North Carolina Newspapers

A home newspaper dedicated 1 to the service of Washington 1 County and its 12,000 people. | iimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinimmiiiiiiiiiimiiiimiii^ The Roanoke beacon ★ ★★★★★★★★★ And Washington County News ★★★★★★★★★★ gmmiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiimimmiiiiimHiiiiiiitHft 1 Advertisers will find Beacon | | and Nev. s columns a latch-key to § 3 1.100 Washington County hemes. Z VOLUME 42—NUMBER 13 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, March 27, 1931. ESTABLISHED 1889 TARLTON GARD NER, LOCAL MAN, SHOOTS HIMSELF -» Believed That Worry Over Business Cause; Funeral To Be Held Today Tarlton Gardner, nearly 70 years of age, and one of Plymouth’s well known citizens, committed suicide here about 8:15 o’clock Thursday morning by shooting himself through the head with a single barrel shotgun of a 12 gauge calibre in his room at his home. Death was instantaneous. Mr. Gardner was apparently in his usual health, but according to members of the family, he had been worrying here of late about business conditions. Over a long period of years, Mr. Gardner had held a responsible posi tion with W. H. Hampton and Son, a local mercantile firm, and had many friends here and throughout the coun ty. For the past two months he had been conducting a store of his own, near his home here. It seems that Mr. Gardner had ris en at his usual time Thursday morning, breakfasted and opened his store. La ter, he went to his son-in-law’s ser vice station, Jack Swain, and secured his shotgun. Taking the gun, he went to his room and shot himself. Mr. Swain was away on a trip at the time. r Upon hearing the discharge of the gun, members of the family rushed to Jdr. Gardner’s room where they found him dying on the floor. Funeral services will be held here this afternoon at 3 o’clock and inter ment will be made in a local cemetery. The deceased was a member of Per severance Masonic Lodge, No. 59, and the lodge will bury him with full Masonic honors, it is understood. He was also a member of the local Metho- j dist church. Besides his wife, the deceased is survived by six daughters and two sons. They are: Misses Mary, Olga, Wenona, Florence, and Mrs. Jack Swain, all of Plymouth; also Miss ^.thelia Gardner, of Norfolk, Va. The sons are Tom and Tarlton Gardner. A number of sisters also survive and other relatives. CAPTURESTILL AND TWO MEN Sheriff Reid and Chief P. W. Brown Make Successful Raid Wednesday A thirty gallon copper still together j wiht four 50 gallon barrels of mash j were captured on W. E. Gaylord’s farm which is rented by Louis Coop er, negro, two miles from Plymouth, about 1:30 o’clock Wednesday after noon by Sheriff J. K. Ried and Chief ■P. W. Brown. The boozery and mash were stored ■in Cooper's barn. Cooper and Abra ham Leathers, both colored, were ar rested on charges of possessing ma terial for the manufacture of liquor and also for manufacturing liquor. However, they were released on $300 bond each. Sheriff Reid stated that Cooper and Leathers would be given a preliminary hearing in Recorder's court here next Tuesday. After Sheriff Reid and Chief Brown had found the distillery and mash, Cooper and Leathers admitted that the outfit belonged to them, the sheriff stated. -( Considerable Increase In Cotton Is Reported The Department of Commerce, tluough the Bureau of the Census, an nounced the preliminary report on cot ton ginned, by counties, in North Caro lina, for the crops of 1930 and 1929. The record for Washington County was: 1,251 bales for 1930, compared with the 864 bales ginned in 1929. This shows a considerable increase in the cotton produced in this county dur ing the past year over that of the pre ceding year. Law Requires Bitten Dogs To Be Killed -« Dr. Claudius McGowan yesterday called the attention of people in thus section to the fact that the law of North Carolina requires that all dogs which have been bitten, or which arc supposed to have been bitten by a mad dog, shall be killed at once. Sev eral dogs in town, it is understood, were bitten by the dog which was killed and found to have rabies last week. So far as is known, none of them have been killed. Finds Old Prescription Blank at Lumber Mill ■■ - L. B. Windley, local young man, found a prescription blank in the Chi cago Lumber Mill here behind a saw bench Tuesday that was made out by the late Dr. B. H. Gilmer on October 19, 1910. This makes the prescription blank approximately 21 years of age. The writing on the script is well pre served. Town Limits Bill Is Revived Again; This Time in Senate Introduced by Senator H. S. Ward Last Thursday; May Pass Senate, But House Is Another Story, As Committee Is Against It The bill to extend the corporate lim its of the town of Plymonth, after having been killed by an unfavorable report returned by the house commit tee of counties, cities, and towns week before last, reared its head in the legislative halls at Raleigh again last week, this time in the senate. It was introduced by Senator Hallet S. Ward, of the second senatorial dis trict, last Thursday, and presumably was referred to the senate committee on counties, cities and towns, although newspaper accounts relative to its in troduction did not state what disposi tion was made. Senator Ward assured local citizens interested in the passage of the bill that lie did not anticipate any trouble in getting the measure through the senate, but when it reaches the house it will probably be referred to the same committee which killed it before. The only change made in the bill was to provide that it would not become operative until after a fa-- . .mlc vote by the people of both the town as pres ent constituted and of the area affect ed by the proposed extension. Introduction of the measure in the i senate is generally regarded here as \ purely a gesture, as little hope is en tertained for the passage of the bill j through the house in the face of the : unfavorable report in the house com- : niittee. AMBROSE L. OWENS ANNOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY FOR MAYOR IN , MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON MAY 5 TAKES CHARGE OF NEWSPAPER, — -<»>-, Charles H. McSwain Now Managing Editor of Roanoke Beacon Charles H. McSwain of Albemarle has been employed by the owners of the Roanoke Beacon as managing edi tor to succeed Jack Booker of \Vil-| liamston, who has been acting in this capacity for the past several months. Mr. Booker will devote all of his time on The Enterprise at VVilliamston. I Mr. McSwain arrived in town Mon day and will take active charge of the 1 Beacon Monday. For several years; he was on the staff of the Stanly News-Herald, a semiweekly formerly published in Albermarle, N. C. For the past year he was editor and manager of The Montgomery Herald, a weekly newspaper at Troy, N. C. He has also had a number of years experience on daily papers. Under McSwain’s management the Beacon plans to continue its policy in the past of giving the people of Ply mouth and Washington county a live and wide awake newspaper and to publish all the news that is fit to print. -@ RECORDER HAS LIGHT SESSION <» 1 ■ -- Only One Case Tried at Court Tuesday By Judge Owens -& An exceedingly light session was had in Recorder Court here Tuesday morning. Only one case was tried and disposed of with Judge E. L. Owens, presiding and Solicitor C. L. Bailey, representing the state. The case tried was that of Wilson Hassell, a white man of about 40 years of age, who was charged with fraud. , He was tried and the case envolved jsome merchandise which the defen dant was alleged to have bought for .a church. -6 Three Persons Bitten By Mad Dog Last Saturday -®— Three persons, Roy Davenport, Dan Satterthwaite, and Earl Ainsley, were bit by a clog afterwards found to he afflicted with rabies last Saturday. The dog, a small bull terrier, belonged to Mrs. Tabitha Davenport. It was killed by Roy Davenport and taken to the State Laboratory of Hygiene Sun day, where examination disclosed the animal was suffering from rabies. Each of the three men are taking the ^asteur treatment, and no ill effects are anticipated by their physician. It is understood that several other dogs were bitten by the animal Saturday, but so far none of them have been 1 killed. The incident is causing many ! owners of canine to have pets vac cinated with the anti-rabies serum. FORMER MAYOR ENTERS CONTEST ON PAST RECORD ♦ Town Politics Expected To Liven Up Considerably In Next Few Weeks Ambrose L. Owens broke the ice in municipal politics Wednesday after noon by announcing bis candidacy for the office of mayor, subject to the ac tion of the town election to be held Tuesday, May 8. He has long been a leader in every phase of activity in both town and county and has served as county commissioner, member of the school board, mayor of Plymouth, member of the local council, and as treasurer of Plymouth. In announcing his candidacy, Mr. Owens states that he will favor an economical and conservative manage-, nient of all municipal affairs, as well as the reduction of every town ex-^ pense possible. He points to his past j record in office, and solicits support of the voters on the strength of it. Mr. Owens was appointed mayor by the town council in October, 1922, and statements of the financial condition oi tne town ai me uegimiuig aim at the en<! of his term in office are cited by his friends in supporting his can didacy. These statements show that when lie became mayor, the town had current oblgations of more than $15, 000, with not a cent of money to meet them with, and no credit with any out side firms. After serving for about three years, the records show that the town had obligations of only $21, its assets, most of which were cash, to talled over $6,000; and its credit had been reestablished. Interest in the town election is now expected to mount rapidly, and it is likely that several candidacies for; places on the board of aldermen will be announced within the next week or two. Although there has been little 'open talk relative to municipal politics, | there seems to be a pretty strong un jdercurrent that gives rise to the belief that things will warm up shortly, and that there will be some degree of fire works is almost certain. While none of the members of the present board of councilmen has stat ;ed that he will, or will not, be a can didate, considerable speculation is be ing indulged in as to whether or not some of the members will run again. 1 Mayor Walker was not in town the early part of the week, but it is rumor led that he does not desire his office again; and at least one council mem ber is said to have declared he was through. j At present the town council is com posed of the following: First Ward, H. A. Williford and A. E. Brothers; se cond ward, G. T. Davis and B. G. Campbell; third ward, Harry Stell and H. C. Spruill. Party politics do not figure at all in municipal elections, the lists being open to all. No primary is held, the usual procedure being for I anybody who wishes to run to an REGULAR MEET TOWN COUNCIL IS HELD FRIDAY Large Number of Routine Matters Disposed of at Short Session The Town Council held its regular semi-monthly meeting last Friday night, with routine business occupying the attention of the members prac tically throughout the session. Due to the absence of Mayor Walker, Harry Stell, mayor pro tern, was in the chair, with a full att2ndar.ce of councilmen, including ff. A. Willford and A. E. Brothers from the frst ward; G. T. Davs and B. G. Campbell, for the se cond ward; Harry Stell and H. C. Sprull, of the third ward. The clerk was authorized to pay a number of current bills, and also to notify the Standard Oil Company that its property here is badly in need of cleaning up. This property is located dii “Sugar Hill," the lot at the present time being overgrown with weeds, making it very unsightly as well as insanitary. Tax collections for the past two years were reported as about $15,000 short; that is, the town owns tax cer tificates for property amounting to that sum. The council passed an order, on motion of Mr. Williford, seconded by Mr. Spruill, that a loan of $8,000 be made from the bond retirment fund in order to meet current obligations of the town. This money is to be paid back from the current expense fund as rapidly as tax collections will permit. EASTER SERVICE FOR METHODISTS Special Communion Service Next Thursday Night Is Announced -» There will he a special communion service at the local Methodist church next Thursday night, April 2, at 7:30 o’clock. The occasion will be in the nature of a preparatory service for the Easter season, and is held at this hour on the day before Good Friday in commemoration of the first com munion, which took place in the upper room of a house near Jerusalem the night before the crucifixion. Rev. R. G. L. Edwards, pastor, in making the announcement yesterday, stated that ill addition to special Easter music the church would be decorated and during the communion service proper only candles will he used for lighting the church. A cordial invita tion is extended to people of all denominations to attend and take part. The pastor also announced the pro gram of services at his church for Easter Sunday. An Easter program will be carried out at the Sunday school hour, 9:45, in addition to the special service at 11 o'clock, when special music and several anthems by the choir will he featured. There will also be the regular service at 7:3U in the evening. JOHN T. ANGE DIED SUNDAY Was Prominent Fanner of Westover Section; Sick For Some Time -» John Thomas Ange, age 58 years, died last Sunday in a Washington hos pital after an extended illness. Mr. Ange was a prominent farmer of the Westover section, where he had resid ed for many years. He was born in Martin County January 18, 1875. Funeral services were held at the home Monday afternoon at 3:30, in terment following in the Zion Church cemetery. Rv. Conley Greer, pastor of the Christian church of Plymouth, conducted the final rites, which were attended by a large gathering of friends and relatives from the section in which he lived. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mat tie Elizabeth Hudson Ange and ten children, five boys and five girls. nounce his candidacy and his name is then put on the ticket. The election will be held this year May 5. It is expected that the council at its next meeting will provide for opening the registration books. Robbery of Mail Pouches Is Solved by Confession of Two Boys Last Thursday GEORGE W. DIXON DIED A T HIS HOME IN ROPER LAST FRIDA Y MORNING PROMINENT IN COUNTY AFFAIRS FOR MANY YEARS -$ Large Crowd Attends Final Rites at Roper Methodist Church Saturday Roper. March 24.—George Washing ton Dixon, 59 years of age, and one at Washington county’s most pro ninent citizens, died at his home here Friday morning at 4 o’clock, following t prolonged illness of something over ■even months. Funeral services were conducted Sat trday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Roper Methodist church with former Presiding Elder, H. I. Glas.-. of Wash ngton, officiating, assisted by Rev. Bascon Hurley, pastor, and Rev. R. G. Edwards and Rev. Mr. Canthrall of Plymouth. Interment was made in the :hurch cemetery. A large crowd attended the funeral tnd the floral offerings were very beautiful, manifesting the esteem in ivhich the deceased was held by his friends and neighbors. The entire Roper Sellot I. faculty and board of trustees attended the service in a bo- ] dy, each dropping a flower on the casket as it passed t • its final resting place. Mr. Dixon was born in Washing ton, X. C., July 13th, 1872 and at a comparative early age was married to Miss Isolene Chesson of Washington county, having made their home in Rooer. For years Mr. Dixon had lieen a steward in the Methodist church here where lie had lieen a faithful and loyal member. He had always taken an ac tive interest in religious, educational and civic affairs. He was a former member of the hoard of county com missioners, and was for several terms chairman of the board of trustees of the Roper school, having been instru mental in securing the new school building here. The pallbearers were: L. E. Hassell, R. B. Forbes, D. G. O'Brien, Dr. C. McGowan, J. F. Phelps, Jack McAl lister, H. A. Hutcheson and C. L. Bailey. The honorary pallbears were: J. J. Hassell. F. D. Wilson, H. L. Lewis, J. K. Reid, Henry Williams, W. A. Blount, J. T. McAllister, J. W. Darden, Ellis Chesson, C. F.. Mizell, T. F. Davenport, R. W. Lewis, Will Davenport, and T. L. Wynne, and al so assisted by the Sunday School class of which the deceased was a member, consisting of Jack Hassell, Maurice and Lansing Peacock, Tom Norman, L. E. Hassell, Jr., C. E. Mizell, Jr., Ralph Harrell, Dan Marrow, Osborne Marrow and James Bateman. Besides his wife, the deceased is survived by one daughter, Francis; two sons, Aubrey of Manteo, and George of Roper; one sister, Mrs. Fannie Ayers, of Plymouth; one brother, Nat Dixon, of Belhaven, several nieces and one grand child. ♦ Episcopal Services tor Sunday Announced Rev. A. H. Marshall, Rector Sunday school at 10 a. m. Holy Communion ami Sermon at 9:45 a. m. St. Luke’s Church, Roper Church school at 10 a. m. Holy Communion and Sermon at 11 a. m. The Bishop of the Diocese joins me in extending a most cordial invitation to every member of these churches to attend the services next Sunday. Palm Sunday brings us a lesson that we should not forget and will not if we attend services Sunday. It will also prepare us for the greater lesson of the Eastertide. If you have no church home, we cordially invite you to make this church your church and receive the benefit of its historic services. LOAD POULTRY CAR THIS WEEK 1,519 Pounds Bring Farmers Total of $255.88 at Car Here Monday The poultry shipment made here Monday by the farmers of Washing ton county through cooperation with the County Farm Agent, R. E. Dun ning, totaled 1,519 pounds which is considered a lair shipment from this county. Eighteen cents per pound was [<aid for the colored hens. The total imount received for the shipment was >255.88. There was 1.073 pounds of colored tens, totaling $193.14; 348 pounds of eghorns, totaling $52.20; 7 pounds of jroilers, $1.75; 91 pounds of roosters, wringing $8.19; and two guineas, wringing 60 cents. This car received five loadings of loultry, the first being made in Ply mouth, after which the car moved to neighboring towns in Martin county. Mr. Dunning stated that he did not know at the present whether he would arrange for another shipment or not. ROPER TEAMS CLOSE SEASON — ■ o> ■■ Boys’ and Girls’ Teams Win Fourteen and Lose One Game Each Roper, March 24.—The Roper high school basketball teams have just completed a most excellent season, the boys’ and girls' teams losing only one game each and winning fourteen vie-' tories each. The girls’ team defeated Plymouth two games, Columbia four, Creswell three, Jamesville two, Edenton, and won one and lost one with Roberson ,ville. The boys’ team defeated each of the following schools two games: Colum bia, Creswell, Plymouth, Pantego, Jamesville, and Edenton. They defeat ed Bethel one game and won one and lost one with Martin county Farm Life School. Members of the girls’ team who took part in the playing: Lyda Pea cock, captain; Shirley Peacock, Chris tine Spruill, Margaret Collins, Mar garet Everett, Elsie Ruth Chesson, Pearl Tarkenton, Joe Ange and Mary Peacock. The boys lineup was as follows: Jes se Griffin, captain.; Dick Chesson, Maurice Peacock, Roy Blount, Fran ces Everett, Henry Everett, and Ben Snell. -v Spring Came In As Per Schedule Last Saturday - That spring arrived on schedule was clearly demonstrated here Saturday afternoon, when a group of boys gathered on the Hampton lot to fly their kites and indulge in the great American game of “Catching.” Sev eral games of marbles were also i» progress during the afternoon. The robin may be the harbinger of spring in some climes, but whenever the small boys bring out their mitts, gloves, baseballs, and kites in this section, then indeed do we know that “spring is here.” -$ Floor in Municipal Building Being Repaired This Week A section of the floor in the Munici pal Building here is being repaired this week. It seems, that due to lack of adequate ventilation, the floor and sleepers had decayed. M. W. Spruill, city clerk, stated that the office safe nearly fell through the floor just be fore it was decided to have the re pairing done. The Goose Hangs High—And Herrings Are Running in the Old Roanoke r ■ -- The Kitty Hawk ami Slade fisheries, owned and operated by W. H Hamp ton & Son, of Plymouth, started the 11931 fishing season Monday of this .week with the catches averaging as well as those at the beginning of last season, if not better, W. R. Hampton, [who is in active charge stated yester day. The two fisheries, located on opposite sides of the Roanoke River, two miles west of Plymouth, are operating at present with a crew of only 60 men. However, this number will be aug mented as the season advances until approximately 125 men will be em ployed at the height of the season. In an interview with Mr. Hampton yesterday he stated something over 400 men, both white and colored, ap plied for jobs in person Monday mor ning at the fisheries. Two colored men nearly came to blows about which should receive a job, so anxious were they to secure work. Mr. Hampton re marked that he was in need of a horse for work about the fisheries Monday morning and that he made the state ment to that effect, whereupon a ne gro stepped up and said: "Boss, I’ll get you a horse in a few minutes it you will give me a job.” "I agreed,” continued Mr. Hampton, "and in about thirty minutes the ne gro was back with the horse, having led the animal over a narrow plank platform and put him in the stable. I don't hardly see how he did it with out allowing the horse to fall over i board into the river.” The average catch per day, thus far, has been between three and five thou sand fish. However, the fisheries have a daily capacity of around 750,000 fish. And it is expected that this number will be reached during the peak of the season. Already a few people have been vi siting the fisheries which is truly a novel sight for the uninitiated, most of them remaining to purchase a small quantity of fish. Before the season is over it is expected that hundreds of visitors from all sections of the state will he attracted to the fisheries, as this has proved the record heretofore. When questioned as to his opinion of the success the fisheries would meet with this season, Mr. Hampton stated that the catches thus far were averag ing as well or better as those of last year and that he was expecting the to season to equal or even surpass that of last season. tal number of pounds of fish for this I ALTON BIGGS AND LEON OVERTON HELD FOR COURT All of Missing Articles Are Recovered by Local Authorities Alton Biggs and Leon Overton, young white boys who live near here, confessed to Sheriff J. K. Reid and Chief of Police P. W. Brown last Thursday that they entered the union station here on the night of March 16 and stole two locked first-class mail pouches. They were arrested Wednes day on charges of stealing a pistol from the star route driver here, and their connection with the mail rob bery was worked out by the sheriff and chief of police. Both young men denied taking any part in the robbery when first arrest ed and maintained their innocence un til idenitfied by a Mr. Sexton, of Jamesville, as being the two boys who had presented a check known to have been stolen from the mail hags at his filling station. They then confess ed, also telling the sheriff where they had buried practically all of the loot ind the key used to get into the sta tion. All of the stolen articles were recovered by the officers. Preliminary hearing was scheduled to be held here before United States Commissioner J. H. Leggett Monday, but the men waived examination and entered pleas of guilty. The commis sioner fixed bond at $3,000 each, in default of which they are both being held in the jail here to await the next term of Federal court at Washington, beginning April 6. Charges against them in the State courts were dropped, and they were turned over to the cus tody of Federal authorities. The robbery, which took place Mon day night of last week, excited much comment locally, and Federal, county and town officers were put to work on the case immediately. Sheriff Reid and Chief Brown are due most of the credit for the quick settlement of the matter, however. The two missing pouches and practically all of the mail were recovered by local post office employees the day following the rob bery. When the robbery was discovered, officers suspected Biggs and Overton, known to be close friends, as a key to the baggage room of the station was reported lc.t while Biggs was working for L. E. Paul, mail and ex press messenger, several months ago. After the confession, this key was found buried at a fence post on the old James Spruill farm on Long Acre road. The officers arrested the two young men for stealing a pistol from Mr. Ainsley, star route mail carrier be tween here and Columbia. The missing pistol was found at the home of Over ton, after the two had told conflict ing tales as to how it came in their possession. Ostensibly held for steal ing the gun, authorities continued their investigation to connect them with the theft of the mail bags. When a check for $3.72, ma led the night of the robbery and known to have been in the pouches stolen, turned up at the bank here,, Sheriff Reid went to the store where it was cashed, Sexton and Anderson, in Jamesville, to ascertain if they knew anything about the persons who cash ed the check. Mr. Sexton remember ed the occasion and came to Plym outh. positively identifying Biggs and Overton as the men who had given him the check. Confronted with the check and Mr. Sexton, a confession was obtained, the young men making a dean hreast of everything, including the location of the stolen goods. It was also found that a box of class rings, made for the junor class of the local high school had been stolen by Biggs from the station on the night of December 31, 1930, as well as an overcoat and two scarfs from a freight car here Decem ber 28. These thefts had not been re ported to authorities, as these articles were being returned to the shipper in each instance, and the loss was not discovered until they were recovered by the sheriff following Biggs’ con fession. Articles recovered by the sheriff in clude the box of class rings, an over coat, two scarfs, several checks be longing to local individuals and firms, two pillow cases, two table scarfs, and two other cheap rings, most of which was taken from the two mail pouches. Some of the stolen goods were buried while others were found at various places designated by the young men in their confession. -® Mis. W. F. Ausbon who has been ; spending some time in Hampton as the guest of her daughters Mesdames | E. C. Caton, W. A. Crockett and H. R. Livers, returned home on Sunday.