North Carolina Newspapers

A home newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington County and its 12,000 people. The Roanoke Beacon * * * * * * * and Washington County News ******* Advertisers will find Beacon and News columns a latch-key to 1,100 Washington County homes. VOLUME XLVII—NUMBER 3 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, January 17, 1936, ESTABLISHED 1889 GRAND JURYMEN IN RECORD MEET MAKING REPORT Group Very Thorough In Its Investigation Of County Affairs -@ A comprehensive report of the condition of the affairs and buildings of this county was handed in last Friday afternoon when the grand jury of the January term of Wash ington County Superior Court com pleted its investigations. The investigators had been in ses sion for five days which is a record for this county in length of time taken to do the duties of this body, according to Mr. C. V. W. Ausbon, clerk of the superior court for 25 years. Also the group was very thorough in its investigation of the public affairs of the county. The report follows: “North Carolina, Washington Coun ty—In the Superior Court, January erm, 1936. To W. C. Harris, Judge Presiding: We, the grandjury for the January term of 1936, beg leave to report to you our findins as follows: We have examined all bills and presentments brought before us by the solicitor and have reported our findings to you. Courthouse We have examined all depart ments of the courthouse and find them in excellent condition except the lights in the courtroom. We recommend that the shades be taken off and, cleaned. We also recom mend that light bulbs be placed in the lights that are not in lighting condition. Jail We have visited the jail and find it in a most excellent condition and we desire to commend the sheriff for the splendid way in which he has the jail kept. County Home * It is very gratifying to us to be able to report that our findings at the county home were more than satisfactory. Cleanliness is an outstanding fea ture there and order prevails every where. We wish especially to com mend Mr. Basnight, the superintend ent of the home, for the excellent condition prevailing there. Inmates with whom we conversed were unanimous in their praise of his treatment to them. We recommend that six or eight feet be added to the height of the chimney, which will eliminate the falling of soot, which has a tendency to mar the paint and wood work of the beautiful building. We desire to express our appreci ation to the Federal Relief Adminis tration for the presentation of this splendid building to the county. State Highway Prison Camp Our examination of this camp re vealed conditions that ought to be eliminated. It has the appearance of a collection of cattle stalls or horse stables on a neglected planta tion, and but for the energy and ef ficiency of Mr. W. H. Gaylord, the superintendent in charge, it would be entirely unfit for the purpose for which it was intended. Even his individual hut is unfit for any ex cept temporary, very temporary hu man habitation. The State High way Department is fortunate indeed to have the services of the present superintendent at this camp. Condi tions there are as near perfect as, under the circumstances, it is pos sible for them to be due to the ac tivities of Mr. Gaylord. Administrations and Guardianships A wise provision some five or six years ago placed these matters in the trust department of a local fi nancial institution, the Branch Bank ing and Trust Company, and safe guards thrown around these funds have furnished ample protection. We find practically no funds of this sort in the hands of the Clerk of the Court. Justices of the Peace There are sixteen justices of the peace in the county. The reports of six are in up to and including De cember 1935. One had not reported since September, 1935. One has sent in no report for the fiscal year. Eight are delinquent from July 1, 1935. School Busses An examination of the school busses of the county reveal the fol lowing facts: * Bus No. 24, first class condition; No. 4, brakes fair. No lights, horn in good condition, leaky top and leak ing gas tank; No. 23, good condition: No. 11, brakes fair, no lights; No. 13, no lights; No. 12, no lights, leaky top and no windshield wiper; No. 3, no lights, horn out of order; No. 8, brakes fair, no lights; No. 6, brakes fair, no lights, one glass broken; No. 15. no lights and leaky top; No. 19, good condition; No. 16, brakes out of order, no lights; No. 7, brakes out of (Continued on page four) Hotneand Club News By Mary Frances Misenheimer Schedule for Next Week Monday, County Bridge. Tuesday, Pleasant Grove. Wednesday, Leaders’ school at Plymouth. Thursday, Creswell. Friday, Alba. Saturday, curb market at 8:30. Miss Lula Watson led the sales this past Saturday, with $10 worth of prod ucts sold. We thank the people who patron ize the curb market, for it is you who help make it a success. Watch Roper club grow. The club has been equally divided, with Mrs. F. D. Wilson and Mrs. John Hassell as captains of the sides. Each side is to see which can get the most members during the month of Janu ary. Watch to see which side is the winner. This sounds encouraging, “I arn going to try to do more and better work this year in my club ^iork than I have in the past.’’ This was said bv one of the Hoke Club members. There was a large number of mem bers present at the Chapel Hill club meeting. Rain or shine, depend up on Chapel Hill to be there. We are glad to have Mrs. Ruth Davenport for the new secretary of Beech Grove club. We are sorry to have Mrs. Oscar Trueblood to leave us, as she was a splendid work er. The following are the names of the food leaders for the coming year: Hoke club, Mrs. H. L. Browning. Roper, Mrs. L. S. Brey. Chapel Hill, Mrs. Robert Swain. Beech Grove, Mrs. H. D. Peele. Scuppernong, Mrs. John Spruill, Mrs. Kitty Norman. Cherry, Mrs. M. E. Ambrose. Albemarle, Mrs. C. L. Everette. Wenona, Mrs. J. S. Ray. Mount Tabor, Mrs. Ida Bateman. County Bridge, Mrs. L. A. Parrish er. Pleasant Grove, Mrs. Z. S. Waters. Swain, Mrs. Jane Vail. Creswell, Mrs. A. L. Holmes. Alba, Mrs. E. W. Harrison. Cross Roads, Mrs. J. W. Marrow. Piney Grove, Mrs. Sadie Stillman. Cool Springs, Mrs. Moore. Lake Farm, Mrs. George Craddock We expect some good work from these leaders. They are to attend the leaders’ schools and to help their clubs in every way possible. Lowest Corn Price Here Is 40c Bushel — «— Into the Beacon office walked Floyd Hartung, local grist mill oper ator, a few days ago, asking the re porter where he could find some of thee orn that was selling at 30 cents a bushel. No reply was forthcoming from the newsman because he didn’t ,know. Mr. Hartung had read the second column editorial headed, “shameful” which appeared in the Beacon on January 3 reading in part as fol lows: “It is shameful for one to buy and another to sell corn at 30 cents a bushel which is being done in this county, according to reports.” The lowest market price that Mr. Hartung claims he has paid for corn per bushel is 45 cents, but there have been reports that it has been sold as low as 40 cents a bushel. Market quotations in several other counties at the time placed corn at 30 cents a bushel, and unoffeial reports state that some farmers in this county de livered corn to those centers at that price. Local Junior Order Had Good Year At their regular meeting Monday night of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, the recording secretary read a report of the work of the council during the quarter ending December 31st, and it was noted that the council has made much progress during the quarter. A gain of 10 new members, 1 re instatement, and 1 admission by card with no members lost, making a total of 12 new members. The councillor wants every mem ber present at 8 o’clock Monday night, January 20th, as there is some very important business to be dis cussed. CREDIT GROUP’S STOCKHOLDERS MET SATURDAY -s Reports Show Cooperative Lending Agency Had Successful Year At the annual stockholders’ meet ing of the Washington Production Credit Association, which serves the counties of Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell, and Washington held at Washington, on January 11, 1936, re ports by officers showed that this cooperative credit organization of farmers had a very successful year in 1935, After the report of the year’s op erations had been made by J. E. Hull secretary-treasurer of the associa tion, the report being illustrated by charts, showing how much business was done, how much it cost to run the association, and how the income v/as received, the meeting was ad dressed by Mr. Ernest Graham, of the Production Credit Corporation, of Columbia, S. C. Mr. Graham said that by means of production credit associations, “the farmers have been able to reduce the cost of making and collecting loans, and by keeping the system on a sound basis they can obtain funds from investors at costs as low as those available to any other indus try. The associations do not lend government money, but bring the farmer in touch with the investment market. As they furnish credit to farmers at actual cost they must make their loans on a sound basis and they can lend only on an amount which may be repaid from the op erations of the borrower’s farm.’’ Another substantial increase in the number of farmers using production credit is expected in 1936, Mr. Gra ham said, as more and more farm ers are availing themselves of the services offered by the associations as they learn of the advantages of fered by this permanent cooperative system. Farmers in this section were ad vised by Mr. J. E. Hull, secretary treasurer, to make their applications early this year. He pointed out that they do not have to get their money until they actually need it, and they pay interest on it only for time they actually have it. It will cost them no more to make their applications early and get their loans approved, so that when they get ready for their money it wil Ibe ready for them. The Washington association made 641 loans for $217,459 last year. The two members of the board of directors of the association elected at the meeting are L. N. Davenport and J. W. Jarvis. Other members of the board elected a year ago are J. B. Patrick, president; J. W. Starr, vice president; and H. H. Cowan for Martin County. -T. Legion Show To Be Given Friday Night James E. Jethro Post, No, 164, of the American Legion, started re hearsals this week fer their 1936 minstrel and musical revue, to be giv en in the high school auditorium Friday night, February 7. The tick ets have been printed and are being sold by members of the post. The post is fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Bob Wilson as director of the show, as Mr. Wilson is a showman of long standing and has had much success in directing and putting on shows all over the country. The show this year promises to be the best ever staged by local talent in this section. Part of the proceeds of this show | will be used in entertaining the dis tinct convention, to be held here some time in the next few weeks. Nephew of Mrs. J. S. Brown Is Killed —®— Word has reached Mrs. John S. Brown of the death of a nephew, Wilton Ausbon, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Ausbon, of Henderson, who was beaten to death by three alleg edly drunken comrades on Decem ber 7. Corporal Ausbon was on police duty in Balboa, Canal Zone, in Cen tral America, with the United States Marine Corps. The three marines were turned over to him to be taken back to the ship after they had been arrested. When they alighted from the tax one started to run. The corporal pursued the fleeing man and when he caught him his two companions aided the other in fatally injuring him by beating him over the head until he had hemor rhages causing his death before he reached a hospital. His body reached Henderson on December 26. CROP VALUES IN STATE DOUBLED UNDER THE AAA -<3 Nearly 400 Million Dollar Increase Reported In Past Three Years -$ During the two and a half years of the AAA, the total increase in North Carolina farm income was more than $416,785,000. This figure is the sum of the AAA benefit payments plus the increased valuation of farm crops since 1932. In 1932, before the AAA, the val ue of farm crops in this State was $104,362,000, said Dean I. O. Schaub, of State College, who had charge of the AAA programs in North Caro lina. With the inauguration of the AAA in 1933, the valuation of farm crops rose to $194,390,000. The following year it climbed up to $262,973,000, and in 1935 it was $246,348,000. The total increase over 1932 dur ing the next three years amounted to $390,625,000. In addition, the farmers cooperating in the crop control programs received more than $26,160,000 in benefit payments. Up to September 30, 1935, the ben efit payments had reached a total of $26,159,193. Since that time other payments have been made, and yet others are now due, the dean point ed out. The benefit payments, clasified by commodities, were distributed to North Carolina farmers thus: tobac co, $14,515,189; cotton, $10,689,546; corn-hogs, $848,005, and wheat, $97, 451. From the sumer of 1933 up to Sep tember 30, 1935, farmers in Wash ington County received a total of $65,732.60 in AAA rental and benefit payments. Payments to growers in near-by counties were: Beaufort, $408,735.18; Bertie. $266,282.56; Edgecombe, $799, 918.14; Halifax, $646,714.29 and Pitt, $1,222,108.61. -® Mother of Mrs. E. W. Latham Dies Mrs. Sallie Rebecca Moore, of Southport, mother of Mrs. E. W. La tham, of Plymouth, died at her home January 7 at 75 years of age. Funeral services were held in the Methodist church, with Rev. E. L. Hall officiating. Besides Mrs. La tham there are five sons and another daughter of the elderly lady surviv ing. “Among the elderly people of Southport, it can truthfully be said fhat Mrs. Moore was one of the best loved and gentlest of women. Deep ly devoted to her children, her church and her friends, her death brings a shock,” said the local paper of the Southport lady. -® Asks Information About Family —®— Below is a copy of a letter re ceived by Recorder John W. Darden from Mrs. Anthony R. Cain, 89 Stan dish Avenue, Wallaston, Mass., who is seeking information: “Could you give me any informa tion in regard to a family by the name of Roughtean (as she had it spelled) from Plymouth, N. C. One sor, was John Henry. I believe they were carriage painters years ago.” Judge Darden urges any one who knows these people or knows of them to get in touch with Mrs. Cain. New Officers for Lodge Installed —®— New officers for Perseverance Lodge, No. 59, of the Masonic Order in Plymouth, took their respective stations last Tuesday night to begin their duties for the ensuing year. A banquet was given by E. H. Liver man, Gilbert Davis, and Leon Rose Officers are: E. H. Liverman, mas ter; Gilbert Davis, senior warden; Leon Rose, junior warden; B. G. Campbell treasurer; Frank C. Spruill secretary; John W. Darden, senior deacon; E. J. Spruill, junior deacon; David Hurley, tyler; Sam Garrett and Clyde Hassell, stewards. -® Parent-Teacher Meet at Roper —<*,— Roper.—All parents are urged to relize the importance of attending the regular parent-teacher meetings. Mrs. C. L. Walker extends an urgent appeal for a large representation at the meeting next Tuesday evening. County Veterans To Receive 127,818 When Bonus Paid Passage of the bonus bill by the United States Congress at this ses sion would mean that close to 200 veterans of the World War in Wash ington County would be paid $127, 818.65, making an average of $634 for each former service man in the county. But the average does not fully give the story, as some have never received their first half of the Ad justed Service Certificates and would WARNS AGAINST ALLOWING STOCK TO RUN AT LARGE -♦ Hogs Are Menace to Life And Property, on Roads Of County -® Hogs roaming unfenced fields in search of peanuts and food drift in to the highways and public roads in this section, and are causing a men ace to the life, limb, and property of autoists. J. C. Gardner, of Tarboro, district highway engineer, who has traveled in Washington and surrounding counties, is urging people to keep their livestock in enclosures, prevent ing them from going on to the high ways. Sometimes other livestock is seen on the highways, but in this section the most dangerous to autoists and the most frequently seen on the pub lic. roads are hogs that have been turned loose to find feed as they roam. The laws are very strict on this matter, and should the owners be called into court they will find that in addition to it being danger ous, it will be expensive to them as well, for letting their livestock run at large. Take Applications For Crop Loans —®— Applications will be accepted for leans from the Washington Produc tion Credit Association, beginning next week, Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each week, as an em ployee will be in the office of S. A. Ward, jr., in Plymouth, for this pur pose. Farmers are urged by the organi zation to make applications for their loans early, but they need not secure the money until they need it. By ap plying early the money will be avail able when it is needed by the farm er. It will cost no more to apply early as interest is only charged on the money what time the farmer ac tually has it. The Washington Association made 641 loans for $217,459 last year. Offi cers of this association for the new year are as follows: J. B. Patrick, president; j'. W. Starr, Creswell, vice president; H. H. Cowen, L. N. Dav enport and J. W. Jarvis to complete board of directors. J. Stuart Windt Gets Promotion —®— J. Stuart Windt, formerly office supervisor of the local plant of the National Handle Company, has been named manager of another unit ac quired by his firm in Macon, Ga. The new unit is some smaller than the local plant and was formerly known as the Standard Tool and Handle Company, but from now on will be designated as the Standard Handle Works of the National Han dle Company. Both Mr. and Mrs. Windt are prominent here in society and many regret that they will move from here in the next few days, but it is agreed that promotion has come to a de serving young man. Will Hold Leaders* School Here 22nd —®— Miss Sallie Brooks, assistant nu tritional specialist, from the State Extension Department, will conduct a leaders’ school in Plymouth Wed nesday morning, January 22, at 10. The meeting to be held in the agent’s office. Please bring lunch, as the meeting will last until the after noon. We are looking forward toward this meeting, as Miss Brooks has a thorough knowledge of food and will present to us interesting informa tion. Every one is invited to attend this meeting, even if you are not a food leader. draw all of their money at one time. For example, one person here would be paid $1,005, while others might run slightly lower than half of the average per veteran. Those favoring the bill argue that payment of the bonus will discharge and retire a debt already acknowl edged by Congress. It is also point ed out that distribution of this huge sum, which includes $34,622,162.80 to North Carolina veterans, would hast en recovery. Farm ]\otes By W. V. HAYS, County Agent No official information has been received from Washington or Ra leigh as yet as to what farmers may expect in the way of a control pro gram. We are assured of a control program of some form. We hope this will be active and effective for the 1936 crop year. I would sug gest that the farmers having con tracts last year prepare to plant a bout the same acreages as were plant ed under contracts this past year. There are movements on foot among the tobacco growers, as well as cot ton growers, to continue this pro gram, if necessary, in a voluntary way through 1936, or until there should be a governmetal program available. Cleaning tobacco seed removes faulty seed, foreign matter and the weaker seed. Farmers cleaning their tobacco seed should have a more uniform stand of young plants with sufficient vitality to grow well and should be more immune to blue mold. Seed can also be treated to prevent any of the seed-born dis eases, such as wild fire and a num ber of various root diseases common in Washington County. Every farm er is urged to bring his seed to the county office for cleaning and treat ing. This is the month for setting out fruit trees and vines, for pruning and cleaning up the orchard. Sjfray cal endars and other useful bulletins can be secured at the county office for those interested. Other timely in formation and bulletins on hand at the county office are meat killing and curing, poultry house and equip ment plan, brick brooders, fertilizer recommendations, etc. A number of tobacco growers have not returned their tobacco sales cards to the county offices. The con tract is not complete until this is filed, regardless of v^hether parity payment is expected. These market ing cards are necessary to complete the report on the contract. It is nec essary to have all the information possible handling the new program which is now being considered. -$ Program of Songs at Methodist Church —•— The Plymouth Methodist church lias ordered a supply of the new Methodist Hymnals, which has been gotten out by a joint commission rep resenting the M. E. Church, the M. L. Church, South, and the Methodist Protestant church and expect to have them for the services next Sun day. At the evening service there will be no sermon, but the service will be given over to the singing of the grand old hymns of the church. Every member of the Methodist Church is urged to attend both serv ices and a most cordial invitation is extended everybody in Plymouth to ccme to the Methodist church and worship. The choir of the Metho dist church is making special prep aration. Roper Boys-Girls Defeat Columbia —*— Roper.—Last Friday night, Roper boys and girls came away from Co lumbia with the long end of the score. Roper boys won, 10 to 7; the girls’ score was 20 to 29, in favor of Roper. The Roper boys played a very good defensive game, holding Colum bia to 7 points. All the boys played a good game, but Grayson Everett chalked up the most points. The leading scorers for the girls were Ida Spruill and Blanche Furlough, with Carolyn Spruill playing a good de fensive game as guard. The Roper teams will meet Bath High School from Beaufort County on the Roper court Friday night, January 17. TWOCOUNTYMEN DIE IN EXPLOSION OF OIL T AN KER William and Deward Leary. Brothers, Die in New Jersey Accident -s Funeral services were held at the home here of Mrs. Griffin Norman Sunday afternoon for William and Deward Leary, brothers and natives of Washington County, who were killed in an explosion of an oil tank er several days ago in Pemberton, N. J. Rev. Gilbert Davis and Rev. N. A. Taylor, both Christian ministers, of ficiated at the double funeral. Both are middle-aged men. William’s home was in Philadelphia, while De ward’s home was in Portsmouth. Both were employed by a transpor tation corporation that specialized in towing barges and tanks. .Both ol the men were aboard the tanker while it was anchored to a wharf, and when fire was discovered on board it was released to prevent the spread of the fire to the land ing place. Both were burned to death in the explosion that followed from the intense heat and the tow ering blazes. William is survived by a widow and four children; twins born a month ago, and one of the other two in a hospital. Deward leaves a wid ow and three sons, one of them in the hospital with pneumonia. Eigh teen months ago a son of William’s was drowned in a river near their home and the body brought here for burial. Deward was buried at the Askew place on the Long Acre road, while the interment of Williams took place i nthe Holly Neck Christian church cemetery. William left here years ago while Deward has been gone only two years. Both are connect ed with well-known and well-liked families in this county. Active pall bearers were as fol lows: For Deward: John, Joe, Frank and George Askew, Harry Stell and P. W .Brown; for William: J. B. Mc Nair, W. E. Weede, J. W. Darden, Cleve Cratch, Harry Stell and P. W Brown. Honorary pall bearers for both fol low: Leonard Ayers, Allen Peed, Sam Garett, Waren Ayers, Jesse Bowen, Alfred Arnold. Bert Bishop, John West, Jim Swain, Herman Hooker, Fenton Reid, Albert Alex ander, Sheriff J. K. Reid, Dan Bas smger, G. K Harris, Bob Bateman, ^ D. Bassinger, Stark Bowen, Ken neth Allen. Local Christian Church Program o -« The local Christian church a few months ago decided on a three-year term of electing elders and deacons. This plan is so arranged that each year one-third of the board mem bers’ terms expire and each year hereafter the church will elect from the members some one to fill the vacancy. Last Sunday, January 12, the church appointed their elders and deacons to serve for the following terms: For elders serving until 1939 are P. D. Allen and W. C. Chesson; elders serving until 1938, W. L. Whit le> and E. H. Liverman: elders serv ing until 1937 are J. W. Darden and M. G. Darden. For deacons serving .intil 1939: G. W. Bowen, Goldie Simpson, A. T. Darden and P. H. Darden. Deacons serving until 1938 are: J. R. Knowles, J. W. Jackson, V. W. Browning, and S. D. Davis. Deacons serving until 1937 are: Ar chie Modlin. Hubert Allen, Claire Wilson, and Roy W. Swain. A very impressive service is being prepared to be held next Sunday, January 18, at 7:30 p. m. At this time all officers who have not been ordained will be, and all officers will be- installed, he public is cordially invited. Regular Services At Saint Delight —*— Regular services at St. Delight on third Sunday, January 19. and on through the >;ear. Bible school. 10 a. m. Preaching, 11 a. m. and again at 7 p. m. Morning subject, “Tilings New.” Evening, “The Sin of Be lieving a Lie.” It is also “Dollar Day.’’ Every member will bring his or her dollar as a special gift to the Lord. This money will be used for the work in general. There will be a congrega tional meeting in the afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. The roll will be called, and every member is expected to ba present. The public is invited to all of our services this year.—M L. Am brose, minister.