NEARLY MM COPIES OP THE ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN THE ENTERPRISE NEARLY MM COPIES OF THE ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN WilliamstoTi, Martin County, North Carolina. Friday. April$. 1916 VOLUME XIIX—NUMBER 28 ESTABLISHED 1899 Reports Needs And Present Condition of The Various Schools —<§>— No Estimate Available On the Cost Of New Units In Proposed Program ■ ■» — At a virtual standstill for years, first on account of adverse financial conditions and then the war, an ex tensive building program during the next few years is urgently needed if the schools in this county are to maintain a progressive march, edu cation authorities pointed out in a re port submitted to the county com missioners recently. At the present time, school fin ances are in splendid condition, but other obstacles such as high building costs and material shortages, present themselves. Just how the program can be adjusted to meet the adverse conditions is yet to be determined, but it is fairly certain that some action will be necessary if existing emergencies are to be relieved. Tht? report submitted this week re viws the conditions of the county's existing physical plant and outlines needs, many of them urgent, for the future. No detailed estimate on costs could be had immediately. The re port reads, as follows: White Schools Jamesville. In 1944 the Board of Education purchased a house and lot for a teachers’ home. The prin cipal and the agriculture teacher live in this house. All except one of the teachers live in Jamesville, so the need has not been so great for a teacher’s home. The County gets $480.00 per year rent for this build ing. The request has been made by the Jamesville Board for the erec tion of a teacherage and to'leave the present building for the principal and vocational teacher. If this should be considered, there should be a building with about seven bedrooms. This building should produce in rent about $1000.00 per year. Farm Life. The Board of Educa tion has in mind the erection of a lunchroom and a Home Economics Department in a new building. The Home Economics Department is fair ly well house at the present time in the basement.. The teacherage is not being used now by the teachers, so it is now serving as a lunchroom. Bear Grass. The Board of Educa tion has approved (though it has not officially been placed in the minutes) the erection of a lunchroom and *a Home Economics building. Every available space is now being used and the indications are now that there will be an additional teacher in this school in 1946-47. This is one of the most necessary projects. Williamston White Elementary School. This building needs a com plete renovation on the insiflfc It was erected in 1917. While the walls are in good condition, the floor is severely worn and the plaster and ceiling are both in bad condition. The lunchroom is now housed in the basement. We want to take out some walls and put in some posts to support the floor and increase the size. This project was planned for this year, but neither labor nor mat erials were available. Williamston High School. The Wil liamston High School presents a real problem. The building is now com pletely filled. There will be two additional state teachers next year, and as soon as agriculture teachers are available, the department should be added in the Williamston School. The lunchroom is now housed in the gymnasium and is a very poor make shift. It seems that there would need to be built in Williamston a Home Economics and Agriculture building with a lunchroom and a band room. By moving the Home Economics de partment out of the present build ing will give two additional rooms. The need for a home for the prin cipal is about as pressing as anything now. It seems that it might be logi cal to build a duplex apartment. This would be a self-liquidating project, and would not be a bad investment, especially since there is ample space. Everetts. The Everetts School is in need of a lunchroom. Rooersonville Elementary School. A new boiler has been bought and a new heating system will be installed in this building this summer. A new roof will have to be put on this building before very long. Kobersonville High School. After study it appears that the need here is for the erection of a lunchroom, gymnasium, Home Economics De partment, and a band room. Fur two years they have not had an Agricul ture Department and the lunchroom has been housed in the Agriculture Building. By building a Home Eco nomics Department in a new build ing, the normal needs at Roberson - ville will be taken care of for several years. A principal’s home is needed also as in Williamston. Hamiton and Hassell. These schools are very well taken care of. (Continued on page four) -# . — Kiuanians Turn Back Lions By Small Score Playing a benefit game in the local gyrn last Monday, the Kiwanians turned back the Lior.s cn the court by the small score of 17 to 15. The contest, interrupted often by substi tutes going in to relieve the winded, was played before a large audience, the proceeds going to the s^ouf build ing fund. Competition Now Considered Likely In the County’s Politics After remaining unusually quiet during most of the pre-filing season, interest and activities in the forth coming political primary are begin ning to show "dded life. No official competition in the county political field has been created as yet, but a race is believed in the making, ac cording to reliable reports reaching here this week. Mentioned as a possible candidate for the State House of Representa tives, Mr. A. Corey was quoted as saying Wednesday, “I am consider ing the matter and with suggestions and requests as they have been I feel that I shall file for the place of representative in the next session of the General Assembly.” Mr. Corey an experienced hand in legislative procedure and work, stated that he planned to make a decision within the next few days. If Mr. Corey files for the position and there is a good possibility that he will, the first contest in strictly county politics will have been de veloped. Mr. C. B. Martin, former school man who continues in the armed forces but who is expecting his discharge shortly, announced for the State House of Representatives several weeks ago. [ County politics are slow in shaping up this season, and while no offices are likely to go begging, competition is almost certain to be limited. If there is to be any major contests, little advanced news has leaked out about them. Time for filing is rapidly drawing io a close, and several offices still do not have announced candidates. Breaking the ice nearly two weeks ago, L. Bruce Wynne filed for clerk of superior court, and Chas. B. Roe buck announced for sheriff. J. Cal vin Smith was next with his candi dacy for judge of the county record er’s court, and he was followed by Paul D. Roberson for the solicitor’s place. Last Monday the county com missioners filed in a group, includ ing Messrs. R. L. Perry, Joshua L. Coltrain, John Henry Edwards, C. Abram Roberson and R. A. Haislip. In the second state senatorial dis trict, Hugh G. Horton, Roy Hampton and John Rodman have announced for the two seats, and in th© First Congressional District Herbert C. Bonner, incumbent, and Robert Lee Humber are candidates. | SELF-SERVICE v Opening the first self-service store in this section, Pender’s did i whale of a rushing business here yesterday, and there con tinues a flourishing business to day. Patrons, visiting a self-service store for the first time, were quick to learn the plan of proce dure. There were a few hitches the first day, but despite them a greater volume of business was handled and considerably quick er than it would have been pos sible with the customers depend ing on clerks. The store featured quite a number of the scarce items, despite the crowds, shelves were replenished from time to time. Willis H. Burden Died In Hospital Early On Tuesday ■" ■ o Funeral For Retired Building Contraetor Held At Home On Marshall Avenue — e Willis H. Burden, retired building contractor who had made his home here with a daughter, Mrs. John Wier, on Marshall Avenue for a number of years, died in the local hospital last Tuesday morning at 8:20 o’clock. He had been in de clining health for a number of years and his condition was serious for several weeks. Fairly active for his advanced age, Mr. Burden was in jured when struck by a truck here on Main Street several yearB ago and he never experienced very good health since that time. Mr. Burden was born in Elberton, Georgia, on February 18, 1868, the son of the late John W. and Nancy Edwards Burden. After spending his early life there he located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and en gaged in the building industry for many years. On January 18, 1896, he was married to Miss Mary Ella Sineath of St. Matthews, South Caro lina. Following his retirement about nine years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Burden came to Williamston to make their home with their daughter, Mrs. Bur den dying five years ago. During his residence here Mr. Bur den made many friends in the com munity. Quiet-mannered, he had a knack of seeing the good in his fel lowman and overlooking the bad. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. John Wier, of Williamston, and Mrs. M. B. Smith, of Columbia, South Carolina; two grandsons, John Wier, Jr., of Williamston, and Billy Smith, Jr., of Columbia. Funeral services were conducted from the home Wednesday after noon at 4:00 o’clock by Rev. B. T. Hurley, local Methodist minister and the family pastor. Interment was in »he family plot in Woodlawn Ceme tery here. Mrs. Ida Roberson Dies In Bear Grass —*— Mrs. Ida Roberson died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lcnwood Pierce, in Bear Grass Township last Monday evening at 9:45 o’clock fol lowing a long period of declining health. She was 74 years old. Mrs. Roberson, the daughter of the late John Henry and Mary Ann Tay lor Webb, was born in Bear Grass and lived all her life there. In early womanhood she was mar ried to Joshua Roberson who died some years ago. Besides her daughter she is surviv ed by a sister, Mrs. Della Biggs, oi this county. Funeral services were conducted at her daughter’s home Tuesday after noon by Elder A. B. Ayers and bur ial was in the family cemetery or 1 *he Oscar Peel farm in Bear Grasi Township. Twenty-five County Men Leave For Fort Bragg on Wednesday ■ • Group Of Colored Draftees Are Called For Final In duction In Services Twenty-seven Martin County col ored men were called recently to re port to Fort Bragg last Wednesday for final induction. Twenty-five answered the call. One, Samuel El lis Smallwood, of RFD 1, Wllltams ton and Baltimore, was transferred to Baltimore, and another, Charlie Alfred Williams, of Williamston and Norfolk, failed to report. The call was one of the largest re ceived for colored men in this county in many months. However, no col ored men were inducted into the ser vices from this county last month. Sixteen of those called came from the farm, and thirteen of the twenty seven are nineteen years old or old er, the ages ranging up to 25 years. Names and addresses of the men answering the call: Henry Davis Clemmons, RFD 3, Williamston. James Henry Lambson, Williams ton and Newport News, Va. Willie Jasper Jones, RFD 1, Rober sonville. Eddie Mack Briley, RFD 1, Rober sonville and Portsmouth. Clarence Purvis, RFD 1, Oak City. Willie David Boston, Jr., RFD 1, Jamesville. Jim Junior Outterbridge, RFD 3, Williamston. James Edward Teel, RFD 1, Rob ersonville and Norfolk. Melvin Langley, Robersonville. John D. Griffin, RFD 3, Williams ton. Lester Carr, RFD 1, Oak Cjjy. Wiley Theodore Williams, Oak City. James Edward Williams, Williams ton. James Dennis Williams, RFD 1, (Continued on page four) Report Increase In Sale Of Auto Tags —•— While the sale of 1946 state license tags to new car owners has been lim ited to about a dozen since the first of the year, former residents return ing from the defense centers con tinue to boost the sale of the plates, in general, W. H. Carstarphen, man ager of the license bureau maintain ed here by the Carolina Motor Club, announced this week. So far, the bureau has sold 6,138 tags to vehicle owners in this sec tion as compared with 6,088 sold in the corresponding period for 1945. A quarterly reduction in the price of tags is now in effect and sales are expected to show a further Increase, it was announced. Reports covering all license and title transactions throughout North Carolina show greatly increased ac tivity, with every indication being that automobile travel will surpass that of 1941, formerly a peak year. Late March figures, obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles in Raleigh, put the sale of North Caro lina tags at 648,271 by the end of March, well above the 1945 March total of 609,709, and far ahead of the 591,081 for 1941. — ' <9— College Glee Club To Present Program Sunday Appearing in the Christian Church here Sunday afternoon at 4:00 o’clock, the Atlantic Christian Col lege Glee Club will offer a varied program, Assistant Organist Russell T. Roebuck for the church, announc ed today. The program includes numbers by a mixed chorus, girls’ glee club, male quartet and several solos. Tlie public is cordially invited to hear the program. Most Unusual Case Reported In County By Sheriffs Office - ♦ Wm. David Brown, Attired In Overcoat and Underwear, Enters Pulpit -* One of the most unusual cases ever handled by the sheriff's department in this county was reported early this week. While it may have a pathetic touch, it certainly has a fun ny side. Sheriff C. B. Roebuck is really baffled because he can't de cide whether the principal in the case Is a law violator or a subject for the asylum for the insane. The man answers questions after a logi cal fashion, but his actions are a bit on the unbalanced side. According to reports reaching here, William David Brown, 28-year old colored man, went to church last Sunday morning near Hassell. That wasn’t unusual, but he went attired in an overcoat, long-handled under wear, shoes and socks. His garb at tracted attention, but the climax of his visit was not reached until he got up and declared that the minister was not half preaching, that he would take over in the pulpit. He was said to have laid the moral law down to the congregation during the greater part of an hour. Brown's activities from that time until the next morning are not de finitely known. It was said that dur ing the meantime he had driven to Tarboro and deposited his pistol and part of a liquor still in Tar River. Riding horseback and carrying a five-gallon demi john and still attir ed in overcoat, long drawers, shoes and socks, Brown approached De puty Cedric Burroughs near the fire tower, not far from Hassell. “I’m taking this liquor and carrying it where the Lord told me to carry it,” he explained. Not certain of his du ties in the case, Deputy Burroughs talked with Brown and considered it advisable to hold him for the sheriff. Burroughs caught hold of the bridle. Brown reached forward, slipped the bridle off the horse’s head, clucked to the animal and drove away, leaving the deputy holding to the empty bridle. Brown dropped the five gallons of liquor and later fell off the horse. Taken into custody by Deputy Roy Peel later in the morning, Brown said that he had been converted, and carried the officer to the woods and showed him where a liquor plant had been wrecked and where the still, a steel drum, was buried. When picked up by the officer, Brown offered no resistance but ex pressed disappointment when he could not deliver the liquor where the Lord had told him to carry it. Brown, apparently in good health, worked steadily on the farm, and was getting along all right up until Sunday. He had been called to Army centers several times but was rejected each time. Members of his family, visiting him in jail this week, maintained he had been conjured, that they knew someone who could lift the spell. During the meantime, the sheriff’s office is going ahead with plans to have the man admitted to an institution. Brown, insisting that his name is “David, Play On Your Harp,” is taking his confinement in different moods. One day he flood ed his cell by pranking with the water lines, and Wednesday he marched around his cell attired only in a cap. Albemarle Union To Meet In Washington Saturday -» A me'eting of the Albemarle Union (disciples of Christ) will meet in the First Christian Church, Washington, tomorrow morning at 10:30 o’clock with Rev. John L. Goff, president, presiding. All churches in the district are in vited to send representatives to the meeting which will feature an inter esting program. A good number of representatives will attend from the local church, it was announced. THE RECORD SPEAKS . . . Accidents continue to climb in this county, latest reports plac ing the county at an all-time high of 42 for the first thirteen weeks of the current year. It is good that most of the highway accidents have been of a minor nature, but even then three lives have been lost 'and twenty-five persons have been injured, one or two permanently. A little accident wave struck Roberson ville last week-end, but the three accidents there cause no injuries and limited property damage. Martin citizens figured in two accidents outside the county dur ing the period. The following tabulations of fer a comparison of the accident trend: first, by corresponding weeks in this year and last and for each year to the present time. Thirteenth Week Accidents Inj’d Killed Dam’ge 1046 .4 0 1 $ 600' 1945 . 1 0 0 200 Comparisons To Date 1946 42 25 3 10,400 1945 17 6 0 5,150 Twenty County Men Are Called Monday To Service Center Eighteen Report For Their Preinduction Examinations At Fort Bragg ..-<.€>■— 1 Holding to an unusually low figure for months, the size of draft calls has been materially increased, the Martin County Draft Board announc ing this week that twenty young col ored men were called Monday for pre-induction examinations at Fort Bragg. Eighteen answered the call. Herman Ellis Page, it was learned, beat the draft by volunteering for service a short time ago, and no word has been received from John Alfred James who did not report last Monday. Fourteen of the twenty called are just eighteen years old, the ages of the six others ranging up to 23 years. Eleven of the twenty were called from the farm. Names of the men called for pre induction examinations and their addresses: George Bedford Shaw, Williams ton. Charlie Oscar James, RFD 1, Hob good. Ora Staton, Hamilton. James Arthur Blount, Jamesville and RFD 1, Plymouth. John Henry Bryant, Oak City Joseph Bellamy, Robersonville. L. V. Taylor, RFD 3, Williamston. William Grimes, RFD 1, Roberson ville. Essix Wilson, Williamston. Charley Augustus Bennett, Jr., RFD 2, Robersonville. Herman Ellis Page, Parmele and Mt. Vernon, N. Y. John Alfred James, Parmele. (Continued on page four) Martin County Boys Register For Draft Twenty-nine Martin County boys registered with the Draft Board in February, it was announced follow ing a meeting of the draft officials held a few days ago. Twenty-three of those registering were white. Thirteen of the twenty-nine register ed as eight-year-olds, and the others as returning veterans who entered the service ahead of the draft. Names of the new registrants and their addresses: Mack Gilbert Roberson, w, RFD 3, Williamston. Randolph Alexander Saunders, col., Robersonville. William Junior Baker, col., RFD 1, Oak City. Willie Leighton Lewis, w, RFD 1, Bethel. Willie Justice Lynch, w, RFD 1, Robersonville. James Shepherd, Jr., col., RFD 2, Williamston. James Leo Cullipher, w, RFD 3, Williamston. James Harris Dunn, col., Home stead, Fla. William Stanley Warren, w, RFD 3, Williamston. William Cleopheus Myers, w, Wil liamston. Daniel Marvin Perry, w, RFD 1, Jamseville. William Lester Rogers, col , RFD 2, Williamston. Russell Earl Keel, w Roberson ville. William Joseph Griffin, w, RFD 1, Williamston. Ottis Linwood Davenport, w, An napolis, Md. Coy Stalls, w, Robersonville. Reuben Leland Bailey, Jr., w, RFD 3, Williamston. Jesse Thomas Laughinghouse, w, Parmele. Jennis Luke Cherry, w, RFD 3, Williamston. William Herbert Parry, Jr., w, Jamt*8ville. Roy Donald Hudson, w, RFD 1, Williamston. Leon McKinley Warren, w, Hob good. Theodore Roosevelt Wilson, col., Williamston. William Thomas Cullipher, Jr., w, RFD 3, Williamston. Allen Earl Lewis, w, RFD 3, Wil liamston. Vance Lee Clark, w, RFD 3, Wil liamston. Joe Grant Ballard, w, Roberson ville. Luther Cleveland Modlin, w, RFD 3, Williamston. Francis Crowell Egan, w, Williams ton. --«*— Fined In Federal Court This Week -* Charged with the possession of cer tain equipment designed for use in the manufacture of illicit liquors, Will Knox, Martin County man, was adjudged guilty and fined $200 in federal court at Washington last Tuesday. Officer J. H. Roebuck found a still worm or condenser in Knox’s possession at the Knox home in Bear Grass last February G. Joe Mike Mitchell, all ;ged to have sold a car above ceiling prices, was carried into the court and was ad judged not guilty Wednesday. These were the only two cases in the court from this county, reports reaching here stated. I_ REGISTRATION } Registration books for the spe cial school election to be held on May 4 will open In Williamston's two precincts Saturday and will remain open each Saturday un til 6 p. m., April 20. All those citizens wishing; to advance the cause of education in the Williamston Schools will find it necessary to register to participate in the election. Those living on the south side of the town’s main street and high way 64 to Beaver Dam Swamp, includign within the school dis trict boundary in Bear Grass and Williams Townships will regis ter at the Williamston Motor Company. Those living on the north side of the town's main street and Highway 64 to Beav er Dam Swamp will register at Harrison and Carstarphen’s in surance office. Governor Of State Urges Citizens To Aid Cancer Drive -a Martin Coimtv Is Being Asked To Raise $1,000 In Nation wide Fund Drive -» Governor R. Gregg Chery called upon all citizens of the state to sup port the humanitarian work of the JJorth Carolina Division of the Field Army of the American Cancer So ciety in a proclamation making April cancer control month in North Car olina. Governor Cherry issued his pro clamation this week and read it on a program broadcast over every radio station in the state. The radio broad cast opened with a talk by Mrs. George E. Marshal, of Mount Airy, commander of the North Carolina Division. The chief executive was in troduced by John Kerr, Jr., of War renton, state campaign chairman for the drive in which $167,880 is being sought in North Carolina for the fight on cancer. The proclamation issued by Gov ernor Cherry is as follows: "Wheras, cancer is the most fear ed of all diseases and its control is a great public health problem which the Congress of the United States has recognized in a special act by designating the month of April as Cancer Control Month, and the Gen eral Assembly of the State of North Carolina has, by similar action, so designated the month of April, and “Whereas, cancer killed 607,000 American citizens on the home front between Pearl Harbor and V-J Day —more than twice as many as were slain on the battle fronts by our Japanese and German enemies, and “Whereas, cancer deaths in 1945 in North Carolina reached the all time high total of 2,421, and “Wheras, cancer takes its greatest toll among those who are at the height of their usefulness to them selves, their families, and their com munities, but spares no age, not even the little child nor the very old, and “Whereas, from one-third to one half of all cancer deaths are need less, even if no other medical dis covery is even made about this dis ease, and “Whereas, co-ordinated and ade quately financed research offers hope (Continued on page four) Governor Proclaims Army Day In State Governor R. Gregg Cherry has called on the people of North Caro lina to celebrate Army Day, April 6. In a proclamation issued from the capitol Governor Cherry pointed out the fact that “This is the first time since the cessation of hostilities that full honor can be done in recogni tion of the glorious feats, faith and loyalty of the men and women of our Army.’’ The Governor called upon the peo ple of North Carolina to “Make this day memorable by wholeheartedly entering into the ceremonies and celebration, thus paying tribute to the great accomplishments of our Army, and thereby honoring the veterans of World War I and World War II.” President Truman, in a previously issued proclamation, had invited the governors of each state to issue pro clamations calling for the observ ance of Army Day. In response to the call from the governor, civic organizations throughout the state- have, in coop eration with Military Installations, arranged for parades, displays of equipment, banquets and speeches honoring those who have served and are serving with the Army. -X, .I.„ Church Group To Meet In Goldsboro Next Tuesday -