North Carolina Newspapers

NEARLY 4.0M COPIES OF THE ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN HE ENTERPRISE NEARLY «.«N COPIES OF THE ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN VOLUME XLIX—NUMBER 23 William start* Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, March 19, JQift ESTABLISHED 1809 Series Of Accidents Reported In County The Past Week-end Nearly Every One of Wrecks On Highways Involved Drunken Driving Several persons were hurt, none seriously, and considerable property damage resulted in a series of motor vehicle accidents on Martin County highways last week-end. Highway patrolmen were kept busy during a greater part of Saturday night clear ing the wrecks from highways and rounding up drunks on the high ways. Drunken driving was involv ed in nearly every one of the acci dents. In one instance two men were said to have been so drunk neither knew which one was driving, and in another case the driver was so drunk he could not tell a railroad from the highway and started down the track in the direction of Everetts at the crossing between Everetts and Robersonville. While ,he drunks took over the highways during the week-end, Judge Walter Bone took action against the dangerous business of drunken driving when he, in super ior court Monday, sentenced a drunken driver to the roads for six months. The first in the series of accidents was reported on the Robersonville Stokes highway, about half a mile out of Robersonville, last Thursday evening at 10 o’clock. William A. Pitt, Parmele colored man, sides"’ip ed a car driven by William Whitak er of Cross Roads. No one was hurt. Pitt, his car damaged to the extent of about $50, was booked by Cpl W. S. Hunt of the highway patrol for drunken driving. The curtain on a big wrecking night was raised about 7 o’clock Sat urday night when Buck Raynor and Jake Downs lost control of the 1940 Ford, tore into Dick Hardison’s field just a short distance below Holly Springs Church on Highway 64, wrapped it around an electric trans mission line and set the machine and pole on fire. It could not be ascertained which one was driving, each declaring that the other was under the wheel at the time of the accident. Both were arrested, jail ed and charged with drunken driv ing. Downs was hurt, but not seri ously. Damage to the car was esti mated at about $1,000 by Cpl. W. S. Hunt and Patrolman W. E. Saunders, the investigating officers. Williams ton's fire department was called to the scene to help put out the fires. A few minutes later, Sam Man ning of Bethel drove into the high way at Parmele just as Garland E. Warren of near Robersonville start ed by, traveling in the direction of Bethel. Warren, charged with speed ing, sideswiped the Manning car, ran into a railroad ditch, continued on, jumping the railroads and coming to a stop when its front plunged into the ditch bank on the other side. Damage to Manning's pick-up truck was estimated at $50 and that to Warren's car was placed at $150 by Cpl. Hunt. Manning, on five-year probation for allegedly handling ■'hot” tires, was charged with drunk en driving. rtuuui mice oouis iaier, juiui Wesley Whitfn Id sideswiped with his 1937 International truck, a 1939 Plymouth car driven by James Tay lor, Jr., colored of Oak City. Bernice Briley,,a passenger in the Taylor car, was painfully bruised, cut and scrtached, and Taylor’s arm was broken, later reports stating that he was also cut on the face. Whitfield, Bethel man, continued on down the road and turned around. Returning to the scene of the accident he did not stop, later declaring to arresting officers, Patrolman Saunders and Wade Griffin, of the Robersonville police force, that he w'as scared. He admitted striking the car and was booked for a hearing before Justice John L. Hassell who found probable cause in the case and bound the de fendant over to the higher courts under oond in the sum of one hun dred dollars. At 10:30 o’clock that same night, Rufus Clarence Jernigan, originally of Washington but more recently of the Bethel area, was driving toward Everetts on Highway 64 from Rober sonville when he mistook the rail road for the highway and bumped several yards across the ties before (Continued on page six) -$ Blue Star Cleaners Opening Plant Here The first new postwar business in Williamston wuh a returned serv iceman at its helm, will hold its formal opening at its new plant on Washington Street tomorrow. Re turning from the Navy the latter part of last year, John Hatton Gur ganus and his brother Geo. Hatton Gurganus, planned and built a struc ture for a modern cleaning and pressing estbalishmc-nt. Tests were completed today at the plant prepar atory to the formal opening tomor row. They are employing eight men, including Duksie Ward, soli citor, and an experienced cleaner and several expert pressers. Operating under the name of Blue Star Cleaners, the new plant is equipped with the latest type of ma chinery. Red Cross Fund Drive Nears Completion In Local Chapter The annual Red Cross fund drive is nearing completion in this chap ter. according to an estimate offered by Fund Chairman V. J. Spivey late yesterday afternoon. Seven of the nine districts submitting reports at that time had already gone over the top, and others were nearing their goals, the chairman stated. To date, a total of $2,536.94 has been raised and turned into the treasury, leaving the drive just a little over SI,000 below the $3,600 as signed quota. Tfte chairman pointed out that several other districts had raised fairly sizable amounts but were withholding their reports until the goals were reached. It is now fairly certain that the quota will be reached and passed by the end of this week, and the chairman is urging all canvassers to work with that date in mind. Reviewing the reports, Chairman Spivey said that Griffins had ex ceeded its quota by $4, that Mrs. J. Eason Lilley, chairman, was the first io report a township over the top. Quite a record is being established by the colored districts, six out of the eleven having reported success ful fund drives. Biggs, the first to report, exceeded its $40 quota by $3.85. Poplar Point went $5 13 over its original goal. Woolard’s raised $12.35 in excess of Its $50 quota. Cor ey’s had $7.20 to spare after meet ing its $20 goal. Dardens, with one of the largest quotas assigned the smaller districts in the county, rais ed $71.00 or $1 in excess of its quota. Jamesville, with a $50 quota, is about $8.95 below its goal at the present. With a $1,940 quota, Williamston up until yesterday had raised $1, 741.24, the chairman again pointing out that late reports should carry the township over the top. Bear Grass reported $221.12 of its $300 quota. Given Road Sentence For Drunken Driving r V. INSPECTIONS 1 -_> Discontinued during the war years on account of the scarcity of parts and the acute labor shortage, the inspection of mot or vehicles will be resumed by license examiners of the Safety Division of the N. C. Highway Patrol immediately, Safety Ex aminer Boyce said last week end. “There’s no good reason for continued ommission of vehicle inspection in connection with the issuance of drivers’ licenses,” it was explained. In the future, applicants for drivers’ licenses, must have their vehicles in proper shape before a driver’s license will be issued, !Mr. Boyce said. Only Two Political Races In District Only two political contests have developed in this district so far, but there is no telling what will develop between now and April 13, the final date for candidates to file with the county board of elections. Last Sat urday marked the close of the filing period for United States and dis trict offices, including Congress, and the closing found only two contests in this district. Herbert Bonner, incumbent, and Robert Lee Humber, Greenville at torney, filed for a seat in the Na tional House of Representatives. While there is still time for aspirants to fije for the State Senate, a contest has already developed in that quar ter with H. G. Horton, of Williams ton, Roy Hampton, of Plymouth, and John Rodman, of Washington, in the race. C. B. Martin, former school principal and now a member of the armed forces, has announced for the State House of Representatives. No announcements have been made for any county or township offices. Clarence W. Griffin, county attor ney who represented Martin in the general assembly for the past two terms, will not be a candidate to suc ceed himself in that position, he an nounced this week. Missionary To Speak At Macedonia Wednesday -\ Rev. Samuel K. Saunders, a mis sionary to Japan for a number of years, will speak in the Macedonia church Wednesday evening of this week at 7:30 o’clock, it was announc ed yesterday by Mr. ft. L. Perry, a deacon in the church. The public is cordially invited to hear the mission ary who is expected to relate many interesting experiences. LONE APPEAL Holding forth all yesterday morning, the Martin County Commissioners received only one appeal from a property owner for a reduction in assessed prop erty valuations. Bill Bullock, Everetts filling station owner, pointed out to the board that he believed the $2,040 valuation placed on his new fill ing station was a bit high in com parison with other listings, and the authorities reduced it to $1, 500. The commissioners briefly studied preliminary reports on values submitted by the various list-takers and th«y were said to have been greatly surprised at the downward trend in values, especially in some instances. Holdings of a large pulp com pany dropped in value, and tim ber holdings, selling recently for three-quarters of a million dol lars, are said to be on the tax books at a mighty low figure. (Defendant Goes To Roads For Year In Hit-And-Run Case Trial Of (Iriminnl C.nae« Like ly To Continue Through Wednesday -« Opening a two-week term of the Martin County Superior Court here yesterday morning, Judge Walter Bone handled the perfunctory duties in a little over an hour and started working on one of the longest dock ets to face the court in recent months. Considerable progress was made during the first day, but it looked this morning ns if the trial of the criminal docket would con- ( tinue through tomorrow and possibly go into Thursday to throw the civil calendar way off schedule. The sessions are attracting unus ually large crowds even though no capital crimes are booked for trial. Earlier in the day, Judge Bone called for a stronger sentiment in , support of law enforcement, and it was apparent before the first few , cases were disposed of that he meant i business in maintaining and support ing enforcement with “stiff’ punish- , ment. Ernest Whitehurst, charged with drunken driving, appealed in the county court where it is fairly like ly he would have been fined $50, for a jury trial in the superior court. When he faced the judge he pleaded , guilty and the Bethel white man t drew six months on the roads. Lester Bailey, charged with drunk- , en driving, also appealed for a jury | trial when his case was called in the county court some weeks ago. He i pleaded not guilty, but changed his ] plea after Officer Paul Ballard of fered testimony for the state. He was fined $75 and taxed with the cost. Prayer for judgment was continu ed upon the payment of the costs in | the case charging Henry Wynne with ( bigamy. The case charging Clarence Little , with kidnapping his son was nol . prossed. Solicitor George Fountain ‘ agreed to send the defendant back to the county court where he is to face a charge of non-support. Bond ; was required in the sum of $100. Henry Little, charged with big amy, pleaded guilty and prayer for ' judgment was continued until Wed nesday, one report stating that the , defendant is trying to get a divorce through the mil) at that time. in lim Cu.ie charging Ollie and Joe Henry Gainor with a hold up on the public highway with intent to kill, Solicitor Fountain announced that after examination of the evidence he would not feel justified in prose cuting the defendants for any offense i greater than an assault with a dead ly weapon, and thereupon the court, ■ with the consent of the solicitor and counsel for the defense, ordered the case remanded to the recorder’s court for trial. The defendants were placed in the custody of the sheriff until each furnished bond in the sum of $300 for their appearance in the lower court next month. Henry Paul, charged with man (Continued on page six) -4 Allowed Bond Last Week In Manslaughter Case Frank Belcher, colored man charg ed with manslaughter as a result of an automobile accident in which Lloyd Cowan, Hertford County man, was killed, and Marcellus Newsome was critically hurt, was released un dqp bond in the sum of $2,000 last week. His case is being continued pending the outcome of Mr. New some’s injuries. In addition to the manslaughter charge, Belcher is also charged with drunken driving. He ran his car in to one being driven by Cowan at Sweet Water C-eek on the 17th of last month. Respected Citizen Of County Dies At Home On Monday —#— Funeral Service At Smith M’icks Creek This Afternoon For David B. Stallings Funt.al services are being con ducted in the Smithwicks Creek Primitive Baptist Church this after noon at 3:00 o'clock for David Ben ictt Stallings, respected county citi zen and letired farmer, who died at his home in Griffins Township yes terday morning at 7:00 o’clock of a heart attack. His pastor, Elder P. E Getsinger, assisted by Rev. W. B. Harrington, Baptist minister, will 'onduct the last rites and Interment will follow in the Tice Cemetery in Griffins Township. The son of the late Stanley and Paulina Lilley Stallings, he was born in Griffins Township 75 years ago on the farm where he lived all his life. Mr. Stallings has suffered with arthritis for about five years, but was apparently getting along very well. Yesterday morning he got up about the usual time, had breakfast and was sitting down reading a pap ?r and smoking his pipe when he suffered the attack and died sudden ly. He was out most of the day be fore riding around in the neighbor hood and seemed to be feeling good at that time. For some time he had his great niece, Mrs. Levi Edmond son, and Mr. Edmondson in the home with him. Mr. Stallings never married and is survived by one sister, Mrs. Sylves ter Peel, who continues quite ill in the home of her daughter, Mrs. T. C. jiiffin, in Griffins Township. For more than half a century he was a devoted member of the Primi ive Baptist Church at Smithwicks Creek. He was an industrious farm sr, working hard until about five r’ears ago when failing health forced lis retirement. \ccident Injuries Fatal To Soldier —«— A letter confirming the death of Upl. Thaddeus Newsome III, Martin bounty colored youth, was received jy his parents near here last week end. While the letter did not offer nany details, it stated that Newsome iied on March 5 on Honshu Island, presumably Nagoya, “as a result of njuries received in a truck ucci lent.” The latest communication explain 'd that provisions had been made for he unit commander or the chaplain 0 send a letter setting out in detail he facts surrounding the accident ind the soldier's death. The boy s parents were notified on March 8 of their son’s death on March 5. Later information received here itated that Newsome suffered sec md and third degree burns in the iccident. Assigned to the quartermaster ■orps, Newsome had been driving a ruck for some months. Painfully Hurt In Freak Fall Here —♦— Mrs. Leo Andrews was painfully >u{ not seriously hurt when she fall rom a second story window at her iome on Smithwick Street here last fhursday. One report stated she lost 1 tooth and suffered a broken jaw ind a chin cut in the fall. Mrs. Andrews opened the window ;creen to call to a child in the yard, rhe hinges at the top of the screen vere not very secure and when she Maced a little weight on the bottom he screen pulled loose. Mrs. An Irews lost her balance and fell to he ground with the screen. She is ;etting along very well. Upon Flower Shop In Former Cafe Building Mesdames Betty Eason and Shirley White have opened a flower shop in he Leggett building formerly occu ded by the late Gus Rigas’ Williams on Cafe. ELECTIONS BOAHI) Messrs. Sylvester Peel of Grif fins Township, Alvin Hasty ahd Wade Vick, both of Roberson vllle, were appointed to serve as elections officials during the next two years, by the State Board of Elections in meeting at Raleigh last Saturday. Mr. Peel begins his tenth term as an election official for the county. During the past eighteen years he served as secretary. Mr. Hasty will fill the position made vacant nearly two vears ago when Mr. J. R. Winslow resign ed to enter the race for a seat in the general asembly. Mr. Vick has served as republican mem ber of the board for a number of terms. The county board is tentative ly scheduled to meet on Satur day of this week to perfect its organizations and make ready for the primary election on May Z5. Judge Urges Stronger Public Sentiment For Enforcement Of Laws Dangerous Trend In Support of Criminal Is Cited By Jurist Jutl^e Walter Hone Mention* Attitude Of Veteran In Charge To Jurymen -» In his charge to the Martin County Grand Jury Monday, Judge Walter Bone addressed a stirring appeal for a stronger sentiment for public law enforcement, and took a fair stand when it comes to crime among re turned servicemen. “I call attention to present conditions because they present a dangerous trend,” Judge Bone declared. In the fifty-minute charge, the iurist said it was hardly necessary to go to any great length in stress ing the Importance of jury duty and the importance of superior courts as institutions of state government, but a ‘‘few words will not be amiss in these days and times when so many are more intent on making money than they are interested in our gov ernment,” Judge Bone explained. Continuing, he said, "Our fore fathers thought over these matters, they fought and suffered before our present system of justice was work ed out. While it is not perfect, for no human system is, it is our job to add to the efficiency of the sys tem. “No institution is more important than the superior court. It is a place where people who feel as if they have been wronged, may lay their case before their fellowman, have the evidence aired in open court, hear witnesses, leave it to the jury to de cide and have the court act to re dress any wrong,” Judge Bone said, adding that mistakes will be made, no doubt, for humans are subject to err. “Judgment of the court has auth ority of state behind it. If we did not have a place to submit differ ences we would have to get our fami lies and friends together, take out guns and go out to get our venge ance. That’s the way nations do, for the world of nations have not pro gressed as far as individuals in set lling their differences. Nations fuss awhile, raise armies and then go to war. The UNO is being created, and if it carries out its mandates it will serve as a superior court on an in ternational scale,” the judge said, ad mitting that the future for the or ganization was not very bright just at this time. Elaborating on his plea for a stronger sentiment for law enforce ment, Judge Bone frankly declared that those charged with task see it turning in favor of criminals, that many are forgetting about the wrongs done. “We hear speeches before civic clubs and in the press and over the air, all pointing out the needless slaughter on the highways. In many cases when the defendants are brought into court to answer to charges of drunken driving or man slaughter or some other law infrac tion, juries turn them loose. If found guilty, the defendants, in some cases get Ihe sympathy of the public and pressure is brought on the judge, de manding him to be lenient in fixing judgment. And the judge is moved to be lenient,” the jurist declared. “I don’t want to be misunderstood, for I do not mean that the innocent should be convicted and that the convicted should not be treated fair ly. In some cases probation is bet ter and there are instances where the defendant is deserving of it. But the sentiment is becoming so strong i.y, I'.--.' "ufo-p; merit -in. difficult for and discouring to offic ers who risk their lives. The way to have law enforcement is to have public sentiment for it. The people of Martin County will get just about the type of law enforcement they want. If you want law enforce ment, build up sentiment for it,” the jurist pleaded. Continuing he said, “I have been astonished in other sections of the State where men had flagrantly vio lated the law and were turned loose to prey upon society. And there were cases where convictions were made and people were horrified because so and so was sentenced to prison. I (Continued on page six) ———a GcorfSfctson Selling Cafe To Rockingham Man George Sfetsos, successful operator of the Central Cafe here for a num ber of years, is selling the business to Phillip Tonis, of Rockingham, it was learned a few days ago. The new owner coming here with a splendid reputation as a citizen and cafe oper ator, is to take possession the first of next month. Tonis withdrew from the cafe business in Rockingham to enter the armed forces of his adopted country, and upon his return to civilian life, decided to locate in Williamston. He and his wife are expected here with ip a few days, Mr. Sfetsos said. ROUND-UP v.---/ Local, county and state offi cers worked a greater part of last Saturday night rounding up alleged violators of law and ord er In this county. According to an official count, fourteen per sons were jailed during the week-end, the number reaching a new record for the year. Eight were charged with public drunk enness, state patrolmen rounding up a carload at one time. Four others were charged with drunk en driving and one was booked for an assault. The ages of the group ranged from 23 to 59 years, and seven of those jailed were white. Nine of the fourteen were arrested and jailed Saturday evening and early Sunday morning. County Young Man Married Overseas —»— After hearing nothing from their son since last September, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Manning finally received a letter from him last week in which the young man announced his mar riage. The son, First Sergeant Mar vin B. Manning, was married last February 8. Apparently he is with holding most of the details until he returns home next June or July. It is believed however, that he was married in Italy. The breakdown in communications between the young soldier and his parents could not be explained im mediately. In the letter that final ly came through to his father, the young man stated that he had writ ten time and again. His letters were never received, and he never receiv ed any of the letters written to him. Red Cross home service worked on the case and many of its letters and inquiries never went through until just a short time ago. The young man was transferred to another out fit when his old one was discontinu ed, and his address was not establish ed for months. However, it is not quite clear why letters to relatives back home missed their destination. Tobacco Acreage To Be Checked In 1946 —» To further strengthen compliance with the marketing quota program, all acreages of flue-cured tobacco grown on all farms in 1946 will be measured by AAA Committeemen or others working under supervision Of committeemen, it was announced today by Jesse Crisp, chairman, of the Martin County AAA Committee. “Due to the manpower shortage, the AAA found it necessary to dis continue measurement of all flue cured acreages during the war, and this will be the first year since 1942 when all acreages will be measured,” Mr. Crisp said. “The system of re porting their individual acreages by farmers, themselves, and subsequent spot-checking was the best means of acreage determination during the war. However, a return to measure ment of all acreages is essential in order to make the marketing quota program fully effective." Flue-cured producers of Martin County have been notified of 1940 acreage allotments fo their farms. --- Jmitfe J. C. Smith Said To Be Improving Sloivly >ld the regular session of the county court last week on ac count of illness, Judge J. C. Smith yesterday was reported to be show ing some improvement. He is able to be out for short periods, but has not been able to attend any of the early, sessions of the current term of tlie superior court. SPECIAL Meeting in special session here yesterday, the Martin County Commissioners ordered a special election to be held in the Wil liamston School District to de termine the will of the people relative to the levying of a 20 cent advalorem tax for the sup port of additional courses in the schools of the district. Dates and boundaries will be announced by a special committee within the next few days, it was learned. A special registration was also ordered, and Messrs. Joe Gray Corey, registrar, and Chas. I.. Daniel and Fred Taylor, judges of election for Precinct No. 1, were named along with Messrs. O. S. Anderson, regis trar, and John E. Pope and Jesse T. Price, judges of election, for Precinct No. 2. Dates for open ins' the special registration books will be announced within the next few days. Forger Has Tough Day In Court Here Monday Afternoon Walter C. Walker Draws From Four To Seven Years In State’s Prison Walter C. Walker, 29-year-old col ored man charged with forgery, had a tough day in the Martin County Superior Court here yesterday when he drew two terms in prison and was ruled, by strong intimation, to be a mighty loose handler of the truth. Back in January, Walker, by hook or by crook, got hold of two checks and according to his own admission he forged endorsements and cashed them. He left immediately for Chi cago where ho gained employment at a fabulous salary, $93.30 a week, ac cording to his claim. Last August 20, he was released from the high way prison camp in this county and located in Williamston where he made progress in his courtship with a certain woman whose name was not mentioned. It was on account of this great friendship that he de cided to give up his “fat” salary job in Chicago and return here to his friend, face the law and take his medicine. It was his purported in tention to refund the money he had gained by forgery, but it was brought out at the trial that he did not have the money and that he had made no ■ffort to raise it. Walker, apparent ly lost in his courtship, did not re port to the police, but in open court he admitted that someone reported him. and his arrest followed a short time later. While the state was building up its case on the evidence offered by Police Chief C. R. Mobley, certain evidence was brought out about Walker’s alleged study of medicine. Walker, taking the stand in his own behalf, said that he had told local officers he missed his degree in medicine by only a few months. He changed his story on the stand and said that he was licensed to practice in Ohio as a woman’s specialist, an achievement well founded in Cupid’s line when it was brought out that he had left a wife at 1614 Patterson Street, Nashville, Tenn. From the standpoint of medicine he was a weak specialist, for when Judge Walter Bone, the presiding jurist, asked him what books or subjects he studied in earning his medical de gree, Walker mentioned tumors, brain and one or two other parts of the anatomy “I thought so," Judge Bone said, and the defendant's doom was sealed, for it was indeed appar ent that Walker was forging some thing besides cheek endorsements. Asked about the several post office keys he once had in his possession, Walker told some tall stories, main taining that they were not on the ring when he turned them over to the local hotel operator. It was ap parent that Walker offered his strongest defense when it was sug gested that he found or stole the keys and had lifted the checks out of post office boxes. He maintained that he bought two of the forged checks from two small colored boys for a nickel each. In a third case, charging him with forgery, Walker deader! not guilty, and the case was nol pressed after he had pleaded ;uilty in the other two and was sen tenced to state’s prison for not less than three and not more than five years in one and to not less than one year and not more than two in the other case, the sentences to run ■onsecutively. In the first case, the defendant had idmitted that he had forged the en lorsement on a check written to Miss Estelle* Crawford in the sum of $135 by the National Casualty Com >any. In the other case Walker pleaded guilty of forging the signa ture of Eunice Perry Whitfield on he back of a $13.33 check drawn on the National Casualty Company. He denied endorsing a check written by Mrs. Sadie Speight in the sum of $6 85 in favor of Mrs. Eloise Bennett. While several checks were missed fibin'mSiwiwppbox, several others were missed from boxes in the same section of boxes at the local post office, including me written by Mrs. J. 11. Saunders in favor of the local telephone com pany. Asked why he nevi practiced medicine, Walker said he was licens ed in Ohio but lost his license be cause he took "dope.” Solicitor Fountain reviewed Walker’s crime record, and Walker tried to explain it away, but his explanation carried little weight. It is likely that postal nispectors will enter the case shortly. Large Crowd Plans To Attend Banquet Two hundred or more Skewarkey and visiting Masons and special guests are^alanning to attend the an nual banquet of the local lodge in the high school gymnasium this eve ning at 7:15 o’clock. Mr. Roy Ward, chairman of the committee on ar rangements, announced. Present in dications point to the biggest event of its kind the lodge has ever held, the chairman was quoted as saying. Wade Marr, Elizabeth City man and a widely acclaimed speaker, will deliver the main address, but there will be other features on the pro gram, Mr. Ward explained.