* THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BT OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT! FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE THE ENTERPRISE IS READ B1 OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT! FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEK1 VOLUME LI—NUMBER 61 Williamaton, Martin County, North Carolina, Ttiesilay. August 3, l*) HI ESTABLISHED 1899 I,eat Prices Open • Strong On Border Markets Tuesday —*—— Larly Reports Point To An Average Of $53.00 Per Hundred Pounds —o Tobacco prices opened strong on • the Border markets this morning, early reports pointing to an av erage -ranging between $55 and $56 pci hundred pounds. Reporting the opening, Leman Barnhill and Carlyle Langley, local tobacconists, stated that sonie of the markets would easily average $56, that the lowest priced pile they saw during the first hour • of sales was 35 cents and the highest 67 cents. Sales were com paratively light on most markets, but the quality of offerings which were mostly lugs was good. Near ly every one of the domestic com panies were buying. The United States Crop Report ing Board indicates a production in South Carolina and on the bor i der markets of 201,275,000 pounds. This would be almost 60 million pounds or about 23 percent below last year and the smallest crop since 1943. Total flue-cured har vest was placed at 1,010,346,000 pounds — also approximately 23 percent less than in 1947. The crop yield was estimated at 1,177 pounds per acre this year as com pared with 1,131 pounds the pre • vious year. This incsease, if real ized, will off-set to some extent the approximate 28 percent reduc tion in acreage. A contributing factor *o the greater yield is that a large number of farmers have used more fertilizer and set plants closer together than normally. Unbke 1947, plants were more plentiful this year. Good grow ing conditions prevailed over most of the South Carolina and Border North Carolina Belt; however, a very dry, hot June in some sec tions caused premature ripening and cut the yield per acre consid erably in these areas. Recent rains over most of the dry fields have ™ i are saui tu be oi vc*iy good quality. The general opinion of most tobacconists is that this year's crop will be better than last year's both as to quality and weight . The loan rates of the Commod ity Credit Corporation have been increased in most instances from $1.00 to $8.00 per hundred; how ever, rates for some grades, most ly lower qualities, remain un changed. The grade price loan rates for "tied'’ flue-cured tobac-1 co average 43.9 cents per pound, which is 90 percent of the June 15 parity price. For ‘‘untied” tobac co, the loan rate for each grade is 4 cents per pound below the rate for "tied” tobacco of the same grade. The loan rates for ‘tied” offerings range from $9.00 for k nondescript to $70.00 for choice le mon wrappers. Receipts of the Stabilization Corporation last sea son for this particular type amounted to 42,761,000 pounds or 15.6 percent of net sales. Total flue-cured receipts for all types last season amounted to 232,280, 000 pounds or 17.8 percent of net sales. On July 1, 1948 there were 1, W 550,000,000 pounds of flue-cured tobacco stocks on hand with (Continued on page eight) Native Of County Killed In Race! Bennie Leggett, native of this county, was fatally injured while I riding as a jockey at the Cumber land, Maryland, track on July 25 and died the following day in a Baltimore hospital. He was 22 years of age and was a son of Bis coe and Elsie Ayers Leggett of Brockville, Maryland. Born in Poplar Point Township, he moved with his parents to Maryland when he was a child and was a jockey for about four years, riding many winners dur ing that period. Funeral services were held at the Maryland home last Thurs day, the funeral of his uncle, Ma rion A. Leggett, being held in this county the following day. Surviving are his parents, wid ow and one child and a sister, Agnes Leggett. CITIZENS OF TOMORROW 1 he Enterprise takes much pleasure in presenting another in a picture series of this section's "citizens of tomorrow". So far none lias figured prominently in public affairs, fc it as fu ture citizens they have a tremendous assignment to handle in a muddled world. Certain they’ll do a better job than has been done or is being done. The Enterprise presents the youngsters as the one great hope for the future. Top row, left to right, Diana, nine months, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Cowan, Willianiston; Andy, thirteen months, son of Mr. and Mrs. N. W. Johnson, Oak City; Velma Gray, seven months, daughter of Mr. and Mrs G. H. Harrison, Jr., Williamston; Bot tom row, Mylinda Kay, four months, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Holliday, Williamston; Janice, one year, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Bailey, Robersonville; and Ashley, sixteen months, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Hardison, Williamston. | HARVEST ^---* Even though it has hardly reached its peak, the 1948 to bacco harvest is moving along rapidly in this county, several farmers having already com pleted the task. Farmer Dock Hardison of Griffins is believ ed to have led the parade when he harvested his last curing early last week. Far mer Delmus Kogerson of Bear Grass is now curing his tips and possibly a dozen other farmers harvested the last of their crop a tew days ago. While some farmers have harvested only their first and second curings, the task is well over hall complete, and by the end of this or early . —. *■ . -na m 'mm jali » • The t|ualit> of the crop is “pretty good,” but in most instances the poundage is ex pected to fall below that of last year. No Ban Clamped Down Against the Spread of Folio No (lascs I line Been Of fie inlly Ke|»orle seven. ! ter of Deeds J. Sam Getsinger lust month to the following: White | James T. Stevenson and Emma Moore, both of Williamston. Julius Earl Edmondson, RED J, i Williamston, and Carlean Ed j monds of Williamston. Elbert S. Griffin and Amanda 1 Faye Rogerson, both of Williuins ton. Staton Roberson Williams and Ada D. Andrews, both of Rober | sonville. Milton Lyman Eason, Jr., oi l Farmville, and Jessie Reid White of Williamston. Rex F. Edmond of Tillery and Mrs. Fannie Whitfield of Rober sonville. Bfenjumin Urnee Bunting and Sally Hardison, both of Williams ton. Colored William R. Bell and Josie Lee Tyner, both of Williamston. Emmett Thomas and Mildred Coffieid, both of Williamston. Lenton Blango of Blounts Creek and Annie Bell Woolard of Wil liamston. Joseph Slade of Robersonville and Sarah Lynch of Oak City. George T. James and Maiinda Peel, both of RFD 1, Jarnesville. Plum Rogers of Williamston and Hartie B. Rhodes, of RFD 3, Williamston. Garfield Moran of Williamston and Martha Nicholson of RFD 2, Williamston. William Theodore Spruill and Lucille Outtc. bridge, both of WiJ liamston. -- Barn Wrecked By Fire In County —.—. Believed to have started when timbers just over the furnace be came overheated, fire wrecked a tobacco barn on the J. S. Ayers farm m- r Hamilton about fi:45 o’clock Sunday evening The thir teen hundred sticks of tobacco in the large barn were damaged, pos sibly ruined, the damage to the born and tobacco approximating as much as $1,000. The tobacco was comparatively green and did not burn readily. Williamston’s fire department an swered a call and it was possible to save most of the barn. I Marion Leggett Dies In Hospital A t Fayetteville Funeral Friday for Veteran Of World War I In Pop lar Point Towibliip Marion A. Leggett, veteran of World War I and a retired farmer, died in Veterans' Hospital, Fay etteville, last Wednesday after noon at 3:30 o’clock after a long period of declining health. 11 is condition had been serious for about three weeks and he was re moved to the hospital on July 23. Heart trouble was given as the im mediate cause of his death. The son of the late Jesse and Goldie Pierce Leggett, he was born in Poplar Point Township 52 years ago on April 6, 1890, and spent most of his life there. He farmed until about three years ago when failing health forced his retirement. He was first married to Miss Julia Belcher and three chil dren, a daughter, Mrs. Helen Mer ritt of Roanoke Rapids; and two sons, William Leggett of Speneer ville, Maryland, and Rudolph Leg gett, U. S. Merchant Marine now in France, survive that union. Following the death of his first wife he was married to Miss Cleo Lilley, one daughter, Miss Frances Leggett, surviving that union. Also surviving are six brothers, Ernest Leggett of Hamilton, An dy, Jack, Charlie, Mayo and Bis coe,^iJl of Poplar Point; and three sisters, Mrs. Albeit Gray of Wash ington, Mrs. F. L. Whitfield of Wilson and Mrs. Viola Owens of Macclesfield. Mr. Leggett was a member of the Frie Will Baptist Church. He was active in American Legion circles for years. Funeral services were conduct ed at the home of his brother, Andy Leggett, Friday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock by Rev. Stewart B. Simms, Baptist minister of Wil liamston, and Elder W. E. Grimes. Interment was in the Stanley Leg -Vn' I i i i ' ' \ 1 ■ t ownship where a detail from the John W. Hassell Post of the American Legion had charge of the graveside rites. Veterans Receive Over I! Billions -*-— A Veterans Administration re port issued a short time ago said that the organization had given out 14,300,000 '‘benefits” totaling $8,223,000,000 during the four years of the G. I. bill. In detail, it was stated, some 7,000,000 vet erans received readjustment al lowances, including $2,584,000 for unemployment and $483,000,000 in selfemployment allowances. More than 5,000,000 received Education and training benefits totaling a bout $5,000,000,000. And 1,252, 000 bought homes, farms, and businesses with the aid of govern ment-guaranteed and insured loans. Interest on these loans cost the government $140,000,000 and defaults cost another $6,000,000. Of the nation’s 14,800,000 World War II veterans, many have tak en advantage of more than one type of assistance. Other thous ands have applied for no benefits whatever. At the end of May, 503,176 veterans were receiving readjustment allowances and 2, 333,776 were in training under the G, I. bill. The bill, properly known as the Servicemen's fie adj-ustment Aei, became effective June 22. 1944. r ROUND-UP v With the exception of a flare-up in Oak City last Sat urday night, all was fairly quiet on the crime front in this county over the week end. Only six persons were arrested and detained in the county jail, one for assault with a deadly weapon, two for drunkenness and disorder ly conduct, and three for pub lic drunkenness, it was re ported that one or two per sons were battered in fist fights, but no arrests were re ported. The six persons arrested were colored, their ages rang ing from 20 to 32 years. SCHOOL DAYS v. The summer holiday for ap proximately 7,000 Martin County school children will come to an end this month, the board of education in ses sion this week fixing the opening date for all the schools on Wednesday, Sep tember 1. In fixing the sched ule, the board allowed two j days for Thanksgiving. The i Christinas holiday will run from December i7 to the 30th. The dates are subject to change, the board pointing out that the nolio epidemic or weather conditions could alter the schedule. ABC Enforcement St ills In the County Total of Klneu Plants Torn Down Diirint: Tin* Past Thirty Days Rearing its ugly head during the hottest spell of the year, the illicit liquor manufacturing business re reived telling blows during the month of July, according to a re port filed this week with the Mar tin County Alcoholic Beverages Control Board by ABC Enforce ment Officer Joe 11. Roebuck. Working in the sweltering weather, the enforcement officer and his deputy, Roy Peel, wrecked eleven distilleries, capturing sev eral fairly new copper kettles. The officers poured out 15 gallons of raw liquor and 1,150 gallons of sugar beer most of which graded little better than low-grade hog slop. Two persons were arrested for manufacturing the illicit stul'l and were fined $200 in addition to receiving six months road sen tences. Officei J. H. Roebuck said it was one of the most active months on the illicit liquor front in some time. A climax in the illicit bus iness .. •• a* in* -amm* days oi last week when four plants were wrecked. On July 27, the officers in this county, assist ed by ABC officers from Pitt, raided in Bear Grass and captured a 50-gallon capacity copper kettle and poured out 100 gallons of su gar beer. Two days later Officers Roe buck and Peel went into the Has sell section of Hamilton Township and toie down a 50-gallon oil drum used for a kettle and pour ed out 50 gallons of nasty beer. Last Friday an oil drum still was wrecked in Williams Town ship. The officers poured out 100 gallons of low-grade beer. That afternoon the officers went into Bear Grass for the second time, capturing a 50-gallon capacity copper kettle and wrecking three fermenters. They poured out 100 gallons of sugar beer there. The plant was comparatively new, Of ficer Roebuck suid. I aken III While Riding Bus Here Suffering what wa.s believed to have been an attack of acute indi gcstion while riding a charter bus from Manteo to her home, 507 K. First Street, Cherryville, Mrs. M. H. Hovle was removed from the carrier to a Biggs Ambulance In re Sunday afternoon Unable to find a doctor available here imrnedi ately, Ambulance Driver W E Puce carried the patient to the Robersonville clinic where ‘lie was treated. Reports reaching here stated that she was soon able to continue her ti ip. During the latter part of last week, a workman had one of Ins lingers nearly cut oil, and when he could not find a doctor locally he made a quick trip to Windsor for treatment. I* rum i n mi I Mi nislrr Able To Hr Out ,if>ain C onlined to hi home for almost a year falling victim to a stroke ol paralysis, Klein li S Cowin, prominent county minister, is able to be up and out much of the time now. Although he has to have the assistance of cithers when walk ing, he enjoys getting out and rid ing around, looking over the crops und meeting old friends. Parking Meter (Jrdiance To |Go Into Effect On August 9 -<*> Meeting in regular session this ! evening at 8:00 o'clock. Williams i ton's town commissioners are ex ' petted to pass a parking meter or dinance with the possibility that I it will become effective on Mon day. August 9. In addition to pass ! ing the ordinance, the commis sioners arc expected to adopt cer j tain rules and regulations for the ! operation of the meters. The met ! ers have been installed and eheek j od and are ready for operation; in | fact, a few persons, mostly strang | ers, have been "feeding" the met I er coin boxes. , Before the meters were pur chased, town officials explained that the meters would be installed primarily as the best possible re medy for the acute parking prob lem in the business districts. In accordance with that policy, the officials are expected to depend on the cooperation of parkers foi the enlorcement of the meter or dinancc. It is likely that tickets for violations will be issued, di retting the violator to report to the police department and pay the parking fee but no fine or cost. If the system is abused, possibly more stringent measures will be considered for enforcement. No meters were placed directly in front of the post office, the board expecting the public not to abuse the five-minute parking privilege there. The meteis will be in use from 8:00 a. m. until 8:00 p. m. each day ; except on Sunday and holidays. It their operation does not prove successful, they will be removed at the end of six months without cost to the town. During the meantime, it should be remember ed that they were installed only after business house operators had levered them 47 to 9 and in the ! hope ot relieving the parking pro blem in the business districts. Prisoner Breaks Hip Of Arresting Officer Edmond Early Is Carried To Duke Hospital Sunday -o Willi** James Dickens, 22, Il«*l«l 111 Jail Vi illinnl l’i i\ ilefje of Itoml -• While acting in the performance of Ills uuty, Officer Edmond Earls suffered a bad fracture of his right hip when attacked by Willie James Dickens, 22-year-old color id man, m Oak City last Satin day night. The officer, suffering considerable |>am, was removed to treatment, first reports reaching here stating th it he will be an in valid for months. Chief Early, advised by a color ed woman that Willie James Dick ens was carrying a butcher knife and that he had threatened to kill her husband, went to Lorenzo Bryant s piccolo place in Oak City and questioned Dickens. Reports declare that Dickens acted con trary and insulted the officer. Searching Dickens, the officer found a Bowie knife in his bosom, and placed the man under arrest. Dickens was said to have resisted, but the officer moved hint along, fil ing at his prisoner’s feet. When they reached the railroad, Dickens turned abruptly on the officer and knocked him down. The prisoner took the officer’s blackjack from a pocket, but even though his hip was broken the officer managed to hold on to Dickens’ hand and save himself from blackjack blows. It is thought the officer suffered the hip fracture when he was knocked down. Officer Early called for help and several white citizens, includ ing Donald Earl Bunting and Fred Barrett, started to him, but one Hillard Knight, 26-year-old Ne gro, attempted to take charge. He was quoted as saying to them while the prisoner was on top of the officer, ‘Stand back and let them alone. Bunting and Barrett and the others moved on in with out. turthej interference, look 0< ' i.d pi,4 ! hint in jail At Inc direction of the officer who continued helpless on the ground, Knight and WilJjc Joe and Moses Bunch were arested, placed in the Oak City jail arid later removed to Williamston by the sheriffs de- i partrnent along with Dickens. No formal charge has been j lodged against Dickens who is be- ! ing held in jail pending the out- ] come ol the officers condition. | The tv/o Bunch men, who alleg edly cursed and asserted that white people were trying to run their business, stand charged1 along with Knight with disorderly (undue,. It is possible that other charges will be brought against them billowing an investigation now in progress under the direc tion of the sheriffs department. In a note to the sheriff, J. C. Johnson, Oak City mayor, advised (Continued on page eight) PKAMIT I'HICKS -* Government support pea nut prices for 1948 have been slightly increased, according to an unofficial report coming Irom the l'. S. Agriculture Department. The support price for the Virginia type has been in creased from 10.1.') cents to 10.3!> cents per pound, and the guarantee on the runner type wus upped one-half of a cent front 9.25 cents to 0.75 cents i per pound. Good quality peanuts last season commanded prices i above the support figures, hut *.• * a. *• U# time nearly wrecked the mar ket and the price support schedule was not applicable in numerous cases. County Board In \ Short Meeting Monday Morning Oroup Iharil Krw Kcporls \n Hair Itrforr Noon -* Meeting in regular session Mon-, day, tiie Martin County commis sioners completed their work and adjourned before noon. No newr business was considered and very little tune was required to handle the routine calendar. A jury list was drawn for the September j term of the superior court. Most of the time was spent hearing de | tailed reports from the various de j partment heads. All members of j the board, Messrs. Joshua L. Col | tram, J. H. Edwards, W. M. Harri son. C. A. Roberson and R. A. Haislip, were present. lax relief ordt rs were granted the following: Farm v i Ilf - Wood wind Lumber Company, $68.85 on property listed in error in James ville Township. Melvin Stall, Jamesville, $2.94 listed in error. L. Boston, Jamesville, $5 31 listed in error The $7.56 account held against Claud Parker of Rober sonville was dropped when it was pointed out that lie had died. Reporting to the commission ers, Tax Collector M. L. Peel stat ed that $222,536,58 of the $233, 406.95 tax levy for 1947-48 had been collected, leaving an unpaid balance of $11,404.65. All but $3, 378.99 of the $207,294.63 levy for 1946 had been collected, that there was an unpaid balance of $1,645.58 on the 1945 levy which amounted to $ 189 637.93. In in report to the board, Clerk ol Court L. B. Wynne said that in come I rum the county s recorder's court amounted to $2,135.60 in July, including $1,230.00 in fines. Miscellaneous income amounted to almost $200. Register ot Deeds J. Sam Get singer reported an income for his office in the sum of $575.65, in cluding $484.65 for registering con.-e; amounted to $64 and the is suanc" ot delayed birth certifi (Continued on page eight) (Irowdnl Pockrls Be tore justices Of IY:ice Monday -<* SpmtuI I)«* f< * 11«I ;i 111 - lloukril For Tri m- < hi Koail- lt\ jii.slirr JoIiiisoii Going on a .strictly cash basi . local justices ol the peace courts last night started invoking road terms. Convinced that the day ol easy credit had vanished, several defendants sent out hurried SOS calls, but still there was some doubt this morning it the cash would be presented ahead ol the prison wagon. One ol the defend ants, it was brought out, had been allowed sixty days to meet the terms of an old judgment of the court, but it was declared he had been too busy hanging around the “clubs” to get out and meet the obligation. Beating board bill: appeared to be • pasttime at Eugene Bonds' home, and one report stated that several defendants were called to answet Justice If. T. Johnson di rected Ernest Stallings to pay Bonds a $7.50 board bill and the costs O/' go to jail for thirty day - He arranged to have the bill and costs financed, but maintained he did not owe that much board. Called up for further judgment in the ease in which he was charg ed with disorderly conduct, Wil liam Stokes was sentenced to the roads for thirty days. Stokes had failed to pay costs imposed at a previous session of Justice John stons court. William James of Jumesville was fined $5 for public drunken ness, olu.s $8.50 costs. James was doing right well in court until he admitted that he had been up lor a .similar offense the week befoie in Jamesville. W. C. Chapman, drunk and dis orderly, was sentenced to jail for thirty days. The judgment was suspended upon the payment of the costs and on the further con ('"ontinued on page eight) FiU 'ii Committee \ (lends Meeting n The Martin County Farmers Home Administration Committee attended a one day training meet ing in Halifax last Thursday. This committee, composed of William .1 Beach of Hamilton, Garland H. For be oi Everetts, and R. J. Har dison of Williams, heard J. B. Slack, late director, Vance E. Swift, chic I of the Farm Owner ship Division, S E. Wilson, state field representative, and others explain the FHA program for 19-49, It was stated that the FHA is set up to help low income farmers and Vi terans who cannot get ade quate credit at a reasonable inter est rate from other lending agen cies. The responsibility of the Coun ty Committee is to investigate the eligibility of each farming family who applies to the Farmers Home Administration for assistance. The FHA will not make a loan until the committee certifies in writing that m their opinion the applicant is eligible and m need of the ser vices provided by the Farmers Home Administration There are many other duties of the Com mute" such as certifying the larrns to be purchased under the FO pr< gram, advising the county personnel in regards to problem eases. Reviewing the progress of those presently indebted to the FHA and make recommendations to the county personnel as to how they e-in give the most assistance to the farm families with whom they are working. Forte farm families in Martin Countv have purchased farms un der the provisions of the Bunk head-Jones Farm Tenant Act, Seven,eon these families, al though gi v eil 40 v ears in which tl» pay, have ahead} paid for their* farms in lull. One hundred and ninety tix other farm families in the County are receiving credit ind supervision for production iiid subsistence loans through t.hu Farms Home Administration.