North Carolina Newspapers

3iiiiimiiiiiiiiimiiiiHiimiiiiiiniiiiimiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiMiiM_. = A home newspaper dedicated j§ = to the service of Washington 2 2 County and its 12,000 people. 2 fSiiimmiimiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiimmiiiiMiiiiir The Roanoke Beacon ******* and Washington County News ******* 1 Advertisers will find Beacon § 2 and News columns a latch-key to f S 1,100 Washington County homes. = fiiniiHiimiiMiiiiMmimnHHHmiiHHiiimiiiimmimmiiiir VOLUME XLV—NUMBER 2 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, January 12, 1934 ESTABLISHED 1889 TARBORO MAN IS PUT AT HEAD CWA WORK IN COUNTY J. T. Gibbs Appointed Civil Works Administrator, Starting Jan. 10 Why a man from Edgecombe Coun ty was appointed to the chief office of the CWA in Washington County is the tiling that is not quite understood here. Some think that J. T. Gibbs, of Tar boro, was sent here as emergency re lief and Civil Works Administrator, because it would bring into the coun ty a man who would not lean either way and could mete out the relief work in an impartial way. Others are of the opinion that the government officials perhaps did not have an aplicant for a position of this kind who could fill it, or rather there was not a man in this county that could handle the job. But both of these ideas are probably wrong. When this emergency relief was started here, Mrs. W. C.- Brewer, who was in charge of the welfare work here was appointed as Federal administra tor for this county and has held the job since its origination and is giving it up now on account of other duties. Below is the text of the letter in full from Roy M. Brown, technical supervisor of the State Emergency Re lief and the CWA, to J. T. Gibbs at Tarboro, with a copy being sent here to Mrs. Brewer: “This is to confirm your appoint ment as Emergency Relief and Civil Works Administrator for Washington County. Miss Ward (supervisor of this district) informs me that you are to go to the county on Wednesday, January 10. You will have full charge of the Emergency Relief and Civil Works program. "Mrs. Brewer will remain superin tendent of public welfare and will per form all the ordinary duties of that office. She understands that she is to be relieved of the duties which you are to assume and is in agreement with this plan.” Relief from the duties of the CWA program and emergency relief for Mrs. Brewer only means that she will not have these duties to divide her time with that as superintendent of public welfare and she has never received a cent more for her work in this ca pacity. Mrs. Brewer’s job is safe with the county in the welfare department for two years, as she was included in the budget for this length of time, and her salary is about $84 a month, with 'about $40 more supplied for travel ex penses. DRY FORCES TO MEET JANUARY 16 Object Is Organization of Permanent Group To Continue Work -<s> Roper.—Below follows a statement issued to the press by Rev. R. E. At kinson, pastor of the Methodist church here, and chairman of the dry forces in Washington County. “The United Dry Forces of North Carolina will assemble in a State-wide conference at Greensboro on Janu ary 16, for the purpose of perfect ing a permanent organization to con tinue in North Carolina a construct ive program of education in favor of 'temperance and against the evils of alcohol. “The county and other local units of the organization that fought to keep North Carolina dry in the recent elec tion desire to conserve the benefits of the recent campaign and to con tinue their efforts to keep legalized liquor out of North Carolina, and to improve the enforcement of our pres ent prohibition laws. "Many local units have already be come permanent, and it is anticipated that the Greensboro meeting on Janu ary 16 will set up a permanent state wide organization. "All persons in North Carolina in terested in the promotion of temper ance are invited to attend the confer ence, and all members of the central committee, all candidates, county chairmen, and managers of the United Dry Forces are particularly urged to be present.” Special Showing of “ Wild Boys of Road” -@ The management of the New The atre has issued invitations for a spec ial showing on Monday morning, Jan uary 15, at 10 o’clock of “Wild Boys of the Road.” Those invited include the press, Mayor and Mrs. Gilbert Davis, all members of the woman's club. Principal and Mrs. E. H. Hicks >cliool board trustee, and all of the ministers and their wives. Thank Mr. Johnston Ward for Donation Members of the Major Charles Louis Latham chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy wish to take this method of expressing their | appreciation to Mr. Johnston Ward i for the check of $10.00 sent them , through Mrs. Addic L. Brinkley as a ! Christmas gift to be applied on Con federate monument fund. This is the first donation to be given toward this worthy cause, and it is with heart felt gratitude that the chapter extends to Mr. Ward its most sincere thanks. FUNERAL IS HELD SUNDAY FOR MR. SAM W. BEASLEY Large Number Present for Last Rites at Methodist Church Here The Methodist Church was crowded with people Sunday morning who wit nessed the last rites for Samuel Wes ley Beasley, 76 years of age, who died Thursday afternoon at 1:30, never ral lying from an attack of heart trouble that seized him three hours before. Rev. R. R. Grant officiated. Friends from all over the county were among the crowd that attended the church rites with a much larger gathering at hi.-, grave at the old Bap-! tist church site in town. A beautiful floral offering was contributed by friends, and the massive heap of flow ers literally covered the casket. Mr. Beasley was born near Mackeys August 23, 1858, and died at his home on Washington Street January 4.1 Fifty-two years ago he married Miss' Hattie Fagan, who, with two daugh ters, Mrs. J. I.. Hayes and Mrs. E. R. j Jackson, and one son, Cecil Beasley.; ♦jf Charlotte, survive the deceased. ! While a young man, Mr. Beasley( became affiliated with the Methodist church here, and during his life he served as trustee and steward and was1 a loyal member of the Sunday school.' in which department he took much interest, being present every Sunday when physically able. Upwards of 50 years ago Mr. Beas ley started in the drayage business in Plymouth, and with bis horse and wagon, and later, with his motor truck was a familiar figure on the streets of Plymouth, and was known by practi cally every one. HORSE AND MULE PRICES TO GO UP Secretary of Association Is Advising Farmers To Buy Now -s “Men who need horses or mules for j next spring’s work should buy them at once, as prices are practically cer-^ tain to advance from $20 to $40 per head between now and April 1st,” said Wayne Dinsmore, secretary of the Horse Association of America, in an address at Chicago December 6th. “Every available horse and mule old enough to work will be at work in harness next spring,” lie continued, “and a great many two-year-old colts1 will also be broken and put into work, although it is not customary nor de sirable to work young animals until they are three years old. The short age of work animals, however, and the urgent need for cash is inducing a good many farmers in the principal horse and mule producing states to sell off some of their older animals and put the two years olds into serv ice, especially where they are large, well grown and vigorous. "This is feasible, particularly on the farms where it lias been a set policy to raise enough colts each year to per mit of selling the older animals at five or six years of age; for by crowding the colts from the time they are born until they are two years of age they will weigh from 900 to 1,200 pounds, even as two year olds, and can be broken and put to work. The scarcity of work horses and mules, which has been increasing for several years, and which has been ap parent to men thoroughly familiar with tli horse business, became evi j dent to dealers who had to buy horses last spring, as they found it more and more difficult to buy animals for re sale. Many buyers report that they have to drive two or three times as 1 far to purchase a carload of horses ! or mules and they also have to pay j from $15 to $20 more for them than I they did a year ago.” * Services at Episcopal Church Here Sunday Services will be held at the Grace Episcopal church Sunday "morning at 11 o’clock, with Rev. Sidney J. Mat thews, rector of the church o ciating. I Every one is urged to attend. HALF FAMILIES IN COUNTY ARE HOME OWNERS 53.7 Per Cent of White Peo ple Own Homes; 28.9 Per Cent Colored Almost half of the families in Wash ington County own their homes, it was learned today from statistics re vealed in the News Letter, a bi-weekly publication of the extension division of the University of North Carolina, with S. H. Hobbs, jr., responsible for the tabulation, 'l'he r:ords proved that there were 2,204 families in this county, which in cludes white and colored resident; and to be exact, 48.5 per cent, or about (1,012 families, that were living in their own domiciles. This does not men tion as to how many were farms or town dwellings, but it is enough to mote that they are landowners. The tabulation reveals that 53.7 per icent of the white people own their homes, while on the other hand, only 38.9 per cent of the colored resdeints live on and in their own property. But, then, this points out that the negro race has more home-owners than is generally considered the case. The sad fact of these figures is that in many cases they miselead, because some people live in homes registered •in their names, but really are heavily encumbered by mortgage or other wise, and thus these figures cannot be construed to be entirely accurate. ft is thought by the tabulators that in the state as a whole about half of the homes occupied by. owners are mortgaged or otherwise encumbered by debt. However, this is not defi nite, because the ratio these finan cial entanglements are not known. ft i> conservative to estimate that about half of the white people in the state own their homes, while less than a third of the colored residents are real property owners, and this class presents the pitiful plight of the ten ant farmer, whose chances for home ownership are but a little brighter. Negroes are probably in the ma jority of the 165,000 famines in the state who live in towns with a popu lation of 2,500 or more, and also who live just outside of the town limits but not on farms, and are classed as rural non-farm population. "ft appears from the statistics,” said Mr. Hobbs, "that negroes have a better chance to rise to home owner ship in the small towns and in the suburbs of towns and cities than eith er on farms or in cities.” MRS. L. H. RITTER DIED RECENTLY -<s> Was Former Resident of Plymouth; Died in Newport News -$ Friends in Washington County were saddened to learn of the recent death of Mrs. Leslie Harrison Ritter, an executive of the Virginia State School for Colored Deaf and Blind Children at Newport News, Va., who was a former resident of Plymouth. Mrs. Ritter was the daughter of the late Isaac F. and Mrs. Mary John ston Harrison, of this county. She was born in 1879 in New Bern. She numbered among her friends in Ply mouth Mrs. W. H. Hampton and the L. P. Hornthal family. She was a niece of the late Capt. Stuart John son. She was graduated from the North Carolina School for the Deaf in 1894. She lost her hearing early in life as the result of cerebrospinal meningitis. Early in life she joined the Grace Epis copal church here, and is remembered today by many of the communicants. She was married to William C. Rit ter, now superintendent of the school, and together they founded the school. Now, after 26 years, the institution is a monument to her work with the deaf and blind colored children of sound mind and body in Virginia. M. H. Haire Dies At Home Near Creswell Moun Tabor.—Funeral services were belli at his home near Creswell for M. H. Haire, who died January 2 as the result of heart disease, from which he was a chronic sufferer, be ing confined to his bed much of the time in recent months. The funeral was held next day, and he was interred in a family burying ground near his home, with the Rev. Roy Respass, Christian minister, of ficiating. A large crowd attended and a large Horal offering was contributed. Mr. Haire was 74 years of age tit the time of his death. For years he had been a member of the Mount Tabor Free Will Baptist Church and also the Charitable Brotherhood, with the latter organization taking part in the funeral. Surviving Mr. Haire are two sons, J. R. and J. W. Haire, both of Wash ington County. Unemployed Required To Renew All Applications -$ All unemployed in Washington County who have made application for employment since the opening of the office, but who are not actually at work 1 are required to renew their applica tions during the month of January, it was announced by Luther R. Ausbon, manager. This work i> now going forward rapidly. Names of all applicants who do not renew their applications dur ing January, after notification, will be considered as having found jobs. STATE’S COTTON ACREAGE FIXED FOR NEXT YEAR -s Farmers Will Be Asked To Hold This Year’s Crop To 869,000 Acres North Carolina cotton farmers will plant a little less than 869,000 acres to the crop in 1934 if they meet the request of the Agricultural Adjust ment Administration. 1 At a meeting of county farm agents held at State College on December 28, plans for the new cotton campaign to beging soon were outlined by Dean I. O. Schaub and Charles A. Shef field of the Agricultural Extension Service, They explained that the tentative goal of reduction in this State next season is 580,000 acres un der the five-year average from 1928 to 1932. During that base period, the State planted an average of 1,449,000 acres. A reduction of 40 percent means that only 869,000 acres will be planted in the State this year. To secure this reduction the AAA is offering a rental payment of 3 1-2 cents a pound on the average produc tion of the land during the years from 1928 to 1932. In some instances, this rental payment is more than the land is worth on the open market. But in addition, explained Mr. Schaub, there will be a parity payment next fall on that part of a grower’s cotton which is consumed within the United States. This means that the parity payment will be 40 percent of any growers’ production and that a payment of at least on cent a pound is guaranteed. Dean Schaub also stated that a suf ficient number of acres must be offer ed to the Secretary of Agriculture by January 31 to make the plan effective. Othewise none of the contracts will be accepted and the cotton grower may be left to his own devices this j year. “This means that we must sign the ! contracts as quickly as we can to se .cure all the government aid we can,’’i said the Dean. CROP LOAN BILL GETS APPROVAL -«> Believe Bill Similar To The Seed-Feed Loan To Get Approval in Congress -jj, A crop production bill, similar to the one introduced in ti e House of Representatives by Congressman L. C. Warren last week, was given unanimous approval by the Senate Agricultural Committee last Satur day, indicating that will be advanced farmers again this year as they were, in 1933. Chairman Smith of the committee said by its provisions the radius of seasonal government aid to agricul ture would be greatly incresaed. Under the existing plan of opera tion of the regional agricultural credit | corporation 75 percent of the farmers cannot qualify, he said, whereas all would be made eligible by the pro posed legislation. In order for a farmer to obtain a crop loan from a regional agricultural body it is necessary for hint to pur chase stock in a local credit associ ation to the amount of 5 percent of his loan. He is also required to put I up security which Smith said is fre quently impossible. Under the terms , of the bill one or more agencies of the farm credit administration would be established in each state with au thority to pass finally on loan applica I tions. Approximately $85,U00 was lent to Martin County farmers last year by the seed-feed loan act, and many of these farmers will look to a similar borrow agency for aid in financing their crops this spring and summer, it is believed. -« Dr. Cadman To Speak At A. C. College In May Wilson.—Dr. S. Parkes Cadman, famous clergyman, author ami lec turer, has been secured as the com mencement speaker at Atlantic Christian College. Dr. Cadman will speak here on May 28 following an address made at Duke University the previous day. ALL MERCHANTS ARE REQUIRED TO FILE REPORT Have Until 15th of January To Make Report on Sales Tax ' John D. Langston, jr., deputy com missioner of the Department of Reve nue, having in ciiarge the sales tax work in this territory, calls attention to the sales tax law, which require that every merchant who is registered under the sales tax act must file a re turn as of the last day of December. 1933. ! Under the sale- tax law merchants who have made monthly returns are 1 required to file a monthly return for the month of December, those who have made a quarterly return on Oc tober 1st are required to file returns covering the business since that date; those who have filed no return- are required to make returns covering bus iness and -ales since July 1st, 1933; if a merchant has made no returns at all he is required to file a return show ing this fact. This return on the part of the mer chants in this locality is a necessary feature of the sales tax law and every merchant in the territory will be ex pected to make his return covering that period. Failure of the merchants to make a return for this period has no legal excuse and heavy penalties are attached by law for failure of the merchants to make these returns. Under the act, the merchant has un til the 15th day of January to make the return. The time fixed by law is mandatory and merchants failing to comply with the act in this respect will necessarily be held responsible for their failure to make return. A com plete check-up of all merchants in this territory will be made before the end of the month, and the deputy com missioner here has the direct respon sibility of seeing that every return is filed. Merchants failing to make a re turn will be held responsible for their failure to comply with the law. Blanks will be mailed to every mer chant on the list and complete coop eration of all merchants is required.” TEACHERS HOLD MEETING HERE Fourth Meeting of Term Is Held in School Here Last Thursday -$ The fourth monthly meeting of the Washington County Teachers’ Asso ciation was held in the Plymouth High School Building Thursday evening, with a large number of members of the teaching staff in this county pres ent. Following reports of committees, Misses Sadie Davenport and Carolyn Brooks spoke 5 minutes each on “The Means by Which the Classroom Teach er May Study Differences,” with Miss Hazel Craddock discussing in the same length of time the subject, “Master List of All Factors Which Affect Pu pils Adversely.” '‘Difference in Technique of reach ing as Influenced by Grade Levels," was the topic for a 5-minute talk by Miss Irene Johnson, while Mrs. Eva S. Bateman and B. G. O’Brien re counted some “Illustrations of How a Teacher May Make Her Work Both interesting and Instructive,” with E. H. Hicks leading in the round-table discussions of problems relating to the schools. C. H. Rabon and Miss Hazel Bow ers spoke on “Materials Suitable for Reading Circle Work (grade levels)” while Mrs. W. E. Spruill and Miss Thelma Getsinger spoke briefly on “Gradation of Pictures To Be Used (Valuation)”. These monthly meetings of the teachers in the county are proving in teresting and helpful to those who at tend, and James \\ Norman, super intendent of public instruction, is ur gent in requesting that all of the 'teachers attend. Ed Vail Jailed For Contempt of Court Ed Vail was sent to jail Monday for 30 days by Judge Walter Small, of Elizabeth City, who was presiding at the January term of Washington Coun ty Superior Court that opened here Monday on a charge of contempt Mr. \ ail had been tried and hned in a case concerning a man he was said to have attacked in defense ol his sister. When the sentence was passed Mr. Vail made some derogatory ri marks in open court, and Judge Small ordered him locked up immediately This is said by court attendants to have been the first time in Washing ton County's history that a man has been jailed for contempt in superior court. Minister Performs Three Marriages in Succession Rev. T. F Davenport, of the Mount Tabor section, ha- the distinction of ! performing three marriages in succes sion on the evening of December 23. Mr. Davenport is a justice of the peace ‘ and a minister also. The three couple- married on the -ame night follow: Odell Ambrose to Pearl Davenport: Jessie Harrington to Tra Phelps: David Furlaugh to Annie Phelps. FIRE DESTROYS DWELLING HERE MONDAY NIGHT Home of Herman Jackson Is Completely Burned; Loss Is Around $1,000 Fire originating from an unknown source completely destroyed the home of Herman Jackson here Monday night, causing a damage estimated at close to $1,000. None f'i the members of the family were at home when the blaze started inside of the house and spread quick ly over the dwelling. Mr. Jackson could think of no way the fire could have originated as he had been away from the dwelling for some time when the fire was discovered. A filling station and a log cabin at the front of the dwelling, which was located near Brinkley’s baseball park, were not burned, as neighbors and others bent their energy to saving these two buildings. Furniture in the building was destroyed, not an article being saved. j Harry Gurkin discovered the flam ing building while riding by on the highway and turned in the alarm. But the roof had fallen in and the damage to the dwelling was done before the j firemen arrived, and they joined in the efforts to save the near-by build ings. There was no hydrant near by. In addition to the furniture and the dwelling, Mr. Jackson lost $65 in bills that were in the house when it was burned to the ground. It is under-; stood that he had $300 insurance on the house and $200 insurance on his furniture. Mr. Jackson returned home in time to see the flames finishing their destruction. ASK LANDLORDS REGISTER NEEDS -® Those Desiring Work on Farms Also Urged To Register Here -® Luther R. Ausbon, manager of the Washington County re-employment office anonunces this his office is now ready to reigster landlords and farm ers who are in need of farm labor of ; any kind. Likewise, families desiring to rent a farm and unemployed farm labor are urged to register. Families who left farms for work in towns or factories and are now inter- j ested in going back to the farm are urged, Mr. Ausbon said, to register and give the government a chance to help them find the kind of employ ment they prefer. I here may be some families apply ing for farm placement who do not have enough food and clothing to Tun them until the crop is made. Lnder certain conditions, provision will be made to extend help to such families, he said. Unusual Programs At Local Theatres "Saturday s Millions,” will open on Thursday fur a two-day run. The cast includes too many gridiron and screen t^tars to mention here, headed by Rob 'ert Young, Leila Hyams, Johnny! Mack Brown and the All-American1 football team. Also a two-reel com- { edy and a Silly Symphony. \ on vc never laughed so hard and ' long as you will on Monday and Tues- I day watching Kddie Cantor caper thru Mo Ziegfeld’s great comedy spectacle 1 See him in his best all-Technicolor1 musical comedy. There will be con tin lions shows, beginning at 2 o’clock. Also serial and "Radio Round-Up.” Monday presents a one-day play >nl> . "\\ ild Boys of the Road,” a pie ture every father and mother, sister and brother should see. Fox News | and a cartoon complete the offering. 1 uesdav, showing only otic day, (brings to us the clever mystery story "i the year, "Solitaire Man,” with Herbert Marshall, Mary Boland, and Lionel Atwell heading the well-select ed cast. Also Laurel and Hardy com edy. “The Gold Companions,” from the novel by J. B. Priestly, will play one da\ only, Wednesday. A trip thru some of the studios of Hollywood and a comedy complete the program. MAN IS SHOT IN LEGS RESULT OF SERIES ERRORS Went to Work Too Early; Employer Thought He Was Burglar Repeated robberies of his store in the Pleasant Grove community ha-; the , trigger finger of J. C. Tarkenton itch ing—and Charlie Hailey has the 'hoot ing ability of Mr. Tarkenton to thank that he is no worse injured than he is today. Mr. Bailey was engaged as a me chanic to repair a tractor that was at the rear of the Tarkenton store. So many business matters crowded his mind that Mr. Tarkenton forgot he had employed Mr. Bailey to begin work on the tractor early Saturday ni« >rning. In the course of events Mr. Bailey awoke and heard the roosters crow ing. Looking out ne found the moon shining brightly, in fact -o brightly that he thought day was dawning. So he gathered his tools and went to the tractor to begin work. About midnight Mr. Tarkenton was awakened by the steady reports of the clanking of tool-, and the first thing that he thought of was that some one wa- breaking into the rear of his store, as the noise came from that direction. Grabbing his pistol, he went to the porch and yelled. No answer came but the staccato reports of some one tinkering with machinery continued, and Mr Tarkenton interpreted this as beards being ripped from the rear of his store building. Then the fireworks began. He fired hi.- pistol in the direction of the trac tor and the rear window of the store. Still continued the clinking noise. He fired five times. And the clinking of the metals continued. Laying aside his pistol he reached for his shotgun. Waiting a few min utes he saw the figure of the man as he left the tractor and came into view. 1 aking steady aim, he emptied a load of shot into the legs of Bailey, who yelled at the top of his voice. Recognizing the voice as that of Mr. Bailey. Mr. 'Tarkenton ran to his aid. It was the intention of Mr. Tar kenton to shoot low and hit the vic tim in the leg-, which he did. This probably saved the life of Mr. Bailey It all came about through neither knowing the circumstances of the oth er. Mr. Bailey thought it was dawn ing day, and Mr. Tarkenton in the press of matters when he had retired forgot that he had engaged Mr. Bailey for the tractor work. Mr. Bailey’s legs were peppered with -hot, but as the scattered shot enter ed his legs no serious injury was in curred. ASK LOAN FOR RIVER BRIDGE Application for $342,000 Is Now Before Authorities At Raleigh Application has been made to the administrator of public works for a loan of ^342,000 by the Roanoke River Bridge Company, to build bridges and causeway across the Roanoke River and tributaries near the town of Ply mouth to establish a line of communi cation for vehicles between the north and south sides of Albemarle Sound. From the creation of the State High way Commission there has been a public and insistent demand for a line of communication across the waters that separate this territory. On ac count of the width of the sound and storm hazards, it is believed that the high cost and risk would make bridg ing of the sound prohibitive, and that the solution of the situation is to cross the Roanoke River as near its mouth as practicable where the cost is low est and where storm hazard is reduced to a minimum. I his application is pending before the State Advisory Board and will be forwarded to Washington in due course for their consideration. If this project is approved and the funds appropriated, it is generally be lieved that it will be a long step in the progress and development of north eastern North Carolina. -—---— Home Agent Announces Schedule for Next Week The following schedule for next week lias been announced by Miss Eu genia Patterson, home agent: Monday afternoon, Scuppernong. Tuesday afternoon, Cherry. Wednesday afternoon, Albemarle. Thursday afternoon, VVenona. Friday afternoon, new club to be organized in Mount Tabor communi ty. Come! All club members are asked to bring a note book and pencil to each club meeting during the year.