Advertisers will find Beacon
and News columns a latchkey to
1200 Washington County homes.
The Roanoke Beacon
♦ * * * * * * and Washington County News ★★★★★★★
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, January 21 ,192(1
A home newspaper dedicated
to the service of Washington
County and its 12,000 people.
VOLUME XLIX—NUMBER 3
ESTABLISHED 1889
Verdict of $7,500 Is
Given by Jury in Suit
Over Auto Accident
—$—
William A. Jackson Winner
In Action Against Beaufort
Bottling Works
-I
A verdict was returned in Wash
ington County Superior Court here
late Wednesday giving William A.
Jackson a total of $7,500 in damages
from the Beaufort Bottlng Works,
of Washington, as the result of in
juries sustained by Jackson in an
automobile accident last year.
Attorney John B. Rodman Thurs
day asked Judge Walter L. Bone to
set the verdict aside, and at the time
of going to press the ruling of Judge
Bone on the motion had not been
made.
Jackson lost an arm and suffered
other injuries as the result of the
accident. This verdict is reported by
court attaches to be one of the larg
est ever returned in this county as
the result of a wreck.
Dr. J. M. Phelps was awarded a
fee of $10 as expert witness for his
testimony to the grand jury when
the jurors returned “not a true bill”
on the indictment sought against R.
G. Hutcheson, who was riding in an
automobile when three men were
killed in this county about the first
of December. It is understood that
a relative of one of the victims had
the grand jury review the circum
stances leading up to the triple kill
ing.
The case of Clara Hedgepeth vs.
Home Security Life Insurance Co.
was settled by consent for $149.76.
The court held that Cleveland
Cratch was “holding over after his
term had expired” on the premises
of W. W. Ange, jr. The controversy
was over the L. T. Weede house on
Jefferson Street. Ange contended that
he was renting the house from the
owner and had ordered Cratch to va
cate his part of the house. Cratch
remained on the premises, claiming
that he was an equal renter from the
owner with Mr. Ange. Cratch was
ordered by the court to vacate the
premises at once in favor of Ange.
Two divorces were granted: Virgie
Hooker Thompson from Lloyd C.
Thompson and Elwood Davenport
from Pauline Davenport.
No Arrests Yet for
Old License Users
Twenty days on the highways look
ing for drivers without their 1938 li
cense plates have failed to reveal
a single person violating the law in
this respect, according to Patrolman
Tom Brown.
"Looks like the people have begun
to understand that they must have
these tags and are getting them be
fore the time limit expires,” says the
patrolman.
He has been "bearing down” on
those who have faulty brakes, defect
ive lights and drivers who pass school
buses while they are loading or un
loading children.
Strict enforcement of these laws
are needed for the public’s protec
tion, according to the officer.
Seek Richmond Cedar
WorksReorganization
Action Woukl Mean
Payment of $6,400
In Taxes To County
Firm Still Owns Considerable
Forest Land on Which
Taxes Not Paid
-e>
Washington County stands to col
lect about $6,526.49 in back taxes if
the petition filed in the United States
District Court in Richmond, Va., re
cently asking for a reorganization un
der the bankruptcy act of the Rich
mond Cedar Works is allowed. This
amount represents an accumulation
of taxes over a period of five years on
forest land owned by the company
in this county.
The petition sets out that the com
pany, which lias extensive holdings
in Washington County, and which is
now operating under a receivership
set up in 1932, must be organized un
less it is to be liquidated at consid
erable sacrifice of property values.
The petitioners claim that the com
pany is unable to meet all its obli
gations, that it has defaulted on bond
interest and principal, and also is
deficient on taxes.
It is set forth that $2,600,111.09 is
due and payable on principal and in
terest on bonds of the concern, thru
a decree on October 19, 1936, of the
United States Court of the Eastern
District.
The petitioners propose that the
cash in the hands of the trustees of
Holly Neck Man
Passes Monday
—®—
Funeral services were held Tues
day for Winnie Phelps, 68, well known
native of Washington County and
resident of the Holly Neck section,
who died at the home of his daugh
ter, Mrs. Tom Basnight, early Mon
day morning.
Mr. Phelps had been in ill health
for several years but was able to get
around. He was taken desperately ill
at the home of his daughter while
visiting there.
Burial took place in the family
cemetery, with the Rev. Dave Arnold,
pastor of the Holly Neck Christian
church, of which Mr. Phelps was a
member, officiating.
Surviving Mr. Phelps is a widow,
one daughter, Mrs. Tom Basnight,
and one brother, Dock Phelps, all
of Holly Neck.
the company’s mortgage, the Chase
National Bank of New York, amount
ing to $441,941.93, be used to put
through the reorganization plan.
The cash which the receivers have
on hand, plus the cash from the trus
tees, should be sufficient to pay
taxes, priority claims, other expenses
of reorganization and leave ample
working capital for the reorganized
company, according to the petition
ers.
A committee representing bond
holders and those who own promis
sory notes is recognized as the pe
titioners.
Class To Sell Rat Poison
To Buy Shop Equipment
Faced with a new workshop with
insufficient equipment the boys of
the vocational agriculture class of the
Plymouth High School are going to
undertake the sale of rat poison in
order to make money enough to
bring the shop up to standard, ac
cording to Instructor W. D. Starr
This poison is recommended by De
partment of Agriculture authorities
and sells at 50 cents a package. Each
package contains three kinds of bait
with which the poison has been al
ready mixed. The preparation causes
the rats to die of dilation of the heart
and usually under outbuildings,
Trying to Get Edward
O’Neal to Speak Here
I HEALTH ASSISTANT I
Dr. S. V. Lewis district health
officer today stated that he had
secured Dr. Nathan P. Fitts as
assistant health officer, to be lo
cated in Swan Quarter.
Dr. Fitts is a graduate of the
Medical College of Virginia, serv
ed his interneship at the hospi
tal division of the Medical Col
lege, served three years in the
Eastern State Hospital at Wil
liamsburg, Va., and did general
practice two and a half years in
Strasburg, Va.
Dr. Fitts is a native of North
Carolina and comes to the de
partment well recommended. He
recently completed the course in
public health at the University of
North Carolina.
County Acreage in
May Peas Will Be
Smaller This Year
Less Than 40 Per Cent of
Seed Used Last Year
Will Be Planted
Less than 40 per cent of the num
ber of bags of May peas planted last
year will be planted in Washington
County this season, according to W.
Tom Freeman, who has traveled ex
tensively over the county recently ob
serving farm conditions.
So far about 125 bags have been
secured to be used for planting pur
poses. Last year there were about
500 bags sold in the county. Each
bag will plant about an acre and a
quarter.
The small acreage to be planted
this year is forecast on account of the
ruinous prices they brought last sea
son, at one time going for $1.25 a
basket delivered in New York.
E. S. Blount, Plymouth, has a num
ber of bags for sale, and the follow
ing will either plant or sell the num
ber bags opposite their names: J. E.
Phelps, Roper, 60; W. T. Freeman,
25; E. G. Arps, 20; R. W. Johnston
10.
President of Farm
Bureau May Talk
At Meeting Friday
E. F. Arnold, State Secretary,
Will Speak; Farmers Are
Urged To Attend
'-®
If present plans work out, the prin
cipal speaker for the monthly meet
ing of the Washington County Farm
Bureau, to be held in the agricul
ture building here Friday night, will
be Edward A. O'Neal, of Washing
ton, D. C., president of the American
Farm Bureau.
Farm Agent W. V. Hays and W,
Dewey Phelps, county bureau presi
dent, learned that Mr. O'Neal will
be in Windsor Thursday atfernoon of
this week, and they are trying to
prevail upon him to come here and
talk to county Farmers at the meet
ing Friday night.
If they are successful, farmers here
can hear at first hand from the head
of the leading farm organization in
the nation what is being done in
their behalf in Washington, and will
hear a comprehensive outline of
present farm prospects.
At the time of going to press, no
definite word as to Mr. O'Neal’s ac
ceptance or rejection of the invita
tion had been received.
Definitely on the program for the
meeting Friday night will be E. F.
Arnold, of Raleigh, secretary of the
North Carolina Farm Bureau, who
will present farm matters from a
state standpoint, and outline the ob
jectives of the organization.
President Phelps urges all farmers
to attend, as Mr. Hays will be pres
ent to give information to those who
wish advice on planting their crops
this year in cooperation with the
new farm program.
Indications now are that a large
number of farmers, members and
non-members of the bureau, will at
tend the meeting here Friday night.
65 Attend Supper
Staged Thursday
By Local Groups
■ ♦
Only Five From Out of Coun
ty at Lions Club-Merchants
Association Affair
Although there were only 5 out-of
county present, the supper given by
the Lions Club and the Merchants
Association last Thureday was said
by officials to have been a success,
as there were about 65 present.
There was no set program or prin
cipal speaker, but Judge W. L. Bone,
of Nashville, was present and was re
cognized by President T. L. Bray, of
the Lions, rnd President L, S. Thomp
son, of the Merchants Association who
presided jointly.
Attorney W. L. Whitley introduced
the visitors, including H. T. Daven
port, Tyrrell county commissioner;
C. W. Tatem, president of the Sou
thern Albemarle Association; C. Earl
Cahoon, member of the Tyrrell Coun
ty Board of Education; and Joe Ca
hoon.
Included on the program were
short talks by Z, V. Norman and C.
L. Bailey, attorneys; and T. C. Bur
gess, secretary and treasurer of the
merchants’ association, who made a
report of the activities of the organi
zation since it was organized about
six months ago.
Gilmer Ayers Opens Market
In Store of ./. R. Campbell
Gilmer Ayers, for years connected
with grocery stores and markets in
Plymouth, this week opened a mar
ket and delicatessen in J. R. Camp
bell’s store, where he will be glad
to serve his friends and customers.
Mr. Ayers succeeds J. H. Jackson
as market operator in Campbell’s
store. Mr. Jackson has moved far
ther down the street.
where the odor will not be unduly
offensive, it was said.
Orders may be given to Mr. Starr
or to the students. If desired, the
members of the class will distribute
the poison about the premises of the
purchaser. Ridding the premises of
the rodents will effect a sizeable sav
ing in the property arid, products
they atherwise destroy. It was point
ed out that the preparation was not
harmful to chickens, dogs, cats, or
other animals.
Orders should be given immediate
ly, and no orders will be received
after Friday, January 28.
Number Workmen
Laid OB as Plants
Curtail Operations
Unemployment Increasing as
Industries Begin To Feel
Effects of Recession
Several of the industries in the
Plymouth area are operating at pres
ent with a reduced number of em
ployees as a result of the recession
in business, which has brought about
a curtailment in the number of or
ders.
The North Carolina Pulp Company
has had to lay off 125 or more men
within the last several days in an
effort to curtail operating expenses
at the local plant. It is thought that
some of them will be called back to
their jobs as pro/duction increases,
but it was indicated that many of
them were not expected to be recalled
any time within the near future. It
is understood that about 350 are now
employed at the plant.
Last year at this time there were
400 men employed at the Plymouth
Box & Panel Company. This week
it is operating on a reduced sched
ule with only about 250 working
there daily.
The local unit of the American
Pork & Hoe Company continues with
the usual 40, not including the of
fice and woods force. Any reduction
that has been made in this plant has
been in the woods department.
There were reports last week that
this plant might be closed and the
work done in other plants of the cor
poration. A representative was here,
but so far nothing has been done in
the matter.
The Horton Lumber Company con
tinues operating with their usual
number of men. About 20 are em
ployed there steadily.
Despite existing conditions, it is
generally believed business will begin
to improve shortly and that there
will be a gradual industrial growth
here during the next few years.
Soft and Oily Hogs
Reduce Returns To
Farmers of County
-<$>
Brought 1 1-2 Cents Pound
Less Last Shipment, Says
County Agent Hays
a
“Soft and oily hogs can be avoid
ed,” says Farm Agent W. V. Hays in
reminding producers of the county
that there is a heavy penalty on this
type of hogs and that the buyers al
ways deduct enough to take care of
any losses they may sustain in this
respect.
"AH hogs are sold on a hard basis,
and the farmer selling his hogs guar
antees them to be hard. But in the
last shipment of three cars there were
40 oily hogs in the lot. Oily hogs
are now bringing 1 1-2 cents less than
god hogs, and soft hogs bring 75
cents under good hogs.
“The highest bidder always gets the
hogs, and they are shipped to him.
The association draws a draft for the
amount billed, less 2 cents per pound.
This 2 cents is paid after the hogs
are killed and chilled for a certain
length of time, if they cut hard.
"A few times we have been penal
ized for soft and oily hogs in a ship
ment when there was a question as
to the number of hogs charged to us,
but many times I know of soft hogs
being sold to some packer and no
mention made of this.
"Soft and oily hogs can be avoid
ed. There is a question in my mind
as to whether it would be profitable
or not, since pigs must be taken out
of the soybean fields weighing not
over 100 pounds and fed corn until
they reach a weight of 185 to 200
pounds before we have any assurance
that these pigs will kill hard.
"The price of corn and the cost of
producing corn is the biggest factor
in profitable pork production. The
man who buys hogs and com to feed
out is a speculator, but more often
than not this same man makes more
profit than the man who grows either
the corn or the hogs.
"With a good system of swine man
agement it is possible to utilize waste
soybeans and peanuts left in the field
and at the same time sell hard hogs.
"Pigs born in August and Septem
ber will have ample time to glean
the fields and be taken out weigh
ing not under 100 pounds about the
first of the year and finished on corn
for selling about the first to the mid
dle of April.
"This plan, if followed, will prove
profitable over any number of years,"
concluded Mr. Hays.
Farmers Using Meat Curing
Service to Good Effect Note
Craven farmers are using the new
meat curing service of the Federat
ed Exchange abattoir at New Bern
to good effect with over 40,000 lbs.
of meat now in cure.
Breach of Promise
Suit Is Voided hv
Wedding Saturday
Mrs. Mae Simmons ami Julius
F. Snell Are Married in
Ceremony Here
The $40,000 breach of promise suit
started about two weeks ago in Tyr
rell County Superior Court by Mrs.
Mae Simmons against Julius F. Snell
was settled by Magistrate John W.
Darden here Saturday night when
the couple was married.
Both parties are prominent in the
Cresweli section of Washington
County, and they came to Plymouth
for the license and. instead of re
turning tc heir community, the wed
ding was held in the register of deeds
office.
Mr. Snell averred that it was al
ways his intention to marry Mrs.
Simmons, but that they had a mis
understanding and Mrs. Simmons
came to Plymouth and secured the
services of Attorney Z. V. Norman in
bringing the suit, probably the first
of its kind in the history of the coun
ty.
It developed in an inquiry as to
the cause of the action that as soon
as the misunderstanding between Mr.
Snell and Mrs. Simmons was cleared
up, they began to go forward im
mediately with plans for the wed
ding.
The marriage here Saturday night
brings to a fulfillment the promise
of Mr. Snell, and the suit, of course,
will be voided.
Mrs. Snell gave her age to the reg
ister of deeds as 45 and Mr. Snell
said his age was 63.
Funeral Services
Held Tuesday for
John D. Phelps, 83
—<$>—
Well-Known Farmer of Roper
Cross Roads Section Died
Sunday Night
-®
Funeral services were held Tues
day afternoon at Saints Delight
Christian church for John D. Phelps,
83, well-known farmer of the Roper
Cross Roads section of Washington
County, who died Sunday night at
10:45.
The Rev. M. L. Ambrose, Chris
tian minister, officiated. Interment
took place in the cemetery adjoin
ing the church. Infirmities of old
age and complications are reported
to have caused his death.
Mr. Phelps first married Miss Molly
Gurkifh, to which union two chil
dren were born. His second marriage
to Miss William Anne Sennett was
solemnized about 52 years ago.
Mr. Phelps was a staunch and con
sistent member of Saints Delight
church and was proud that during
his whole life he had never been a
witness nor had a case in any court.
Surviving are a widow and the fol
lowing children: .Toe Phelps, Hert
ford; John E. Phelps, Roper; V. L.
Phelps, Norfolk- W. W. Phelps, M.
S. Phelps, Mrs. W. A. Everett, Mack
eys; Miss Martha E. and Noah D.
Phelps, who lived with their par
ents.
-®
P. M. Arps Wins Trip To
New York by Ticket Sales
-«—
Sales of tickets at the local bus
station showed the greatest increase
in percentage of receipts of any oth
er station operated by the Norfolk
Southern Bus Corporation during the
year 1937, and as a result, Mr. and
Mrs. P. M. Arps will make a flve-day
trip to New York at the expense of
the company. The company will pay
for all traveling and other expenses
while in New York.
Mr. Arps said today that he was
not sure when he would avail him
self of the opportunity but appre
ciated the fact that this station had
made such a showing.
Important Leaders' School
To Be Held Here Friday
-®
By Frances M. Darden
All of the house furnishings lead
ers are urged to attend the first lead
ers' school held this year, Friday,
January 21, at 1:30 p. m.
The major project studied this year
by the home demonstration clubs is
house furnishings. Different phases
of the work will be studied each
month. Three leaders’ schools will
be held by the specialists from Ra
ieigh, and it is important that the
leaders attend each of the meetings.
Miss Mamie Whisnant will have
charge of the demonstration given
Friday. 21st, in the agriculture build
ing. The club women are very much
interested in the new' project this
year and all are invited to attend.
Tobacco growers in southeastern
North Carolina have begun the pre
paration of their plant beds and
will go the limit in acreage, report
county agents.
Bleaching Unit at Pulp
Plant Here Considered
r
400 ACRKS CUCUMBERS j
Contracts have been signed for
the 400 acres of cucumbers that
have been allotted for the Plym
out plant this season, according
to P. H. Roberts, jr., manager of
the local unit of the C. C. Lang
Company.
However, Mr. Roberts explain
ed that a request for an extend
ed allotment had been made to
headquarters, and that if there
were a few more who wanted
contracts to plant, they should
see him at once.
Prominent Creswell
Man Died Sunday
After Brief Illness
-®
Adasco Sexton Holmes, 39,
Victim of Pneumonia;
Funeral Monday
Funeral services were held. Mon
day afternoon for Adasco Sexton
Holmes, 39, well-known Creswell cit
izen, who died Sunday morning at
his home after an illness of only five
days. Pneumonia was given as the
cause of his death.
The last rites were held in Christ
Episcopal Church, with the Rev. John
W. Hardy, rector, officiating assist
ed by the Rev. L. B. Bennett, of the
Christian church.
Interment took place in St. David’s
cemetery near Creswell. A large flor
al offering evidenced the esteem in
which the deceased was held by those
who knew him.
A life-long resident of Creswell, Mr.
Holmes graduated from the Creswell
High School and attended State Col
lege. For some years he was asso
ciated with his father, T. C. Holmes
in the operation of a lumber mill,
several farms and a mercantile bus
iness.
At the time of his death he was a
member of the Town Board of Aider
men at Creswell and a vestryman of
St. David's Episcopal church near
Creswell.
Surviving is a widow, Mrs. Jose
phine Evans Holmes; his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. T. C. Holmes, all of Cres
well; and one sister, Mrs. Benjamin
Brock, of Stoneville.
Among those from out of town at
tending the funeral were Mr. and
Mrs. E. B. McIntyre, Washington, D.
C.; W. E. Evans, Baltimore; Mrs. L.
C. Moltz, Columbia, S. C.; Mrs. J. D.
Wodley, Tarboro; Mrs. Raymond Wil
son and son and Mr. and Mrs. H. N.
Wilson, Wilsons Mills; Mrs. H. H.
Phelps, John Phelps, Mrs. H. B.
Byrd, Raleigh; Mr. and Mrs. H. A.
Litchfield, Emporia, Va.; Mr. and
Mrs. R. G. Vann, Benson; Mrs. Ro
land Cooper, Wilmington; Mr. and
Mrs. J. W. Sexton and family. Win
ton; J. A. Sexton, Norfolk; Mr. and
Mis. J. H. Holmes and daughter,
Eden ton; Mrs. T. M. L. Brock and
Miss Ikie Brock, Richlands; Mrs.
John Jacobs, Tarboro.
Paving of Turnpike to
Pantego Being Sought
Young Man Injured
Saturday in Wreck
—®—
Wilbur Blount, son of Mr. and
Mrs. W. E. Blount, of Roper, sus
tained an injured shoulder and his
car was badly damaged Saturday
morning when he crashed into a
steel cable supporting a power line
post.
The machine was making a curve
when a tire blew out, causing him to
lose control of the vehicle. It left
the road, crashed into the cable and
hen into a post, throwing him
against the steering wheel and in
strument panel.
It was first thought that he had
been seriously injured.
-®
Program of Services at
Local Methodist Church
The pastor, Rev. C. T. Thrift, will
preach at 11 o’clock on "This Thing
Called Sin.” At 7:30 p. m., he will
have as his subject, "Looking for
Jesus.
At 6:30 p. rrf., there will be a serv
ice for young people from 10 to 18
years of age. All the young people
of the town are invited to come to
this service. Plans will be discussed
concerning a worship service by
young people for young people. The
program will last until 7:45.
At 3 o'clock Mr. Thrift will preach
at Chapel Hill schoolhouse.
Meeting Is Held at
Wenona Thursday
To Diseuss Matter
—$—
County, Town and State High
way Commission Officials
Attend Meeting
Officials of counties, towns and the
State Highway Commission gathered
at the Blackland Experiment Sta
tion in Wenona Thursday to discuss
ways and means oi securing the sur
facing of Turnpike Road, from High
way 97 to Pantego.
A highway engineer was expected
to be present, as well as a member
from the boards of commissioners of
Washington, Tyrrell and Beaufort
Counties, Mayor B. G. Campbell, of
Plymouth, and Mayor Hines, of Bel
haven.
utner representative citizens, in
cluding John W. Darden, were ex
pected to attend. J. L. Rea, jr„ as
sistant manager in charge of the
test farm, was to serve as host for
the group.
The meeting was scheduled for 11
o'clock Thursday. Rain had caused
the roads to be muddy and slippery,
and it was not learned what action
was taken.
The paving of the Turnpike Road
is being urged in connection with the
surfacing of Highway 97, at present
underway. The road would link
Plymouth with Wenona, Pantego and
Belhaven.
Officials Refuse To
Confirm Rumors of
Action This Week
Official Statement May Be
Made Later; Would Aid
Local Unemployed
Unofficial reports are circulating
here to the effect that executives of
the Kieckhefer Container Company
and the James Stewart Company
were to confer here this week on the
proposed construction of a bleach
ing plant for the North Carolina
Pulp Company. Officials of both the
concerns involved refused to make
any announcement as to their plans
in this connection.
It is understood the meeting was
first called for early in the month,
but postponed until Tuesday of this
week. Whether or not the meeting
was held could not be authoritatively
learned.
It has been said that the proposed
new building would cost in the neigh
borhood of $300,000, and that Paul
Kiser, who succeeded W. J. Meyer as
head of the James Stewart Company
forces here, would be in charge of the
construction work.
O. H. Cox, new manager of the lo
cal pulp plant, would not disclose any
information about the matter, but
did imply that there would probably
be an official statement later.
It is pointed out that if such a
unit should be built here, it would
add to the number of employees
needed to operate the plant, as well
as give jobs to many in the con
struction work.
Prom time to time it has been re
ported that if the addition to the
plant was decided upon, more houses
woujd be built in the village near
here.
W. L. Inskeep, who was with the
James Stewart Company and in
charge of the housing project, is ex
pected back from his wedding trip in
February, and it is believed that when
he returns work will either start on
the addition to the plant or on the
building of more houses in the vil
lage.
Local Scouts Plan
Court of Honor
Five members of the Plymouth
Boy Scout troop will be elevated to
the rank of star scouts at a court of
honor to be held within the next
week or two. The boys have already
completed their tests and are entitled
to the honor.
At present there are 23 scouts en
rolled in the local troop, with about
18 active, and from this latter group
will be taken those who deserve their
merit badges. Six scouts do not have
uniforms.
Scoutmaster N. A. Taylor and As
sistant Scoutmaster Albion Papineau
attended a meeting of the Eastern
Carolina Council held in Washing
ton, N. C„ Thursday.