North Carolina Newspapers

THE ENTERPRISE IS READ B! OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT! FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE THE ENTERPRISE IS READ B! OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT! FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK VOLUME LIII—NUMBER 6 William at on, Martin (Jaunty, North Carolina, Thursday, January 19, 1950 ESTABLISHED 1899 Guard Unit About Really For Federal Inspection On 24th -o More Than 10(1 Men Sijrne<l l p By Organization: 80 Pass Physical Test Martin County’s newly formed National Guard unit is almost ready for federal inspection, lead ers said early today. Corning here yesterday, Captain Henry V. Reid from Headquarters of the 252nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group of the National Guard, said he was very much impressed with the or ganizational work so far, and voiced the opinion that the tem porary armory at the old muni cipal water plant should meet government specifications. It was explained that the inspecting of ficials would be mainly interest ed in armory facilities and in the battery records. Work on the temporary quarters is progressing rapidly, it was learned. So far 101 men have signed up for duty in the Guard. Eighty eight have taken the physical ex aminations and eighty passed the tests. Other young men interest ed in joining the Guard are ask ed to contact Elbert S. Peel, Jr. At the present time there are no definite plans foi1 further mass physical examinations, but if a sufficient number of additional men are interested, it is likely that arrangements for another mass examination can be made before federal inspection. Officers, named by the spon soring committee, are awaiting orders today to report to State Guard headquarters in Raleigh tomorrow for their physical ex aminations. Several men have shown in lerest in the full-time job of ord nance repairman which is to be treated when ail equipment ■ is made available The job, how ever, has not been filled and others interested in it are asked i (Continued on page six) Several Cases In Justice’s Court - Justice Chas. R. Mobley hand led six cases in his court here dur ing the past few days. Charged with an assault with a | deadly weapon, Lafayette Pears idl was bound over to the county court under bond in the sum of $100. H. C. Spruill, drunk and disord- 1 erly, was taxed w ith $8.85 costs Charged with false pretense, Ivey James was required to reim- I burse the Employment Security j Commission $12.50 and pay $5.85 j costs. Drunk and disorderly, John I Raw ls of Beaufort County was re quired to pay $9.85 costs. Jesse Rascoe was taxed" with; $7.85 costs for being drunk and down. Stella Andrews, charged with false pretense, was required to re fund $8 to the Employment Se- ! curity Commission for Compensa tion unearned and pay $5.85 costs. A third defendant, charged with false pretense, died some time ago, scoring a victory in death over the law. Local Lions Will Invade Goldsboro -n Williamston Lions are making extensive preparations for invad ing Goldsboro next Tuesday when the clubs in this district hold their mid-winter convention in the Wayne capital. Forming a motorcade, the Lions are leaving here that morning at 7:30 o'clock, accompanied by the Williamston High School Band, Miss Angela McLawhorn, who is to represent the club in the dis trict beauty contest, and Miss Letitia "Tish” Welch, who will ride the local club’s float in the big parade, beginning at 10:00 o’ clock. The motorcade, with es cort, is to include a special bus for the band, truck for the band instruments, and a goodly number of automobiles. Special Lion club emblems are being prepared for the band mem bers to war on their caps. Two-Day Extension % School For Farmers | PUBLIC MEETING | vt A proposal to extend the town limits will be discussed at a public meeting in the county courthouse here next Monday night at 8:00 o’clock, and all interested citizens from within and without the town are invited to attend, ask any question and discuss the plan. It has been reported that petitions have been circulat ed, calling for a vote on the proposal. The people of the town and those just outside owe it to themselves to study the prob lems at hand and make cer tain how much longer already overburdened public services can be maintained and how needs vital to the health of all can be provided. Prisoners Of War To Get Benefits Martin County had quite a few men who were held as prisoners of war in foreign countries dur ing World War II and who are now entitled to certain benefits under the Federal War Claims Act of 1948. Unfortunately some of the young men died before they could be liberated, and it is point ed out that surviving relatives may be entitled to the benefits. Claims forms are now in the hands of Edgar Gurganus, Martin \ County service officer for the North Carolina Veterans Com mission, and he will be glad to as sist eligible claimants in prepar ing the forms at his office in Wil liamston. Former prisoners of war may receive $1 for each day of impris- i onmenf on which the enemy fail ed to provide adequate food. Un der certain conditions, civilian in-j ternees may be entitled to $60 for each month of their internment. •o. Building and Loan Stockholders Meet •—*— The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Martin Coun ty Building and Loan Association wiil be held here in the office of Wheeler Martin, secretary, Mon day morning, January 23, at 11 o’clock. Stockholders of the organiza tion have been given a special in vitation to attenri the annual n.eeting of the institution and participate in the election of of ficers and hear a report of the condition of the association which has now grown to be a million dollar organization. Drops Dead While Working In Yard —— John Simmons, 49 years old and a well-known painter here, drop ped dead while working in his yard.across the road from Sunny j Side Inn about 10:00 o'clock last Tuesday morning. Death was at tributable to a heart attack, County Coroner S. R. Biggs said. Funeral services are being con ducted this afternoon in the Black Swamp Church and burial will follow there. Surviving are his widow, the former Madeline Simmons, and four children. •» Annie Rooney, Popeye, Blondie, and Little Miss Muffet join the March of Dimes ► » ■■■ Specialists From State College To Lead Discussions Large Crowds Expected for Two-Day Discussions Be ginning January 26 A two-day extension school for farmers and other interested citi zens will be conducted in the Mar tin County courthouse beginning Thursday morning, January 26, at 9:00 o’clock. Top specialists in the various fields of agriculture will conduct the discussions and large crowds are expected to at tend the meetings, including one Thursday night at 7:30 o'clock. Similar farm sessions held in the county last year were well at tended, and much good was^deriv ed from the discussions. Dr. W. C. Shaw of State College Extension Service, will open the school Thursday morning with a discussion on weed control, a topic that is certain to interest every progressive farmer. Following Dr. Shaw’s discussion, Mr. Chick Parrish, poultry specialist, will discuss poultry problems. Thursday afternoon will be de voted entirely to tobacco culture, diseases and other problems re lating to the crop. Dr. R .R. Ben nett will be in charge of the pro gram beginning at 1:00 o’clock that afternoon. Thursday night at 7:30 o’clock, one of the most timely topics,, sweet potatoes, will be the meet ing theme. The program that night is to be featured by the awarding of special prizes to win ners in the 1949 sweet potato con test conducted by the Martin County Yam Growers Association. One of the winners of the contest, it has developed, is the champion sweet potato grower in the entire nation. The young man was a bit late in getting his records in, and the delay literally robbed him out of the championship title and a free trip to Chicago, Anyway, he is receiving special awards and a free trip to New York. Mr. H. M. Covington, a recognized auth ority on sweet potatoes, will be in charge of the program that evening. He will show pictures (Continued on page six) Hearing Friday In Assault Case Walter Wade Carson, 24-year old Bethel man charged with criminally attacking Janet Bow ers, 17-year-old Bethel High School girl, will be given a pre liminary hearing in Greenville tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 o’clock, according to information reaching here. The assault is alleged to have taken place near Greenville on the night of January 7. Carson surrendered to Pitt County offic ers the early part of last week and continues in the Pitt County jail. The victim was treated in a 1 Tarboro hospital, reports reach ing here stating that at least two; blood transfusions were necessary for her. The case is already attracting j much attention in this section, re ports stating that Attorneys Clif-1 ton Everett of Bethel and Bert; James and Albion Dunn had been employed by the defense, and that! Attorneys Elbert Peel of Wil- j liamston and Clay Carter of i Washington would assist the pro-1 secution. Daily Attendance In Local Schools Past Four Months Fifly-iiine Pupils Absent Eaeh Day On Average During Period ♦ ' 1 - The number of pupils absent each day on an average is almost large enough to claim two addi tional teachers, Principal B G Stewart said this week following a review of the figures for the first four months of the 1949-1950 term. Up until last week the local schools had enrolled 1,047 pupils. From September 20 to the Christ mas holidays, 21 pupils moved out of the school district and nine teen moved into the area. Since Christmas seven others moved away and nine moved in. At the present time, the schools here have a membership of 1,019 pupils, an increase of about 25 or 30 over the membership figures recorded a year ago. On an aver age, 958 pupils attended the schools each day, leaving 59 un accounted for. The attendance was only 94.2 percent of perfect. Commenting on the absences, Principal Stewart said that many of them were traceable to farms where the little folks were held at home to help harvest the crops. One-third of the absences were due to sickness of the children. Commenting further, the prin cipal said. “Most parents keep their children in school unless there is a definite need for their help ai home and on the farm or because of illness. We still have a few parents who impose upon their children’s education," the principal said, explaining that the parents kept them at home to provide more spare time for themselves. "It is these children and those who remain at home due to lack of interest who cause us much concern and who make up the great part of the list of re peaters,” the school man declares, adding that repeaters cost the State $100 a year each. East Carolina Man To Address P.T. A. —<$>— An address by Dr. A. D. Frank, chairman of the Department of Social Studies at East Carolina Teachers College, will be a feat ure of the January meeting of the; Williamston Parents-Teachers As sociation to be held in the Giam mar School building Monday eve ning at 7:30 o’clock. Di. Frank will talk upon the subject of “World Citizenship.” He is regarded as an interesting speaker and has been in much demand as a speaker by various clubs and organizations in this section of the state. lie is a vetei - an of many years of teaching and lecturing at the college at Green ville. Commission Case Workers In Meet —«“•— Field representatives and case workers for the Commission for the Blind in this district are con cluding a two-day meeting here today. Mrs. O. S. Anderson, field representative for the commission in this district, is in charge of the program. Those attending are Mrs. Mae: Campbell, field representative of Wilmington; and the following case workers, Miss Winona Gra ham of Roanoke Rapids, Miss Im ilda Townsend of New Bern, Miss Bernice White of Elizabeth City, Mrs. Esther Stone of Wilson, Miss Jennie Manning of Bethel and Mrs. Miller of Williamston. Fourteen Cases Heard In County ; Court on Monday j Two Jury Trials* Hold Court In Session Cntil I,ate In Afternoon -» After handling a near record number of cases the week before, the Martin County Recorder’s Court, in regular session last Monday, worked until late after noon before clearing its docket of fourteen eases. Two jury trials prolonged the activities, and fines dropped to the lowest figure— $200—in many months. Compara tively few spectators were in the court. In the case in which William Quincy James was charged with drunken driving, the jury delib erated the greater part of one and one-half hours before finding the defendant guilty. Fined $100 and taxed with the cost, James ap pealed to the superior court and bond was fixed in the sum of $200. Arnold Modlin, Enoch Gardner, Wheeler Warren, Elwood Everett, Julius Manning and A. L. Smith served on the six-man jury. Pleading guilty of operating a motor vehicle without a license, William Clifton Lawrence was fined $25 and taxed with the costs. Pleading not guilty of speeding forty miles an hour in a 35 mile speed zone, James Long of Wil liamston was adjudged guilty. Judgment was suspended upon the payment of the costs. Charged with Jiastardy, Oscar Depreast Staton was sentenced to the roads for six months, the court suspending the road sentence up on the payment of the costs and $3 a week for two years for the support of the child. John Moff Gomber, pleading guilty of operating a motor ve hicle without a driver’s license, was fined $25 and taxed with the costs. Charged with violating the li quor laws, Oscar and Amanda Biggs carried their cause before a jury and were found not guilty. It was reported that the defend ants had a mighty close call, that only an all night wedding feast next door saved them. Officers j found several gallons of liquor in the Biggs home on the old Staton j farm near Williamston, but the defendants declared that the cele brants at the wedding feast car ried the liquor there to support the spiiit of the occasion Jurors serving in the case were, Julius Manning, Jimbo E. Newsom, El wood Everett, A. L. Smith, Willie J Knox and Arnold Modlin Pleading guilty of bastardy, Eugene Council was sentenced to the roads for six months. The load sentence was suspended up-! on the payment of the costs- and the payment of $U a week during twenty weeks for medical services and support of the child. After twenty weeks, the payments are to be made at the rate of $3 a week for the child. Neither denying or admitting his guilt, William Henry Harris, charged with entering and receiv ing, wijs sente need to the roads for six months, the court sus pending the road term for two years, and the defendant is to vio late no criminal law during that time. Withdrawing his appeal, Levi Dixon was directed to appear be fore a Robersonville justice of the (Continued on page six) Continues Quite III Folloiving Operation -^ Mr. W H Williams, local man, continues critically ill today fol lowing an operation* in a Rocky j Mount hospital yesterday morn ing. TVlSi. LUCS A •LASTiD IDJIT, 6UABOIM& * Mill CKAnOH | AW. PO*>*vW. SULV.'-TWlS MAT BOV « PillSD OM£G AM' I JUST K.AMTSD TO MAMS SUSS TMEV SSACHSD noUNOMTIOM SA«LV!, VOc1* COtJT»'»UT<X TO TMfr "IBl MAIICH OF DIMES W»u. ADMIT >Ou II H /<! ^TO TW£ 60EATffiT JhOa/ On EAUTh COMfc On POusS - V\t AcL C*nT ) --T Be ADrDffS, SuT C4N v— m play a papt in ^ —-^mmaef Tme nation J O F16HTIW6 90U0/f Construction Valued At $400,000 In 1949 Fifty-Three New Homes Are Built Here Last Year Nine Commercial Struc tures VinilI in Period Cost About $117,000 ■ » Williamston’s building boom, starting in the first postwar year, maintained itself and went on to set a new record last year, ac cording to a report just released by Building Inspector G. P. Hall. Building permits, representing es timates except in those cases where contracts were entered in to, were issued to fifty-three home builders. Thirteen permits were issued during the period for repairs to homes Nine new cbm nercial structures were either completed or started in 1949, and hermits were issued for repairs on seven commercial structures. Despite the addition of fifty three new homes, living condi tions are still a bit crowded, and homes and apartments are still at a premium. The value of the fifty-three new homes was estimated at $253,500, the estimates ranging from a low of $1,500 for rental units to $14,000 for individual residences. Repairs to thirteen homes were estimated to cost $45,700, the cost ranging from $150 to approxi mately $22,000. The nine new commercial structures were estimated at $117,650.00. Most of that amount is represented in the new hos pital now well under construction on Liberty Street. Other build ings figuring in the commercial group are a storage house for the Marvil Package Company, and a shipping center for the Martin County Vain Growers Association on Washington Street. The cost ranged from $600 to around $100, 000. Repairs to seven old commerc ial structures were figured at $19,940.00, Inspector Hall said in his report. The yeai possibly recorded the largest construction volume than any other period in the history of the town, equalling that in sev eral towns two to three times larger than Williamston. While 1950 will hardly see the building boom maintained on such an extensive scale, it is ex pected that home construction will go forward, reports stating that a goodly number of families plan to build their own homes during the year. Two Young Boys Attack Trainmen --O— Engineer M. H. Richardson of’ Portsmouth and Fireman J. M Hailey of llobgood were fired upon by a young boy when they ‘ drove a Coast Line freight train aver the highway crossing on U. S. Route 64 between Roberson ville and Everetts about 2:30 o’- | clock yesterday afternoon. Using a bullet rifle, the youth, accompanic d by another boy, j tired on the cab, breaking the window beside the engineer and missing the man by a matter of a few inches. Stopping their train in Robot- i sonville, the trainmen reported ; the attack to police there, and they with county officer.-: started : m investigation. No arrests had , Oee nreported early today. HONEST, MASH - 1 PEEL LIKE DANCIN', TOO CAUSE I KNOW EVERY DIME WE SAVE IS GONNA HElP SAVE LIVES YA, WHEN WE I JOIN THE MARCH Of WM*S | FIRST CHECKS )I First checks, representing overpayments of national life insurance by members of the armed forces during the last war, were received in the county early this week. The first voucher, amounting to approximately $250, went to Pete Fowden in Williams ston, his co-worker, “Pud din' " Cooke, declaring that tne owner "salted it down" with a ton of salt. The checks are coming in to the county at the rate of about a dozen each day, the last being scheduled for de livery about next June. Sweet Potatoes Move To Market Sweet potatoes arc moving in quantity from the local market to several of the big centers, re ports stating that the sweets, packed under the trade name, “D; ppm’ Honey’,, are meeting with favor, and that repeat orders are being received. The brand is matching those established on several of the big markets years ago. While several of the markets continue dull due possibly to the unusually warm weather, the de mand fur Martin County yams continues fairly good. Shipments are moving from the local mar ket to Philadelphia, New York, Bridgeport and Providence, and other shipments will start moving into the Middle West shortly, it was stated. Arrangements are being com pleted for handling potatoes for individual farmers, and those in terested in shipping are directed to contact tile organization offic ials at the shipping center on Washington Street near the Dixie Peanut Company plant. Chicken Brooder Wrecked By Fire Starting when a three-burner oil stove, fire wrecked a chicken coop and burned up u number of biddies on Thelma Street near the Wells-Oates Lumber Company plant on East Main Street here yesterday afternoon at 2:45 o’ clock. The fire was burning rapidly when discovered, but firemen brought it under control in a mut ter of minutes. The loss was negligible, fire men reported. -o I\o Report Received On Alexander Autopsy -* Performing an autopsy in an el fort to determine the cause of Mr. I. L. Alexander’s death near Jamesville the early part of this month, Dr. Strauss, Norfolk pa thologist, yesterday had not an nounced his findings, it was learn ed here today Asked about the report the pathologist in a tele phone message said that he had not completed all the laboratory tests and mentioned no definite time when the- report would be made available. | NKW YORK IU1I* v I j Walking away with top honors in the 1949 sweet po tato conest conducted by the Martin County Yam Grow ers Association, five young county farmers are leaving Monday, January 30, on a free trip to New York City. The trip winners are, Lewis Gor kin, Dallas Cox, William Hardison, David Gorkin and Jack W'oolard. Other winners in the con test will he awarded prizes 1 (luring the special extension 1 school in the county court house on Thursday, January 1 20, it was announced. {1 Officers \\ recked Number of Liquor Plants Recent I v j I ho I.aryr- Copji.-r Kellies Vre Fonu*! In One l)is Iriel Last Week Thouglit to have suspended op erations right after the holiday season, manufacturers of illicit li quor are resuming their work on a fairly large scale, according to leports coming from the county's enforcement division headed by Officer Joe H. Roebuck. The of ficer would not comment on busi ness prospects un the illicit liquor front, but he admitted that the operators were off to a fairly good start. Unofficial reports indicate that the price continues down ward, that demand is weaker as a result of a general tightening-up on the general economic front. After failing to register any success in their raids conducted the first few days of the new year, Officer Roebuck and his as sistant, Deputy Roy Peel, scored on the 6th when they wrecked a 50-gallon capacity oil drum still in Hamilton Township. There was no mash at the plant, and business had the appearance of being "rotten" there. Resuming their operations on Tuesday of lust week, the offic ers found and captured a 100-gal lon capacity copper still in Bear Grass Township, not so very far from the Sweet Home communi ty. They wrecked six fermenten and poured out 600 gallons of su gar mash. Returning to the same* township the following day. the raiders cap tured another 100 gallon coppe! kettle and poured out 200 gallons of better-thap-average mash or beer. The next clay, the raiders went through the same township to wreck an old oil drum still and pour out 200 gallons of rot-gut beer along the Beaufoit-Mau'tin boundary line, Switching back to Hamilton Township on Friday, the officers tore down a plant equipped with a 30-gallon oil drum still and three fermenters. The plant was located about three miles north "f Hassell. The officers reported that they poured out 150 gallons of beer there. o Jaincsvillc Works For Improvements Pi ■ sive citizens of Jamts villc and community are pushing a general improvement program, late reports declaring that much progress already has been made. Given the land by Mrs. J. E. Smithwick, the town is develop ing a 90-plot cemetery near the southern town limits, near the Gaines and Kirkman Mill on Highway 171. A deed to the pro perty was reported to have been executed yesterday. Recognizing the need for better fire protection in the town and community, members of the Ruri tan club and others are receiving donations to finance the purchase ot a fire truck suitable for use in the rural areas. Donations are be ing made by property owners within and outside the town, it was explained, -<{> Badly Hurt In Fall From Auto Gary Stalls Joyner, two-and one-half-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward K. Joyner of Birm ingham, and grandson of Mrs. Evan Woolards of Williamston, was badly injured Sunday after noon in a tail from a moving car driven 1a Mr s. Woolard. Mrs. Woolard, Mr, and Mrs. Joyner and their young son wore driving to Plymouth to attend the tuneral of Mrs. Joyner’s father, Mr. J. A. Stalls, Just this side of Dardens, the hack seat door if the -ur came open and the small boy ell out. He was carried to the Plymouth Clinic-, and, after an examination there, he was remov 'd to a Rocky Mount hospital, ’till a patient in the hospital, the ittie victim was said to have suf ert-d a brain injury.