THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK
THE ENTERPRISE
THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY
OVER 3.000 MARTIN COUNTY
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK
ESTABLISHED 1899
VOLUME L—NUMBER 5
Williamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, January 17, 1947
Judge J. C. Smith
Has Twenty Cases
AdGwi ii rs’Cuni i
j
— » —
Fines Imposed In Sum Of
$615; Long Road Sen
tence Given
Calling twenty cases in the
county court last Monday, Judge
J. Calvin Smith cleared the
docket and adjourned the tribunal
before noon. Few spectators were
present for the session which net
ted $615 in fines and saw several
defendants go to the roads for
long terms.
Proceedings:
Having been continued under
prayer for judgment, the case
charging Cleve James with violat
ing the sanitary law was cleared
from the docket when Judge
Smith suspended judgment upon
the payment of the costs. It was
pointed out that the defendant
had complied with the law by
erecting a sanitary privy.
Fred James Calloway, charged
with disorderly conduct and an
assault, pleaded not guilty. He
was adjudged guilty of simple as
sault and judgment was suspend
ed upon the payment of the cost.
In a second case against him, Cal
loway neither pleaded guilty nor
not guilty in the case charging
him with simple assault and re
sisting arrest. He was sentenced
to jail for five days, fined $50 and
>taxed with the cost.
Percy and Lucy Brown were
charged with assaulting a female
and both pleaded not guilty. The
wife was adjudged not guilty.
Found guilty, Brown was directed
to pay the cost.
Orson Puckett, charged with
speeding, did not report for trial.
Pleading guilty in the case
charging him with larceny, A. J.
Hardison was sentenced to the
roads for one year. Last Septem
ber the defendant was sentenced
to the roads for one year when he
was convicted of disorderly con
duct and resisting arrest. The sen
tence, suspended at that time, was
invoked, and the defendant is to
serve that year, the sentence to
begin at the expiration of the
first. In another case, charging
Hardison with larceny, a nol pros
was taken.
Charged with non-support, Ver
non Andrews was adjudged not
guilty.
The case charging Horace Lath
am with non-support was con
tinued until next Monday.
Wilsie Griffin, Lee Griffin and
Walter Corey each pleaded guilty
of violating the liquor laws and
each was sentenced to the roads
for nine months, the court sus
pending the sentences upon the
payment of $100 fines and the
:osts. The court also ordered the
» k»»«'. iMifasis..
violation of the law for one year.
Charged with drunken driving
and operating a motor vehicle
without a license, Wilton Lavern
Godard pleaded guilty of drunken
driving. The plea was accepted
by Solicitor Paul D. Roberson and
the defendant was sentenced to
the roads for four months. The
sentence was suspended upon the
payment of a $125 fine and costs.
(Continued on page eight)
Ford Lowers Price On
His Cars $15 To $50
»■ —
In an unanticipated move, the
Ford Motor Company this week
dropped the prices on its cars
from $15 to $50.
Announcing the voluntary re
duction, Ford said, “We believe
that the shock treatment of
prompt action is needed to halt
the insane spiral of mounting
costs and rising prices and to re
store a sound base for the hope
ful period of postwar production
we are now entering.”
The price reductions are effec
tive immediately.
Patients Continue To
Show Improvement
Late reports state that both
Mayor J. L. Hassell and Attorney
Wheeler Martin, patients in
Washington and Rocky Mount
hospitals, respectively, are con
tinuing to show improvement.
banks observe holiday
■ *
The birthday anniversary of
General Robert E. Lee falling on
Sunday, January 19, the Branch
Banking and Trust Company and
the Guaranty Bank and Trust
Company will be closed Monday.
[ Property Listing Gaining
Momentum In the County
Alter gelling ou lu a siow start
earlier in the month property list
ing for taxation purposes is gain
ing momentum rapidly in the
county, according to a statement
released this week by Tax Super
visor M. Luther Peel While some
districts are possibly half through
with the task, hardly more than
one-third of the property owners
in the county had placed their
names on the tax books up until
Wednesday of this week, the sup
ervisor said. Several of the list
takers reported a rushing business
during most of this week, end
they will have to be kept fairly
busy every day if they are to com
plete the task by the last of this
month.
It has been pointed out that no
provision for a listing extension
was made by the county commis
NO ACTION
j
No action has been an
nounced so far relative to the
establishment of tobacco acre
age allotments for the current
year, according to informa
tion coming from the office of
the farm agent in the county
this week.
While farmers are expect
ing a reduction in acreage al
lotments they are beginning
to believe that quotas will be
maintained at the 194(i level.
Observing the lagging prices
on a other markets, uuite a
few farmers have voiced the
opinion that a fairly sizable
reduction should be made in
the flue cured acreage this
year.
Native of County
Dies In Raleigh
—♦
Mrs. Martha Bennett Bellamy,
a native of this county, died
Wednesday morning at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. Luther B.
Hughes, 2111 St. Mary’s Street,
Raleigh, following an illness of
several months.
The daughter of the late John
A. and Martha Jones Bennett, she ]
was born in this county 69 years j
ago. She was married to Claro !
N. Bellamy and left the county
years ago, spending the last sev
enteen with her daughter in Ral
eigh.
A brother, Milton E. Bennett,
died in Roanoke Rapids the 27th
of last month arid was buried on
the old home farm near OakCitv.
Surviving are a son, Robert L.
Sullivan of Greenville, S. C.;
three daughters, Mrs. Harrie W.
Barnes and Mrs. Luther B.
Hughes of Raleigh and Mrs. J.
Newton Bridges of Fayetteville;
two brothers, W. B. Bennett and
J. T. Bennett of Oak City; two
sisters, Mrs. Bettie Manning of
Oak City and Mrs. W. T. Stinnette
of Williamston; eight grandchil
dren and three great-grandchil
dren. Funeral services were con
ducted Thursday afternoon at 3
o’clock from the Hayes Barton
Baptist. Church, with the pastor,
Dr. Carl M. Townsend, officiating.
Burial was in Montlawn cemetery
in Raleigh.
Mr. and Mrs. Ripley
Building Home Here
Mr. and Mrs. Neil Ripley, of
Richmond, are building a home
here on Liberty Street back of the
high school, and will move here
just as soon as construction work
is completed.
Mr. Ripley, representative , of
the General Electric Company in
this area, maintains an office on
the second floor of the town hall.
r
NO DEVELOPMENTS
v_. -/
The sixteen robberies local
ly since last December 9 re
main unsolved, police stating
Thursday morning that they
bad been unable to establish
the first lead in any of the
cases.
A week has passed without
a robbery, leading some to
believe that the robbers have
withdrawn. Others are of the
opinion that a new outbreak
of thefts will follow.
sioncrs at their meeting the 6th'
of this month, indicating that all
late listings will be subjected to
penalty. The titne orginally al
lotted is considered sufficient fot !
the property owners to list their
holdings, that late listings boost
the costs and delay the entire tax
program.
Up until the early part of this
week very few mercantile stocks
had been listed, but in the few
cases where merchants had listed
fair gains in assessed values were
reported. No definite trend has
been established for values so far,
but new construction is almost
certain to boost the real values,
while new automobiles, larger
money value inventories and stor
ed farm commodities are expect
ed to increase the personal prop
erty listings over those reported
for the past year.
Submit Bid For
Road Surfacing
The Atlantic Bitulithic Com
pany of Washington, D. C., this
week submitted a $68,000.00 bid
oh the surfacing of 6.32 miles of
highway from Scotland Neck to
the Martin County line, via Pal
myra. A bid in the amount of
$239,558 was also received on the
surfacing of a road leading off the
Windsor-Aulander Highway to
Powellsville in Bertie County.
While extensive load projects
have been advanced in surround
ing counties during recent years,
highway improvement in Marlin
County has hardly moved beyond
the piddling stage. The work has
been limited, more or less, to a
few shoots of a mile or two out of
first one town and then the other,
and amounts to little more than a
pacification program. Greenville
had a link built in the upper part
of the county. Beaufort ran a
spur off U. S. 17 to the Martin
County line with a big welcome
sign at the Griffins Township bor
der.
Big money is being spent on the
river bridge project here, but
other than that the highway sys
tem is taking the form of a big
gate to turn traffic out of the
county, leaving the majority to
bog down at home.
o
Lawmakers Divide
On Pay Increase
Martin County’s representation
in the State Legislature this week
bon”*,
tne pay of low income teachers
and state employes by thirty per
cent.
Acting quickly the House pro
posed to increase the pay of em
ployes making up to $1,200 by 30
percent, give those making from
$1,201 and $2,700 a 20 percent
raise and a flat $45 to all those
making over $2,701. The action
took the senate by surprise and
the administration forces fought
back. When the Senate refused to
concur in the House amendment,
a committee was appointed, but
no solution had been offered
Thursday.
Representative C. B. Martin
supported the House amendment
while this district’s senators, Hor
ton and Rodman were listed with
the opposition, Senator Horton
taking the floor to oppose concur
rence.
--—_____
Will Open Second
Orthopedic Clinic
■-o
Beginning Friday, February 14
and continuing every second Fri
day of each month thereafter, a
second orthopedic clinic will be
opened to patients in this section.
Conducted by Dr. Lenox D. Bak
er, orthopedic surgeon of Duke
Hospital, the clinic will be held in
Wilson in the county health de
partment from 9:00 o’clock a. m.
until one o'clock jj. in. in the Wil
son County courthouse. The clinic
will be open to both children and
adults.
A similar clinic is being held in
Tarboro each Monday before the
iast Tuesday every month. Dr. K.
B. Raney, also of Duke Hospital,
is affiliated with the clinic at Tar
boro.
Joinjhe M
march of dimes
Liberal Response
Given Infantile
Paralysis Appeal
-o
Nearly One-Tenth of Quota
Raised In First Day
Of The Drive
The annual appeal for support
of the Infantile Paralysis Fund
received a liberal response in this
county on the first day of the
drive on Wednesday of this woek,
Chairman L. B. Wynne said. Ap
proximately one-tenth of the $2,
120 quota was raised that day, the
chairman said, quickly adding
that the present ratio of contribu
tions must be maintained if the
quota is to be met.
Tweny-seven answers were re
ceived in the first mail from the
404 persons in the county who re
ceived direct appeals. The first
returns, amounting to $170.50,
ranged from $1 to $15, the chair
man said.
The drive is being extended to
the schools this week, and the
chairman is depending on the ap
proximately 7,000 pupils to handle
the fund raising task effectively.
The school children have done a
noble work in supporting the
fund In years past, and the chair
man feels certain they will see
that the drive meets with success.
Coin folders are being given the
elementary pupils, and the high
school students are being asked to
make general contributions.
While the county is being asked
to raise $2,120 during the drive
ending the 30th of this month,
the chairman points out that the
fund account was overdrawn by
more than $100 last year when
heavy demands were made. “We
hope to make up the deficit and
surpass the quota to meet any
added emergencies this year,”
Chairman Wynrte said.
Already thus year one case of
the disease has been reported in
eastern North Carolina, and there
is no reason to ^believe that this
iSil
mor^ cases before the year is
spent. "We want to be prepared
and must be prepared to render
aid in any emergencies, regard
less of color or station in life,”
the fund chairman explained.
Mr. I. M. Little of Roberson
ville after making a liberal con
tribution, assured the county
chairman that he would do all he
could to advance the fund drive in
his community. Others, including
school officials, teachers and
pupils are pledging their best ef
forts in furthering the drive.
A four-year-old victim, fully re
covered, went on a'national radio
hook-up Wednesday evening and
expressed her appreciation for the
March of Dimes program which
had made it possible for her to
walk again. “Please give to the
March of Dimes that other little
children can walk again,” Little
Miss Drury pleaded.
Heavy Rains Fall
In This Section
—
After several months of com
paratively dry weather, the heav
ens opened up over the week-end
and filled swamps, creeks and riv
ers to overflowing. Nearly two
inches of rain fell during the
period, boosting the total for the
first sixteen days of this month
to 2.7‘J inches. Rain fell on eleven
of the first sixteen days in the
month. Falling slowly, most of
the rain soaked into the ground
which is now about as wet as it
has been at any time in months
past.
The Koanoke is almost oui of its
banks here and the stream is still
rising. No reports on a freshet
have been received.
Few Register For
Selective Service
■In Murtfii (™mmi y
-o
No Extension of Draft Holi
day Mentioned After
This Month
Few Martin County youths are
registering for possible selective
service, according to reports com
ing from the draft board a few
days ago. It is fairly apparent
that some of those youths are a
bit lax in complying with the
draft regulations. However, it
could be that few boys became
eighteen years of age last month
when only fifteen registered in
this county. Registrations are
running considerably below nor
mal, it was learned.
The status of selective service
in the nation continues in a state
of uncertainty. As far as it can
be learned no provision has been
made for extending the draft holi
day after this month. However, no
calls for men have been received
lately, leading some draft offic
ials to believe that the holiday
will be extended.
Several young men in this coun
ty have enlisted for service in the
regular Army since last fall, but
the number is hardly large
enough to meet the need. How
ever, enlistments have been fairly
large in other sections, the Green
ville recruiting office announcing
this week that more than a dozen
men in its area had volunteered
for service during the past few
days.
The six white youths register
ing in December for possible ser
vice in the armed forces and their
addresses follow:
James Bullock, Jr., KFD 1. Rob
ersonviile.
Edward Franklin Davenport,
RFD 1, Williamston.
Willie Horton Gardner, RFD 1,
J'amesville.
James William Bailey, RFD 3,
Williamston.
Johnnie Lawrence Beacham,
RFD 3, Williamston.
Jack Clifton Taylor, RFD 2,
Williamston.
Names and addresses of colored
youth registering last month fol
low:
Clarence Marcallu Brown, KFD
1, Williamston.
Roosevelt Andrews, RFD 2,
Robersonville.
Hillary Harrell Matthewson,
Jr., RFD 2, Robersonville.
Henry Lee Higgs, RFD 1, Hob
good.
John Arthur Parker, RFD 1,
Oak City.
George Thomas Stokes, RFD 2,
Williamston.
Willie James Knight, Palmyra.
Herbert Columbus Teel, Rober
sonville.
‘ "Tti'iey 'KvereitrOJflr Ui'ty ..
Even if the holiday is lifted
next month, the draft can operate
only during February and March
because Selective Service is
scheduled to die on March 31. It
is believed that the military will
not press for a continuance of
Selective Service, but there are
indications a universal military
service will be sought.
Carry On Business
Started By Father
—«—
The lease having been surrend
ered, a son und son-in-law are re
opening tomorrow the business
established years ago by Mr. The
odore Roberson, one of the part
ners, “Tootsie” Roberson an
nounced yesterday.
Already two sons, C. T. and
George Lee Roberson, are hand
ling a nice business at the oyster
bar and sandwich shop, and when
the third son of Mr. Roberson and
his son-in-law take over the meat
market and grocery the entire
business will be carried on by
members of the founders’ family.
Some of the sons were in ser
vice. Others were in war work,
while for the past two and one
half years the partner in the mar
ket and grocery, Tootsie, has been
employed by the Baker Oil Com
pany, handling Lsso products
here.
“Wc arc stocking a complete
new line of fancy and staple groc
eries, including many scarce
items, and will carry the best in
meats,” Mr. Roberson said, add
ing that he and his brother-in-law
Would make every effort to offer
a friendly and effective service
just as the founder did for so
many years.
Assistance For Aged
Average Grant In
February Will Be
In Excess Of $20
-&
Assistance Program In The
County Will Amount
To $6,457.80
Its funds greatly increased by
liberalized contributions from the
federal government, the Martin
County Welfare Department is
materially increasing the allot
ments to the aged, the superin
tendent of the department adding
that the amount of aid to depen
den children is being slightly in
creased while no change will fol
low in the program for the blind.
Last month 220 aged persons in
this county received an average
grant of $14.49 per month. Begin
ning the first of February, the size
of the average grant will be up
ped to $20.86, an increase of $6.37.
It was pointed out that the in
crease was made on a uniform
basis, that in February the aged
persons on the list in this county
will receive a total of $4,589.20.
Since last December 1 one case
i was dropped from the list when
the subject became self-support
j ing, and two others were removed
| by death. However nineteen new
leases have been approved since
I that time, boosting the count to
i 236, leaving fourteen new appli
cations for later consideration.
I lie old age assistance allot
ments range from a low of $8 to
$40 a month. Names of the aged
enjoying the grants cannot be
made public.
The increase is indeed quite
timely in some cases, reports stat
ing that some of those in the
group found their allowances so
small that they actually were
without food for as many as two
and three days at a time.
Grants to dependent children
have been increased from $37.07
to $40.47 per family, the average
allotment now standing at $13.16
for each of the 123 subjects. The
children are to receive $1,6111.68
under the revised program. One
family of dependent children has
been dropped from the list, the
superintendent explaining that
the group had become self-sup
porting. Three new groups were
added, increasing the case load by
eight. Three applications are now
pending. Unofficial reports indi
cate that the delinquent rather
than the dependent child is fast
becoming Uie bi^g problem eithe.r
for the juvenile, the law enforce
ment or the welfare department.
The eleven blind persons on the
list in this county are receiving an
average grant of $22.75 per month,
or a total of $249.92. As far as it
could be learned, no change was
made in the size of the grant for
the blind.
As of January 13 the welfare
department in this county was
handling 460 active cases, includ
ing 307 public assistance cases, 16
general relief cases, 9 hospitaliza
tion cases and 128 service cases.
The service cases include 7 adult
parole cases, 4 paroled patients
from mental institutions, 4 family
adjustment cases, 11 county home
cases, 10 medical and health care
cases, 56 cases of service to indi
vidual children such as adoptions,
truancy cases, juvenile court pro
bationers and 36 miscellaneous
cases.
County Young Men
Hurt In Accident
—♦—
Four Martin County young
men, Arthur Harrison, Jr., James
L. Lee, Oscar and Jack Taylor,
were painfully but not badly hurt
in a passenger bus accident near
W Ison last Monday evening at
(1:10 o’clock. The young men, on
their way to Fort Bragg to join
the Army, were riding the bus
when It crashed with a passenger
car and tore down a several-foot
embankment.
Jack Taylor was bruised about
the mouth and the others suffered
shock and minor injuries, one re
port stated. Removed to a Wilson
hospital, the boys were treated
and returned to tiieir homes Wed
nesday.
fNEW DEPUTY
v
Murray (Buck) Holloman,
World War II veteran, was
recently appointed deputy
sheriff for Martin County.
He entered upon his new
duties the 7th of this month.
Assistant Agent
Assigned County
J. W. Sumner, native of North'
amplon County, entered upon his
duties as assistant farm agent in
this county this week immediate
ly following his appointment.
Born and reared on a farm near
Conway, Mr, Sumner had hardly
received his diploma at State Col
lege before he entered the Navy
in July, 1043, During his stay in
the service he was stationed in the
Pacific theater for thirteen
months. Following his discharge
last August In' returned to State
College where he did graduate
work until last December 17.
While the new assistant has had
very little experience in the work
he is now engaged in, he received
a whale of a lot of practical train
ing on the farm and centered his
studies while in college around
agriculture.
He is succeeding L. W. Cone
who resigned to continue his col
lege training in Georgia.
Mr. Sumner, single and a Bap
tist, is making his home with the
T. B. Brandons on Grace Street.
Library Observes
9th Anniversary
-o
Tile Wilhamston Public Library
will coH‘nTir^r.n**iT
service to the public of the town
and the surrounding county. Dur
ing tliis period the library has
outgrown two homes. The present
location has been too small for
quite some time, but will have lo
be used until commodious quar
ters can be obtained. The library
has now collected about 1800 vol
umes and has circulated about
one hundred thousand books dur
ing this period.
Lust Monday a letter was sent
out to friends of the library and
its service asking that support be
given it during the ensuing year.
Replies coming in are very en
couraging, but with the cost of
operation and maintenance con
tributions will have to be increas
ed if the service is to meet the
needs.
While supported mainly by the
various civic clubs and a -.mall
contribution from the town treas
ury, the library belongs to the
general public and if il is to func
tion properly and meet growing
needs, individuals must offer a
liberal support, it was pointed out.
r
CLUB MEETING 1
---'
The local Woman's Club
will hold its first meeting of
the new calendar year next
Tuesday evening, January 21,
at 8:00 o'clock in the club hull,
and the president. Mrs. P. B.
Cone, Is earnestly urging a
large attendance.
Members are asked ti bring
something for the “white ele
phant” table, the president
explaining that such contri
butions would be of use to
soineouc and that they would
help boost the club finances.
Former Prisoner
Extend* Holiday (ireetings
To Family Befriending
Him Vi Hilt' Here
While an inmate of the prisoner
of war camp here, Gerhard Rich
aid. a German, worked a day or
two for Farmer Lester Bryant
near Williamston. The prisoner
was impressed by the friendliness
of the Bryants and when he re
turned to his native land he wrote
to them. Letters were exchang
ed and the Bryants sent a pack
age.
Recieving the package and let
ter Richard last December 1 ex
pressed his thanks and extended
Christmas greetings in a letter
jlist recently received by Mis Bry
ant, as follows:
'Dear Mr. Bryant and Family,
"I have received your long,
long letter before some days when
l was yet at home, that means in
my new town where my parents
and sisters are living now. (Name
of town could not be deciphered,
but it is in the British Zone).
“All of us were surprised when
the postman brought the letter to
us in our dwelling and to see that
we had gotten greetings from
America. I couldn’t believe that
it is true and someone had writ
ten to me from overseas. But
when I saw the address I thought
of you at once and of people who
are good to everyone. All the
! others were happy with me to
gether and the thought to the
package was too beautiful. I
knew that you and your whole
tamily are kind and religious
people of God and would send us
some things against the hunger.
“Two years ago my parents
have had a big restaurant and
greet ry, but now all is gone. At
that time my mother who worked
in the grocery shop often gave to
the poor persons food. But now
we are living in a new world and
my dear land in the east is sep
arated from me and the many
other Germans. God, give us back
our native country that we love
so much. We are too many folks
on a small spot and must die
whether want it or not if we can’t
see better times. But God for
bid! My belief in the United
States of North America and the
good men and women in it is tou
firm in order to despair of the
future. No country can help us
if not your nation. And our only
hope is the Strong State on the
other side of the ocean.
“You’ll wonder at my new ad
dress. I work by a friend now.
We both were in America togeth
er as prisoners of war. But I
»'• «.!l!
mail to my parents to the old ad
dress. i
“1 wish you get my letter to
Christmas and that you are'able
to read all what I have written. ]
would be very glad if you shoW
me my faults in it for I want to
learn more about the American
language.
“I and with me the whole fam
ily wish you, your wife and chil>
dren a nice ’Christmas and Hapj
py New Year’. At those days our
hearts will be by you and God.
“The best regards send you th#
then prisoner, Gerhard Richard."
--®
Local Jayeees To Meet
it Macedonia Frith
..
Thi’ local Junior Chamber
Commerce will hold its regulg
semi-monthly dinner meeting Fr
day evening promptly at 7:15
the Macedonia Community buil|
lag. A turkey dinner will
served, and all member- are urj
ed to note the change in time a*
to be present. Members withoij
cars are asked to arrange trail
pollution with others.
This week, January 15-22 is ;
tional Junior Chamber of Co*
mcrce Week and in observance i
this time. Rev. John L. Goff w|
be guest speaker at the meet]
tonight.
Schoolmasters Met In
Jamesville This
The Martin Count
tevs club met in the
High School last Monday
and discussed various
lems. The local
bers Messrs. Kir
and Modlin, were
The next
at Farm Lite on