%
THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT*"
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK
THE ENTERPRISE
THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEI
VOLUME LIII—NUMBER 92
William$ton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, November 21. 1930
ESTABLISHED 1899
Court Clears Few
£ases First Day
Two-Week Term
■—$—.
Working On $25,000 Dam
age Suit Today: Recess
Certain Tomorrow
-ۥ
Opening the two-week special
term of superior court Monday
morning, Judge W. H. S. Burgwyn
reviewed the calendar and handl
ed nine divorce cases in less than
an hour. Alter holding hearings
on one or two special cases, the
court in -the afternoon called for
a jury in the $25,000 damage suit
brought by Arthur Lilley, admin
istrator of Dallas Hugh Lilley,
against L. W. Ourkin, as a result
of a fatal accident at the defend
ant’s Albemarle Beach. Evidence
is being heard in the case this
morning, and its completion is ex
pected sometime late today or to
morrow, the judge announcing
that he wanted to recess court at
noon Wednesday until'next Mon
day.
Divorces, based on two years of
separation, were granted in eight
cases, as follows:
Mozella Salsbury against LeRoy
Salsbury, Herbert G. Jones against
Louisiana Gotten Jones, Flora
Brown Keel against Isaac Keel,
Bettie L. Coltrain against Carroll
C. Coltrain, Geo. H. Lyons against
Martha Lyons, James Ramsey, Jr.,
against Nancy N. Ramsey, Made
line Busby against Charles Busby,
Mack Williams against Katie Lee
Williams.
Herbert Jones almost missed out
in his case when it was brought
•it that he voted in New York but
claimed to maintain residence in
this county. When the defendant's
brother appeared as a witness for
the plaintiff, the court followed
through. Asked by his attorney
how he voted, Jones said that that
was the $64 question.
A ninth divorce was granted
when the plaintiff, John Robert
May, offered evidence tending to
p-how that his wife, Elnora, had
committed adultery, that she was
living with a man by the name of
Bud Perkins, and that she had
borne a child fathered by Perk
ins.
The divorces were run through
the mill without a delay. Two
juries were used and by the time
one decided the issues in a case,
another jury w'as ready to move
%>to the little room. Other than
hearing the divorce cases, the jury
remained idle until the $25,000
Lilley damage suit was called.
Several cases were removed
from the calendar by consent
judgments, at least two before the
clerk.
in the case o! Mieijat^^?^^?^xS
by his next friend, T. H. Ward,
against Emily Roberson, the plain
tiff received $1,400. Of the
amount, $330 goes to the hospital,
(Continued on page eight)
*-— ^
Dealer Here Gels
A Special Award
-«
Announcement of "Better Deal
er Award” to the Pontiac divison
of Charles H. Jenkins and Com
pany of Williamston and branch
dealerships was made last week
by the zone office.
The award is made for the high
service of all branches of the lo
cal company. Only 14 similar
awards have been presented ip
the past by the Charlotte zone,
which covers North and South
Carolina and under which the
Williamston firm operates.
E. M. Krotine, Pontiac zone
manager in Charlotte will make
the presentation during a visit
in the near future. The award is
a replica of the famous painting
of Chief Pontiac.
1 SANTA CLAUS ]
It was officially announced
this week that Santa Claus is
packing his sack, preparatory
to making a preliminary visit
to Williamston on the after
noon of November 29. All the
little folks, and old ones, too,
are invited to meet the merry
old gentleman at that time.
Time of arrival and other
details will be announced la
ter this week.
4
County Cotton Production
Almost at Vanishing Point
-•
Cotton, for many years the No
1 cash crop in Martin County, is
rapidly going out of the picture.
Official reports, as of November
1, show that only 273 bales of the
staple had been ginned from the
1950 crop up until that time as
compared with 1,834 bales ginned
in the corresponding 1949 period.
Cotton, down through the years,
was rated as a million dollar cash
crop in the county. Production,
rapidly nearing the vanishing
point, will carry a value this year
of hardly more than $75,000.00.
The production report, while of
ficial, does not take into consid
eration that coton produced in the
county but ginned in Halifax or
other counties.
| TOY COLLECTION
v_/
Preparing for their annual
Christmas party for underpri
vileged or less-fortunate
children in this community,
the Williamston Jaycees Sun
day afternoon at 2:00' o'clock
will make a canvass of the
town for discarded but ser
viceable toys, it was announc
ed today.
Last year the party was a
big success, and the Jaycees
are again asking the coopera
tion of everyone in making
the one this year a success.
Local citizens are asked to
bundle their toys and place
them on the porches. Special
pick-ups will be handled for
those who call T. F. Harrison
at Woolard Hardware Com
pany's store.
Drive Nears Goal
In Martin County
[ The annual Farm Bureau mem
bership drive is nearing it s 2,000
,goal in this county, according to
a report released last Friday night
by Secretary Mayo Hardison. At
that time the drive was just 164
i members short of its quota, it was
: announced.
At a "dutch” supper held last
Friday evening. Farm Agent Tom
; Brandon pointed oyt the need
| for maintaining an all-out re
search program. He said, had it
not been for research in tobacco
and the development of disease
resistant seed, Martin County far
mers would be forced out of to
bacco production It has been
pointed out, also, that farmers
should consider the use of disease
resistant seed in preparing for an
other tobacco crop.
Assistant Agent 1). W. Brady
talked briefly about meat types,
explaining that the meaty type of
hogs are now commanding a pre
mium price on the markets in this
State. The meaty type is a long
fat hog, the agent stating that they
are more in demand than the short
fat hog.
The Farm Bureau membership
group is to hold a last meeting in
the courthouse on Friday evening
of this week at 7:00 o’clock, when
a final report is to be submitted.
During the meantime, those mem
bership canvassers working in the
Ed O’Neal Club are asked to turn
in their memberships before noon
Wednesday of this week so the
names can be submitted for con
sideration for free trips to Hous
ton, Texas.
Active TB Cases
In Martin County
—♦—
There are twenty four known
active cases of Tuberculosis in
Martin County, all of which are
receiving sanatorium care. Many
unknown cases may be found if
we continue free chesi X-ray ser
vice which is made possible
through the purchase of Christ
mas seals. Since November 1, 1949
363 free chest X-rays have been
given the people of Martin Coun
ty. Films for these X-rays are fur
nished regularly by the tubercu
losis committee which is support
ed entirely by the Christmas Seal
Sale. Last year five Martin Coun
ty persons lost their lives from
Tuberculosis. If we are to stamp
out this dread disease every ef
fort must be made to make un
known cases known.
HERALD
The county was allotted about
4,200 acres this year. Approxi
mately one-half the allotment was
planted. With possibly a few ex
ceptions, the crop was just about
one big failure. Production aver
aged hardly seventy pounds of lint
per acre, some farmers explaining
that they picked as little as 50
pounds per acre. A few others
said they picked an average of
100 pounds per acre. Other far
mers abandoned their crops at
picking time after season-long
I cultivation.
! One thing is now certain and
that is if farmers are going to
plant and produce cotton they will
have to poison it more effective
ly.
General Holiday
For Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day will be ob
I served here as a general holiday,
j according to reports coming from
business and heavy industry.
All stores, offices, mills and fac
i tories are suspending operations
for the day. There'll be no mail
deliveries either in the country
or thi town that day, but mail
will be dispatched and the post
office boxes served.
Owners of the Williamston Pea
nut Company announced that their
plant would not be in operation
that day, but that peanuts would
be received. A report from the
Dixie Peanut Company owners
said their plant would be closed.
The Enterprise office is closing
for the day, and there’ll be no pap
er Thursday, the second issue of
the week to make its appearance
on Friday or a day late.
Hunters in large number are
planning to turn to the fields in
search of quail Thanksgiving day,
the first day of the open season.
A union Thanksgiving service
•will be held in the Christian
Church here at 10:00 o'clock that
morning. A similar service is to
be held in the Smithwicks Creek
Church at 11:00 o’clock Thursday
morning.
Pleads Gnilty Of
Fake Pretense
—.i—
Pleading guilty of misrepresent
ing his earnings to the Employ
ment Security Commission, Jerry
Purrington, 309 Sycamore Street,
I Williamston, was sentenced to jail
for thirty days by Justice Chas.
n Muh'cv last week-end.
The evidence accorumg to Rep
resentative Wood Privott, showed
that Purrington filed a claim
for unemployment compensation
while working with the Lindsley
Ice Company during the week
ending October 21. He told the in
terviewer of the State Security
Commission when he filed ’claim
! for unemployment compensation
for that week that he had earn
ings of $3 whereas he had worked
and earned $27.50 with the Linds
ley Company.
The jail sentence was suspended
upon the payment of the cost and
refunding the Employment Secur
ity Commission $14.50, the amount
he was overpaid as a result of his
misrepresentation of the true
facts.
To Sell Sakbury
Estate Property
The Salsbury properties in the
Hamilton-Hassell area will be of
fered for sale at public auction on
Monday, December 4, it has been
announced by P. L. Salsbury, ad
ministrator of R. W. Salsbury’s
estate, and agent for the heirs
of R. W. and Laura E. Salsbury.
The property, part of which has
been in the Salsbury family for
generations, includes the R. W.
Salsbury residence and other
holdings in Hamilton, the John
son farm near Hamilton, James
farm near Hassell, store buildings,
warehouses and vacant lots in
Hassell, the old Salsbury home
place which has been subdivided
into three sizable farms, and some
personal property.
The several farms have liberal
crop allotments.
Three Accidents
Od The Highways
In Martin County
One Accident Victim Placed
In Hospital For
Treatment
Slowing down considerably
from the wreck ’em up and tear
’em down pace set the week be
fore. motorists were involved in'
only three highway and street ae- :
cidents in this county last week
end. Only one person was injur
ed. and although she was hospital- i
ized, her injuries were not believ
ed to be serious.
Tho first in the three-wreck
series was reported last Thursday
morning on a rural road in Goose
Nest Township near the Jack
Smith home. A Jones boy was
driving a big tractor out of Robt.
Jones’ yard into the nine-foot road
just as Hurtford Smith drove up
in a 1950 Ford. Investigating the
accident, Patrolman R. P. Narron
said the tractor driver was hurt,
that the damage to the Ford would
approximate $200. Little damage
was done to the tractor.
Friday afternoon, Officer
George Ross was driving his 1947
Pontiac toward Greenville when
Jim Scott of Pactolus drove his
1948 Kaiser from a filling station
into the highway. No one was
hurt, and damage to the Pontiac
was estimated at $100 by Patrol
j man B. W. Parker who made the
i investigation. Damage to the
Kaiser was estimated at $35.
Saturday evening about 9:00
o'clock, Louise Biggs, 87-year-old
colored woman, started to walk
across West Main Street in front
j of Rogers’ store. Maurice A. Ap
ple of Burlington saw the aged
! woman, applied his brakes and his
j 1950 Frazer skidded sideways and
1 struck the pedestrian. He picked
’ her up and carried her to the hos
i pita! where she remained over
j night for observation and treat
ment. Witnesses said that the
I woman was looking at the ap
proaching car as she stepped into
the street.
Wm. E. Gurganus
Dies In Hospital
j Funeral services were conduct
led at the home in Bear Grass
j Township last Friday afternoon at
12:30 o’clock for William Edward
I Gurganus who died in Duke Hos
jpital, Durham, Wednesday night.
I He was in ill health for about a
J month, and his condition had been
critical following an operation
some over two weeks ago. Burial
” in the H<?o’! family cemetery
in Bear Grass TowniViYp'.
Mr. Gurganus was born in Bear
Grass fifty years ago and lived
and farmed there all his life.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs.
Allie ftawls Gurganus; two sons,
William Gray and Dallas Harrell
Gurganus, both of the home; two
daughters, Mrs. Henry Hoell of
Williamston and Doris Virginia
Gurganus of the home; three bro
thers, R. C. Gurganus of Bear
Grass, Henry Gurganus of Wil
liamston, and C. B. Gurganus of
Crossroads; a sister, Mrs. Leaman
Beach of Crossroads; three half
brothers, John, Joe and Ashley
Gurganus, all of Bear Grass; a
half-sister, Eunice Gurganus of
Bear Grass; his step-mother, Mrs.
Betty Gurganus of Bear Grass,
and four grandchildren.
Twenty-eight Men
Drawn For Court
Jury In December
Judge Walter J. Bone Of
Nashville To Preside
During Short Term
Twenty-eight men, including
several colored ones, were drawn
recently by the board of county
commissioners for jury duty dur
ing the one-week term of the Mar
tin Superior Court, convening the
second Monday in December. For
the first time since women were
qualified for jury duty none was
drawn for regular term of the
superior court. More than 85 per
cent of those drawn in the past
were excused by the court.
Judge Walter Bone of Nashville
is scheduled to preside over the
term which is to run no longer
than one week during which time
cases of both a criminal and civil
nature are slated for trial How
ever, few criminal cases and no
civil cases have as yet been placed
on the trial calendar.
Names of the citizens called for
jury duty are:
Jamesville Township: Clarence
Barber, Warren Brooks, Albert D.
Williams, Garland Barber, Bennie
Styrons and Wendell Modlin.
Williams Township: Joe A.
llardison.
Griffins Township: H. Virgil
Lilley, D. Clarence Gurkin, and
Miles R Lilley.
Bear Grass Township: Ralph
Mobley and Raymond Lee.
Williamston Township: O. L.
Woolard, William H. Everett, Jos.
A. Peel.and Theron R. Gurganus
Cross Roads Township: Oscar
Ayers.
Robersonville Township: Clar
ence Mathews, Leo J. Everett,
Elmo Bullock, E. B. VanNortwick,
LeRoy l)rown, Robert L. Cochran
and John E. Boone.
Popular Point Township: Tom
Taylor.
Hamilton Township: J. H. Har
rell.
Goose Nest Township: Geo. M.
Stevenson and R. L. Etheridge.
Achievement Day
Exercises Friday
Achievement Day was observed
by the colored schools here last
Friday.
A big parade, centered around
the local and Washington school
'bands, moved through the main
| street and a football game that
afternoon climaxed the day’s pro
1 gram.
~ ' KOtiND-UP
Nine arrests were reported
by local, county and State of
ficers here last week-end.
However, only eight persons
were jailed. One of the nine,
booked for riding a bicycle
while he was intoxicated, was
released the next day and
booked on a drunkenness
charge before the day was
spent.
Six of the nine were booked
for public drunkenness, and
one each for issuing a worth
less check, an assault and
reckless driving. The ages of
the group ranged from 18 to
56 years, and three of the
nine were white.
Holiday Proclamation
We are reaping another annual harvest, estimated to be
among the greatest in the history of America. While many
people in other lands live almost an animal existence on a
starvation diet we have sufficient for ourselves and can pro
vide help to many millions of others:
For these opportunities we should be truly thankful,
for our heritage of good is greater than ever.
Let us be thankful not for just what we have but for
the privilege of having enough so that we can extend our
aid and comfort to others whom the world ha,- not treated
so well. Let us be thankful for the good of tire past and
for the opportunities of the future.
Now, therefore, I, R. H. Cowen, Mayor of Williamston,
in accord with the proclamations of the President of the Unit
ed States and the Governor of North Carolina, and follow
ing a custom inaugurated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1(121, do
hereby proclaim Thursday, November 23rd, 1950, as Thanks
giving Day in Williamston and call upon all business activi
ties to cease on that day and may all our people repair to
their various places of wo "ship and render thanks to the
Almighty for the wonderful blessings we have received.
R. H. Cowen, Mayor,
Williamston, N. C.
Peanut Prices Rally
From A Brief Slump
Large Percentage
Oi Crop Marketed
In Martin County
--
Prices Now Fairly Stable
At Level Slightly
Above Supports
Following a brief slump ear
lier in the week, peanut prices
on the local market recovered
just about all of its losses last
Friday and Saturday and is now
holding to levels slightly above
support levels.
It is hard to say just what the
market price is, but farmers say
they are receiving prices in excess
of the support figures. A Cross
Hoads farmer said late yesterday
that he received 12 1-2 cents for
his peanuts, and the quality was
not the best. No official figures
could be had, blit some farmers
are said to have received thirteen
or slightly better for their offer
ings, the sellers explaining that
they had good quality goobers.
A spot survey, based on reports
| coming from nine out of the coun
ty's ten townships yesterday,
j shows that between 90 and 95 per
j cent of the crop has been picked
' in this county. With the exception
| of a few large-scale farmers, the
'growers have moved their peanuts
directly from the field to the mar
kets. It is the general consensus
of opinion that more than three
i fourths of the crop in this county
has moved out of tin* producers'
hands.
i Representatives of cleaners in
Virginia were said to have visited
I this section Sunday and were be
lieved to have been surprised to
, find so many fields bare. It is
fairly apparent that the edible
I type of peanut is corning up
short, that the market is likely to
| remain firm from now on out.
However, some of the buyers to
l day were said not to be so anx
' ious for peanuts. The latest at
titude compares with a report
heard yesterday in which it was
declared that buyers were active
on the farms on Sunday in sev
eral areas.
While it is believed that prices
for farmers’ stock have reached
near or right at the maximum
market, it isn’t likely that a
slump, certainly no prolonged one,
will follow the one reported ear
lier in the season. Unofficial in
formation reaching here from
some of the large dealers main
tain1- thaMh^^miinfihas hardly
. been hanme^anc^uTT'iSciinife
I (Continued on page eight)
—-*
j Record Crowd Ai
Thursday's Game
—<j,—
The largest attendance upon any
athletic event ever held here was
reported at the lMymouth-Wil
liamston football game last Thurs
day night.
An estimated 2,500 persons
crowded into the bull park, pay
ing a total of $1,0111.35 in admis
sions.
Automobiles filled parking lots
and yards in the school area, und
were parked in the streets for
blocks.
School officials said that the
total gate included $930 from the
sale of $2 tickets. The general
admission fees amounted to
$880.35.
Expenses included $34 for the
referees, $35 guarantee, $1.78 mis
cellaneous anil $199.20 federal tax,
leaving a net income of $1,541 37
| SPECIAL SERVICE
v _
Maintaining a custom of
many years’ standing, the
church at Kmithwick Creek
will hold a special community
Thanksgiving service there
Thursday morning at 11:00
o’clock, it was announced by
the pastor, Elder P. E. (let
singer.
Ail people, irrespective of
denomination, are invited to
attend and take part in the
service, the minister said.
PRESIDENT
V. J. “Bill” Spivev was
named 1951 President of the
Kiwanis Club of Wllliamston
at an election held at the last
meeting of the club. Spivey
will succeed C. B. Clark, Jr.
Elected to the offices of
vice-president and treasurer
were K. W. "Bob" Newell and
J. B. Bell. Wendell Peele, 1950
secretary, was reelected to
that office.
, Lay members elected to
serve on the board of directors
with the elected officers and
the outgoing president were
Cortez Green, James Manning,
Vernon Bunting, J. Paul
Simpson, II. R. Davis, K. P.
Monteith and Marvin Britton.
Rejections Run
High At Center
—♦—
No official report could be had
immediately, but according to in
formation, coming by way of the
old grapevine, a large percentage
of the forty-four Martin County
young men reporting for pre-in
duction examinations at Fayette I
vilie and Fort Bragg last Friday
flunked out.
It was reported that about five
out of twenty-five colored men
I passed, but that about seventeen
out of nineteen white men were
accepted for service.
One white man failed to report
j for the trip and was placed on the
delinquent list.
No official announcement has
been released, but some of those
j who have been delinquent with
the draft boat 1 .-re v l;|^'
be included in the list mT®?
to report for final induction on
December -I.
Recover A Nolor
And Lose Another
Outboard motors broke into the
news htpc last week-end when
one was recovered and another
lost.
A 10-horsepower Mercury mo
tor stolen from Contractor H. B.
Wyatt In bis tool house at the new
Chevrolet garage on Washington
Street a few months ago was re
covered near Gardner's Creek.
The thief, apparently using it
from time, to time, had hidden it
in the woods, but a Roberson boy,
fishing there, found the motor and
reported his find to Sheriff M W.
Holloman.
Parking his pick-up truck be
side the highway near Swan
Quarter just long enough to dig
worms, Farmer Clayton Bailey of
near Williamston, returned a few
minutes later to find his fishing
tackle and a 10 horsepower Wiz
zard outboard motor, serial num
ber 41070H gone
- y- -
Firemen Called Out
Here Yealenluy Soon
■—> —
Volunteer firemen answered a
call to a roaring gruss and brush
fire just off North Elm Street
here at noon yesterday.
While no damage was done, the,
fire threatened several outbuild
ings and at least one home.
It was the second time in a
week that firemen had been called
to the same spot.
Twenty-One Cases
Set For Trial In
Court Next Week
Short Schnliilr In Kffert
On Arronnt Of Holiday
This Week
With only a limited number of
civil cases on the calendar this
week on account of the Thanks
giving holiday, the Martin Coun
ty Superior Court is scheduled to
work most of next week in clear
ing the civil calendar.
The following cases are on the
calendar:
Sladc-Rhodes Company is suing
William Gainor to recover $255
due on a note.
Sladc-Rhodes Company is su
ing J J Pierce to recover $4(19.02
debt, the defendant in a counter
suit asking $1,,'196.57, amount of
damage alleged done him by
breach of contract.
Mamie C. Cambell, is asking
$3,000, amount alleged due under
terms of a separation contract.
The plaintiff points out that the
defendant has an interest in the
H D. Peel estate as a nephew, and
makes the administrators of the
estate defendants in the action.
Representative Harold Cooley of
Nashville is one of the attorneys
in the case.
J. H. Harrell, in the case against
Ernest Judge and others, is ask
ing $780 damages alleged to have
resulted when defendants cut and
removed wood and timber from
certain lands in Goose Nest Town
ship.
S H. Grimes is suing A W'
VanNortwick to recover $83.33 al
leged due on a note, plus interesl
from September 20, 1943
On Tuesday of next week tht
court is slated to call the easel
of Jas. G. Barnhill against Jef
ferson Standard Life Insurant’!
Company and the Life Insurants
Company of Virginia The plain
tiff is asking $40 a month of the
first company and $50 a month
of the second as compensation for
disability.
In the case of John Allen Davis
against P. L. Salsbury and others,
the plaintiff is suing to recover
two tracts of land m Florida,
maintaining that debt secured b.v
deed of trust if that of the R W.
Salsbury estate.
D. G. Matthews is suing Tide
water Piling and Timber Corpor
ation and W L. Winslow and J
L. Cooper for $1,800 due under
a timber contract.
Hattie T. R Davenport is suing
Thurston W. C Davenport to re
cover possession of an automobile.
Standard Fertilizer Company it
suing Rachel and Dewey Stewart
to recover $225.02 due on a note.
P. L. Salsbury, agent, is suing
Lemon St,land for S 1,046.30
ffnflcr a farm contract.
The following cases are on the
calendar for Wednesday:
John A. Revels is suing Paul
Hudson to recover $375 under a
contract entered into to furnish
the plaintiff a water supply.
Lucy Bryant is suing F B. Har
rell, administrator of estate of
Johnnie Jones, for $1,000, claim
ing that she is entitled to that
amount for keeping and caring
tor Jones during the last fourteen
months of his life.
Two persons are suing Earl
(Continued on page eight)
Building Auio
Supply Store
Removing the old building used
at one time as a bus station, Mr.
Jesse Whitley is starting construc
tion of a modern brick and steel
structure for an auto supply store
in Railroad Street just back of
Raynor’s service station.
The building, measuring about
Id by 75 feet, will be occupied by
the Welch Auto Supply Company,
it was announced.
I UNION SKIS VICE
»--—•-j
The annual Thanksgiving
service will be held at the
Christian church Thursday
morning at 10:00 o'clock. The
sermon will be preached by
the Rev. Thomas L. Hastings,
episcopal rector. The public
is invited. In the words of
psalmist. “It is a good thing
to give thanks unto the Lord”,