Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / June 9, 1949, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK -r.r-5 VOLUME LII—NUMBER 46 Williamaton, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday, Jana 9, 1919 ESTABLISHED 1899 Jury Frees Alleged Drunken Drivers In The County’s Court Fantastic Story By Defendant Is Accepted Monday Fines and Forfeitures Total1 $370; Defendants Get Road Sentences -e> Working on what were describ ed as narrow margins, juries in the Martin County Recorder's Court freed two alleged drunken drivers at the session of the tri bunal held last Monday. One of the defendants offered a fantastic story, and it was accepted at its face value by the jury. A second defendant in a similar case came through with a safe hit even though two strikes were against him. James Joseph Whitley, charged with drunken driving, told the court that he met Patrolman R. P. Narron on the highway, that he (the defendant) became so frightened that he reached down and drank one-half pint of liquor, throwing the bottle away. The de fendant further explained that when he was carried to the Rober sonville police station, he became “higher and higher.” He was found not guilty by the jury. Facing a similar charge, Mills Elwood Vann carried his case be fore a jury. He was well helped with witnesses and possibly the state did not build an air-tight case, but three arresting officers said the man had been drinking. The defendant, it was reported, admitted he had had a bottle of beer about 4:00 o'clock in the aft ernoon of the day he lost control of his car and crashed into the Roanoke River bridge. Defense witnesses said the man wasn’t drunk. Vann, while fishing in the river, was the victim of a boat sinking in the Roanoke that after noon but was rescued by Fisher man Barber. It was said at the time that Vann and his companion almost turned over the rescue boat, and showed no interest in re covering the outboard motor from the sunken boat. Soon after the accident, the defendant was seen in the middle of the highway put ting on his trousers. The man was found not guilty of the drunken driving charge. Serving on the juries were Mack L. James, N. C. Everett, Jr., Osca>' N. Roberson, J. R. P. Griffin, Asa J. Hardison, Chas. Peel, F. W. Hoi liday, Billie Peel, H. H. Holliday, M. R. Gurganus. A third drunken driving case, scheduled for trial before a jury Monday, was continued when it was ruled there was not sufficient time to try it without a night ses sion. The case goes over until July 11. Lindsley Allen Poole is the defendant. The court, handling no record number of cases, was in session until about 5.00 o’clock that after noon, and quite a tew were pres Other proceedings: Pleading not guilty of assaulting his wife, Hess Manning was ad judged guilty and was sentenced to the -oads for six months The road term was suspended upon the payment of a $25 fine and costs, and the defendant is to pay the prosecuting witness's hospital bill. (Continued on page eight) ! POTATOES v-> While some are still debat ing the value of irish potatoes as a stock feed, Martin Coun ty farmers have moved for ward in a big way to claim some of the government sur plus spuds. It is understood that orders have been receiv ed for ninety-five carloads in this county. Apparently few potatoes have been declared surplus in this section so far. According to the best information to be had, only two or three cars of the surplus spuds have been delivered to farmers in this county. Japanese Beetles A Real Menace To State Agriculture —«— Farmers Advised No! to Re ly On Agencies To Con trol The Beetle Japanese beetles have become such a menace in some sections of North Carolina that farmers and other property owners in these areas were warned today to exer cise their own control measures instead of relying on public agencies to check the invaders’ de predations. C. H. Brannon, head of the En tomology Division of the State De partment of Agriculture, said that infestations have become so wide spread that the point state-feder al control program is insufficient to cope with the problem. “Those engaged in this pro gram,” he continued, “will have tc concentrate this year on reducing infestation at loading points and preventing spread of the insects tc new areas. Farmers and other property owners will have to use individual control measures tc combat the beetles on their owr land. Detailed information as tc the proper methods may be ob tained from county agents or from the Agricultural Extension Ser vice at N. C. State College, Ral eigh” This summer's war on Jap beet les already has gotten under wav in the vicinity of Mt. Olive, one oi the heavily infested areas, Bran non announced. A powerful mist blower machine is now in opera tion there spraying roadsides wit! a mixture of DDT, kerosene anc xylene. The U S. Department oi Agriculture furnishes the machine and operator, while the State De partment of Agriculture suppliei the labor and materials. The mist-blower later will b< moved to the Pantego area and an other one will be sent to the Ashe ville - Hendersonville sections Brannon said. A large-scale scouting program will get under way this month tc lirei'-imine Cn. extent ol^jPWff"ffT | festation and which areas are ir I most serious need of treatment. I The mist treatment is used dur i inc the early summer, when Jap | ant-se beetles are in flight. Durint this period they feed on fruit anc leaves, and are capable of heavj j destruction when they exist ir | (Continued on page eight) -o STOP LIGHTS Williamston’s two stop lights, out of order for the past several weeks, will be back in operation the latter part of (his month, the com missioners were advised at their meeting last Tuesday evening. A new light on order for months, is to be shipped next week for the Haughton-Main intersection, and repairs for the signal at Watts and Main are to be made just as soon as parts are received, it was ex plained. Engineer Plans To Locate Here Fred Hardison, Martin Count; young man who was graduate! from Duke University with thi bachelor of science in civil engi neering, is planning to locate ii Williamston, according to reliabli but unofficial information receiv ed here a few days ago. A son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J Hardison of Williams Township the young man has fully equippec himself for civil engineering. Ii addition to his excellent scholastii record, young Hardison starred a I a member of the football team. Old Town Board Clears Deck And Couple Row Out Call for Review of Salary Schedule and Delay Appointments -»— Williamston’s town commission ers, twQ of them reporting for their first meeting, began a new term last Tuesday evening and there was little doubt but the en tire group realized there was tough and difficult sledding ahead for the next two years. However, a spirit of optimism prevailed and there is little doubt but what the town is certain to have a progres sive government continued. Retiring from the board, Ben D. Courtney was out of town, but John H. Gurganus, another retir ing member of the board, worked to clear up some old business, gracefully bowed out after ex plaining that he had worked in what he thought was the best in terests of the town during the past two years and wished the new board success. W. O. Griffin and Leman Barn hill were sworn in as the two brand new members, David Moore having been appointed a short time ago to fill the position made vacant by the death of Commis sioner G. H. Harrison. The three men subscribed to the oath of of fice along with N. C. Green and K. D. Worrell who survived the recent primary. Robt. Cowen suc ceeded himself as mayor, and the oaths of office were administered by Justice John L. Hassell, former mayor who wished them a success ful administration. I The closing of Gurganus Street ! from Broad to Rhodes Streets, the adoption of a taxi ordinance and a brief discussion of the mayor’s sal ary was the last order of business for the old board. The street was legally closed and the tax ordi nance was adopted, but action on the mayor’s salary was held in abeyance to be given considera tion later. The mayor is paid a salary of $50 a month while the commissioners receive $10 a month. Mayor Cowen, after the books ! were closed on the old administra I tion, expressed his appreciation to I the retiring members of the board J for thc:r unselfish work and in terest advanced in behalf of the town and its people during the past two years. After subscribing to the oaths of office, the new board buckled down to work and perfected its organization in part. K. D. Wor rell was elected mayor protem to succeed himself, but the appoint ment of a clerk and heads of other departments, including police chief, fire chief, attorney, superin tendents of water and streets was delayed for a while. A schedule of salaries for all town employes was called for by the new board as its first official act. Cooperating with the Boosters' Club, the board ruled out the use of parking meters during ‘‘Promo tion Days" on June 23, 24 and 25 Parking will be free for the spec ial event. A contract for the annual audil was let to F. E. Butler, CPA, foi $300. The tax*coxiector reported that .m?-* r.afi.the levy for 1948 had been collected that all paving assessments were paid up to date. The commissioners will meet in special session next Tuesday eve ning when preliminary budget fi gures will be reviewed. No pre liminary estimates have been of fered for the next fiscal year. -$ Little Change. Reported In Sheriff's Condition •A patient in a Washington hos pital since May 23, Sheriff C, B Roebuck continues about the , same. He was given a blood trans I fusion earlier in the week and he . showed some improvement after . that, but last reports state that he , was not feeling so well. --a Mr. Daniel Suffers A Stroke at Everetts Home •—« , Mr. Oscar Daniel, prominent | Everetts citizen, suffered a stroke t of paralysis at his home last : Thursday. Late reports from his ; home indicate that his condition is satisfactory. Crop Compliance Surveys Falling Behind Schedules Measurements for checking to bacco and peanut acreages are go ing forward very slowly in this county, the office of the farm agent announcing yesterday that hardly more than 200 of the 1,660 farms had been checked to date. The work is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the 24th of this month. Commenting on compliance with acreage quotas, a representa tive of the office said that quite a few peanut growers had planted in excess of their allotments, that only a few had exceeded their to bacco quotas. A penalty on excess peanuts has not been officially announced, but it has bden proposed to tax the quota excess at about 40 percent of the established price, which, based on the 1948 figure, would be around four cents a pound. It has born reported that excess tobacco will bo penalized at the 1 rate of about twenty cents a pound, and the farmer who ex ceeds his quota will not be allowed ' to participate in the support price program, except to the extent of 60 percent on the excess. Briefly ! stated/ farmers can't make a go of it unless they are within the re quirement/. It has been Suggested that the support price be denied those far mers who plant peanuts in excess of their quotas. The PM A or old Triple A has no j authority to advise farmers to de stroy surplus acreages, but the farmer still has the privilege of acting on his own and destroying the excess acreage if he wishes to do so. THE RECORD SPEAKS . . . Motorists on Martin County highways last week made a safety record compared with their activities in the corre sponding week of last year. The following tabulations offer a comparison of the ac cident trend: first, by corres ponding weeks in this year and last and for each year to the present time. 22nd Week Accidents Inj’d Killed Dam’ge 1949 2 0 0 $ 100 1948 4 0 0 1,375 Comparisons To Date 1949 49 24 2 $12,205 1948 60 22 1 11,005 County Leader In “CROP” Plan -<*> According to a recent report re leased by Rev. Wayne McLain, di rector, Martin County was listed among the leaders in supporting ''CROP" (Christian Rural Over seas Program) last December. On ly seven counties offered more food of greater values, the report shows. The 36,106 pounds of food con tributed by the farmers, house wives and others in this county were valued at $2,566.68. Martin County’s part in the pro gram is shown in bold relief when compared with the contributions reported by such large and weal thy counties as Mecklenburg which gave food valued at $2,278. Thirty counties offered nothing at all, while the other seventy gave food values well over $150, 000, but some of that group gave as little as $6.00. The report declares that the project has been completed, that many persons were kept from starving. It also declared that the need for food is still great in India, China and parts of Europe, that possibly a similar project will be undertaken sometime this year. Fix $L0(K) Bond -Jn AmulijCase ——-• Willie Moore, charged with criti cally stabbing Alec Bunch, was placed under a $1,000 bond for his appearance in the superior court week after next by Justice R. T. Johnson at a preliminary hearing held this week. Unable to furnish bond he continues in the county jail. Entering into a minor argument with Bunch at a hot dog counter on Washington Street here, Moore, his knife open, waited for his prey just outside and drove his knife into the man’s stomach. Bunch turned and ran, and Moore follow ed, stabbing him in the back. The victim was hospitalized here fin several weeks and was only able this week to attend the hearing. Handling one other case, Justice Johnson fined Luther W. Respass $5 and taxed him with $7.85 costs on a drunkenness charge. Justice J. L. Hassell handled two cases in his court this week. Wood row Latham and Bell Cherry, both charged with being drunk and disorderly, were each fined $10 and taxed with $6.50 costs. Coy L Norris Dies At His Home Here After Lon" Illness Funeral Service Held \ es terday At (hit roll In Washington County Coy L. Norris, retired farmer and respected citizen, died at his heme here on South Biggs Street early Tuesday afternoon follow ing a long period of declining health. He suffered an attack about two years ago, and had suf fered with a heart condition since that time. His condition had been serious for about three months. The son of Joseph and Mary Howell Norris, he was born in the Spring Green section of this coun ty 58 years ago on November 11, 1890, and lived all ins life in this county except a few years spent in Tarboro and Lenoir County. He had made his home in Wil liamston for several years, mov ing here from Bear Grass Town ship. A diligent and dependable farmer, he was active until de clining health forced his retire ment about two years ago. When a young man he was mar ried to Miss Allie Browning, and his second marriage was to Miss Naomi Lee, both of this county. Surviving the first mairiage are two daughters, Mrs. Oscar How ell and Mrs. Bernice Council, both of Williamston, and a son, Charlie Warren Norris, also of William ston; and by his second marriage, a daughter, Little Miss Bettie Lee l Norris, of the home; a foster daughter, Mrs. E. Van Welton, of Williamston; a sister, Mrs. J. F. Cox, of Plymouth, and seven grandchildren. Mr. Norris was a member ol the Free Will Baptist Church for more than thirty years, joining at I Cedar Grove near his boyhood I home and changing his member jship to the Mt. Olive Church in Washington County when he j made his home in the Angetown section. His pastor, Rev. Duffy Toler, conducted the funeral in the Mt. Olive Church yesterday afternoon and interment was in the Ange Cemetery in Angetown JdadiJoostec I Ox* Late contributions made by thi colored schools and colored citi zens boosted the Cancer Fund to tal to $1,711.90, an amount abou* $200 greater than the quota as signed the county, Mis. (.'lias. I Harris, commander, announcec this week. Contributions amounting b $89.27 made by the colored citi zens and not previously reported follow: Eastern Star Lodge, $5 Household of Ruth Lodge, $9; Wil liamston School, $15.89; Roberson ville School, $5 09; Smithwicl Creek school, $3.04; Sandy Point Church, $1.50; l)t Elk Lodge, $5; Rogers School, $3 White Oak Springs School, $2 Gold Point School, $5.50; Bigg Schools, $3.63; Salsbury School $201; Dardens School, $4; Coir boxes, $3.04; Hamilton School $1.54; Cross Roads School. $2; Bo wers School and coin boxes, $1.46 Parmele School. $10.90; Whichard James School, $4; Jones Schools $4; and Everetts School, $3.40. |Graveside Service In Cemetery Here For J. G. Stalls, Jr. ---- Voirn^ Man Vius killed In Action In Italy On October 10, 1943 Graveside services will be held in Woodlawn Cemetery here Sun day afternoon at 2:00 o’clock for Pfc. John Green Stalls, Jr., who was killed in action in Italy on Oc tober 10, 1943 Rev. Stewart B. Simms, pastor of the Memorial Baptist Church, will conduct the service, and full military honors will be accorded the late soldier by a detail from the John Walton Hassell Post of the American Le gion. Burial will be in the family plot. He was born in Tarboro twenty six years ago in September, 1922, the son of John Green Stalls and Bcttie Brown Stalls, both natives of this county. When quite a young man he went to make his home with Mrs. Ethel Brown at Pembroke, N. C., and lived there until he entered the service at Port Bragg on October 30, 1939 The young man, anxious to serve his country when war clouds first started spreading over Europe, came here to get his mother's per mission to join the army. Alter completing his training and just before going overseas he was married and his widow, Marie Stalls Hammons of Brookhaven, I Mississippi, survives. Others sur j viving are, his father of Leggetts, I N. C.j a sister, Mrs. Bill Gardner | of Charlotte; two brothers, Cullen i Stalls of Portsmouth and former ; ly of Williamston, and Willie | Stalls of Portland, Oregon, j At the time of his death he was attached to Battery B Observation Battalion, Field Artillery. Details of his untimely passing could nev er be learned definitely, but it is believed he perished along with several others when they were struck by a German aerial bomb, death following almost instantly. His body is the thirty-first to have been brought to this county from battlefields overseas for final burial in native soil. The body reached here yester day afternoon from the Brooklyr j Depot and will lie in state at the Biggs Funeral Home until time for I the service Sunday afternoon. i IClub Members Co To Camp Monday Sixty-one Martin County 4-11 Club members and their supervis ors plan to leave from the count) I agricultural building next Monday morning not later than 10:0( o’clock for a week's outing a Camp Manteo on Roanoke Island The camp will be closed the fol lowing Saturday. * The campers are: Sarah Hand son, Cynthia James, Joan Man ning, Linda Bullock, Jeanette Moore, Emma N. Everett, Betty J Green, Ester Tyler, Kenneth liar ris, Patricia Bowen, Betty J. Ter ry, Patricia A. McLawhorn Wayne Ezelle Briley, Rebecct Jean Goodrich, Patsy Barrett Joan Carrol Coltrain, G. II Forbes, Jr„ Barbara Jean Bullock Barbara Ilarrell, ^Emma^(5. Pad gette, Barbara Martin, Johnnie Price, Ross Knowles, Jimmii Knowles, C. A. Martin, Julian Mai Leggett, Johnny Leggett, Glorii Taylor, Darrell Tyre, Caroline 1 Wallace, Janie Cox, Wallace M Smith, Jerry Nicholson, Mar) Alice Warren, Michael Edmond son, Lcwana Edmondson, Johi Li I ley, Richard E. Raynor. Belt) Lou Griffin, Jack Woolard, Re becca L. Ilaislip, Harvey Williams Glenda Faye Wells, Janie Cherry | Raymond Bennett, Anne Speigh I Whitfield, Janycc Whitfield, Joyct Whitfield, Vivian L. Pate, Gordor Hopkins, Lester Earley, Eli/abetl Donald, Helen Waters, Thelmi Gurganus, Bu/zy Worsley, Josepl Williams, Corrone Bryant, A. D Coltrain, Bdly Edmondson, aiu James Taylor. Divorce Action Filed In the Superior t our Annie H. Ewell turned to tht Martin County Superior Court a few days ago for an absolute di vorce from Willie Ewell. The ac tion is based on two-year-separa tion grounds. New Board In First Meeting This Week Hears Plan Outlined f NO BIDDERS J Martin County bought in alt tlie real estate offered for sale j at public auction this week for unpaid taxes. One or two individuals inquired about several tracts of land, but they did not bid, one report stated. It is understood that fore closure proceedings will be in order from 12 to 18 months after the first sale, that where the property was offered for sale a second time this year, i tax foreclosure suits will be instituted within the next few weeks. Organization In Everetts Monday I ov ii l ax Kale There Fixed At $1 on $130,000 Assess ed Property Valuation Holding their first meeting, Ev eretts’ newly elected mayor anil commissioners last Monday eve ning in a meeting held in Ayers' store effected an organization and handled much business during the course of a two-hour discussion. Woolard Peel, mayor, and Jesse Keel, H. S. Hardy, Johnnie E. | Mobley, George W. Taylor and H. j M. Ayers, commissioners, sub [scribed to the oaths of office ad ministered by Justice C. B. Rid dick, the retiring mayor. Presided over by Mayor Peel, the meeting named Commissioner Ayers clerk to the board, and a treasurer will be appointed at a special meeting to be held on the I third Monday night of tins month, it was announced. A committee was named to em ploy a police officer for the town, and a report is anticipated at the special meeting, Commissioner Ayers said this week. Reversing the policy calling for little activity on the town’s gov erning front in past years, the newly elected board plans a con structive program during the next two years. One of the first orders unanimously supported by the new officials calls for a general elean-up movement. An ordinance was passed making it unlawful for anyone to dump trash or refuse in the baeklots. To finance its operations, the j town is adopting a $1 tax rate on ! the $100 assessed property valua 1 tion. Based on a valuation of ap proximately $130,000, the new i rate, 40 cents higher than the old 1 one, will raise about $1,300. The tax revenue will he supplemented by income from other sources, and give the officials about $2,000 to finance the town’s operations. Ei (Continued or ‘P&0& eigl.it) Effective July I, regulations will j be in force for the operation of | local taxi cabs, in accordance with j a town ordinance adopted at a | meeting of the commissioners last Tuesday evening. A privilege license of $50 for each taxi was imposed. In re turn, free parking space will be provided the taxis at the bus ter minal. A uniform fare of 35 cents 1 anywhere within the town limits was fixed for one or two persons 1 and ten cents for each additional ■ fare over two. 1 The business will be under strict regulations adopted and ap proved by a board committee and representatives of the taxi opera tors. Licenses are subject to be revoked for several causes, includ ing the violation of the liquor laws. The new operating code is expected to prove beneficial both to the patrons and the operators, it was declared. Tentatively Map Program For The Next Two Years Pining Project Require ments Arc To Be Given Fir-t Gonsideratiou Holding their first meeting last Tuesday evening, Williamston's town commissioners briefly dis cussed a tentative program for the next two years. The meeting was one of orientation for the new members, and the big headaches will come at a special session to be held next Tuesday when budget problems will be tackled. In discussing an over-all pro gram of action for the future, the new board took immediate action to meet paving project require ments, temporarily, at least, shelv ing the pressing garbage problem, the solution of which the Woman’s Club has pleaded for during re cent months. Advised that the State Highway and Public Works Commission had agreed to pave those streets over which school busses operate, the town instruct ed the superintendent of the street and water departments to make plans for laying water and sewer lines ahead of the pavers on two | blocks in Smithwick Street from [Grace to Liberty and in Liberty Street from Smithwick to North Haughton Street. The sewer lines ■there will not or cannot be con [ nected with the present system, but it is hoped that the facilities J can be expanded some time to ac commodate that and all other areas in town. The department superintendent was also instruct ed to circulate petitions among tlic property owners for curb and gutter on tile streets to be paved. Since the commission will bear all | the expense of paving the streets, j it is believed that property owners | will agree to accept the cost of the | curbing and guttering. In connection with the project • calling for the laying of sewer lines in the two streets, the board was advised that it would cost ap proximately $25,000 to extend the sewer lines to that area where it is proposed to build a hospital. Lit ! tie was said about an over-all sew age disposal system to meet the expanded needs, but the board ad I vanci d the opinion that provisions [.should be made to meet all the j needs at one time. Tiic urgent need for adequate i water storage facilities was placed before the board, the meeting agreeing that the ground supply 1 is sufficient to meet most any | emergency except in ease of a power failure. It was pointed out ^ that a quarter-million gallon ca pacity tank is needed, that the | price, based on quotations sub I mitted about a year ago, would be around $75,000. Recognizing- tin mvd somethin.'’ ■>' i board, v II aware of the stringent ; financial situation of the town, ! discussed the adoption of a sewer ! rental fee. "There are so many "'Lo do not have the service and have to install septic tanks at their own expense, it would seem only fair for those who do have the service to pay a fee," one of the commissioners commente i. No fee (Continued nn page eight) SI UK I In a radio interview lust week, Secretary of Agricul ture Brannan was asked whether his new plan to help both consumers and farmers, h.v holding farmers’ income up and prices of their products down, is a plan to prevent "depression.” Braunun answered with one short and simple word: "Sure.” Opponents of the plan will get no aid or comfort from j that reply.
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 9, 1949, edition 1
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