Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / June 23, 1953, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3,040 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE THE ENTERPRISE IS READ B* OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT! FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEI VOLUME LVI—NUMBER 50 William*ton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, June 23, 1933 ESTABLISHED 189!| Tyner Found Not Guilty In Murder Case Last Week -$ Little Argument Now As To Who Is Master Of The Tyner Premises Clyde Tyner, 65-year-old Ne-! gro man, was found not guilty of the murder of Rufus Taylor, colored, in the Tyner home near Williamston last March 27 by a jury in the Martin County Su perior court last Thursday after noon. The jury, taking the case at 12:31 that afternoon was back with its verdict in exactly twelve minutes. It was directly admitted by the defendant that he did not have control of his own home. Well, the verdict returned by the jury last Thursday leaves little doubt as to who is master of the pre mises now. While Tynuer was not given license to shoot and kill in his own home in the future, it can be inferred that visitors go there at their own risk. The defendant offered a real istic account of the shooting, maintaining he could see dang er in Taylor's eyes as he (Taylor) allegedly started on him with a hand reaching in a pocket pre sumably for a knife. He told how he grabbed his gun quickly and fired literally from the left hip Tyner went on to build up ar. en viable reputation as a peaceful man, the character witnesses leav ing no flaw or blemish on him. But the cse started leaking air just as Defense Counsel Chas. H. Manning made ready to go be fore the jury with the argument. Officer Bill Ilaislip was called as a last-minute witness for the State. Defense disputed the State’s right to put him on the stand, but Judge Jos. W Parker, pre siding, ruled him out. The witness said he was on du ty that Sunday afternoon (March 22) when Tyner came down and said he wanted a warrant, the officer declaring that Tyner said | he wanted a warrant for his son, Dawson. The officer said Tyner did not mention Taylor’s name. The officer added that Tyner ex plained he was having so much trouble with his son that he want ed a warrant for his arrest. Re turning to the stand, Tyner said he talked with the officer and told him he wanted a warrant for both the son and Taylor, that maybe the officer misunderstood him. Ail the evidence in the case was completed at 10:30 that morn ing, but not until shame and dis grace was wrapped all round the Tyner premises, but the defend ant came through unscathed. Stephen Griffin, the first char acter witness, praised Tyner as being a man of good character, and that Taylor had a bad repu tation. Fannie Williams ripped into the dead man’s character from far back. She knew Taylor in Wilson about ten years ago, declaring that he had threatened to kill her father. Asked if Taylor had hurt her father, she said, “He didn’t hurt him; he just knock ed him out.” It developed that the witness was employed in the home of defense counsel. The defense imported a witness from Washington, one who knew Taylor back in Wilson County. The witness, Esther Smith, said Taylor carried knives and guns around with him at Walstonburg. Richard Roberson, coming from Bethel, said he knew’ Taylor tried to shoot him. Roberson de clared he took the gun away from Taylor and gave it to his bosman who gave it to Taylor’s bossman. Hubert Biggs declared Tyner’s reputation was good and that he had known him for 25 years. The witness on cross examination, said he knew nothing about Ty (Continued on Page Three) ROUND-UP — Ten persons were rounded up and temporarily detained in the county jail last week end. Four were booked for public drunkenness and one each for breaking and enter ing, drunken driving, assult, carrying a concealed weapon, operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license and violating parole. There of the ten were white and the ages ranged from 17 to 36 years. Father Gets 8 To 10 Years In Incest Case \ RECORD v. j Judge Joseph W. Parker set an unusual and unique re cord when he came to the county last week to preside over the one week-term of the Martin Superior Court. The jurist arrived from his home in Windsor ahead of time, opened court right on the dot, kept the machinery turning full blast until late Friday afternoon. After dis missing the juries. Judge Parker returned Saturday to hear special issues. It is the first time in a long time than a scheduled session of the court ran its full course. Tobacco Growers To Meet Friday Flue-cured tobacco producers from Florida, Georgia, South Ca rolina, North Carolina and Vir ginia will meet in Raleight, N. C., on June 2fith to attend the Sev enth Annual Stockholders Meet ing of the Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stablization Corpor ation. The meeting will convene at the Sir Walter Hotel beginning at 11:00 a. m. Dr. D. W. Colward who will as sume duties as Dean of the School of Agriculture, North Carolina State College, on July 1st will appear on the program. Other highlights of the meeting will be the annual address of the Co operative's President, Carl T. Hicks of Walstonburg, N. C., and the annual report of operations by General Manager L,< X. Weeks, of Raleigh. More than 468,000 tobacco pro jducers make up Stablizat ion’s | membership from the five flue i cured states. F.ach county in the I tobacco area is expected to send delegates to the meeting. Dur ing the meeting, a period will be devoted to general discussion and every person present will have an opportunity to ask any ques tions, make any statement or sqg I gestions on any phase of the Stablization program. During the business session, three directors will be elected by \ the stockholders for three-year terms. Members of the Board of Directors whose termsiexpirc this year are D. F Bruton, Adel, Ga.; Joe Blunt, Loris, S (’.. and T. W. Allen, Creedmoor, N, C. General Manager Weeks asks that each county, both large and small, send a large delegation of tobacco growers to the meeting. He pointed out that Stabilization Corporation is owned, operated and controlled by the growers and one of the responsibilities of the members is to attend the meeting and vote in the affairs of business which will be trans acted. Critically 111 In Virginia Hospital Suffering an attack at his home here on Hassell Street about 3:00 o’clock last Saturday morning, Mr. Henry D. Harrison continues critically ill in a Richmond hospi tal, according to last reports reaching here this morning. His trouble had not been de finitely diagnosed at that time, but it is thought he is suffering with a tumor of the brain. Given first aid treatment in a hospital here, he was removed to the Richmond hospital at noon Saturday. Accompanying him to the hos pital members of the family, are constantly at his bedside. Plan Prof!rams For The Local Youth Center Some new records are being purchased this week for the use of the local Youth Center and plans for special programs for the young people are being worked out by some of the youngsters themselves. Dick Manning is head of a group which is to direct games | and other activities for a few evenings at the center. Frank Edwards Is Found Guilty End Three-Day Trial Uiiipitial Evidence Offered To Add Confusion To Sordid Case -<$» - Found guilty of incest, Frank Edwards, a newcomer to this county from Pitt, was sentenced by Judge Jos, W. Parker in the Martin County Superior Court last Friday afternoon to serve not less than eight and not more than ten years in State’s Prison. Pin-droQping silence crept into the courtroom as Judge Parker weigh ed the final pleas advanced by de fense counsel and Solicitor George Fountain. The verdict and judg ment were • received without emotion appearing in any of the faces of those who had held a close watch in and around the court room all week long. The youthful victim, Edwards’ 14-year-old daughter remained alone during the trial, while oth er members of the family held to gether for the most part. Unusual evidence crept into the case during the trial, and the post-trial pleas pointed the de fendant out as one possessed of a psyeophatie personality. Follow ing neurosurgery in a Durham hospital back in 11)48, Edwards was said not to be capable of tell ing right from wrong. Defense counsel referred to the case as a pitiful one, and briefly referred to the absence of emotion on the part of the prosecuting witness us she withstood two hours of questioning, both by the State and defense counsel. There was a fantastic letter, supposedly written bv the main prosecuting witness to Kenneth Bland, Rober sonville, under date of June 16. In the letter she made certain accusations, involving others and stating a physical condition not supported by medical examina tion. Declaring that he did not have a vocabulary to adequaately de scribe the crime, Judge Parker said none is more revolting. The jurist carefully weighed the evi dence and the pleas, giving due consideration to all the eircus j stances before pronouncing the I sentence. "In the light of the oir , cumstances, I am not going to ! give him the maximum 15-year I sentence,” the jurist said Soli I citor George. Fountain said lie doubted if Edwards and his wife realized the seriousness of the charges, adding that under the conditions he did not believe the lease merited the punishment that I one under more normal conditions or circumstances would meiit. Just about all the evidence in tile case was completed at 12.45 last Friday. The court took a 45 minute recess and at 1:30 that afternoon it was announced that no arguments would be made be fore the jury. Judge Parker com pleted his 45-minute charge to the jury at 2:30 o'clock, and the jury, after deliberating thirty-two minutes, returned with the ver dict, "Guilty, as charged.” Calling the first witness in the sordid case at 4 08 o'clock last Thursday afternoon, the State re vealed some damaging evidence against Edwards The witness, Ed wards’ daughter who is not yet quite fourteen years of age, told where they lived and said the family moved to Williams Town ship in March, 1952. After telling about the members of the fami ly she related the damaging evi dence, declaring that her father had attacked her on nine differ ent occasions, the first dating back about two years. The first and fourth other attacks allegedly took place in Pitt County near Stokes. Following closely the evi dence offered at the preliminary hearing in May, the little victim, explained that she had pleaded with her mother for help, but got no protection from her. She told how h< r life had been threated by her father, how he carried her to Sweet Water Creek, tied her hands and gagged her but could not drown her. Following the last alleged at tack in a taxi on May 9, the al leged acts came to light and Ed j wards was immediately arrested. (Continued on Page Five) Native Oi County Died Saturday At Home oi Daughter -% Funeral Service Held Here Sunday Afternoon For Mrs. W. B. Weaver -» Funeral services were conduct ed in the Biggs Funeral Chapel on West Main Street here Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock for Mrs. Maggie V. Weaver who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. G. A. Buroughs, 3516 N. Wood lawn Avenue, Norfolk, last Saturday morning at 5:30 o’clock. Her pastor, the Rev. Ralph E. Ferguson, pastor of the Roberson ville Baptist Church, assisted by the Rev. E. Gordon Conklin, pas tor of the Williamston Memorial Baptist Church, conducted the rites. Interment was in Williams ton’s Woddlawn Cemetery. Going to Norfolk about a month ago to visit her daughter, Mrs. Weaver was taken ili about ten days ago. Her condition was cri tical during most of that time. The daughter of the late Samuel D. and Gynthis Cherry Rawls, she was born in this county 77 years ago on October 23, 1875. She made her home in and around Williamston and Robersonville all her life, and was a member of the Robersonville Baptist Church for many years. In early woman hood she was ^married to Wil liam Benjamin Weaver who died in 1948. Since his death she had made her home with the children. Surviving are three sons, J. Frank Weaver of Williamston, William Jasper Weaver of Ply mouth and Lewis Andrew Weav er of Robersonville; three daught ers, Mrs G. A. Burroughs of Nor folk, Mrs. Oniley S. Cowan of Williamston and Mrs. Glenn Stalls of Portsmouth; a sister, Mrs. W. D. McKeel of Williams ton; eighteen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. Prominent Negro Citizen Passes —<*.— Rufus T. Chance, prominent Martin County Negro citizen and leader, died at his home near Has sell early last Friday morning. He had been in declining health for several years. Born on October 15, 1880, near Hassell, he lived and farmed in that community all his life, figur ing prominently in every worthy undertaking. He supported edu cational and religious movements, and in his daily living he set ex amples worthy of others to fol low. With only a few hundred dol lars saved over a period of years, he purchased a farm in 1914, and with the aid of his wife and a large number of obedient child ren he developed the farm into one of the most productive in this section. In addition being one of the county’s largest colored farm ers, he was listed among the best. “Uucle Rufus” as he was favor ably known among many of both races, was a leader in Harper’s Primitive Baptist Church over in Edgecombe County and supported it liherally and faithfully He was also interested in the cause of education, and was a recognized leader of his race, living at peace with his fellowman and holding the respect of all. He was married first to Sallie Cherry and twelve children sur vive that union, five of whom earned college degree and all the others but three completing their high school education. His second marriage was to his sister-in-law, Mary Cherry. Surviving are the following (Continued on Page Three) --* Crack Down On Traffic Violators —*— Members of the local police force are cracking down on alleg ed traffic law violators and at the same time rounding up others running afoul of the law. Officers Chesson and White hurst last week-end cited four to the courts for violating traffic laws. James E. Taylor and Paul V. Narron were booked for not stopping for a traffic signal. Otis W. Casper and Marvin D. Futrell, Jr , were charged with speeding in 35-mile zones, the latter having been checked at 60 miles an hour. Several drunks were arrested along with other lawviolators. Holding Han On Robbery Charges In County's Jail I)a\ i«l McLean Admits Hr Entered Hitching Lost And Cleaners -» David McLean, 25-year-old | Charlottesville, Va , colored man, is being held in the Martin Coun ty jail in default of $7,000 bond for the alleged robbery of four business establishments here ear ly last Thursday morning. Given a hearing before Justice of the Peace W. M. Tetterton at the courthouse last Thursday night, McLean pleaded guilty of breaking into the Hitching Post and the Horton Cleaners on South Sycamore Street, but claimed he was with a fellow by the name of John Douglas. McLean denied breaking into and robbing the stores of Walter Mizelle on North Elm Street and of G. T Hill on North Sycamore Street, claiming that Douglas handled those rob beries. Breaking the front door locks and using a screw driver to force the latches, the robbers entered the front door of each of the establishments. When McLean was arrested about 5:00 o’clock that morning a short distance out on Highway 125 he had on his persons seven rolls of pennies, valued at $3.50, missing from Mi zelle's store and about $3.25 in pennies and silver missing from Hill's store. Nothing was missed from the other two places of busi ness, but the robber was nearing the money box in the Hitching Post piccolo when he was fright ened way. Walking by the Horton Clean ers about $2:50 o'clock that morn ing, Sylvester Woolard saw Mc Lean standing in the door. Think ing the man was working there, Woolard asked him why he was opening for business so early. Mc ILean was quoted as saying .that [he could not sleep and decided to get to work, that Mr. Horton, the owner, would be clown later. Woolard said he accepted the explanation at the time, but when he measured facts he became su spicious and notified the police. Officers Arthur Perry and Mau rice Whitehurst found no one at the cleaners, but tthey started searching for the man. Using the description offered by Woolard, the officers picked the man up about two hours later. Unable to arrange bond, Mc Lean was returned to jail where he is likely to remain until the next term of the superior court which convenes in September. Investigating the case further, officers learned that McLean was Robert Bailey, a native of San ford who was sent to the roads for three years on a robbery charge. Bailey escaped from a prison road camp in Graven Coun ty last week, wandered into Wash ington where he broke into a store and stole a kinfe and a watch along with a small amount of money before moving on to Williamston to committee four more robberies. He is being tried (Continued on Page Eight) Car Turns Over In Local Yard —•— When the brakes on his 1940 Studobaker convertible failed, William Earl Warren, 29 of Ro bersonville and Williamston, steered the machine onto the side walk in front of the Wheeler Martin home on East Main Street to avoid striking a car that was backed out in front of him at 11:45 o’clock Monday morning The young man, accompanied by two others, was doing all right in the emergency until the car struck an electric power pole! guy wire and threw the machine! over on its side in the Hugh G. ■Hortons’ yard. No one was hurt and damage was estimated at |iittlc more than $25, according Ho Officer Chas. R. Moore who made the investigation. Itu/tlint Sunday School Holding Picnic Tomorroic -— The Sunday School of the Me morial Baptist Church will hold its annual picnic tomorrow at Whichard’s Beach near Washing ton. Members of the school are asked to meet at the church at 2:00 o’clock Wednesday after noon, and transportation will be arranged there. A County Budget Calls For $330,382 Taxes Estimate Based On $26 Million Property Listing Rate Fairly Definite At $1.35 Per $100 Prop erty Valuation Although holding to the same , rate—$1.35 on the $100 assessed | property valuation—Martin Coun ty proposed to raise approximate- j ly $10,922 more in general taxes 1 than it did a year ago, according' to a budget estimate released this week by the board of commiss- ; loners. The figures represent a total of $330,382 to be raised from gen eral taxation as compared with $319,460 levied a year ago. The increased amount, it was pointed out is expected from approxi mately three-quarters of a million dollars in the assessed property values. While the over all rate is be ing held to the $1.35 figure, there are some marked variations in the various departmental levies. Here tofore, the levy for general eoun ty purposes was limited for year by law to 15 cents on the $100 valuation, A constitutional amend ment provided a 5-cent increase in the rate for general county purposes. Heretofore, general county purposes had to up the rates for other departments to maintain itself. Now, each tub stands on its own bottom, so to speak with the general fund still carrying items that could be charged to other departments Indigent hospitalization and other emergencies, amounting to near ly 12,000, are being charged •against the general county fund levy. It is estimated that $138,915 will be needed to support the county's general activities, includ mg salaries, administration, courts and allied items. The county is looking to taxation for $48,665, the remainder, or $90,250, to come from liquor and beer sales, court costs, fees and so on. The county home appropriation is being cut by about $1,000 to $9,744 foi the new fiscal year, beginning the first of next month A reduction of about $600 is being made m the poor fund, leaving the appropriation at $14, 600. Tiie health fund was upped from $20,880 to $23,193 presum ably in an effort to attract a head for tiie department. Bond requirements are dropp ing from $44,975 to $33,215. At the close of the current fiscal year, June 30, the county will owe just a fraction over one-quarter million dollars in bonds, the bud-* get estimate shows. It is estimated that public wel fare administration will require $13,360 tax money fm its opera tions next year as compared with $12,660 this year. The actual cost is actually $21,860 but the federal and state governments step in to pay $8,500 of the amount. The county is cutting its actual tax levy for the welfare department, but actually more money is being made available for aged, depend ent children, blind and the per manently and totally disabled than was appropriated a year ago. The federal and state governments are participating in the cost of the agency to a greater extent than they did a year ago with the possibility that mure of the old-timers will be included in the list arid the average allotment increased. When all the county and wel fare department costs are con sidered a rate of 65 cents on the (Continued on Page Three) Concert Group Meets Tonight —*— The executive committee of the Martin County Community Con cert Association is to meet at 8:00 o’clock this evening in the lobby of the George Reynolds Hotel, it was announced today by the secretary, Mrs. Jos. Griffin. A New York representative of the association will meet with group and discuss plans for the coming concert season, it wus ex plained. I /-———- -—' BOARD MEMBER i v.,/ Sherwood I.. Roberson, Ro bersonville business man and leader, was named to mem bership on the Martin County Democratic Executive Com mittee held in the courthouse last Saturday morning. Mr. Roberson fills the position made vacant by the death of Cecil Powell a short lime ago. Roberson Named To County Board By unanimous vole, the Martin County Democratic Executive in a short session held in the court house last Saturday at 11:00 o’ clock named Sherwood L. Rober son prominent Uobersonville busi ness man, to fill the position made vacant on the county board of education by the untimely death of Cecil Powell on Friday, June 12. The nomination was made by Uobersonville Precinct Chairman C. B. Martin and seconded by Precinct Chairman J. F. Crisp of Goose Nest. The committee directed the sec retary to prepare resolutions of respect for Mr. Powell, vice chairman of the Gold Point Pre cinct, a copy to be sent to Mis. Powell and another be incorpor ated m the committee's minutes. Mrs. Powell was elected as vice chairman of the precinct. In answer to a plea for finan jcial support in wiping out the debt of the National Democratic Committee, the group directed the treasurer to forward a cljoek in ! the amount of $71i to the State J. R Griffin of Griffin, ,1. F (Crisp of Goose Nest, J Sam Get (singer and 11 G Horton of Wil j liamston, Floyd Moore if Wil hams, Geo. Taylor of Cross Roads, iChas. G. Gut km of Jamcsville (and Chairman J II. Gray of Ho bcrsonvillr attended the meeting. Man Booked Gn Assault Charge * Renewing an old grudge that left several bad cuts in his an atomy about a year ago, Floyd La nier, 36, opened up on James Godard a second time with a pocket knife at the Little Savoy Cafe on Washington Street here j last Saturday night. Godard was standing in the cafe | when Lanier walked in and .tai l ed swinging. Before he could he pulled away he had scored five times, cutting his victim twice on the head, once each on the Lava t, arm and back. The cuts w t re not very deep and the victim was able to attend a preliminary hearing before Justice W. M. Tetterton last night. Lanier was booked for trial in the county court. Spvaki’r Slolrn From Thputt'r l.nsl II vvk-vm] For the second time in recent weeks a speaker was stolen at the Twilight theatre over the week end. Mr. Mobley owner and operator of the theatre, said yesterday morning he knew who stole the healing equipment and that he would issue a warrant for the thieves unless the part was re turned at once. Parked two rows to the rear of the projection room Mr. Mob ley said the ear was occupied by two boys an dtwo girls. Goodly Number Of Cases Are Tried In Superior Court -.% Se\ era I Divorcpsi Grunted And (dear Other Cases From The Ooeket Opening .1 one-week term Monday, June 13, the Martin County Superior Court really earned its pay last week. The tri bunal was in session right on through last Saturday morning . who nspeeial issues were heard before Judge Jos. W. Parker, the juries having been dismissed with the thanks of the court late Fri day afternoon. Encountering several aggravat ed cases, the court did not clear its docket, but it make consider able progress in getting its docket and calendar in shape. With the murder and incest eases out of the way, the court opened up Saturday morning to hear several divorce actions and a few other eases near the close of the term. Proceedings not previously re ported follow: Adjudged guilty of burning an automobile in order to collect the insurance, James Perkins was sen tenced to the roads for twelve months. Perkins was in line for the maximum, but his counsel ex plained that his seven children, allegedly deserted by the mother, are living with his mother, and Judge Parker tempered justice with mercy. The sentence is to begin at the expiration of the 3-to-five-year term he is now serving for wife beating. O. K Harrison was sentenced to the roads for twelve months when he was found guilty of an assult with a deadly weapon. Judge Parker, making ready to pass sentence, told Harrison that the jury did not believe him. "I just couldn't help it," Harrison said, shaking his head when the jurist asked him if he really objected "going back home". Charged with drunken driving, F O Move was found not guilty. Based on grounds of two years of separation, divorces were grant ed Janu s Albert Smith from Ellen S Smith, Naomi Bennett from Bennett, and klelle H. Rawls from William E. Rawls. In the divorce action of Wil liam Earl Hollis against Wiltla Yvonne Hollis, the plaintiff charg ed adultery. He stated they were married August 111, 1951, and left for overseas duty in the armed forces. In October of last year, the plaintiff said he received let ters from friends, advising him that his wife had been unfaithful. Releurtiiug to the States last Feb ruary 2", he reached home March 7 and learned on April 14 that his wife was "in a family way’’, lie explained that he carried his wife to a doctor that day and was advised that she was from four to five months pregnant. Grady Keith Lamm, alleged to have violated terms of a five veal probation is to be arrested, the eo.ut ordered. Pleading nolo condcnd. re last March when he was charged with hit-and-run driving, Lamm was sentenced to the loads for not less than three and not more than five years and ordered to pay $100 to David Mayo for medical expenses lie did not comply with the judgment, it was pointed out by probation officer Harry Douglas. The following criminal eases were continued: Odis W. Whitaker, spending 70 miles an hour; J. T Briley, assult with intent to commit rape; Clarence P Joyner, Jesse Whitley (colored) Benjamin II Lewis, James Roose velt Peel, Robert E. Linton and Homer Bryan Bowen, drunken unv mg. Returning Saturday mbrning after dismissing the jury, Judge Parker heard several motions in chambers. In the ease of Maty E. Holliday (Continued on Page Three) IMPROVING Following a tragic accident in which two persons lost their lives the previous week end, no accidents were re ported on the highways oc cording to ini'ormaton coining i'rom the highway patrol of fice in this county today. It was the first week-end in months that no accidents were reported on the high ways in this county, the pa trol office pointed out.
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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June 23, 1953, edition 1
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