North Carolina Newspapers

Saturday, April 5th At 6:00 P. M. Is Last Day To Register For Williamston’s Primary Election On April 14th THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE THE ENTERPRISE IS READ B1 OVER 3.000 MARTIN COUNT1 FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK VOLUME L—NUMBER 27 Williamston, Martin County, North CarolinaFriday, April 4, 1047 ESTABLISHED 1899 1 *4 Court Clerk Will Pick New Member For County Board Appointment Limited To The Griffins-Bear Grass District of County Out of respect for the memory of Robert Lee Perry, chairman of the Martin County Board of Com missioners since 1940,, Clerk of ^ Court L. Bruce Wynne is not ex pected to appoint a commissioner before sometime Saturday of this week. The announcement of the appointment then will have to await acceptance by the ap pointee. It is likely, however, that the position made vacant on the board by Mr. Perry’s death early last Tuesday evening will be properly filled in time for the reorganization meeting at the re gular session of the board ngxt Monday morning. The appointment is limited to the Griffins-Bear Grass district, and it is not certain in which of the two townships the selection will be centered. It has been pointed out that Bear Grass has had representation on the board for more than twelve years with out interruption. At the same time, however, Griffins is repre , sented on the county board of education, but heretofore there has been no objection to two per sons in the same township hold ing membership, one on the edu cation board and the other on the board of commissioners. Asked about the appointment I of a board member, Clerk Wynne said that he was still giving it study. Several names, including that of Oscar Roberson of Grif fins, have been mentioned, but so far as it could be learned no for mal campaign has been launched in behalf of any person or candi date. Mr. Perry's unexpected death also calls for a reorganization of the board. It is likely that one of the jkiur old members will be chosen to fill the chairman’s seat. As far as it could be learned no one has even offered to bid for the place, and it is almost certain that the position will be filled ad vantageously and most amicably The commissioners with nc heavy schedule of duties before them are scheduled to meet at 9:30 next Monday morning when the new commissioner is expected to subscribe to^the oath of office and enter upon his new duties. •o Baseball Meeting Friday At 8 P. M. • A general athletic program for this community will be discussed at a public meeting in the local high school auditorium Friday night, April 4, at 8:00 o’clock, it was announced yesterday. Im portant topics will be discussed, ... _ . iS'ci gotAi' unit* to p- ovide a good, clean recreation program for the youth and older people in this community. W. E. Dunn is scheduled to pre side over the meei.-.g. Young sters interested in play and others interested in the various sports and a solid recreational program are invited ana u£ged ii) aac.ni. A general call has ueen issued -"to all interested persons to meet at the high school field Saturday morning and give a lift with the fence construction. The players and other interested pm ties art “planting” the fence posts Friday and making ready for a rapid-fire construction program Saturday One does not have to be a full fledged carpenter to help Williamston has been chosen by the National Baseball Congress as ^ the site for the eastern North Carolina District semi-pro tourna ment, and the fiend must be fenc ed to accommodate it. The exact location of the fence in doubt for several days, will bt agreeably determined, it was stat ed, in time for the workers wher they report Saturday. WRECK VICTIMS IMPROVING Injured in an automobile acci • dent last Monday afternoon Un dertaker S. R. Biggs and Freaeh er John Goff are improving While hardly able to be out, Mr Biggs is out handling his duties and the minister plans to be ou and back in his pulpit shortly. Chairman of County Board Died Tuesday w i V. FUNERAL THURSDAY | Robert Lee Perry, chair man of the Martin County Board of Commissioners and a well-known farmer, died at his home near here last Tuesday evening. Funeral services were conducted Thursday afternoon. State's Assembly Expected To End Session Saturday -» Much Work to hr Dour uml Adjournment May Not (ionic So Soon -« Their pay cut off some weeks ago, legislators in Raleigh are now talking adjournment with out much further delay. Satur day of this week has been men i tinned as a possible date for end ing the term, but there is consid erable work to be done and, ad journment may not come unti . some time next week. During the meantime the legis lators are still arguing over the "gag" rule, who started it anc why. Beer, wine and liquor witt no mention of women have hog ged a good two-tthirds of the leg islators’ time so far. the law-mak ers taking time out to pass one oi two good measures and several of doubtful worth. Late reports from the Assem bly state that the highway com mission is to have the power tc protect secondary roads by con trolling load limits. Individual unit or town-city voting on liquor stores has beer ruled out, and the boys in the dry section will have to string along with the counties. A stinging blow against the bootleggers is being advanced ir a proposed bill, calling for a mini mum fine of $100 or three months $250 line or six months on the second offense, and $500 or nine months on the third conviction For some unexplainable reason several counties, including Mar tin, asked to be exempted. The I request was denied by a 24-2C j vote which was not made public . Tf the measure is passed >,n the House, the law will become effec tive July 1. The House this week refused te increase the penalties providet for game and, fish law violations one of the legislators pointing ou' that something must be done now (Continued from page five) -o To Give Organ Reci tal Sunday -o Russell Roebuck, organist at tlx local Christian Church, will giv< an organ recital in the churcl on Easter Sundav night at 8:0( o’clock. He will be assisted bj Mrs. Tom Skinner. Miss Marjorii Grey Dunn and Miss Elizabetl Parker. Mr. Roebuck has re cently resigned his position as or ganist and will take up new du ties as organist and choir direc tor at the First Presbyteriai Church in Wilson. A free-will offering will bi taken at the close of the concert , the proceeds going to the Alumn ; Memorial Organ Fund of Atlanta | Christian. Colleg* in Wilson. | Funeral Thursday I At Macedonia For Robert Lee Perry » . Prominent Farmer Had Ably Served County Sinee 1934 Robert Lee Perry, prominent farmer and' chairman of the Mar tin County Board of Commission er®, died suddenly at his home in Bear Grass Township, shortly afitcr six o’clock last Tuesday eve ning. Suffering a heart attack while working on his farm the day before, he was forced to his bed but Was thought to be getting along very well up until late yes terday when he suffered a> second attack and died before medical aid could reach him. Mr. Perry had been troubled with asthma and had received medical treat ment at intervals during the past several years, but he seldom com plained and was believed, to be getting along very well. His death, coming unexpectedly and even before it was generally known he was sick, was a shock to relatives and his many friends throughout this section. The son of the late Simon S. and Glendora Woolurd Perry, he was born in Bear Grass Township 57 years ago on last October 2. He attended the schools in his community and in early manhood was married to Miss Armanda Peel. Mr. Perry was recognized as one of this section’s most progres sive and successful farmers, em ploying scientific practices in his operations and early recognizing the value of conservation methods for his land and timber hoLdings. He ranked high as a citizen in his community and county, taking a special interest in all programs j advanced for the uplift of his fel lowman and for the good of his community and section. A mem ber of the church at Macedonia for many years, he was active in : its support and largely financed the construction of the present brick building there. The teach ings of the church were exem plified in his daily walk through (Continued on page eight) -Q Sunrise Service Sunday Morning A sunrise service in Woodlawn Cemetery will be held again this year, the worship event being one of the features in a series of re ligious services scheduled by the ! several churches. The union ser L' l m mm m ^ ?;• morning. Hundreds have attend ed the service in past years and a i large crowd is expected next Sunday. If the weather is un favorable for the outdoor service it will be held in the Baptist church. Union morning services in the theater have been well attended tins week e«ctvl for Wednesday when high senool pupils ware un able to attend on account of rain. A minister was dispatched to the school for services there. The evening services held in one of the several participating churches have been well attended ! also. A special feature in the pre Easter program is scheduled in the Methodist church Friday eve ning at 8:00 o’clock when the combined choirs will sing. | SPEAKER ! i -» Robert Lee Humber, re cognized authority on world afiairs, will speak in the local high school auditorium next Tuesday evening at 8:00 o’clock. He will speak on “International Relations,” a i timely topic of vital interest i to all the people. His address is being spon sored by the international re , iations department of the i ! local Woman’s Club, and the public is cordially invited to hear him. Mrs. W. J. Hodges Died In Hospital Thursday Morning Highly Respected Citizen Had Been In Declining Health Several Years Mrs. W. J. Hodges, highly re spected local citizen, died in a hospital here Thursday morning shortly after 9:00 o’clock, the vic tim of a heart attack. She had been in declining health for sev eral years, but was getting along as well as usual until last Fri day. She was removed to the hospital a short time later for treatment. Although her condi tion was regarded as serious, she was resting well up until about 9:00 o'clock when she suffered the attack, death coming peacefully a few minutes later. The former Miss Deborah Park er, she was born in Martin Coun ty near Oak City on April 20, 1877, the daughter of the late Joseph and Martha Parker Ever ett. Orphaned when quite young, she went to live with an uncle near Robersonville, later going to the h6me of another uncle, the late Elisha Everett, near Wil liamston, where she made her home until married to William Joshua Hodges on November 17, 1903. Prior to her marriage she studied nursing for about a year in a Norfolk hospital but aban doned her courses on account of her health. Affectionately known as "Miss Debbie,” Mrs. Hodges was held in high esteem by all who knew her. She was a devoted wife, a thoughtful mother and a good friend. Her walk through, life was marked by Christian charac ter, and the examples she set in her daily living were always worthy of others following. Mrs. Hodges affiliated with the Baptist church in Hamilton in her early life. Following her marriage she moved her membership to the church here, and few members were ever more faithful in its service. Surviving besides Mr. Hodges are one son, William P. Hodges, North Carolina Insurance Com missioner of Raleigh; a sister, Mrs. Nan Bailey, of Everetts, and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be con duced in the Memorial Baptist Church here Friday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock by her pastor, Dr. Ira D. S. Knight, assisted by Rev. John W. Hardy, ReV. B. T. Hur ley and Rev. John L. Golf, and interment will»be in Woodlawn Cemetervi -T,__ Community Choir Program Friday ■ ■ ♦ - The Community Choir of Wil liamston will present Dubois’ “Seven Last Words of Christ,” on Good Friday night at 8:00 us the climax of Passion Week Services Jjern^ The program wJH be.helj^ at the- -Msihodtet- Cfeurcfe-. - Dw bois wrote the cantata in 1867 while he held the position of or ganist at Sainte Clothilde church in Paris and it was at this church that it was first performed. With the possible exception of Stainer’s Crucifixion, this great, work has become the most popular of all ' Lenten Cantatas. Featured soloists in the cantata include Mrs. Helen Wynne, Mrs. Tom Skinner, Miss Frances Jar man, Mrs. Vella Wynne, Miss Marjorie Grey Dunn, Mrs. Nell Ward, Mr. Bernard Hurley, Mr. John Goff, Jr., and Mr. H. L. Swain. The choir is sponsored by the Williamston Kiwanis Club and is directed by Russell Roe buck. Mrs. W. K. Parker will be the organist. War Vets Filing Benefit Claims —*— After dropping last November to the Lowest level since the war, veterans’ claims for unemploy ment and self-employed benefits started increasing in recent months. More than 13,000 claims were filed each week, on an aver age last month when the pay ments exceeded a million dollars for the unemployed. The num ber of self-employed seeking help under the GI Bill of Rights jumped to 12,188 in February and ; called for an fcXpelidduc e of i 1161,970. Fines In Sinn Of j $750.00 Collected j In Court Monday -.o Court Will Observe Easter Monday, April 7, As A Holiday Idle for two weeks while the superior court was in session, Judge J. C. Smith and Solicitor Paul D. Roberson worked long and hard clearing the docket in the county recorder’s court last Monday. Thirty-seven cases were called during the sessions which lasted until late afternoon. Tire court room' was almost filled with defendants, spectators and wit nesses during the early part of the day. Fines, amounting to $750, were imposed and collected and several defendants were sentenced1 to the It was announced that the court will observe next Monday as a holiday, roads. Appearing in court for further orders in the case charging him with bastardy, Kenneth Harrell was directed to pay $72 to Effie Edmondson for tire support of Iris child, and the action was continu ed for three years under prayer. Charged with non-support, David Rix Harrell was directed to pay $35 a month for the support of his two children, the defense pointing out that a hospital bill had been accepted. The defend ant, under $300 bond, is to reap pear before tiro court on the first Monday in October, 1947. The case charging Whit Moore Donald and John Earl Edmonds with larceny was continued until June 3. Pleading not guilty in the case charging them witlr an affray, George Barber was found guilty of being drunk and disorderly and Pearl Smith was adjudged guilty ui Dimple assault. He . was fined $25 and taxed with one-half the cost and she was sentenced to jail ; for two days and fined $10 with one-half the costs added. A continuance until April 14 was allowed in the case charging George Bonds with an assault on a female. Adjudged guilty of assaulting a female, R. B. Spruill was sen tenced to jail for live days and fined $25 with the costs to be added. Pleading guilty in the case charging him with an ussauit, Joe Bullock was fined $25 and taxed with the costs. The case charging Russell Sher rod with an assault with a deadly weapon v/as continued untiL April 14. Pleading not guilty, Goldie Wil liams was adjudged guilty of an assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to the roads for six months. The road term was (Continued on page five) Justice Hassell “•TKwITOuTEe JoC Inactive since the Christinas holidays, Justice John L. Hassell returned to his work this week and handled several cases in a single session of his court. Noah S. Nichols, charged with enh-ring the home of Clarence Bowen and the smokehouse of Willie Bowen on Watt’s Lane and carry away a small quantity of meat, and lard, was bound over to the coilnty court under bind in the sum. of $100. John Henry White, drunk and down, was required to pay $10 fine and costs. Joe Henry Grandy, drunk and | disorderly, was taxed $14.50. | Thomas Lee Hawkins, charged I with assaulting a female, was | bound over to the county court I under $100 bond. Garfiold Speller, charged with carrying a concealed weapon, and Lester Speller with drunken driv ing, were bound over to the coun ty court under $100 bond each. Going before Justice J. S. Ay ers, Sam Roberson, charged with ' being drunk and down, was sen ; tenced to the roads for 30 days, ' the justice suspending the sen I tence upon the payment of a $5 i fine and costs. , j Charged with reckless driving .and running over a cow, James Taylor Whitley was bound over ! to the county court under $!0f ; build, b,y JiuoLvc It. T. ’Johnson j Wednesday night. Thirteen Enter Race For Places On Board H. Leman Barnhill, I G. A. Harris And David Moore File Estiniatrd Four Hundred Here Have* Not Regis tered for Primary -o Three more candidates—George A. Harris, hardware store owner operator; David Moore, store op erator, andi H. Leman Barnhill, farmer-warehouseman — entered the race for places on Williams ton’s Town Board of Commission ers since Tuesday of this week to boost the number in the field to thirteen for commissioner and two for mayor. In addition to the three candi dates filing for commissioner since Tuesday, ten had already entered the race, including the five old board members, G. II. Harrison, N. C. Green, L. P. Lindsley, V. D. Godwin and Roy T. Griffin, and five new candi dates, John Hatton Gurganus, K. D. Worrell, Dillon Cobb, Ben D. Courtney and Asa J. Manning. The field of candidates for mayor remains unchanged with John L. Hassell, the incumbent, and Rob ert Cowen, local attorney, in tiie race. In addition to the thirteen fil ing for places on the hoard of commissioners, Homer Barnhill, operator of the B. anti W. Tire Rebuilders here, announced his candidacy Thursday morning, but he had not filed his candidacy up until noon. At least two are considering running for the mayor’s job in addition to those already filed for the position. C. D. Carstarphen and S. 11. Grimes are planning on entering the race, hut up until Thursday neon neither had reach ed a definite decision. J. Paul Simpson has been mentioned as a possible candidate for mayor but lie has made no announcement. The time for filing ends at 6:00 p. m. on Friday, April 14. It is be lieved that some are jockeying for positions in the race for com missioners and mayor, but the time is short for such action. After the books for filing are closed Friday evening of this week at 6:00 o’clock, the registra tion will he officially ended the following evening, Saturday, April 5, at 6:00 o’clock. Accord ing to an official report, approxi mately 400 new names have been aded to the eligible elector list since the registration books were opened on March 22. It was re I Jia-Diy lt?uriW‘U muibuiiy muium-g 1 that approximately 40U other per j .sons are eligible to register but ! have not registered so far. The | registration! through last Satur t-dny-u tra books and right at 400 persons’ names could not be found or the registration books. A special no tice is being mailed to those indi viduals, inviting them to register. Under the heading, "Important Notice To All Voters,” and with I out signature, the appeal reads, ! as follows; "We tind by the registration | book that you have not register ! ed for the city primary. "At. long last you have the | privilege of voting in your own municipal election, but in order l to exercise this right to vote it becomes necessary that you reg | ister. "We hav< succeeded in giving you a chance to voice your own (Continued from page five) M1XK1) HOLIDAY -* A mixed holiday is fairly certain here next Monday, unofficial reports slating that quite a few stores are plan ning to close for the day while others plan to remain open. The schools, unem ployment offices, county re corder’s court, liquor stores, will observe the day as a holiday. County offices, the post office and others, will remain open and the commis sioners and memhers of the board of education will meet as usual. | DELEGATION | v-.-* In keeping with plans made at a meeting held in Febru ary, the Williamston Parent Teacher association is sending a sizable delegation before the regular meeting of the Martin County Hoard of Edu cation in the courthouse here next Monday. The organization represen tatives will discuss possible arrangements for the con struction of a lunch room and the inadequate facilities for operating the project at the high school. The delegation is expected to meet the board about 10:00 o'clock that morning, Mrs. .1. W. Watts, vice president, an nounced. Victim Of Wreck Dies In Hospital Wednesday Might Hotly of (llius. Henry llol uiiin To He Removed To Home In New Jersey His face terribly mangled in an automobile accident on U. S. Highway 17 between here and Washington early Wednesday aft ernoon about 1:00 o'clock, Claudes Henry Holman, 71, died in a local hospital Wednesday evening at 9:30 o’clock, it was reported by highway patrolmen, investigating the accident, that the ugrd motor ist’s face was almost torn away when he lost control of his 1939 Chevrolet car and crashed into a tobacco barn near the Burras •Ward home. His ryes were just left in their sockets, the report stating that the nose was torn partly off and that the skin and flesh were peeled buck to the skull on the forehead, that pos sibly there was a fracture of the skull. Picked up by another motorist, Mr. Holman was entered in the local hospital for treatment, but little hope was ever held for his recovery. Returning from a vacation in Florida, Holman was en route to I his home at 855 West Amtiy Avenue, McTuchen, New Jersey. He passed a truck and had driv en back to the right side of the highway when he apparently lost control of his car. The machine run off the right side of the road, swerved buck to the left and crashed into the tobacco barn. A board, ripped from a tobacco rack, tore through the windshield and struck him in the face. Relatives in New Jersey were notified soon after the accident and advised to come here. _ ^ j The Tier I y was >'emoved e- iTyc i Biggs Funeral Home here where it was prepared for transfer to New Jersey. Former Resident I)ie<l Wednesday Marshal) Uogermn, for scveru years a resident of Wilinnnslnn died suddenly at his home in Rob ersonville Wednesday night al 9:15 o'clock of a heart attack. The son of Elm if and Cora Rug erson, lie was 45 years old. Ar able machinist, he had worked ir RobersonviUe, Williamston anc Greenville and for the past fif teen months was associated witl the Motor Machine Company ir Rocky Mount, maintaining i home in Roberson-ville. Me i: well remembered here where hi served us a volunteer member o: tli local fire department and as t friendly mechanic at the William stun Motor Company. Surviving are his widow, the former Miss Velma Smith; ont brother, I’at Rog erson, and tw< sisters, Mrs. C. B. Riddick am Mrs. Andy Kirby, both of fiver etts. He was a member of the Rob ersonville Cnristian Church anc his pastor, Rev. J. M. Perry, wU conduct the funeral service at thi home in Robersonville Frida; morning at 11:09 o’clock. Inter j merit will follow in the temefer; there. Will Name School Committeemen at Meeting Monday —-*— Report ■> Indicate Several In The Districts Platt To Resign -« Meeting in regular session next Monday, the Martin County Board of Education will name committeemen' for the several local school districts. Reports, so far unconfirmed, indicate that several of the committeemen in various parts of the county are planning on resigning from, the positions, some explaining that private duties make it difficult for them to give as much as is considered necessary to the task. There are few candidates for the position®, and members of the hoard will gladly consider recom mendations or applications direct. : Members of the county board are, Messrs. F. W. Holliday, James ville; George C Griffin, Griffins; J. I). Woolard. Williamston; H. C. Norman, Robersonville; and Ern I esl Edmondson, Hassell. Several of the local district committees resigned folowing their appointment in April, 1945. The following are serving at the present time: Jamesvtlle: J. C. Kirkman, J. A. Gardner and Elmer Modlin. Farm Life: I’. E. Getsinger, A. J, Hardison and B. F. Lilley. Bear Grass: E. C. Harrison, Kneczer Harrison and Chesley Jones. Williamston: R. L. Coburn, Ra> li. Goodmon and C. 15. Clark. Robersonville: W. H. Gray, I. M. Little, N. C. Everett, J. M. Dix on and 11. L. Roebuck. Serving on , the Robersonville District sub committee are, H. I.. Roebuck, Garland Forbes and Herman Wil , Hams. The sub-committee at Gold Point was left idle when the school there was consolidated lock, stock ,.ud barren with the. one in Robersonville at the be ginning of the current term. Oak City: J. A. Everett, Dr. E. E. Pittman, Francis Worsley, E. 11. Edmondson and G. A. Oglesby. The Oak City sub-committee at Hamilton is composed of L. R. 'Everett, 11. S. Johnson, Jr., and j Clayton House, and the sub-com mittee at Hassell includes George 1 Ayers, Woodrow Purvis and A. E. Pu rvis. As many as five members are allowed for each district commit tee, but in those areas where there is only one school, the membership customarily has been limited to thrte persons. -• Makes Semi-r mal Red dross Report A semi-final report released Thursday of this week by Chair man Claude B. Clark, Jr., places the annua1 Red Cross Fund Drive sm (> -\k 'he goal Martin County Chapter, the white going over the top with $501.54 to spare, and the colored citizens raising $95.04 in excess of their quota. Nine of the sixteen districts met or exceeded their quotas. Five of the remaining seven bare ly ;i,i.-.-a r! tacit goals, ai.a . .. j district,; h«ve not yet reported. Two canvassers in Williamston are yet to report. Tht report shows the drive aa of Thursday morning as follows: Quota Raked 225.00 216,25 40.00 225.00 225.00 1,335.00 J amesville Williams (i r if fins Bear Grass Williamston 61.39 269.05 198 50 1.866.35 Colored schools and districts: Dardens Jamesville Williams j Coreys i Poplar Point Bear Grass ! Biggs Rogers (Woolard) 40.00 Burroughs 25.00 Smithwiek 15.00 i Williamston 200.00 50.00 30.00 27.50 12.50 12.50 12.50 25.00 $2,500.00 $3,116.58 SEINE FISHING -»■ — Seine fishing at Jamesville waa started Thursday morning, first reports reaching here stating that the ir.it!*•.! cstchts wr-**** v#»ry... J smail.