THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BX
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT!
PAMILE^^WICE $ ACH w*m.
THE ENTERPRISE IS READ Hi
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT!
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEE8
VOLUME LI 11—NUMBER 30
Williamaton, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday. 1 /nil l.i, 1950
ESTABLISHED 1899
Ground Breaking For New Church
In one of the first tangible steps in the movement for a new house of worship, mem
bers of the Christian church gathered on the lot, corner of North Haughton and Church
Streets, last Sunday afternoon for a special service and groundbreaking. Pictured above
are the pastor, Rev. John L. Goff, and choir members watching as Mrs. Jos, Robertson,
who holds a 55-year membership record, breaks the ground. Below, the group listens to
Rev. Elmore Turner of Washington deliver the dedicatory address.
Ten Whiskey Plants
.Wrecked In County
More Activity On
Illicit Front In
Number Of Years
Officers Pour Out Nearly
• 1,000 (iullon* of Beer
* In Five Days .
The illicit liquor business,
shoeing signs of revival on a
more intensive scale during recent
months, flowered almost into full
bloom recently just to be cut
down by ABC Enforcement Offic
er J. 11. Roebuck and Deputy Hoy
Heel with the aid of neighboring
county officers during one or two
days of the five-day round-up. Of
* ficer Roebuck, reasoning that eco
nomic conditions enter into the
picture, declared that there is
more activity on the illicit liquor
front in this county now than in
a number of years.
During the five-day raiding per
iod last week, the officers wreck
ed ten distilleries, poured out
nearly 4,000 gallons of mash or
sugar beer and confiscated cop
per and equipment.
* Starting out in Hamilton Town
ship, the two county officers
struck near Hassell, wrecking
.three nasty oil drum kettles and
pouring out 150 gallons of filthy
beer. Two of the plants were1
close together, and a third was
found a mile away.
Joined by Pitt ABC officers the
next day, the officers wrecked
two partial plants in the Stingy
Point section of Robersonville
^ Township, pouring out 150 gallons
of beer.
Returning to Hamilton the next
day, Officers Roebuck and Peel
wrecked another oil drum still
and poured out 100 gallons of
beer. That afternoon they switch
ed over to Bear Grass Township
and confiscated two copper ket
tles, one of 50 gallon capacity and
the second of 100 gallon capacity.
Four hundred gallons of beer
were spilled at the two plants.
^ The big raid was handled last
Friday when the two officers in
this county, joined by those from
Beaufort, raided along the Martin
Beaufort line. The plant was
equipped with a 200-gallon capaci
ty wood still a 20fl-gsl!on oafkcitv
cooler and a large doubler, ten
300-gallon and four 50-gallon fer
menters. There were sixteen 5- j
(Continued on page eight)
TO SPEAK HERE
v
Robert R. Reynolds, Ashe
ville citizen and Washington,
D. C„ attorney, will speak in
the Martin County court
house here next Wednesday
evening at 8:00 o’clock, it
was announced yesterday
W. A. Osborne
Died Tuesday
—*—
W. A. Osborne. well known far
mer of near Robersonville, died
ut his home there last Tuesday
night at 11:45 o’clock after a sev
eral weeks’ illness.
The son of the laie Allen and
Jane Roberson Osborne, he was
born in this county 74 years ago,
and spent all his life on the farm.
He was a thoughtful neighbor
and a devoted friend to his fel
lowman.
Surviving are his widow, the
former Miss Mamie Brown; one
son, L. R. Osborne of Rocky
Mount; two daughters, Mrs. Jack
Rouse of Kinston and Mrs. Claude
Winchester of the Spring Green
Community; two brothers, Allen
Osborne, Robersonville town
clerk, and Jimmie Osborne of
Washington; one sister, Mrs. Liz
zie Smith of Robersonville; and
six grandchildren.
Funeral services are being held
at the home this afternoon at 3:30
• i » y .. r». *v tt» ....
b wj ‘vCV, jii L. i
son, Baptist minister, assisted by
Rev, J M. Perry. Burial will fol
low in the Robersonville Ceme
tery.
1
Heavy Docket In
Jwlieei' Cenrt
i In Past Few Days
—«— •
; Several Cnaea Sent l o The
Other Courts For
Final Aelion
. o --
Handling fightin’ and feudin’
cases find various other law vio
lations, three local justices of the
peace worked over time the early
part of the week clearing up their
dockets. Several cases were sent
to other courts for final action.
The following cases were han
dled in Justice R. T. Johnson’s
court:
Charged with reckless driving,
Jirn Bond was bound over to the
county court for trial on May 1.
Bond was required to give bond
in the sum of $100.
Operating a motor vehicle with
improper lights, Haywood Le
Roy Moore was fined $5 and tax
ed with $5.85 costs.
Charged with fishing without
license, Thurman D. Bailey of
Rocky Mount was fined $5 and
requried to pay $5.85 costs. Fac
ing a similar charge, Paul G. Sum
merell, Jr., also of Rocky Mount,
was required to pay the costs.
Drunk and disorderly, George
Corning of Norfolk was fined $10,
plus $6.85 costs.
Charged with parking on high
way without lights and without
giving proper clearance, William
Lester Smith was fined $5, plus
$5.85 costs.
The case charging Lcvyis B.
Willoughby with operating a mo
tor vehicle without proper regis
tration, was dismissed.
Charged with failing to give
right-of-way, Norman R. Oliver
was fined $10 and taxed with
$5.85 costs. He was also ordered
to pay damages resulting to
Robert Perry’s car in an accident
near Smithwieks Creek on April
7th.
Judgment was suspended upon
the payment of $5.85 in the case
charging Phoebe R. Thomas with
operating a motor vehicle with
improper registration.
In the case charging Donald B.
Nobles with operating a motor
vehicle with improper registra
tion papers, the court suspended
judgment on condition that the
defendant get proper licenses.
The case charging Charlie
Clark with an assault was sent to
the juvenile court by Justice C. R.
Mobley when it was learned the
defendant was under sixteen
years of age.
(Continued on page eight)
County People In
Bad Car Accidentj
Near Wake Forest
Mrs. Marvin Coltrain Injur
ed Critically; Four Oth
ers Also In Accident
-«
Five Martin County people
were injured, one critically and
at least two others seriously, late
Tuesday afternoon in a highway
intersection accident between.
Wake Forest and Durham.
Mrs. Marvin Coltrain. suffering
multiple head injuries, continues
in a grave condition at Rex Hos
pital, Raleigh, where the victims
were carried for treatment. She
was said to have rested very well
last night, but has not regained
consciousness. Mrs. Ben Rober
son, a passenger in the Coltrain
car, suffered fractures of seven
ribs, shoulder and collar bone, a
kneo injury and a 12-stitch cut
on her head. Reports this morn
ing indicated that she was not
responding to treatment as well as
had been hoped for by her doc
tors. She did not spend a very
restful night last night. Mrs. Jesse
Lilley, suffered a compound leg
fracture, shock and bruises, and
was said to be getting along as
well as could be expected. Mrs.
Joe Gray Corey, also riding with
Mrs. Coltrain, suffered severe
shock and multiple bruises, hut
her condition is quite satisfactory
and she is expected home shortly.
Bill Gay, another passenger in
the Coltrain car, was slightly
bruised on one leg, but was able
to leave the hospital after receiv
ing treatment.
LcRoy J. Cosby, Richmond man
j who was driving the second car
| involved in the accident, escap
ed serious injury and was able to
! leave the hospital yesterday.
Mrs. Coltrain and party were
! returning home after a visit in
jDurham where Mr. Gay received
hospital treatment. Colby was
driving south.
(Continued on Page Bight)
-<$
Ralph N. Early
Dies In Hospital
" ■' • —
Ralph Newton Early, popular
15-ycar-old son of Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Early of the Oak City-Pal
myra community, died late Mon
day night in Duke Hospital a short
time after he underwent a major
operation there.
Stricken with influenza two
weeks or more ago, the youth par
tially recovered but complained
with severe headaches. The far.* j
ilv physici: n advised hospital 1
treatment and he was removed to
a Rocky Mount hospital. When
his condition worsened last Sun
day he was removed to Duke.
The promising youth attended
the Oak City schools where he
had many friends, and was a fav
orite among both old and young.
Surviving besides his parents,
are a brother, Joseph Lester Early j
of the home, and his maternal
grandmother, Mrs. Dana Alligood
of Palmyra.
Funeral services were conduct
ed yesterday afternoon at 3:301
o’clock in the Williams Chapel I
Methodist Church, near the home,!
by the pastor, Rev. W. B. Sher-1
man. Interment was in the church
cemetery.
Hundreds Attend
Easte r Sunrise Service Here
Pictured above are the hundreds of people from Williamston and surrounding
mg wind to attend the special Easter sunrise service in Woodlawn Cemetery. The
pastoi ol tin Me thodist church, assisted by the several other ministers of the town,
est to ever attend a sunrise service here.
territory who braved the chilly morn
service was led by Rev. E. R. Shuller,
The attendance was about the larg
Judge Clears Out
Thirty-two Cases
In County's Court
-•
taking No Holiday Ka*tcrj
Monday, Court Lrvicd
Iii Fillip
Working while a general holi
day was being observed in this
section, the Martin County Re
corder’s court had a fairly profit
able session Easter Monday when
thirty-two eases were cleared
from the docket and fines were
levied in the amount of $625. The
doi%et count included thirteen
speeding eases.
Judge Chas. It. Manning and i
Solicitor Paul I) Roberson cleared i
the docket and folded the court j
tent, at 12:00 o’clock noon until i
May 1. During the meantime, the
county bar members and Judge
W. II S Hurgwyn will wrestle
with a conglomerated civil calen
dar.
Proceedings last Monday:
Pleading guilty of drunken
driving, Herbert Lee Hardison
was fined $100, taxed with tin ^
costs and lost his driver’s license
for a year.
Ralph Mason, charged with vio
lating the rules of the road, was
found not guilty.
Pleading guilty of allowing an
unlicensed driver to operate a
motor vehicle, James Williams
was sentenced to the roads for
sixty days.
Adjudged guilty of stealing a
red poekelbook, Alice Dickens
was sentenced to iail for sixty I
days.
A series ol assault cases origi
nating m Robersonville were air- '
ed in the court, the three defend- I
ants. Dorah Jenkins, Ernestine
Wright and Ann Wright, drawing
$15 fines each, plus costs. Ann ■
Wright pleaded not guilty.
Adjudged guilty of an assault j
with a deadly weapon, Robert
Everett, colored, was sentenced to
the roads for sixty days.
Facing two counts, Joe Baker
pleaded not guilty of an assault
with a deadly weapon and violat
ing the liquor laws. Adjudged
guilty, he was sentenced to the
roads for nine months, the court
suspending the sentence upon the
payment of a $75 fines and costs.
The defendant is to drink no
liquor and not assault his wife j
during the next two years.
Pleading guilty of assaulting a j
female, Harry James was senten I
cod to the roads for six months. ;
The judgment was suspended up- j
j on the payment of a $25 fine and |
costs, and the defendant is not to
assault his wife during the next i
two years.
Judgment was suspended upon
! the payment of the cost in the
lease in which Clarence Roberson
I was charged with assaulting a
female.
Charged with careless and
reckless driving, Samuel Patrick
pleaded not guilty, lie was found
.guilty of violating the ru!c„ of
| the road and was fined $10, plus
the costs.
j Jesse Molt Rooks pleaded guilty
| and was fined $100 for drunken
| driving. He was taxed with the
; costs and lost his license for one
year.
Charged with cureless and reck
i it:;,, driving. Arthui Mat Wuoiaiu
i pleaded guilty and was fined $25,
plus costs.
(Continued ou page eight)
HALF HOLIDAYS
Beginning next Wednesday,
April lit, local business houses
and offices will observe each
Wednesday aUernoon as a
half holiday until the week
before the tobacco market
opens, it has been announced
by the Boosters, following a
poll of the business operators.
Several firms have been
observing the half-holiday
schedule all the while. A few
firms, including The Enter
prise and the post office, will
remain open Wednesday aft
ernoons and take the half
holiday Saturday afternoons.
Ask Old Clothes
For Needy Group
Unable lo qualify or get relief!
from organized agencies, a needy
family is appealing for old cloth- j
ing through the Red Cross and the
Williamston Woman's Club wel
fare head.
Explaining the foundation for
the appeal, Mrs. Emeline E. Grif
fin yesterday said that the family,
numbering nineteen, was burned
out of their home on Broad Street
last Saturday afternoon, leaving
everyone of them without chang
ing clothes. The mother-grand
mother has been deserted by the
husband, insurance was hardly
more than sufficient to satisfy the
mortgage. Except for a few odd
jobs, one of the two able to work
has been employed only on a
short time basis. Most of the fa
mily is crowded into a three-room
In use for which they are paying
$!i a week rent, the other members
of the family finding refuge in
neighbors' homes.
No appeal is being made for
money, but large amounts of
wearing apparel and bed clothing
arc urgently needed to relieve the
serious plight the family now
finds itself in. The ages of the
daughters and granddaughters are
3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 1 (i; of the sons and
grandsons, two months, and 2, 4, 1
6, U, 10 and 12 years.
Any one who can’spare service
able clothing is asked to leave it
at the police station for delivery ;
to the Red Cross office, or call ,
Mrs. Henry Griffin, phone 2013,
and she'll pick it up for the fain ]
ily.
Eighteen File For Places
On Ballot In This County
•
A report late yesterday from
Elections Board Chairman C. D.
Carstarphcn stated that all county
political positions were assured
candidates, but that all the an
nounced candidates had not filed,
and that the filing dead line is
6:00 o’clock p. m. on Saturday of
this week.
As of late yesterday the filing
list included
Clarence W. <5riffm for solicitor
Martin County Recorder’s Court,
Murray W. (Buck) Holloman for
sheriff* William W. Biggs for cor
oner, L. Bruce Wynne for clerk of
superior court, R. H. Smith for
treasurer, Hugh G. Horton for
senator of second district, E. G.
A >-• -ieiaon, Luther Hsrdipcn and
Jimmy Wallace for Martin County
representative in the North Caro
lina General Assembly, W. M.
Harrison, Henry S. Johnson, Jr.,
»
| C. C. Martin, J II Edwards and
! H. L. Roebuck for county commis
sioners, Ernest C. Edmondson,
j Geo. C. Griffin, Howard B. Gay
lord and Ferd W. Holliday for j
Martin County Board of Educa
tion. Other candidates who have
announced arc expected to file
j shortly. While last-minute devel
opments could change the color of
■ pre-primary politics, no late can-|
J didacics are anticipated. But the |
Held is still open
J. Shop Hollidays filed this!
morning for county commissioner
from the Griffins-Bear Grass dis
trict, and A. Corey got his name
ton the dotted line shortly before
10 o’clock today.
In addition to the county poli- ;
' tic;.! slate, three have filed tor
township constable, including
•Charlie R. Moore, Williamston, F>
A. Roberson, Robersonville; and i
1C. Roy O’Neal, Jamseville. I
Large Damage Suits
In Court For Trial
Twenty-one Civil
Cases on Calendar
In Superior Court
Plaintiff* Serkiiifj To Hr
(‘ovcr Approximately
$70,000 In Damage*
Plaintiffs will seek more than
$70,000 damages alleged to liavu
resulted in accidents when they
gu into the Martin County Sup
erior Court during the two-week
special term opening next Mon
day. Most of the twenty-one civil
cases on the calendar however,
are most modest when it comes
to claims.
In addition to handling eight di
vorce eases and a few other civil
actions next Monday, the court,
presided over by Judge W. H. S.
Burgwyn, is tentatively scheduled
to clear away a goodly number
of old eases, most of them having
been settled by agreement out of
court and others having been
cleared up by time.
Tried once and called again, the
$15,000 damage suit brought by
Grover Peel, administrator of
Cldoe Peel, again, t the A C L.
Railroad Company is set for trial
next Tuesday. The first trial ver
din, allowing $0,000 damages, was
set aside following the last Sep
tember term of court as being ex
cessive. The second trial was
well under way in the court last
month when the presiding jurist
was taken ill and found it neces
sary to adjourn the tribunal for
the term. Pointing out that the
little Peel child was run down
and killed by the defendant’s
train neai Darden’s on Septem
ber 127, 1948, the plaintiff charges
negligence, adding that no whistle
warning was given.
One of the big suits, in which
the plaintiff is asking $25,000
damages, was brought by Arthur
Rilley, administrator of Dallas
Hugh Lillev, against I. W. Gur
kin, operator of Albemarle Peach
near Plymouth The plaintiff al
leges that his l(i-vear-old son lost
lus life on account of the negli
gence of the defendant in not
posting proper signs on a pier ex
tending some 100 yards into the
water at the beach, The young
man dived into the water, said to
have been eighteen to twenty
inches in depth, and broke his
: neck in two places on July 31,
1 1949. He died in a Washington
I hospital a few days later on Aug
ust 5. In his answer, the defend
j ant claims the plaintiff’s intes
! tate was injured by his own ncglt
I genet*.
r .le oC, ulid $20,000 daiiltifue .sin 1,
: is being brought by Jesse A.
| Council, administrator of Allie
i Pell Williams, against J. C.
Weatherly and the Norfolk South
ern Bus Corporation. The plain
tiff says that Mrs. Williams, 32,
was struck and killed bv the de
, fendant’s bus near Williamslon nr»
July 23, 1949.
Slatje-Rhodes Company started
I (Continued on
Page Eight)
CANDIDA I K
Jos. Sheppard Holliday,
i well known Bear Grass
Township I'armer, announced
his candidacy lor county com
missioner from the Griffins
llcar Grass district. Piling
this morning, the candidate
will oppose W. M. Harrison,
also of Bear Grass.
To Hold Special
Election June 10
Citizens in those ureas just out
side the present town limits will i
have an opportunity to approve or
reject an annexation proposal in
a special election to be held on
Saturday, June 10
Registrars, judges of election
and registration places were an
nounced this week by County
Hoard of Elections Chairman C. D.
Carstarphen.
In the West End area, Dennis
Hardy was named registrar, and
Lee Bert Jenkins and Hilton
j Forbes were named judges of
! election. The registration books
i will be opened in Hardy's store on
I Saturday, May El, and continue |
I open through Saturday, May 27
The books will be open on June 3
| for the challenge of any names.
In the North End area, Charlie
H. Wynn has been named regis
trar, and Garland Wynn and Sam
1 Whichard are to serve as judges
I of election. Registration books'
will be kept open in Dan Gard
ner’s store three Saturdays, begin
ning May El for the entry of all
those who wish to participate in
the election to be held on June 10.
There will be opportunity on Sat
urday, June 3, for any one to chal
lenge the names on the registra
! lion books.
It is a special election and any- j
one ill the two affected areas,
! wishing to vote m it must register
j during the set time.
I-'arm hi Jr Ruriluntt To
Obsrrvr Ladies' Night;
-*
Farm Life Ruritans will observe i
ladies’ night at their regular meet
! ing next Tuesday night at 7:30
j o'clock in the Farm Life cafeteria.
The entertainment committee is1
planning for an enjoyable event,.
I it was announced. '