THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BE
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT*
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK
VOLUME LI—NUMBER 11
THE ENTERPRISE
THE ENTERPRISE 18 READ Ml
OVER 3.000 MARTIN COUNT!
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WU|
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday, February 5, 1948
ESTABLISHED 1899
Board Advertises j
* Next Tuesday For j
Bids on Deep Well
Water and Sener Connec
tion Fees Increased At
Meeting Here
Meeting in regular session last
Tuesday evening, Williamston's
town commissioners instructed:
the town engineers to advertise
for bids for another deep well to
relieve the acute shortage plagu
ing the water supply. The first
advertisement, outlining the spe
cifications, is to appear next Tues
day, and bids will be opened ap
proximately two weeks later, it
was unofficially learned.
A proposed $175,000 bond issue
for expanding water and sewer
lines and for the erection of an
elevated 300,000-gallon capacity
storage tank was discussed but no
action was taken, the board in
structing Mayor Robt. Cowen to
seek additional information.
Advised that only 426 local ve
hicle owners had purchased the
1948 town license plates, the board
instructed the police department
to cite the approximately 174 who
have not met the requirement to
the courts. A minimum fine of $1
was fixed, plus trial costs for vio
lators of the ordinance.
Fred Silverthorne was refunded
$9 taxes when it was learned that
the property was outside the town
limits.
Realizing that the town had
been losing money in making wat
er and sewer connections, the
board increased its fees from $15
to $25 for a three-quarter-inch
tap, $25 to $35 for a one-inch tap,
and cost plus ten percent for all
water line taps larger than one
inch. These fees are to be in
creased by fifty percent if and
when additional connections are
made to the water lines outside
the town limits. Some members of
the board were of the opinion that
the rate for outside connections
should be doubled, since fire pro
tection was afforded in some in
stances without any taxation to
offset the investment and upkeep
ol fn?*HWWiffl5T**X*cofnpromu5e
was effected, and the board stated
that just as soon as the water sup
ply is supplemented outside con
nections would be permitted.
The fee for making taps to the
sewer lines was increased from
$10 to $20.
Before making changes tn the
service fees, the commissioners
studied similar charges in a num
ber of eastern Carolina towns. The
rates here were the low'est of any
and are now slightly under the
average.
J. S. Gurganus, granted a fran
chise some time ago to operate a
town bus service, was given a 90
day extension.
A loading and unloading zone
was allotted the Dunning place.
A license request to operate a
music box was withheld from
Griffin and Griffin who operate a
business at the corner of Washing
Streets.
A tax refund on $47,928 worth
of property was allowed the Dixie
Peanut Company when it was
pointed out that the listing was in
error.
Minor Street Accident
Here Early La,*t Night
0 --
Very little damage resulted and
no one was hurt when two cars
^ crashed in front of the Marco the
ater on Haughton Street here last
evening.
A Moore Grocery Company
truck, driven by Ralph E. Savage,
started to make, a left turn just as
Dr. V. E. Brown started to pass in
his Cadillac. Fenders were bat
tered on the two vehicles, officers
■ estimating the damage at about
$75.
DAY OF PRAYER
World Day of Prayer will
be observed here on Friday
afternoon of next week when
the people of the community
arc asked to participate in a
t union prayer service at the
Memorial Baptist Church.
Beginning: at 4:00 o’clock, the
service will last for about an
hot'r. Using the theme, “The
World at Prayer,” the service
will be conducted by Mrs.
Ralph Gorham.
Williamston Jayeees Lead The Way In TB Survey
> > ^
Members of Williamston's Junior Chamber of Commerce led the way when the mass TB survey was launched in this
county last week. Lining up with several others the Jaycees were among the first to patronize the X-ray mobile unit
in front of Clark's Pharmacy. The Jaycees along with other organizations and individuals have been active in pro
moting the survey. (Picture by "Doc" Eugene Rice).
S. Wilson Mizelle,
Native of County,
Dies In Hospital
—*—
Fimoral Sorvioo Hold Last
TiiomIuv Aftornoon In
Boar Glass
Funeral services were conduct
ed at the graveside in the Mizelle
family cemetery in Beai Grass
Township last Tuesday afternoon
airaiuo'cloek tor ScU?"'^flson
Mizelle, native of this county, who
died in a Washington hospital last
Sunday night at 10:30 o’clock. He
had been critically ill for about a
week. The Rev. Mr. Reeter con
ducted the last rites in the absence
of his pastor.
The son of the late Seth and
Pennie Mizelle, he was born in
Bear Grass Township 75 years ago
and spent most of his life there,
moving to Beaufort about eigh
teen years ago.
Receiving a liberal education
for his day, Mr. Mizelle taught in
the schools of this county for a
number of years. He later engag
ed in the mercantile business,
managing a co-operative enter
prise for several years. The ven
ture is believed to have been
about one of the first of its type
ever undertaken in this section.
Mr. Mizelle, held in high esteem
in liis hcmiv and - udupu'd
munities, had farmed for a num
ber of years, and continued active
(Continued on page seven)
Farmers Packing
Court Room Here
Attending a special two-day
school, farmers this morning pack
ed the Martin County court room,
one report estimating the number
of pupils at nearly 300.
Specialists from State College
and the State Extension Service
are conducting the schools, and
the pupils, including men and wo
men, white and colored are show
ing much interest in the courses.
A. C. Kimrey, pointing out the
importance of the family cow, and
Dr E. R. Collins, reviewing corn
production, conducted the school
this morning. Jack Kelley is to of
fer points on swine production
and S. G. Dobson will stress pas
tures as a part of the farm pro
gram at tlie session this after
noon.
Home gardens, tobacco, insects
and plant diseases are to be dis
cussed Friday during the houi s,
9:30 a. m. until 4:00 p. m.
The roads are bad, no doubt, but
farmers managed to get to the
first classes in unexpectedly large
numbers today.
Over Six Thousand
X-Rayed In County
-y
Forty Peopkj^re '
Asked To Return
For Examination
Doriot «<wt«wwMw •
iiiin Treatment for Two
Cases In Early Stages
The (i,000th person was X-rayed
early late yesterday in the mass
TB survey now nearing the end
of its second week in Martin
County. Considering the weather
and bad road conditions, the sur
vey has been very successful so
far. according to Dr. R F. Bell of
the North Carolina State Health
Department. However, a marked
increase in the number reporting
for X-ray is absolutely necessary
between now and the end of the
| survey on Saturday of next week
if the project is to prove really
effective, it was pointed out.
Approximately forty persons
who have had X-rays made are
being asked to report to the coun
ty health department offices in
Williamston for further examina
. tions, and it was learned tlu"s'
morning that two persons have
been advised by the doctors to rc
| port for sanatorium treatment as
early as possible. The identity of
the victims was not disclosed, but
it was learned that neither of
them suspected any trouble.
Through yesterday, the several
mobile units had X-rayed 6,032
subjects, 1,482 of them since Mon
day, as follows: Tuesday, Feb
ruary 3, Williamstbn, 345; Rober
sonvillc, 215; and Hamilton, 132;
on Wednesday, February 4, Rob
ersonville, 318; Williamston, 307;
and Smith Brothers’ store, 165.
A change in the schedule for
next week was announced today
when it was learned that the pulp j
mill is suspending operations for
a few days.
Units are at Williamston, Rob
ersonville and Hassell today. On
Friday and Saturday of this week,
units will be at Williamston, Rob
ersonville and Oak City.
Since the pulp mill will be clos
ed next Tuesday, the unit sched
uled to go there will be detained
in Robcrsonville that day. How
ever, a one-day stop will be made
just outside the gate at the pulp
mill on Wednesday, February li
from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. and mill
workers and their families may
have their X-rays made Other
units will be stationed at Wil
(Continued on page eight)
REOPEN MONDAY?
v. — _ . i .
Plans arc going forward for
the reopening of all the
schools in this county next
Monday, it was announced by
2ffief
yesterday. "Unless snow or
sleet falls between now and
then, we plan to reopen the
schools next Monday," the
county superintendent said
this morning. It was admitt
ed, however, that if attend
ance figures fall as much as
30 percent or more, the
schools will be closed again.
In an effort to make up the
five days lost this week, it is
possible that a Saturday
school schedule will be adopt
ed, but such a schedule will
be placed in effect as a last re
sort to get the children out of
school by early June.
Runs Off Rivvr Britl^r
Yrstrniay A flornoon
■■ -
Losing control of his 1947 Pack
ard, Mcsrop Tourigian, 332(1 Rich
mond Street, Philadelphia, did an
about face just this side of the
river bridge yesterday afternoon.
After making the turn-around, the
ear skidded down the embank
bent and had to be pulled out by
a wrecker. The driver, his wife
and two children were not hurt
and no damage was done I
Monthly Reports
Filed In County
—•—
Monthly reports submitted a
few days ago by county officers
reflect fairly large cash receipts
in several departments, income
establishing a new record for
some items.
Clerk of Court L. B. Wynne
turned $2,888.34 into the treasury,
including $2,528,60 from the coun
ty recorder's court, $27,3U from
from miscellaneous items.
Handling hundreds of papers,
including deeds, deeds of trust,
marriage licenses, easements and
an increasing number of crop
liens and chattel mortgages, the
register of deeds office turned
$860.95 into the county treasury
during the month of January. Ap
parently more people are borrow
ing money this year than last, of
fering crop liens and mortgages
as collateral.
Serving a larger number of
claim and delivery papers than
usual, the sheriff’s office reported
$202.20 collected for the county
treasurer last month.
In his monthly report, Tax Col
lector M. L. Peel stated that $189,
301.79 of the $233,406.97 levy for
1947 had been collected. All but
$4,132.48 of the $207,102.92 of the
1946 levy had been collected as of
January 31. Only $1,754.80 of the
$189,571.09 levy for 1945 has not
been collected, the tux man stated
in his report.
There’s a drop in crime activity
in the spring months, and a de
crease in revenue from the coun
ty courts is to be expected during
the next several months.
Paralysis Fund Drive Near
Its Goal In Martin County
The annual Infantile Paralysis
Fund drive was reported nearing
its goal in this county today,
Chairman L. B. Wynne announc
ed. It was admitted, however,
that most of the main sources of
income had been canvassed, that
the drive would have to maintain
its pace if the $2,600 goal is reach
ed.
With the schools closed and
road conditions almost impass
able, the drive canvass has been
delayed, but most of the reports
are in, the chairman stating this
morning that $2,157.18 had been
collected and reported The drive
is now $442.82 short of the origin
al quota
Several additional replies have
been received to the direct mail
appeals, boosting the individual
contributions to $879.75. Collec
tions received in Robersonville’sj
'Trio Theater amounted to $87.71.
No collections were taken in the
local theaters, and no report has
been received from the Hamilton
Theater.
The coin receptacles at Everetts
netted $12.01, and $.71 33 was de
posited in the coin collectors at
Robersonville.
So far the white schools have
collected and reported $958.20 as
follows: Williatnston, elementary,
$513.10; Robersonville. $185.00;
Jamesvilie, $116.63; Farm Life,
$112.47; and Hassell, $31.00.
The colored schools so far have
raised and reported $114 48, as fol
lows; Robersonville, $46 78; Wil
liams, Lower, $14; Hamilton,
$19 20; Everetts, $10.50; Jumes
ville, $10; Whiehard-James, $8;
and Jones, $6.20.
Eight coin collectors in Wil
liamston raisc-d $55.70.
Juries Drawn For
Two-Week Term
Superior Court
Fifty-seven Persons Culled
This Week; I,is! In
ehnles Two Women
Fifty-seven persons, including
two women, were drawn by the
Martin County Commissioners in
regular session this week, for jury
duty during the two-week term of
the Martin County Superior
Court, convening on Monday,
March l,r>. No names of colored
citizens were drawn.
Twenty-seven citizens, all men,
were drawn for service during the
first week, and thirty persons, in
cluding the two women, were
drawn for the second-week jury.
Both of the women, Mrs. Edna
Laughinghouse and Mrs. W. C. .
Manning, are residents of Wil
liamston.
Names of the male citizens
drawn for jury duty follow:
First Week
Jamesvillc: C. C. Martin, H. H.
Holliday and J. C. Kirkman.
Williams: Joe J. Johnson, Sr.,
and Vernon Griffin.
Griffins: W. T. Roberson, Julius
L. Revels, N. T. Daniel and Lester
J. Griffin.
Bear Grass: Seth Bailey, C. B.
Harrison, J. A. Wvnne, Jack Rog
erson and B. W. Taylor.
Williamston: Gomer G. Taylor,
Dennis Modlin, Thurman Perry,
John Ashley Hardison, Elbert N.
Manning, Dennis H. Leggett, Wil
liam Rhodes Jones and W. J. Mil
lor, Sr.
Cross Roads: William H. Taylor.
Robersonville: Bill Everett and
W. E. Everett.
Hamilton: J. G. Forbes and A. P.
Hyman.
Second Week
Jamesvillc: Bennie W. Cooper
and R. C. Sexton.
Williams: J. Herbert Moore and
W. C. Hopkins.
Griffins: W. Marion Lilley, Per
lie B. Lilley, Clifton E. Ward, John
A. Griffin and P. T. Roberson.
Bear Grass: Theodore Rogi , .;on.
and Garland Rogers
(Continued on page eight)
Scout Committee
In Meeting Here
At a meeting of the Martin Dis
trict Committee last week, Julian
H. Harrell, chairman of the Camp
ing and Activities Committee, re
ported on the plans for the cele
bration of National Hoy Scout
Week, Scout week begins tomor
row and lasts through Thursday,
February 12.
The activities will begin with
the placing of window displays in
local store windows. The Troops
m Kobersonville, Hamilton, Ever
etts and Jamesville were given
their choice of decorating a win
dow in their own town or using
..-,►* » ''*■****&****}&& ’ -'V ston. A
prize for the best window will be
awarded to the winning Troop by
Wheeler Martin, local attorney,
who has long been associated with
the scout movement in Martin
County.
All Troops in the district will at
tend Church in a body on Scout
Sunday, February 8, each in their
own town. The two local Troops
will attend together. Troop 27 will
be the guest of their sponsoring
institution, the Kiwanis Club, at
their regular meeting tonight.
Next Thursday night, Troop 29
will be the guest of the Lions Club
which sponsors it.
B. G. Stewart, leadership train
ing chairman, announced plans
for a Patrol Leaders Training
Course to be held somewhere in
the district before the council
cumporee in April. Ben D. Court
ney, organization chairman, stat
ed that plans were being made to
organize new troops at Bear Grass
and Farm Life. Claude Goodman,
chairman of advancement, stated
j that he had been working on rc
| vising the list ol Merit Badge
| counselors as well as forming a
Boy Seoul libiuiy.
K. P. Lindsley, new chairman
of the Martin District, presided
over the meeting. Others present
were Clyde Manning, D. R. Davis.
Rev. John Hardy, Wheeler Martin,
J. C. Kirkman, V. B. Hairr and C.
T. Gaines.
Held For Attack On
Edenton Taxi Driver
| SKK1) GROWKK I
--- — J
Thomas \V. Holliday ol
Jamesville, was one of three
farmers to first produce hy
brid seed corn in this coun
ty. Planting three acres last
year, the Jamesville farmer
produced approximately 150
bushels of seed corn, 100 of
which he is now offering for
sale. “That will plant about
1,000 acres,” the farmer said,
adding that he is offering free
enough seed to plant one acre
to 4-11 club members.
N. C. Symphony
Orchestra Here
Next Wednesday
—*
Speeial (loneerl for I’npils
In Aflmitmu and S«*roiul
'I'lial Cvrniny at
The North Carolina Symphony
Orchestra will appear in two con
cert:: in tlie high school auditor
ium hcfemreW^E’ccSncsuay . one ill'*
the afternoon for school children
and one that evening at 8:30
o'clock for the general public.
More than 100,000 children and
30,000 adults heard the orchestra
last season, according to Mrs.
Wheeler Martin, Jr., local chair
man of the North Carolina Sym
phony's annual membership drive,
which was completed in this coun
ty several weeks ago.
The orchestra traveled 3,600
miles throughout North Carolina,
performing 1 15 concerts in 58 citi
es and towns, Mrs. Martin point
ed out.
The musicians gave two con
certs a day, five days a week for
three solid months and received
the plaudits of every section of
the state.
The tour began with an historic
performance before the State Leg
islature in the State Capitol.
' The to-' —-r I, .i lie tour was
j made by the Little Symphony, of
23 players, who performed in
many of the smaller communities
that could not finance the Full
Symphony.
(Continued on page eight)
Native Of County
Passes In Bethel
Mrs. Lydia Cherry Thompson
died last Sunday morning at her
home in Bethel. Married for 57
years Mrs. Thompson lived her
entire life in and around Rober
sonville with the exception of the
last three years which were spent
in Bethel. She was the daughter
of the late Andrew and Louise
Cherry.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday from the home of her
daughter, Mrs. Harvey Farmer
in Uobersonville at .'1 o’clock. In
i torment was in the Uobersonville
| cemetery.
Surviving in addition to Mrs.
j Farmer are her husband, Joe
Thompson, two daughters, ivlis.
Leman Roberson of Bethel and
Mrs. Vance Bennett of Everetts;
two sons, Joe Thompson, Jr., of
the home and Nathan Thompson
of Robersonville; one brother, Nep
Cherry, and one sister, Mrs. Annie
Rooerson, both of Williamston.
-■.
Geo. Jackson, Jr.
Pleads Guilty At
Hearing Tuesday
Juslier Johnson Calls For
$2,000 Itoml for Attaek
On Janies Crumey
Pleading guilty of an assault
with a deadly weapon with intent
to kill, George Jackson, Jr., young
Washington County colored man,
was returned to the county jail
this week when he was unable to
post a $2,000 bond required by
Justice R. T. Johnson in a prelim
inary hearing held in the court
house.
His face covered with a mean
smile at times, Jackson told the
court that he had no evidence to
offer at the time.
James Crumey, Edenton taxi
driver who was nearly stabbed to
death in the island section of Wil
liams Township late in the night
of January 20, offered a detailed
account of the attack and the
events leading up to it.
“Jackson approached my cab in
Edenton late in the evening of
January 20, and asked me to take
him to Plymouth. He said he had
sufficient money to pay his fare.
He starred to get into the back
seat but 1 insisted that he ride
with me in the front, that it would
be warmer. When we reached
Plymouth he said that he lived a
short distance away, and we con
tinued to a dirt road. The road
was in such bad condition that I
told him it would be impossible
to travel it,” Crumey said.
Continuing the taxi man said,
"Jackson then asked me to carry
him to the home of his grand
mother who lived near James
ville, agreeing to pay the differ
ence in fare. During the mean
jtime, Jackson asked how was the
it was not as good as it was when
the base was in Edenton. When
i we reached Jamesville I asked
Jackson lmw much farther it was
i to his grandmother’s, and he said
it wasn't very far. A few miles
j out of Jamesville we stopped and
i turned into a side road, Jackson
I explaining that his grandmother
; livid in the second house on the
left. The road was in fair condi
tion and we started down it, and
i told Jackson that the houses
I were a long way apart.
' When we reached the second
house I turned in and opened the
door to see how to back around.
When I opened the door and look
ed out, Jackson drove his pocket
I knife into my neck.” The victim
did not describe the wound, but
Ins jugular vein was cut and he
| almost bled to death before he
could drive to Wiiliamston. Stop
ping at the police station, Crumey
. was removed to the local hospital
I where he spent several days, his
1 condition being regarded as criti
cal for thirty-six hours.
"Continuing his evidence be
fore Justice Johnson, Crumey said
that he turned just in time to
ward off another blow, that he
j caught Jackson’s wrists and strug
gled for life. Hr told me, I'll fin
ish you off,’ and he leaned over
and bit my forehead, making a
bad wound there.”
Losing strength rapidly, Cru
luey added, “I edged my way to
the side of the car and fell out,
(Continued on page eight)
Operations at several indus
trial plants were suspended
this week following; the sleet
and snow storm of last week
| end. The Wells-Oates and
H’illiamston Lumber Com
pany plants have been idle
this week and while they
plan to reopen soon, no de
imile date has been fixed. |agjjjf|
Its wood supply about ex
hausted, the North Carolina
Pulp Company is planning to
close down for an indefinite
period beginning next
day, it was learned uaef
ly here this morning.