North Carolina Newspapers

the enterprise is read by OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE THE ENTERPRISE IS READ B1 OVER 3.000 MARTIN COCNTV FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEES VOLUME LV—NUMBER 98 Williamslon, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday, December I, 1952 ESTABLISHED 189$ Petition Commission To Construct Belt Line For Highway 17 * Highway Commission To Build Underpass oil West Main Street To Start Work On Modern Road Link In Next Few Days ('oulrari Tentatively I’rom i»e<l For New Underpass By Next May I In joint resolutions adopted at a meeting held here yesterday afternoon, the Martin County and Williamston Town Boards of Commissioners petitioned the North Carolina State Highway and Publie Works Commission for the construction of a belt line for U. S. Highway 17 and (if and a new railroad underpass on the town’s West Main Street, the ac tion climaxing years of general discussions and a legal battle that | went all the way through the North Carolina State Supreme Court. Speaking for the Highway Com mission, District Commissioner Henry C! Shelton explained that the state body was not trying to force the belt line issue, but he warned that in the not far future the federal government would, in all probability, with hold further funds for the high way where bottle necks are al lowed to exist. "A belt line, truck route or by | pass, call it what you will, iif badly needed," Mr Shelton said, adding that while it could pos sibly hurt some business, the losj I would not be great, and othet businesses would stand to profit “Something has got to be done,' the commissioner said, explain | mg, that Williamston had enjo.v I ed rapid progress in recent years and that hi believed it would con ! Urine to grow. Bill Rogers, chief highway en : gineer, was down from Raleigh and pointed out that while he was not too well acquainted with the belt line proposal, he had been and was still interested in I improving the railroad under pass on West Mam Street. “I have had the underpass in mind lor y ears, and I am convinced that the highway commission, to some extent, is responsible to those pedestrians who have to travel 1 there,” he said. Referring to the beit I mo pro posal, Mi Rogers pointed out that j congestion in the main business I areas is driving business out to thosi places where parking is available and where traffic is not so heavy. lit maintained that belt lines had not materially af fected busines in other towns. Declaring that the traffic conges tion in Williamston is about us bad as it can be, he said that the traffic count is rapidly reach ing the saturation point here. The average daily traffic counts are -,7UU vehicles at the river bridge on 17 and 11,900 at the underpass on West Main Street. When the count reaches 4,000 per day', there’ll be saturation, and if plans are delayed much longer the i ight-ol way problem will be ag gravated with the possibility there’ll be no ready solution. Apparently the last obstacle has been cleared m clearing that monstrous obstacle on the town’s West Mam Street. It was learn ed that the Highway Commission is making plans to reconstruct tho bridge, and Chief Engineer Rog ers assured Commissioner Shel ton that every effort Will bo made to have the plans ready for contractor:: on or before next May I No details of the type of con struction were revealed, but the construction will make room for sidewalks. Commenting on the belt route, District Highway Commissioner Spruill of Ahoskie explained that tentative plans cull for a 150-foot right-ol-way fin- two lanes and room for service roads on either side of the main drives. The alternate route for High way 17 will run straight off the river bridge, crossing the W. G. Peel and Griffin Brothers' farms, (Continued on Page Eight) Robbesies And Larceny Cases Crowd Superior Court Docket Drunken Driving Cases Numerous In Superior Court Judge ClawMHi Williams Is Returning Monday For * One-Week Term -® Forty cases have been placed on the criminal docket for trial in the Martin County Superior Court when Judge Clawson Williams of Sanford returns to preside over a one-week term. There arc no murder cases scheduled for trial, but the docket is literally crowded with robbery and larceny cases. Thievery has been on the increase in a big way <Uiring recent weeks in the coun ty, but all such crimes have been solved and the defendants in the fifteen cases are awaiting their turn in court. Two of the de fendants in the robbery cases are minors, one of whom just recently ran away from a correctional school. There are twelve drunken driving cases on the docket, sev eral of them having been con tinued at previous terms. Since the Supreme Court has ruled in g valid the trial of those oases book ed in the superior court when the defendants called for a jury trial, is not certain how similar cases in this county will be hand led next week. It is possible to place them on the docket by ipedal grand jury indictment, or they may be sent back to the rounty court where they were sriginally booked for trial. The docket also carries three assault with deadly weapon cases, and one each for arson, bigamy, speeding and hit-and-run driving and four other miscellaneous ones. James Perkins, remembered in the trial some time ago on a wife beating charge, is booked for al legedly burning up his automobile last March 2. John Battle is charged with en tering the home of Willie Wil liams in Williamston Township last April 12 and taking property falued at $125. His case has been continued since the June term. Charged with steeling $90 in cash and a check from Wilbur Jones last April 8, Grady Keith Lamm has had his case continued since June. , LeRoy Robert Reid is booked for bigamy. The prosecuting wit ness, Thurston Davenport, was di vorced by Reid’s present wife. The State alleges that Reid mar ried Thelma H. Rodgers on Oc ^f'ber 12, 1950, during the life of his wife, Annie ilulia Melvin. Going into court on an appeal from the county court, Roger Lovett is charged with operating a motor vehicle with an improper license. Ralph Edgar Boston is charged with speeding and reckless driv ing. Called in September, Boston failed to answer and action is new expected on his $500 bond. G. B. Whitfield is booked on two counts for allegedly issuing q worthless checks. Sylvester Brown, Jr., is charged with breaking into the Herbert Whitley and B A. Critcher, Jr., homes here on September 24. An unofficial report stated that a Durham lawyer is interested in the case on behalf of the de fendant. Woodrow Ipock is charged with assaulting Elwood Ayers with a .gun in Goose Nest Towhship last August 26. E!ber*JU*e Biggs is in court on four DreSkmg and '"enffflng counts. The lad entered the Roa noke Chevrolet Company in Wil liamston three times during Oc tober and Hattie Thelma Reid’s store near Williamston on Novem ber 2. James Arthur Brown and O. C. Johnson are charged with the theft of 200 pounds of tobacco ^from Farmer Will Taylor October 9. Irvin Franklin Bembridge is charged with entering the W. W. Griffin home in Williams Town (Continued on Pape Eight) Logs Dumped In The Main Street Promote Belt Route Representatives of the North Carolina State Highway and Pub lic Works Commission, including Chief Engineer Rogers, District Engineer Spruill and Commission er Henry Shelton, declared it was not framed, but just as they re ported here yesterday about noon for a meeting with local and county officials, a large load of logs or pilings spilled off a truck and interrupted traffic at the George Reynolds Hotel on Main Street during the better part of two hours. "A truck route should take off much of that heavy traffic, but the dumping of the logs on the street was really an accident," one of the highway representatives said, explaining that the accident was [good supporting evidence to the need of a belt line route. The large truck with long pil ing was traveling east on Main whin the driver, Henry Simmons of Windsor quickly applied brakes for the stop light at the intersec tion of Main and Smithwiek Streets. The piling spilled off the rear end of the truck into the street, and the entire load was dumped a short time later by wrecking crews who dragged the piling down the river hill for re loading. The truck was owned by D. L. Saunders who operates out of Elizabeth City. No one was in jured and damage was negligible other than costs for clearing away and reloading the piling. TOY COLLECTION Sponsoring the annual Christmas cheer party lor a number of little tots in the community, Williamston Jay cees declare they are receiv ing a poor response to the call lor old toys. Hardly hall' as many toys has been given to the cause this year compared with the collection a vear ago, it was said. A third town-wide canvass is being planned for Sunday afternoo nat 2:00 o'clock, and the party promoters again ap peal to the people of the town for support. “We are con vinced there are many toys that could be had, but the owners just forget io put them out on the porches for the canvassers," a Jaycee said today. Jamesville Club Installs Officers Holding their regular meeting Monday evening, Jamesville Ku ritans installed officers for tin new year aijd made arrange ments for the district convention which is being held this after noon and evening. A banquet this evening will climax the con vention program. Presiding over the Monday eve ning meeting, the president call id for annual reports from the various committee chairmen, and the group enjoyed a chicken pot dinner served by the junior c lass in the lunch room. Mr. A. Corey installed the new officers for the coming year, as follows: Arthur Wallace Lilley, presi dent; Leonard Holliday, vice president; Walter Brown, Jr., secretary; Wendell Hamilton, treasurer^ Georgie Martin, serg eant-at-arms; Floyd Moore, chap lain; and Wendell Griffin, direc tor. Special guests for the evening were Mr J. Sam Getsinger and the Rev. Gordon Conklin of Wil liamston. Mr. Conklin made a very interesting talk on the origin of Christmas. Ruriians Meet In Jamesville Today Jamesville is placing host to Uti. .• w:rtva* A.ltv-.«?ia-;vwdte*:,ar.•' district meeting today with a full schedule of events planned. More than 150 delegates from the four teen northeastern North Carolina counties are in attendance. Reg istrations got underway at 1:30 o’clock this afternoon, followed by a school of instruction for the new officers of the various clubs. The convention formally opens at 3:00 o’clock A feature on the banquet pro gram this evening at 7:00 o'clock will be an address by Frank Jeter, of the State Colege Extension Ser vice. Holding Hearings To Check Results Of Economy Drive R«'|m‘Hciituliv4‘ Iton tier In Seeking: To Vi lull Klfte Is INYnlnl - Chairman Herbert C. Bonni'i' (D.-N.C.) of thi' watchdog Bon ner subcommittee announced to da\ his subcommittee is holding hearings this week to “find out exactly what progress has been made to bring about economy and efficiency in the supply systems of the military services under the so-called O’Mahoney amendment of the Appropriation Act, 1953." This amendment gave the Secre tary of Defense vast powers “to develop an efficient, economical and practical operation with in tegrated supply system designed to meet the needs of the military departments without duplicating or overlapping of cither opera tions or functions." It further pro hibited the obligation of funds for procurement, production, ware housing, and distribution of sup plies and equipment except in accordance with regulations is sued by the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary issued basic regu lations on September 5, 1952, but “1 have heard rumors—it may or may not be correct—that there hasn't been a great deal of pro gress in making the regulations work,” says Chairman Bonner. “This is a real attempt to find out exactly what has been done, and what is planned for the future.” Witnesses will be Under Secre tary of Defense Foster, who is in charge of supply matters; Secre tary Kimball of the Navy; Under Secretary of the Army Johnson; Under Secretary of the Air Force Gilpatric; and Chairman John Small of the Munitions Board. In addition, Dr. Varinevar Bush, formerly chairman of the Re- \ search and Development Board, j and at present President of the Carnegie Institution of Washing tonton, will amplify upon recent statements to the effect that ef- ! fective military planning includ ing logistics is impossible until the organizational structure of the I Joint Chiefs of Staff is corrected, i “Two years ago we started in vestigations,” says Chairman Bon ner, “to see if the Munitions Board j (Continued on page eight) f *: s uaawV .. .. Those farmers who have finished their marketing and have not returned their to bacco cards to the P.-M. A. office in the Martin County agriculture building are ask ed to get them just as soon as possible. Only a few cards are still out. It was explained that the marketing cards are needed in checking the records and allotting full poundage to the owner. Twelve Nen WiU Enter The Army Friday Morning —*— Manpower Supply In Comi ty INot Sufficient To Meet Quota Twelve Martin County young men, six white and six colored, are to leave Friday morning of this \\XH'k for final induction into the armed forces. They are re port to the county draft board of fice at 6:30 o’clock, board a bus and go to Raleigh where they will be assigned to various train ing camps. The original draft call for this month was for twenty men, but the manpower supply in the county's selective service pool was not sufficient to meet the quota, it was learned. Rejec tions have been running mighty high in the recent groups report ing for the pre-induction exami nations at Raleigh. According to an unofficial report, only six out of thirty-seven men passed the preliminary tests given in Raleigh last month. A pre-in ■ duetion call is to be answered on I the 17th of this month, and it is likely that the manpower supply will be built up from the thirty seven men scheduled to report at that time. A call has already been received, directing the coun ty draft board to send ten men to the center for final induction ion Tuesday, January 13. No pre-induction call for Jan uary has been received, but one is expected shortly. Names of the twelve men scheduled to report on Friday of this week for final induction in clude: White Aaron Taylor Gray of Robcr sonville. 1 Leo Warren of RFD I, Palmyra. John Russell Revels of RF1) 1. Williamston. Charlie Morton Rogers, of RFD 1, Jamesville. Mayo Grimes Griffin of Rober son vi lie. Louis Mervin Bonds of RFD 2, (Continued on l’agc Fight) Appeal Renewed For Bloodmobile A special appeal is being made tn Martin County’s women to support the Red Cross Bloodmu bile when it arrives here next Thursday. A transportation chair man has been named to see that they get to the collection center and back to their homes. Mrs. I. M. Margolis has been appointed head of the motor corps to call for and transport to the blood center any person who signs a pledge card to give a pint of his or her blood. Any person between the ages of 21 and 59 who weighs at least 110 pounds and is in good physical i condition can give a pint of blood to be used by American soldiers in Korea. In speaking of the drive, Mrs. i A. L. Jameson, recruitment chair-1 man, pointed out that the Red Cross blood drive was an excel lent opportunity for women with loved ones in Korea to contribute directly to their aid. "A pint of life-saving blood is | the best possible Christmas gift you can give,” she added. "Sure ly, Martin County’s women will not miss the chance to give a gift ! of life to a wounded soldier.” Any woman or man who wishes to donate a pint of blood is urged to contact Mrs. Jameion or the Red Cross office in the town hall j Daltn In Otht‘r Towns Members of the Martin County | Community Concert Association1 are invited to attend concerts in1 other towns on the following dafes. The Carolers (male quartet) will be in Goldsboro tonight, in Rocky Mount Friday night and Elizabeth City next Monday night. The schedule for concerts in Ahoskie: January 29, Richard Far rell, pianist; February 16, Yfrah Neanion, violinist; and April 21, Edna Phillips, coloratura soprano. 1 Farmers To Hold Meetings In The County Next Week -<» Will Nominate Community j Committeemen for P.-M. A. For New Year —*— Meeting in various sectioiv> next ! Monday night at 7:30 o'clock, Martin County farmers will no mi* : nate P.-M. A. community com mitteemen and delegates to the ! county convention, it was an nounced today by the county of fice. i Bear Grass farmers will meet in the school there. Cross Roads is 1 holding its meeting in Taylor's i Filling Station in Everetts. Goose Nest 1 and 2 will meet in the Oak City school. The Griffins meet ing is scheduled in the Farm Life I school. Hamilton Township farm ers will nominate in the Hamilton School. Jamesville 1 and 2 will meet in the school there. Rober Isonville 1 and 2 are holding their | meeting in the Robersonville City Hall. Williams Township is to , meet in the county house, and Williamston and Popular Point farmers are to meet in the agri culture building. They are to nominate not less than ten and not more than fifteen of their own groups for places on the community committees and alternates to the county conven tion. After the nominations are made at the meetings next Mon day night, ballots will be pre pared and the farmers will vote on them on Wednesday, December 17, the county convention to fol low. Messrs. Reuben Everett, D. R. Edmondson and A. L. Modlin are now serving the county commit tee. Present members of the several community committees include the following with the chairman, vice chairman, regular member, and first and second alternates listed in order: Bear Grass—H. G. Harrison ,11. U. Peel, Elmer Griffin, E. C. Harrison. Cross Roads—G. H Forbes, Geo. W Taylor, J. F. Bailey, Marion Griffin and Oscar Ayers Goose Nest I Sidney Mallory, Julian Mizellc, M. E. Bennett, Jasper Whitfield, J. A. Everett. Goose Nest II—Jack Smith, Minton Beach, Jr., N. L. Hyman, R. E. Tyson. Rupert Turner. Griffins -Lester J. Griffin, Clarence Griffin, S. E. Manning, Thurmon Griffin, Wm. H. Peel. | Hamilton- J. H. Li I lard, R. 11. jSalsbury, L. R. Beach, and Henry i Haislip. Jamesville I—Howard Hardi son, Georgie Martin, Hurry Jones and Carl Griffin. Jamesville II—Arthur Ange, D. D. Coburn, Dan Fagan, L. S. Davis and Grady Davenport. Robersonville I—J. R. Daniel, Lester L. Everett, Irving Keel, Sam Jenkins and Dennis Alexan der. Robersonville II—R. II. Taylor, Cecil 11. Powell, J. I). Britton, Claude'Green, Jr., W. 11 Vander ford. Williams—R J. Hardison, Gra dy Godard, C. L. Daniel, Paul Harrington, Howard Tyre. Williamston and Poplar Point Roy T. Griffin, John W. Gur kin, J. If. Corey, S. C. Bailey and Hubert Biggs. Implicate Minors In County Theft. Two your)|4 white boys, Joseph t Smith, 15, of Scotland Neck, and Edward Clark, 16, of Wilson, were arrested Tuesday by Sheriff M W Ruwls'^n*fonK?®S^^TT*Tiid last week-end robbery of Earl Jones’ filling station near Hamilton. Pete Pritchard and Bryant Scott, both 18, were arrested earlier by Deputy Rawles and Constable Pete Leggett in connection with the robbery. It was reported lhat Smith hud only recently escaped from a training school at Rocky Mount. Unable to arrange bond, he was placed in jail. Clark arranged $300 bond. The quartet is sche duled to go on tnal in superior court next week. '*■ Chas. A. Knighi Died Suddenly In New Jersey Ciiy Kunrrnl IMuiiiiril At lli> Boyhood Home IIcit Saturday -•—* Charles Alden Knight, native of Williamston, died suddenly in Newark, New Jersey, late Tues day, the apparent victim of a heart attack A son of the late Dr. J Burke | H. Knight and Ada Bullock Knight, he was born in William# ston 43 years ago on December 28, 1903, and spent most of his early life in Williamston. Fol lowing his graduation from the ! local high school in 1921 he at tended State College in Raleigh two years. He traveled for sev i eral years, and was married to I Miss Marion Rogerson of Pitts I burgh, Pa After making his i home in Punxatawney, West Vir | gina, for a number of years, he 1 located m New Jersey about ten years and was associated with an j (electrical firm there. I Surviving are his widow; two; j sons, Thomas, a college snpho ( I more, and David Knight, all ol i Moundsville, Wist Virginia; a I sister, Mrs. Frances K. Parker, of | Williamston. A brother, Hay - I wood Knight, died of a heart at tack at his home in New Jersey several years ago. Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but the body is to bi returned to Williamston tomorrow, and it is planned to | hold the service at his boyhood home on East Main Street Satur day afternoon. He was a mem | her of the Methodist church, and j the Rev. It. E. Walston, local pas j I tor, will conduct the rites. In |torment will be in the family; I plot in Woodlawn Cemetery. The j j family requests no flowers lie | sent. Resigns Position In This County Miss Lassie Pearce, popular and able supervisor of the elementary schools in this county, tins week tendered her resignation, explain ing that ill health forced the ac tion. Miss Pearce was in an auto mobile accident several years ago and she has not enjoyed very good health since that time. Slv is re tiring to her home in Princeton I for the present. Coming here about seven years ago, Miss Pearce had ably hand led the duties of elementary supervisor, and made many friendships both in and outside the teaching profession. Her resignation was accepted with great reluctance. County school authorities say the position hardly will be filled before next fall. Vealrymen Elected ,/f Meeting Tuesday !\if(ht At tin annual parish meeting ol (hi1 Church ill the Advent lie Id Tut day night the following men were elected to serve as vestry men for the next three years: L. T. Fowden, Jr., Roland M. Ever ett, J. II Black, Milton James, and W. R. Glover for a one-year term. TO 1)1(01* LKAFLKTK A Civil Air Patrol, batted in Charlotte, will, weather per mitting, drop leaflets over Wllliamston from a plane Sat urday, according to Mayor it. H. C'owen who explained that the patrol had contacted him for permission. The leaflets have to do with the Crusade for Freedom which has received strong support in the county during past years. Still A Prisoner 01 War In China Mrs A l. Hurdy of Route 3 Williarnston is convinced that Thanksgiving is her lucky clay. On Thanksgiving Day of 1951. Mis. Hardy received word from her son, Martel, after having been notified months before that he had died in action in Japan. Last Thursday, also Thanksgiving, she received a lettei from S Sgt. Hardy, which was the fihst news si net' February of this year. Mrs. Hardy's lcttei was dated August 1 Itti and was written front Prisoner of War Camp No. 2, Peking, China He sounded as if his morale was rather high un der the eireumstances, exeept that he had received no mail at all from home since he became a pris oner. He spoke of- (he things lie missed at home and said that ae tuall.v he couldn't complain, but that he knew nothing of the news of the war or anything in regard to his return home again He did mention that he probably had a long wait ahead of him still, but asked her not to worry because he was all light Although the Itriel lettci seem ed cheerful enough, there was no doubt quite a bit of reading be tween the lines, but Mr- Hardy is encouraged to know that be is alive and well. In closing, Hardy asked that evei same pray for him and also asked that everyone please write whenever possible. His address is as follows: S Sgt. Martel Hardy, A K 24450675, c o Chinese Committee foi World Peace, P. O W. Camp No. 2, Pek ing, China Three Injured In Wednesday Wreck Three person- were injured, none ot them believed badly, m uri automobile aeeiderit on the old) Jamesville Griffins Township Road yesterday morning Mrs (.' II Barber, driving i DeSoto when it struek locks in the road, went out ol control and turned over, suffered a knee in ! jury. A daughter, 5 yi ar old San dra Barber, suffered a two-stitch cut m her forehead, and anothei voimgei daughter was bruised about Hu face Following treat tnettl in a local ho, pital, they were able to return lo then home An unofficial estimate placed the damage to the car at about $400. Two othei accident;, both said to have been minor ones, were reported in the county Tuesday. The cars of Geo. Harris and Wal ter Mizel'e erased at tin- corner of Watts and Main, and another was reported east ot Jamesville. No one wa. injured in the two j Firemen Called To Pearl Street Volunteer Im mi l) wen* calk'd: out here at 5:40 o’clock Tuesday evening when fire th|ealcned the, humble home of Betty Purvis on South Pearl Street. Soot m a hanging flue caught I fire, but the flying sparks, fall-j ing or. a wet roof, did no damage.!