i
Beacon and News
Offers Splendid Opportuni
ties for Advertisers.
Tde Donngke Imm
The Washington County News
A Family Newspaper
Published for Benefit of En
tire Familj'. Correspondents
Cover County.
VOL. 40
PLYMOUTH. N.C., FRiDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1929
NO. 49
, Recorders Judge Makes
Wise Cracks During Court
Jurors Work For Nothing
- o-« -—I
Recorder’s court at Plymouth,
Tuesday had the appearance of
Superior court, judging by the at
tendance. The Negroe side of the
court room was practically full
while the white side was half full.
During the proceedure of the
work of the court, the case wherein
C. H. Oliver, of the Mill Pond sec
tion had D. O. Patrick, also of that
section., arrested for allowing his
hogs to run loose and on his pro
y pertv. Mr. Patrick asked for a jury
in this case, and in the process of
the the trial, which was handled in
a very commendable manner by
Judge Sawyer, it came to light that
the whole trouble was a neighbor
hood misunderstanding.
The jury retired after having
been duly charged by Judge Saw
yer, and returned with a vertict of
guilty. While passing his verdict,
both Oliver and Patrick stated that
they held no malice against each
other and that they would like to
have avoided bringing this matter
before the court. The verdict was
that Mr. Patrick pay the costs of
the court and that he make some
arrangements to take cure of his
1_
Then one of the nost unusual
things ever occured m the courts
of Washington county happened.
No one present had ever heard of
such a proceeding. H.M. Williams,
acting as spokeiman for the entire
jury, rose and addressed the judge.
He said; “We returned a verdict of
guilty, but we want the result to be
as inexpensive to Mr. Patrick as
possible, so, before returning, we
agreed among ourselves that we
give our services as jurors free,
thereby cutting the cost of the pro
ceedure.” Judge Sawyer highly
commended the jurors for their ac
tion.
Other cases coming before Judge
Sawyer for trial were: Dan Marrow,
Jr., Nathan Hassell and Nathan
Peacock who were charged with
and found guilty of forcible tres
passing of the property of W. Med.
Peacock. Nathan Peacock had not
been found. The two defendants
were ordered to pay the costs. It
came out in this trial that the
young men mistook some grape
vinegar for wine and went to Mr.
Peacocks barn, which was not lock
ed, and appropriated same. Nathan
Peacock is a nephew of Mr. Pea
cock. In this case Judge Sawyer
used some more of his dry wit for
which he is noted. When asked
whether it was wine or vinegar, Mr.
Peacock stat id that it was plain
grape juice being kept to sour and
that no sugar had been added to it.
In answer to this Judge Sawyer
said, “That’s a bad way to treat
grape juice ain’t it.”
William Moye of Williamston <
was brought up charged with beat- :
ing his wife in front of Babe Towe’s 1
cafe Sunday night. His wife who 1
was States witness seemed to have i
decided that she still loved her hus • >
band and denied that he struck 1
her. He was fined $10 and costs.
“I don’t know what to do with
these Negroes who are brought up ;
here for giving bad checks. Signing <
a check is like getting married—
you don’t know how much trouble :
you are getting into until you have
signed your name,” said Judge 1
Sawyer after finding Frank McNair
guilty of giving a bad check, and
ordering him to* pay the $3.50 )
check, $10 and costs. Henry Wat- £
son was found guilty of nonsupport
<
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
HEAR CHAIRMAN T. 1. SWAIN
ON PLYMOUTH SCHOOL
CHARTER AT MEET MONDAY
The Washington County Com
missioners met in regular session at
the courthouse Monday. The bud
get for the Plymouth City Schools
was presented to them for ap
provement. A discussion arose as
to the nine months term. T. J. Swain
Chairman of the County Board of
Education stated to the board th at!
it was mandatory to both the board
of education and the commissioners
to approve the nine months budget
and that they Jr ad attempted to get
the city board to surrender their
charter which was refused.
“There is only one way that we
can get the charter from Plymouth
High School,” stated Chairman
Swain, “That is by appointing mem
bers to the city board who think
our way.” As a member’s time ex
pires on the city board, the county
board appoints someone to take i
their place in this way every new I
member can be felt out and their
attitude ascertained. It is not ncc
cessary for Plymouth to surrender
its charter in order to be an eight
months school. They can retain
their charter and go to eight months
The entire state of New York has
recently adopted a 10 months school
term. Were Plymouth made an
eight months school, it would be a
step backward. Some have said to
keep Plymouth nine months and
pull the rest of the county up to
that standard. The tax payers of
Plymouth alone pay for this extra
month.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our sincere ■
thanks and appreciation to our ,
many friends for their sympathy
and kind assistance, and for the
beautiful floral tributes sent during '
the hours of our greatest sorrow, 1
the deaths of our dear husband and ,
father, C. Edgar Swain and his ^
brother, Rufus Swain.
Mattie Rollins Swain and Children
i
and given six months on the roads.
Jack Peele was called ina bad
check case and failed to answer to
his name. It wras ordered that he
be arrested and put under a $100
bond to appear next Tuesday for
trial. Aaron Pettiford was found
guilty of taking one coon and four
apposum hides out of season and
j;iven 30 days on the road. He
took an appeal and was placed un
3er a $100 bod. Pettiford was also!
(
round guilty of failing to list his
.axes and fined $15 and costs. He]
;ook an appeal in this case also.'
lames Boston was placed under a
1200 bond to appear in court for
rial next Tuesday and answer to a
■harge of driving while under the
nfluence of whiskey. At this time
fudge Sawyer announced that there
vould not be any court during
rhanksgiving week.
George Smith was found guilty
md ordered to pay the costs of the
ourt for allowing his hogs to run
oose. One of the witnesses was
isked what kind hogs were allowed
o run loose and the witness said,
wo shoats and a barr. Judge Saw
■er asked what was a barr. The
sTegro explained in a very feeble
ray and the judge said, “You mean
. hog that has lost his social pres
<
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8
S
MRS. T. W. ARMSTRONG
URGES WOMEN TO JOIN
LEGION AUXILIARY; FIDDLERS
CONVENTION AT COLUMBIA
Those that are eligible to become
members of the American Legion
Auxiliary are most ernestly and
urgently asked to join immediately,
[f for no other reason than to show
your appreciation and give support
to the fine work the Legion and the
Auxiliary are doing. The war has
been over for eleven years, but
should we forget that there are
many veterans whose painracked
bodies remind t hem of it every day.
So why not become a member now
and help those who so nobly helped
us. The dues of the organization
are very reasonable for the amount
of work carried on. In other words
Legion Auxiliary Membership is a
Priceless Privilege. Those that are
eligible, are Mothers, Wives, Sisters
and Daughters of members of the
American Legion, and to those
women who of their own right are
eligible to membership in the Ameri
can Legion.
Again asking you that are eligible
to give your name in to any mem
ber of the Legion Auxiliary or see
Mrs. T. W. Armstrong,
Membership Chairman,
Legion Auxiliary.
Columbia:- Wednesday Evening
27th, the day before Thanksgiving,
there will be assembled at the High
School Building in Columbia, all
the old time Fiddlers, Banjo Pickers,
Gluitar Players and the boys both
young and old who excel with the
nouth harp. All in the counties
idjoining the Albermarle are invited
,o participate in the general good
,ime, and compete for the substan
,ial prizes.
This is the first time, that a fiddl -
:rs convention has been promoted in
his section, and it promises to be
)ne of the biggest attractions evre
)ut on in Columbia for amusement,
ro those who like old time fiddling
dog dancing and old time songs, a
lilarious time awaits you.
This contest is being sponsored
>y the Local Post of the American j '
region. All contestants are request- j
:d to send their names to Dr. W.f
fohnson, Columbia, N. C. and i
(lease state the instrument you J
day. <
1
1RACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Rev. A. H. Marshall, Rector
Mr. Frith Winslow, Lay Reader, f
unday School at 10 A. M. Even- 1
ig Prayer and Sermon 7:30 P. M. 1
CHEVROLET WINS FIRST S
PLACE AT AUTO SHOW 1
Tribute to its leadership as an
utomobile producer is again paid
he Chevrolet Motor Company in
he announcement by the National
.utomobile Chamber of Commerce
hat Chevrolet has again been
warded first place at the 1930
ational automobile shows.
The award is given annually to
he member company doing the
irgest annual volume of business,
nO one of the most covetedj
onors that the automobile indus- I
ry can bestow on an individual
utomobile manufacturer.
In addition to the distinction
hat goes with the award, Chevro
jt is given first choice of exhibition
pace at the national automobile
hows in New York and Chicago. !
CITY COUNCIL RECONSIDERS
PURCHASE OF FIRE TRUCK;
MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO
RELIEVE TOWN OF CONTRACT
Mayor Walker received a
ietter yesterday from the
American La France people
refusing to relieve the city
council from a contract to
buy a new fire truck. Town
can’t buy truck without
popular vote on bond issue
Tbe Plymouth City Council met
in regular session last Friday night
and were informed that Mayor
Walker would not resign. Mayor
Walker was present for the first
meeting in some time.
Members of the Plymouth Cham
ber of Commerce met with the C ity
fathers and urged them to recon
sider their purchase of a $12,500
American LaFrance fire truck and
equipment. The Commercialists did
not ask that they refraim entirely
from purchasing any new' fire equip
ment but that they purchase a
smaller truck. After deliberating
for some time the city fathers de
cided to ask the American LaFrance
people to allow them to withdraw
their purchase.
“To purchase this new' fire truck
w’ould be like buying an automobile
without any possible chance of get
ting any gasoline,” said one of the
commercialists. The water supply
of Plymouth is practically exhaust
ed. The pumps on the water tank
has been running continuously for
over 12 months and the tank has
not been filled during this period.
Plans are now being made to pipe
the water from Hampton’s well to
the ]x>wer house and into the tank
as the old well has almost gone dry.
This will take care of the situation
for about five more years. At the
expiration of this time, it will be
absolutely necessary to put in some
kind of filtering system. All of the
wells will have been drawn dry.
With these facts in view, what
good will a pumper truck be that
will pump the tank dry in no time?
The salesman stated that he could
hoop on one of the hydrants and
pull it out of the ground with the
force that the pump has.
Farm And Home
Schedule for week beginning
November 18th.
Monday, Jackson, Tuesday,
Pleasant Grove, Wednesday, Swain
Thursday, Creswell, Friday, Alba,
Saturday, Curb Market.
Dr. A. J. Osteen and Dr. N. B.
ryler were with R. E. Dunning
Wednesday, making making an in
spection of the livestock in Washi
ngton county.
Farmers of this section will meet
n Belhaven November 20, 10:30 to
irganize a livestock organization.
Governor 0. Max Gardner will be
he main speaker at this meeting
md will speak at 11 o’clock.
Midnight Show at Watts Theatre
Sunday night. Mr. Watts is cele
irating the installation of Movi
on equipment with the “Fox
dovitone Follies” starting at 12:05 j
Sunday Night Williamston, N. C. i
II ‘ -HI .■•Will. IU-1U»B»
(
ALMO THEATRE
TONIGHT
Harry Gibbon
IN
“Honey Moon”
COMEDY
Saturday Night
Maurice Chevalier
IN
“Innocents Of Paris”
Second Episode
G)f
DON'T MISS IT
PLYMOUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO
REORGANIZE; SEVEN DIRECTORS BE ELECTED;
WILL PERFECT BUILDING LOAN AT BNQUET
o
rOUNG PANTHERS OUTPLAY
WILDCATS; PLYMOUTH WON
AT SCOTLAND NECK; GAMES
AT PLYMOUTH AND ROPER
The Panthers of Roper High
School threw the fear of God in the
Wildcats of Plymouth High School
Friday afternoon in the first half of
the football game played here. This
half of the game was played in
Plymouth’s danger zone and at no
time did Plymouth even threaten
the Roper goal.
When the first whistle sounded,
Roper received the kickoff and car
ried the ball for a firstdown. The
Plymouth boys held and Roper
kicked. Plymouth fumbled and
Roper recovered. Roper again had
to kick and Plymouth fumbled.
The Plymouth boys were playing
as though they had planned a run
over and were so suprised that they
didn’t know what to do. Mizell for
Roper received excellent interfer
ence on his endruns and seldom
failed to gain. The whole Roper
team outplayed Plymouth from the
beginning to the end of the game,
but inexperience lost the game for
them. Roper made more firstdowns
against Plymouth than all the rest
of the first downs made against the
local boys during this season.
At the beginning of the second
half, quarterback Gurganus for Ply
mouth began playing the game in
the air. It looked more like a bas
ketball game than it did football.
The only real gains made by Ply
mouth was with the forward pass
and the young and inexperienced
Roper team did not know how to
break them up. Gurganus and
Chesson worked togather excellent
ly, scoring the three touchdowns in
the second half by forward passes.
Gurganus kicked the pigskin for
two extra points making a total
score of 20 to 0.
After the Roper game, Plymouth
had piled up a total of 145 points
this season to their opponents 0.
The Wildcats added another vic
tory to their string when they met
and defeated Scotland Neck Armis
tice Day. The game being won by
Gurganus kicking the extra point
as both teams scored a touchdown.
Plamouth again resorted to the
air and completed a series of passes
n the first half of the game which
resulted in their only touchdown.
Dick Chesson carried the ball
around the end to make the final
accessary advances.
Friday will be a full day for foot
aall fans of Washington county. ,
Enfield will come to Plymouth and .
\hoskie will come to Roper, then
an Tuesday, Edenton will come to I
Plymouth. <
At the regular meeting of the
Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
Monday night, President Z. V.
Norman appointed C. L. Groves,
A. L. Alexander and A. H. Stear as
a committee to solicit new mem
bers. This committe will call on
the various citizens of the town
next Monday soliciting their mem
bership and will make their report
at the regular meeting Monday
night.
At the meeting Monday night, a
nominating committee will be ap
pointed. The duty of this commit
tee will be to nominate 14 candi
dates from which will be elected
seven directors for the organization
to serve during the coming fiscal
year. The names of these 14 will
be printed on ballots which will be
mailed to the various members.
These ballots will be voted by mail
only and will be examined by an
election committee. The results of
this election will be announced at a
banquet to be held soon after the
election.
At the banquet, which will be
held at some convenient place in
Plymouth, a program of work will
be planned by the new and old
members for the coming year. The
main endeavor of this organization,
as will be explained at this meeting,
will be the perfecting of a Building
and Loan Association. This is a
much needed organization in the
town of Plymouth and has been be
ing considered for some time by
the commercialists.
The Plymouth Chamber of Com
merce needs you and you need the
Plymouth Chamber of Commerce,1
SERVICES HELD FOR MRS.
ELEXEZENA BASNIGHT
By MISS EVA WHITE
Skinnersville:- Funeral Services
were conducted for Mrs. Elexezena
Basnight <‘rom the Oak Grove Bap
tist Church Monday afternoon at
3 o’clock by Rev. Richard Lucas of
Belhaven, Mrs. Basnight was one
of the oldest and most highly res
pected citizens of the Community,
who died at the home of her niece,
Mrs. Hugh Patrick, Sunday morning
at 6 o’clock, at the age of 82 years.
3he was a member of Oak Grove
Church, and has donated a great
leal in building the new church.
Mrs. Basnight suffered for only
\ few days and was a very active
ady up until a few days ago. She
oassed out like blowing out rays
rom a candle stick. She was a
aithful church worker. She leaves
o morn two sisters, Mrs. W. T.
Hatfield and Miss Sarah Davenport
>f Creswcll, and several nieces and
lephews, her nieces acted as flower
'iris at the grave. The floweral
)fferings were many and beautiful.
POET AND PEASANT | I
“Folks in Plymouth surely don’t
lave much patrotism,” said the
Jeasant as he and the Poet were
liscussing Armistice Day.
“I don’t think that you are
ight,” said the Poet. “If the Unit
d States were to call for volunteers
omorrow there would be as many
oung men g o from Plymouth
nd Washington county as any
ther part of the nation.”
“Maybe you’re right,” said the
'easant, “but I doubt it. There
,7ere probably two flags up in the
esidential section of Plymouth
Monday and only one in the busi
ess section and this wras on the
orner of Washington and Water
treets and was put out by Nelson
Mercantile Company. In fact there
3 only a few holes in the sidewalk
vdiere a flag pole can be placed.”
“After all,” said the Poet, “it
isn’t a question of patriotism but
rather that the American people
are easy to forget. It has been 11
years since that nasty war ended
and Armistice Day has never been
made a legal holiday therefore it
hasn’t been impressed on us so
much. Every American citizen was
glad when he heard that the war
had ended. He is still glad that it
has ended, or rather that he thinks
that it has ended.”
“Say boy,” said the Peasant,
“you surely do talk crzy. The war
has been ended 11 years.”
“Yes,” said the Poet, “directly
the war has ended, but indirectly
it is continuing. Now instead of
using men, the nations are using
dollars to carry on their war.”