THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BT Over 3,000 martin count* FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME LI—NUMBER 23 ffilliamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday, March Id, 1048 THE ENTERPRISE IS READ B1 OVER 3.000 MARTIN COUNT* FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK ESTABLISHED 1899 Grand Jury Files __ J ■ Quarterly Report In Court Tuesday Jurymen Declare They Found Offices and Prop erty In Good Condition Submitted over Foreman Jim * Peel’s signature, the quarterly grand jury report lor Martin County received favorable com ment from Judge R. Hunt Parker in open court Tuesday, All offices and various public properties were found in good condition, re commendations of past juries car ried out and reports properly fil ed. • The report reads, in detail, as follows: We passed on all bills of indict ment presented to us. We visited the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court and found it to be in excellent condi tion, with all guardian accounts filed. The Auditor turned over to us a report of all the monies turned in to the Treasurer by all Justices of the Peace in the county for the j past two years, and we found that all fines have been paid in, and we are attaching the auditor's report and making it a part of this report. The Sheriff's Office and Tax Collector’s Office were visited and found tt> be in good condi tion with all records up to date. We found the Register of Deeds’ Office in excellent condition and all bonds in order. We visited the office of the Sup erintendent of Schools and found it in excellent condition. We in spected the certificates in this of fice and found that all school bus drivers have proper licenses. We checked all Justice of the Peace reports and found them all filed with the Clerk of the Court and fines submitted to the Treas urer. We visited the County Jail and found it to be clean and well kept. We found 1 white male inmate and 8 colored male inmates. We recommend some paint on the window frames in the jail. We visited the County Home and Prison Farm and found every thing clean and in excellent condi tion. We visited the county schools, both white and colored schools, and found the following, to-wit: The schools as a whole are in good condition except for a few minor repairs that are needed, and Mr. Manning, the County Super intendent, has assured us that he is doing all he can to have this (Continued on page six) I Justice Hassell Hears Few Cases -o Justice John L. Hassell heard five minor cases in his court this week. Charged with not displaying proper license plate on his trailer, Gaston James was taxed with $7 costs. Melvin Godard was required to pay $7 costs for failing to stop upon enterting a highway. Publicly drunk, Henry Nichol son was taxed with $8.50 costs. Andrew Lyons was required to pay $7.50 costs for public drunk enness. Operating a trailer with im proper license, Arthur Gurganus was taxed with $7 costs. TWO-THIRDS -/ Based on preliminary re ports received this week, the Red Cross fund drive in the iVfartin County Chapter is about two-thirds complete, ac cording to Chairman C. B. Clark, Jr. While only about one-third of the amount has been actually reported, the chairman said canvassers said they were completing their solicitations and had been very successful in most in stances. To date, $746.80 has been - turned, into the .. treasprx. $597.50 by Williamslon and Slflg SO by Bear (trass. No late •••vepurtrlKiv® -bees from Jamesville, Williams and Griffins districts or the col ored -iti*ens in the chapter. i _:_a_ Ambrose Family’s New Home (Photo by Whit Saunders) | BAND FACTS | v_ Facte to bear in mind con cerning the appearance ol' the Elisabeth City High School i Rand here tomorrow after noon include: Arrival about 4:30, unload ing at Grammar School. Line of march. Grammar School grounds along Watts Street to Main, along Main to Haughton, hack along Main to Post Office block (Smithwick to Watts) where special show will be staged. After drills and march, the unit will parade to the High School for picnic supper sup plied by Band Parents of Wil liainston. (Food should be at cafeteria by 4:30.) Police will clear Post Office block after 4:30 to make room for show and the public is re quested not to use the parallel parking spaces on Main Street between Sinithwick and the Haughton Street corner so the hand can march in full forma- J tlon. Concert by visiting band at High School auditorium be ginning at 8:00 o’clock. Officers Destroy i Three Distilleries ABC enforcement officers went on another rampage along the Martin-Beaufort boundary last week-end, wrecking several illicit distilleries and capturing much equipment and material. In Griffins Township Thursday morning, Officers J. H. Roebuck and Roy Peel found a large plant running full blast, but the operat or, warned by gun signals, cleared out ahead of the officers, leaving a few identification papers and clothing. The plant was equipped with a 200-gallon submarine type still, five large vats containing al most 1,000 gallons of beer, twelve 5-gallon jugs, several lanterns, 200 pounds of sugar, 100 pounds of hog feed, and two bags of rye. The next day, the officers, aid ed by raiders from Beaufort Coun ty, raided along the boundary in Bear Grass and wrecked a 50-gal lon copper kettle and poured out 200 gallons of beer. Saturday morning, the officers from this county joined those from Beaufort for a raid along Trant ers Creek, wrecking a 100-gallon submarine type plant and pouring out several hundred gallons of beer. The raid Jed to the arrest of one or more persons and the confiscation of a liquor-laden car. Seeks Permission j To See His Child —- — Unable to set- or visit his child, Robert B. Nelson will go into a Virginia circuit court at Norfolk next Monday seeking permission of the court to see the child at1 stated intervals and ask for the | child the privilege of visiting the! father. The hearing has bcc-n iihedukd-fee#e»c-Jv5^p.T:vyl.M:... Folowing legal action in the .■ourts of this county, the mother | ■ ardiiantiil v us tod;, of the child. It was reported that the piaintitt was seeking to nave ihai-JiidgOs.t-fij-ecf k-v.v. »..■ Later pointed out that the father, is only seeking the right to see the child at stated intervals. 1 -- $1,500 Project Handled for (lasli Outlay of Less Than $(>50 Pictured above is the new three | 100m structure housing Ammie I Ambroses aged grandmother and her family of eight children and grandchildren. Given an estimat ed value ranging all the way from $1,200 to $2,000, the house, its walls covered with sheet rock and every room and the porches wired according to the latest specifica tions and modern requirements, was built with an actual cash out lay of only $646.53. All materials, including nails and hardware, cost $527.13. After nine volunteers had worked sev eral days on the house, it was de cided that it would be only fair to pay them for one day of their time, and the labor bill amounted to $60 80. Holding to their jobs without taking time out for lunch, the volunteer workers were given a free barbecue dinner, costing $10. A cook stove, costing $30.60, including stove pipe, was purchas ed and delivered to the family when it was found that the old stove could not be moved from the old shack The light bill was paid up to next December at a cost of $18. A total of $680.70 was received in contributions, exclusive of a $1.50 check written by mistake, it is certain, on a non-existent bank in Williamston. The contributor is not known locally, and in changing the name of a local bank to Peoples Bank, she failed to change the name of the town. At the present time the fund has a balance of $34.17, of which amount $32.67 is in cash, and $150 in money order made out to the grandmother. The money order is being turned over to her, and efforts are being made to provide a privy for the family with the $32.67 cash balance. If the need ed unit cannot be installed for that amount, the money will be turned over to the grandmother with the suggestion she supplement the fund and have one installed. As tor Ainmic Ambrose s appre ciation for all that has been done for her by friends and others, in cluding white and colored in sev eral states and unknown to her, the old women threw up her hands in trying to find words to express herself. But the tears of joy, trickling do vn her cheeks the night the farpily moved out of the old and dangerous shack, more adequately expressed her thanks than ordinary words ever could. The Ambrose case came to light the first time last November when Neal Coburn, a colored man, stole approximately $300 from the old woman, the money having been saved over a period of about three years to put a new roof on the house. It was suggested at the time that possibly a roof could be put on the house, but neighbors said it could not be done. The fam ily faded out of public sight until early February when an Enter prise reporter and Sheriff C. B. Roebuck went there to see if all the members of the family had lived through the big snow. It was at that time that a mem ber of the family said they got along as well as could be expect ed, with no suggestion of begging.! Realizing that the family could j hut''“possibly " “rehabilitate' ‘ jfefetf, j and convinced by reports front' neighbors and others that the fam-1 ily was worthy of aid, the sheriff and. The..En.le.rpi ise; . e mg jnde-' '!+- itof ^a)tzt o Bjf{ jvr ■;., publicised the case, suggesting that contributions were timely,' f Continued on page eight) Right Divorces ! Are Granted In Court Yesterday i Judge Says Bible Does Not Recognize Some Grounds Of Separation Action 1 Eight divorces were granted ! and a ninth action yvas thrown out ' of court Wednesday when the | plaintiff failed to appear and pro | seeute the action before Judge R. Hunt Parker. Running along at full speed, the divorce mill was delayed just a ! few seconds when Judge Parker commented on the evidence offer ed by one of the plaintiffs. Ask ed why he and his wife had sep arated, the witness said "V\e just could noi get along.” While the action may stand up under North Carolina law, Judge Parker ad vanced the opinion that such grounds for divorce are not recog nized by the Bible. | The marriage of Alice Ferrell | Perrin and Roscoe I. Perrin, Jr., was annuled when the plaintiff submitted proof tending to show that the defendant had a living wife when they were married in August, 1946. The plaintiff is a lesident of Clayton, and the de fendant wus last known to have maintained residence in Califor nia. All other divorce actions heard before the court recessed at 1:00 o'clock Wednesday afternoon un til next Monday morning were based on two-year separation grounds, as follows: Janice Saunders Robrahn against J Charles Robrahn. Mary Brown Gray against Fel ton Gray. Roberta Gorham Moore against Joshua D. Moore. Betty Mobley Lilley against W. Katcr Lilley. Christine Quick against Nelson Quick. Clyde O’dell Cowey against Jane Esterline Cowey. Esther Marie Pitt against Jesse James Pitt. The divorce action brought by (Continued on page eight) --- Robertson Rites Largely Attended j Funeral services for Mrs. Joseph L. Robertson who died at her home here last Monday morning at the age of 86, were largely at tended Tuesday afternoon, and the floral offering was an extensive one. Her former pastor, Rev. 13. T. Hurley of Stantonsburg and Rev. E. R. Shuller, the present pastor of the Methodist Church here, conducted the last rites and interment was in Woodlawn cem etery here. Among those from out of town attending the service were: Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Ellison, Sr., Dr. and Mis. J R. Ellison, Jr., and ! Mrs. Joe Gay of Suffolk; Mr. and Mrs. Tom McKim and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Talmadge Baker, Mr. and Mrs. William Harrell, of' Ahoskie; Mrs. Paul Gilmore and Mis. S. H Hatton of Norfolk; Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Pope, Jr , of Rober-1 sonville; Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Tay lor of Bethel; Mr. and Mrs. John ston Dees, Mr. and Mis. J. H. Woolard and Mrs. Parkinson of j Greenville; Mr. and Mrs. Edwin G. Moore of Durham; Mis. B. F. Mitchell, Miss Charlotte Robert-j son and Mr. Harry A. Biggs of Vir ginia Beach; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mitchell and Mr. and Mrs. W. E.' Ellison of Belhaven; Mr. and Mrs. I John H. Thrower of Littleton; Mr. I and Mrs. Ellison Goddard and Mrs. C. Thomas of Dunn; Mr. and j Mrs. W. R. Curry and daughter of Kinston; Mi. and Mrs. Henry Dav enport of Columbia; Mrs. Dennis Chesson of Roper; Mr. George Booker and Mr. Graham of Rocky Mount; Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Ander-* son and daughter and Miss Sally Robertson of Washington, Mrs. Bob Guns and son, Mrs. R. E. Cleaton, Mrs. I. E. Ready, Mrs. Sam Bunn, Mrs. Virginia Babcock, Mr. William B White, Mrs. G C.( Readford, and Mrs. Blair Gioson of Roanoke Rapids; Mrs. B. G. Campbell. Mrs. W C Jones. Mrs. S. it. Brown, Miss Miriam Ausboii, . Mrs. W^fjLMcConibs, Mrs. vs. ii. Thomas, !$nrLena Carlisle, Mrs Harry Barnhill, Mrs. A. J. Byrd, Mrs. Allie Harrison and Marion Ramsey, of Plymouth. I Making Plans For Annual Fat Stock Show Here In May Prospects Vre For Smaller Hut Better tonality Baby Beef F n tries Tentative plans for holding the annual Martin County fat stork show in Williamston on Friday, May 7 were formulated by farm leaders and representatives of the various civic and business organi zations in a meeting held here last evening in the agricultural build ing. Details are to be completed within the next two or three weeks and will be announced along with the prize list as soon as possible, J. W. Sumner, assist ant county farm agent, said. With every civic and business organization represented except the Robersonville Jayeees, the meeting advanced much interest in the event, and it is certain that all the organizations will support the show to the limit. Speaking to the group, Chas. L. Daniel, president of the county farm bureau, appealed to the civic club leaders, urging them to take more interest in the show. “In stead of supporting the farm lead ers who have been staging the event, get busy ami stage the show yourselves with the help of the farm agents and agricultural teachers and other farm leaders,” Mr. Daniel was quoted as saying. Advancing plans lor the event, the meeting named C. J. Goodman chairman of the show. He will be assisted by V. B. 1 lairr, Jamesville agriculture teacher, as head of the swine department, and John Has sell, Oak City agriculture teacher, as head of the cattle department. K. P. Lindsley was named secre tary and treasurer of the show. It is fairly certain that attrac tive prizes will be offered by the several organizations, but the rep resentatives, including E. '1'. Smith of the Oak City Ruritan Club, C. A. Roberson of the Rolj ersonville Rotary Club, E. N Mod lin of the Jamesville Ruritan Club, T. B. Brandon of the Kiwanis Club, W. T. Ross of the Williams ton Jayeees, and C. L Daniel of the Farm Bureau, explained that they would have to discuss the matter with their clubs. A second meeting of the repre sentatives or directors of the show will be held on April 28, and dur ing the meantime a booklet, carry ing paid advertisements, will be released. Discussing the prospects for the (Continued on page five) Native Of County Dies In Plymouth —®— Mrs. Bertha Hardison, 59, died at her home in Plymouth yester day morning at 8:15 o'clock. She had been in declining health for about a year and her condition had been serious for several weeks. The daughter of tin- late John and Kate Waters Gardner, she was born near Jamesville on April J, 1889, and spent most of her life there and in the Dardens Com munity before locating in Plym outh in 1940. In early womanhood I she was married to Louis Hardi- j son who died eleven years ago this 1 month. I Mrs. Hardison, highly esteemed as a friend and neighbor both in' her home and adopted communi- | ties. She had been a member of the Cedar Branch Baptist Church for a long number of years, and j the services are being conducted there this afternoon at .'i:00 o’clock by her pastor, Rev. W B Hai ring- ' ton and the Rev. Mr. Nickens, j Baptist minister of Plymouth. In I terment wil be in the Gardner' Cemetery near the old home not far from Jamesville. Surviving are twelve children, seven daughters, Mrs Hilton Forbes and Mrs. John G. Coltrain, Jr., both of Williamston Mrs El mer Mi/elle, Mrs Ronald Tetter- l ton, Mrs. Deima Harris anu Mgs' Emma Bell Hardison, all of Plym- j ouih: and Mrs. Jasper Bennett of; Everetts; five sons, Dewey Haidi-1 son of f tOiii Li 11 iYi l.- iijuinr , ' Arthur, Miir.v«'rf,"amt r B. Hardison, all of Plymouth; and one sister, Mrs. Eb Hardison, of Jamesville. Plan Special Services Each Day In Theatre Next Week As a vital part in tire Holy Week , leligious program, the Williams-1 ton Ministerial Association is! planning a series of union services in the Watts Theater each morn mg from Monday through next Friday at 10:00 o'clock. While the services are planned especially for the working people, everyone is invited to attend. Local merch ants. while not planning to close their places of business during the 30 minute services, have agreed to stagger their forces, permitting some to attend each day, it was \ announced. Following the ser : vices in the theater the ministers | will repair to the high school for | a special morning service during the five days. Speakers for the special ser vices are as follows: Monday, Rev. Stewart 13. Simms. Tuesday, Rev K. R. Shul ler; Wednesday, Rev. James I. Lowry; Thursday, Rev. .1 T. Ash ley; and Friday, Rev. John W. J Hardy. Climaxing the union worship schedule during the Easter season will be the sunrise service Sun day morning. March 2fi Rev. John L. Goff will be in charge of that service, it was announced. In addition to the union worship services, several of the churches are planning special programs at other hours during next week. A cordial invitation K being ex tended the general public to at tend all the services. I Criminal Cases Here Court Ends Trial Of Justice Tempered With Mercy Durin The Current Term -<* Five-To-Kight Years IVlaxi mum Sentence; Thieves Co On I’rohatiou After dragging along .since Mon day morning, the Martin County Superior Court completed the trial of the criminal docket shortly be fore noon Wednesday. Presiding over the two-week Parly May Boston, charged with badly assaulting his wife, wiggled ' out of court with a suspended road sentence. He pleaded guilty but at the conclusion of the state's evidence, he changed the plea to ( ne of nolo contendre, meaning hi | neither admitted the charge nor | denied it. He was sentenced to I tin.' roads for twelve months, | Judge Parker placing him on pro : bation for five years Boston is to move out of the house owned by I his wife, Sarah Jane Boston, and is to pay $5 a week for the sup-1 port of his children. Among other j things, probation means the de fendant is, I To avoid injurious or vicious I habits; avoid persons or places of, disreputable or harmful charac- ■ ter; report to probation officer as! directed and permit probation of-j ticcr to visit his home or else- ' where; work faithfully at suitable! employment as far as possible; remain witiiin specified area and not change place of residence without written consent of proha-j lion officer; support his depend ; ents; and violate no criminal law ot any state or federal govern- ^ merit, and be of good behavior. The ease charging Clara Bell Moore with larceny of $10 was nol1 prossed. The case in which Henry Lee I F, Shelby was charged with vio lating tlie motor vehicle laws was continued until the June term. The ease charging Burnice Bul lock with bastardy was nol pross ed, possibly because the prosecut ing witness, Margaret Beacham, had married. A verdict of not guilty was di rected in the ease charging Levy Jones with breaking and enter j mg the home of Harry Wynne.) The action was taken after the] state had concluded its evidence. ! George Junior Jackson, young, colored man, who nearly stabbed I Jimmy Crumey, Edenton taxi driver to death over in Williams Township a few weeks ago, was ( sentenced to prison for not less than five and not more than eight years. Jackson, without the ser vices of a lawyer, pleaded guilty of stabbing Crumey with the in tent to kill him, hut pleaded not guilty of the •'trouble.” When Jackson could not explain what he (Continued on page eight) /Wt-nts-l\‘ut lu-rn 7 «» Meet In (.olorwl Sclionl —.—<*—-— Mt*mbi ;s of the Parent-Teacher J A.. Station"'wifi n.ott in the eel ci cii Ui/.-> ; yxii'.i ing (Thursday) at ti 00 o'clock, it was announced this v/eek. All parents are asked to be present. CANDIDATE v__> VV. Tom Roberson, Griffins Township man, announced Ins candidacy this week for county commissioner from the Griffins-Bear Grass district. His announcement marks the opening of the political season in this county. Mr. Roberson explained that he decided to announce his candidacy after talking with friends, and pointed out that Griffins hail not had a man of its own as a member of (he board in fourteen or sixteen years. No other candidacies have been announced for county offices even though the time for filing ends April 17. Victim Of W reck Still hi Hospital Badly injured in an automobile accident between Plymouth and Jainesville, near Plymouth, last Friday evening. Miss Avis Jack son, 17-year-old Jamesville High School student, continues in a Rocky Mount hospital for treat ment. Miss Jackson was said to have suffered a broken left arm and a head injury. Mis, Gladys Brewer, a passenger in the car with Miss Jackson and others who were cn route to Plymouth to at tend a basketball game, suffered severe bruises and shock, but she is getting along very well and is back at work with the Ayers Elec tric Company here. The car, driven by Miss Esther Martin of Jamesville, went out of control when a tire either blew i out or went flat and the machine struck the soft highway shoulder j and turned over on its side. The victims, partially covered ' by mud, were given first aid treat- . ment in a Plymouth doctor's of fice. Miss Jackson whose home is in Dunn has been living with her sister, Mrs Edward Martin, in Jamesville where she has been at tending school since last fall. -* Paving Approach To River Bridge —<#— Delayed for weeks by bad weather, highway forces this week started paving the western ap proach to the new half-million dollat rivet bridge here. Material has been near the project site for weeks, but it was impossible to start the work until a few days ago. The sti ip is ten feet wide and eight inches deep and extends from tin- bridge around the curve, U distance of several hundred feet. Using a small mixer, the build its plan to complete the project the early part of next week Dur ing the meantime, one way traffic'! is being maintained b\ the pro ject. The strip is being laid on grade 1 and when r.nir,plated and opened! t