North Carolina Newspapers

the enterprise is read by OVER 3,MO MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE * THE ENTERPRISE IS READ B* OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEI VOLUME LVI—NUMBER 19 Williamaton, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday, June 18, 1953 ESTABLISHED 189* Expect Court To Continue Through Friday Afternoon —<t>— Incest and Drunken Driv ing Cases On Docket Still Awaiting Trial Bogged down for the second day in the murder case brought against Clyde Tyner and with an incest and several drunken driv ing cases on the docket awaiting trial, the current term of the Mar tin County Superior Court is al most certain to last through most of tomorrow afternoon. The court, presided over by Judge Jos. W. Parker of Windsor, has encountered one snag after another, spending part of Tues day and most of yesterday trying two cases, one involving drunken driving and the other involving arson. The trial of the assault with a deadly weapon case against Harry Stokes, young colored man, came to an unexpected end Tuesday shortly before noon when counsel chose not to place the defendant on the stand. It was evident that the defendant did not want the jury to know that he had been convicted in two assault cases pre viously. Following arguments by counsel and Solicitor George Fountain, Judge Parker briefly charged the jury, and a verdict was returned a short time before the court recessed for lunch at 12:00 o'clock. When prayer for judgment was made, the case and Stokes’ record were reviewed in detail. But Judge Parker considered the as lault on Frank Wilson was aggra vated, declaring that Wilson was morally not blameless, that he should have realized that he could be shot for running around with Hnother man's wife. The jurist definitely took a stand against the practice of those who would break up a home, declaring that Wilson’s attention was not show ered on the estranged wife just as a matter of accommodation. Wil son and any other man who runs around with another man’s wife takes a calculated risk. It was fairly evident that the jurist had little sympathy for Wil son even though the attack cost the man his left leg. However, the prosecution pleaded and went on to point out that Stokes’ wife was not there in his behalf and could not be called by the prose cution. It was also pointed out that in addition to having his means of livelihood impaired, the victim of the attack owed hospital bills: amounting to around $500, and was without sufficient funds to finance the purchase of an ar tificial leg. After pondering the issues, Judge Parker sentenced Stokes to the roads for twelve months, ord ering execution of sentence sus pended and the defendant placed on probation for three years. lit; directed the defendant to pay the court costs. The defendant is also to pay $50 now, $100 on or before December 1, 1953, and $100 by June of next year for the benefit of the hospitals. “Wilson can pay the remainder,” the judge order ed. A verdict of not guilty was di rected when the State completed its evidence in the case in which James Wilson was charged with breaking into the Hayes School here last April 2. It was revealed by the evidence that some clothes belonging to Wilson had been found in the boiler room, that no evidence of breaking was offered and no intent to steal had been advanced. Considerable time was spent hearing the case in which Will Roberson was found not guilty of (Continued on Page Five) -4-_ Well Represented At Cancer Clinic —«— Martin County was more than well represented at the 150th can cer detection clinic held in Rocky Mount's municipal building. Persons from Everetts, Jamcs ville, Hamilton and Williamston were at the clinic for examnia tions, it was announced by Dr. J. Allen Whitaker, chairman. The clinics are held each Wednesday in the municipal building without cost to persons forty years old or older. The cli nics are supported by the various cancer societies. Vehiicle In Which Two Lost Lives Two persons wore fatally injured and four others were hurt when the 1953 Plymouth pictured above, crashed into a freight truck near Bear Grass hist Friday afternoon. The top of the radiator rests near the windshield and the back of the front seat was pushed almost to the dash board. —Photo by Royal. Chairman Named To Head County Cancer Fund Drive Robert H. Cowen, Williamston mayor, has been named to head the eancer fund drive in this county. Considerable delay has been ex perienced in launching the drivi in this county because a chairmar could not be found. Martin is tin only county in North Caroline that has not yet responded to the call, and those leaders recognizing the importance *of the drive, art anxious to keep the county ir good standing. A quota of $2,200 has been as signed the county. Last year ap proximately that amount was rais ed. A bit reluctant to accept the COME ON OUT v> “Come on out and take part in the fun at the playground,” is the invitation being issued to youngsters in this area by Recreation Director Roger Thrift and the recreation com mittee. Director Thrift opens the playground program at 4:00 in the afternoon at the high school athletic park and keeps it going until about 6:00. He reports that the number of boys and girls participating in the program is growing steadily. Equipment is ex pected shortly to add more variety to the program but al ready they have something to keep everybody busy. Turns Car Over Near Gold Point —* — Driving toward Robtrsonville on Highway 903 about 7:00 o’ clock Tuesday evening, Donald Earl Bunting ol Oak City lost control of his 1951 Ford, the ma chine leaving the road and turn ing over in Farmer Durant Beach’s peanut field near Gold Point. The car was driven away under its own power. One report stated that a tire was badly damaged during the drive back to Oak City. Bunting was not injured but he was said to have been jarred up a bit and got some dirt in his hair. Damage to the car was esti mated at $300. -1 Jamenville Cannery Hill Be Open Tnice A ff'eok Professor V. B. Hairr has an nounced that the Jamesville can nery will be open each Monday and Thursday afternoon and that cans will be available for those needing them. Used mostly by housewives and farmers in the Jamesville section, the cannery has rendered a valu able service each summer. task, Chairman Cowon is direct ing a public appeal to the people of the county to support the drive and take an active part in raising the fund. It is estimated that more than 100 Martin County persons have received free examinations in dis trict cancer clinics, the cost of which in paid clinics would have amounted to more than the coun ty is now being asked to eontn ! bute to the fund. Direct aid has been extended to patients within the county, while a portion of the money raised was sent to state and national headquarters to sup port research and maintain a home for cancer patients in the State. Recreation Group Advances Plans Meeting in the Legion Hut Tuesday evening, the Williamston Recreation Committee heard a re sume ot the reel r ation activities of the past ten days and discussed : with Recreation Diiectoi Roger Thrift plans for the remainder of tlie summer both at the play ground at the high school and in the youth center on Watts Street. Present plans call for Mr. Thrift to work with the children, boys and gnls, at the high school be ginning at 4:00 each afternoon and running until 6:00 except on af ternoons when early evening ac tivities may make it advisable to close the playground about 5:30. Monday and Thursday evenings, the director is to work with the Little League as an official um pire or supervisor. The latter part of the playground activity will be devoted to the Pony League age boys, 13 to 15, and plans call for a game with Washington young sters later in the summer. If plan, eun be worked out it is planned to have swimming elases between 6:00 and 7:00 in the evening several times each week, but definite announcement will be made later on this portion of the program. As for the youth center itself, I Mr, Thrift is to'try to get an as I sistant for at least two nights- in the week. This week-end, Fri day and Saturday evenings, the program at the center will be un der the leadership of a group of young people who have just re turned from camps and confer ences. The voluntary adult chap erone system is to remain in ef fect, however. Games, singing and dancing are planned. The committee is anxious to contact some person holding a senior lifeguard or life-saver cer tificate to help in the swimming program. Any qualified for this activity should contact Mr. Thrift. In discussing the program at the playground, Mr. Thrift said a dozen or so came out the first day and the number had grown larg i (Continued on Page Five) Marlin Farmers Are Entitled To Dividend Checks —«— Payment Delayed On Ar count Of Incomplete Ad drerth And Inforinulion Approximately 230 Martin County farmers and others im mediately surrounding the county have tobacco dividend check. awaiting them, according to a re port released a few days ago by the Flue-Cured Tobacco Coopera tive Stabilization Corporation ii: Raleigh. The checks, adding up to a 1o tal of several thousand dollars, have not been delivered on ac count of incomplete addresses or other information not immediate ly available to the corporation. The county agent's office in this county has examined the list and picked out the names of Martin County farmers from th<- thou sands of other names. Those whose names are listed below haye checks waiting for them, and friends who happen to see the names of those who have much information as possible, not received their dividend checks are asked to advise them to get in touch with the corporation in. Raleigh or contact the county agent’s office for help. The following information is necessary: Identification car, pink agreement and receipt. If this information can’t be had, the ap plicant is asked to submit as such as copies of warehouse bills for the years 1947, 48 and 49: copies of settlement memorand ums describing tobacco delivered to Stabilization Corporation for these years; Marketing quota number for those years; correct name and present address; names of landlords or tenants for the years. i r lust; pei suns whom' names uic listed below are etitled to distri bution chucks. The names and addresses given at the time to bacco was sold for the years 1947, 1948 and 1949. James Alexander, Hamilton; Winfield Alexander, Hobgood; C. Andrews Robersonville; J. M. An drews, Bethel; James Andrews, Robersonville; Johnnie Andrews, Hassell, Lawrence Andrews, Oak City, Will Andrews, Bethel; H. Anthony, Robersonville; Jasper Arrington, Hobgood; James Aus tin, Robersonville; Henry Ayers, Bethel; S. A. Avers, Roberson ville; W. L. Bailey, Route 1, Bethel; J. D. Baker, Route 1, Pal myra; James Ballard, Roberson ville; G. Barkley, Robersonville; James Barnes, Bethel; Halhe Bass, Route 1 Robersonville, Leroy Bell, Bethel. Ellwood Bellamy, Route 1, Oak City; Zachary Berry;, Route 2, Ro bersonville; Thomas Best, Route 2 Robersonville; Lum Bland Route 1, Oak City; Charlie Bond, Rober sonville; Wayne Braxton, Rober sonville; Dallas Briley, Roberson ville; F. D. Briley, Bethel; H. B. Brown, Route 1, Bethel; Jake (Continued on page eight) Tyner Pleading Not Guilty 01 Taylor Murder --<$> Stale Completed Evidence In Case Yesterday; Ten Defense Witnesses -« Charged with the shotgun mur der of Rufus Taylor, colored man, in his home last March 22, Clyde Tyner, 65, pleaded not guilty when his case was called in the superior court here yesterday afternoon before Judge Jos. W. Parker of Windsor. Taking the stand in his own behalf, Tyner emphatically maintained that he acted in self-defense, declaring that he had been cursed, abused and threatened, and that he fired the fatal when Taylor, reaching in his hip pocket presumably for a knife, started moving in one him. Solicitor George Fountain an nounced that the state would work for a verdict of second de gress murder or manslaughter. Less than fifteen minutes were spent selecting a jury after the case was called at 3:40 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, the de fense setting aside all jurors who knew Tyner and the State sett ing aside the only juror who knew the attack victim. Without eye witnesses, the State fought an uphill battle at the start, but it was brought out on cross examination that all was not well in and around the Tyner home located about three miles from Williamston on the Prison Camp Road. Officers Chas. R. Moore, Wil liamston Police officer and the first witness called by the State, said hi' accompanied Sheriff M. W. Holloman tb the attack scene, that he found Tyner sitting on the porch. Tyner was quoted as say ing he had shot a man, the of ficer explaining that he then went into the room where Taylor was lying on a sofa fatally wounded. The officer said that Taylor knew him, and that Taylor mantained hi1 did not know who shot him. Tyner, moving into the room be hind the officer, voluntarily said that he shot Taylor, explaining that he had ordered Taylor away from his home two or three times that day. Taylor was said to have admitted that Tyner had ordered him away. The officer, after Tyner declar ed that Taylor had reached into a hip pocket presumably to get a knife, asked Taylor if he reach ed for a "knife. The officer quoted Taylor as saying that he was sitting on the sofa and that as he reached into his pocket for a cig arette someone shot him. The of ficer said he saw no knife. On cross evamination, the of ficers said Rufus told him he did not know why he did not remain away after Tyner had ordered him to. The next state’s witnes, Sheriff Holloman, said Tyner admitted the attack, saying that he shot Taylor with a 12-gauge gun which he carried to his mother’s home, 100 yards or more away. The sheriff said he found a knife and some change in Taylor’s pocket when he searched his clothes at a local hospital where Taylor died about 0:00 o’clock the evening of the attack. The State completed its direct evidence b.v 4 25 and the defense (Continued on Page Eight) Miss Nora Wright Passes In County Mi.ss Nora Wright, one of the county's oldest citizens, died at toe home of her niece. Mis. Ethel Hinson, near Dardens Tuesday. In declining health for a long time, she had been confined to her heel for about two years. The daughter of the late Wil liam and Sarah Waters Wright, she was born in the Dardens com munity of this county and lived there all her life. She was 80 years of age, and was a devoted member of the Corinth Free Will Baptist Church for many years. Other than several nieces and ne phews, she leaves no immediate relatives. Funeral services were conduct ed at the home of a niece, Mrs. Adele Tctterton, yesterday after noon at 4:30 o'clock by the Rev. P. B. Nickcns, pastor of the Ply-' mouth Baptist Church. Interment was in the Hinson Cemetery. County Tax Rate Held To $1.35 For Year 1953-54 After an all-day battle, the Mar tin County Commissioners Tues After an ali-day battle, the Mar tin County Commissioners Tues day continued to hold the county's tax line at $1.35 per hundred dol lar assessed property valuation. Quite a few requests were turned back and retroactive pay allowed school teachers was denied other county employees. However, a $10-pcr-month increase, effective at the beginning of the new 1953 54 fiscal year, was allowed county employees straight across the board. The proposed budgets called for an increase in the tax rate, but the commissioners ordered retrench ments. The board of education fi gures were trimmed by approxi mately $3,000, and the regular county budget was rolled back; with minor cuts in the funds for operating the county home, and for interest and principal, public welfare administration, old age Ten County Young ; Men Reported For Service Tuesday Twenty-two Arc Scheduled To Report For Kx'hius On July l llli Ten Martin County young men, rated among the best group to leave this section in some time, reported to the service center in Raleigh last Tuesday of this week for duty in the armed forces. Their assignments could not be learned immediately, but most of those reporting from this county for final induction were located at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for duty in the army. Edmond Horace Whitley, for merly of RFD 1, Williamston but who is reported to have moved to the Jamesville area, did not re port as scheduled but yesterday papers were received, applying for a transfer to Greensboro. Two volunteers appeared to maintain the quota of ten men, it was explained. The names of tin1 six young I white and four colored men re porting for duty follow: White Howard Braxton Harrell of Hamilton. Edgar Harrell Latham, Star Route, Hamilton. Melvin Boyd Copeland, RFD 1, Robcrsonville James Robert Coltrain, RFD 2, , Williamston. John Henry (Jack) Edwards, | Jr., Williamston Simon Everett Parker, Jr , RFD I 1, Robcrsonville. Colored Leo Marshall Slade, Williams ton. Paul Baker, Jr., RFD 1, Oak City. Joseph James Cross, Williams ton.. William Thomas Wallace, Jr., Williamston. A call has been received for twenty-two men to report on Tuesday, July 14 foi pre-induc tion examinations. Fifteen men are scheduled to report for final induction on Tuesday, July 21, it was learned this week. Of the approximately forty men reporting for pre-induction examinations last week, only six teen were said to have passed the tests, according to unofficial in formation received here. 17th Observance Of Dairy Month -i —— Speaking briefly to the Rotary Club at its weekly meeting at the Switch Tuesday noon, Mr. W. Braxton Pugh, manage r of the lo cal office of the Mania Milk and Ice Cream Company, called atten tion to the 17th annual observ ance of dairy month. The event wa% inaugurated seventeen years ago to honor nature’s producer of the nearest perfect food — the milch cow, Mr. Pugh said. Special guests at the meeting were County Commissioners Hen ry S. Johnson of Hamilton, H. L. Roebuck of Cross Roads, J. H. Ed wards of Williamston, J. C. Gur kin of Griffins and C. C. Martin of Jamesville, also Messrs. J. Sam Getsinger, clerk to the board, and Mayo Little of Robersonville. assistance, aid to dependent chil dren and aid to the blind An ap propriation of approximately $12. 500 was entered in the budget for aid to the partially and totally dis abled who do not qualify for aid directly under the welfare pro grams. Hidden for years in other de partments, the rate levied for the general county fund reflects for the first time this year the real appropriation allotted for its op eration. Held to a set figure of not more than 15 cents in years past, the rate was increased to nineteen and three quarter cents for the new fiscal period by spe cial provision embodied in a con stitutional amendment passed last year. The budget figures are being al tered to fit the recommendations advanced by the commissioners Tuesday, and will be made pub lic shortly. THE RECORD SPEAKS . . . Modern transportation as sorted itself with sudden and tragic fury during the 23rd week in this county, snuffing out the lives of two prominent citizens and leaving five oth ers injured. The value of the silent “stop sign" was advanc ed in no uncertain terms, but people gripe against and com plain about the signs. The following tabulations offer a comparison of the ac cident trend: first, by corres ponding weeks in this year and last and for each year to the present time 23rd Week Wrecks Inj'd Killed Damage 1953 -1 5 2 $ 3,015 -952 4 1 0 875 Comparisons in Date 1953 102 32 3 $27,850 1952 124 89 1 41,910 Guard Unit Will Go To Camp Next August 16 To 30 Ten Men Ail«li‘<l To Hosier' 1'olloW il|o K(-t Ill'll Of l nil Fast Marrli -♦ Battery C, 150th AAA Chin Bat talion, North Carolina National Guard, has been instructed to pack up for summer encampment at Camp Stewart, Georgia, during j the two weeks, August 18 through the 30th. During the meantime, the unit is recruiting additional men to build up its strength and adding new equipment Since its return last March fol lowing twenty-three months of active duty in Georgia and New Jersey, the guard unit has been maintaining regular weekly drills at its headquarters in the muni eipal water plant on South Syea more Street. Following the i eor gani/ation in March, the follow ing young men have joined the unit: Calie S. Biggs, Rt. 3, Wil hamston; Marcellas Bullock, Ji . 717 Rhodes St., Williamston; James H. Coltrain, Ht. 1, Robot sonville; Tommy W. Gardner, 116 Kdgcwood Ave., Williamston: (Continued on Page Kiglit) Firemen Called Out On Tuesday After suing more than two months without homing the fire siren, Williamston's volunteer firemen have been kept on the run during the past two weeks. At least eight calls have been answered during the revent per iod The last call, following three handled over the week-end, was answered at 2:00 o’cloc k Tuesday afternoon when a tractor caught fire near the Williamston Pack ing Company plant on the Mc Paskey Road. Blazing out of con trol, the fire was checked with a chemical, recently added to the lepai tment’s fire-fighting equip ment. Commenting on the effec tiveness of the new chemical, one volunteer said the fire was check 'd so rapidly he did not even see ; t go out. Liberalize Loan Plan For Peannt Farmers In 1953 -9 I'rict* Support For Definite Types To Be Announc* e«l At Later Date -* Washington, June 17—Loans on this year’s peanut crops will be available to individual producers and cooperatives beginning at harvest time, the United States Department of Agriculture an nounced today. Other provisions in the department’s price support program for the 1953 peanut crop follow: Farm-storage and warehouse storage loans will be available to (1) individual producers who arc in compliance with marketing quotas and acreage allotments in effect for 1953-crop peanuts, and (2) cooperative associations whose members are in compliance with marketing quotas and acreage al lotments. In loans of farm-stored peanuts, the Commodity Credit Corpora tion will make an allowance for shrinkage and grade loss while the peanuts are in storage; and in loans on warehouse-stored pea nuts the CCC will absorb the shrinkage and grade loss. The ef fect of this provision is to reflect to producers a larger portion of the 90 per cent of parity support price than in 1952, when the shrinkage and grade loss was de ducted by CCC from the support price. The only deductions from the support price this year will be the regular CCC service fee for mak ing loans, the federal-state inspec tion fee, and (in the case of loans on warehouse - stored peanuts) warehouse fees other than receiv ing charges. Loans that arc re pa >d by producers and coopera tives will bear interest at the rate of four per cent a year. The program for 1953-crop pea nuts also provides that any prop erly constituted and approved co operative desiring to handle, store, and market peanuts for its producer members will be eligible for CCC loans. Last year, the loans to cooperatives were made only to three associations (Grow ers Peanut Cooperative, Franklin, Va.; Southwestern Peanut Grow ers’ Association, Gorman, Tex.; and GFA Peanut Association, Ca milla, Gii ), one in each of the three major producing areas. In making loans to a coopera tive, the cooperative will be free to establish its own advance pay ments to producer members, and the CCC will not specify the min imum sales price at which the co operative may sell p, a nuts acquir ed from ptoducers. The only re strictions on the cooperative will be those necessary to assure the repayment of its loans from CCC. Loans on 1953-crop peanuts will he available to individual produc ers and to cooperatives from the time of harvest through January (Continued on page eight) Miss Lib Cherry Contest Winner Before a record attendance, Miss Lib Cherry of Bear Grass was chosen Miss Williamston at the annual beauty pageant spon sored by the local Junior Cham ber of Commerce The high school auditorium was packed for the event which attracted twenty-one entrants in the pageant and twenty-two little misses in the Sweetie Pie contest which was won by Little Miss Becky Roe buck, daughter of Mr .and Mrs. Bruce Roebuck. Miss cherry will represent Wd liumston a! the annual Miss North Carolina pageant to be held at Morehead next month. Miss Evelyn Warren of Robet sonville was second place winner in the pageant, and Miss Jean Mobley of Williamston was third. In the Sweetie Pie Contest, re vived after several years, Little Miss Deborah Hopkins, daughter of Mr .and Mrs. Ben Hopkins, was second place winner, and third honors went to Little Miss Mary Ann Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs, W. A. Williams. The event was the most success ful one ever staged by the local Jaycees. Special entertainment featured a solo by Miss Frances Smith, of Robersonville. accom panied at the piano by Sarah Manning.