit-and-run driving, resulting in property damage, judgment was suspended upon the payment of the costs. It was reported that the de fendant had paid the prosecuting witness, Charlie Moore of James ville, $35 for a dog killed by the de fendant’s car. The case charging Willie and Den nis Modlin and Rudolph Goss with cutting timber on property of others, was nol prossed. A continuance until next Monday was allowed in the case charging Chas. E. Hassell with damaging per sonal property. Charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting a female, D. D. Hill pleaded guilty of assaulting a female ajjg^j.'as sentenced to t hi- roads f ,r three months. The road sentence was suspended for one year upon the payment of a $15 fine and costs and on condition that the defendant vio late no criminal law during the per iod of suspension. Charged with an assault with a deadly weapon, Navin Hawkins was adjudged not guilty. The case charging Charlie Cherry with operating without a chauffeur’s license was continued until next Monday. N. S. Nichols was fined $15 and taxed with the costs in the case charging him with an assault. Willie Mack Bryant, charged with non-support, pleaded guilty, and the case was continued under prayer for judgment until the first Monday in January upon the payment of the costs and $5 a week for the support of his children. Bond in the sum of $100 was required. Facing a similar charge, Oscar Council, received the same judgment. During the process of the trial of the case charging C. B. James with an assault with a deadly weapon, the court ruled that the prosecution was frivolous and unnecessary and the prosecuting witness, William ‘JttfiflL and CW.c-ns were a*s n togatte*’ er after court leaving a county liquor store with a bottle of liquor. When the case was called the prosecuting witness accompanied the defendant to the bar of justice. Owens declar (Continued on page four) Honor Students In Local Schools For The Fourth Period ——«—— Nantes of 138 Pupils Appear On List, Principal Sam Bundy Announces -—. The names of 138 pupils appear on the honor roll for the fourth re port period in the local schools, Principal Sam D. Bundy announced this-week. Of the 138 names in the list only a small dozen belong to high school pupils. The list follows, by grades: First Grade: Emma Jean Goddard, Peggy Moore Goddard, Ann Harri son, Mary Jean Hunt, Blanche Man ning, Henry Handy, Joe Murphy, Floyd Thomas, Clayton Weston, Rob ert Bowen, James Gurganus, Charles Hudson, Allan Mayo Modlin, Tom mie Phelps, Billy Thornton, Nancy Britton, Mary Frances Martin. Jane Peele, Betsy Riddick. Dorothy Rob erson, Betsy Barnhill, Gene Cope land, Charles Edwards, Jimmy Hardison, Robert Williams, Dorothy Brown, Mary Lou Cox, Anne Gray Darden, Priscilla Gurganus, Elsie Gray Scott, Edna Taylor, Betty Tay lor, and Nancy Bullock. Second Grade: Erobby Parham, Iv erson Skinner, Rudy Ward, Gerald White, Rodney Pittman, Jane Gray Biggs, Betty Carstarphen, Lilly Mae Gardner, Sandra Gardner, Sandra Margolis, Jean Nicholson, Faye Peele, Jane Barnhill, Gene Bennett, Jon Clark, Joseph Clayton, Angeline Dickerson, Virginia Hamm, Ann Hol liday, Phylliss Jones, Edward Laugh inghouse, Jane Manning, Vivian Pate, Annette Rogers, and Herbert Ward. Third Grade: Frankie Everett, Doris Rogers, Janice Holliday, Rob ert Weston, Joyce Manning, Janice Rogers, Bobby Manning, Carl Lee Beacham, Bennie Harrison, James Pittman, Edward Rogerson, Sondra Bufflap, Jean Coltrain Jessie Corey, Betty Martin, Jean Whichard, Lelia Mae Goff, Barbara Cherry, Barbara Everett, Melva Lee Wynne, John Dunn, and Patricia Harrison. Fourth Grade: Anne Gresham, Pa tricia Wynne, Geralene Williams, Janice Manning, Betty Helen Mob ley, Turner Manning, Ralph Parker, Martha Dunn Kimball, Judith Ayers, Bettv Sue Clark, David Davis, Tom my Hardison, Janet Ross, Billy Glov er and Pattie Williams. Fifth Grade: Wadie Gardner, Jean Ward Mobley, Harrell Everette, Jr., Mary Ann Manning, and Sally Rob erson. Sixth Grade: Anne Jones and Er nest Taylor. Seventh Grade: Elizabeth Griffin, Batsy Horton, Mary C. Leggett, Ruby Savage, Harriet Ward, Bobby Clay ton, John Henry Edwards, Jr., Jean Bailey, Louise Corey, Barbara Jack son, Jane King, Sarah Manning, Jean McLawhorn, and Bettie Lou Wob bleton. Eighth Grade: Rachel Chesson, Nancy Robertson, Frank Wynne, Jes sie Mae Nelson, Elizabeth Whitley, Lilybet Muse, Magdalene Mizzell, Madeline Chesson, and Sadie Banks. High School: Guy Carrow, Landy Griffin, Julian Mason, Harold Quayle, Doris Cullipher, Sallic Hardison, Edna Hadley, Laure Fran ces Peele, Edna Hadley, Elizabeth Hopkins, Louise Griffin, and Eliza beth Manning. Firemen Galled To East Main Street Home Tuesday .*> Firemen were called to the home tof Ethel Gorham on East Main Street here last Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 o’clock when a chimney caught fire and spilled sparks on the shingle roof. No damage was done by the fire. THE RECORD Motorists apparently went wild on Martin County highways last week when they added six accidents to the column, boost ed the number of injured in highway wrecks so far this year to 16 and jumped the property damage to $6,200. But they man aged by a very, very narrow margin to steer clear of the death column which already has a big start over the figures for the corresponding period in 1945. Drunken drivers have contrib uted their part, but it is fairly apparent that too many drivers are thinking about other things when they get under a steering wheel. The highway death toll in North Carolina will approxi mate 200 during the first two months of this year. There is more talk about the accident record now than at any time ir. year, but apparently too many choose to talk about it and do nothing about it. The following tabulations of fer a comparison of the accident trend: first, by corresponding "Eighth WAik ■ * Accidents Inj’d Killed Dam’ge { 1946 6 3 0 * 1,400 SPEAKS r—T r i 1945 2 3 0 725 Comparisons To Date 1946 25 16 2 1945 10 5 0 6,200 I 1,655 New Owner To Convert Fair Grounds Into Residential Lots Purchasing the fairgrounHs just west of Williamston's town limits for a reported $35,000, Mr. Jesse Whit'ey is planning an extensive real estate development there, the new owner stating ysterday that possibly 250 lots for home construction and several for business development could and would be made available on the ap proximately 35 acres of land. While it may be possible to hold a fair there this fall, it is fairly definite that the purchase of the property marks the beginning of the end of the old Martin County fair that blos somed forth as a white elephant in the period following the close of World War I and struggled down through the years. Immediate de velopment plans will not materially crowd the main portion of the fair grounds, the owner explained, but from time to time additional streets will be opened to claim a greater part if not all the property. Mr. Whitley, looking to his son, former Major Herbert Whitley, and former Sgt. Clayton Crofton to handle the development, stated that the west fence running along the McCaskey or Slaughter House Hoad would be moved in a short time back about 150 feet, that the next step in the development program wou'd call for a street approximately 300 feet from and running parallel to the Slaughter House Road, Additional streets will be opened at certain dis tances from time to time with a few connecting streets to be included. A certain portion of the property fronting the main highway will be reserved for business structures about where the main gate to the grounds is now located. The new owner does not plan to operate a fair himself, but interested parties will possibly find it available. The Martin County Legion Post, operator of a fair there for several years, contemplated purchasing the property, but allowed its option to expire. County Wildlife Club Organized At Meeting Officers Elected By Nearly A Hundred Persons At Meeting A. L. Hnidrcn, Hohcrnonville Man, Naniril President Here Tn«‘sday IMif'lil -® Mooting in the county courthouse last Tuesday night, nearly one hun dred Martin hunters and fishermen and other interested citizens perfect ed the organization of a wildlife club and discussed, at length, plans for promoting an effective game and fish program. A. L. Hendren, Rob ersonville school principal, was nam ed president; Ben James, of Poplar Point, vice president, and John Hen ry Edwards, of Williamston, secret tary-treasurer. V. J. Spivey was named chairman of a special commit tee to draft the club by-laws with the aid of the newly elected offic ers. Following a meeting of the special committee, the club will meet to discuss the by-laws and handle other business. During the mean time, those attending the organiza tional session Tuesday night are can vassing their respective townships for members. Addressing the interested fisher men and hunters at the meeting, Ross O. Stevens, former State Col lege professor and executive vice president of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, explained how the organization came into existence and outlined its objectives. He pointed out that about thirty years ago, hunters and fishermen in those sections where game and fish were rapidly disappearing, attempt ed to do something about the scarci ty, but their efforts were not very successful. "In 1924-25, the Isaac Walton League was formed, hut it was short-lived,” Mr. Stevens said, adding that in 1939 an attempt was made to perfect a game and fish pro gram on a state-wide basis. Seven teen counties were organized, hut the plan lost. “However, much in terest was created and the stage was set for an effective and successful or organization,” Stevens explained. ‘To date, there are over 10,000 members and the federation has 94 clubs in that many counties in the State. “Our organization was started two years ago about the time the two candidates were campaigning for governor. Both of the candidates pNithiM-u the iiunteis ahd fishermen a new set-up, arid those promises were made in good faith, no doubt, but they were not carried out. There was strong opposition to the new plan,” the speaker declared. “Gov ernor R. G. Cherry remembered his promises, but changed his mind and named a committee to investigate the proposed change which would liminate the ‘political turnover’ in the department every four years and which would create a nine-district department with the appointment of one man from one of the territories ach year, leaving five old members on the board at the end of every ad ministration. "Possibly Mr. Cherry added the program when he named the com mittee,’' Stevens pointed out. ‘The governor’s committee called hear ings and a goodly number of hunters and fishermen appeared before the group, pointing out that the hunters and fishermen pay the bill and that they are entitled to a voice in how the money is spent. The hunters and fishermen at the hearing were convinced that the committee would not render a favorable report and they went to a Raleigh hotel that log was iVstied td fifty persons" «v ■cli parts of the State to attend a second meeting in Raleigh,” Stevens said, ■xplainmg that war regulations re dacted attendaSe at that time to (Continued on page four) r RETURNS } J Ilis rectorship interrupted by a call to duty in the armed forc es, Itcv. John W. Ilardy returned today to resume his work as rec tor of the Church of the Advent here. The Chaplain-Major, en tering the service in April, 15)43, served overseas nineteen months in England's Birmingham area, and expects his discharge in about three weeks from the Army. He began his ministry here in the spring of 1939, and will end his leave of absence when he holds services Sunday morning at 11 o’clock. His friends, including many outside his denomination, wel come him back to his old duties. Start Work On Hoad Project Next Week —*— The contractors, Suber and Com pany of Whitmire, S. C., are planning to start work on the Oak City-Coun cil Store project in the upper part of the county next week, it was learn ed today following an inspection trip made this week by the company's superintendent, B. C. Reeves. The contract calls for grading and surfacing of about four miles of road. It is understood that 95 work ing days have been allowed for com pleting the project. During the meantime TffYii- nope is'field foi mi- j movement of bfhi i online/*Ti7,Yits f Several projects have been proposed, but when the commssion in Raleigh plans to undertake them has not been announced, and little can be learned from Raleigh where the authorities met this week in secret session. Receive* Discharge From Army Short Time Ago -<*, Serving in the Army Medical Corps for two and one-half years, Joseph E. Mizelle, son of Mrs. Jus. A Rob erson of this county, recently re ceived his discharge and has joined his wife and son. During his stay in the service he crossed the Atlantic fourteen times. FARM PLANS Another call is being directed to the approximately 300 farm ers in this county who have not signed their 1946 farm plans, the office of the county agent point ing out that April 1 will be the last day for signing under the 1946 program. It was also point ed out that any farmer who does .!hj»t .date will forfeit any claim to payments pledgetf tinder the 1946 program. More than 1,300 farmers in this county have already signed the 1946 plans, it was learned this week. County Teams Open Basketball Tourney Here On March 6th —/*>—. Bnir Grass Girls Enter An nual Court Event With Ten Wins To Their Credit ——.<y> Climaxing a season marked by un expected shifts in team standings, Martin County school basketball teams will open their annual tourna ment in the Williamston High School gymnasium Wednesday evening, March 6, Chairman Sam D. Bundy announced yesterday. The first tourney pairings an nounced by the athletic committee find Oak City girls pitted against Jamesville, Robersonville against Williamston and Bear Grass against Farm Life. For the boys the pair ings are, Farm Life against James ville, Robersonville against Wil liamston, and Bear Grass against Oak City. Scheduled to run for three nights —March 6. 7 and 8—the tourney of fers four games Wednesday and Thursday nights and the finals on Friday. The Bear Grass girls, with ten vic tories and no defeats to their credit during regular season play, enter the tournament as heavy favorites. Jamesville and Robersonville girls have more than held their own in regular season play, but Farm. Life, Oak City and Williamston, with per centages bearing heavily against them, have an up-hill fight to win if they survive the early rounds. Ac cording to the committee’s report, the Jamesville girls won 7 and lost three; Robersonville won six and lost three; Farm life won three and lost six; Oak City won two and lost eight, and Williamston won one and lost nine. The eligibility of one of the best players on the Bear Grass girls’ team is being questioned, and a decision in the case, it was pointed out, can possibly alter the course of the tour nament. It is not certain whether Miss Leona Rawls is playing her fourth or fifth year as a member of the Bear Grass sextet. On the boys’ card no perfect record was chalked up during regular sea son play, but Farm Life and Rober sonville are lied for top positions with eight victories and two defeats each. The Bear Grass lads more than held their own by winning seven and losing only three. James ville dropped six and won four. Wil liamston won three and lost seven. Even though they did not break into the winning colum during the regu lar season the Oak City lads are en tering the tourney with determina tion, hoping to relieve the record of ten defeats. A small admission fee will be charged, and large crowds are ex pected to attend all the games. Sends (Greetings To County Young Man Recently discharged from the Navy, Charlie Bowen, son of Mrs. Jane Bowen and the late Paul Bow en, received the following letter from James Forrostal, Secretary of the Navy: I have addressed this letter to reach you after all the formalities of your separation from active ser vice are completed. I have done so because, without formality but as clearly as 1 know how to say it, I want the Navy’s pride in you, which it is my privilege to express, to reach into your civil life and to remain with you always. You have served in the greatest Navy in the world. It crushed two enemy fleets at jnce, receiving their surrenders only four months apart. It brought our land-based airpow -r within bombing range of (tie ene iivy\ ground armies on the beachheads of final victory. It performed the multitude of tasks accessary to support these military operations. No other Navy at any time has fone so much. For your part in these achievements you doserve to be proud as long as you live. The Na tion which you served at a time of crisis will remember you with grati tude. The best wishes of the Navy go with you into civilian life. Good luck! -* Little Business Scheduled For Commissioners' Meeting Other than the drawing of citizens for jury duty during the April term if superior court and the handling af routine duties, the Martin County commissioners are expected to handle very little business at their regular meeting here next Monday. As far as it could be learned no dele gations will appear before the meet ing in the interest of county roads. -Hi Local All-Stars Win Over Jamesvitle Girls, 25-20 au-siar oi bail team deiea'.ed the’ Jainesvi'ie all-star sextet in a thrilling game 25 to 20 here last Wednesday evening. The locals are playing a return game in the Jamesville gyrrm this evening.