THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE IS READ L OVER 3.000 MARTIN COUNT FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEE. VOLUME LVI—NUMBER 99 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday, December 10, 1953 ESTABLISHED 189* -Forty-Nine Gases In " ...*'.... .. The Superior Court Two Murder Cases Placed On Docket For Trial Monday District Solicitor Elbert S. Peel To Prosecute The Large Docket Jndge Walter J. Bone of Nash ville will find a large docket j awaiting his attentton when he re- j turns to the count* next Monday to preside over e^one-week mix ed’ term of the? Martin County Superior Court.*£lbert S. Peel, lo cal attorney wU” was recently ap pointed solicitor fur this district, is to prosecute his first docket in the superior -court in this county, j Forty-nin* criminal cases, in cluding two' murder charges, have | already besn placed on the docket, j and it is/ quite likely that the | court will be in session all the week. More than half the cases j were continued from previous terms. Interest is centered in two mur der cases, but a plea is certain in one and possibly in the other, meaning that the court will not be long in disposing of them when they are called the first day the court is in session. Ernest Everett Staton has ad mitted the brutal murder of John Robert Hassell, aged colored man, at a lumber mill in Roberson \-ille the 19th of last month. He has made a statement, adding that he wanted the gas chamber. In the event he submits a plea, and it is likely that he will, then capi tal punishment is not likely. Attorneys Hugh M. Martin and Clarence W. Griffin have been appointed by the court to re present Staton. Hilda Dolberry, young colored girl, is charged with the 'fatal shooting of Ulysses Harrell at the Dolberry home near Oak Citv last September 26 She is at Li berty under a $500 bond. Walter Freeman is again booked for trial on two counts, one for assaulting Ina Mae Bazetm.re with intent "to kni i&st February 15, and the other for breaking and entering and assaulting Emma Minns with a scout dagger last April 19 Freeman failed to answer when called. His case having been continued since last March, Dempsey Rob erson is bookeif TW'flia'i for al legedly disposing of mortgaged property. J. T. Briley is charged with an assault with intent to commit rape on Larinc Raynor, a minor, in Hamilton last March 2! The case has been pending trial during the past two terms. Charged with bastaruy and his case continued at the June and September terms, Leon Williams is scheduled for trial next week. Donnie Harold Long is booked for seduction under the promise of marriage. Cottie Bryant is the I prosecuting witness in the case which had its origin last January. Charged with robbery of the person, Edward Harrison is a'leg ed to have takne $3.50 in cash from John Henry Lynch last July 31. Failing to appear last term, William Quintley Carraway is again booked for trial for the allc-tged larceny of $160 worth of clothing from the Wilson Hotel in Robersonville last May 20. Henry Price is booked for the (Continued on Page Eight) f\.T. A. Fund Campaign Under Way In District -• Having originally planned to i close their fund campaign this week, members of thd Parents Teachers Association finance com mittee said last night that the response had not been as generous as they had hoped and the quota will not be reached unless late receipts are heavier than earlier contributions. While the total goal has been set at $1500, the committee had set its sights on $600 for this particu lar round. A piano and other 1 supplies are badly needed and all persons who have not been con tacted to date are urged to send in their contribution to Mrs. Sel ma Rawls, chairman of the finance \ committee or to any member of the committee. EXTRA HOURS J The local post office, to bet ter serve its patrons, will su spend its half holidays dur ing the next two Saturdays, it was announcea today by Postmaster W. E. Dunn. The office will remain open until 6:00 o'clock P. M. both Saturdays. During the meantime, pa trons are advised not to delay their Christmas mailing un til the last minute. It has been pointed out that holiday greetings have a far better chance of delivery when mail ed first class than when en tered as second class matter. Achievement Day In County Clubs The Martin County 4-H Achievement Day was held Mon day night, December 7, in the Williamston Elementary School at 7:30 P. M. with 12 Clubs re presented. The meeting was open ed with the group singing Ameri ca, Pledge Allegiance to the Flag and said the 4-H Club Pledge. Polly Bunting read the Devotional which was followed by the Lord’s Prayer sung by Jan Brady. The roll was called with about 85 girls and boys and several par ents attending. Joan Carol Col train gave a very interesting talk on her experience at Club Con gress in Chicago. We then had entertainment by Buzzie and David Worsley which was enjoyed by all. The awards were given by Mrs. Harrison and Mr. Hodges. Thos receiving awards Girls: Achievement, Joan Carol Coltrain, Williamston Club; Clothing, Joan Carol Coltrain; Dress Revue Joan Carol Coltrain: Food Preparation, Joan Joan Ca rol Coltrain; Frozen Foods, Joan Carol Coltrain; Dairy Foods De monstration, Catherine Rogerson. Bear Grass Club; Farm and Home Electric, Catherine Rogerson; Re creation—Rural Arts, Joyce Re vels, Williamston Club; Public Speaking, Jean Stevenson, James ville Club. Jimmie Hopkins won the Cup I given by the Lions Club as the | most outstanding Club member J forColtrain won the cup for the girls. Boys: Ross Knowles—Dairy Achievement; Jimmie Hopkins— Field Crops; Leadership—Jim mie Hopkins; Meat Animal—Bob by Perry; Tractor Maintenance— Jimmie Hopkins; Forestry—La ! vanor Bullock; Achievement— Jimmie Hopkins.—Reported Injured In Auto Wreck In Comity • —♦— Julian Allen White, young Windsor-Norfolk white man, suf fered a three-stitch cut in his face when the car turned over on the Williamston Poglg^^jjjat road last Monday afternoon about 4:0( o’clock. Traveling toward Beddard'f store. White lost control of hit 1952 Ford in a curve, and the ma chine went down an embankment 1 and turned e ver, resulting in £ $500 estimated property loss. A companion with. White wa> not injured. Treated in a local ‘ho.- vtaJ,-WhH« wa« Able to con 1 tinue on his way a short time lat 1 el. . Hold Funeral For Native 01 County Funeral services were held in Roanoke Rapids yesterday after noon at 2:30 o’clock for James C. Leggett, native of his county, who died suddenly there Monday of a heart attack. Interment was in the Roanoke Rapids Cemetery. He was born near Williamston 45 years ago, the son of James A. Leggett and the late Mary Wob bleton Leggett. He moved with his parents to Raonoke Rapids where he spent most of his life. Surviving are his widow, Annie j Legget, a daughter, his father | and several brothers and sisters. Outlook Dim For The Bloodmobile j Visit On Tuesday —•— Calls For Blood Increasing* , More Pledge* Urgently I Requested —»— The prospects for a successful visit of the Red Cross Bloodmobile in this chapter next Tuesday, the 15th, a.e frankly dim, according to a late report coming from the Red Cross office. Even while the appeal was be- i ing made for additional pledges, calls for blood for emergencies were received late .yesterday af ternoon. The calls were answered, and members o ftbe highway pa trol had the blood' rolling toward the hopsital in a matter of minutes from the distribution center in Windsor. According to unofficial but re liable reports reaching here, the blood program is just about to be suspended in some chapters in this area because the number of donors has dwindled to a low point. The program has paid off in this chap ter, and lives have been saved. However, the program cannot be maintained unless the list of don ors is increased. In the light of the bare facts, leaders of the pro gram in this county are again appealing for blood donors. Call the Red Cross office, 2661, today and sign up for the visit next Tuesday. Ninety-eight willing persons pledged to give additional blood after patronizing the bloodmobile last June and September. Few pledges have been received since that time, but a report from the local National Guard Battery in dicated that the boys were plann ing to turn out in fairly large numbers next Tuesday. During the meantime, at least 75 additional pledges are needed if the quota ofg 150 pints is to be met next Tuesday between th hours of 10:00 a. m. and 4:00 p. m. The following are among those j who have .pledged to give blood | next Tuesday: W. M. Tettertun, Clyde Mann ing, Delmus Bazemore, Mrs. Rush Bondurant, Maurice Belott, Clyde B. Bailey, T. M Britton, Aubrey D. Ange, V^LAveni^LC. Col ira in A l A, L. Jameson, Miss Daisy Manning, Joseph Manning, Emmitt Mims, James L. Moore, Dr. J. S. Rhodes Jr., Walter Perkins, J. D. Page, Windell Peele, Henry Bullock, Lester Bryant, W. J. Bridgen, Norman Bailey, John Miller Jr., Gladys Manning. R. C. Malone, William Lilley .Simon Lilley, Jr., Raymond Blair, Lugene Bell, James Bullock, Johnny Beacham, M. K. Bennett, Mrs. Benita Straw Bob Newell, Chester Nicholson, Donnie M. Nicholson, John C. Mc Keen, J H McBrayer Jr., Dr. Sidney Christian, Marvin Col train, Cecil Brown, Mrs. Pete fin,Biggs, Erwin Griffin, Pete Fowden, E. R. Froneberger, Rich ard Edwards, Norman Everett, William Decato,. Ernest Griffin, Kelly Gay, Clyde Griffin, Ben nie Godwin, N D. Griffin, Mrs. dartha Gurganus, Henry Griffin, C. R. Whitaker, Park Hardison, J. W. Snead, Clabon Summerlin, Bruce Hollomon, Foodrow Holli day, Rev. T. L. Hastings, W. L. Howell, Cecil Lilley, Willlie Gray Lee, Carlton Lamm, Janiea Paul Lilley, K. P. Lindsley. Mrs. Lela Johnson, Wilbur Jackson, Paul Griffin, Hezekiah Bell, William Frank Bailey, Wil liam H. Griffin, Lazarus Williams, William Smallwood, Buck Hollo j man, *.?. K. Herrington, Bruce I Whitley, Lee Reynolds, Mrs. Lee ! Reynolds, Mrs. Caddie Robertson, |J. Reg Simpson, Jack Sullivan, -fM’rssr'EmiJyn WagKtf'i',’ G. JLi'ey Tew, Ernest Roughton, Arthur Simpsei>, Jtihn Ear-1 Robertson, Exurn Ward, Miss Bernice Ward, Sam Zeamon, Ronald White, Cal vin Warren, R. L. Bailey, Miss Maud Thomas. Searching Cemetery For Graves Of Relatives —®—~ Relatives of the late J. S. Wil liams and Sue Williams are try ing to locate the cemetery where the two were buried. Mr. Wil liams died in 1878 or 1879 and is belieVed to have been buried in a family cemetery between Wil liamston and Hamilton near the Poplar Point road, but no definite location has been determined. Anyone knowing where the Williams were buried are asked to contact A. E. Hammond, a rela tive, in Trenton, N. C. I Important Vote (hiPeamM I And Cottmt December i Sf 1 Farmers will chouse totnwv-t.i 17-cent and 33 cent cotton and between 9-cent peanuts and 12 > cent peanuts when they go to the I polls to participate in Ihe peanut cotton reftyendums next Tuesday, December 15. The importance of I casting a large and favorable vote > is apparent, but despite that it is , believed that only a small vote will be cast with the possibility ! that some areas will offbr the pro ? gram no strong support. It is be lieved that while Martin County 1, I 8 farmers will not turn out in great numbers they will favor the pro grams. Farm leaders, outside the poli tical field in Washington, are urg ing the farmers to vote and favor the programs. The polls will be open in thi; count' from GOG o’clock a rn. un- . til 6:00 o’ci< ck p. m. next Tuesday in the following places: Jamesville. Town House; Wil ! Hams. County House; Griffins | ,Jirn Manning’s store; Bear Grass,; [Leroy Harrison's garage; Wil- | liamston. Agriculture Building; Cross Roads,.Taylor’s Service Sta tion; Robersonville, Masonic Hall; Poplar Point, Ernest White's j store; Hamilton Township, City Hall in the town of Hamilton and at P. C. Edmondson’s store in Hassell; Goose Nest, J. H. Ayers' store in Oak City. t Members of the agriculture committees will hold the polls open, and all farmers who planted or were interested in the produc tion of peanuts or cotton are eli gible to vote. Twenty-One Face! Speeding Charges In County Court —•— Fine* Imposed In Amount Of $200 By Judge Chas. H. Manning Monday ——*— Alleged speeders held exten sive trial tests at a regular field day in the Martin County Record er’s Court Monday. Twenty-one were booked and fines in the sum of $200 were imposed or approved by Judge Chas. H. Manning who was pinchhiting for judge H. O. Peele who underwent an emerg ency operation for appendicitis that morning. The county court will yield its sitting place next week to the superior tribunal, and there is some doubt if Judge Peek will be able to return to the bench at the next regular session of the county court on the 21st. The twenty-one speeding cases handled by the court last Monday include the following: Pleading guilty of speeding 70 mites an hour, Anthony Dominie Ricci of Cerry Point was fitted $10 and taxed with the costs. Charged with speeding 75 miles an hour and operating a motor | vehicle withvmt i driver's license-, : Dave Purvis, Jr., of RFD 3, Green ville, was fined $40, plus costs. Purvis maintained he was inno cent, but his plea did not stand up in court. Bobby Brady of Hamilton was fined $50 and taxed with the costs for speeding 75 miles an hour. .Cif a rgcVv •;, -i iirvps* AiTlg -SfV vf.ii* an hour, James Shepherd of RFD 1, Robersonville, was fined $25, plus costs. Zolly Brinkley, also of RFD 1, Robersonville, pleaded guilty of speeding 65 miles an hour and was fined $10, plus costs. Peter J. Intine of St. Astoris, N. Y., Roert Charles Long of Savannah, Ga., James Elbert Woolf of Boston, Chas. Martin Burkhardt, Jr., of Weeksville, Phillip Ballance Thach of Hert ford and Milton Pushkin of Bronx, N. Y. •• John Michael Power of Savan nah, Ga., Robert E. Dowen of Evansville, Indiana, and Stuart Edward Hazlett of Rockdale, N. Y., were each fined $10, plus costs for speeding between 65 and 75 miles an hour. John J. Clark, Jr., of Water vilie, Conn., and Howard Corey, of RFD 3, Williamston, were each taxed with the costs for speeding 55 miles an hour in a 35-mile i ZOiiC. Pleading guilty of speeding 70 I miles an hour, Alesandro A. I Bowavitacola of Philadelphia, I wds fined $ZS-'8R— Well-Known Griffins Tm* n ship Resident Died Yesterday -*— Miss Harriet (Hattie) Hodges died at her home in the Smith wick Creek community cf Grif fins Township yesterday after noon at 2:45 o’clock. She suffered a stroke twelve years ago and had been an invalid since that time, spending the entire peridti in bed. Her condition had been critical for months and the end was expected. She was born in Griffins Town ship (i6 years ago on March 10, 1877, the daughter of the late John A. and Allie Bert Hodges. She never married. Miss Hftdges joined the church at Macedonia many years ago and was faithful in attendance upon its services and loyal in its work. During her long years of confine ment and suffering she never com plained, bearing her infirmities after a noble fashion and even looking on life's bright side from day to day. Surviving are two brothers, Messrs. George W. Hodges of Grif fins Township •cmd- Msea ««■> F-. Hodges of the home; and two sisters, Mrs. Hardy Hardison and Mrs. T. L. Lilley, both of Griffins Township. Her pastor, the Rev. P. E. Cay ton, will conduct the funeral at the home Friday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock. Interment will be in the v' ejbfd.'T.V... JjV Griffins Township. Fees And Fines, Add To Income The Martin County treasury re ceived $4,201.28 in fines, costs and fees last month, according to a report coming from Auditor J. Sam Getsinger, The courts added the greatest amount, $3,283.18, including $1, 890 in fines imposed in the county court. Costs in the court added up to $922.05. The superior court ac counted for $139.90, and miscel laneous fees added $331.23 to boost the total to $3,283.18. The register ot deeds office, handling almost a record num ber of recordings during Novem ber, reported $673.50 in fees. Most of the amount, $571.50 represented recording fees, the remainder re presenting income from the sale of marriage licenses and the is suance of various types of certifi cates. Sheriff.M. W. Holloman report ed $244.50 in tees, nearly all of that income being traceable to papers served. -4, Minor Accident On County Road ♦ ■ — No one was injured and pro perty damage was limited to ap proximately $150 or $200 when a tire blew out and the driver of a pick-up truck lost control ol the machine. The vehicle scooted in to a ditch and turned over on its side, scattering slab wood over a wide area. The truck belonged to Farmer Leamon Taylor and was being driven by a tenant, William Ernest Clark. Tile accident took place on the Bear Grass road Tuesday afternoon about 5:15 o’clock. funeral Today In SEeihedisl Shursh For Mrs. Gurganus Former loeal Resident Died In Kington Hospital Early Yesterday '-0 Funeral services are being con iucted in the Methodist church icre this afternoon at 2:00 o’ clock for Mrs. Rose Crowell Gur Janus, former resident, who died in a Kinston hospital at 2:00 o' clock yesterday morning. The pas tor, the Rev. R E. Walston, wil jonduct the rites and interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Gurganus was taken sud denly ill early last Thursdav evening. Pneumonia developer from a bronchial trouble, anc her condition became critical las Saturday. Little hope for her re covery had been expected sinci that time. The daughter of Mrs. Sara! Elizabeth Asbury Crowell Hal berstadt of Williamston and thi late John William Crowell, shi was born in Williamston 56 year ago on May 25, 1807. Except fo a short time spent in Lexingtor N. C. where her father ownei and operated a furniture factor1, she spent all her life in Williams ton until last May when she mov ed to Kinston to make her homi She was a member of th Methodist church here for man years. Possessed of a sympathe tie understanding, she played th role of a real friend to all. Sh was a thoughtful neighbor, an endeared herself to neighbors an otlieis riming tin1 few months sh spent in her adopted communit of Kinston, where she enjoyed large circle of frieinds and wher she enjoyed good health until he sudden illness. In 1914 she was married to Lt Rov If Gurganus of Williamstoi He died on December 10 of la: year. Surviving besides her moth< are two daughters, Miss Sara Gurganus of Kinston where si holds a responsible position the offices of a hospital, and Mr j Bet tie Gurgaiivis Baker of Was! I inglon. --—0J lere Monday CHAIRMAN "S D. V'. Clayton, cashier of the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, was recently nam ed chairman for this county to handle a bin oratorical con test the North Carolina Bank ers Association is sponsoring in the white high schools of the State. Details are to be announced soon, Mr. Clayton said, adding I that thousands of dollars in prizes will be awarded the county, district and state win ners. Every high school stu dent is eligible to participate in the contest. Unloading Large Fertilizer Cargo ; —<$.— Officials of the Mathieson Che I B i i i. it r h t n i mical Corporation’s Standard Fer tilizer Division in Williamstori were in Morehead City this week observing the unloading of a 11, 000-ton fertilizer cargo. The local company has been one of the main shippers at the State Port. The fol lowing story was released today from Morehead City: A full 11,000 ton cargo of a new type fertilizer material and ni trate of soda from Texas and Louisana plants is being discharg ed at the N. C. State Docks here this week as a test run upon which future movements and operation* will be based. The complete, pellet type for tilizer comes from the Pasaderu plant of the Mathieson Chemica Corporation, on the Houston Shiv Channel, with other tonnage ol nitrate from Lake Charles, La Both materials are in bulk, anc the greater part of the cargo wil be bagged with new equipmen being installed in the doexsidi transit sheds of North Carolins j State Ports Authority, offii iali [said. Mathieson Chemical is the ship | pci and charterer of the Bull Lim i steam-tvpe vessel, S. S. Mae | which is serving the Port o For the first time also, ihe Stun Ports Authority is undertakinf the stevedoring of cargo. The SP/ terminal recently purchased ant leased bulk conveyors, hopper: and payloaders. Two mobih cranes are unloading the Mac which does not carry ships tackle SPA Executive Director (I W motto and tne agency? More head City terminal manager, J D. Holt, describe the current for tilizer movement as highly signi fieant in the port’s progran which seeks to establish the re cently improved harbor as a ma jor fertilizer distribution eentei Using terminal equipment and In cal stevedore labor is expected tc supply basic cost factors for dis charge, handling and distribution The first cargoes of synthetic bulk fertilizer to move througl Morehead City, where the State of North Carolina completed a $H, 000,000 marine terminal in 1952 were shipped from West Germai picits last Spring by Mathiesoi Chemical and General Fertilize;! i A large part ol the movemen was transhipped via Atlantic anc East Carolina Rai|ioad to the Standard Fertilizer plant at Wil liamston. Holt said this week that th< new portable bagging equipmen being installed.1 permit a wid er direct distribution. The coast wise movement inaugurated b; Mathieson and the bagging op eration will bring distribution^b truck and inland waterway barg as well as rail shipments into th ! transport -picture. _i Te pellet type complete fertiliz S i er releases its plant food over longer perid of time than powder n j od forms, and that the waste fac 1-1 tor is decidedly less, its manufac •s turers claim. The extent of us it d , ii! „ c is e y c d 0 of the new type material by farm ers in the territory served by thi port will determine the extent o future movements. Suffer* Broken Hip In Fall This Mornitif Mrs. A. J. Manning, Sr., suffer i*d a broken right hip in a fall a her home on Simmons Avenue shortly before 7:00 o’clock thi morning. She was removed to i local hospital and was reportec at noon to be getting along lairl; well. Sixty-Six Cases Heard In County Recorder's Court Vice Recorder Held Court In Session All Day To Handle Big Docket Appointed vice recorder by the Martin County Commissioners I Monday morning when Judge H. i O Peele underwent an emergency operation, Attorney Chas. H. Manning immediately threw the ^wheels of justice into motion and before the day was spent he and Solicitor Clarence Griffin had cleared sixty-six cases from the docket in the recorder’s court. The docket had accumulated a large number of cases while the ; superior court was in session two weeks handling civil actions. There was quite a bit of moan \ ing and wailing going on at the bar, but at the close of the day no one had a ticket directly to the roads and fines were added up in the amount of $1,190. Added costs ran the total income for the day up to almost $28,000. Proceedings: Pleading guilty of operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license, Solomon Harris was fin ed $25, plus costs. Charlie Easley, charged w ith an assault with a deadly weapon, was found not guilty. Judgment was suspended upon tin payment of the costs in the case in which Joe Purvis. Jr., was charged with assaulting a female. Charged with driving a motor vehicle after his license had been revoked. Melvin Earl Jones was fined $25, plus costs. Pleading guilty of violating the liquor laws, Janies Edward Ben j nett was sentenced to the roads 1 for nine months, the court su spending the road term for three ' years up. u the payment of a $50 fine and costs The ease in which Arthur Lee Teel was charged with careless . ■ ., »*;- •. - -ft—jS:»r • be i'ls ! p \. iiCvi li t a later date. Adjudged guilty of issuing a worthless check, George Green was ordered to pay the amount of the cheek and court costs. Mrs. James Anthony Rodgerson pleaded guilty of operating a mo tor vehicle without a driver’s li • r. K i> m* ww costs. The ease in which her hus band was charged with allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle was nol prossed. Matthew Crowell, pleading guilty, was fined $25, plus costs, for operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license. Maintaining his innocence, George Webb was found guilty of non-support and drew six months on the roads. The road term was suspended upon the payment of $40 immediately and $5 a week for the support of his child. He is to reappear at the end of two years for further judgment. Adjudged guilty of an assault with deadly weapon over his plea of innocent, John Thoma: } i-i ry Mas Sen ten iLVi h- , nulls' - for three months. The road term was suspended upon the payment of the court costs and under the further condition that the defen dant refrain from drinking and fighting for six months. The assault with a deadly wea (Gontinued on Page Three) Han Jailed For Aiiacking Wife i ** -1 Daniel Williams, 38-year-old . .Cross Hoads Township colored . man, was jailed here yesterday for a brutal knife assault on his wife. Lena Mae Williams. Tuesday > afternoon. Although she was bad 1 ly cut about the arm and body, she was able to attend a prelimin ary hearing held by Justice II. K. Everett in Robersonville yester , day. The victim was treated in the Ward clinic, one report stat • ing that doctors worked the great t er part of an hour closing the ■ wounds. ! Williams, using a sizable pocket i knife, was unable to arrange bond I in the sum of $150 and was placed ' in jail. lie ils to be tried in the county court on the 21st.