North Carolina Newspapers

THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY * OVER 3000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK VOLUME L—NUMBER 43 THE ENTERPRISE Williamston, Martin County. North Carolina, Friday, May 'Mi. 1017 THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3.000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK ESTABLISHED 1899 Plaiwing Xo I)is<tr?s * County School Needs Action Expected On Plans for Two School Buildings —. Preliminary Estimates Call For 810,000 Increase In Current Expense Tr A badly needed school expan sion program, hanging fire in this county for about two years, is cer tain to gain a fairly definite stat us when the members of the board of education, the commis sioners and one or more local committees hold a confab in the courthouse next Monday. The building program, tentatively ad ^vanccd. is quite likely to be de layed, and projects, blue printed in fascinating detail by architects, are almost certain to be ruled out. School officials, waiting for the latest figures, hesitated this week to predict any course of action, but it is quite evident that some thing will be done or that the of ficials will agree to delay action. Virtually ruling out the Ever etts school project as blue printed hv an architect, the school auth plans for the colored school pro ject. New bids are tentatively expected for the Everetts bund ing and also for one to replace the colored building recently destroy ed py me at Jamesvilie. If the costs are unreasonably high or if the authorities are convinced the county can handle the projects for less money, it isn’t likely that contracts will be awarded l,ocal school authorities are ,,....111016 tv,-- vv.. „. .— .v-.ll.-> the board of education is planning to carry its problems before the com missioners. The local committee is anxious ^ to have a lunch room and four ad ditional class rooms provided, but they have a secondary plan call ing for the alteration of the man ual arts building for a lunch room and ihe opening of two class looms in the basement and in cloak rooms at the elementary building. The county school budget is also slated for a review by the authorities during the meeting opening at 10:00 o’clock next Monday morning. The budget fig (Conlinued on page two) Two Minor Road Wrecks Reported Two minor accidents were re ported on local streets this week, investigating officers stating- that no one was hurt and that the re sulting property damage would hardly exceed $225. The first of the accidents was reported near the underpass on West Main Street Monday after noon about 1:00 o'clock when Home Agent Cleopatra Tyner stopped to make a left turn into the road leading to the Odd Fel lows Cemetery. A Ford, driven by an unknown person, stopped without hitting the Negro home agent's car. A Moore taxi, driven by Whitfield and traveling west, also stopped, but Mrs. John 13. Roberson, trailing close behind, could not stop in time to avoid plowing into the taxi. Damage to tiie Roberson Plymouth was esti mated at $150 by Officer Chas. Moore who made the investiga tion. Mrs. Christine Jenkins Quick, riding in the Roberson car, was slightly hurt on the arm, one report stated. I A school bus driven by Ralph Eugene Andrews and a 1946 Ford driven by Henry Wayne Whitley, 1144 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, crashed at the intersection of the Jamesville and Washington Roads at the 2-Way Service Sta tion early Wednesday afternoon. No-one was hurt and damage to the gar will hardly exceed $75, In vestigating officer Chas. Moore said. No damage was done to the ^ school bus. One report staled that Whitley did not see the stop sign on the school bus in time to avoid crashing into the vehicle. He was cited to the local mayor's court -for a hearing Friday night. f COUNTY BOARD v. j Holding their regular monthly meeting here next Monday, the Martin County Commissioners are likely to be in session a greater part of the day handling routine business and special matters. Budget figures for the new fiscal year will come up for preliminary review, but no final action is expected until the authorities meet in spec ial matters. Budget figures for the new fiscal year will come up for preliminary review, but no final action is expected until the authorities meet in spec ial session later in the month. The possibility of opening a hospital in the county is scheduled for discussion, and the county board of educa tion members are planning to meet with the commissioners to discuss school needs. Arrest Made In UiAtrrilll Att'IJ'k r~) Case Wednesday Hi« Coiulitu;;; Worse, Vit tim Of Assault lirnio' William Ruffin, young colored man who was shot in Jamesville iate last sunuav ingiii, nas oeen removed from his nome there to a ' V-a. ,,l i " , - <_ii _ .— -••u . .r rested and placed in the county jail here Wednesday r.ft.—u.in, tlumn, wan an estimated 8!) small gun shot in one foot and eight or ten in the other, was placed in the hospital when in fection developed Wednesday, last reports from the institution stating that his condition was seri ous. While no arrest was made im j mediately in the case, officers I were busy piecing together the , few available details, Repeated I questioning disclosed threats made by Glenn Currie against persons using a path leading by his home. One person, whose name could not be learned here, was said to have walked along the path a short time before the at tack, spoke to Currie and went on unmolsted. Ruffin told officers a white man attacked him, but ex plained that he did not know his name. Currie and a brother, W. T. "Tony,” were carried before Ruf fin but while he could not defin itely identify his assailant, flu victim said he was positive it was ouc of the two men who stopped and shot him. It was later learned by James ville’s officer, Paul Holliday, that Tony Currie had carried a gun some time after the attack to a camp on the river, and damaging evidence was revealed when “Tony” was questioned. “Tony,” (Continued on page six) Jamesville Wins In FFA Contest The District F. F. A. contests were held in Goldsboro Saturday, May 24. Contests held were Pub lic Speaking, Livestock Judging, and Parliamentary Procedure. Winners of eight federations par ticipated in each contest. Mem bers of the Jamesville chapter participating in the contests were: Perlie Modlin. Jr., winner of the Public Speaking contest; Billy Martin, William Perry, and Perlie Modlin, Jr., livestock team that gained a position in the State Livestock Judging Contest; and the officers of the chapter, Perlie Modlin, Jr., Dorman Gaines. Billy Brewer, Fred Allen, and Marvin Perry, who participated in the Parliamentary Procedure Con test. The Jamesville Chapter was the only one in the district to place two teams in the state con tent to be held during the State F. F. A. Convention in Raleigh July b 9, and 10. Newlv JElect^4 Off iria-UJ^tarl ./IVyn [ Judge J. C. Smith l 1 l*Kv . In County's Court Several Loiift Komi I'erma • n -i Fim*» laiiiiltM* lo $ ! .’l,» • • Numerically, business picked i up in the county court last Mon day following a bad slump the I week before. However, ll._ . j made no record financially, the | limited amount <f fines imposed j being a bit remindful of a ‘'reces sion.'’ Judge J. Calvin Smith, calling twenty cases and holding I the court in session until 12:45 I o'clock that afternoon, was long Ion road terms. One defendant drew a total of thirty months on | the roads. Fines amounted to j $135. Proceedings: Charged with drunken driving, Leon Brown pleaded not guilty and after hearing the evidence the court adjudged him guilty of drinking intoxicating beverages in a public place. He was fined $15 and taxed with the costs. Warren Griffin pleaded guilty of larceny and receiving, and the case was continued under prayer for judgment until the second Monday in next Novembe r. Bond was required in the sum of $200. In a second case in which he was charged with receiving stolen goods, knowing them to have been stolen, Griffin also pleaded guilty. The action was continued under prayer for judgment until the second Monday in November with the defendant under an ad ditional $200 bond. Thomas E. Hawkins, charged with assaulting his giil friend, pleaded not guilty, the defendant , advising the court that jt was a I matter between him and ins girl : friend, that had it not been for the ' arresting officer, there would ! have been nothing to the attack. It was Hawkins’ third time in (court for assaulting a female and | Judge Smith sentenced him to the roads for nine months. Judgment was suspended upon the payment of the costs and a $15 fine when Janies Willis Bell pleaded guilty of assaulting a fe male. Charged with assaulting a fc i male and resisting arrest, Lee ! Davenport had hi;, cases continu j ed until next Monday. Cases, charging Henry Williams and Noah F Catanch with as ' saults with deadly weapons, were continued until next Monday. Charged with an assault with a deadly weapon, James Earl Pur vis pleaded not guilty. Adjudged guilty of being publicly di unk, the (Continued on page two) Recently elected following their nominations in a town-wide primary, a new mayor, Robert Cowen. left, and three new com - .issioners, left to right, K. D. Worrell, Ben D. Courtney and John Hatton Gurganus, will enter upon their new duties here next Monday evening at 8:00 o’clock when G. H. Harrison, Sr., and N. C. Green return to continue service as members of the town’s board of commissioners. The appearance of the new may or and new board members marks one of the most sweeping changes in the town's political set-up in quite a number of years. Contrary to a trend marking political activities almost throughout the state and nation, only one of the new board mem bers, Mr. Gurganus, is a war veteran. G. 11. Harrison, left bot tom, and N. C. Green, right bottom, are succeeding themselves as members of the board. ()hp.n 1 its *\l/t Monday, Tv.r.c 2nd, o nn thirty Bible School w in noiu ns him ses sion in the Baptist Ciiuicii. Last year there were two hundred and sixty-two reg::-‘—’ ' 11 ■those registering in the various churches last Sundav. the school will he even laraer tnan that of last vear. The 1947 edition of the school j< JUn/ii inn t i f T?PV John W. Hardy w ho is being aoiy I assisted by all the local ministers, I who arc assigned to the churches I where the groups are to do their work. All groups and leaders are ! Driving West In i Old Model Buggy —♦— Driving an old motor buggy, a York, Pa., traveler stopped here overnight Wednesday to break hi ride toward the West Coast. Ord ered l'rom a mail order house shortly after the turn of the cen tury and resembling the first model motor buggies brought to this section by Mr. Herbert Peel when Hop was a little fellow, the York machine is clipping off the mlies at the average rate of about 25 per running hour. Using tlie old type Prcst-o-lite, | the motorist dares not travel by night, explaining that he was in j no great big hurry to get to Cali : fornia, that hi- wanted to see tiie country us lie traveled along. Tlie two-cylinder engine and running gear are built into a re jgular buggy with minor alteru [ tions. The vehicle, equipped with I small, solid rubber tires, is steer - j ed with a hand rod. , During the overnight stop here, 1 the contraption attracted much at tention. Oil Company’s Office Robbed Prizing open a window, a rob ber or robbers entered the office of the Baker Oil Company near the river here sometime during last Tuesday night and carried away two pistols, a small radio and a camera, valued at about $15(1. The robbers worked on the iron safe door with a hammer and chisel but failed to get the door open. They knocked off the com bination and handle but did not reach near the valuables. One of the pistols, owned by Theodore Gurganus, was a P-33 and was brought back by him i from Germany as a souvenir. The other weapon was a Colt .45 cali ber weapon. Officers investigated the rob |bery but have been unable to es tablish a lead in the ta^e. .MIMIIIU'III-. ’ Hull H . JUIIHM I.U.. .. Will w hi.-'ll i 1: •^Olh(?r !1 n d till'll i separate for their individual and -- -a ’T'v.o tnnior and in .. i IK1 UI1UCI i I t. supervision of Dr. Kaugnt and Mr. ball. Tne go i-. win in .... " 1 .'** su, Vt~- ‘ tlunr hanck't aii -. Miss o<me Gott will m'ain diroc* the music. v.ifiimm 0l;nt sunnil cm k.-‘ uiiuig on June 2 will continue through June 13 when the commencement program will be given and an ex hibit w'ill be arranged of the (AI lending Typhoid (llinics After getting off to a .-low stall, llio typhoid clinics in tin* county arc attracting unusually large crowds. The health department reported that 4S)li were immuniz ed against the fever at Everetts. The Cross Roads appointment was accidentally left off the an nual campaign schedule posted re cently; however Dr. Williams has announced that he will meet at the usual place at Cross Roads, June 5, Thursday, from TOO to 4:00 p. m. The clinic will meet at Hamil ton every Friday morning and evening tor the four week period. A clinic will be held at Oak City Tuesday, June 3, from 10:00 to 12:00. -- Class Program WoII Received —♦— The seniors' dats program last Tuesday evening in the high school auditorium hcie was well received hy a large group. Features on the program were, .salutatory by Louise Hines, class poem by Trulah Ward Baileyv class history by Lucy Andrews, giftorian, Alice Wynne; class pro phecy by Elizabeth Taylor, last will and te.-.tanoent of class of 1IJ47 by Elizabeth Manning, press illa tion of gifts to the school by Louise Hines, cla: president. "Among Their Souvenirs", with a southern garden setting, was presented. Louise Griffin was program chairman. Another feature in the finals program was the presentation of special medal- during ehap'l period Wedn< -day SLLK AIM OKCL KLC Rl US An Army Air Fort? recruiting unit niade up of several trucks with loud speakers and various Air Force equipment displays lias been here for two days in front of B. S. Courtney Furniture store aero?-, from the post office. No apparent response to the call had been noticed yesterday. Plan For Issuing IV.!_ ■ iVi YE ■ ! i nun I R i i YV .‘-J Vlphillu’iiriun , m« 4 .i it li^, intt * usm mr In accordance with the law pay-ad by the 1!H7 General As sembly of North Carolina requir ing the re-issuance uf Motor V< - hide driver licenses, tlw schedule has been made: the period beginning July 1, 11)47, and ending on December 31, 11)47, is the tune for all driver license holdeis, whose sur names begin w ith the letters A or B to apply for new licenses. Persons whose names do not begin with one of the above letters cannot apply for re-issuance of license in this pci iod. The period beginning January 1, 11)48, and ending on June 30, 1048, will be the time for all op erators whose sur-names begin with either of the letters C or D to apply for re-issuance of licens es. All Motor Vehicle driver? whose surnames begin with a let ter other than A, B, C or 1) will be notified by press releases at the proper time as to when they should appeal' for the re-examina tion. The operator's license issued under the 11)47 Safety Act shall automatically expire on the birth day of the licensee in the fourth year following the year of issu ance, and no license shall be issu ed to any operator after the ex piration of his license until such operator has again passed the re quired examination. Everyone will gel a complete examination. The.'examination is made up of foui parts. These parts an-: (1) An Eye test (2) Highway Sign test (;t) Driving Rules test (4) Road test. The poorest visual reading that will permit passing with glasses is 20/130. This may be with both eyes together, or it may be with best eye alone. The sign test con sists of the showing to the appli cant several pictures containing Highway Warning signs. The ap plicant will he requested to tell what a driver should do when he come, to such a sign. Inability to read is not grounds for denying a ili i\ er license. The Rule si c tion of the examination consists of twenty-five simple questions that deal with the safe operation of a motor vehicle. The Road test will consist of a drive of sonic twelve to fifteen city blocks. In the past some applicants have be gun road tests with the under standing that the Examiner would (Continued on page three) New Term June 2nd STILL I) YKk Tobacco crop prospects were described as still dark in quite a few sections of the county as late as mid after noon on Thursday of this week. Transplanting is just "•'out complete, but dry v.r:,*her is playing havoc with the voting plants and quite a few farmers art- plowing up the dead plants and trails planting for the second time. Some sections of the county have had fairly good seasons, but in others little or no rain lias fallen in recent weeks, and conditions were describ ed as next to impossible for starting the crop. Much of the tobacco trans planted last week and the early part of this week is dy ing, reports said. Farmer Clarence Wallace stated that the greater part of large leaves were parching in his crop near Jamesvillr. Schools Herr End Successful Tr*!!' I •-* €\ ^ J *■» w » I |if^' I ■ '■IMUiikis ■ n'snilni Mi Ity School ('.liairiiiaii I VU ‘l SUtVt .-t.'iiUl it Mil hist Wcillh I clay evening when Hugh G Hoi - | lOll, I '.''I*1 :»11 nrnnv adCl 1 t'SSfU | more umu o»> w ^upi».> «>■ « po11 > i .. -»i n 11 rl H < • • •. nrl . , .mi lit.- v> v * *J j;: ; .. ! tv-eight candidates. twenty young ladies and eight boys. Added features were the special award presentations and the delivery id a war memorial plaque, a gift of Ihe iiininr el.-ts^ In the «eh..n1 ".. 'he main addle It. L. uiuurn, cnairman 01 un I. school district conunitit i. pn st nt ed diplomas to the graduate Jeanette Rhodes Andrew. Lucy Marie Andrews, Sally Rhodes Bailey, Trolah Wai I Bailey, Eleanor Jane Bank . Dan iel Molotha Bowen, Evelyn l,.,., i ■ nee Bowen, Thomas Burris Brandon, Jr., Thelma Louise Car row, Joseph Colutnh' ” Selma Cathe...., ^,v.. . ., IT,; ... . Mortimer Everett. Marv L mi e Griffin, Ethelyn Loui.-e Iline , Mary Elizabeth Hopkins, Hugh Glenn Horton, Jr.. Dorothy Loui - Leggett, Mary Neel Lindsley, Elizabeth Taylor Manning, Jean ette Lanier Myers, Irene Eliza beth Parker, Reginald Davis Peele, William Henry Roge Charles Briggs Siceloff, Jr., Sally Elizabeth Taylor, Joyce Sylvia (Continued on page six) Native Of County Buried Wednesday Mrs. Nora Lanier Taylor, na tive of Ibis county, died in a Gioenville hospital last Tin- da> morning at 9:10 o'clock follow iag a lung period ot declining health. Funeral services were conduct ed in Greenville's Jarvis Memor ial Methodist Church Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock by her pastor, Kcv. Hubert W Bradshaw, and interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Greenville. The daughter of D. E. Lanier of this county and his late wife, Mrs. Allie Wynne Lanier, Mrs. Taylor was born in Everetts 49 years ago. She spent more of her life there and in the Bear Gra s Com munity before locating in Green ville about 11 years ago. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. J. II Jones of Norfolk and Elsie and Doris Lou Taylor of the home; two sons, Marvin D Tay lor oi Norfolk, and Bobbie Taylor of the home; three sisters, Mrs. Pattic Clark Micelle and Mrs. Ed ward Ricks of Greenville and Mrs. W. H. Grimmer of Peters burg. Va.; one brother. J. D. La mer of Newport News, and two Orondchiidrtu. Expect \\ liolesale Resignations In All Departments No Kadical Mmcs Antici pated H\ New Majority In Official Family Williamston's official governing family- a new mayor, three new '•omrhimoner.s and two old mem bers of the board- will meet in the board s room in the town hall next Monday evening at 8 o’clock for the first session in a new two year term. The new board includes a ne„ mayor, Robert Co wen: three new ! commissioners, Ben D. Courtney, | John Hatton Gurganus and K. u. Worrell, and two old conn..iso_ j ers, N. C Green and G. II. Harri 1 son, the set-up giving a clear ma jority to tiu newiy elected mem bers. Holding no recognir ^os.t.on as vet in the town’s official gov erning body, the newiv elected men explained tins that it would be a bit forward on their | t t. . diet :• a,finite course | of action. However, u was inti 1 mated by one swu.ee that whole* ■ ■ ... e.,„v, i.L.u’ii, It .... ■ p.antcc! out, wiii ' .u.=umont for all eon i cornea j'ne .u .. ... . leete ... . (explained that no extensive I / • > I -1 • i 111 . , . * id anticipated, but it is apparent that - nine chon ;cs are to be expected. | No radical piogram is to ho ex i lh’cit’d tii int iiiuiu.i <>[ I'n. new ! I.,,,., th'* off J V.. 4111b. ’ f ins th:;: week, hive program being considered. "We are intrusted in the welfare hind progress of the town, and we are pledging our best efforts to ward a safe, sane and progressive iiovornment.” one of the new of nciais expiameo, uuuing mat it is * •<>/•«< rtf Hfvpl t'pjnt tiLo call lor some citanged hi basic rules and regulations as they relate to traffic, parking, police protection and other allied prob lems, A general tightening-up in the town's government as to all its . <>p< i .ding function.; is expected. !l i. understood that new mem bers of the official family have ' .*>••“ •'I,..si.s ui ine • v.pi’i til lllg luuvtiv/i'ai mab methods employed by other towns have been observed in support of (Continued on page six) Retiring After Years Of Service Thro- of Williamston's (own cnmmi ii'Hoi- L. P. Lindsley, V, I). Godwin and li. T. Griffin—and Mayoi John L. Has ell, are retir ing from the public positions after i years of service. Commissioner Lawrence P. land.'lev has been a member of Ihe board for twenty-two years, .m ving as mayor pro-1 cm several terms. He seldom pinch-hitted in the mayor's position until last year . !.v -gaizcd head of the town government was taken j ill. Mayor John L. Hassell is com pleting his seventh consecutive term, having served previously one term. During his last tenure of offiee he never missed a regu lar meeting of the board for more than thirteen years. He is relin quishing the post with the know ledge of having ably served as the titular head of the town for so long a time and looks forward to his retirement from politics. Commissioner V. D. Godwin, Sr., is completing fourteen years ! of set vice and Commissioner R. T. Griffin is winding up his third term. Commissions G II. Harrison is beginning his fifteenth term, and Commissioner N. C. Green is starting his eleventh term next Monday. It will be the first term for Mayor Robert Cowen and Coni i mis aoners Ren D Courtney. John Hatton Gtuganus and K. D. Wor rell.