the enterprise is read by
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COPNTT
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK
THE ENTERPRISE
THE ENTERPRISE IS BRAD Hi
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT1
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEI
VOLUME LIII—NUMBER 93
«
Williamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday, November 23, 1950
ESTABLISHED 1899
Beer-Wine Sales
, Nel Eight Towns,
County $22,647.78
■—»—
Represents Sale of 1.811,
823 Bottle!; of Beer For
S452,956.(>0
Martin County and eight towns
therein received a few days ago
from the North Carolina State
Department of Revenue a total of
$22,647.78 as their share in the
t profits coming from the sale of
beer and wines during the twelve
months ending last September 30.
The amount is slightly in excess
of the total amount received a
year ago, but less than the record
amount paid the towns and coun
ties in 1948.
The distribution, a mighty small
part of the $2,108,647.18 accruing
to all the counties and towns
* where beer and wine were sold,
was announced as follows:
Martin County. $ 15,877.97; Wil
liamston, $3,476.23; Robcrsonville,
$1,233.25; Oak City, $448.77; Ham
ilton, $444.93; Jamesville, $437,38;
Parmele, $365.50; Everetts, $232.28;
and Hassell, $131.47, a combined
total of $22,647.78.
The money coming into the
counties and towns is collected on
beer at the rate of one and one
half cents a bottle. On that basis,
1,811,823 bottles of beer were sold,
costing the consumer approxi
mately $452,956.00
The big money went to the large
cities. Charlotte received $88,438.
93.
The distribution of the special
one and one-half cent tax is based,
among other factors, on popula
^ tion. It is apparent that the 1940
population figures were used in
effecting the distribution.
Non-Suit $25,000
Damage Law Suit
— —
The $25,000 damage suit brought
in the Mai tin County Superior I
Court by Arthur Lilley, adminis
trator of Dallas Hugh Lilley,
against L. W. Gurkin, operator of
Albemarle Beach, was non-suited
by Judge W H, S. Burgwyn Wed
nesday morning. Dallas Hugh Lil- j
ley, young Martin County boy,
was fatally injured when he dived
into shallow water at the beach in
July of last year. The youth died
a few days later in a Washington
q, hospital.
The plaintiff contended that
there were not sufficient signs
warning against the diving dan
gar It was maintained by plain
tiff witnesses that several signs
were printed on the pier floor,
that they were dim and could
..’av vile stopped
and observed closely. The defense
maintained the signs were readily
legible, that one could not help
but. see the signs. It was not
i brought out if any signs were
posted.
There was conflicting testimony,
one of the witnesses declaring af
ter the trial that he was misquot
ed, adding that he asked the beach
operator why there were no feigns
put up, warning against the dan
ger.
The defense made a motion for
non-suit at the conclusion of the
. plaintiff’s evidence Tuesday, but
it was denied at that time. The
motion was allowed Wednesday
morning when it was renewed at
the conclusion of all evidence. A
recess was ordered at that time
until Monday.
Firemen Called To
(> rut* Tin1 Wnlnenduy
Volunteer firemen were called
to a grass-brush fire on West
^ Main Street near the Jones home
at 1:40 Thursday afternoon. There
was no damage.
REMINDER
Those who would help make
little tots happy this Christ
mas are reminded that the
Jaycecs will canvass the town
Sunday afternoon at 2:00
o'clock for discarded but ser
vicable toys.
The last Christmas party
was a great si(ccess, and the
Jaycees are certain they will
have the cooperation of all
the people on making: the one
this year a success, too.
Reported Killed In Korea
Pvt. J. R. Bullock, 19-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs.
Asa Bullock of Robersonville, was reported killed in ac
tion in Korea on September 10, according to a message re
ceived from the War Department a few days ago.
Roberson ville Youth
Loses Life In Korea
J. R. Bullock Is !
First County Nan
Reported Killed
!\lr. ami Mr*. A»a Bullook
Advi»»‘«l Fi*m Days Ago
Son Was Mifttdnp;
-*
Pvt. J R. Bullock, first reported
missing on September 31, has
been killed in the Korean War,
according to a message received
by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Asa i
Bullock, of Robersonville on the j
16th of this month. Detailed in- I
formation is not yet available, the !
last message received by the |
voung man’s parents merely stat- j
mg that he was killed in action on ]
September 10.
The day the young man was re
ported missing his parents
received a letter from him
stating he was all right. The
letter was written prior to Sep
tember 10, however. A week af
ter the first message was received
from the War Department stuting
Pvt Bullock was missing, anoth
er letter was received by his pa
rents from the Department, ex
pi&ie.iUg '• - U.rf*•
missing. Then last Thursday the,
death message was received.
The last report direct from the 1
boy indicated that he had fought
his way with the first supporting
American troops about 75 miles
northward in Korea.
• Only eighteen years old when,
he volunteered for service in the
Army back in January of last
year, the youth trained at Fort
Jackson. Following his basic train
ing, he was transferred to Fort
Lewis, Washington, and “shipped
out" in July tor the Korean war
front.
Several Martin County men
have been reported wounded and
one missing m the Korean War,
but Pvt. Bullock is the first youth
from the county to have been re
ported killed there.
-$
To Lay Asphalt
On County Road
Its special plant nearing comple
tion at Hassell, the Brown Pav
ing Company plans to start lay
ing sand-asphalt on the county
road project between Everetts and
»he Hamilton-Palmyra Road of
Spring Green, Gold Point, Has
sell and Oak City about Tuesday
or Wednesday of next week, wea
ther permitting.
The road, the first of its type
in the county, will require about
25,000 tons of sand-asphalt. Wea
ther permitting, the contractor
plans to complete the project in
about six weeks.
Traffic will be rerouted in some
cases, but the road will not be
closed to traffic except for short;
periods, one report said. j
QIJ1ET
f
S.
With thf exception of one
highway accident between
Williamston and Jamcsville
early In the evening, Thanks
giving was observed without /
incident here and in the coun
ty.
Large crowds heard Rev.
Thomas Hastings deliver the
Thanksgiving sermon at a
union service held In the
Christian C'hruch that morn
ing at 10:00 o'clock.
Traffic was not too con
gested throughout the day.
Hunters turned to the fields
and woods in large numbers,
and Just about all those not
engaged in hunting went fish
ing. The weather was ideal
for outdoor activities. Only
one plant was in operation.
Few peanuts-were received
because graders were not
available.
Hears Nothing
From Lost Honey
—^—-—
A week has passed and Farmer
/VYidww Gidim Giiffins I’own
ship has heard nothing from those
twenty-two $100 bills Mrs. Griffin
lost either in Williamston or Tar
boro on Thursday morning of last
week. ,
A few rumors about the lost
money have been heard and Mr.
Griffin has followed many of them
up but without success. The mon
ey was in a small black pocket
book with a small chain attached
and the words, “Lost Colony”
printed on it. While Mr. Griffin,
cheered on by the splendid co
operation he has received from
interested people and officers in
both Martin and Edgecombe
Counties, is still hopeful he'll
hear from the lost money and be
lieves it will not suffer the same
fate as Raleigh’s Lost Colony.
The farmer is still offering a
liberal reward for the return of
the money.
Representing a year's income,
the farmer said his f imily had
planned to buy a number of things
and invest the remainder in bonds -
Miss Cora Prodor
Died In Hospital
Friday Morning
Funeral Service Sutimluy
For Well-Known Buxi
ne!*!* Woman Here
Miss Cora Proctor, well known
in business and religious ser
vices here for a number of years,
died in a Washington hospital
Friday morning at 7:45 o'clock.
She had been in declining health i
for several years. After undergo
ing a major operation about two 1
years ago she returned to her
home here and was able to carry
on her business duties until about
seven weeks ago when she re
turned to the hospital for treat
ment. Her condition had been
grave since Wednesday evening
when pneumonia developed and
relatives from Baltimore were
called.
Miss Proctor was born in Car-1
diff, Maryland, the daughter of!
the late George and Anna Proc- j
tor, and spent most of her life;
there. She moved to Williamston
seventeen years ago to make her
home with her sister, Mrs. B. A.
Critchcr, and family, forming a
partnership with her sister and
operating a mercantile business
bearing her name.
At an early age,‘she took mem
bership with the Presbyterian
church in Cardiff, and was active
in its work down through the
years, giving liberally of her tin^:
and means to its support and for
the finer ideals of life. During
her long illness she never com
plained, but would see the bright
side of everything and cheer
others along.
Surviving besides her sister
here, are a brother, Dale Proc
tor, and a sister, Mrs. II. V. Har
per, both of Baltimore.
Funeral services will be con
ducted at the home on Watts
Street here Saturday afternoon at
3:00 o’clock by Rev. James I.
Lowry, a former pastor now of
Norfolk. Interment will be in
Woodlawn Cemetery here.
Lillie Time Leit
To Get Licenses
The R, S, T group of motorists
represents the largest of the
groups of motorists who must
stand examination for drivers li
cense renewals, and only a month
and a half remains in which they
may obtain renewals, the North
Carolina Department of Motor Ve
hicles said today.
Approximately 1(10,000 North
Carolinians are ineluded in the
K-T group. With over three
past, only 130,493 persons have
tuken the examination.
Examiners seldom can test over
20 persons a day. With 50,000
drivers in this category left to be
tested between now and Decem
ber 31, some will have to wait
in line. The Department urges
them to go to their nearest drivers
license examiner as soon as con
venient. Don’t wait until the rush
begins and the lines start forming.
j ARMY CALL
i
A call was received by the
Martin County Draft Board,
directing it to send thrily men
to the receiving stations in
Fayetteville and Fort Bragg
for pre-induction examina
tions on Wednesday, Decem
ber 20.
During the meantime, a
number of men in the county
are answering a final induc
tion call.
Critically Hurt
When Hit By Car
Thursday Night
—
Grover Peel Detained Here |
On Heeklesa Driving
Charge
-r—
Jean Lanier, 12, and her sister.
Ora Lee Lanier, 10, were critical
ly injured and ^larie Hardison, 11,
suffered shock when-they were
run down by Grover Peel in an
automobile just a short distance
this side of Godard's No. 90 Fill
ing Station about 5:30 Thursday
evening.
The 12-year-old colored girl
suffered a broken left arm and
broken left leg. She was also
bruised and skinned badly about
the body. Her sister, Ora Lee,;
suffered a severe head injury,
but no broken bones. She was
terribly skinned from head to
foot. The third victim, apparent
ly feeling a glancipg blow, was'
said to have only suffered shock j
and was able to leave the hospital
after receiving medical attention.
The victims were removed by
Booker T. Smithwick to Martin
General Hospital where the entire
medical staff and technicians
worked for hours repairing the
damage. A report this morning
stated the two girls were getting
along as well as could be expected,
that their temperature held to a
reasonable point, and that they
rested fairly well last night.
The three girls were walking
beside the highway when Grover
Peel, accompanied by Rachel Hill,
Wyoma Woolard, Joe Clark and
Clara Clark and a man named
"Joe’, drove up from the rear, ran
off the highway and cut them
down. Peel, explaining he was
driving toward Williamston on
Highway No. ti4, said he was meet
ing a car, that another one stop
ped ahead of him and he applied
brukes and ran off the road. Wit
nesses offered conflicting testi
mony, and Patrolman John T.
Rowe, making the investigation,
charged Peel with reckless driv
ing and detained him in the coun
ty jail. Patrolman Rowe said the
car traveled 117 feet after run
ning off the highway.
The accident was the only one
reported in* the county Thanks
giving day. Prelimintary reports
indicated there were compara
tively few accidnets in the State.
Barter Theatre A
Unique Project
The Barter Theatre, bringing an
able east for a one-night porfor- j
inavu'e in the local high school
auditorium next Wednesday night
at 11:00 o'clock, has an interesting
background and is a unique pro
ject.
Back in depression days, actors,
actresses and playwrights in Vir
ginia organized the Barter Thea
ter in an effort to keep body and
soul together. Farm and garden
crops were accepted in the place
of the cold cash for admission.
The group did very well as far as
fuod was concerned, for at the end
of the first season they had all
kinds of canned foods, but only
a dollar or two each in cash.
During the meantime the thea
ter project made a great name
for itself. Many of its participants
have moved up to star positions
on stage and screen. The group is
now traveling in several states,
and offer splendid shows.
The theater group is being
brought to WiIJiamston by the
Jaycees, not as a money-making
project, but simply because of the
entertainment value.
Family Quarrel Leads To
Shot Gun Duel In County
A family quarrel was climaxed]
by a shot gun duel between Gro-!
ver Dixon (Dickens), 45, and Er
nest Bridges, 30, on the old J.
Lass Wynne farm not far from
Everetts early Friday morning.
After firing one time each and
with two small shots in Dixon's
leg, the two called it "quits” and
ran to their respective home
where they were found a short
time later by Sheriff M. W. Hol
loman and deputy Raymond
Rawls.
The two men were loading pea
nuts, arguing about their fam
ilies during the meantime. Dixon
quit his work, explaining he was
going for his gun. Bridges said he
had a gun too, and would meet
Dixon. They met at the end of
the farm lane near a tenant house.
There's some argument about the
first shot, but it was fairly cer
tain that after he fired his gun,
Bridges left immediately for his
home. Dixon did not follow, go
ing to his home a short time la
ter.
While the duel w'as in the mak
ing, Wilrner Biggs got into his
car to go for officers. Just abut
all others on th£ farm except
Dixon and Bridges left there with
him.
Questioned by officers, Dixon
and Bridges said they were
through and ready to cull the
whole thing off. The two men
were placed under $100 bonds and
they returned to their work, load
ing peanuts.
Men Are Ordered To
Report for Induction
r
WARNING
I
J
A timely warning was is
sued this week by Sheriff M.
tV. Holloman and other offi
cers against possessing and
shooting fireworks.
North Carolina has outlaw
ed fireworks by special statue,
and the sheriff points out that
it is unlawful to have them
in one's possession as well
as shoot them. Open sale is
prohibited in the State, hut
individuals are having them
shipped in.vReceiving stations
will be checked periodically,
and the officers ask the peo
ple to accept the mandate of
the law. The contraband is
subject to confiscation and the
law Violators are subject to
prosecution in the courts.
The warning came this
week after officers had re
ceived complaints and after it
was learned that a goodly
number of individual ship
ments are beginning to move.
Bad Showing At
Induction Center
Martin County young men, re
porting for pre-induction exami
nations at Fort Bragg on Friday.
November 17, made a mighty bad
showing.
Only seventeen of the forty-two
who made the trip passed the ex
laminations, it was officially learn
ed.
Twelve of the seventeen white
men reporting, passed all the
tests. Two were rejected on ac
count of physical disabilities, and
three failed to pass the general
classification test.
Of the twenty-five colored men
reporting, only five were accept
ed. Twenty failed to pass the gen
eral classification test.
/*/«« Memorial Service
For Fate Scout Leader
A memorial serviet for Jeffry
Michaud (Little Bear) will be held
in Woodlawn Cemetery here Sun
day afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. A
short program, honoring the mem
ory of the late Hoy Scout leader,
has been planned. Scoutmaster
Thurman Matthews will open the
program following a song by tfie
Boy Scouts, and Rev. Stewart H.
Simms will make a short talk.
The boys will repeat the Scout
oath, followed by the scoutmas
ter’s benediction.
Saijta Claus Coming To Town Wednesday
Santa Claus will be coming to
Williamston next Wednesday af
ternoon, November 29, at 4:00
o'clock, it was officially announc
ed by A) Sweatt^ Managing Di
rector of the Boosters, who are
sponsoring the merry ole gentle
man’s visit.
He will be met by Messrs. Hom
er Barnhill and Dick Elliott, plac
ed on one of the town’s fire trucks
and hurried into town with a spec
ial escort.
Professor Jack Butler and his
High School Band will have a part
in the special program, rendering
special holiday music.
The thousands of little folks—
and old ones, too in this entire
section are invited to greet Santa
in Williamston that afternoon.
Santa is bringing a pack full
of little favors for distribution,
and he’ll take up all the children’s
letters to him at that time. No
postage will be required, but those
asking a reply should enclose a
return addrdss.
Almost, crushed by the large
crowds last year Santa is planning
to hold to his perch on the lire
truck. He will have helpers to dis
tribute the favors and receive the
letters. Every letter will find its
way into his hands, and the little
folks are asked to get busy with
their pencils and paper.
The Town Commissioners and
the Booster organization have
joined forces to decorate the
street with Christmas lights and
in the shipment of evergreen rop
ing arrives in time, the holiday
spirit will be much in evidence
on Main and Washington Streets
in Williamston.
Remember the dale of Santa's
preview visit this year is the 20th
of November at 4:00 P. M. and al
so remember to have the children
get their letters ready; no postage
will be necessary. If an acknow
ledgement is wanted, to be sure
to include a return address for
Santa’s convenience.
Orders Go Out To
Nineteen Martin
Men This Week
Three Delinquents luolntl-!
ed In Group Leaving On
1th Of December
!
Orders were mailed this week to
nineteen Martin County young
men, instructing them to report
for final induction into the Army
on Monday, December 4. They
will go to Fort Bragg from this
county and be assigned there to
other centers for their basic train
ing. The group is the third to
leave the county for final induc
tion. Reports from several of those
in the first group state they are
getting along all right, but in
variably they express regrets
about not being able to get home
for Christmas.
Induction orders were mailed to
twelve white men and four color
ed men. In addition to the sixteen
the draft board is ordering three
others to report for induction.
None of the last three has receiv
ed a pre-induction examination, I
but they failed to meet certain re
quirements and were rated de
linquent, meaning they are sub
ject to final induction without :
preliminaries.
The names of the twelve white |
men receiving induction orders
are:
Milton Bennett Wynne, RFD3,
William..!,.;.
Rufus Manning, RFD 1, Oak!
City.
Mack llyman Warren, HKD 1,1
Robersonville.
Melvin Goddard, Williamston.
Harry Calvin Ayers, RFI) 2,
Williamston.
James Davis Modlin, Jamesville.
Jesse Gray Lilley, RFD I, Wil
i liamston.
A. F,. Manning, RFD 1, James
I ville and Hopewell, Va.
Horace Edwin Coltrain RFD 3,
Williamston.
William Earl Meeks, RFD 1,
Robersonville.
James Dillon Cherry, RFD 2,
Williamston
Earl Milton Coburn, Jr., Rober
sonvilUV
The following colored men were
(Continued from Rage Six)
Start M ark on Sewer
Project Next Monday
The Clark Construction Com
pany is scheduled to start work
on the town’s sewer extension
project next Monday, according
to information received here to
day.
The contractors plan to start
laying 15-inch pipe near the river
and work back.
----— *
Fire S tree pa Cornfield
llurna Into the If ooda
Fire swept through a corn
patch and bunted into the woods
on the Rogers farm just off the
. Williamston-Beur Grass Road at
11.25 o’clock Friday morning.
Williamaton firemen were called,
but they could render no assis
tance.
Three Additional
Wrecks Reported
In Martin County
One Victim Suffers Broken
Shoulder And Another
A Neck Injury
Three automobile accidents
were reported on the highways
in the county the early part of
this week, running the total count
to five in a three-dav period. No
one was killed, but one of the vic
tims suffered a broken shoulder
and another received a neck in
jury. Still another victim was
hurt about the knee.
After freeing a load of corn
that had mired down while the
truck was parked beside the high
way, Patrolman 13. W Parker was
kept jumping, receiving several
wreck calls in the course of about
two hours.
Losing control of his 1941 Ford
on a dirt road not far from Mc
Daniel's station in Bear Grass
Township, Herman Taylor skid
ded into the railing on a bridge,
doing about $50 damage to his
car and about $40 to the bridge
railing. He was not hurt.
The second accident, coming
about thirty minutes later, took
place on the Prison Camp Road,
a few miles from Wilhamston at
Micelle’s store Elsie Ruth Bowen,
driving a 194(1 Ford with a learn
er's permit, pulled from the store
filling station into the highway
just as Willie D. Brown came
along in his 1937 Chevrolet.
I Brown, traveling toward Cross
Roads, swerved to his left, missing
the Bowen ear but ditching his
(own. Charles Lester Roberson,
j riding with Brown, suffered a
broken shoulder. Ben Roberson,
another passenger in the Brown
| car, had his knee hurt. They were
j discharged from the hospital after
| receiving treatment. Damage to
| the car was estimated at $200 by
Patrolman Parker.
About an hour later, Clarence
Purvis, said to have been flying
1 low, lost control of his 1941 Chev
rolet in a curve on the Roberson
ville-Cross Roads Road. The ma
I chine, after cutting all sorts of
i capers and skidding about eight
yards, turned over. Nathaniel
Hopkins, riding with Purvis suf
fered a severe neck injury and
1 is confined following medical
treatment. Damage to the car was
i estimated at $150
To Offer Special
: Extension Course
——
A special extension course in
j American Literature will be of
j fered to teachers and other in
i tei ested o*. - •. >-■ ’ ■ .
I beginning next Tuesday evening
| at 7:00 o’clock in tile primary
| building of the Williamston school
it was announced this week
A goodly number has signed up
for the course, and others are in
vited to enroll, it was said.
Sponsored by Last Carolina
Teachers College, the classes will
be taught by Dr. Posey of the Col
lege faculty*
-» -
Mr. Lev House Suffers
Attack l.atc W ednesday
Mr W Lee House, prominent
county business man, suffered an
ataek at his home near flobvr
sonville at 0:00 o’clock Wednes
day night Ills condition was im
mediately recognized as critical
and it was not until Thursday
afternoon that he was able to be
removed to a hospital here.
Although he was reported tu
have rested fairly well Thursday
night, he continues quite ill.
I\.T. A. MEETING
v.
J
The November meeting of
the Williamstpn Parents
Teachers will be held in the
(irammar School auditorium
on Monday night at 7:30 with
Mr. Prank G. Puller. Director
of Guidance at E. C. T. C.,
speaking on the subject: “Un
derstanding People.”
Dr. Filler is expected to
have something to say that
will be of interest to both the
teachers and parents. The
I public is invited to hear him
and especially any and all
members of the local or coun
ty P.-T. A. groups.