North Carolina Newspapers

jnm.lL THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3 000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE THE ENTERPRISE IS READ OVER 3.000 MARTIN COUN FAMILIES TWICE EACH VOLUME L—NUMBER 10 Williamston, Marlin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, February 4, 1947 EST \ BUSHED 18* Exceed March Of A Larg —« County Schools Accounted For About Half Of Amount Raised While there were no excessive I individual gifts, the annual March of Dimes in this county far exceeded the $2,120 goal when it was accorded a liberal support in all quarters, especially in most of the schools where about one-half of the amount was raised. Reporting as of Saturday, Feb ruary 1, drive Chairma* L. B. Wynne stated that a total of $3, 9W.18 had been turned over to the treasurer, W. Clyde Griffin. Ttie chairman added that the Ro bersonville High School, Farm Life and three colored schools were yet to report. Commenting briefly on the fund finances in the county, Chairman Wynne explained that Heavy demands last year had dverdrawn the account, that the treasurer had met the overdrafts limself. The amount is being re paid, and the chairman is hope ful the balance will meet all emergency needs this year. He dso explained that the fund is lvailable to all polio cases irre spective of all factors, race or ?recd, and added that he hoped io one would have occasion to need it. “But the fund is ready to help,’’ he concluded, j Summarizing the support ac corded the 1947 drive, Chairman Wynne said he was well pleased with reports from every quarter. The white schools reporting through last Saturday raised $1 , 207.07 and the .seventeen colored schools reported $304.50. Three theaters in the county raised $524.09. Direct mail solicitations raised $816.95. Williamston's two civic clubs contributed $61, and $171.67 came from othett sources, to exceed the original quota by about $966. Just about 50 percent or 197 of the 404 persons solicited by direct mail recognized the appeals. A contribution of $10 was received from Will Crawford who is on the Tennessee markets, the chair man stating that the gift was the only one coming from outside the , county. The following report was filed by the chairman: White Schools: Oak City, $52.75; Hamilton, $41.87; Hassell, $12; Williamston Elementary, $488.67; Everetts, $68.65; Rober sonville Elementary, $182.00; J»mesvil!e, 28.87: Williamston High School, $269.16; and Bear (Gras^, $64. Colored Schools: Biggs School, $41.15; Dardens, $14.50; Everetts, $25.50; Hamilton, $17.60; Williams Lower, $13.50; Bear Grass, $5.00; Poplar Point, $4.20: White Oak Springs School, $10; Rogers School, $19.05, Robersonville, $56.87; Jones School. $8; Which ard-James. $11; Gold Point, $20; Cross Roads, $7.50; Salsbury School, $20.78; Oak City, $23.55; Burroughs Spring Hill, $6.30. Watts Theatre, $154.12; Marco Theatre, $93.49; Trio Theatre, $276.48. Colored Baptist Church, Rober sonville, $9; Maple Grove Sunday School, $10; Maple Grove Ladies Aid, $5; Coin collectors—Wil liamston and. two in Everetts, $17.50; Coin collectors, Roberson ville, $16.77; collected by R. K. Adkins in Robersonville, $113.40. Lions Club. $36; Kiwanis Club, $25; and Direct Mail Solicitation, $316.95. County Young Men Join The Service -o Four yourg Martin County nien, Charles L. Fulford, RFD 3, Williamston; Vernon R. Moore, 400 W. Main Street; Russell B. Warren, 400 W. Main Street, and James L. Cowan, 608 W. Main Street, all of Williamston, recent ly joined the Army, Ernest H. Whitaker, Jr., recruiting sub-sta tion commander, Greenville, an nounced this week. Tire recruiter explained that the termination of hostilities de clared by President Harry Tru man last December 31 had no bearing on the benefits offered under the G. I. Bill of Rights and family allotments. They are still in effect, he explained. Fred Chesson Badly Hart In < id:*?* Fred Cbesson. 40-jrear-o'd local garage operator, was injured, possibly seriously, on West Mam Street here yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock when he was struck by a car driven by Mrs. Dennis Hardy. He suffered a com pound fracture of the right leg between the knee and ankle and a bad cut over his right eye. A complete examination could not be made immediately and it is possible that he was hurt iternal- ‘ ly and there is a slight fracture of the skull. Suffering severe shock, ^ he was reported in a semi-consci ous condition. Removed to the local hospital he was reported this morning to be resting as well as could be ex- , pected. Driving to his home a short dis tance beyond the underpass on West Main Street, h>, parked his car in the yard and started across the street to get a package of cig arettes at Joe Hodge’s filling sta tion. Witnesses stated that he was part of the way across the road when he saw a car ap proaching from the east, that he stepped back and got into the path of the Hardy car which was traveling west. One report stat ed that he was knocked several feet into the air and fell to the edge of he highway, his head rest ing on the pavement. C. H. Bagley and Mr. Chesson’s daughter, Miss Virginia Chesson, witnessed the accident and they were quoted as saying that the Hardy car was not traveling fast, that Mrs. Hardy brought it to a stop a few feet away. Unnerved by the accident, Mrs. Hardy was placed in the care of a physician. Commissioner Evans Offers Facts About Program At Meeting MISSED I The ((round liog or the woodchuck, if one prefers, missed his calling this year when he failed to live up to the reputation self-styled weather prophets have ac credited him with for so long a time. The animal was obliged to have seen his shadow Sunday, but Monday the sun was still shining and the mercury climbed to a point above normal. That there will be bad weather be fore the winter is spent the latter part of next month is fairly certain, but so far Mr. Ground Hog's reputation is suffering or else he is on strike. And speaking about the weather, Ihe mercury held to high levels during most of January and while rain fell on 21 of the 31 days in the month total precipitation was only 3.85 inches. Legislators Talk Over Activities In The Assembly —«— Special Kill Crculiitg A I’ri liiary Brins Drafted By RpprPDrntalivp -• Marlin County's legislators were convinced last week-ena that the folks back home are in terested in the General Assembly activities. Coming home to spend the week-end with their families, both Representative C. B. Mar tin and Senator Hugh G. Horton were buttonholed first by one and then the other, all interested in progressive legislation. Representative Martin explain ed that a special bill creating a primary election for the town of Williamston would be drafted on Tuesday of this week, that he felt certain of its passage. Discuss ing briefly the Good Health pro gram, the representative , t ited that some strong opposition was developing, that the proposal to divorce the game and fish busi yiess from the Department of Con servation and Development would be decided in the Senate, that a majority favored the pro posal in the House. As for the Health program, Mr. Martin inti mated that he would support the measure. It is fairly well certain that a vast majority in this coun ty favor the program and want it passed. “We hope to get home about the middle of March,” the legislator said when asked how long he thought the present session would last. Discussing pending legislation in the assembly, Senator Horton declared that he was not against salary increases for school teach ers, and explained that he voted (Continued on page live) -» How County Votes Has Nothing To Do With Its Highways Money Allotted On Barns of Faelors Kqnal To All The Counties Speaking to the Martin County commissioners in regular session Monday, Highway Commissioner Merrill Evans knocked the old be lief that to the victor go the poli tical spoils when he said that it made no difference if a county voted for or against the adminis tration. “Every district and every county is allotted its equal share, based on certain factors that have been worked out." After hearing several special delegations appeal for certain road, projects, Commissioner Ev ans said that he appreciated the position of the petitioners and wanted them to take an interest in their roads and the commis sion’s work. “But the first thing that wre must consider in pre paring projects is to spend the money where it will serve the most people. Before we can as sign a project, we must weigh it against every other possible pro ject,” the commissioner said. Mr. Evans declared that road building is not a grab game, and added, “We are anxious to do the very best job possible. We are taking the money allotted this district and dividing it the very best we can for the greatest num ber,” he said. The commissioner explained that money spent on bridges and similar projects is not charged against any county, and went on to say that he and his engineers, Messrs. McKim and Mack, had tried to look after the interests of Martin County. “We do not believe in pushing ‘feeder’ roads ahead of those needed to serve the people in Martin County. I’ll leave it to you to decide if it was the past policy of district commis sioners to pull the program into their respective spheres,” the commissioner said, declaring that he had nothing to do with High way No. 11 leading from Oak City to the filling station near Has sell. “And I do not take the credit or responsibility for it,” he said, explaining that was handled ahead of him. If is still u mystery to the Mar tin County folks who are still mired down in mud to under stand how an adjoining county could come over into Martin, lend $5 400 of its allotted funds for the construction of a road over here. Mr. Evans did not say if Martin is having to pay back the allot ment literally jammed down the folks’ throat in this county. Citizens attending the meeting and impressed by the repeated contract lettings for highway pro jects in other counties, asked if federal aid projects would be pos sible in this county. It was ex plained that one is in the making (Continued on page eight) Badly Skinned In Near Here Friday -o Car Turns Over In SwanijJ At Old Mil! Inn Thursday Kader Gardner, local white man, was painfully but believed not seriously hurt when he w as knocked off his motorbike at the Staton farm on Highway 17 near here last Friday evening at 6:30 o'clock by a small truck. He was badly skinned and bruised and suffered shock, but was able to return to his home following treatment in a local doctor’s of fice. Gardner was riding in the di rection of Washington when J. Paul Lilley, driving a light truck, approached from the rear. Lilley explanied that he was meeting another vehicle, that he was part ly blinded by the lights and did not see Gardner until he was right at him. He swerved his truck and hit the victim a side blow. Gardner fell on the fender and then skidded and rolled down the highway about thirty feet. The motorbike fell under the wheels of the truck and was smashed, Patrolman W. E. Saun ders estimating the damage to the two-wheeled vehicle at $150. “It was completely smashed,” the investigating officer said. The patrolman pointed out that it was fairly apparent that the small red reflector on bicycles and motorbikes hardly offered the riders sufficient protection, that such vehicles should be equipped with lighted red light and better head lights. (Continued on page eight) Supreme Court To ifekkib Cyattinal Attack Case Soon — ♦ -— Forty-Two Papes Of Evi dence and Exceptions Filed In Ragland Case -* Otis Ragland, young colored man convicted in the courts of this county last December for criminally attacking Mrs. Floyd Moore and sentenced to die in the gas chamber on January 10, will have his case reviewed by the North Carolina Supreme Court on or soon after the 10th of this month. A stay of sentence was automatically invoked when no tice of appeal was given follow ing the conclusion of the trial. Forty-two mimeographed pages of evidence and Judge Henry Stevens’s charge to the jury have been filed with the high court along with three main exceptions to the evidence by the defense While the action of the court is to be awaited, a review of the ex ceptions, observers believe, are little more than perfunctory ones and are, at the best, quite weak. The defense, in its No. 1 ex ception, asks: “Is it error for the sheriff, a witness, to state that the prosecutrix told him the de fendant left the Moore home by the front door, and there locate some tracks and state further that he said tracks ‘correspond’ with the shoe and were ‘exactly’ like the shoe prints he found on the ground?” Elaborating on the exception, the defense maintains that it did not recall anywhere in the testi mony where the prosecuting wit ness said defendant left by the (Continued on page eight) Receration Program Proposed For Town Nominal Sum Is Appropriated By Town Board Here ConiiiiiNtiioiirrn Diwiiss Va ried lliisiiies* Program I-as! Night Heading a delegation compos ed of Mesdames J. E. King and Garland Woolard and Billy Grif fin, John L. Goff last evening ap pealed to the local tovn commis sioners for a $2,500 annual appro priation to support a coordinated recreational program for the youth of this section. Spokesmen for the recreation executive com mittee, the minister explained that the experimental program conducted during the past four months had proved successful, that the center maintained in the legion hut here had been visited by more than 1,400 boys and girls from various parts of the county even though limited hours had been observed. “We are looking to the summer months and suggest that the work of the physical education director in the schools be coordinated with that of the youth program,” the spokesman said. Such a program will cost approximately $2,500 a year, it was pointed out, the minister adding that some pro vision should be made for the col ored youth of the community. A committee composed of Coin tnissioners Green and Griffin was appointed by Mayor Pro Tern Lindsley and the two men are to meet with the school committee, study the proposal and work with the executive committee in for mulating a coordinated program. During the meantime, the town agreed to allot $625 for the con tinuance of the present program through next June 30. Appearing before the board. Dr. J. T. Llewellyn pointed out that conditions existing back of the pressing club adjoining his property constilutcd a definite danger as was proved by a recent fire, and that the smoke was a nuisance, and he went on to ask for relief. “I want to be fair and square about the situation, but the town is large enough to adopt rules- and regulations for the pro tection of property,” the physi (Continued on page seven) Mayor llansell I\ol Feeling V ery Well -»■ Confined by illness since Christmas and spending most of that time in the hospital, Mayor John L. Hassell was said late Monday not to be feeling so well. Last week he was able to be up and went for short rides several afternoons, but lie suffered a re lapse during the week-end and is now confined to his room in the local hotel. Opposes $100,000 Memorial Project In Martin County ♦— ItoliiTHouvilli' Chili IMhihi'h CoiiuniltiM* To Work For Imliviiliiul Projects " -.♦ Addressing the regular meeting of Robersonville Rotarians re cently, Mrs. William H. Gray voiced the opinion that the pro posed $100,000 War Memorial should not be centralized in any one community, that a tribute to the memory of those who fought and died in the service of their country should be reflected in in dividual community projects. Mrs. Gray, expressing a ‘'Wo man's viewpoint on Martin Coun ty’s Legionnaires’ proposed $100, OQQ War Memorial," was quoted saying, “The Legion Hut in Williamston has been a real asset to Williamston. It has been used by citizens of Williamston lor a number of public functions, and to house Williamston’s public lib rary. “It appears to me that $100,000 is a lot of money to spend for the service to be derived from it. “If we are going to build a memorial to veterans there are many things in each community it would like to build. Why not divide up the amount of money and build something in each com munity If this money is coming from tin taxpayers why not allot the sum to the several communi ties and let each community de cide what it wants most?” Mrs. Gray suggested. Continuing she said, "I propose that Robersonville use its allotted amount for a hospital as a mem (Continued on page eight) Discuss Highway Program Am Problems At Regular Meeting Of County Authorities Mondai Thirty-Five Man Delegation From Hassell Present ——*— Plans Would Delay Work On Hassell Projeel Until Next Year Climaxing twenty-five years of repeated appeals to highway authorities, a thirty-five man de legation headed by Mr. John W. Eubanks presented a strong ap peal to highway officials at a meeting of the county commis sioners Monday for the surfacing of the road from Butler's Bridge on Highway 125 to Fountain’s Croass Roads, via Hassell. Every argument in the books was ad vanced in support of the project, and the delegation spokesmen, including Mr. Eubanks, Messrs. Geo. Leggett, Alton White, J. D. Etheridge and G. W. Ayers, made a strong case in support of their claim. It was pointed out that the sur facing of the road would provide a shorter distance for east-west traffic, that it would benefit hun dreds of farmers who patronize the Hassell potato market and who have had to haul their pea nuts extra miles to get them to county markets. “We sincerely believe that the Hassell project is the most im portant link in the county,” Mr Eubanks said, adding that he and members of the delegation were not fighting other projects, “In years past we have contacted Commissioners Hart, Kugler, Flanagan, Barnes and Wilson and our present commissioner (Mr. Merrill Evans) is the first one to show enough interest to make a personal first-hand investigation. We greatly appreciate his in terest. We haye been pleading for what one must admit is a just claim that we feel justified in ap pealing to the authorities in giv ing the Hassell project a No. 1 priority. “We have noticed more im provements to the roads in the past six months than at any other time in ten years, and we are grateful for those improvements,” Mr. Eubanks said. "We know the funds are available now but if we are turned down again and again the funds will be exhausted in time and we’ll still be in the (Continued on page eight) County Board In All-Day Meeting —•— Hearing various delegations and reviewing the proposed 1947 road program, the Martin County Commissioners were in session all day Monday. Other than the road matters very little came before the authorities. 1 After studying the road pro gram proposed by Commissioner Merrill Evans, the board, accord ing to unofficial reports, asked that every effort be made to in clude the Hasscll-Butler Bridge road in the 1947 program. The commissioners recalled that the project had been promised for this year, and they expressed the hope that it could be included in the current program. Jurymen, including nine for grand jury service, were drawn at the meeting Monday. Going before the board, Mrs. Mamie Roberson asked that she be paid for chickens destroyed by hound dogs. She was allowed $25, the amount to come out of the dog tax fund. Tax relief orders were granted as follows: For 1945, Roberson Spruill es tate, $.13 listed in error in Wil liarnston Township; James O. An drews relieved of the payment of $2 on account of his health; Sully Jenkins, $2 listed in Ham ilton, dead. For 1946: Win. E- Merritt of Poplar Point, $2, aimy; Wiilie Clemmons of Poplar Point, $4.99, dead; Charlie ltaynor, Hamilton, $3.05, dead; and James 1. Jones, Goose Nest, $2.93, dead. r AUTO TAGS -/ v. The sale of 1 J|47 motor ve hicle tags is believed to have broken all records up to the first of this month, accord ing to a report coming from the office of Harrison and Carstarphen where the Caro lina Motor Club license bu reau is housed here. Through January 31, the bureau had sold 5,735 tags as compared with 5,317 handled in the cor responding period for 1940. The number of auto tags jumped from 3,935 to 4,210 this year. Private truck tags increased from 710 to 800, farm trucks remained the same at 40, car trailers jump ed from 548 to 591 and com mercial trucks increased from 72 to 82. A few old tags were dis played after the dead line and several vehicle operators were carried into the courts, costing them $10 in fines in addition to the court costs. The new tags must be dis played or vehicle operators will be cited to the courts. Edgecombe Bank And Trust Opens Oak City Branch Informal IVo^rum Planned liy (lomnninily Fur Wr<liu*s<lay Sponsored by interested citi zens in the community in coop eration with the Edgecombe Bank and Trust Company of Tarboro, 1 a branch bank will be opened in 1 Oak City on Wednesday oF this week. No detailed program for the event has been announced, [ but the people of the community are planning a big day. There'll ; be short speeches, including an .address of welcome, but the main attraction will be a big barbecue dinner. One report staled that twenty pigs are being prepared for the dinner. Special invita tions have been issued and most of the community wii! recognize the day as a holiday to celebrate the opening of the financial insti tution. While the institution is a branch of the Edgecombe Bank and Trust Company, Tarboro, the institution is largely supported by local people, including about twenty stockholders. The loan committee who will handle much (Continued on page eight) Education Board Hears Delegation —»— Appearing before a meeting of the Martin County Board of Edu cation Monday, a Bear Grass delegation headed by the school committee and principal appeal ed for a building to house two class rooms, economics depart ment and lunch room It was pointed out that the school earn ed an additional teacher this term, that room was provided only after renovating an out building formerly u.,cd a. a wuik shop. It. was explained by the board chairman that the project holds a high priority on the county’s school expansion program, but that no action is to be expected immediately or not until "budd ing costs are stabilized." Burned out last spring, the Ev eretts colored school is not ex pected to have a place to meet after this term as the churches housing the pupils are asking to be relieved. Original plans for a building were abandoned last summer when it was estimated the project would cost around $140,000. The board instructed the superintendent this week to investigate other arrangements for housing the school next year. A new roof casting $1,800 is to be piaced on the Oak City build ing, the cost to include some re pairs to the walls. Outlines Highwa Program For 194 In Martin Count (lonlruct FViidinii For Roa In (>rilfi:is; “Dot" !*av< iiiji iii Other Sections Appearing before the rcguli meeting of the Martin Couir Commissioners Monday. Distrl Highway Commissioner Merr: Evans of Ahoskie outlined tl highway program for 1947 Martin County after hearit delegations appeal for certa: projects. A Tyner town delegation heal ed by Eddie Watts Brown as1 ed the commissioner to take ovj the mile-long road leading off tl dirt highway leading to Bet Grass and running to the Hoi ness church. It is to be invest gated. A Williams Township delegi tion headed by Frank Barber asl ed that a mile be added to til highway system in the island The appeal will be investigate the commissioner assured them Briefly reviewing the 1940 a compiishnu ids, Highway Con missioner Evans, accompanied b Engineers Mack and McKim, sai that .4 of a mile had been surfai ed in Hamilton, .0 of a mile i Panncle, 1.2 miles out of Eve. efts, about out mile by the prise camp, 3.2 miles on the Hoi] Springs Hoad in Williams Towt ship, a mile out from Jamesvill the Slaughter House road and portion of the Robersonville-Fli Swamp road. "All of these coul have been combined into one pr< jeet, but we thought it best t •dot' them about the county whet more people would be serve than by a single project,” Mr. E\ ans said. j Turning to the 1947 progran Mr. Evans said that he recognij ed that botli the “river Road” an Hassell projects were importan but in as much as material an supplies" are .still short, we prt pose to surface six miles on th Hamilton-Palmyra or River Koa this year and virtually guarar tee the Hassell project ncj year.” The commissioner then went o to say that the survey for e> tending the Griffins Townshi Hoad to Farm Life had been coir pleted and that a contract coul be expected soon under the fee oral aid program. Mr. Evans also said that it wa proposed to extend the priso camp road about four more mile toward Cross Roads, add aboi two and one-half miles on th Robersonville end of the Cros Roads road this year and finis the loop next year. "That : mighty good country,” the cun: missioner said. The 1947 program, as explains by the commissioner, also cal for 1 5 miles additional surfacin on the Robersonville-Flut Swam Road. “We see not other way t (Continued on page eight) Edgewood Dairy The Edgewood Dairy plant, or of the first Grade A dail ies in th county and operated for years l] Messrs. Wheeli r Martin ar Frank Weaver and more recent by Mai tin and Carstarphen, w| sold last week-end to Bructshawf Dairy, operators of extetisi^ dairy interests with headquarter! in Franklin, Va. Purchasing the equipment an good will of the Edgewood open: tors, the new firm took over dt liveries here Sunday mornm Complete details of the transit were not announced, but it W't learned that the new firm jn enlarge the local plant and m*ir tain it for storage. The Igjc Edgewood operator will mainln his herd for die persent audit wholesale to the new firm Wjfjp will pasteurize and offer I'jMS sale,