* THE ENTERFR1SE IS READ BY *OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE IS READ US OVER 3,000 MARTIN •FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEE* VOLUME LVII—-NUMBER 39 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, May 18, 1954 ESTABLISHED 1899 Eight Accidents On Highways In County Lillie Girl Badly Injured On North Haughton Street Properly Damage Estimat ^ ed At $1,570 In Wrecks Past Few Days One person was killed and three others were injured, one of them badly, in a series of ac cidents on the highways in this county during the past few days, according to reports coming from the North Carolina Highway Pa trol office in the courthouse this week. Little Miss Rebecca Morton, 4 year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Morton of Williamston, was badly injured when struck by a car just outside the town limits on North Haughton Street last Saturday morning at 9:00 o’clock. She suffered fractures of the left arm at the elbow and just above the wrist and the left thigh. She also suffered head injuries and bruises about the body, but those injuries were not believed seri ous. Removed by Mrs. Virginia Speller to Martin General Hos pital, she was reported to be re sponding to treatment and will continue in the hospital for weeks. Accompanied by her brother imd Mrs. Pearl Whitfield, the lit ile girl was Walking south be side the road and walked or ran Into the path of a car driven by Milton Harrison who was going out of town. Said to have been driving at a moderate speed, Har rison stopped his car and follow ed her to the hospital. The first in the series of re cent accidents was reported early ® in the week on the Palmyra Hamilton road. James Lee Tho mas of Palmyra was driving north •on the road, meeting James Alex ander who was driving a mule and cart. Alexander started to make a left turn with his mule in b curve and the car crashed into 5.f|vJfoe man and mule. Neither of the men was injured, but the animal was battered up a bit and dam »ge to the car was estimated at $300. No one was injured when two tars, one driven by Myrtle Wil liam Bland and the other by Mrs. Q Mojlie Ray Oakley, crashed at the intersection of Highway 64 und the McCaskey Road about 1:40- o'clock last Thursday after noon. Damage to the Bland car, a 1949 Chrysler, was estimated at $350 and that to the Oakley car, a 1954 Dodge, was figured at $200. About two hours later and about two blocks from the Mc Caskey Road, Beulah Forbes be gan making a left turn into the Brady drive just as Levi Teague started to pass in a J953 Mercury. No one was hurt. Damage to Tea gue's car was estimated at $200 and that to the Forbes auto, a 1952 Plymouth, was placed at $300. Last Friday afternoon, Tho mas Jefferson Roberson was driv ing west on Highway 64 about one-quarter mile out of Oak City and slowed down to pick up a hitch-hiker. Following behind, Fred Beatty of Hobgood skidded his 1953 Dodge on the wet pave ment and struck the pick-up, do p ing about $50 damage to his ma chine and none to the truck. Driving a 1951 DeSoto on the Palmyra-Hamilton road about 11 30 o’clock last Fridav night,' Wm. O. Griffin, Jr., lost control (Continued on Page Two) f SCHOOL FINALS J Following is the schedule for the ffhais in the Williams ton High School, as announc ed today by Principal B. G. Stewart: Sunday night, 8:00 o’clock, commencement Sermon by Rev. Robert Walston, Wil liamston Methodist Church; Music by Glee Club. Thursday 8:38 a. m., Awards Day Program, high school auditorium. Thursday night, 8:00 o’ clock, Graduation Exercises; Music by Band. Address by Rev. James Lowry, South Norfolk Presbyterian Church. Examination Schedule, May 31, 21, 25. [bond registration V._ J The registration tor the coining bond election (June 4) here was off to a good start last week-end when 65 new names were added to the books. Ten of the names were those of colored citizens, according to a report released by Mrs. Eva Grimes, regis trar. The books, opened last Fri day will remain open each day from 9:00 a. m., until 5:00 p. m., through Friday of this week at the regis trar's office on Baltimore street near W. G. Peele’s in surance office. Those persons whose names are already on the books will not find it ne cessary to register again to participate in the bond elec tion on June 4. The June 4 town bond elec tion is not to be confused with Democratic primary May 29. Gurganus Named Jaycee Director Edgar J. Gurganus, local at torney, and the Williamston Jun ior Chamber of Commerce were doubly honored this past week end at the State Convention of the North Carolina Junior Cham ber of Commerce in Raleigh, N. C. Climaxing two days and nights of strong campaigning by the lo cal Jaycees, Edgar Gurganus was elected to the office of Director of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce from North Carolina, Saturday after noon in the Hali of the House of Representatives of the State Capi tol. With some 5fl0 Jaycees parti cipating in the election, “Red”, j as ue is better known by tl» Jaycees in the State, led the vot- I >m> of ail officers elected, being the first Jaycee to hold the high position from a Town as small as WJHamilton. . , The second honor came during the Inaugural Banquet Saturday night in the Memorial Auditorium when Edgar was presented the Cou Browne Trophy Award as the “Outstanding State Vice-Presi dent" of the ten that served dur ing the past year. The presenta tion was made by Jimmy Wallace,1 retiring National Director from Morehead City, N. C. As National Director, Edgar will serve on the National Board at its June meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado, its August meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and its next June meeting in Atlan ta. Georgia. In addition to his duties on the National level he will serve on the Executive Com rrtittee of the North Carolina Jay cees during the coming year.— L. Sidney Christian hindergurten 1*11 pi Ik In Commencement May 2.1th - <*) The Williamston Ministerial! Association will present their Community Kindergarten pupils in their second annual commence ment, “Master Shoe’s Kindergar ten”, under the direction of Mrs. R. E. Tarkington and Mrs. R. L. Bowling on May 25, 1954 at 7:30 o’clock in the fellowship hall of the First Methodist Church. Town Considers Purchase 1 Of Church Property Here -- Meeting in .special session yes terday afternoon, WUliamston’s board of town commissioners dis cussed the possibility of purchas ing the Christian church property on South Smithwick Street. The special meeting was called so the ; town could have first refusal of. the property, it was explained. | It was pointed out at the meet-1 mg that the property is needed for future expansion of town needs, the commissioners explain ing that it is about the only site conveniently located for a fire station. No definite action was taken, the commissioners explaining that the property is more suitable for a library and that if the citizens of the town would make a bid the town would look elsewhere for a; site. The owners are being asked to delay action for another few days, possibly until the next re gular meeting of the town board. While no price figures were mentioned, several of the com missioners declared that the cost: appeared to be reasonable, that it would be a good> buy for a lib brary since no extensive altera tions would be necessary. The commissioners expressed the belief that private citizens could underwrite the purchase and establish a library that would be adequate to meet the needs of Jhe town. The church plans to abandon the building in early July. Irvin L. Norton, Local Nan, Died ^ At Home Of Son Funeral Service Being Held In Wilson Today At 3:00 o'clock 1 Irving L. Morton, retired hor i ticulturist, and a resident of Wil | liamston for the past three and ; one-half years, died at the home ! of his son, Patrolman Earl Mor ! ton, in Roper Sunday morning at ; 1:30 o'clock, the victim of a heart ' attack. Although he had been in feeble health for quite some time, he was fairly active up until Sat urday. He had suffered with a heart condition, and it is believ ed that his condition was aggra vated when his five-year-old grandchild wag injured in a street accident here Saturday morning. He left that afternoon to visit in Roper a few days while his daughter-in-law was busy with the grandchild in a local hospital. Apparently he was getting along as well as usual when he retired, suffering the attack late in the night and dying a short time lat er. He was born in Newport, Car teret County, 81 years ago on February 18, 1873, and spent his , early life there. Moving to Wil son, he lived there about 45 years before locating in Williamston | with his son, W. Edward Morton, i In early manhood he was married to Miss Ellen Johnson who died in 1949. During his stay here he made many friends and was held in high «steem. Surviving are eight sons, Charles Morton of Raleigh, Luth er Morton of Greenville, I. L. Morton of Washington, D. C. Red Morton of Florence, S. C., Ottis Morton of Fort Lauderdale, Earl Morton of Roper, Vernon Morton of Wilson and Edward I Morton' of Williamston; one daughter, Miss Louise Morton, of i Wilson; a brother, CUm Manly Morton, of Ft. Lauderdale; one j sister, Mrs. Annie Tuggwell, of ! Charlotte; sixteen grandchildren | and eight great-grandchildren He was a member of the First ^Christian Church of Wilson fos many years. The body was removed from ' the Biggs Funeral Home here this morning to Wilson where the last rites are being conducted in the Thomas-Yelverton Funeral Chapel this afternoon at 3:00 o’ clock by Dr. Cecil Jarman, phs ! tor of the Christian church there. | Interment will be in Maplewood I Cemetery, Wilson. | Band Makes .4 (*ood Showing Saturday Director Jack F. Butler reported yesterday that the trip the Wil liamston High School Band made to Elizabeth City Saturday to take part in the Potato Festival Parade was a successful one although the weather was damp. The band j made a good showing and Direr- ! tor Butler said the majorette group did one of the best jobs to date in group performances. Observers rated the Williamston band as one of the top ones there and Saturday night the color guard, majorettes and first rank of the band appeared on the TV 11th Hour Final over a Norfolk station in connection with a report on the festival. The band will make its last ap pearance of the scholastic year on Thursday afternoon when it leads a parade in connection with the Little League opening program. Re-Elect Gray Head ■fH* Party Committee CLEAN-UP J Prompted by the mothers of the little leaguers, volun teers turned out in numbers last Saturday and cleaned up a big disgrace in and around the high school ath letic field. It was no little task, but the band of workers held to their positions until the task was completed. Today, the park is presentable, but not free of all obstacles. Since responsibility for the upkeep of the park is not certain, some tasks that need to be done will just have to wait bleachers are dangerous, but the grandstand is clean and usable. Several donated materials, painters volunteered, and others went there with ve hicles to haul away trash and refuse by the truckload. It was a job well done, and the little leaguers are all set to open their season Thursday afternoon at 3:15 o'clock. Construction 01 Potato Storage Is Planned Here —«►— Nt‘w Housr To Hold About Forty Thousand Ituslirls Of Sh«‘I Polulorx Plans are being advanced for the construction of an additional ! sweet potato storage house here, ft was announced following a j meeting of the stockholders and ! directors of the Martin County Yam Growers Association. De tails for the expansinon program have not been completed, but the company rs planning the con struction of a house 40 by 150 feet. The n w unit, providing storage for approximately 40,000 bushels, will increase the oom | pany's capacity to almost 75,000 bushels, it was announced. The firm has been leasing storage from others. The new unit is to be construct j ed on a strictly modern pattern, providing accurate controls for j heating and cooling, it was ex plained. The new unit will be lo cated next to the present proper ties of the company next to the Dixie Peanut Company plant on Washington Street. Work on the project is to get under way with in a short time, or just as soon as specifications can be prepared and bids are submitted. Growers, interested in utilizing space in the new house, may con tact M. M. Levin, secretary of the association, and priorities vbi 11 be determined. The meeting, held last Wed nesday night, discussed the pros pects for the 1954 crop. While the market cannot be predicted with any degree of uncertainty, it is fairly certain that production will be reduced, making for a better outlook next fall and winter. Farmers, going in the business for the first time and in many' cases on an over-extended scale | (Continued on Page Eight) Former Resident Dies In Richmond Robert P. Montieth, a resident of Williamston from August 1, 1947, until April 1, 1953, died suddenly at his home in Rich mond early last evening. Making ready to go to a ball game with Mrs. Montieth, he suffered a heart attack and died minutes later. He was 42 years old yes terday and had planned to visit in this area today. The son of Mrs.'j. W. Montieth and the iate Mr. Montieth, he was born in low Moor, Virginia. Re ceiving his engineering degrees, he went with the Virginia Elec tric and Power Company and served as district superintendent here for almost six years. Surviving besides his mother are his widow, Mrs. Frances Mon tieth; one daughter, Fran, and a sister, all of Richmond. Funeral arrangement could not be learned immediately Democrats Net In Biennial Session Saturday Morning i —*— Striel Harmony Prevails As Parly Members Per feet Organization Perfect harmony prevailed when Martin County Democrats got together in their biennial con vention in the courthouse last Saturday morning at 10:30 o’clock and perfected Ihfir organization for another two years. After paying silent tribute to the memory of Senator Clyde R. Hoey, the convention immediate ly settled down to business, Chairman J. H. Gray, Sr., calling for a report from Secretary Treasurer C. G. Gurkin. Explain ing that he got away in a hurry and left his records at home, the treasury reported $ 187 cash on hand and all bills paid. Calling the roll, the secretary reported forty party leaders pres ! ent from seven of the thirteen j precincts, and the chairman, ad vised that no organizations had been perfected at the party level, arranged caucuses in various parts of the courthouse. The following is the* precinct line-up with only a few changes have been made in the committee personnel, the first named being the chairman; the second being the vice chairman, and the next, the secretary-treasurer, and the late two being regular members: Jamesville: Harry Jones, C. G. I Gurkin, Marvin Corey, A. Corey and Howard Gaylord, Williams: Floyd Moore, Mr. R. J. Hardison, Chas. L. Daniel, Gra dy Godard and Joe Lawrence i Coltrain, Griffins: John A. Griffin, Mrs. Eason Lilley, B. F. Lilley, Ho ' ward Coltrain and James Har i ington. Beai Gru: J. D. Wynne, H, ./former Harrison, Leroy Harri son, T. L. Rooerson and Roy Hi ' rison. .Williams*'® No..X'.vC. H fjtukm win, Sr., J. Sam Getsinger, M. L. Peel, M. W Holioman and W. O. Griffin, Williamston No. 2: C. H. God win, Jr., R. H. Cowen, H. O. | Peele, Mrs. Paul Jones and Hen ry A. Johnson, 1, Cross Roads: Geo. W. Taylor, H. M. Ayers, W. I.. Ausbon, H. L. Roebuck and J. F. Bailey, Robersonville: C. B. Martin, R. i S Everett, Paul D. Roberson, A. E. James and H. S. Everett, Gold Point: J. R Winslow, Jake Britton, Hassell Warren, Jarvis Perkins and J. E. Johnson, Poplar Point: W. S. White, Mrs. L. G. Taylor, Herman Harrison, Mayo Hardison and Luther Leg gett, Hamilton: LeRoy Everett, Mrs. W. F. Thomas, J. S. Johnson, Jr., Clayton House and L. D. Roe buck, Hassell: D. R. Edmondson, Mrs. I). R. Edmondson, J W. Eubanks, Geo. W. Ayers and W. E. Purvis. Goose Nest: J. F. Crisp, Mrs. 1 Wilbur Barrett, Lawrence Hy man, J. A. Everett, Jr., and E. N. Harrell. The convention, the precinct organizations having been per- 1 feeted, resumed its work, and although he announced that he was not a candidate, Chairman J H. Gray, Sr., was placed in nomination and unanimously re elected, “I had good reason not to continue for a second term,” Mr. Gray explained, accepting the chairmanship of the executive committee for another two years after the meeting insisted upon his re-election. It was learned that C. B. Mar tin, prominently mentioned for the position prior to the conven-l tion, was not a candidate, Mr. Martin explaining that he was not interested in the post because of the trying task aessociatcd with it in raising money to finance the party, locally and on State and national levels. Mrs. Elbert S. Peel was unani mously elected vice chairman of the committee, succeeding C. B. Martin who made the nomina tion. C. G. Gurkin was re-eleeted secretary and treasurer, the ac tion being bv unanimous vote. Clarence Griffin was re-elect ed a member of the judicial com (Con/wiued on (.age eight) Death Traceable To Spinal Injury Received In Fight Coroner Held Inquest Fri-I day In Conueetiou Willi I The Marslender Death After hearing several witness es and a review of a pathologist’s autopsy report, a special jury at a coroner’s inquest held in the county courthouse last Friday evening ruled that Lawrence Branch Marslender went to his death as a result of injuries re-1 ceived in a fight with George Hardiason near the old county i wharf on Roanoke River, The1 jury went on to recommend that | “no further action be taken, against Hardison who had been ! under $10,000 bond since Mr. Mar-I ■ slender's death on last April 8. I five days after the fracas. Now that the cause of the man’s ! death has been definitely estab j lished, further action in the case ! rests with the grand jury, At ; torney Carter, representing the family, stating soon after the in quest that he did not know whe ther the prosecution would be pursued. It has been pointed out that, irrespective of the recom mendations by the coroner’s jury, the prosecution could carry its i j case before the grand jury, or the grand jury itself could consider a I bill of indictment. The hearing disclosed very lit tle new evidence, and intent to kill on the part of the defendant was ruled out by every witness. Preston Sledman, the first wit ness questioned, said that he and Marslender had b^en herring fish ing on the Roanoke and were re-, turning up the river when Hardi son passed them between their boat and the Bertie shore near the ! Fertilizer plant, that the swells from Hardison’s boat which was running at a rapid speed, caused J their boat to dip water twice and | wet Marslender’s pants. After reaching shore, Marslend er decided to visit Hardison and j ask him why he tried to drown j them. Reaching Hardison’s home near the old wharf, Marslender; talked with Hardison a few minutes, Stedman stating that \ Hardis i told Marslender that he was sorry if he caused him to iieai 1> drown, and begged his par- ; don. Hardison then tokl^msfeh'd er to leave. The witness said that at that point Marslender hit Hardison, that Hardison returned the blow.1 Stedman said that he and Grif fin (Johnnie) separated them. Stedman then told the jury that Hardison picked up a piece of pipe and told them to get the hell flw*y, Hardison adding, ac cording to the witness, that the next time he saw the in the riv er he would-drown them. There was much cursing, the witness continued, and Marslend-j er liyt Hardison a second time. The two men tied up and fell to the ground, Hardison biting Mar slender on the right cheek and shoulder. The two were separated a second time, and Hardison went into his house, got some warm water and a lag to wash Mar slender’s face. Stedman also stat ed that Hardison offered medicine to doctor the man's wounds. Griffin helped place Marslend er in a car and Stedman said he' (Continued on Page Two) Fatally Injured In Auto Accident Late Last Night Lindwood Russell Osborne, 49, was latallv injured and Joe Thompson of Parmele suffered painful cuts and bruises in an au tomobile accident on Highway 125 near the Poplar Point load inter section about four miles from here at 11:00 o’clock Monday night. Complete details of the acci- i dent, the third fatal one on the j highways in the county so far this year, could not be learned im mediately. Accompanied by Thompson, Osborne was said to i have been driving toward Wil- \ hamston on Highway 125, that after rounding the curve near Nicholson’s store he lost control and ditched the car, a 1949 Mer cury. After running down the right road ditch for about 450 feet, the* car turned over, Pa trolman J. O. Arthur stating that the machine made at least four I turns before coming to a stop. The car was demolished. Osborne suffering internal in S'— juries, died before tie could be removed to .1 hospital. Thompson, rendered unconscious for several hours, suffered a bad cut over one , eye and possibly was hurt in ternally. However, he is expect ed to recover. A native of this county, Mr. Osborne lived near Roberson - ville until a few years ago when he located in Rocky Mount and j engaged in the tobacco business. Surviving are his widow, the former Miss Elsie Purvis of this county; two children, Frances and Bill, of the Rocky Mount home; two sisters, Mrs. Jack Frost of Kinston and Mrs Claude Win chester of Williamston; and his step-mother, Mrs. W. A. Osborne of near Robersonville. The funeral will be conducted at the home of his step-mother Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 o’- ' clock by the Rev. Ralph Ferguson, Baptist minister. Interment will be in the Robersonville Ceme tery. Wheeler Martin Died At Home Last Night !DIES SUDDENLY I v*__/ ' Funeral services for Wheel er Martin, a leading citizen and attorney, who died sud denly at his home here last evening shortly after 9:00 o’clock, will he conducted at the home tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 o'clock. Segregation Held Unconstitutional The United States Supreme Court, by unanimous decision, yesterday held segregation un constitutional, leaving the nation in a state of shock and with no clear pattern for future action on the part of the states Recognized as one of the mo mentous handed down by the court since the Civil War, the de cision does not abolish segrega tion immediately. Hearings are to be held this fall to determine the course of action, it was stated. During the meantime, several of the states ale expected to take action supporting radical changes in the public school systems. The ruling has attracted bit itJUmX.wv/}U'nt munv vaneing the opinion that it will be a stumbling block in race re lations and that, in the final analysis, it will prove detrimen tal, especially to the Negro. Oth ers upheld the ruling, declaring it a sound one. Terribly disappointed, Gover nor Wm. B. Uinstead is not be lieved to he considering a special session of the General Assembly in this State. It was pointed out that the regular session will be under way in ample time to tackle the problem. During the meantime, race re lations are expected to continue along the present pattern with leaders of both races choosing to tackle the problem sanely and sensibly. Governor Herman Talmadge and Governor .lames Byrnes were bitterly critical of the decision, Byrnes stating that he was shock ed to learn that the court had re versed itself alter holding that the separate but equal doctrine was not violative of the Constitu tion. Funeral At Main Street Home For Prominent Citizen Suffered Hear! Vtlaek And Died Few Minutes Later At 9:05 O’Clock Wheeler Martin, prominent lo ; cal citizen and a leading attorney in this section of the State, died suddenly at his home here on East Main Street last evening i shortly after 9:00 o’clock. After viewing a television program, Mr Martin made ready to retire and suffered the attack, the end i coming minutes later. A victim of a heart condition , for a number of years, Mr. Mar tin had taken very good care of > his health and continued fairly active. He was about his regular S duties yesterday, greeting friends on the streets with his usual : smile, and apparently was get ting along all right. The son of the late Wheeler and Caroline Ransom Martin, he was born in Williamston 03 years ago on August 13, 1890. After at tending the local schools he was graduated from Warrenton Pre paratory School and entered Wake Forest College where he was graduated with the law de gree*^ 1912. He returned home , and formed a partnership with his father for the practice of law, and was married to Miss Louie Poteat of Wake Forest in August, 1912. A leader in the community, he was instrumental in reorganiz ing the old Martin County Build ing and Loon Association in 1914, 1 building it into one of the strong est and most cff; ctive financial ' organizations of its type in this section of the State. He also fig ured prominently in the North Carolina Building and Loan Lea gue, serving it as president dur ing several years, and maintain ing a cjn.se .association with offi cials of the United States Savings and Loan League. A well-known leader in ^ publican Party in North Carolina, he was active in its affairs down through the years, attending vari ous conventions as a delegate. He served as Assistant District At torney during the Hoover Ad ministration, and later was ap pointed referee in bankruptcy in this district. Aside from his professional du ties, Mr. Martin was active in ali civic and community undertak ings. lie instituted the Boy Scout work in this county, serving as Scoutmaster for years and main taining an active interest in the movement at all times. His part in the Boy Scout movement gained him recognition not only in this county but also throughout East i rn North Carolina. It was his special request that no flowers be sent, that contributions be us ed for the furtherance of Boy Scout work in Martin County. Mr. W. Clyde Griffin has been named as treasurer of the fund, and in stead of sending flowers friends will forward their memorial gifts to him at the Branch Bank in Williamston. The request is in keeping with Mr. Martin’s devot ed interest in youth here and throughout the county. He was a past president of the Kiwanis Club, and was active in every movement designed for the promotion of Ins town and county. Surviving besides Mrs. Martin are two grandchildren, Caroline and Victoria Martin of Lafayette, Indiana; and four nephews. A (Continued on Page Two) ROUND-UP The crime front was com parative!) quiet in this coun ty last week-end, a report from the sheriff's office showing only a few arrests. Four persons were detained in the county jail, two for public drunkenness and one each for drunken driving and issuing a worthless cheek. One bf the four was white, and the ages of the group ranged from 31 to 63 years. The number of arrests was the smallest for any week end period in the county in the county in months

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view