THE ENTERPRISE IS READ Bl
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT!
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK
THE ENTERPRISE
THE ENTERPRISE IS READ Hi
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT!
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEE*
5^ —a
VOLUME L1II—NUMBER 37
Williamslon, Martin County, North Carolina, Turstlay, May 9, 1950
ESTABLISHED 1899
Big Fat Stock Show
Held In The Countv
Calves And Hogs
Bring $15,288.82
On Friday's Sale
Henry Robert*. Buck Man
ning ami Darrell Man
ning Gel Top Honors
o —
Martin County's seventh an- i
nua} fat stock show, held in Wil
liamston’s New Carolina ware
house last Thursday and Friday, i
was described as one of. the best1
ever held in this county. It drew
praise from Congressmen Jamie
t Whitten and Arthur Winstead,
both of Mississippi, Congressman
Herbert Bonner, other out-of
out-of-state visitors and our own
people.
The 4-H Club boys and girls,;
the Future Farmers of America,
the Veterans and other adult far
bers put on a great show. Com
petition was keen and the judges
found their tasks difficult ones.
More than 2,000 people visited
the show despite the extremely
hot weather.
Sold at auction by Henry A.
Johnson, the swine and steers
brought $15,288 82. While the
prices established no record, they
were higher than average. The
21 steers, selling for $5,671.79, av-1
eraged $31.56 per hundred pounds,
iind the 243 hogs, selling for $0,
i 17.03, averaged a little more
^ lhan eighteen and one-quarter
cents per pound all the way
through.
Henry Rogers, Williamston 4-H
Club boy, took top honors with
his calf, a Hereford, and Billy
Bailey, Everetts Club lad, was
second. The Rogers and Bailey
family members have marched
ahead in the livestock field, tak
( ing top honors over a period of
f several years in the show.
In the swine department, Dar
rell Manning and Buck Manning,
both of RFD 1, Williamston, took
top honors with their champion
hogs m the 4-H group. Billy
Wynne and Clarence Cherry
were right close with their re
serve champions. In the; adult
; roup, Robert Everetts of RFD 1,
Robersonville, Charlie C. James
^ nf Robersonville, Church Modlin
.if RFD 3, Williamston, took first
' honors, Everett going on to win
in two divisions. George Oglesby
of Hamilton also figured in the
prize money offered adult ex
hibitors.
A review of the call sale fol
lows w ith the name ol the exhibi
tor, grade, prize money, weight,
price per pound, and name of the
buyer listed in that order;
Henry Rogers (grand cham
pion), choice, $10, 920 pounds, 39
cents, Farmers Supply Company;
Billy Bailey (reserve grand cham
pion, choice, $10, 840 pounds, 33
cents, Colonial Stores; Mary Jane
Rogers, choice, $10, 1,004 pounds,
31 cents, Margolis Bros.; Paul
Stephenson, good, $8, 774 pounds,
30 cents, K. P. Lindsley; Curtis
Gurganus, good, $8, 890 pounds,
31 cents, Roberson Slaughter
! House; Raymond Bennett, good,
*8 .87n 00101(1-- ‘in i-i-mU'
ston Freezer Locker; Jerry Nich
olson, good, $8; 812 pounds, 30
cents, B. S. Courtney and Son;
Melvin Price, good, $8, 862 pounds
at 31 cents, Greenville Livestock
(Continued on page six)
Potato Growers'
Deadline Hay 12
■—<#,—
T. U. Slade, secretary of the
Martin County Production and
Marketing Association, warns po
tato growers that Friday, May 12,
has been set closing date both for
applying for their certificates of
eligibility which entitle them to
aid under the potato price sup
port program and for the payment
^ of service charges.
Applications must be made at
the PMA office, and a fee of 90
cents per hundredweight or a
$;i.00 minimum must be paid.
Only those growers who have
planted within their allotments
are eligible for the aid, Mr. Slade
stated.
t
ALL OVER
Seine fishing in the Roan
oke is all over for the year,
a report from Jamesville stat
ing that the large seine was
beached Monday morning
when two hauls were made
without success. Possibly fif
ty herring along with a few
rock were taken each time,
but the catches were too small
to warrant continued opera
tions.
With the exception of about
two days, the herring catches
during the 1950 season were
negligible, but rock catches
approached and possibly
broke all records to make for
a fair season, or the most ad
vantageous one in several
years, it was said.
County Democrats
Hold Uneventful
Meeting Saturday
m 1 "
Perfect Organization A in I
Invito Good Democrats y
To Attend Pow»Wow '''
_A_>'V .ir trv^
Meeting in the courthouse daST
Saturday noon, h few faithful
Martin County Democrats, per
fected their county organization
for another two years, making few
changes in the personnel. There
were no formal talks and perfect
harmony prevailed during the
thirty-minute session. Most of
the precincts were represented. It
was pointed out that Jamesville
was the only precinct in the coun
ty to have perfected its organiza
tion on the precinct level on the
previuos Saturday, However,
other precinct groups perfected
their individual organizations at
the last Saturday meeting and
went on to participate in the
county convention.
Messages were read by the
chairman from several of the can
didates for State offices, and all
Democrats in "good standing"
were invited to represent the
county at the State convention to
be held in Raleigh on Thursday
;of this week.
Attorney Hugh G. Horton and
Mrs. E. S. Peel were recommend
ed for places on the State commit
jtee.
, Elbert S. Peel, chairman of the
i County Democratic Executive
' Committee through thick and thin
for a number of years, was re
j elected to that post. C. B. Mar
tin, Robersonville school man,
was named to succeed himself as
vice chairman of the committee,
and F. M. Manning was re-elected
secretary-treasurer.
(Continued on page atz)
Native of County
Dies In Lewiston
Mrs. Sudic Ward Bennett, a
native of this county, died at the
home of• -her -rie-vrgfcvSj,-*4-?;'-.
Britton, in Lewiston Sunday aft
ernoon after a long period of de
clining health.
A daughter of the late Robert
and Mary Whichard Ward, she
was born near the old Peel school
house in this county 71 years ago,
and spent most of her life in the
county. She was married to Jas.
Bennett and had made her home
in Bertie County about thirty or
thirty-five years.
Funeral services are being con
ducted in the Lewiston Baptist
-Church this afternoon at 2:00 o’
clock by the pastor, Rev. G. C.
Upchurch. Interment will be in
the Bennett family cemetery on
the Garrett farm near Williams
ton.
Surviving are four daughters,
Mrs. Eva Myriek of Roanoke Rap
ids, Mrs. F. O. Causey of Eliza
beth City, Mrs. Charlotte Cham
bers of Farmville, Va., and Mrs.
Britton; three sons, James Bennett
of Norfolk, Irvin and Elmer Ben
nett of Williamston; a sister, Mrs.
Emma Thompson of Williamston;
several grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
Candidates For State House Of Representatives
Participating in the race for one of the highest county
political offices it is the privilege of the citizens to fill, the
four candidates above are seeking the one seat allowed
this county in the North Carolina State House of Represen
tatives in Raleigh. Pictured, left to right, are: Jimmy Wal
lace, educator, Boy Scout leader and able teacher in the
RobersonvilLe High School. A native of Jamesvillc, the
young man is entering county politics for the first time.
Luther Hardison, timber appraiser, and a candidate who at
track'd attention across the State when he came out bold
ly against a State-wide referendum on the liquor question.
He is a native of Griffins, lived in Jamesville for manv
years and is now a resident of Williamston. A. Corey, the
incumbent, is a minister, surveyor, and jack-of-all trades.
He served as a clerk and in other capacities in the Legisla
ture for a number of years before going to Raleigh in 1949
as representative. F. G. (Andy) Anderson, farmer and to
bacconist, is a well-known county business man and a lead
er. He has made his home in Robersonville for many years.
ROUND-UP
I
v... —
1
\j> Seldom listed during a long;
period, larceny Is now ac
\ counting for many of the ar
rests In this county. Eight
persons were arrested and
jailed last week-end, two for
larceny, two for drunkenness
and one each for assault, vio
lating the liquor laws, speed
ing and reckless dHving and
violating a court order.
Three of the eight were
white, and the ages of the
group ranged from 21 to 44
years.
Fund Exceeds the
Quota of County
Nearly 11,60(1 Has Been
Raised and Reported;
Goal Was But *1500
Headed by Professor C. B. Mar
tin of Robersonville as chairman,
and Mrs. Neil Ripley and Mrs.
Herbert Whitley as co-command
ers, the annual Cancer Fund
Drive is well over the top in this
county, it was announced this
week. Several townships have not
yet reported, and it is expected
that the drive will push on to
ward the $1,800 or $2,000 mark
when a final accounting is made.
Several of the districts, includ
ing Robersonville, Griffins, Has
sell and Williamston exceeded
their quotas, the chairman ex
plained, and a splendid work was
handled in all districts so far re
ported, he added.
The colored citizens of the coun
ty, assigned a quota of $150, had
raised and reported $60 late Mon
day afternoon.
Mrs. Gaines, reporting for
Jamesvillc Monday afternoon,
said that Mesdames Paul Barber,
William Beacham, Carl Griffin,
Hillery Holliday and Mrs. Scott
and-Messrs. _Sltrnqi] qardner and
Gilbert Ange had raised $91.41 for
the fund in her district.
A brief review of (he quotas
and amounts reported follows, by
districts:
Robersonville
Griffins
Hassell
Goose Nest
Jamesvillc
Williamston
Cross Roads
Colored Citizens
$300
75
35
100
100
600
75
150
$ 335.70
100.75
36.50
75.05
91.41
786.97
57.05
60.00
$1,500 $1588.73
Biblical Play To Be
Presented Here Tonight
"Into Thy Kingdom,” a biblical
play in one act, directed by Mrs.
William J. Weaver of Plymouth,
will be presented at the high
school auditorium here tonight at
8 o’clock. Choirs of the local
churches and Plymouth will sing
prior to the play which is being
sponsored by the Alice Dunning
and Hattie Edmondson Circles of
the Christian Church.
Three Injured In
Road Accidents
In This County
One Transferred To INaval
Haw Hospital In
Portsmouth
Three persons were injured, one
badly, in two automobile aeeidents
in this eounty during the past few
days, according to reports coming
from the highway patrol office in
this county this week.
In a third wreck, several young
people, coming from Washington
to a young people’s meeting here
Sunday afternoon, were slightly
hurt when their car turned over a
short distance beyond the county
line in Beaufort.
A motorist was killed in an
other accident in this area yester
day afternoon when his car was
struck by a passenger bus near
Windsor.
Leo Warren of RFD 1, Palmyra
had one ear almost cut off and
suffered other lacerations about
the head, and Wilbur B. Hyman
of Scotland Neck suffered three
broken ribs and chest injuries and
bruises about the body when the
vehicles they were driving figured
in a head-on crash between Oak
City and Hobgood last Wednes
day afternoon at 4:BO o'clock. Hy
man, driving a 1949 Ford pick-up
truck belonging to the Scotland
Neck Furniture Company, said he
was traveling toward Hobgood,
that the 1941 Ford, driven by
Warren, was approaching him and
running in the middle of the l oad.
Hyman said he turned to his left
about the time Warren turned
to the right, and the vehicles
crashed, doing about $500 damage
to each vehicle, according to Pa
trolman R. P. Narron who made
the investigation. The injured
(Continued on page six)
Probable Cause
i In Robbery Case
■ •
Harold Asby, white man, was
bound over to the superior court
by Justice It. T. Johnson at a
| hearing Monday night when prob
: able cause was found In the case
■ charging him with the robbery of
about $500 from Farmer A T.
Lilley at the Lilley home in Wil
liams Township last Wednesday
evening. Bond was required in
the sum of $500. Unable to ar
range bond, Asby was returned
to jail.
At the hearing, the victim al
leged that Asby went to his home
and wrestled the money from
him, taking four $100 bills, four
$20 bills, one $10 bill and about
$20 in gold.
The defendant was reported to
have said that he went to the
Lilley home for a soft drink, that
he saw Mr. Lilley's pocketbook
on the floor, and that he picked
it up and gave it to him.
It was also reported that Asby
had several $100 bills on his per
son later in the week.
| JOINT MKKTING
vJ
Martin County Ruritans,
developing in a comparatively
short time into one of the
county's largest farmer-civic
groups, will parade their
strength when they hold a
joint meeting near Roanoke
River in Hamilton as guests of
the Hamilton Club on Wed
nesday evening of this week
at (i:Ull o’clock, it was an
nounced today by Mr. LeRoy
Everett, club official and
leader.
A suinptous barbecue din
ner will be served, and all
Ruritans in the county are
being inviteil along with a
lew special guests.
New Hospital To
Finance Project
A partial solution to the prob
j lem (Touted by an inadequate
town sewer system was advanced
at a special meeting of the town
commissioners and representa
tives of the new hospital last
Thursday afternoon.
The hospital agreed to finance
j a limited project and taKe credit
j on its water fees and sewer rent
1 als in the event the system is not
extended to other areas. Should a
j complete program be financed by
a bond issue, then the cost of the
project will be absorbed by the
, town immediately.
It. was a perplexing problem,
and the officials discussed it for
more than two hours before
j reaching a decision
Plans are being advanced for
extending sewer lines to every
section of the town now without
| the facilities. It was estimated
following a survey that the first
unit of the system from the river
to Highway 125 at Whitley’s Canal
would cost a little less than $27.
1000, That unit will have to await
| action on a bond issue along with
other proposed units in the sys
tein During the meantime, it will
no permissible to run a line about
olTe “third' ""of ;V TmT(~a flVf Vet ease
sewage into a tog ravine ditch for
a lim.ted time only. The project
will cost approximately $4,000, the
town alloting not more than $1,
500 for its construction If the
proposed town-wide sewer system
is not supported, then the hospital
is to build a special disposal plant
(Continued on page aix)
Start Work On
New Homes Here
Construction work on a new
home for Dr. and Mrs G G Him
molwnght was started last week
on Woodland Drive. One of the
four partners in the new hospital
here, Dr Himrnelwright will con
tinue his practice in Washington
until the hospital here is corn
pleted.
A .1 Manning started the eon
i struction of a duplex house on
Simmons Avenue this week, and
materials are being placed on
sites for several more new homes.
Mrs. J. E. Hedrick
Died Ai Her Home
Friday Afternoon
Fuurral SrrvuT OoiuIii«‘I«m1
Al Home in JameHville
Smulav Afternoon
Funeral services were conduct
ed at the home in Jamesville Sun
day afternoon at 2:00 o’clock, for
Mrs Laurie Topping Hedrick who
died there Friday afternoon at
1:30 o’clock. Rev. W. B. Harring
ton and Rev. A. Corey, Baptist
ministers, officiated and inter
ment was in Williamston's Wood
lawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Hedrick, well known coun
ty citizen and a member of one
of the county's oldest families,
had been in declining health for
several months, receiving treat
ment in various hospitals during
that time. Her condition had been
critical for almost a month and
the end was not unexpected.
A daughter of the late Daniel
W and Ola Smithwiek Topping,
she was born in Pantego . In early
childhood she moved to James
ville and following her marriage
to Bruce Mizelle she made her
home in Richmond. After his
death in the Virginia city in Hill,
she returned to her old home to
spend the remainder of her life.
She was m 'in •.! to J F. Hedrick
in 1922.
Mrs. Hedrick was a thoughtful
neighbor and friend and was held
in high esteem by all who knew
her.
Surviving besides her husband
are two step-daughters, Mrs. A.
Prince Purdy of Williamston, and
Mrs. Watson Waters of James
ville; a sister, Mis. Della Hooten
HI Jamesville; a half brother,
Dewey Topping of Pantego and
two nieces.
Cars Wrecked Ai
. Intersection Here
No one whs badly hurl, but
. property damage possibly exceed -
rd $1,000 when tb'ee cars figur
1 oil in a wreck at the intersection
of Main and liaughton Streets
here at 5:55 o’clock this morning.
Mrs M. U. Simpson, driving
| a Buick belonging to Mrs. W T.
! Culpepper of Elizabeth City, was
traveling west on the main street
with three companions, including
Mrs. Culpepper. Floyd Gorham,
.driving Shop’s Dodge taxi, was
traveling east on the main thor
oughfare, but had stopped for
j traffic light. Lewis Adams, driv
I lrig a Plymouth cur belonging to
Thomas and Howard of Washing
! ton, was traveling south on
liaughton Street. He had clear
ed part of the intersection when
I lus ear was struck by the Buick,
knocking the Plymouth into the
taxi driven by Gorham.
Investigating the accident. Of
ficer Bill Haislip estimated the
damage to the Buiek at $700 or
i more, $150 to the Plymouth and
| about $200 to the Dodge.
J. Whitten Answers
Critics of Farm Plan
EXPLANATION
1
Working diligently to help
relieve the .shock occasioned
by marked reductions in the
peanut acreage, the North
Carolina delegation in Con
gress has been virtually as
sured that North Carolina
peanut growers will receive
full parity support on all their
peanuts this year, based on
1947 plantings. Congressman
Herbert Bonner told the
meeting of the Martin County
Farm Bureau last Friday.
Senator Frank P. Graham
pleaded successfully with the
president not to veto the bill
that made the surplus plant
ings possible.
Congressman Bonner prais
ed the Farm Bureau for its
constructive work.
Last Rites Held
Here Sunday For
Jefferson D. Ray
• ■ —
Wrll*Kn»mu ami Rt'niMTlcd
Local Man l)i«*«l In
Hospital Friday
Funeral services were conduct
ed in the Memorial Baptist church (
here Sunday afternoon at 4:30
o’clock for Mr Ji fferson Davis
Ray, aged local man who died in
a Raleigh hospital last Friday af
ternoon at 4:30 o’clock. His pas
tor, Rev. Stewart B. Simms, con
ducted the last rites and inter
ment was in Woodluwn Cemetery.
His nephews served as active
pall bearers and deacons of Un
church were honorary pall bear
ers.
The son of the late Horace Eh
and Alvania Gurganus Ray, he
was born on his father's Conoho
farm near here 118 years ago on
May 19, 1802. Despite the war
and hardships experienced in the
Reconstruction days, lie prepared
himself for a business cart er, and
at the age of twenty years he went
to Scotland Neck to join the late
Noah Biggs, Martin County native
in the mercantile business. Dm
| ing his stay there he was engaged
m business for himself and was ;
associated with other fir ms. He j
was also employed in Palmyra at
one time and worked in Tillery
j He also represented a wholesale
. firm in this section of the State
| for sevei al years.
A quarter century ago, he re
turned to his native home, engag
ing in the mercantile business foi
a short time befoie building Ray’s
Camp on Gardner’s Creek be
tween here and Jamesville. Scv ,
eral years ago he retired from its \
operation and came here as ad I
vertising representative for sev- t
eral firms.
In early life Mr Ray joined the I
Baptist Church and three weeks
ago ended a noble attendance re- ;
cord. During G5 years he was
about the business of his Maker,
in the church all hut two Sundays,
and sickness held him in bed on
those two occasions. Even as he
steps were directed toward the
church and ins last acts, although
feeble and uncertain, were done
for the happiness of little chil
dren. In recent years he seldom
ever failed to carry a medium
sized shopping bag every where
he went. When he finally was
forced to surrender on Friday,
April 28, there were a few of the
peek or more candy Easter eggs
he had purchased and distributed
among the children. Mr. Ray
never married and he had a great
affection for little children. He
was also interested in the welfare
of his fellow man. In his humble
way, he never failed to stand up,
state his position and be counted
for all that which was good and
noble. He was an unusual charue
ter, maintaining Ins independence
and carrying on until his lust
ounce of strength was spent just
a few days before the end.
Surviving are two brothers, S.
C. Ray of Williamston and Paul
W. Ray of Roanoke Rapids; a
number of nieces and nephews.
Hon. J. Whitten
Speaks To Farm
Bureau Members
Derlares Farmer Has |{«>
••eived Nothing He W as
Not Kutiilol To
Speaking to the annual meet
ing of the Martin County Farm
Bureau in the Wiiliamston High
School auditorium last Friday aft
ernoon, Hon. Jamie L. Whitten,
representing the second Mississip
pi district m the National House
of Representatives, forcefully an
swered the critics of the farm
program, anil emphatically declar
ed that the farmer is not receiving
anything he isn't entitled to.
Introduced by Congressman
Herbert Bonner following the in
vocation bv Rev. W. B Harring
ton and a short talk by Attorney
Elbert S. Peel, Congressman Whit
ten quickly * convinced the group
of several hundred that he was
talking their kind of talk Friend
ly and right much at home in his
temporary surroundings, the
chairman of the sub-committee
for Agricultural Appropriations in
the House of Representatives, re
viewed briefly the work of hrt
committee in presenting the cause*
of agriculture before Congress.
Explaining that it was his com
mittee's duty to study the needs
of agriculture and balance them
with the finances of a govern
inent that owes more than 258 bil
lion dollars He pointed out that,
the new toll calls for half the
amount appropriated ten years
ago.
The speaker, aftei answering
the farm program critics, outhn
, ed the general aims relative to
’ soil conservation, research, and
the work of the various agencies
within the department His talk,
well received by oui people, fol
lows, in part:
"The records disclose many dis
j turbing facts which have develop
| ed the last few years For instance
the income of the farmers of our
nation in 11)41! dropped more than
twenty percent below that of 1947.
In 1949 the income dropped fif
teen percent below that of 1948.
The outlook at the present time
for the current year is that the
income of our farmers will be ap
proximately two thirds as much
as in 1947. Since 1947 gross farm
income has fallen more than two
billion dollars and (' ring the
i same time cash expenses have
j gone up more than one billion dol
lars. The farm family purchasing
power m terms of 1947 dollars has
already dropped since that date
by four billion dollars, and it is
anticipated that it will drop more
than two billion dollars this year.
These facts are disturbing not on
ly as to thefr effect upon those on
gaged in agriculture, but the his
tory of depressions in this conn
try in years past would show that
the first break has been in prices
received for agricultural com
modities and that the fall m such
prices has pulled down the in
come of those engaged in other ac
tivities. These facts which 1 have
^oyp^ojjtsJ^we^jjart :cu l.u J \ (11 s -
turbing when it is realized that
9.9 million families or about halt
the families living on farms in
1949 had incomes of less than two
thousand dollars, and that a
fourth of all farm families had
less than one thousand dollars m
(Continued from page seven)
Name Committee
For This County
-*——
State Campaign Manager Char
les P. Green announced today
| that a six member committee will
handle Willis Smith's campaign
I for the United States Senate in
j Martin County.
Those who will serve on tin}
! committee are:
Warren H. Biggs, a druggist;
Mrs. W. K. Parker, a school teach
j er; Stuart Tettorton, a farmer;
John D. Biggs, a retired business
man; W. K. Parker, a business
j man; and Mrs. Sallie Harris Jones,
' a prominent woman’s leader.