THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BT r OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK VOLUME L—NUMBER 32 THE ENTERPRISE Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, April 22, 1917 THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BT OVER 3.A00 MARTIN COUNT! FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK ESTABLISHED 1899 To Retire After Forty -"Vo Years j * In School Room Principal H. !V1. Ain»ley Is Planning To Enjoy Well Earned Rest Completing his forty-second year in the t 'aching profession, Principal H. M. Ainsley a short time ago tendered his resignation as head of the Oak City School, and plans to enjoy a well-earned rest. His resignation, marking the close of many years of faith ^ ful ana devoted service, was re ceived with reluctance, but the school man insisted he had run his course, that he had done his be'st and that it was time to turn the task over to younger workers. Mr. Ainsley's school career be gan in the fall of 1889 when he en tered the Washington County public schools. Finishing the Creswell Academy in the spring j of 1901, he taught school during the folowing term, receiving a salary of $30 per month. The sal ary was quite small, but the school man pointed out that board and room cost only $5 a month. Drawing on his savings set aside during his first year as a teacher in the Washington Coun ty schools, he entered Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, as a charter member in the fall of 1902. Completing his college work, Mr. Ainsley taught in the schools of Pamlico. Pitt. Hender son and Bertie Counties before lo cating in Oak City in 1923. Dur ing the nearly quarter of century that followed, hundreds of young men and women were graduated T under his supervision, the school man lending a fatherly and Chris tian influence in preparing each one of them for life's work. No man could have given of his time and interest in greater meas , ure than Mr. Ainsley gave during the nearly half century he spent teaching and training the youth placed under his care. His work has been most effective in Oak City where he willingly and ef fectively took a leading part in all T worthy undertakings, both in side and outside the school. In all his years spent in the school room he was never absent on account of personal illness, and he doesn’t recall being lardy even once. While the nmfessnr nn de finite plans for the future, it is fairly apparent that he is consid ering an invitation to go to Ahus kie and be near his children, Ira and Mary Katherine. It is fairly apparent that Mr. Ainsley is finding it difficult to bring his school career to a close, but surely he can find much satis faction when he reviews his record with the full knowledge that he kept the faith, fought a good fight and accomplished tiiose things that will live in the acts of others across the years. Announcing his resignation, the school man expressed his appre ciation in a most cordial manner to everyone who had cooperated with r,f "rg. Oak City School. "We made mis takes and we had our problems, but with the loyal support given by a gracious people, the county superintendent, board of educa tion and local comittee, we man aged to solve them and carry on,” he said. “Never in all my experi (Continued on page eight) -o Training Union Meet in Tarboro The Regional Convention of re gion number two of the Baptist Training Union of North Carolina will meet in the Tarboro Baptist church on April 25 26. The pro gram will begin with quiet music on Friday afernoon at 2:55 o’clock and will close on Saturday after ^ noon at 3:00. Lodging and break fast will be furnished by the host church for those who live at such a distance that they will not be able to go home for the night and return in time for the Saturday morning meeting. Among the interesting items on the program there will be: the Hymn Festival, the Adult Bible Reading Tournament, the Young People’s Better Speakers’ contest, the Intermediate Sword Drill, and the Junior Memory Work Tourna ment. Region number two in cludes all the churches of '.he Roanoke, Ncuse and Atlantic as sociations. Burned To Death In Hunting Lodge Fire r RETIRING v/ After forty-two years in the teaching profession. Princi pal H. M. Ainslcy is retiring at the close of the current term to enjoy a well-earned rest. Twenty-four of the forty-two years were spent in Oak City. Native Of County Dies In Halifax Mrs. Norma Cloman Kitcnin, native of this county, died at her home in Scotland Neck Sunday morning following a long period of declining health. The daughter of the lute John Benjamin and Fannie Staton Clo man, she was born in Hamilton about 70 years ago. Following the completion of her education, she taught music in the Raleigh [schools a short time before she was married to John Arrington Kitchen an t located in Scotland Neck. She was a member of a family for many years prominent in the affairs of this and Edge combe County. Funeral services were conduct ed at the home Monday afternoon at 5:00 o’clock by Rev. Gray Tem ple, i u iw ul tut cmuicli of tin. Good Shepherd, Rocky Mount, and interment was In the Episco I pal cemetery. Surviving are two sons, Wil liam A. and John Cloman Kitch m of Scotland Neck, a daughter, Miss Kate Parks Kitchin of Rocky Mount and Scotland Neck; a bro 11her, John B. Cloman of Tampa, Fla., and a sister, Mrs. Frank L. ( Gladstone of Chicago. | Church Fire Loss Large In Nation Damage caused by fire to ,'■,;'irch.<'S fb'.' Slat; i ] during tire past year will run as much as 20 percent above the I $4,800,000 loss suffered by edifices of thirty-odd denominations in the previous year, according to estimates made by Warren Y. Kimball, fire record executive of the National Fire Protection As sociation. In 1945 there were 2, 400 church fires in the United States, and the association a re cords now indicate theie were probably at least four bundled more fires in churches during the past year. At the same time, an even greater proportionate loss was re ported by industrial and resi dential property owners during the period. Lions Club 1‘luns Its Annual llam/net, Dunce The local Lions club will cele brate its tenth anniversary by ob serving its annual ladies and charter night banquet and dance here Thursday evening. The banquet is being held at the Woman’s Club at 7:30 while the dance will take place at the high school gym where Hal Thurston and his orchestra will provide the music. The local Lions Club was char j tcred in April, 1937, and all char ter members still in the club will be recognized. Wives of club members will attend, along with Lions and Lionesses of clubs in j neighboring towns. W. Robert Bowers Funeral Held In Bethel On Sunday —•— Tony Currie, Lodge Keep er, Jailed For Question ing Saturday Morning ^’illiam Robert (Bud) Bowers, 70-year-old Pitt County farmer, was burned to death early last Saturday morning when fire de stroyed the small Conoho Gun Club building on Roanoke River in the Poplar Point section. The head and limbs were burned from the body, searchers finding only the heart and a charred torso which could hardly be identified as that belonging to a human. The remains were turned over to a Bethel undertaker and fun eral services were held at the home about four miles from Beth el Monday afternoon by Rev. Sid ney Boone, Methodist minister of Robersonville. Interment was in the Bethel cemetery. Investigating the fire and the man's death, county officers have established no lead in the case which is proving to be a most baf fling one. W. Tony Currie, keep er and warden for the lodge which was maintained by sports men in this and Pilt County, was jailed last Saturday morning for questioning. Officers said that he had been drinking and could offer no coherent story of the fire and tragedy. It was first thought that Currie accidentally fired the lodge, .possibly by knocking over a lighted lantern or lamp. Later developments indicate that Cur rie was a mile or more away when the fire started. Going to the river fishing that morning about (1:30 o’clock, Nath an and Rrvant Wynne found the porch of the lodge burning, They i heard a noise in the house and I thinking that Currie was trapped in the burning building, they : started to cut through a back window when the Bullock boys came up and explained that they had seen Currie going down the .iivci Puna tow aid. a ruinbei camp. No further effort was made to enter the burning building, the ’group not knowing that Bowers ! was there. About an hour later, Bowers’ Ison, William Ray Bowers, went to the camp looking for his father. A search of the ashes was made and the charred body was found. Officers are of the opinion that some one frightened Currie away from the lodge and then fired it, not knowing that Bowers was there. No lead has been establish ed to support the theory, but it lias been learned that some per J sons wanted to get rid of the lodge quarters. Bowers, said to have been <,» inkw‘£,' was. v. .M i ii-d-iiiAhe lodge late last Thursday afternoon upon his insistent demand. A member of the lodge from Robersonville i visited the camp late Friday after noon and he said he left both Cur rie and Bowers sleeping, the offic ers explaining that the body was found almost at the same spot where the member last saw the man sleeping. Besides his son he is survived by his widow, the former Miss Doia Eubanks, and three daugh , tors, Mrs. Lester Crofton of Ply mouth, Mrs. David Cox of Rich lands and Miss Betsy Bowers of ; Miami. I ROUND-UP Twelve persons were ar rested and jailed here last week-end, activities on the crime front reflecting a mark ed increase over the record for the previous week. The ages of the group ranged from 19 to 51 years and only two of the dozen were white. Three were arrested for larceny and receiving, two lor assaults, two for being drunk and disorderly, and one each for operating a mot or vehicle without a driver’s license, carrying a concealed weapon, drunken driving, is suing a worthless check, and one was detaiued for investi gation. Promii^nt County Farmer Passes At Home la Griffins -1 Funeral Monday Afternoon In Haves Swamp Church For Ephraim IVel Ephraim Peel, will . known county citizen and . prominent farmer, died at his home in Grif fins Township Sunday morning at 7:45 o'clock following a long period of declining health. In ad dition to a complication of ail ments. Mr. Peel fell and broke his hip several years ago and he had not been very active since that time. However, he was able to be up much of the time until a short time ago when he suffered an attack of pneumonia which was given as the immediate cause of his death. The son of the late Noah and Millie Roberson Peel, he was born in GrilTins Township on June 28, 1871. living and farming there all his life. He was a self-educated man and kept himself well posted on the affairs of his county, state and nation. A leader in his com munity for many years, Mr. Peel was unusually active in political affairs, and the Democratic party never had a more loyal supporter. He was a member of the Primi tive Baptist Church at Hayes Swamp for a number of years, and his pastor Elder B. S. Cowin, assisted by Elder A. B. Ayers and E. C. Stone, County ministers, conducted the funeral service there yesterday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock. Burial was in the Tice Cemetery in Griffins Township. Mr. Peel in early manhood was married to Miss Lydia Margaret Roberson and she survives with three children, twm daughters, Mrs. N. R. Peel and Mis. Elbert Griffin of Griffins Township, and a son, George M. Pee), of Wil liamston; two brothers, Messrs. Sylvester and Pleny Peel, of Grif fins Township, and nine grand children. New Attorney To Hans Out Shingle Sworn in by Judge W. H. S. Burgwyn in the superior court here yesterday morning, Edgar Juivj.i Ciuiguuua la planning to hang out iiis shingle for the prac tice of law here early next month. A son of Mrs. Mary Bonner Gurganus and the late George N. Gurganus, the young man was graduated from the Wake Forest Law School in January, 1SJ43. He successfully encountered the state bar examination the following month and in March of the same year entered the armed forces. Honorably discharged from the service in March of last year, he was employed in the legal depart ment of the Office of Price Ad ministration in Raleigh and is leaving that position to come here and practice with Attorney B. A. Critcher. SMiifcfcjmV'.V' g h is. wasv,Up. la college, the young man made a splendid record in his studies while at Wake Forest. The young man’s entry into the legal profession, boosts the num ber of county attorneys to an even dozen, ten of whom are in Williamston. Domestic Trouble Leads To Attack S. T Jackson, young colored man, attacked his wife and sever al others at his home in lower Cross Roads Township last Sun day night. Using a 40-inch gun, Jackson fired the weapon to frighten the group, Arresting Of ficers Murray Holloman and Whit Saunders said. No one was hurt. Angered when her husband started coming home late, the wife packed hci suit case and was making ready to return to her mother’s home Sunday. Jackson declares he resorted to force to frighten her out of the move. | Woman's Council dans Bingo Burly at Ever ells o Tlie Woman's Council of the Everetts Christian Church will sponsor a bingo party in the Ever etts school auditorium Friday evening of this week at 8:00 o’clock., Jlefreslwnents will bo served and the public L umted. Short Session 01 Superior Court Is Held On Monday Tribunal Likely to Atljourn For The Term This Afternoon Opening yesterday what was ■ first scheduled to be a two-week term, the Martin County Super ior Court milled out seven di vorces and recognized one or two compromise settlements and re cessed until today, the tribunal holding forth hardly more than an hour and a half. The second week of the scheduled two-week term was called off some time ago, and it now looks as if the court will adjourn for the term some lime late today. Very few' spectators were at tracted to the old hall of justice by the calendar and very little in terest was shown in the proceed ings. Four of the seven divorces granted Monday went to colored couples, attorneys in other cases choosing, for one cause or an other, to carry them over for trial at a later term. Divorces, all based on grounds of two-year separation, were granted in the following cases: Mildred Swanner against J. D. Swanner. Virginia W. Mizelle against Elmer T. Mizelle, Grace Charlotte Nooney against James Henry Nooney, Frank Johnson against Annie J. Johnson, Robert 11. Taylor against Margaret A. Taylor, Ruth Everett Barrow against Shedrick Barrow. In the case of William Little and wife against William Reddick and Mercede Spruill, it was point- | ed out that the issues had been ! settled, the litigants having1 agreed to the location of a boun dary line on property in the Bear | Trap Mill section. In the case of Li 1 ley against Li 1 - ley, it was learned that an agree ment had been reached, that the , case w'ould not be for trial. A judgment was not filed immedi ately in the case, however. Cancer Drivels Gaining Support Starting only last week, the | drive tor funds to support the | National Cancer Fund is rapidly j gaining support in this county, ac cording to a preliminary report released by Chairman Wheeler M. Manning. “We have not had time to hear from all the district chairmen, but scattering reports clearly indicate that the public is anxious to do its part in supporting the move ment,’' the chairman said. District Chairman W. B. Har rington said last week-end that the drive is going well in his township, that they were certain to go over the top within a short time. J^jipfully InjuUiij In Capital Wreck Mis. Darrell M. Price, ju.st a short time in this country from Europe, was painfully injured in a taxi-street car accident in Washington, D. C., the early part of last week. No bones were broken, but Mrs. Price, the form er Miss Anna Maldari of lfari, Italy, was badly bruised and suf fered .severe shock. Her husband, Captain Price, was with her in the taxi at the time the taxi struck the street cur but he was not hurt. After a stay of several days in a Washington hospital, Mrs. Price was able to accompany her hus band to their home here on West Main Street. ■n. midnf<> ci„b lent Hold Mevt Wwlneaduy - - Some timely and important business will be placed before a meeting of the Martin County Wildlife Club in the county courthouse Wednesday evening of this week at t):(J0 o'clock, an of ficial of the organization an nounces. In addition to the special busi ness, the club is to elect officers for the coming year. "We must continue active and have a part in administering game and fish re gulations,” the officer said. The public is invited to attend the 1 meeting. I County Ball League* Off To A Good Start Indications Point To Keen Rivalry For Top Position -+ Few Healed Arguments Are Reported To Prove Interest In Game Offering a brand of bull far bet tor than many really expected and not so very different from that seen in the higher-up leagues, the Martin County Baseball League clubs opened the current season with a bang last Sunday, the initial contests attracting an estimated 1.500 earnest rooters. Oak City, Bear Grass, Everetts and Robersonville took the lead, but in most instances it was no easy task. The opposition dis played enough strength to con vince fans that anything can hap pen. The opening day offered its up sets. For instance, Hassell, cramp ed for space and with limited ter ritory to draw from for its play ers, almost scared the pants off Bear Grass. Reports reaching here stated that Hassell had Bear Grass 2 to 0 in the seventh, that Rawls came up with a homer to put Bear Grass in line for a 5-3 victory. Cross Roads, also cornered so to speak, offeicd Everetts some keen competition. In fact, most of the winners had to struggle for their victories. There was some difference of opinion when it came to umpir ing, but reliable reports state that the recruits did a pretty good job, that if they were any better they would be signed up In the profes sional circuits. Umpire McCrack en found it expedient to oust a Williamston player in the game here Sunday afternoon with Oak City, and there was a “little" trouble over in Hamilton. But, as one Ldi pointed out, the objec tions were based on interest and not at all on malice. Judging from the preliminary j reports, the prospects are bright ] for a successful season. While the i arrangements place a mighty [ heuvy bu.Uiu on the piuyvi >, they i are making possible some useful | entertainment. Reports say that ! while thi' players feel they are entitled to some pecuniary con sideration, they are also playing for fun. In that spirit they can expect a loyal support, for, after all, there is more fun and real pleasure for the fans when they can see home talent in operation. There were some few errors made, to be sure, but reports from every club declare that the players showed up well, that the league is pretty well organized and has the appearance of a going concern. The various plants have not been completed in their en tirety, but work continues and mu..1 of pip in shape within a short unit*. The various managers are coop erating among themselves and with the league officials, and if sufficient support is extended by the fans to maintain player mo rale, this section will have solved its baseball problem very satis factorily. mil; 1'ioi.D Striking over the week end, blue mold is .said to he doing extensive damage to to bacco plants in this county So tar the mold is confined to relatively small areas, but it is proving disastrous, accord ing to reports reaching here this week. Visiting his plant beds on a farm near Everetts, Farmer L. A. Clark stated that al though his plants were no larger than a 25-cent piece, the mold had attacked them and it looked as if it was leav ing the ground clean. A few farmers are using fernutte to ward off the mold, hul the chemical is not avail able and the plant situation is considered not at all favor able. Reporting on his plants, Elder A. It. Avers said yes terday that some were sever al inches across and were thriving. r v. \ttor\i;\ j Edgar Jarvis Gurganus, lo cal young man, was sworn in before Judge VV. II- S. lSur gwyn in llie superior court here yesterday morning to practice in the state courts. His law career interrupted by the war, the former soldier repeated tin* oath without shaking. Aged Countv Man p Died Last Friday Timothy W Roberson, a promt nent farmer and one of the coun ty's oldest citizens, died at In home near Kobe: aaiville last Kri day following a long pci tod ol de clining health. Ninety two years old, Mi Rob erson, despite declining health, j was unusually active up until a short time ago, enjoying digging in his ga; dt-st .-.ad handling m m r tiisks for reereation. The son of the late Henry Ei. and daisy Rog ers Roberson, tie spent all Ins life farming at the old home where he was born. Mr. Roberson was highly respected as a true South - riu Coil lab.tu gi i.il’u iiivtii aurii neighbor, and was one of the see turn's most beloved citizens. On March 2, t#70, lie was mar ried to Miss Harriett Ann Everett who died on December 14, 11)08. Surviving are three sons, Messrs. W Eli, Henry 1! and Mar cellus Rbberson. all of Roberson ville; seventeen grandchildren I and nineteen great-grandchildren, and a brother, Mr .Arch Ruber son, who will be 81 next month. Funeral service . were conduct ed at the home Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock by bis pastor. Eld er B. S. Cowin, assisted by Elder A. B. Ayers, and Rev. ,J. It. Ever ett, Robersonville Baptist minis ter. Interment was in the Everett family cemetery near Roberson Club Members On Kivvanis Program At tlie regular meeting of the Kiwanis Club Thursday evi ring two members of the William ton Senhs;' -i ll C'hlh >•>•.m .i gram in connection with Nation.il ■ 4-11 Club Week Mary I.ou Col train gave a talk on "What 4 11 Means to ti Boy and tlii l.” Mary Lou pointed out that not only did club nu mbers learn to rai.-c ta t ter livestock crops and to cook and sou -but they learned to live, In addition she cited some ways m which club members had re ceived spiritual guidance. Ben Bunting, president of the Williamston 4 11, cited the accom plishments made by club mem bers in the various conte.-ts held lust year and also some of the activities that the members took part in in addition to the projects. I'lircliiiHi's Ihilj Inli’n’st In Lvnlml ( -u/i* llrrt' After vacationing for quite a few months, George Sl'otsos chose to reenter the cafe business and recently purchased half interest in the cafe which he established and operated for a number of years. lie and Philip Tunis arc now operating the cafe jointly. ia\ra\s Plan To Promote Tobacco Market This Year \\ ,tr. i)tni'« ULt n \\ ill (h- J-.v» \iie«l To Meet Willi The I hininizalion Soon Hi 'ding their regular dinner meeting at the high school home economics department last Friday evening, members of the local Junior Chamber of Commerce heard Elbert S. Peel, local attor ney, appeal for the group’s sup port of a drive to enlarge and build up the local tobacco market. The speaker briefly reviewed the history of the local market since it was forme I shortly after the turn of the century. Mr. Peel also cited the splendid progress of smaller markets that have out grown the Williamston market within the past few years, naming Washington. Tarboro, Ahgskie, and Smithficld as examples. Some suggestions in the way of advertising were pointed out by Mr. Peel, Mich as each local mer chant using the radio for adver tising putting in a short line about the Williamston Tobacco Market, also having each local citizen have his business stationery im printed with a slogan or boost for the market and other plans to make the various individuals to bacco market conscious. It was moved and seconded that the local tobacco warehouse men be un ited to attend the next meeting of the club, where they will be given an opportunity to exp re s their plan-, and also their opinions. In the al cnee of President Mears. the meeting was presided over by vice president Ex urn Ward, Jr. Janie- Williams led the singing and T. E. Davenport pro nounced the invocation. Jaycte Treason Jas. Bullock reported a profit of $54.75 on the Spring dance recently held and that a check in the amount of $428.09 hail been mailed to the high school band, Representing the net profit from the raffle recently ■ . 1 arteh r 11 J.,yi'i■ \ . the benefit of the band. A letter of appreciation from Director Jack Butler w; s re, d to the members. Ju.vcee Ji sse Sumner reported on plans for the forthcoming Eat Stock Show being held on May 9th, which the Jay fees are help ing apuu.sui, oUAlUlcl aluleu Inal, 42 steers would be entered by the contestants, along with about 20 nice pigs. It was voted that the club do nate $10.00 to the Crippled Chil dren Drive, and the group favor ed giving the club directors auth ority a. to tin* amount the club is to contribute on the stands for the local bull park. Guests present were Wendell Pei I of Williamston and Ray Ma neiri ol Wake Forest, along with Jayei e “Old-Timer’’ J. D. Page, local man. Cbv Clubs Well li “(V1Y (* (I Ut T(‘ Two college gif*1 clubs, appear ing in thi' local high school audi torium last Saturday and Sunday evenings, were well received by fairly large audiences, including quite a lev.' visitors from the neighboring towns and communi ties. The- Wake Forest tiler Club and l.ittle Symphony 0 la held on May 0. j Sy3