f * THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BT OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE -- THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BT OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK VOLUME LV—-NUMBER 54 Williumston, Merlin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, July tt, 1952 ESTAKLfSfftif) 1899 Budget For Town Is Tentatively Set By Commissioners Small Salary Increases Are Granted In Several Departments ^ _ Williamston's 1952-53 budget, calling for a tax levy of approx imately $95,000, was tentatively approved by the board of com missioners in regular meeting last wening. Final figures, subject to approval, will be released just as soon as a few adjustments are made, it was explained. The bud get total runs about the same as the one in effect for the last fis cal year, and leaves the tax rate unchanged at $2.00 per $100 as sessed property valuation. Small salary increases, ranging from $10 to $12.50 a month, were approved, the board pointing out that the small increases will bring the pay schedule in line with the prevailing wage scale, services considered. Treasurer C. M. Cobb'reported $33,023 in cash on hand, and listed revenue from sewer rentals at $$28.65, and $933. from parking meters. Approximately $4,495 is due in 1951 taxes. i A petition, calling for the curb ing and surfacing of North Elm Street from Church to White Street, was received and placed in line. The Williamston Boosters' traf fic committee made suggestions for relieving the parking and traf fic problems. The purchase of Marking lots for off-street parking teters. The committee also re commended, the elimination of parking meters on North Smith wick Street, no left turns from Washington Street into Main, one way alleys by Dardens Store and the Guaranty Bank, to assign po lice to congested intersections dur ing certain hours, to, synchronize the stop lights and to place a stop light at the Haughton-Washing ton Street intersection. The re port was duly acknowledged, but no action was taken. 0 The town attorney was instruct i ed to start condemnation proceed ings for a side walk leading to the I AME Zion Church orr Rhodes Street. A grade crossing for Slade Street was discussed. Taxi franchises were discussed, the board delaying action on a problem created when a holder ^ (Continued on Page Eight) -♦ Hamilton Home Burned Monday Fit'v of undttefanir.ed origin de stroyed the Dewey Stalls six room home and all the contents about 3:00 o’clock Monday morn ing in Hamilton. Mr. Stalls and family had left earlier in the r#omng for a visit in Philadel phia, and no one was at home. Neighbors, smelling smoke, got up just in time to see the fire break through the roof and the . inp The fire, by that time, had gained so much headway that the neighbors could not even get close enough to get the boys’ bi cycles off the porch. Robersonville’s fire department answered the call to keep the fire f^um spreading. The house belonged to Commis sioner Henry S. Johnson who ex plained that his store burned in Hamilton four years ago to the day. The house and contents were insured for about one-half their value, it was learned. ANSWER « Meeting- Monday member* ol the Martin County Board of Education discussed final plans for answering the $600,000 law suit brought against them by a number of Martin County Negroes. The answer is bding filed in the federal court at Washington. Only three members of the board, Messrs. J. D. Woolard, Cecil Powell and Ernest Ed mondson, were in attendance upon the meeting. Ill for some time but much improved now, Mr. Edmondson was able to attend his first meeting in some time. Railroad Underpass Case To Go To Supreme Court In a ruling handed down a few days ago, Judge J. Paul Frizzelle said the Atlantic Coast Line Riii road Company was not obliged to* do anything to eliminate the death trap at the underpass on Williamston's West Main Street. At the same time, the jurist main tained that the North Carolina State Highway Commission was obliged to remedy the situation. The ruling leaves the condition still mired down in confusion with the railroad company holding the high Viand just now. It means that the e^sc will be carried to the State Supreme Cou.t by the High way Commission and possibly the town. During thr meantime, the death trap continues to stand, a monument to apparent stubborn ess on the part of someone. If the town authorities do not carry its case against the Coast Line to the Supreme Court, then the Highway Commission is like ly to seek relief there. Should the Highway Commission go to the high court and score a victory, then the town is left bottled up by an unsightly obstacle with little'or no hope for relief. It had been hoped that a joint operation could be arranged, but since the railroad company has scored a preliminary victory, that hope is believed to have faded. IMPORTANT An important meeting of farmers, business and profes sional men and civic leaders from all over the county will be held in the Martin County courthouse Thursday evening of this week at 8:00 o'clock. The July 19 referendum on tobacco marketing quotas will be discussed at that time by a representative of the State Production - Marketing Ad ministration office. The public is invited to at tend and hear the important issue discussed. Native 01 County Died Wednesday In Gainesville Funeral Held Last Saturday In Florida For Mrs. Frank Sexton Mrs. Frank SexlonT a native of this county, died in a Gainesville, Florida, hospital last Wednesday night at 11:00 o'clock following a few months of declining health. Her condition had been critical only a few weeks. The former Miss Lillian Belle Hardison, she was born in this county fifty-six years ago on Oc tober 10, 1895, the daughter of the late Simon Edwin and Sallie Martin Hardison. After attend ing the local schools and Atlantic Christian College, she was mar ried to Mr. Sexton of Jamesvillc, and located in 1921 in the Florida city 'here her husband was just recently re-elected sheriff of the county. . Well remembered here, Mrs Sexton viis* active in the ufiarrs of Gainesville. She was a member of the Cosmos Club, the Hydran gea Circle of the Gainesville Gar den Club, the American Legion Auxiliary, the V. F. W. Auxiliary, the League of Women Voters, the Home Demonstration Club, and the 40 and 8, Fourth District, Sa lon No. 521. Surviving besides her husband at e seven bro*hers, Lucian J , Lee D , Williford, ft. J:, G-uige and C. B Hardison, all of Wii liamston, and John Hardison of Gainesville. Funeral services were conduct ed at the First Christian Church where she was a member in Gainesville last Saturday morning at 10:00 o’clock by the pastor, the Rev. Paul Henry Packard. Inter ment was in Evergreen Cemetery, Gainesville. Among those attending the fun eral from this county were: Messrs. Howard Gaylord, W. B. (Continued on case eight) Royal Studio Moves To The Leggett Building Housed over the Firestone Store next to the Guaranty Bank for several years, the Royal Studio is moving to the second floor of the Leggett building on Main Street, Mr, Wm. Tetterton said this morn ing they planned to open for bus iness in the new quarters on Thursday of this week. --—<#> CONTINUES QUITE ILL Mrs. Robert Todd, telephone supervisor in the local office, con tinues quite ill in Duke Hospital. A late report said she did not rest at all last night until 4.00 o’cloek this morning. She was transfer red to Durham in a Biggs ambu lance last Thursday. Two Wrecks Here During Holidays —— No ono was badly hurt but con siderable damage resulted in two automobile accidents reported on local streets during the long July 4 holiday week-end. Several lo cal people were involved in high way accidents outside the county but none of them was believed to have been badly hurt. A year ago, two persons were killed on the highways in this county. The holiday observance started off with a bang at 8:00 o'clock on the morning of the Fourth when a 1951 Chevrolet, driven by R. Adams Draughan of Dunn, crash ed into a 1952 Buiek driven by Ernest N. Morgan of Charleston at the Watts-Main stop light. Tra veling north, the Buick had stop ped for the red light and the Che vrolet plowed into the rear of it, causing about $750 damage to the month-old Buick and about $500 to Draughan’s car. Iris Moore, riding in the Chevrolet, suffered a painful cut under her right eye, and Mrs. Morgan suffered a minor leg injury. Others, including Mrs. Gene Butcher in the Buick, ex perienced moinor shock and all were able to continue following treatment in a local hospital. Members-of the local police de partment made the investigation. Driving north on East Main Street, Rudolph Everett stopped his Chevrolet quickly near Roan oke Avenue and Wheeler Brown plowed into the rear of the Chev rolet with his Ford. Investigating the accident, Officer Chas. Moore ! said no one was hurt and that the damage was limited to $50 to Brown's car. -- Gilbert P. Chase Dies In Richmond Commander Gilbert Paul Chase, USN Retired, died in Richmond July 2nd of a cerebral hemor rhage. He was born at Bunker Hill Plantation, Lancaster County, Virginia, September 20, 1873, son of Captain William Tell Chase and Fannie Lee Beeler. He was edu cated in Baltimore schools, Vir ginia Military Institute and grad uated class i697 at Aturupous His retired life was spent in Paris, France, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Lancaster Coun ty, Virginia. He married in Havana, Cuba, January 26, 1905, Edelmira Cul mell, daughter of the Danish Con sul. She with one son, Gilbert, of Lima, Peru, Cultural Attache, State Department; three grand sons, Paul, Peter and John; three sisters, Mrs. E. E. Lawson, Sr., New Point, Virginia, Mrs. Raw leigh Carter, Kilmarnock, Vir ginia and Mrs. James Grist Staton, Williamston, survive him. Burial was at Sea. Dr. A. R. Peele Eulers Practice Dr. A. R. Peele has entered up on the practice of veterinary med icine in this and adjoining coun ties, and will open an office just i as soon as quarters can be found, it was announced today. The son of Mrs. CV A. Peele of near Williamston and the late Mr. Peele the young doctor was re cently graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Au burn, Alabama. Dr. and Mrs. Peele are at home in the Corey Apartments in West End. Flood Gates Are Closed At Buggs Island June 30th Reservoir To Be Filled To Required Level About First Of October The flood ^ates of the John If. | Kerr Dam at Buggs Island were \ officially closed June 30 and the j filling of the huge 80,000 acre | basin behind the dam was started. j In some places the lake to be i created will be more than 100 feet deep. For a few hours at a time in the past month the gates had 1 bee- closed to permit certain >.r | gineering tests and calculations to J be carried out, but June 30 mark- j ed the official start of the filling j of the reservoir. It was stated that the only fac tors which might enter into a de cision to reopen the gates before the reservoir is filled to the pow» er development level would be a great flood requiring a drawdown of the waters on an accelerated scale, stoppage of work above the dam on roads and bridges because of a shortage of steel or failure to clear up some pending land acquisition cases before the water level of the lake reached the lev el of these lands. At the present time because of the steel strike some difficulty is being experienced in obtaining steel to complete the highway bridge at Clarksville, Va„ which is being elevated about 45 feet, and some units of the power house cannot be put into use, or water run through them, until certain vital steel parts are obtained. Col. William Powers, district engineer in charge, emphasized that this work must be completed and the vital parts obtained before full use could be made of the huge development. Colonel Powers was on hand for the closing of the gates. He point ed out that three small gates re main open to carry the normal average flow of the river for the protection of down stream in terests. It is estimated by the Corps of Engineers, said Col. Powers, that the reservoir will be filled up to the required level for power development by October when the John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir will be officially dedi cated. Accident Victims Reported Belter Injured in falls while working jan 'ne new Negro .high school I here, Messrs Geo. Beach and J . T. Williams were reported improving in a local hospital today. Beach suffered fractures of both legs when a staging collapsed week before last. He plans to re turn to his home today. Mr. Wil liams suffered a back injury when he fell from a scaffold Tuesday. DIRECT Rufuy Ajmsjran.tr Manager, of Williamston Radio Station WIAM has just announced that WIAM will carry Daily programs direct from Con vention Hall in Chicago from 7:00 to 7:15 p. m., beginning today, July 8. Merle O'Brien, noted com mentator, will interview North Carolina Delegates on each of these programs. General Rains Reported In 7 he County Past Few Days Possibly the dry spell has not been broken in its entirety in all parts of the county, but heavy .;r,6'.ver.> iell in various sections Sunday, followed by fairly gen eral rains Monday and bringing about the first real relief from one of the longest dry-hot spells in years. Williamrton, reporting nearly three inches of rain Sunday af ternoon and up until early last j night, had the heaviest rainfall reported*in the State during the period of approximately 24 hours. Sunday afternoon from ? to 3 o’clock, 1.95 inches of rain fell, according to a report released by Hugh Spruill, Roanoke River bridge keeper. The fall, howaver, v-— — whs limited. The Hamilton and Farm Life sections reported mighty little, but the rains Mon day were more general and it is believed all sections are tree of the drought to some extent, at least. Fields near Robersonville Mon day had water in the row middles, and other sections are believed to have had a plentiful supply for the present, at least. While no new record was set, June was one of the driest months on records in this section, and the dry condition was aggravated by record high tempo atures. Only ! H3 inches of rain were recorded on Roanoke River, and that was .considerably more than was re corded in most other areas. Highway Corporal Painfully Injured In Wreck Sunday —-<§> Ralph Boston Held in 82, (MMi Bond In Marlin Ami Beaufort Counties Cpl. M. C. Byrum, popular member of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol with head quarters in Williamston, was pain fully but believed not seriously injured in a highway accident over in Beaufort County Sunday morning at 10:30 o’clock. Suffer ing two broken ribs, chest and head injuries and a bruised leg, the officer was removed to a lo cal hospital in a Washington am bulance. Last reports stating that his condition is improving. Patrolling Highway 04 in the Dardens section Sunday morning, the officer met a speeder and turned around to check him. The race, stepped up to 95 miles an hour at times, continued into Jamesville where Ralph Edgar Boston, driving a Buiek, made a left turn into Highway 171 and maintained the pace. Corporal Byrum called for a road block and three patrolmen from this county and Washington set up a road block on the route not far from Old Ford. After crossing from Martin into Beaufort County, Boston, 22 years old, turned left into a dirt road connecting with Washington's Market Street, Ex tension, The Buiek was said to have forced a Chevrolet pick-up truck off the road, the driver of the truck pulling back just in time to hit the highway patrol ear head on. The driver of the truck and passengers were said not to have been badly hurt, but were treated in a Washington hospital. (Continued on Pane Eiyht) Wind-Hail Storm Strikes Section I A wind and hail storm, its force 'more or loss limited, struck parts of this county Sunday afternoon, blowing a tenant dwelling off its foundation and falling a few trees and shelters in its path. Some hail was reported in the Poplar Point section, but. damage there is not believed to be extensive. The reports are to be elieekeri la ter in the week by adjusters, it was learned. No one was said to have been hurt when the wind lifted the five-room tenant house belonging to Agriculturist Vance L. Rober son ofr its foundation near Gold -Rous!. Sund ay m f ter tv. »oblJBevocal fairly sizable trees' were"brown down in lb.it area, and a lubaeeo barn and a shelter were wrecked by the wind, one on the Grimes farm, and the other near Butler's bridge. Badly Burned In Tar Kellie Explosion Here NJr. J. C. White, owner and op erator of White's Sheet Metal Works, was badly burned about the face and han: fields. Payments to individual farmers ran as much as $2,200, it was learned. One company’s premium re ceipts amounted to less than half the amount paid back to farmers in this county it was declared. Five adjusters, including Ham Edwards, former teacher in the Williamston schools, worked two days making the adjustments in this county. Umlrifiofs Oftvnilion In Uullimorv llos/nlal Mr. C. CJ. Crockett who under went an operation in Johns Mop kins Hospital, Baltimore, last week is reported to be in excel lent condition. The operation on his left lea whs said to be a suc cess and he will probably return home within ten days or two weeks. !'K0\10Ti;i) 1 V Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Ander son and Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler Martin received notice last week that their son and ne i phew, Oscar Anderson, Jr., was recently promoted from Major to Lt. Colonel. Colonel and Mrs. Martin are stationed in Washington. Funeral Service ForMrs.AUigood Here Last Friday Wcll-kiimvu r.oiinly (lili/.rn Dii'tl Lasl W nliicsilay In Kalri^li Hospital r uncial services were conduct ed in the Biggs Funeral llume Chapel here last Friday afternoon .it 2:30 o’clock for Mis Adana Newton Alligood who died in a Raleigh hospital last Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock. The Hev. Mr. Sherman, former pastor of the Williams Chapel Church near Palmyra, conducted the rites and interment was in the Waters family cemetery m Jamcsville Township. Mrs. Alligood had been in de clining health for some time, but her condition was not considered serious until about two weeks ago | when she was removed to the hos ! pita 1. | The daughter of the late Joseph Baker Waters and Aletlia Waters, she was born in Jamesville Town ship^7ti years ago on May !), 11174, ■‘i.ri-cl—spent most ■ .4-4,t r hie -there. i In early womanhood ,-.hi imni ied to J K. Newton who died in 1915. Following her marriage to W. J. Alligood, she made her home in Koanoke Rapids where she was a member of the Chris turn Church. Following Mr A111 good’s death in 1940, she made her home with a daughter, Mrs Hen ry Early, in this county. More recently she visited in the home of another daughtei, Mrs. Walter i Woolen .n ivoi.ii ;1, leaving-the.-< to enter the hospital Mrs. Alligood had many friends m her native and adopted com munities and was held in high cs teem by all who knew her. Surviving are two sens and three daughters, all by her first marriage, Archie 1) and Phillip Newton, both of Miami: Mi Hen ry Early of Oak City, Mrs Walter Wooten of Wendell and Mrs Wal ter Borovkiff of Norristown, Pa.: three sisters, Mrs. J B Hardy of i Greenville, Mrs. I). B Harrison and Mrs. Harvey Wheeler, both of j Roanoke Rapids, two brothers, j Warren and Edgar Watt rs, both of j Jamesville; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Escaped Injury ! In Car Accident! Severn I local young people es caped injury (luring a heavy rain storm about M.-15 o’clock Sunday afternoon when their ear, a Ply mouth, turned over on a curve in I (he Washirigton-Belhaven High way near Pantego. Miss Marie Peel, driver, was accompanied by Betti? Roberson and Billy Britton Thomas, and they were en route to Belhaven to attend a young people’s religious meeting. The ear was badly damaged, ac cording to reports reaching here. Twenty Cases In At; .1.+.**■*,)’Br+w.rf?«*» i WMgimn— W <■■ The County Court Monday, June 30 - ♦ Impose Fine* In I lie Sum Of S."»oO During I lit* Short Session Judge K. T Johnson handled twenty eases during a short ses sion of the Marlin County Record er's Court on Monday. June 30. Fines were imposed in the sum o£ $500. The two speeding eases against Richard W Husted and Thomas F. Nagelin. Cherry Point marines, we " nol pressed. Pleading guiltv of drunken driving, Mcdrick Daniel was fin ed $100, plus costs. Charged with non support, Wal ter Godard was adjudged guilty and was sentenced to the roads for six months, the court suspend ing flic road term upon the pay ment of the rusts and $12 a month for the support of his six children during the next two years. Robert W. Clark was fined $10, plus costs, for speeding. Dussey Tyner was sentenced to the roads for thirty days for vio lating the liquor laws. The road tei m was suspended upon the pay ment of a $10 fine and costs Pleading guilty of assaulting his wife, Charlie M. Scott was sen tenced to the roads for nine months. The term was suspended upon the payment of a $25 fine and costs, and on the condition that he'll not mistreat his wife or drink liquor during the next five years. Jasper was fined $10, plus costs, for violating the liquor laws. Pleading guilty of issuing a worthless check, George Ruffin was taxed with the costs and di rected to pay the amount of the check. Seth Boston pleading guilty of drunken driving, was fined $100 and taxed with the costs. Pleading guilty of speding 110 miles an hour, Talmange Lee Wells was fined $50 and taxed with the costs. Adjudged guilty of an assault with a deadly weapon, James Clarrmgton was sentenced to the (Continued on pftge eight) Two Wrecks On County Highways One person was hurt but prop erty damage was limited on the highways in this county last week, including the long July 4 holiday, Randolph Moore, young Wil .’ir’uisttin.iiiii'X sail* ' e.fFa..!!.e;.u!. To uirv when Ins ear a 1951 rord ui'iven by Sylvester Leggett, was ditched, throwing the victim into the windshield. Leggett was driv ing on the Bear Grass-Sweet Home Road and started to pass another car, ran off the road and ditched the vehicle about 2:00 o’clock Friday afternoon. Investi gating the accident, Patrolman R. I’. Narron estimated the damage to the car at $2r0. Removed to the Martin General Hospital Moore . V if - I * ‘f ■' ' l ■ Hired skull. On Tuesday of last week at 11:45 p. m., L. C. Purvis, young colored boy of RFD 2, Robcrson Jville, lost control of his 1942 1 fudge and turned it over on High way 903 between Robersonville ml Gold Point. The ear, according to Patrolman B. W. Parker who made the investigation, ran off the ' iglit side of the road, skidded 42 yards before swerving to the left and continuing 22 more yards and finally turning over. No one was hurt. Damage to the machine was estimated at $100. KOUN1MJP Well just about everybody in this immediate area look a holiday during tlie Fourth of July observance except law enforcement officers who were kept busy rounding up alleged law violators. Twelve persons were tem porarily detained in the coun ty jail, their ages ranging from 21 to 52 years of age. Five were booked for public drunkenness, three for drunk en driving, and one each for gambling, speeding, violating: the liquor laws and operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license.