V? rrr-. , . _■
ffifi fe'NiERPKISfe IS READ BE
OVER 3.300 MARTIN COUNTV
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK
is rea & by
OVER .'.,300 MARTIN COUNTY
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK
VOLUME LVII—NUMBER 44
Williamston. Martin County, ISorth Carolina, 7 Intraday, June ,1, 1954
ESTABLISHED 189V
Quiet Day In The
Recorder's Court
*In County Monday
Only Mine Cases Called and
Very Small Attendance
\i Session Reported
The Martin ( County Recorder's!
Court experienced a real oid
fashioned summer slump in its
business last Monday. Only nine
cases were on the docket and the
attendance upon the one-hour
® session was hardly large enough
to furnish the defendants.
Judge H. O. Peele and Solicitor
Clarence Griffin ran out of wit
nesses and a few defendants did
not show up, the court directing
the clerk to issue capiases for the
arrests of one alleged law violat
or.
Although the defendants were
few. the fines added up to $295,
including a $50 one assessed
against a speeder.
Proceedings:
Pleading guilty of drunken
driving, Willie Clyde Hassell was
fined $100 and taxec) with the
costs. He loses his operator’s li
cense for a year
Charged with speeding 70 miles
an hour, Edgar Clarence Stewart,
•Jr., pleaded guilty and was fin
ed $15. plus costs.
Pleading not guilty when he
was charged with speeding 80
miles an hour, Murray Clemmons
Liverman was adjudged guilty of
speeding in excess of seventy
miles an hour but not in excess of
75 miles an hour. He was fined
$50 and taxed with the costs.
Vernon George Pleasants, Jr.,
and Alan Elmer Brown both
pleaded guilty of speeding 65
miles an hour and each was fin
ed $10, plus costs
Judgment was suspended upon
the payment of the court costs
in the speeding case brought
against Peggy Lou Dunton.
Frank A. Rhodes pleaded guil
ty of speeding 70 miles an hour
0. and was fined $10 _and requjggd
to pay the court costs.
Withdrawing his appeal to the
superior court. Brownie White
hurst pleaded guilty ot drunken
driving and was fined $100, plus
costs Hi- driver’s license was re
on Pace Six)
Miss Handy 1954
Jaycees' Queen
Miss Lee Handy, daughter of
^ Mr and Mrs Henry Handy of
Williamston, was chosen “Miss
Williamston” at the annual Jaycee
beauty pageant and sweetie pie
contest held in the high school
auditorium here last evening.
Chosen from a field of twenty-two
candidates. Miss Handy was
crowned queen by Mayor Robert
H. Cowen before an over-flow
crowd, estimated at more than 700
persons. The new Jay fees’ queen
will represent Williamston in the
M'ss Noith Carolina beauty con
test to be held in Burlington July
15, 16 and 17.
Second place- winner was Miss
Patty Williams, followed closely
by Miss Joan Carol Coltrairl.
In the sweetie pie division of
the pageant, twenty-four little
folks participated. Little Miss
Mary Ann Williams was crowned
Little Miss Williamston of 1954
by Junie Pet-1, president of the
Williamston Jayeees. Mary Ann
is the daughter ot Mr. and Mrs.
D Bui Williams Second place went
1o Little Miss Retinae Cannon,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn
Cannon and the thud spot was
taken by Little Miss Judy Taylor,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William
Taylor.
SCHOOL
t
¥
*
r
y
Meeting in the courthouse
Tuesday evening, the Martin
County Board fo Education
completed plans tor the con
struction of a new 8225,000
school building in Roberson -
* ill*-.
linal approval of the plans
Hy the department in Raleigh
is expected this week, and
bids are to be advertised
within the next few days, it
was learned.
The board at its meeting
this week discussed plans for
enlarging and improving oth
er school properties, but final
action is to be delayed until
budget figures can be brought
into lute, it w<n> explained.
Explorer Scouts Ready For Long Trip
Present! rl checks by John Hatton Gurganus, WiHiamston Explorer Scouts (loft to rii;
ny Manning, Tomtny M. Parker, Ronnie Reece, Billy Carstarphen and 1 hnry Handy, Ji., a
for a trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch at Cimarron, New Mexico. Two boys other who are
the trip and who are not included in the picture are Joe h C lavton and Murray Stiawbiid^
cling by charter bus, the boys are to leave from Camp Charles on Saturday, June 5, and
three weeks.
ht) Da li
re all si't
to make
e. Truv
be away
Robbers Make Big Han l At
Filling Station Near Here
Striking sometime between
midnight and this morning, rob
bers just about cleaned out Rick
(Red) Carson’s Amoco station
about a mile south of Williams
ton on Highway 17, according to a
report coming from the sheriff’s
office.
Breaking a rear window, the
robbers entered a store room, and
loaded up merchandise and other
items valued the hundreds... of,
1 dollars. A ■ dminary check
shows $10 in pennies missing from
a gallon jug, $10 in nickels missing
from h iTgai box. $7~tn change
missing from the cash drawer, two.
6:50-by-16 six ply Dunlop tiuck
tires, u Strunk red power saw,
valued at about $300, twenty ear
tons of assorted cigarettes, seven
cartons of various brands of chew
ing gum, a small electric drill, an
electric razor, four boxes of New
comer cigars and tour boxes of
Tampa Nuggetts.
State Bureau of Investigation
Agent Fentress is working on the
case with Sheriff M. W Holloman,
.bill no. leads could, be h d imme
diatelv, it was learned.
The sheriff's department is also
looking for three nice hams stolen
from Farmer finder L«i!e> s home
m Griffins Township last Satur
day night
f mnroNDAv \
\^
Little business other than
that ot' a routine nature has
been placed un the calendars
fur consideration at the regu
lar meetings of the Martin
(. ounly and Williamston town
commissioners next Monday.
The county officials are likely
to hold a second meeting
later m the month and study
budget proposals for the vari
ous county departments.
If Williamstonians favor
the bond paving program in
the election tomorrow, it is
likely the town board will
make plans for advancing the
program.
Teacher Places
Filled Locally
Two of the six positions made
vacant in the local school faculty
by resignations have been filled
already, and applicants for the
other places are being interview
ed, Principal B. G. Stewart an
nounces.
The grammar school has earned
an additional teacher and Miss
Frances Peterson of Harrells has
been named to fill the position.
Miss Harrell is graduating from
East Carolina College in August.
Mrs. Harrell Taylor, a member
of the Everetts faculty, is trans
ferring tc the l-cliooi here and will
teach the fourth grade. Miss Mary
Saunders is transferring from the
fourth to fill a position made va
cant there.
A member of the Everetts fa
culty for some time, Mrs. Beatrie
James is succeeding Mrs. Henry
Winslow as teacher of the sixth
| grade.
- ,.
Victim Of Accident
Improves In Hospital
Suffering fractures of the ri^it
wrist and right leg m an automo
bile-train accident near Pinetown
1 last Sunday noon, Edward Gleen
Price, 21, of Jamesville, was re
i ported improving in a local hos
j pital last evening.
Three other patients in the hos
I pital are nursing broken limbs as
a; 2 result of accidents.
/
Motor Vehicles
Left Oil Books
A serious discrepancy in the
listing of motor •vehicles for tux
es is being gradually uncovered
in this county, according to unof
ficial but reliable reports heard
today.
An incomplete study ol the tux
books reveals inaccurate listings
in numerous instances, and in
others no listings are on the books
to match State registrations,
It was revealed that many own
ers listed model vehicles ranging
from one to three years older than
the corresponding registrations.
Tax authorities would ol'fei no
plan of action, but it is fairly ap
parent that the tax laws have been
flagrantly violated in hundreds ol
cases, making the property own
ers subject to indictment and pro
secution in the courts.
It will take considerable time
to complete the check which is ex
pected to uncover tens of thou
sands of dollars worth of property
that rests outside the realm of tax
ation. .
Sister Oi Local
Resident Passes
——
Mii. Bettie Lou Jones Gurgan
us, sister of Mrs. J B. Sullivan
of Wiiliamston, died in a Green
ville hospital yesterday morning
a* 5:30 o’clock. Funeral services
are being conducted in Greenville
this afternoon at 3:00 o’clock, and
interment will be in Greenwood
Cemetery, Greenville.
She was 21 years of age and
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Robert E. Jones, Sr., of near Ar
thur, where she spent most of
her life and where she was gra
duated from high school m 1951
Surviving besides her sister
here are her husband, James Ed
ward Gurganus; her parents; two
brothers, James and R. E Jones,
Jr., of the home; six sisters, Mrs.
H. B. Harris, Jr., of Greenville,
Mrs. J. G. Hart of Levittown, Pa.,
Mrs. J. B. Aldridge of Norfolk,
Va , and Peggie, Zilda and Con
nie Jones, all of the home, and
her paternal grandmother, Mrs.
Emma F Jones of Snow Hill
Native Oi Town
Dies Suddenly At
Home In Suffolk
Funeral IMaus Incomplete
For Mrs. Mary Louise
Tallon Larslarplien
-<►—
Mrs. Mary Louise Carstarphen
Tallon, a native of Williamston,
died suddenly at her home in Suf
folk, Virginia, sometime during
night. MgU'ibers ol trie fain
ily found her dead this morning,
the end coming as she slept. She
had experienced a miuor heart ail
ment during the pc' vear, but it
wa« not considered serious, and
apparently....viv.*. was in her usual
health when she retired late last
vetoing mk■
The daughter of the late James
K. and Fannie Martin Carstar
phen, she was born in Williamston
54 years ago and spent most of her
life here. After eompleting the
loeal schools she attended St.
Mary’s School in Raleigh. Fol
lowing her graduation there, she
was employed in a Wilson law oi
lier for several yea's before ac
cepting a position in the law of
fices of Dunning and Moore in
Williamston. Latei she repre
sented a manufacturing firm in
this State About fifteen years
ago she went willi a lav' firm in
Suffolk, making her home m the
Virginia city since that time.
She was married in Charlotte to
Clyde A. Tallon of South Caro
lina, and was a member of the
Episcopal Church.
Surviving arc two children, a
son, C. Al Tallon, and a daughter,
Miss Mildred Martin Tallon, .a
1954 graduate of tin Suffolk High
School; and a brother, Mr. Franl*
Carstarphen, of Williamston.
Funeral arrangements had not
been completed early this alter
noon.
Mr Carstarphen and members
of his family were called to Suf
folk early this morning to be
with his niece and nephew
Lennon Finally
Concedes Scoll <
Senate Victory
Kerr Seott Came Through
Vi itli 9,000-\'ole Lead j
Over The Field
-—
Holding out until the last vote
was counted, Senator Alton Len
non yesterday finally conceded;
the primary election election last
Saturday to W. Kerr Scott after
the two had rolled up the largest
number of votes ever recorded |
in a Democratic contest in this ]
State.
The complete but unofficial
count gave Scott a 9,000-vote lead
over the field in the race for the
United States Senate, the winner
leading his nearest opponent 311,
820 to 280,592 votes.
Scott carried at least fifty
seven of the 100 counties, while
Lennon steered most of the larg
er ones into his column.
Nov that the voters have spok
en, they are waiting to see who
to appoint to fill the position
I made vacant by the death
! of Senator Clyde A. Hoey.
| The people are also anxious to
learn who the‘State Democratic
Executive Committee will nomin
ate for the position. Governor
Umstead’s appointment is effee
! live only until the November
; election \?hen the nominee of the
State Executive Committee will
go before the voters in the gen
eral election. It has been rumor
ed that the Governor and the
Executive Committee will work
hand in hand, meaning that the
Governor’s appointee and the
Committee’s nominee will be the
same person.
It is apparent that the cards
are stacked against a liberal man
or one whose views will coincide
closely with those, held by the
man the people nominated last
Saturday.
During the meantime, it is ex
pected that some of the rotten
tactics employed in the recent
campaign will be aired in the
federal courts. Mayor Kurfees of
Winston-Salem is said to have
(Continued on Paee Eight)
Drive For Cancer
Fund Incomplele
-m
The annual drive for the cancer
fund in and around Williainston
is not yet complete, according to
a report coming from the chair
men this morning.
Up until late yesterday, $H5fl.89
had been raised and reported, in
eluding $3!).0-4 from the colored
citizens.
It is possible that the assign
ments had not been handled in a
few instances and that some ol the
canvassers had delayed making
reports. The chairmen of the drive
are anxious.to complete the cam
paign, and are urging all workers
to make their reports just as soon
as possible.
— — si>--——
Suffers Urulirii Knee
In tail .41 I'lunl llvrv
Uan Gurganus, employee of
the Marvil Packing Company,
suffered a double fracture of the
right knee cap in a fall at the
company's plant here early Mon
day morning. The young man
stumbled on the iron floor and
folded his leg under him.
He is a patient ill Martin Gen
eral Hospital.
Starts Campaign Against
Typhoidln County Monday
--
The annua) drive against Uph
old fever will be started in this
county next Monday, according
to an announcement released by
the health department this week.
Dr. Sam Graham, Jr., who en
tered upon this new dutii s as head
of the health department this
week will make the rounds with
members of his staff.
Since the immunization pro
gram was inaugurated in this
county, typhoid fever deaths have
been reduced to a minimum 01
just about eliminated In years'
past, many deaths were caused
by the fever. While the danger of
typhoid has been gieatly reduced,
it is still possible lor the fever to
strike, and health officials point
out that immunization is about
the'most certain method tor ward
ing off the fever
1'iOtectlon Win DC given at ;;;t:
clinics only against, typhoid,
health officials explaining that
no shots for diphtheria or whoop,
mg cough will be offered.
As many a* fifteen thousand
people have been immunized in
a single year in tin past, but the
number reporting to the clinics
in (Ins county ha- gradually
dwindled. Tin level has made its
appearance in a limited way dur
ing recent years, and immuniza
tion is still considered necessary.
A schedule of the clinics ap
pears in this paper, and the pub
lic is asked to study it and report
to the clinic nearest them. Thurs
day June 10. and Thursday, June
24, have been set aside for the
immunization program at tlic
health center in Willianuston.
Voting On $225,000
'Street Pro j eet F rMay
Town Authorities
Issue Statement
On Election Eve
Express Opinion The I’ro
fgrum W ill Not Increase
The General Tax Rale
—-«
Williamston citizens will go to
the polls at the town hall tomor
row (Friday) between the hours
of 6:110 a. m. and 6:110 p. in., and
approve or disapprove a $225,000
bond issue, designed to finance
an extensive street paving pro
gram.
In connection with the program
the mayor and members of the
j tow® board of commissioners re
I leased the following statement
i this week, and addressed to the
people of Williamston:
“Your Mayor and Board agrees
; that the condition of streets in
; town is not in keeping with the
i progress and growth which we
have enjoyed during the past sev
jeral years. It is felt that it is the
[duty of the governing body of a
town to make available to the
citizens all possible improvements
that seem necessary provided
that money borrowed to pay for
same does not place the town
close to its debt limit.
“Recently several petitions
were filed with the town calling
attention to the very large pro
portion of dirt streets and their
had condition. These petitions
were signed by a very large per
centage of the qualified voters of
the town and they asked that a
street improvement program be
undertaken to pave as many
streets as possible.
“Realizing the need for a street
improvement, r e p resentatives
werii sola to iUiivugh to present
the matter to the local Govern
ment Commission. This is the
state, agency which supervises the
debt structure and activity of ail
towns, cities, and counties in
North C-Kr. lina Wo were advised
by this commission that a $225,000
project could he undertake>'hic
the town without approaching its
debt limit too closely.
In view of the above situation
and advice, your Mayor and
(Continued on Page Eight)
Jamesville Club
Sponsors Drive
-—
Sponsored by the Jamesvillc
Woman's Club, the cancer fund
drive is now under way in that
township, it was announced this
week by Mrs. Edgar Brown,
chairman.
An earnest appeal is being di
rected to all the people of the
township, urging them to support
the drive and help advance re
search and treatment to combat,
the dread disease.
_____-4
C.ommended For Savin f.{
Man'* l.ift‘ In County
H. G. Corey, engineer, and J. W.
Bryant, trainman, were commend
ed by F. B. Robbins, superintend
ent of the A C. L.’s Noi folk di
vision, a few days ago for saving
the life of Russell Sherrod after
ho was run over by a train at. Oak
City on May 22.
The commendation note reads:
“You are commended lor '-our
prompt and resoui eemu! action in
tying the arteries of Russell Sher
rod on the morning of May 22
"It mist 'oe a source of satis
faction to you that by this deed
you saved a human life . .
Suffer* Attack At Ilia
Home IS’enr llaaaell
Suffering an attack at his home
near Hassell last. Sunday, Mr. Eli
Edmondson continues quite ill
there. Mr. Edmondson is flti and
has been unusually active up un
til a short time ago.
-4-—
ft ork Started On Neu>
Main Street Station
—•—
Construction work was started
this week on a new filling station
for the Baker Oil Company here.
The station, measuring 20 by 4a
feet, is located on the corner of
Mam and Henderson Streets
f HEALTH OFFICER I
s_J
Dr. Sam Graham, Jr., Mar
tin County’s new health de
partment head, entered upon
his new duties this week.
Weather Review
In This Section
For Past Month
l\*ni|M*nilur«*» To Low
Point and Frost Hit
During May
This section experienced un
usually cool weather during a
greater part of May when the
mercury ranged as low as 35 de
grees an<l a light frost struck on
the eleventh.
Except for the mercury, the
weather held to about normal,
Hugh Spruill, bridgekeeper on
the Roanoke, stating that the rain
fall was less than one-fifth of an
inch below average, and that the
river varied in depth hardly more
than four feet during me period.
The iiiercur.v went toa tijgh
reading of 8!) the second and thud
of May and thee tumbled without
regairnreg■ Hvst■ fcr-vri- again dn-mg
the remainder of the month
WeaJJjer data, including the
river gauge readings, as released
by Mr. Spruill for thi- month of
May follows, with the date
in the first column, the river range
readings in the second column,
the maximum temperature read
ing in the third, minimum tem
perature reading in the fourth
and the rainfall in the fifth col
umn for each day of the month:
Date
1.
2,
3.
4.
5.
ti.
7.
«.
0.
River
7.9
7.8
6.8
6.2
6.2
7.1
7.4
7.5
7.3
5.9
4.7
4.9
6.6
7.5
7.6
7.6
6.8
5.4
4.7
4.9
. 5.3
7.5
8.4
7.8
6.6
7.5
8.1
8.2
8.4
8.6
7.6
10.
11
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20. '
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29
30.
31.
Total
* Indicates Trace of Rain
II
87
89
89
79
67
73
79
76
74
70
75
7U
69
59
60
75
85
83
74
73
69
73
78
80
78
85
79
80
87
81
83
I.
58
63
64
45
45
42
42
60
42
45
35
41
50
5!
52
54
54
55
58
55
51
45
43
45
55
57
62
60
65
64
58
Rain
0
0
0
05
0
.02
0
0
0
1.43
.31
.01
0
.11
.58
.26
0
16
.75
0
3.68
Keereution Center Often
It Clnlt Saturday Night
For what is planned to be the
last time this summer, the Recrea
tion Center will be operated at
the Woman's Club this Saturday
evening from 8 to II o'clock with
Mrs. Joseph Ciriffin and Mrs. J (.'.
Kubanka as chaperones. Mrs.
Mable Arnold will again be on
hand in the early part o< the eve
ning to give dancing instructions.
Except for a party to be given
later in the summer, this will be
the last activity lor the young
people sponsored by the Woman's
Club which has been operating the
recreation center on u temporary
basis only.
Power Company
Allowed Boost
In Staie Rale
IiHTeaw Goinfs Into Effect
\s Of June I, Boosts
Income By *2:12.000
The State Utilities Commission
i yesterday ruled Virginia E!ee
! trie and Power Company is en
j titled to raise its rates $235,000 a
j year in North Carolina and let
| the increase go into effect start
l ing June 1.
Commission Chairman Stanley
Winborne took 29 pages to sum
j marize the case, review evidence
presented in public hearings and
set out the Commission's findings.
More than 18 additional pages
| were attached to list the new and
I revised rate schedules.
The meat of it all was packed
in one word: “Uniformity.”
VEPCO, stressing uniformity,
contended the increase was need
; ed to keep its rates in North Ca
rolina in line with those it charg
es in Virginia and West Virginia,
j The Commission contended that
to forego uniformity might give
VEPCO grounds for demanding
even more.
Cites Record
Winborne wrote that the hear
ing record showed clearly that
VEPCO was not earning in North
Carolina anywhere near what it
is earning in Virginia. Even after
the increase, he said, the com
pany's return on its North Caro
lina investment would not exceed
1 3.9H per cent. In Virginia now,
thanks to a recent increase there,
it's earning better than six per
cent.
“. . Of this," he wrote, “we
are definitely certain: That if this
Commission should reject unifor
mity of rates with Virginia and
I attempt to segregate the North
Carolina properties and fix rates
i which would provide a fair re
turn upon the investment of the
, company in its North Carolina
(Continued' from Page" Six)
Heavy Blow. Deaft
Liquor.Traffic
A h>: >\ \ blov was do j)t the il
licit liquor business in this coun
ty during the past few weeks, ac
cording to .i report filed by ABC
Officer Cecil Bullock and his as
sistant, Wiley Cralt.
During the month of May
twelve persons were arrested and
charged with violating the liquor
laws. Eight of the twelve have
been convicted, the sentences run
ning up to tour years. Suspend
ed sentences added up to sixteen
years. Six are awaiting trial in
the courts.
The officers wricked twenty
distilleries, poured out nearly
twenty gallons of white liquor
and 5,350 gallons of mash.
A 1052 Ford car, carrying a car
go of liquor, was seized.
Last week the officers raided
in Goose Nest Township and ar
rested Leamon Lanier, 34, and
Haywood Myrick, 25, at a crude
manufacturing plant. The two
men, now at liberty under $250
bonds each, are booked for trial
m the county court next Monday.
The two men were carrying sugar
and wood to the plant when the
officers arrested them.
Seven other plants were wreck
ed during the week, including
lour m Bear Glass and one each
in Cross Roads, Robersonvitle and
Hamilton.
Adversity surrounded a plant
1 wrecked in Bear Grass Township
this week, the officers saying that
the plant was equipped with a
small submarine type still and
only fifty gallons of mash was on
ham!
f BANQUET
The Williamston lloosters
will install new officers, in
cluding president, vice presi
dent and three directors at
their annual banquet Friday
evening at 1:30 o’elock in the
Scout Hut on South Smith
wick Street.
IVlr. Jerry Albright of the
North Carolina Department
of Conservation and Develop
ment is to address the meet
ing. Special music will be
furnished by the Melody
Masters.
Cadies of tlie Christian
Church will serve the meal.