THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY * OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE =- mmmmmmm THE ENTERPRISE IS READ HI OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK VOL UME L—NUMBER 31 Williamston, Martin County. North Carolina, Friday, April 111. 1 17 ESTABLISHEB Thirteen Divorce Cases On Docket In Superior Court AH Cases Art Based On Two-Year Separation; None Contested Thirteen divorce cases have been calendared for trial in the Martin County Superior Court next Monday, several of them having been aired in the courts on previous occasions. Not one of the actions is being contested, and the mill is expected to grind out separation decrees in a hurry. I Judge W. H. S. Burgovyn of Jackson is to preside. The following divorce cases are on the calendar, all of them being based on grounds of two-year separation: Luther C. Modlin against Mary Modlin who were married March ^ 6. 1944, and separated in June, 1944. I r James Washington is again in the courts seeking a divorce from Mary Washington. They were married ten years ago and sep arated in 1944. Judge Burgwyn denied the plaintiff a divorce some time ago. the jurist reason ing at the time that the plaintiff had whipped his wife and chased her away. Mildred Swanner against J. D. Swanner who were married Nov ember 1. 1939. and separated in September. 1940. Tht litigants, Beautie Andrews against Mattie Lee Andrews, were married January 1, 1940, and separated in June, 1944. The case has been calendared for trial previously Virginia W. Mizelle is seeking a divorce from Elmert T. Mi/.elle. They were married on December 30, 1941, and separated October 15, 1942. The one child born to the union is with his mother. In her suit against Shedrick Barrow, the plaintiff says they were married June 1, 1937 and separated in July, 1938, that one son, a junior, is with her. In his divorce action against Margaret A. Taylor, Plaintiff Ro bert H. Taylor says they were married November 10, 1935, that she ‘‘up and left him” in October, 1944. The five children, the com plaint maintains, are supported by the father. Mary Brown Gray, seeking a divorce from Felton Gray, says the/ were married in December, 1938, and separated in 1942. In the case of Grace Charlotte Nooney against James Henry j Nooney, tlie litigants were mar ried December 24 1942, and sep arated in October. 1944. A child is with the plaintiff. Norma Jane Riddick is suing \ William Louis Riddick for di- j voice, the plaintiff alleging they i were married April 14, 1943. and I that they separated in February. \ 1945, that their two-year-old j child is with her. Married in March, 1932, and separated in June, 1942. Frank ; Johnson 's suing Annie J. John avn'tOv di vorce. ... j Catherine Stokes is suing Wil- ! liam Arthur Stokes for a divorce, stating in her complaint that they were married June 21, 1930, and separated in December. 1940, that their six-year-old child is with her. Motorists Attack |! i1 Bridge Barricade! None of them has succeeded in ; clearing it away, but motorists continue to attack the barricade ! on the temporary bridge just: across the river here. Five motorists have crashed in to the bridge railing during the past fifteen days. Harry S. Edmonds skidded into ▼ the barricade early last Monday night, doing about $200 damage to his car. Thomas Leo Lang of Ohio struck a State highway truck with his 1941 Buick Wednesday after noon, doing about $300 damage to his car and $100 to the truck driv en by Chester Speller. Thursday morning at 6:30 o'clock Guy Thomas's 1947 Chev- j rolet skidded and almost went off the bridge, the vehicle coming to a stop with one wiieei overhang- ■ ing the bridge. Damage to his car was estimated at $200 by Patrol man W. E. Saunders who investi gated the accidents. Announces For Governor Charles M. Johnson, Slate treasurer, this week formally an nounced his candidacy for governor of North Carolina. The candidate, one of several mentioned for the position, is the first to make a formal announcement. Although he did not outline a detailed program, he said, ‘'If elected, 1 will be free to assume the office of governor with only one commitment—a promise to do what I believe to be the best for all the people of the State." MEETING .Meeting in the Martin County courthouse at 8:00 o’clock next Wednesday eve ning, members of the county wildlife club will elect offic ers for the new year, and dis cuss several timely business matters, President Ben lames announced this week. Separated from the Depart ment of Conservation and De velopment, the Game Divis ion is in a position to do some thing- constructive, Mr. James said, and all hunters and fish ermen, including farmers particularly are invited to at tend and take part in the dis cussions. Mill Boiler Room Damaged By Fire C5 ^ o . E!:C»^Ol]Ci: . . yUiV..- SUffk'VaUg* steam for the planing mill and J dry kilns at the Williamston Lum ber Company on the Washington 1 Road here, was damaged by fire at 4:30 o’clock Thursday morning. An estimate of the loss and the exact origin of the fire could not be learned immediately, but the j damage is believed not to be very great. It is thought that full scale operations can be resume*) The plant was damaged by fire just a few weeks ago. When the fire went out of con trol, the mill fireman sounded the mill whistle. Awakened by the whistle blasts, citizens several blocks away get up and sounded an alarm when they saw the fire. Volunteer firemen laid 900 feet of hose through mud and over him- r ber to reach the fire which was : checked within twenty or thirty j minutes. THE RECORD SPEAKS . . . For the first time this year, motorists traveled through an entire week in this county without an accident. One or two fenders were battered a bit and a radiator grill was slightly damaged, but there j were no reportable accidents, , no one was injured or killed. The following tabulations offer a comparison of the ac cident trend: first, by corres ponding weeks in this year and last and for each year to the present time. 1511* Week Accidents Inj'd Killed Dain’ge 1947 a 0 0 $ wo 1946 3 2 0 400 Comparisons To Date 1947 30 20 3 8,550 1340 43 22 2 12,370 Disaster Strikes Texas City Port Between 80.0 and 1,000 lives are believed to have been lost and possibly 3 000 persons were injur ed, many of them seriously, when a French ship loaded with ni trates, exploded Wednesday morning and started fires raging in several sections of Texas City, a port tow n of about 15,004 T°pu Late reports state that relief workers, moving in from hun dreds of miles away, were still counting the dead, that many of the injured were still dying. The explosion and fires, wreak ing the greatest havoc of any dis aster reported in nearly half a century, was heard and felt more ■ than 100 miles away Aviators, j thirty miles away, were attract ed to the scene of the disaster. With a property valuation of more than 100 million dollars, Texas City_today lias very little value, reports declared. The thriv i ing port city has been evacuated. The injured were moved to hos ! pitals in cities miles removed, and others moved out by the thous ands to avoid the danger ol pois on gas tiiui we thought tu he spreading as a result of explosions and fires in chemical plants. Late reports from the stricken city stated that 734 dead had been counted, that nine addition ■ '.ii *.>-£ • . - had— fv’towvd the initial blast, seven since early ! Thursday morning, and that the fiies were burning unchecked to ward a large storage of high oc tane gasoline. Nearly 400 doctors from a doz en or more states moved in by early morning Thursday to re lieve the suffering. Dr. Uillfy it Christian Church Sunday Morning Dr. H. S Hilley, president of Atlantic Christian College of Wil son, will be gucat speaker at the Williamston Christian Church on Sunday morning at the 11 o'clock l worship hour. In the afternoon Dr. Hilley wil' be joined by the Glee Club from i the college which will present 0 : program at the high school audi Itorium on Sunday evening at 8 | o’clock. The public is invited to attend the service and hear the 1 glee club. m Organize Eustern Star Chapter Here Monday The organization of a chapter j of the Order of the Eastern Star will tie perfected at a meeting of interested parties in the local Ma sonic Lodge hall next Monday night at 8:00 o’clock. Masons, their wives, sisters, mothers and daughters are invit j ed to attend the meeting. Offic ! era will be elected at that time, it was announced. rWm; Jesse Melson Dies After Long; Illness Thursday —— Funeral Service In Local Methodist Church Fri day at 3 p. in. Wm. Jesse Melson, World War : I veteran and well known local citizen, died in the hospital here j Thursday morning at 0:30 o'clock i following years of declining i health. Gassed during the war, : he had rot enjoyed very good j health since that time. Despite j his physical handicap Mr. Melson carried on his work as stock clerk for the Williamston Motor Com pany for some vears and later as an employe of the Moore Groc ery Company here. He was forc ed into virtual retirement last August after receiving treatment in various hospitals. He had been a patient in the local hospital since the 17th of last month, doc tors having abandoned hope for his recovery some time ago. His condition had been critical for ten days or more. The son of the late Robert and Fannie Collins Melson, he was born near Williamston on Sep tember 21, 1895. After a short residence in Hamilton he located here with his family. Mr. Melson attended the local schools and soon after the outbreak of World War I he volunteered for service in the army, and was stationed overseas for almost a year. Returning home following his honorable discharge from the ser vice on April 9, 1919, he was mar ried to Miss Laura Walker of Washington, and continued to make his home here. Mr. Melson was a member of the Methodist church here for almost a quarter century, serving as steward for several years. He was a splendid neighbor and a de voted husband and father. Quiet of manner and friendly toward all, he always greeted his fellow man with a smile. Surviving are Mis. Melson, three daughters, Mrs. Bill Throw er and Miss Jessie Mae Melson of Williamston, and Mrs. Jack Bur den of Windsor; two grandchild ren; and two sisters, Mrs. J. W. Johnson of Martinsville, Va.. and Mis. W. E. Haywood of Ports mouth, Va. A brother, Joe M. Melson, died while in service on October 29, 1918. Funeral services will be con ducted in the local Methodist church Friday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock by his pastor, Rev. B. T. Hurley, assisted by Rev. John W. Hardy, local- Episcopal* minister,* and Dr. Ira D. S. Knight, pastor of the Baptist church here. In terment will be in Woodlawn Cemeteny here. Local Man Recovering From Rud Eye Injury Struck in the eye by a slick while gardening at his home here on Simmons Avenue last week, -Mi-, wuy Tiio.Tr* i,~ i o<. ov'i-. ing' fairly rapidly following treatment in a Durham hospital. He has re turned home and reports state |that his sight has not been im paired. Britain PlaiinTiig Big Decrease In Tobacco Imports Action To Reduce Exports From This Area by About Thirteen Percent While tobacco farmers and ' others in ‘the flue-cured tobacco | area are working to boost leaf ex i ports, England this week came out with a plan to reduce its cig arette consumption by twenty five percent, meaning that the Bright Tobacco Belt will lose a market for about thirteen percent of its production. Britain's chancellor of the ex chequer, Hugh Dalton, in disclos ing the United Kingdom’s budget for the current year, said that it hoped to save some 30 million dol lars exchange value through slashing British use of tobacco. To discourage use of tobacco, Dal ton said that the United Kingdom should immediately increase its tobacco taxes by approximately 40 percent. The tobacco tax increase would increase the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes from 48 cents to (18 cents. Dalton said he was aiming for a 25 percent reduction in Brit ish tobacco consumption. In his announcement, Dalton said: “1 break the news brutally to the House. Our current consump tion of tobacco exceeds 250,000, 000 pounds weight a year and about 80 percent is imported from the United States. To satisfy this insatiable demand, we are drawing heavily and improvi dently on dollars,” Dalton estimated that a 25 per cent reduction in smoking would mean an annual savings of $30, 000,000 from tobacco purchases in the United States, most of it from the U. S. loan. Dalton repeated the British La bor government’s intention to limit the United Kingdom's over all tobacco purchases this year to 150 million pounds sterling, or roughly 215 million dollars. This intention was first "reveal ed in a government “white paper” sent to Parliament on Feb. 21.) If this limitation is carried out, it would mean the United King dom will spend 07 million dollars less this year than the 382 million dollars it expended in total tobac co purchases in 1940. Dalton’s statement today that the British hoped to save 30 million in dollar exchange was the first direct in dication (if how much Britain planned to cut its buying of American tobacco. The 07 million dollar figuie-represented an an ticipated slash in tobacco buying from all sources. Last year the United Kingdom imported about 230 million dol lars worth of tobacco from the United States. 11 the price of American Hue cured tobacco remains unchanged from the average 1940 figure of slightly over 48 cents a pound, Agriculture Department spokes men said that,thi^^ejU^i King dom’s new purchase limitation would mean a reduction of from 30 to 60 million pounds (weight) in British purchases of American (Continued on page eight) Messenger' Used In Trying Liquor Law Violator Here j Milton James, invalid weighing | between two and three hundred pounds, is back in the court of this county after an absence of about two years. A chronic violator of the liquor laws, the invalid has proved quite a problem to the courts. On previous occasions, the alleged violator was brought from his home in Jamesville Township on an ambulance and carried into the court room on a stretcher. Charged with the illegal pos session of liquor, James made the trip to court this week in a car, but officers pleaded with the court to try the case by messeng er. His brother would talk to the defendant in the car and then ap pear before the bench. The brother would then contact his brother, and so on until the de fendant appealed from a three month road sentence and a $20 line. Bond was required in the sum of $300, and James returned to his home after it was urrung cd. James, charged with the pos session of illegal liquor for the purpose of sale, was booked for trial in the county court back in July, 194.1. Before that case could be heard, hi’ was caught violating the same law. He pleaded guilty in both cases and was fined $190 in one instance and $200 in the other. Nothing more wje, heal'd from the man until May 1945 when he was back in coutt on a similar charge. He was sentenc ed to the roads for fifteen months, the court suspending the sentence upon the payment of a $250 fine and costs. He appealed, and in the higher court he was sentenced to the "oads for two years by Judge K. Nimocks. The sen tence was suspended upon the payment of a $250 tine and on the condition that he should not vio late the liquor laws for fo e years Now, about two years later, he is back in court with that old sus pended sentence hanging over his head along with another suspend ed term to be cumodered. "Call Forty-Six Cases + In Recorder’s Court Judge J. C. Smith Imposes Fines In j Amount of $685.001 -4 Next Session of Recorder's J Court Will Be Held j On April 28lli -Jfr Returning to its work last Mon- | day after observing Easter Mon- , day as a holiday, Judge J. C. Smith and Solicitor Paul D. Rob erson found the Martin County Recorder’s Court docket cluttered with cases. The docket, carrying forty-six cases, was one of the largest before the court in recent months. Fines were imposed in the amount of $685 and several road sentences were meted out. Judge Smith will not be on the bench next Monday since his count will move out to make room for a special term of the superior court. Cases handled Monday follow: The case charging Claude Worsley with non-support was nol prossed. Charged with assaulting a fe male, George Bonds was adjudg ed not guilty. Russell Sherrod was found not guilty in the case charging him with an assault with a deadly weapon. Pleading guilty of an assault, William Percy was sentenced to the roads for six months, the count suspending the term upon the payment of a $110 fine and costs. Charged with careless, reckless driving and speeding, Clyde Odell Cowey was found not guilty. Dora Lee Jenkins was sentenc ed to jail for two days and fined $20 and taxed with the cost in the case charging her with an assault with a deadly weapon. The cuoe charging James Batiie With a deadly weapon was nol prossed. In a second case in which he was charged with as saulting a female, Battle was sen tenced to jail for five days and fined $25 and taxed with the cost. Charged with painfully attack ing his wife and two small chil dren with a knife, George Alfred Hardison of Dardens pleaded guilty, lie w'as sentenced to the roads for twelve months, the courts suspending the sentence upon the payment of a $25 fine and costs, and on the further con dition that he remain sober for two years and not operate or al low any one to operate his car during the period of suspension. It was brought out at the hearing that the cuts inflicted by the de fendant required several stitches. Hardison, apparently crazy drunk, said he remembered nothing about the brutal attacks. Thomas Lee Hawkins, charged j with an assault on a female, I pleadetrguTuy and was sen tewed"!" to the roads for thirty days. The term was suspended upon the paynn nt of a $25 fine and costs. Charged with assaulting u fe male, Simon Jenkins was adjudg ed not guilty. Garfield Speller was fined $60 and taxed with the cost tor car rying a concealed weapon. The case charging O. W Jones I with di unken driving was con tinued until April 20. Lester Speller, adjudged guilty of drunken driving, was fined $60, taxed with the cost and had his license revoked for one year. The case charging Anthony La nier with reckless driving was continued until April 28. Pleading guilty of speeding, James Everett was fined $25 and taxed with the costs. Edward E. Mobley was fined $10 and taxed: with the cost for operating a motor vehicle with out a driver’s license. The case charging Richard. Ran dolph Davis with operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license was continued until April 20. Pleading guilty of operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s ' license, Willie Little was fined $20, taxed with the cost and is to receive no driver’s license for 1 three months. Grace Mobley was fined) $10 j and taxed with the cost for oper ating a motor vehicle without a ( (Continued on page tu) REGISTRATION Even before the primary election was hedl last Mon day, books for the registra tion of new voters were opened for the regular elec tion to be held on Tuesday, May (i. Following the sweeping re gistration for the primary there are comparatively few local citizens who do not now have their names on the books. The election May 6 is ex pected to be little more than a formality since the opposi tion partv has no ticket. Un less an independent ticket is offered, only those nominat ed in the last Monday pri mary will he voted on in the May 6 election. The registration books for the May 6 election will re main onen through Saturday, May 26th. Issue Twenty-One Marriage Permits In Martin County —•— Issuance Almvo Normal Hut Considerably Helow March, 1916 Twenty-one marriage licenses were issued in this county last month by the office of the regis ter of deeds. While the issuance for the period is above the aver age for the past ten-year period, it is considerably below the num ber recorded for March lSJ-tti. The twenty-one licenses were issued, six to white and fifteen to color ed couples, as follows: White Jonah M. Stalls, RFD, Rober sonville, and Marjorie Perry of Jamesville. Horace Lee Uogerson, RFD 3, Williamston, and Ludy Fay Keel of Williamston. James K. White of Windsor and Mary Ktles Mizelle of Williams ton. Claude G. Council of William: ton and Lena Gertrude Leggett, RFD I, Stokes. Wilton L. Godard of Jumes ville uuu Laiuh Haidisoii, RFD I. Williamston. James Russell Lee of Roberson ville and Elsie Ray Wynne of Everetts. Colored Charles Lester Lee and Cleo Theodosia Roberson, both of Wil liamston. James Arthur Melton and Mary Purvis, both of RFD 2. Roberson ville. A. 1.5. Gres, RFD 3, Washington, and Verdie Mae James, RFD I. ■ ........ Jonie Clemmons and Olivia Spruill, both of Williamston. Selector Andrews and Annie Roberson, both of Parmele. Fred Henry Dolberry and Ar philia Williams, both of Palmyra. Haywood Clark and Janie Mae Bryant, both ol Palmyra. Arthur James and Frances Price, both of Williamston. John Griffin, Jr., of Everetts and Emma Lee Hill of Roberson ville. David Powell and Hazel Wig gins, both of Palmyra. James C. Council and Lecta Short, both of (Dak City James Riddick and Essie Mac Hassell, both of RFD 2, Williams ton . Curtis Leroy Perkins and Vel ma Little, both of Parmele. Leo Roberson arid Reba Stokes, both of Iiobersonville. Solomon Hodges and Hattie W. Lund, both of Williamston. Toriuor horul Man To Preurh .In Hamilton 1U v. Cyrus W. Hu/cmorc, form er local resident and now associa tions! missionary for the Koauoke ' Baptists, will preach in the Ham ilton Baptist Church Sunday, April 20, at. 11 a. n;. and 7:30 y. m., it was announced this week by the pm,tor, Rev. K. It. Stewart. Mr. Stewart will bo assisting itev. J. i, Vippcrman in a reviv al at L’aila., N. C,, at that time. i-ffTiuli Tfemhers Prepare For Show On Friday. April 9 Jack \\ illiumson, Winner Last Year, Is !Not SIiow in« This "S car Their attention attracted to the approximately $400 cash prizes 1 and hopeful of a good sale, thirty seven Martin County 4-H club boys and girls are working hard to gi t. their beef calves in tip-top hope for the annual stock show to be held in the Planters Ware house here on Friday. May 9. As sistant Agent Sumner says the i boys and girls have done a good I job, that all of them have a chance to capture top prizes. Walking off with top honors ] and the big money, too, last year, IJack Williamson will not be in, the competition this year year, the agent announced. The names of the club members competing for honors and prizes follow: William, tori 4-H Club leads all other clubs with planned entries. The boys showing from Williams ton Club are: Wade Bunting, Ben Bunting, Johnnie Price. Corrone Bryant, Henry Grey Corey. James Parham, Joseph Williams, Jack Woolard, and Pat Wynn with two. The girls from Williamston are Mary Jane Rogers. Priscilla Rob erson with two, and Be nell White with two. Bear Grass Club is second with the following members showing: May hue Bailey, Howard Bennett with two, Noah Bennett with two, Raymond Bennett, James Craft, We-ley Craft, Rannie Peaks, James Rogcison, Edith Rogerson, and John Rogerson. Other members by clubs are: Oak Cilv: George Ayers with two, Wallace Smith, Dorothy Gurganus, Lorene Oglesby, Lor I ette Oglesby. Hamilton Club John C. Gur ganus. Calvin Oglesby, Jeunnett ; Edwards. Everetts Club:, Billy Bailey, I Bobby Clark. Jamesville: Jimmy ..Knowles, I William Knowles, Bobby Lulley, Fred Griffin. Robersonville: Jack Roebuck. Youth Booked On Robbery Charges R, volt Woolard, 15-yoar-old colored boy, was booked this week for trial in the superior [court in June for allesedlv hrenV 1 tng into several homes and steal* i ing money, watches and fountain | pens. The boy, living on the \V. A. Perry farm in Bear Grass Town ship, allegedly forced open a ! screen door to the home of Mrs. J. L. Holliday last Monday and stole several hundred pennies. Suspicion centered on the lad and when lie was questioned by Sher j ill C'. B. Roebuck and had the fin ger pruts on the vase containing the pennies cheeked witn hr the , U<; r 'auYm w*tu me them' 'Yih Ti'.:'””* admitted slipping into the H. C. | Green home and stealing a watch which u.is traced to a local jew- | eler’s shop. During the investigation, the | officer learned that several other ; homes along the highway had ! been entered and that small items [ i such as watches ami four! taut' pens had been stolen. New Books Added To Library Here i Quite a few new books have I been added to the collection in | the local public library during re ; cent weeks, ii was announced yes terday by Mrs. Ethel ES. Ander son, librarian. The additions include, "The | ltoosevelt I knew,” ‘'Broken j Lights," “The White Dress,” “The United Nations," "A Guide to the I Soviet Union,” “Green Garnet | Mystery,” “Ann Bartlett,” “On Stateside Duty,” “Starlight," "This Side nf Innocence,” "Green Grass id Wyoming,” “Toil of the Brave,” “Case of the Borrowed Brunette,” "The Foxes of liar row," "Bright Slues.” "Broken Lights,” written by Samuel Zetnon’s brother-in-law, has its early setting k\ an or.ptian age and moved into World, War I. Blinded in battle, the author of fers much when lie nils how handicaps wen ovci'cuuic, ; jfio.