THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY . FAMILIES,rS5V»CTJEAG!I WEEK... VOLUME XLIX—NUMBER 50 ~==^—-r— Williamaton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, Jumj 21, 1946 THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3.000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK ESTABLISHED 1899 Six Divorces Are Granted Tuesday In Superior Court —» ... One Denied, juror With drawn »n One Cas**; Sev eral Olliers Continued Six divorces were granted in the Martin Cuunty Superior Court last Tuesday after the trial of the criminal docket was completed ahead of time on account of a death in the family of one of the practicing attorneys. One divorce pleading was denied by jury. In another case a juror was with drawn and the pleadings will be repeated possibly at the Septem ber term. Several divorce cases were continued at the last min ute when some of the applicants were unable to finance the ac tions and others could not get furloughs from the armed forces to appear in court. Most of the divorce cases hand led by the court Tuesday were based on grounds of two years’ separation. A few other civil eases were handled and after dis missing the jury, Judge Walter Bone, presiding, held a hearing in the Montgomery versus Smith wick case. Divorces, based on two years’ separation, were granted, as fol lows: Archie Snow from Elizabeth Snow. Contrary to the name im plication, it was a hot day in court. Lawyers perspired freely, and the presiding officer made them sweat because he insisted that all details be handled in strict accordance with the mean ing of the law. Delzora Broadnax from Richard Broadnax. Although a second cause—impotcncy—was listed in support of the divorce claim, the motion was allowed on two years’ separation. D. O. Staneill from Clara G. Stancill; Oscar Little from Irene Little. Emma Gray Little from Clarence Little. In the last ease, ttie court gave ttie plaintiff cus tody of the litigants’ child, Ethel Lee Little, ruling that the father may visit the child. A juror was withdrawn in the divorce case brought by Simon Daniel Moore against Alma Mae Moore. The two-year separation claim was not recognized because the plaintiff was on good terms with the defendant when he left for foreign military service in February, 1944. It was also alleged that ttie defendant gave birth to ;In illegitimate child in August, 1945, but no concrete proof could be offered at the trial and a juror was withdrawn at the direction of Judge Bone who commented that it was apparent that a divorce was in order, hut that sworn evidence would have to be offered in the case. The divorce case brought by El la R. Taylor against Thurston Taylor, Jr., was dismissed when the jury found that the plaintiff had not been a resident of North Carolina six months prior to the time the action was instituted. In the case of C. H. Godwin, Jr., against Arnieia Slade, the (Continued on page six) File Report On Food Collection • ■ - Making a semi-final report on the food collection drive conduct ed in this section by the local Lions Club, Chairman H. P. Mob ley said Thursday noon that u to tal of $1,365.72 hud been raised, that possibly final reports expect ed over ;hc week-end would boost the total to around $1,500 or $], 600. A canvass of the residential section was called off last Sun day afternoon when too few of the workers found it convenient ' to participate, it was learned. Anyone wishing to make a contri bution is humbly asked to deliver it to the chairman or any member of the Lions Club. It is planned to wind up the canvass this week end. Contributions not previously acknowledged: Mrs. Marine Whitley, $1; Col onial Stores, $5; Employees Tele phone Company, $12; L. Bruce Wynne, $5; Lorene Rogerson, $1: Juanita Coltrain, $1; Dorothy Manning, $1; Lucille Rogerson, $1; M. L. Pecle, $5; Joe Roebuck, $1; Mary Taylor, $2.50; Lorene Nobles, $1; Paul Simpson, $5; Ter ry Brothers, $5; and C. U. Rogers, $10. Jamesville Citizens Petition For Special School Election Supported by petitions signed j! 3y possibly one hundred or more : ■iitzens in the district the James- ' /ille local school committee this | week appealed to (he Couniy , Board of Education for a special ‘ school tax election. The action 1 was taken after the petitions were - circulated and after a meeting of ■ ibout twenty-five interested citi- i tens met and discussed the pro- : oosal at a public meeting held in , lamesville earlier this week. Much interest has already been shown in the proposal which has already been pledged strong sup sort by leading farmers, business Tien and other citizens in tl^e dis trict. The appeal was directed to the xiard of education by Local Com nittemen J. C. Kirkman, chair nan, J. A. Gardner, secretary, and Elmer Modlin, member of the | I DELAYED j! 3* A complete switchover from the well near the court house to the new pumping stations at Skcwarkcy has been delayed for a few days, but most of the water flowing into the mains is now coming from one of the new wells. It was explained that one or two strategic, parts needed for one of the new wells could not be had just at this time. Until the needed parts arc made available, water will be taken from the other new well at Skcwarkey. The one well, however, will not fur nish quite enough water to meet the demand, and some water will be taken from the courthouse station. A complete changeover is expected within a few days. A. S. Strickland Passes Thursday —»— Alpnus S. Strickland, native of Nash County and a resident of Williamston since November, 1044, died at 4:48 o’clock Thurs day morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. V. Wheeler, here on Rhodes Street. He had been in declining health for two years and had been confined to his bed since last February. He was the victim of several paraly tic strokes, suffering the last one on Tuesday of this week. His con dition had been critical since that time and the end was not unex pected. The son of the late Allyson Strickland and wife, he was born in Nash County near Spring Hope on December 6, 1866. After spending his early life on the farm he was employed by a Bat tleboro oil mill, retiring on ac count of failing health about two years ago. In early manhood he was married to Miss Evelyn pat ton who survives with one daugh ter, Mrs. Wheeler, six grand children and seven great-grand children. The* body was removed to a Rocky Mount funeral home Tnursduy morning and services will be conducted at the grave side on the old home farm near Spring Green Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Rev. H. M. Pope, pastor of the local Holiness Church, will conduct the last rites and burial will be in the family cemetery. Condition Of Burn Victim Improved —*— Critically burned while helping to prepare a meal in her home near Jamesville, Little Miss Em ma Padgett continues to improve in the local hospital. Rounding out nine weeks Thursday in the hospital, the little girl has been an ideal patient during her long stay there. When her condition w®s not very encouraging a short time ago she was given several pints of blood plasma and now she is. very bright Possibly with the exception of the late little Miss Paggy Harri son who spent so much time in the hospital during a five-year period, “we have never had a bet ter little patient," Dr. V. E. Brown said this week. ocal group. Ai a special meet fig Thursday morning, the board >f education members cnsidcivd he appeal favorably and imme Iiately petitioned the county com n’ssioners to set up machinery ot holding the special election on Saturday, July 20. The petition vas recognized and granted bv he commissioners in their special neeting Thursday and election of icials were named and dates fix id. The registration books will be ipentd on Saturday of this week ind continue open through Sat jrday, July 6. The books \ il' he opened for challenge c i July 13. Calling for a 20-cent tax on the ^ 100 assessed property valuation, [he proposal will supplement the minimum state-supported school term, and will bo limited, princi pally to Jamesville Township, it was pointed out. Handles Fifteen Cases In Mayor’s Court This Week —«— Dorkrt Is largest K<*|M>rt»*»I By Justice J. L. Hassell In Several Weeks Justice John L. Hassell report ed the largest docket in some time when he handled fifteen cases in Ins court a few days ago. Fines amounting to $45 were col lected, and several defendants were bound over to the county court for trial. Booker Lanier and Willie B. Roberts, charged with disorderly conduct, were each fined $5 and required to pay $7.50 costs. Charged with being drunk and with an affray, Charlie Wiggins and Levi Smith were each fined $2.50 and taxed with $7,50 costs. Operating a motor vehicle with no rear light, Askew Brown was fined $10 and taxed with $6 costs. Linwood Brown, charged with disorderly conduct, was required to pay $7.50 costs. Lewis Freeman, charged with larceny, was bound over to the county court for trial under bond in the sum of $50. Charged with an assault witli a deadly weapon, Wallace C. Moore was required to raise bond in the sum of $50 for his appearance in the county court next week. Leon Jones, James Moore, Leon Skyles and Clifton Peel, charged with gambling, were bound over to the county court for trial, each under bond in the sum of $50. Charged with the larceny of $31, Oscar Morrow was required to raise bond in the sum of $100 for his appearance at the next ses sion of the county recorder’s court. William Stokes was fined $10 and required to pay $7.50 costs in the case charging him with dis orderly conduct. Drunk on the highway, Colfax Speller was fined $5 and taxed with $7.50 costs. Local Lions Club Wins State Award -m The Williamston Lions Club gained stale-wide honors last week-end, when it was announc ed that the local club had won the Activities Award for District 31 C, for clubs with 36-65 members. This announcement was made at the 24th Annual State Conven tion held in Raleigh. This coveted award, a hand some hardwood plaque with a bronze Lions emblem and engrav ed plate, is awarded on the basis of the number and quality of ac tivities and projects undertaken and carried out by a club, and is about the highest honor that can be given. There are 40-odd clubs in this district that compete for this award. The presentation was made by Lion J. L. Seal of Hend erson, chairman of the Activities Committee, and was accepted by Wheeler Manning, local club sec retary. The Raleigh convention was one of the most successful ever held, and was largely attended. Representing the local club were Lions H. P. Mobley, Kenneth P. Lindsley and Wheeler Manning, along with the wives of the latter two. The convention voted to hold next year’s session at Ashe ville. Seeking Boarding Homes for Orphan County Children *—*— Jntcrr-lrti Tf> Pro viding Homos, Asked To Sec Welfare Agency -•- ___ One or more foster buarTn^P romes for children are greatly needed in Martin County so that children may be given good care in them until arangements can be made for their permanent care. There are many reasons which contribute to the making of home less children. Among such reas ons are: Broken homes, either temporary or permanent; death of one or both parents; emergencies such as illness of the mother, leaving no one who will be re sponsible for the children; irre sponsible and unstable mother, absence of the father where there is no mother; and parental ne glect. There arc today in the county, children in need of a-home out side of their natural home, chil dren who have a right to a nor mal life. The Martin County Welfare Department has the op portunity of knowing the condi tions. Certain standards set by the State Board of Welfare must be met in order to qualify for a “foster boarding home.” After an investigation of the home by the County Welfare Department, it must he approved by the State Board. The amount paid for board varies, according to the child’s age, and the payment may be made by relatives or by the place ment agency. A “foster hoarding home" is not a rooming or boarding house, but a home in which there is both a father and a mother. The parents of tlie home must be of suitable age and temperament to care for children. Each member of tin family must be in good mental and physical health, and the total number of children in the foster home, including the family’s own children, must not exceed six There must be other sources of in come in the home, in addition ti the income received for the board of the children. The “foster boarding home’ must conform to the county sani tation laws; must provide ade quate sleeping quarters, proper diet, a yard in which children car play; and be accessible to church and school facilities. Persons in the county, who are interested in giving “foster board ing home” care to children, ma> communicate with Miss Mary W Taylor, aupi i intcndervl of tlu Marlin County Welfare Depart ment.—Reported. -a, .— Mother-Daughter Banquet Is Held Local girls scouts and Brownie: and their mothers were entertain ed at a banquet in the Woman’: Club hall here last- Wednesday evening, the event marking tin last meeting of the scouts befor< the summer recess. Following a delicious mea served by the ladies of the Meth odist church, a very interestinj. program was rendered by the scouts. The ten scout laws were given in pantomime by members of the various troops. Marie Peele, Sallie Roberson and Jean Ward Mobley of the North Star Patrol won prizes for the best performances. Quite a few second-class badges and attendance prizes were awarded. Under the leadership of Miss Mary Taylor and her assistants, the young girls did some very fine work during the past year.— Marie Peel. -*— To Occupy Vacated Hiiildinfi Here Soon Vacated last week-end after being used as a storage room by the Courtney Furniture store for several years, the building next to the Enterprise office on Main Street is being made ready for two new tenants. The Ayers Electric Company will occupy one side of the build ing shortly, and B. A. Critcher Jr., and Miller Harrell are plan ning to open a shoe store in the other side within the next seveial months. Grand Jury Makes Recommendations In Regular Report Body Coni|>leU's Work For The* Term Last Monday Afternoon its work early Mon day afternoon, the Martin County Grand Jury filed its report in open court and recessed after making a few recommendations to the county commissioners. The report, filed by Foreman James Harrington, reads, in de tail, as follows: We have passed on all bills of indictment presented to us. We visited the Clerk of Court office and found it to be in ex cellent condition with all Guard ian Accounts filed. We found the Register of Deeds office in excellent shape and all bonds in order. Tiie Sheriff’s office and Tax Collector’s office were visited and found in good condition witli all records up to date. We visited the office of the Sup I I erinlendont of Schools and found il in excellent condition. We checked all justices of peace reports and found them all filed with thi' Clerk of Court and fines submitted to the treasurer. We visited the County Jail and found it to be clean and well kept. We found 8 Negro male inmates and 1 white male inmate. We visited the County Home and Prison Farm and found everything iti good condition. We recommend about six more chairs for the Courtroom. We recommend a private toil et for botli male and female em ployees of the Courthouse. We recommend putting screens in the windows of the cook room at the County Sanitorium. Select Candidates In Reality Contest Thirteen candidates have been chosen to compete io the beauty pageant being sponsored by the Wiliiamston Junior Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with local merchants and other busi ness firms. Others will be an nounced later, it was learned. The list of entries and the spon sors follow: Miss Nancy Biggs will be Miss Alpha Cleaners. Miss Mary Charles Godwin will be Miss Davis Pharmacy. Miss Frances Jarman will be Miss Western Auto. Miss Della June Mobley will be Miss Weir Furniture Co. Miss Elizabeth Parker will be Miss Baker Oil Co. Miss Lorenc Rogerson will be Miss Pittman’s., Miss Lucille Rogerson will be Miss Chas. H. Jenkins Co. Miss Angela McLawhorn will be Miss Manning Service Station. Miss Mary Alice Roberson will be Miss Wiliiamston Hardware. Miss Mildred Thomas will be Miss Roanoke Chevrolet Co. Miss Esther P. Wynne will be Miss Peele’s Jewelers. Miss Frances Thomas will be Miss Margolis Bros. Other contestants will be an nounced later. The winner of the local contest will be entertained at Carolina Beach for live days prior to the "Miss North Carolina” pageant to be held in Wilson, it was announc ed. The winner of the contest in Wilson will represent the State at Atlantic City in September. TYPHOID > ...- J Two cases of typhoid fever were recently reported in this county, according to informa tion coming from the health department this week. Both victims are colored boys, one ten and one eight years of age. One lives in the Hassell section and the other near Everetts. It was pointed out that one of the victims had never been immunized, that the other had not taken the anti typhoid vaccine in three years. The cases, diagnosed by Drs. Vernon and W. E. Ward, arc among the first re ported in this county in some time. Immunization clinics arc still being held every Wed nesday afternoon in Kobcr sonville, and on Saturday mornings in Wiliiamston. V Authorities Spend All Day ' Studying, Budget Estimate The Martin County Commis-1 doners spent all day Thursday oi j Ibis week reviewing preliminary budget figures submitted ny the various county departments for the V340 47 fiscal year. Only ten tative estimates were advanced, the action now being subject to public review and study. Com plete figures could not be had in time for publication this week, but they will be offered in an of ficial budget estimate to be made public shortly, it was explained. Other than maintaining the school plants and handling school debts, the tentative budget calls for approximately $173,000 for the next fiscal year. The amount is slightly larger than the budget re quirements for the fiscal year now drawing to a close. It was explained, however, that the bond indebtedness for the new period is $10,000 greater than it was for 19-45-4C'. that possibly an increase j r>f nr- half cent in the lax rate I " ( > ’’ requirements. The following budget estimates were submitted for consideration: Dew;./' e »n)yr p> • c J fund, $4,560; health department, $0,010; bond arid interest and sinking fund, $46,781; old age as sistance, $8,040; aid to dependent children, $3,840; aid to the blind, $039; and welfare administration, $0,200, making a total of $173, 611.00. A report on the school budget estimate could not be had imme diately, but with an expansion program considered vitally neces ray, the trend there is almost cer tain to be upward. No official report could be had, but preliminary estimates indi cate that a reduction in the tax rate is hardly "possible or advis able for the new fiscal period. Name Stewart Head Of the Sehools Here Four Openings In | Faculty Positions Mis* llrnullry Krsi^ns; Miss I'lorim- (Hark To llcml l.eoiioinics Drparlmrnl Williumston’s local committee Messrs. R. L. Coburn, C. B. Clark and R. II. Goodmon—is rapidly completing arrangements for opening and operating the local schools next term, a report com mittee this week stating that a principal had been named along with two teachers and that only four faculty positions were to be filled. Burton G. Stewart, holder of A. B, and M. A. degrees front Puke ! University, returned his signed contract this week following his unanimous election by the board a few days ago. Mr. Stewart, a native of Carteret County, start el his teaching profession in Mon roe back in 1929, later going to Clayton where he taught several terms. In 1933 he went to Dur ham where lie taught in the high school, later heading the science department there. In 1943 he was an instructor of physics in Duke University and then went to Leaksville as principal of the schools there. Highly recom mended, he comes here from Leaksville; During his stay in Leaksville, he was chairman of the Board of the Draper Meth odist Church, vice president of the Rotary Club and a member of the district committee of Boy Scouts. He is married and has two sons, one 13 and the other 9 years of ago. Members of the local commit tee are making every effort to find the new principal a home or an apartment, remembering that Principal Sam Bundy resigned when he was unable to locate his family here. “We are impressed with Mr. Stewart’s record and recommendations, and we call upon the people of the town to (Continued on page six) -- 4-H Clubs To Hold District Meeting Four-H club members from sixteen counties will hold a one day program in the Negro high school here on Thursday of next week, it was announced yester day by the home agent. The day’s events will gi t under way at 9:00 o'clock that morning, and a picnic lunch will be served at 12:30. Officials from the State Extension Service, Raleigh, and leaders from A. and T. College, Greensboro, will attend the meet ing and participate in the pro gram. Counties scheduled to send rep resentatives to the meeting in clude: Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Hali fax, Hertford, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Per quimans, Pitt, Warren and Wil son. PARALYSIS The first case of infantile paralysis of the year was re ported on the T. L. Johnson farm in Cioose Nest Township on Wednesday of this week. The victim, Lee Curtis Cross, 2-year-old son of William Cross, had been a patient in a Greenville hospital for about two weeks before he became paralyzed in his right arm and side and his case was definitely diagnosed as polio myelitis. The colored infant is being removed to Gastonia for treatment, according to infor mation coming from the health department office Thursday. County Boy Picked As A Delegate To Prague Conference —*— ,| i in my Wallace Plans Tour Of European Countries Next August -<* Jimmy Wallace, son of Mr. and M... Clarence Wallace of Janies ville, was recently chosen to rep resent the University of North Carolina at the International Student Conference in 1’iague, Czechoslovakia, during the month of August, according to a story appearing in a current issue of the “Tar Heel,” University stud ent publication. Wallace, one of twelve appli cants for the honor, was selected by a special committee which studied the applicants’ qualifica tions for nearly three hours, the story pointed out. The Tar Heel account reads, in part, as follows: “Wallace will leave for New York a few days before the American delegation sails for Prague to participate with repre sentatives of ten other college representatives and fifteen repre sentatives of student organiza tions who will formulate a pro gram and elect delegation offic ers. “After the conference he'will tour some European countries as the guest of the participating na CContinued on page six) Graduated From Cavalry School Fort Riley, Runs.—Maj. Leslie W. Bailey, of Big Stone Gap, Va., was graduated here today from the advanced intelligence course at the Intelligence School of The Cavalry School. Major Bailey, who served with the 34th Infantry Division in Eu rope and in Italy and North Afri ca, wears the Combat Infantry man’s Badge and his European Theater Ribbon carries four but tle stars and one arrowhead for a D-Day landing in Afiiea. He is the husband of Mrs. Les lie W. Bailey, of Williamston, N. C. •Superior Court In Final Session Of Perm On Tuesday Klrvrn I'rimmai v plant' was held at the farm of Mrs. J. M. Highsmith, near litre Monday afternoon, with a fairly large number of farmers in at tendance to study this new method of dusting their crops as a preventative against insects. The plane owned bv George Hatch of Tarboru and piloted by Tory Vaughn, etfectively dusted the eighteen acres in approxi mately III minutes, and observers at the demonstration stated that it was a success despite weather that was unfavorable for the oc casion, Crylitr, a product consisting principally ot arsenate of lead and lmu. was used for dusting and it was said to cover the field of tobacco from one end to the other with the dust covering both the top and bottom of each leaf. Rushing out to see the results of the demonstration Ben and Willie B. Everett, Vance Rober son and Reuben Everett, were practically deloused. They were of the opinion that the demon str; turn had been completed and when the pilot swung back to make his last run over the tobac co field, the foursome was caught directly in line with the plane which was traveling just above the tobacco. Too old to full down Willie B. Everett stuck his head in the ground leaving his mid sec tion exposed to the plane. Reuben and Ben fell to the ground and crawled like moles out of line with the plane. Hardly over four feet in heighth Vance Roberson just sal down. \