VOLUME XLIX NUMBER 49 * Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, Jiirir 78, 1916 ESTABLISHED 1899 Noah S. Riddick Died In Hospital Saturday Evening Fiit'crai In KitSdick’s Grove Itapli*! Quircli Monday Afternoon - N'.ah Samuel Riddick, local young man, died in a Washing ton hospital last Saturday even ing at 9:00 o’clock following eight months of declining health. His condition had been critical for five wci ks, and pneumonia was given as the immediate cause of his death. Suffering a knee and leg in jury in a fall from a furniture truck about nine months ago, the young man received treatment in the local hospital for three weeks, going to Duke in November. He underwent a major operation there,, the surgeons performing a major operation in on effort to save his leg. Several nerves were severed and blood was turned from one leg to the injured limb. After a stay of about two weeks he returned home, and while his condition showed slight improve ment at times, he was confined to his bed for weeks. In early May he seemed to be getting along very well and engaged in the insurance business, but on the ninth of that month his condi tion became worse and he enter ed the Washington institution on May 11 for treatment, his physi cians declaring at the time that chances of recovery were negligi ble. The son of the late Jim H. and Emma Jones Riddick, he was born on October 111, 1907, in Williams Township where he spent most of j his life. Marrying Miss Idell I Griffin of Giiffins Township, he I located in Williamston in 1934 and was i mployed for a while be- ^ fore entering business for him self, later going with the CoiUt ney Furniture Company and more * recently with an insurance com pany. He was a member of the Rid dick’s Grive Baptist Church since his early youth, and was a con genial neighbor and most accom modating to* his friends and ac quaintances. Besides his wife he is survived by two daughters, Emma Jean, 9, and Betsy, 7; two sisters, Mrs. L.eo Roberson of near Williams tun, and Mrs. Ottis Hardison of Jumesville; a half-sister, Mrs. Hu bert Roberson of Williams Town ship, and a half-brother, C. B. Riddick of Everetts. Funeral services were conduct ed Monday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock in the Riddick’s Grove Church which was founded by and named for his father. Rev W. B. Harrington, the pastor, of ficiated. and burial was in Wil liamston’s Woodlawn Cemetery. Construction To Cost Billions —*— It is estimated by some experts that the GI housing program will run to a figure of approxi mately thirteen to sixteen billion dollars. Already the financiers are making plans to underwrite the government-guaranteed mort gages fur a vast number of the sixteen million returning service men. Just as soon as politics is ousted from the scene and all the1 poli ticians’ friends build race tracks, warehouses, filling stations, beach resort hotels and cottages, the GI housing program is expected to gain momentum, and the veter ans will be able to get a roof over their heads along with the race horses and resort patrons. v — Rob Prison Camp Store Saturday —*— Robbers, believed to have been operating within the compound, broke into the small Store at the Martin County Prison Camp near here during the early hours of last Saturday evening, stealing between $15 and $20 in cash. No other items were missed. Apparently trying to throw off suspicion, the robber took a lad der from the coal bin and placed it against the fence on the inside, j There were no tracks outside, of- j ficers expressing the belief that I the job was handled before all the | trusties were placed in the cell ■ block at 8:30 that evening. \ HAMITON’S NEW THEATRE Just recently completed at a cost of approximately $36,000.00, Hamilton s modern theater, “The Hamilton”, held its formal opening last Wednesday, the people of the town and com munity playing the role of gracious hosts at a big barbecue dinner which was attended by nearly 2,000 guests. Preliminary Reports Point To Excess Tobacco Acreage -$ Preliminary reports coming from the office of the farm agent this week indicated that quite a few farmers in this county arc planting in excess of their tobacco allotments. Of the 220 farms checked in the county through last week, forty six were said to have had excess tobacco acreages, ranging from about one-tenth to as much as two and one-half acres in some cases. The excess, according to the pre liminary reports, will average right at one acre, it was learned. The check measurements, handled by and under the direc tion of the local Triple A com mitteemen, are progressing steadily but slowly in this county. Approximately one-seventh of the farms have been checked so far, and it isn’t likely that the work will be completed before harvest time. ROUND-UP Local police in this and at least one other community in the county had a busy period last week-end rounding up alleged law violators. Eleven persons were ar rested and jailed here during the period, nine for public drunkenness-, one for investi gation, and one under a capias in a manslaughter case. The ages of the eleven ar rested and jailed here ranged from sixteen to sixty-seven years. One of the eleven was white. Kobersonvillc reported the arrest of five persons, one colored and four white, for public drunkenness and dis orderly conduct last Saturday and Sunday. Heavy Rains Fall Here Last Friday Some crops were damaged in widely scattered areas in this county by heavy rains and small hail stones lust Friday. Conflict ing reports were heard soon after the rains, but with some few ex ceptions where sand was washed over small plants and where hail battered tobacco the rani is be lieved to have help the crops, as a whole. Tobacco in a few low places flopped and some was ac tually drowned, but the ctop, as a whole, has grown fairly rapidly since the rains. Cloudy and fair ly cool weather followed, the nearly three inches of rain that fell last Friday and early Satur day morning. Farmers arc agreed that tobacco woud have suffered bad the rains been followed by a bot sun. Hail was reported in various sections of the county, but the losses are not believed to be ex :ensive. The weather station on Roan ike River here reported 1.14 nches of rain last Friday just be :ore noon, not quite three-quar :ers of an inch that afternoon and 1.04 inches early Saturday morn ng, making a total of 2.89 inches (Continued on page six) | On Friday of this week the 1 State Triple A office is planning I to send in spot checkers to verify the measurements handled by the local committee groups. According to the regulations, the excess plantings are not to be destroyed. The grower with ex cess acreage will harvest all of his crop and pay the penalty on the excess. Even if the farmer de cides to destroy by chopping down or plowing under the ex j cess, he will still be subject to the penalty" it was pointed out. If the present trend in excess i acreage is maintained, the county will, under normal weather eon i ditions, produce one of the largest crops in several years. The excess plantings, it was pointed out, are in addition to the ten percent .allotment increase allowed by the | Secretary of Agriculture. Patrol Reports Lone Accident —<*— Only one highway accident was reported in the county last week end, members of the highway pa trol stating that the period was one of the quietest they had ex perienced on the highways in a number of weeks. "I hoveled more than one hundred miles in the county last Saturday after noon and evening and did not see the first law violation,” CpI. W. T. Simpson of the patrol said. No one was hurt, but the 1937 Dodge truck belonging to Leslie W. Hardison burned when it turn ed over on the JamcsviUe-Farm Life Hoad, a shor t distance out of Jamesville, last Thursday evening about 6 30 o’clock. Frank Green, driver of the tr uck, said that tire radius rod broke, that the truck went out of control and plunged into the woods and turned over. Green said that he and his com panions, Bobby James and Sam H. Lilley, crawled out of the over turned vehicle just about the time it caught fire. No estimate of the damage could be had immediately. Ahoskie Opening Festival June 19 ——<&>-—■. Ahoskie.—Preparations are al most complete for the first post war Ahoskie Kiwanis Festival which opens on June 19 and closes June 21 with a dance to the music of Saxie Dowell and his orches tra. Three full nights of entertain ment are scheduled, with big time vaudeville acts and other- attrac tions slated for the first two nights. And dangling befor e those who buy tickets to the affair is the certain knowledge that the holder of a certain ticket number will leave the festival owning a brand new, 1946, Ford sedan. Ahoskie Kiwanians, who use the funds raised at the annual festival to carry on their work among crippled and underprivi leged children, anticipate the big gest and most successful festival ,in the c'ub’s history. Tobacco Acreage Referendum to Be Held On July 12 lYiiailirs for Exrcus Ouotas Increased By Fifty Per cent hv (am^ress ——«> Flue-cured tobacco growers for thi' first time in three years will vote on July 12 on whether or not they want the government’s to baceo quota program continued. The referendum was announced by the Agriculture Department in accordance w ith a recently passed measure requiring the Agricul ture Department to place its an nounced tobacco quotas before a vote of the growers. Penalties for tobacco quota vio lations were recently increased 5U percent by act of Congress. The July 12 referendum will concern the 1947 crop. Grower* will be asked whether they ap prove a national marketing quota for 11M7 which is due to be an nounced July 1 by the Agricul ture Department. They also will vote on whether they favor the quotas for a one or three-year period, and whether or not they are opposed to quotas. The last referendum on flue cured tobacco quotas was held in 19-13. At that time, 117.(i percent (Continued on page six) County Property Values After reaching the highest peak since 1919-20 when valuations stood right at 21 million dollars, property val ues, personal and real, took a slight dip for the first time this year, Tax Supervisor M. L. Peel stating that a loss of $161,128 is reflected in current listings. While the figures dropped from $14,036,461 last year to $111,875,333 this year, exclusive of corporation listings, the decrease is hardly of sufficient size to make itself felt when it comes time to de termine the new tax rate. However, the decrease will possibly be recognized as a caution sign. A year ago, cor poration values were placed on the books by the Utilities Commission at $1,965,762.37. If those values are maintain ed this year, and there is no reason why they should not be about the same if not more, then the total 1946 assess ed property valuation in the county will approximate $15,841,095. Plagued by heavy personal property losses, Williams ton and Robersonville Townships could not offset the de crease with real property gains and they with Hamilton show an over-all loss. WHITE 1945 1946 $ 1,815,243 $ 1,846,909 376,955 Jamcsville Williams Griffins Bear Grass WilUamston Cross Roads Robersonville Poplar Point Hamilton Goose Nest Totals 355,265 733.006 697,631 3.339,619 658,241 2,494,489 379,347 1,005,072 1,233,160 743,552 706,637 3,220,242 659,464 2,374,679 390,105 951,399 1,233,971 $12,711,073 $12,503,913 COLORED Jamesville Williams Griffins Bear Grass Williamston Cross Roads Robersonville Poplar Point Hamilton Goose Nest Totals *—Denotes loss. 1945 $ 159,625 53,700 31,599 47,399 264,507 53,833 262,643 17,024 147,564 287,464 $ 1946 166,156 51,683 31,325 46,483 285,390 55,354 283.595 18,223 151.595 281,616 Gain Loss 31,666 21,690 10,546 9,006 *119,377 1,223 *119,810 10,758 * 53,673 811 *207,160 Gain Lo&s 6,531 * 2,017 * 274 * 916 20,883 1,521 20,952 1,199 4,031 * 5,848 Pet. 01.7 06.1 01.4 01.3 *03.5 00.2 *04.8 02.8 *05.3 00.0 *01.6 Pci. 04.1 *03.7 *00.8 *01.9 07.9 02.6 07.9 07.0 02.6 *02.0 $1,325,358 $1,371,420 46,062 03.1 I Defendants Given Lons Prison Terms Ti'ihmiiil ScIh-iIiiWm* lo I'nd Trial of Oiminal Cases Some rl'iine Today Opening a one-week term of Martin County Superior Court hero yesterday, Judge Walter Bone cleared a number of cases from the docket, and made ready to clear the criminal docket pos sibly sometime today. No charge to the grand jury was considered necessary since the body received detailed instruc tions at a previous term. Al though the court saved time there, the case in which Jimmy Council was charged with drunk en driving required nearly two hours for its trial. There was much conflicting evidence and the defendant was adjudged not guil ty. Henry Paul, young Greenville white man, pleaded guilty of in voluntary manslaughter as a re sult of a truck accident near Ev eretis in whifh Jeremiah Brown, colored, was fatally injured. Paul was sentenced to serve from two to three years in State’s Prison, the sentence to run concurrently w ith a three to five year term im posed in Pitt County some time ago in a case charging him with larceny. j Charged with an assault with a I deadly weapon with intent to kill, larceny and receiving and rob bery, John Henry Taylor, colored, pleaded guilty of the assault charge but not with intent to kill, larceny and receiving and rob bery. Assaulting and nearly ki 11 - j ing S. R. Jackson, county farmer, Taylor was sentenced to prison for not less than five and not more than seven years. Pleading guilty in the case charging him with breaking and entering and the larceny of two truck tires from a building supply firm in Williamston, Julm H. Williams was turned over tu the probation officer, the court delay ing sentence until a report could be prepared by the special officer. Charged with breaking and en t< ring and larceny, Thurman Beach pleaded guilty of forcible trespass and the pica was accept ed. Beach stated that he had been drinking, that he did not re ! member breaking into the filling station of John Mobley in Evcr ; elts, that the Iasi tiling lie remem bered prior to being found asleep in the station was going into the picture show at Rubcrsonvillc. The case was turned over to the i probation officer, the court liold (Continued on page six) Call Thirty-Five For •/ Pre- Induction Tests Nine Prove They Are Fathers Anc^ Get Out Of Call —*— Musi of Those Making Trip On Monthly Hail Been Kxaniinetl Before -• Thirty-five young Martin Coun ty white men were called recently to report on Monday of this week to Fort Bragg for pre-induction examinations. Nine of them prov ed parentage at the last minute and got out of the call. Two others were ruled out locally on account of physical disabilities. Most of those making the trip this week had undergone examina tions at previous times either by the county board’s examining physicians or those at Fort Bragg. The call was tin' largest receiv ed in this county since the war. The ages of the group ranged from twenty to 26 years. Eighteen of those called came from the farm. Names of the young men called to report and their addresses: Asa LeRoy Moore, RFD 1, Wil liamston. Willard Gray Coltrain, RFD 1, Jamesville. Andrew Edmondson Bullock, RFD 3, Williamston. Rodney Harvey Roberson, Rob ersonville. Robert Hyman Salsbury, Has sell. Linwood Maurice Brown, RFD 1, Jamesville. Herbert Leslie Manning, RFD 1, Williamston and Rocky Mount. Thomas Mitchell Hoislip, RFD 1, Oak City. Maryland Annie Hadley, RFD 2, Williamston. William Evan Griffin, RFD 1, Williamston. Edward Latham, RFD 2, Wil liamston. Dallas Hassell Godard, James ville and Norfolk. Clayton Earl Warren, Rober son ville. William Asa Taylor, RFD 2, Williamston. Alton Fay Peel, RFD 1, Wil liamston. Curnie Lee Mobley, RFD 1, Jamesville. Sam Stewart Hardison, RFD 3, Williamston, James Elbert Ayers, RFD 2, Williamston. Ottis Hope Peel, RFD 3, Wash ington. Thomas Mason Pearson, Oak City. Milton Bennett Wynne, RFD 3, Williamston. Virgil Scott, RFD I, Oak City. Mack Hyman Warren, RFD 1, Robersonville. Names of the men exempted at the last minute because they were fathers: Jesse Vernon Edmondson, RFD 2, Roberson ville. Durham Writter Davis, RFD 1, Jamesville. Chester Benjamin Whitehurst, RFD 3, Williamston. James Clifton Wiggins, Wil liamston. Jack Hardison, RFD 1, Wil liamston. Leonard Harold Ange, RFD 1, Jamesville. Edward Daniel Mizellc, RFD 1, (Continued on page six) -4 Officers Capture Two Liquor Stills —#— Raiding in two sections of the county last week, ABC Officer J. H. Roebuck and Deputy Roy Peel wrecked two liquor plants and preferred charges against Ray mond Lloyd, The first plant, a 50-gallon ca pacity oil drum, two fermenters and about fifty gallons of beer, was wrecked in the Gold Point section. Searching the premises, the officers found a still and worm in the home of Lloyd and charged him with possessing ma terials for the manufacture of il licit liquor. Last Friday just off the Five Cent Road the officers wrecked a 50-gallon capacity oil drum, doub le- and cooler and poured out fit ly gallons of cheap beer. A 40 gallon capacity tin still had been discarded at the plant. j SPECIAL MEETING v_ in .special sscsion Thursday morning of this week, the Martin County Commissioners will study as sessed property valuation fig ures and review the budget estimates offered by the vari ous countv departments, J. Sam Getsinger, ex-officio clerk to the board, announc ed. No preliminary report on the budget figures could be had, but there has been a re ported downward trend ill property values and that trend with increased costs are expected by some to in fluence an upward trend in the tax rate for the next fis cal year. If no increase re sults, it is considered likely that the rate will remain un changed. County 4-H Club Member Reports Trip To Virginia —®— Nearly 100 Marlin County Hoys Ami Cirls Allrin! Annual Camp -<» (The second and concluding in stallment of the report prepared by Miss Celia Stokes on the re cent -i 11 club encampment at Jamestown, Va., follows): Tuesday morning we begun on schedule: Arose at seven, took ox ercise, cleaned up cabins, ate breakfast, had classes, went for a swim, read camp newspaper, ate lunch, rested, swam again, played games, ate supper, had vesper ser vices, which were lead by each group in turn, recreation. It was cold and rainy Tuesday, but in spite of this a few took the scheduled swims. While not in the water or on classes we gather ed in Perry Hall and were taught folk dances. For recreation that night we had a movie along with the regular games and dances. Wednesday was fair. We went through the usual routine, meet ing more friends and playing oc casional games of softball and volley ball. We again had a movie after vesper and then a most amusing stunt. In our presence four couples exchanged clothing on die stage. Since this was the must enjoyed chapter in the camp recreational activities 1 will tell you a little about it. The couples lined up side by side, the first boy and girl exchanged, ran back and tagged the next couple who went through the same process. And, oh! yes, none of the participants forgot to wear their bathing suits. Thursday night was amateur stunt night and every one was given a chance to show off their talents. Some made speeches or sang. Two members had a talk ing contest and some of the boys dressed in girls clothing and bath ing suits and pranced graciously across the Hull floor kissing the boys that appealed to them. You can imagine how cute your brother would look in your sis tor's bathing suit or dress, turban and lipstick. From the stunts the judges chose the "Head’’ group as the best group, Kllenor Eubanks and Ann Minton the best couple and, by a strange coincidental ac cident, Ctha Sloki s as the best (Continued on page six) -1 Infant Dies In Hospital Sunday Benjamin Hallie James, Jr., ten-day-old son of Mr. Ben II. and Mrs. Alhe Roebuck James, died in the local hospital Sunday morning at 10:00 o'clock following a few days' illness. Besides his parents he is survived by a sister, Cynthia, of the home in Poplar Point Township. Funeral services were conduct ed in the Biggs Funeral Home on West Main Street here Monday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock bv Rev. J. R. Everett, pastor of the Rober sonville Baptist Church. Inter ment was in the Robersonville Cemetery, Mrs. Eva Harrison Died Suddenly At Home Early Today Kmtoral l<»r lsromir»**nf Local Lilizcn \! I :