North Carolina Newspapers

THE ENTERPRISE IS READ B1 OVER 3,00* MARTIN COENTT FAMILIES TWirE .F*rH WMR... THE ENTERPRISE IS READ Bl OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT! . —HASK-JSPSSl’—• VOLUME LIII—NUMBER 31 Williamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, A/tril lit, 1950 ESTABLISHED 1899 Question Several Following Thefts In Marlin Connty Hofs Thefts Reported In Pitt County During the Past Week-end -—* Several persons were question ed last week-end, but no formal charges have been preferred fol lowing a series of hog thefts in j this and Pitt County, officers ad- | vaneing the opinion that an ex pert theft ring is carrying on the nefarious business. A $100 re ward was posted following the theft of a dozen hogs or more from Farmer Tom House near Robersonville, and it is likely that l the reward will be upped to $200. Officers from the sheriffs’ of fices in this and Pitt County, aid ed by police and others worked night and day on the alleged ring trying to bpeak it last week-end, but no definite lead has been es tablished, as far as it could be learned today. Two hogs were stolen from the Blount farm in Pitt County last l week-end, sending the total to a fairly high figure in the two counties, thefts having been pre viously reported in and around Bethel, on the Strickland and House farms. Among those questioned were Irving Bradley, Van R. Page, William Andrews, Jim Jenkins, Roy Brown and W. D. and Jasper Boyd, Jr. • Bradley, Page. Andrews and Jenkins were detained last week end in connection with the theft of an electric drill from Grady Smith's garage in Robersonville several weeks ago. Officers, es tablishing a lead in the theft, traced the drill to a Bethel garage. Page, accompanied by the other three, drove to Smith's garagfc for Bradley to get his car. While I Bradley was talking to the gar agernan, Jenkins allegedly picked up the drill. At a hearing held before Justice H. S. Everett, Rob ersonville, Jenkins was booked to the higher courts for larceny. Page and Andrews were booked for aiding and abetting, and no probable cause was found as to Bradley. One report stated that there ^Yiad been some evidence of chick ens taken from Farmer Strickland being at the Jenkins home, but officers, investigating the report, could find no trace of the chick ens. I -o Benefit Supper For Fire Truck —«— i Working to provide' better fire fighting facilities for the James vilJe Conimunitity, citizens in that area are completing plans for a big fish supper in the school cafe teria and on the grounds at there Friday of this week between the hours of 5:30 and 8:00 o’clock. The people of the community are furnishing all Jhe food and service, and meals will be served at very reasonable prices, it was I announced. Fish, including fried and stewed rock, fried perch and herring, will be served along with the trimmings with a culinary art unsurpassed anywhere in the land. Approximately $1,000 had been raised so far for the fire-fighting equipment, and the promoters of the supper are making plans to feed between 400 and 500 people Friday. People all over the coun k ty are invited to attend. •s Recover Stolen Motor Saturday j An outboard motor stolen from ! the river bank at Jamesville by two young white boys was recov ered a short time later, the sher iff’s office reported. The owner * of the motor left the motor long enough to eat, but someone saw the boys get the motor and a chase started. The boys threw it out along a path. Carried before Justice R. T. Johnson Monday morning, Irving Millwood and Bevell Renfrew, both of Edgeeombe County, was bound over to the county court for trial. Bond in the sum of j was required. Explains Allotment Plan For The 1950Peanut Crop A new law, signed by the Presi dent a short time ago, makes some provision for marketing excess peanuts this year. However, it should be remembered that the 1950 allotments will continue in effect, and that there is a limit on excess plantings also. In short, the farmer will have | his allotment peanuts supported i at 90 percent of parity as usual, but the excess plantings will cith er have to be “hogged down" or sold at prevailing market prices for oil stock, less certain estimat ed costs for handling. But in no case may a farmer plant in excess: of his 1917 acreage. If he exceeds! his 1947 acreage and digs and i picks the goobers, he forfeits j claim to support prices on any or! all his 1950 crop. If a farmer does i not recall the number of acres he 'planted in peanuts in 1947, he j may get the figure from the P.-M. A. office in the Martin County Agricultural building, Williams ton. Last year the crop was cut about 21 percent, followed by a 7 percent cut this year. The new provision makes it possible for the farmer to plant the same num ber of acres planted before the re duction, but all plantings over and above the 1950 allotment will be regarded as excess and will have to be sold at prices prevailing for oil peanuts. That price is likely to range from three cents to five cents. Just how the plan details are to be handled is not known, but it is likely that the output will be combined with the under standing that whatever the excess percentage is, that same percent age of the crop produced will be delivered for oil. Man Faces Trial For Starting Woods Fire Goodly Number 01 Forest Fires In Connly Recently ■o — Two In Court for Allowing Fires To Spread To H ooded Areas -» Experiencing one of their worst | seasons since 1942, forest fire war dens climaxed their efforts to prevent costly destruction to tirti bcrlands last week when they carried two men into the courts | and arrested a third. Two were booked tor allowing grass fires to spread to timberlands, while the third is being charged with the willful tiring of at least two tracts of timber, according to informa tion coming from County Forest Warden Marvin Leggett. William Everett, colored of Hamilton Township, was taxed with $49.50 fire-fighting costs and $5.85 court costs in Justice Chas. R. Mobley’s court last week for allowing a grass fire to get out of control and spread to a tract of timber. Facing a similar charge, James Carson of Williams Town ship was sentenced to the roads for thirty days and taxed with the ' costs. The road term was sus | pended upon the payment of $5.S5 j costs. , Murray Boyd, 23-year-old white I man of Pactolus, is being held in \ jail in default of a $500 bond for J trial in the Martin County Re , corder’s Court on May 1 for al legedly- starting two fires on the Robersonville-Gold Point Road the early part of last week. Ac cording to witnesses, Boyd stop ped his car and fired the woods and drove away, burning woods on the O. P. Roberson, Geo. James and Nelson lands. Before forest fire wardens and assistants could get one fire out another was burning. One of the most destructive for-' cst fires of the season was report-! ' ed in Robersonvillc Township! some time ago when approximate ly 350 acres of woodsland were i burned. ! Last Wednesday night, fire, be lieved to have been started by the careless dropping of a cigarette, burned about 35 acres of timber land on the Edmond Harris farm | in Bear Grass, threatening homes I and farm buildings. (Continued on Page Eight) -—'p--- ■ TO THE RESCUE v* Their economic status re duced to a low point by fire, several colored families in this section were liven a helpful lift by white citicens during the past few days. When the home of Noah and Virginia Spruill, aged couple, was damaged by fire over in Williams Township, Stewart Tetterton got busy, raised $37 .Sd In cash and he with severni others made up the difference to make neces sary repairs. When fire destroyed the Essie Clemmons home here last Saturday and put nine teen out of doors, the Red Cross and Woman’s Club rounded up enough clothing to outfit every member, Wil lard’s Shoe Shop fitting most of the shoes free. Candidates Paid $317 Filing Fees - ■ — The thirty-three candidates fil ing for offices in Martin County and several of its townships, paid • fees in the sum of $317. A mini | mum fee of $5 was charged for I all offices paying $500 or less, and a fee of one percent was charged for all offices paying $500 or more. Those paying $5 each were, members of the board of educa tion, board of commissioners, cor oner, surveyor, and constable. Based on the one percent of the salary paid, fees were charged as follows, House of Representatives, $6; sheriff, $40; judge of county court, $21; State Senate, $6; solici tor of county court, $18; treasurer, $12; and clerk of court, $36. <y Bed Cross Names Group Chairmen - • ~ • Meeting in special session last Thursday noon, Red Cross offic ials, headed by Chapter Chairman W. H. Carstarphen and Mrs. Edna Bondurant, secretary, named Miss Ruth Manning to head the chap ter’s first aid program and Grady Luffman to direct a water safety plan. Ellis Fvsal, Red Cross first aid instructor, addressed the group and urged the leaders to extend its services to all parts of the county. Fysal, sent here by the Red Cross area office, completed a special course of first aid in struction last Friday. During hi» stay here he made safety talks in ! most of the schools in the county, pleading with the youngsters to ; recognize the growing dangers and lake some action to prevent them. , „ Another meeting of Red Cross ' leaders is to be held shortly, and persons from every township in the .-bupter »re being urged to at j tend. Bob Reynolds To Speak Wednesday -■■■ ♦- ■ - Robert R. Reynolds, candidate for the United State Senate, is scheduled to speak in the Martin County courthouse Wednesday I night at 8:00 o’clock. The talk is one of several scheduled in this I section of the State this week. While the candidate is given lit 1 tie following in this area, it is j likely that a goodly number will j plan to hear him, renusiaUiricg j his antics of years ago. H. H. Cowen, Sr., Died In Hospital Monday Horning Funeral Is Being Held In Baptist Church Here This Afternoon -• Henry H. Cowen, Sr., retired business man and well known far-1 mer, died in a Washington hospi-1 tal at 9:10 o clock yesterday morning following a long period of declining health. He had been confined to his bed for about six weeks, spending much of that time in the hospital. His condi tion had been critical since Mon day of last week when he suffer ed another heart attack The son of the late Henry and Roxanna Boyette Cowen, he was born near Williamston 72 years ago on August 25, 1877. In early life he moved with his family to Williamston, but continued to farm until his last illness. In ad dition to farming interests, he en gaged in business over a long period of years. With the late Dr. J. H. Saunders and Leslie T. Fow den, Sr., he pioneered in the pea nut cleaning business, erecting the first factory of that type in this section, and buying farmers’ stock for millers over a long period, lie was also interested in the garage business for about twenty years. In later years he had confined his interests to farming. Mr. Cowen served as a member of the first Triple A committee in this county and was one of the members of the first board of di i rectors of the Washington Produe | tion Credit Association which he helped organize. In early manhood he was mar ried to Miss Jeannette Mobley, who survives with two sons. Rob ert Henry and Henry Herbert CowCn, Jr., all of Williamston; a daughter, Mrs. J. L. Parker, Jr., of Colerain; and a brother, Char tog Cowen of neat Greenville. (Continued on Page Eight) Thirty-Three Candidates File For County - District Offices J Voters To Decide Six Contests In Nay 27 Primary Ln*t-!V1itiiiH‘ Contest Devel ops For liitlpe Of The Recorder's Court At least thirty-four candidates, paying a total of $317 in filing fees, got their names in the coun ty-district political pot before closing time at 6:00 o’clock p. m. last Saturday. The exact num ber pf names to go on the county district ballot cannot be determin ed until reports are received from the six other counties in the sec ond Senatorial District, It is known that four-—H. G. Horton, Martin; Sam M. Campon, Pamli co, Dallas Mallison, also of Pam lico, and O. L. Williams, Hyde, had filed, but there, is a possibility that others entered the race at the last minute. Last-minute activity on the fil ing front developed a sixth county j contest and brought a big sur prise, not to mention "hot" pros pective races for township con stable |obs. R. T. Johnson, justice of the peace and railroad employe, filed Saturday, getting into the race with Chas. H. Manning for judge I of the recorder's court. All other announced candidates got their names on the clotted line and the j cash filing fees on the barrel head in ample time to get in line for 1 office positions. The big surprise ■ came at noon Saturday when O. B. Roberson. Robersonville, filed for county surveyor. The office, j if it run be called an office, has I been begging for some time. No J (Continued on page eight) Grant Two Divorces In Superior Court Sweep Old Cases From the Docket In Big Numbers — — Jurors (iiul WiUn*ss**s Turn ed Burk Yestrrduy; Ite port for Work Today Work in the special two-week term of the Martin County Sup erior Court took an unexpected; turn Monday morning when jur ors and witnesses were turned back and the lawyers and Judge I W. H. S. Burgwn settled down to' the task of sweeping old, bearded cases from the docket. A com plete check could not be had im mediately, for it'll require much time to record all the judgments, but probably 75 or more eases were cleared away. Some of the cases had been on the docket six or eight years. One report said that some-parties to the suits have [passed on to their reward, that [ time had mellowed some differ i ences, and that others had work | ed themselves out to a satisfac | tory solution, f It was not'explained why sev eral divorce cases were scheduled along with a few others for trial the first day of the special term, and then continued after juror's and witnesses appeared. The jur ors and witnesses were advised to go back home and come again this morning. -• mPB After the regular jurors depart ed, a member of the bar explain ed that two of his clients could not return, and asked permission to call a volunteer jury and hear two divorce cases. The court agreed, lawyers, courthouse em ployes and one or two stragglers ! were assigned st ats in the jury I box, and the divorce mill started grinding with members of the Oak City eighth grade witnessing 'the proceedings (Continued on page eight) ROUND-UP ' An even dozen law viola tors were rounded up and de tained temporarily in the county jail last week end. Four were booked for lar ceny, five for public drunk- j enness, two for assault and one for careless and reck less driving. Two of the twelve were I white and the ages of the I group ranged from a low of { IS to 50 years. Three Contests For Constable ■ • ■■■ Little has been said, but interest reports point to some hot races for constable in several of the j I county's townships. Unusually! quiet in years past, politics toward I the end of the ladder is breaking j out this year with nine candidates | in the field and with races sehed- j uled in Jamesville, Williamstonj and Hamilton Townships. Worth Mobley filed at ten min utes of six to wind up the slate. Without opposition he is the de clared nominee for Bear Grass Township constable. D. A. Roberson is without op position for constable of Rbcrsoll ville Township. A three-way race for constable in Jamesville Township is under way with Dallas G. Holliday, Cli men Pay O’Neal and Jennie H. Price in it. Charlie Moore, a regular on the ticket for constable in Williams ! ton Township, is in the race this (year with A. C. Bailey, j In Hamilton, H. E. Leggett and Harper M. Peel are in the race for constable of that township. From top to bottom, all the can didates are Democrats, and where there are two or more candidates lift the mo.-, the contests will ue {decided in the May 25 primary. Cancer Fund Drive Going Forward In Martin County -* The annual cancer fund drive is J going forward very well in sever al parts of the county, according to a preliminady report released this week by Mesdamcs Herbert Whitley and Neil Ripley, co-com- j menders of the drive. Following their report, County I Chairman C. B. Martin renewed! an appeal to all citizens, urging them to support the 1950 Cancer Crusade. Martin County is being asked to raise $1,500 as its share in the promotion of research, for the maintenance of clinics and other phases of work. "The disease is claiming too | many lives for us not to give every support and do everything in our power to work for its pre vention and cure," the drive lead ers said. Only a few canvassers have re ported so far, but most of them met with a ready response on the part of the public. The drive is to last through next week, but the leaders are anxious to complete it as soon as possible. The nation is raising nearly fifteen million dollars in the,cru sade. Indications are that much progress is being made in the up hill fight against the disease, and the public is earnestly urged not to relax in its support and encour agement. E. G. Anderson, House Candidate, Makes Statement' DfclaiTN lit* Hum IMti I'oliti rul Axes To (>riiul; Ad mits Stroup Opposition -♦— Officially filing his candidacy j j for Martin County Representative in the North Carolina General As- j ' scmbly last week, E. G. Anderson, j Uobersonville business man and j tobacconist, released the following j statement: "First, let me say that 1 have no j political axes to grind, and pro pose to abide by the wishes of the 'people at all times. 1 enter the [race with a thorough knowledge ‘that the opposition will be strong. However, that is nothing more | than I have been faced with for the past several years in everyday life. At the same time I do feel that 1 am entering the race with a fair knowledge of good moral and business administration. "1 think we are all agreed that it is now time for more serious thoughts and actions with refer ence to the moral, educational and business administration of all pub lic offices from our local com munities right on through the na tion’s capital "If I am elected to represent Martin County in the coming leg- j islutuie, I assure all the people, that 1 shall perform to the best of ; my ability the duties of the posi- I tion of trust and to safeguard and | promote their every interest. "1 was encouraged to make the race by a number of people, all of whom are residents of Martin I County, and their support along j with that of all others prior to and during the May 27 primary will be greatly appreciated.” -<«>---— I Victims Of Aulo Wreck Improving Injured in a serious automobile accident at a highway intersec- , tion between Wake Forest and Durham last Tuesday, four local j people were reported improving \ late yesterday. Mrs. Jos. G. Corey, suffering | mult,pie bruises and shock, was able to return to her home here on Ray Street last Friday, and is getting along very well. Mrs. Jesse Lilley, who lives near Williamston and who suffer ed a compound leg fracture, was . able to be up in a rolling chair i in a Raleigh hospital where she j was carried with her daughter, Mrs. Marvin Coltrain, and Mrs. , Ben Roberson for treatment. Mrs. Coltrain, suffering a grave head injury, showed much im I provement late Sunday when she ( was able to talk with relatives. . She was also able to take a little I nourishment at that time, and was reported to be holding her own today Mrs. Roberson, suffering frac I tures of seven ribs and other in juries, was reported to be getting /along as well as c^iuld be expect |ed, reports stating that there was i roiiic pIcui isj, and that a east had been placed around one knee. SAFETY COI NCII. ] tv-' “Preaching" safety in ad dresses to thousands of pupils in the county schools during the past two weeks, Ellis Fy sal, lied Cross first aid in structor, declared that there was an urgent need for a safe ty program to be advanced among the young people. “There is a striking need for accident prevention on the highways, on the farms, in | the homes, at the swimming ponds and pools," the Red ' Cross man said, adding that i the organisation Is prepared to provide the services of in structors both for are Wont prevention and first aid. John Cowan Died This Morning Al West End Home Fuuurul al lioiui* of Daugh ter In Went End Tumor row at 3:00 I*. M. John W. Cowan, retired farmer, died at his home in West End this morning at 4:30 o’cloek after a long period of declining health. His condition had been serious al most since tile death of his wife on February 6. He had been confin ed to his bed for about six weeks and experienced ill health for I years. The son of the late John A. and Cashie Mizclle Cowan, he was born in Bear Grass 73 years ago on October 3, 1871, and spent nearly all his life on the farm there. Retiring on account of fee ble health, he moved to Williams ton eight years ago. In addition to his farming interests he engag ed in watch repairing to occupy his time. He was married to Hettie Bul lock 51 years ago. She died on last February (i. Surviving are three sons, Oniley S. Cowan and Cole Cowan, both of West End, and C. C. Cowan of Bear Grass; a daughter, Mrs. 11. O. ! Gurganus of West End; one broth er, L>. C. Cowan of Bear Grass; ten grandchildren and two great ! grandchildren. Funeral services will be con ducted at the home of his daugh ter Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock by Elder A. B. Ayers, Pri | mitive Baptist minister of Bear Grass. Interment will be in the Cowan family cemetery in Beat Grass Township. Accident Victim Still In Hospital —«— Suffering a broken baek and internal injuries, Oliver Harrison, Jr., young Bear Grass farmer, continues quite ill in a Washing ton hospital, late reports stating that lie was getting along as well ,1* could be expected. The young man was injured in a freak aeci 1 dent near the home of Mr. and I Mrs. Corner Harrison late in the j afternoon of April 7. 1 Doctors are planning to plaee 1,,, n * in a cast today, ono report said. Fourteen Couples Are Harried Last Month In County -« Isfiiiam"*" Smallest for Any Month Sinrt* Align*! Of Last Year —• Fourteen marriage licenses were issued by Register of Deeds J. Sam Getsinger in this county last month, the issuance being the smallest for any month since last August. The issuance was also the smallest for any February since 1940. The number of white marriages increased from two in February to five in March while the num ber of licenses issued to colored couples decreased from Id to 9. Licenses were issued last month as follows: White William Wood Biggs to Julia Harrison, both of Williamston. W. Vascoe Greene, Ahoskie, to Sylvia Angela MeLawhorn, Wil liamston. Cecil C. Ange, Jamesville, to Ellen Louise Griffin, Williamston. James Alton Whitehurst, Jr., Hobgood, to Margaret Dolores Barrett, Oak City. James Dawson Rogerson to Gladys Klvin Thomas, both of Williamston. Colored Clarence Coffield to Itetta Mae Perkins, both of Williamston. Lester Griffin to Adelle Beach, both of Robersonville. i Sylvester Woolard to Frances j Everett, both of Williamston. Marvin Lloyd to Sarah Bella i my, both, of Robersonville. Joe Wilkins, Jr., to Fannie Man ning, both of Williamston. Lonnie Gilliam to Fannie Gibbs, i both of Williamston. Jim Outerbridge, Jr., to Pearl | me Brown, both of Williamston. i Willie C. Hassell RFD 2. Wil liamston. to Martha Ricks, Wil ! liamston Willie Spencer to Dorothy Mae I Spruill, both of Williamston. -- Badly Injured In Truck Accident Zeno Beddard, Poplar Point farmer, was badly injured in' a truck accident last Saturday mor ning when tlu vehicle turned over on the lull near W. G. Peel’s fish pond between Whitley's Bridge and Highway 125. Following first aid treatment, hi' was removed to a Washington hospital whole it v-as [Vuhd lie had suffered a shoulder tuicture, seven broken l ibs and chest injuries. Walter Rogers, driving a log truck owned by Roland Bunting and carrying a load of lumber, was not hurt. Driving hardly more than 10 or 15 miles an hour, Rogers met a car on the narrow hill. When he tried to avoiri a crash with the car, Rogers turned too near a ditch and the truck turned over. Beddard was caught in the cab which was smashed al most level with the hood. No estimate of the property damage could be had. Patrolman R. P. Narron investigated the ac cident. Red Cross First Aid Instructors Fourteen persons completed training for first aid instructors in the Red Cross First Aid school conducted here during the two week period ending last Friday night. They are qualified to offer first aid instruction to others, and the Red Cross, under the chair manship of Miss Ruth Manning, will be glad to make the services available to any group at any time. Classes may be arranged through the secretary or Miss Manning, it was announced. Those completing the first aid instructor’s course include, James Oscar Daniel, Stuart Maynard, Mollie Ray Oakley, Elizabeth Parker and Vernon J. Spivey, Vida Mae Cordon, Doretha Siade Chance, Annie M. Hassell, Alonza R. Jones, Nora Cherry Slade, John M. Slade, and Herbert W. Whit field. Those receiving advanced first aid certificates were James j Staton Leggett and JTved C. Brown. I