North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon jf * jf * ^ if. + AND WASHINGTON 0OUNTY NEWS ★★★★★★★ Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, February 10, 1939 A home newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington County and Its 12.W# people. VOLUME L—NUMBER 6 ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics Otis Davis’s 1937 Ford V-8 coupe was hauled into a local garage Sun day afternoon after it had been badly damaged by fire on the Turn pike toad about 5:30. No one was injured. Mr. Davis said the spout of the gas tank was lost and that gasoline splashed out of the tank at the rear and became ignited. A. L. Owens, prominent farmer and former merchant here, left Sun day with Mrs. Owens for Hot Springs, Ark., where he will spend about six weeks taking treatment for rheumatic troubles, which have constantly both ered him for the past two or three years. Neil Hester, telegraph editor of the News and Observer for 19 years, was frequently applauded by those attending the Lions Club banquet at the Country Club last Thursday night, when he read, in an impersonation of Governor Clyde R. Hoey, a humorous and satirical edition of the speech that Governor Hoey is to deliver when Elmer F. Andrews, nation al wage and hour law adminis trator, visits Raleigh Friday. L. J. Meunier, sr„ vice president of the Kieckhefer Container Corpora tion, with headquarters in Delair, N. J., is here for a few days on business at the North Carolina Pulp Company and is staying at the Plymouth Country Club. M. E. Welty, a service man con nected with the balloon squadron in the communications division at Pope Field at Fort Bragg, near Fayette ville, was here this week seeking to trace a car which was sold for stor age when he left it in an alley here for several months and Patrolman Tom Brown failed to get in touch with him through relatives. There are two flues in the gym of the Plymouth High School here now as the result of the gen rosity of three w. n. W. H. Clark contributed the L ick, H. H. Mc Lean some of the money, and Chief of Police P. W. Brown ar ranged to get the $40 needed for the extra flue. This will make possible a much more comfort able building for those attend ing athletic events there. Mr. Gaskins, president of the Washington Lions Club, and Mrs. Gaskins expressed their agreeable surprise at finding such a large and handsome country club building here, where they attended the banquet of the Lions Club last Thursday night. A veteran of the World War him self, City Clerk M. W. Spruill has beiicr that there should be fc.-chil the ninth continue until they school. «s> $319,771 Loaned by Credit Association —s Creswell.—The Washington Pro duction Credit Association has made loans totalling $319,771, the members now own capital stock amounting to $19,315, and the association has built up a reserve of $10,783, it was learned this week from Hoyt R. Davenport, a member of the board of directors representing Washington County. The farmers’ cooperative short term credit association serves Beau fort, Martin, Washington, Tyrrell and Hyde Counties, with headquarters in Washington, N. C„ and during cer tain seasons representatives come to Plymouth to work with clients. J. B. Patrick, of Beaufort, is pres ident and E. L. Greene, of Washing ton, N. C., is secretary, treasurer and manager. Net earnnigs for the or ganization last year were $2,865.64. A number of farmers in this coun ty have been served by this organi sation each year, and it is expected that there will be a heavy demand for credit made on the association by county farmers during 1939. -» Former Resident Wins Auto in Prise Contest -• Mrs. C. W. Tyree, of Raleigh, for merly Miss Athalia Gardner, of Plym outh, and sister to Misses Mary and Olga Gardner here, was notified Mon day night that she was the winner of a 1939 Chevrolet Master town se dan in a cigar contest. Over a period of years, Mrs. Tyree has won a number of prizes in var ious contests, but the car she won this week is by far the largest and most valuable prize she ever won. Christian Ministers Attend Retreat Near Washington ——® Christian ministers in Washington County, including the Rev. N. A. Taylor, Plymouth; Rev. M. L. Am brose, Roper; and Rev. L. B. Bennett, of Creswell, were invited to attend the ministers’ retreat at Bayview, near Washington, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Ministers from the county who at tended were among about 75 others from various churches in the state, who gathered there for the annuel discussion of church matters. •-« Rev. P. B. Nickens To Preach At Chapel Hill Schoolhouse The Rev. P. B. Nickens, pastor of the Plymouth Baptist church, will preach Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock In the Chapel Hill schoolhouse. Those residing in that section are urged to pttend. May Work Out Plan To Pay Firemen for Services Mayor B. G. Campbell and Clerk M. W. Spruill were asked by the Town Council, in session here Mon day night, to determine whether or not the firemen and fire equipment were covered by insuranc when an swering calls outside of the town lim its. Whether the firemen and equip ment are covered by insurance or not, Chief L. W. Gurkin and his vol unteers crew of "smoke eaters” stand ready to answer the alarm no mat ter in what vicinity of Plymouth the call may come from, according to the fire chief. The councilmen also asked Chief of Police P. W. Brown and Fire Chief L. W. Gurkin to work out some plan for compensation for firemen who at tend fires. At the present time they get only their town poll tax exemp tion for their services. City Attorney Z. V. Norman and Chief P. W. Brown were asked to find a purchaser for the vacant lots on Jefferson Street, owned by Mrs. Grif fin Norman, on which about $900 in tax assessments are due the town. Very little else was done by the councilmen, although they discussed the advisability of seeking legislation to increase the town limits so as to take in territory that is enjoying the benefits of the town’s official services without paying any taxes for them. Permit Nets Between Two Sound Bridges MEANEST PERSON 1 The full wrath of John Swin son, oil distributor, and Albert Broughton, filling station oper ator, is upon the “low-down, white-livered’’ sneak thief who made away with a “March of Dimes” coin can, which was placed on their counter to re ceive contributions for the pre vention and treatment of infan tile paralysis in connection with the recent campaign headed by President Roosevelt. It was not the amount of mon ey—estimated at probably 80 cents—that counted so much, ac cording to Mr. Swinson, but the absolute lack of principle or spark of human sympathy on the part of a thief who would steal pennies collected to relieve the suffering of innocent children whose bodies are distorted by the dread disease. It will probably be just as well if Messrs. Swinson and Brough ton never run across this partic ular thief. County Land Owned Bv Richmond Firm IriVdlvert m Transfer —®— Conveyance Involving Nearly $2,000,000 in Mortgage Bonds Recorded -$ Under the terms of a plan of re organization approved by the East ern District Federal Court of Vir ginia, the Chase National Bank of New York, as successor trustee to the Equitable Insurance Company, has conveyed to the Richmond Cedar Works old mortgage bonds of $1,915, 900 on certain lands in Washington and other counties in North Carolina and Virginia, according to records in the office of Mrs. Mary S. Cahoon, register of deeds. The conveyance was made by the bank to secure an issue of first mort gage 6V2 per cent sinking fund bonds issued by the Richmond Cedar Works in order to take care of indebtedness and to provide additional capital for the operation of its plants, head quarters for which are located in Richmond. The Richmond Cedar Works was reorganized on March 15, 1938, but the Chase City National Bank be came successor trustee for the Equi table Insurance Company on Janu ary 1, 1925, and evidently the trus tee held bonds which constituted a mortgage against the real estate hold ings of the Richmond firm. The Richmond Cedar Works was once a leading lumber organization in this section. It now has a small sawmill over in Hyde County close to the Tyrrell line and owns hundreds of acres of woodland in Washington County. Missionary Society To Serve Supper Saturday -*> The Woman’s Missionary Society of the Christian Church will serve a supper Saturday night in the church annex from 5 to 8 o’clock. -31 Valentine Dance Friday Night at Country Club -s A Valentine dance will be held at the Plymouth Country Club Friday night, according to an announcement by Dr. A. Papineau, chairman of the ente? tainment committee, who said that although this is a costume dance, it is optional with the members as to whether they wish to attend in costume or not. -9 H. H. McLean To Head C. M. T. C. Campaign » Notice has been received by H. H. McLean, superintendent of public in struction. ox his appointment as county representative of the Civilian Military Training Camps campaign, which begins March 15. “Just as son as J. receive the liter ature, I will give you more informa tion about the camps,” Mr. McLean said. _ Ruling Against Nets In Area Revoked by Conservation Board -- Fishermen’s Claims of Dis crimination in Favor of Croatan Sound Upheld -® Gill net fishermen have been grant ed permission by the State Board of Conservation and Development to place their nets in the Albemarle Sound between the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge and the new vehicular span, it was learned today from W. R. Hampton, a member of the state board. Having been advised by experts that the area between the two bridges was local spawning grounds for shad, the Board of Conservation and De velopment made a ruling about 18 months ago prohibiting fishing in that particular part of the sound on the theory that protection of the spawning grounds would eventually mean an increase in the shad supply. However the ruling was temporar ily revoked last season by the board because of the protests of fishermen who had considerable sums of money invested in nets, and the area was heavily fished. This year many of the fishermen purchased additional nets, claiming that it is no more harmful to the supply to catch fish after they reach the spawning area than it is before the fish reach it. They argued that if the ruling was to be made indicriminatory, it should also be applied to Croatan Sound, where most of the shad are caught, Some of the fishermen here in Washington County are still claiming that various types of wood mills on the Roanoke River have polluted the water to such an extent that shad no longer spawn in the south area between the bridges.' A thorough study of the situation as it relates to claims of pollution by wood waste is now underway by officials of the state department as well as the Fed eral Bureau of Fisheries. From the investigation something dependable and tangible will be forthcoming very shortly, according to Mr. Hampton. -* Observe Birthday Scout Movement —•— The Scouts should try to “shine” this week, according to Scoutmaster N. A. Taylor, as on Wednesday the Scout organization celebrated its 29th anniversary. As part of the observance of Boy Scout Week, Z. V. Norman, jr„ and Charlie Bratten have illustrations of the Scout law drawn on posters that are being displayed in the windows of business houses here. Troop No. 84 attended the Christ ian Church service Sunday in a body, and the pastor, Scoutmaster Taylor preached on "A Boy Spread a Ban quet,” using as his theme: “There is a lad here with five loaves and two fishes.” "Ask your Scouts to serve you,” Mr. Taylor said, "and we will be at your command." J. W. Norman Returns From Trip To Furniture Market -# “It seems that they had the pret tiest furniture at the market this year I have ever seen,” said James W. Normna, of the Norman Furniture Company, who spent three days last week attending the annual furniture show in High Point. “Each year you think they have about reached the climax in designs, convenience, and beauty of furniture, but the following year there is ap parently something even better await ing you," according to Mr. Norman. —-® Creswell Parenls-Teachers To Meet Next Wednesday Creswell.—The February meeting of the Creswell Parent-Teacher Associa tion will be held at the M. P. church Wednesday evening, February 15, at 7:30. This meeting has been postponed several times, but it is known now that the meeting will definitely be held on this date, and the patrons of the schools are urged to attend by the P.-T. A. officials. Few Shad Being Caught in Lower Part of County Like other business ventures, fishing is more or less of a gam ble, according to Cody Spruill, fish erman from down the county, who was in Plymouth Monday dispos ing of an early catch of eight shad and one rock, which he took from his nets near Laurael Point light house in Albemarle Sound. The season is a little early yet, and only small catches are being reported, but with operations getting under way on a large scale, there should be plenty of fresh shad and rock on the markets in this section for the next couple of months. Commenting on the uncertainty of fishing, Mr. Spruill said that he had lost many hundreds of dollars worth of nets and other fishing equipment during his many years of fishing in the Albemarle Sound and adjacent waters, due to the se vere storms. Moreover, he says, when a fisherman takes his skiff and starts to his nets, he is never certain that he will return, as the same storms, which spring up sud denly, toss a small boat about se verely, and the Albemarle gets plenty rough at times from the sudden squalls. However, he continues to make the rounds of his nets, sometimes getting a good haul and at others not enough to pay for the trouble of going to them, -a May Have Specialist Test Cattle in County For Bang’s Disease Commissioners Plan Investi gation of Need; Estimated 3,000 Head in County Visited by a delegation of cattle producers requesting that efforts be made to prevent the spread of Bang’s Disease in cattle, the Washington County Commissioners in session Monday decided to investigate the need of Federal specialist to examine the cattle in an effort to prevent the spread of this dread disease as a few cattle are already affected. It is estimated that there are over 3,000 head of cattle in this county, although census figures show only about 1,700, and the cost to the coun ty for a Federal specialist to test all the cattle would be only about $300, accroding to Dr. J. W. Wood, veter inarnian of this section. The salary of the specialist would be paid by the government, but the salary of a man to assist him would have to be borne by the county. Another reason testing and elimi nation of diseased cattle is needed is because there can be little commerce or breeding between cattle in this un tested cattle area and those in sec tions which have tested cattle. -$ 3 Cases in County Court This Week Prayer for judgment was continued in the case of E. Linwood Sawyer, 27, white, in recorder’s court Tuesday, when White was found guilty of abandoning his wife and child and then failing to provide for them. A nol pros with leave was taken in the case of Ben Moore, colored, who was charged with destroying and defacing the house in which he lived and which was owned by J. M. Hor ton. Judgment in the case of Clarence Everett Holly, colored, was Qontinued until February 21. Holley was charg ed with being the father of the ille gitimate child of Martha Chance and then failing to provide for the child. -$ Cresivell Home Economics Department Highly Praised -« Creswell.—Miss Virginia Ward, as sistant state superintendent in the home economics division of the N. C. department of vocational training, in spected the home economics depart ment of the Creswell school recently and was loud in her praise of the work conducted here under the di rection of Miss Virginia Phelps. Miss Ward expressed the opinion that the excellent work being done would be even better when the de partment is moved into the new school building here. Hope to Begin Use of New Creswell School by 22 nd Indications are now that the chil dren down the county may celebrate George Washington’s Birthday in their new $82,000 school building, ac cording to H. H. McLean, county sup erintendent of public instruction, who with three others, was in the Nation's; Capital this week conferring with PWA officials about the delay. As Mr. McLean explained it, every requirement of the PWA has been met, but about $9,800 of the $22,180 grant made toward construction of the new school has been held up, al though correspondence for the release of the funds has been carried on since October. While in Washington, D. C. Mr McLean, C. N, Davenport, jr., chair man of the county board of educa tion; E. J Spruill, county auditor; and former county commissioner Clyde Smithson, conferred with Col. E, W. Clark, assistant administrator, who told them that he thought the matter could be concluded and the money released in about two weeks. Congressman Lindsay Warren helped the school officials to arrange the appointment with the PWA of ficial: and the conference is expect ed to make it possible in a few days for the children to be using their new building. Lions Review Work at Meet Last Thursday Second Anniversary And Ladies’ Night Program Presented —®— District Governor Lano and Raleigh Editor Principal Speakers at Event -® A review of the accomplishments of the club was the subject of the short talk made by District Gover nor Charles A. Lano, of Sanford, and Neil Hester, telegraph editor of the News and Observer, kept the 70 per sons merry with his quips, puns and humorous satire at the second anni versary program of the Lions Club last Thursday night at the Plymouth Country Club. District Governor Lano told the club that through the reports of the secretary he had been in close touch with the local club and had been in formed before the meeting of the long list of club achievements, some of which were cited on the back of the programs. Prominent among the 24 achieve ments listed were Lions welcome signs placed at highway entrances to Plym outh; aid rendered local high school band; girl sent to NYA camp; glasses provided for eight children; organized home building and loan; made dona tions to various local enterprises; made R. H. Lucas hnorary member; sought improved roads to Windsor and Wenona; aided Boy Scouts in making census of the town; met with merchants to provide better trade ar rangements; and so on. Mr. Hester, a past president of the Raleigh Lions Club, was introduced by District Governor Lano when the latter concluded his remarks, and the Raleigh editor then proceeded to “take off’ on Governor Hoey, making in short address in the manner of the state’s chief executive and adding a number of witticisms to keep the din ers in merriment throughout the course of his remarks. In addition to local Lions and their ladies guests included President and Mrs. D. V. Clayton, of the William ston Club, with four others; Presi dent and Mrs. Gaskins, of the Wash ington Club, and two others; Presi dent and Mrs. W. S. Privott and five others, of Edenton; with several guests for the local club. Former Senator Carl L. Bailey was also on the program, and as he was well known by Mr. Hester, the latter made the former state legislator the target of a number of his witticisms. Zeb Vance Norman welcomed the guests, with President W. L. Whitley presiding. R. H. Lucas made the in vocation. -$ /Veit) Beer Parlor and Pool Room To Open Saturday -* Charles Dunn, of Ay den, is open ing a beer parlor and billiard hall on Water Street in the building ad joining the office of W. R. Hampton this week. New equipment is being installed throughout the place. Employed by Mr. Dunn will be Lem Daw, also of Ayden, and the two of them are making every effort to have the place ready for opening by Sat urday. There will be new tables, cues, balls, and new equipment for the sale of beer, cigars, candy, and other merchandise. A $5 cash prize is offered to the person who suggests the best name for the place, in the opinion of the judges. Bears Destroying Farm Property Are Outlawed Under certain conditions, bears have been outlawed in Washington County and may be killed at any sea son by farmers whose livestock or crops are molested by the animals, according to a ruling recently by the State Department of Conservation and Development, made at the re quest of Representative W .M. Dar den. The ruling read that "it shall be lawful for any landowner, lessee, or tenant, for the protection of his crops or livestock, to run, hunt, or take bears at any time of the year in Washington County " It is aIS0 un derstood that representatives of Cur rituck and Brunswick had their coun ties included in the ruling. Mr. Darden explained that the rul ing prevented bear hunting out of season, except where farmers track the bear from their own property or shoot the animal while it is on their own property. The farmers are al lowed to use dogs and guns for this purpose only. The representative said that the ruling was not to be construed to mean that hunting par ties could be organized out of sea son for hunting bears, nor can they be taken with steel traps, as only the box-wood type of traps can be used. The ruling was made by the depart ment purely for the protection of farmers whose property is damaged by bears, ONE FOR RIPLEY / Ben A. Sumner, hat salesman and golfer extraordinary, Wed nesday afternoon collected an oddity that should go down in the books or to Ripley or some thing. Playing the 134-yard par-4 fifth hole at the country club course here, he collected a “birdie,” although he required 5 strokes. The “birdie” was a full grown quail, which got in front of Mr. Sumner's second shot, and Ben had quail on toast for his evening meal as the result. Playing with W. T. Stillman and Don G. Davis, Mr. Sumner hit his second shot with a spoon and noticed that the ball, appar ently headed for the rough near the green, stopped suddenly at the edge of the fairway. The threesome came on up and found the bad with the quail fluttering on the ground near-by with a broken wing. Cost Per Inmate In County Home Here is Below State Average Average Cost Per Month for Each Person Totals Only $14.08 It cost $2.11 less in Washington County to take care of an inmate in the county home a month, than is the average for the entire state, ac cording to L. L. Basnight, keeper, who had statistics compiled by the State Board of Charities and Public Wel fare to prove his assertions. The average cost per month for maintenance of a county home in mate in the entire state is $17.11 while for Washington county it costs only $14.08 a month. The annual cost per person is figured at $168.96 in this county. An average population for the county home during last year was 30. This has dwindled some but to no extent. All except two or three had rather stay in this steam-heated building where they are well taken care of, than to leave the county home on allotment from Old Age As sistance of the Social Security. The property value of the home is given at $12,000 but it is believed by many that this is a very conserva tive valuation for the present struc ture. Major imprevements to pro perty are not considered in calculat ing the per person maintenance costs. -® Arrest Three With 10 Gallons Liquor There are three hooks on the screen door of the home of Sandy Williams, and every time officers raided the place for illicit whiskey the handle of the door would pull out before the hooks would give way, and in the meantime Sandy was alleged to have been destroying the evidence before the officers could get to it. However, Tuesday night Sandy Wil liams, along with Dolly Williams, a woman with them reported not to be Sandy’s wife, and Herbert Spruill, all colored, were arrested with about 10 gallons of liquor in a car in which they were riding, by Officers L. L. and Paul Basnight. The case is set for trial next Tues day in recorder’s court. Sandy con tended to the officers that the whis key belonged to Dolly. -$ Roper Town Team Defeats Plymouth -<s> Roper.—With Coach John Weaver shooting 9 points for Plymouth and Mack Marrow 13 for Roper, the Rop er Town Team defeated the Plym outh Town Team, 23 to 20, last Thurs day night here. Playing for Plymouth were Sam Trkula, Eddie McNair, Bob Daven port. John Weaver. Grayson Everett, Eugene Basnight, Joe Leggett and Fred Ennis, while for Roper the fol lowing worked. Charles Floyd, J. Ayscue, Carl Bray, Mack Marrow, Joe Nowarah, R. Chesson, W. Ainsley, H. Curies and Lugene Watson. Provide 850 Tax for Horse-Mule Dealers From Out of County County Commissioners Pass Regulation at Meeting Here Monday -<*> Horse and mule dealers from out of the county must pay a tax of S50 if they come into Washington Coun ty to sell or trade livestock, accord ing to a regulation passed by the county commissioners in session here Monday. Several routine matters were dis posed of at the regular monthly meet ing of the board, and other county problems were informally discussed by the commissioners. L. L. Basnight, superintendent of the county home, was asked to as sign Jimmy Cahoon the task of build ing a cabinet and shelving for books, ballot boxes, and documents in the office of Clerk of Court C. V. W. Ausbon. The county commissioners agreed to provide stamps, stationery and telephone for a juvenile case worker for child welfare if the State and Federal governments would pay the salary of such a worker. It was decided to ask the State Highway and Public Works Commis sion to drag and grade a road from Highway No. 64 by John Ransome’s house to highway No. 97. Tom Furlaugh, Roy Stillman, and J. E. Phelps were appointed as a commission to investigate the slay ing of W. W. Mizelle’s sheep by dogs. Twenty-five dollars were contrib uted to the Creswell High School for band uniforms. -® To Curb Sale Stolen Goods by Requiring Record of Reselling —®— Bill Introduced by Represen tative Darden Also Levies $10 License Tax ——3>— A bill was introduced in the House of Representatives at Raleigh this week by Representative W. M. Dar den seeking legislative restrictions on the purchase of livestock, poultry and cured meats by hucksters or any oth er such dealers who might operate in the county. The .bill provides for the levy of a $10 license tax for resale of livestock, poultry and cured meats in Wash ington County, and it also requires the licensees to keep an accurate rec ord of all sales, including name of the seller, address, amount purchased price and hour of the purchase. It does not apply to the sale of products raised on his own farm by a pro ducer. It is understood here that the law is sought in an effort to curb the sale of products stolen from farmers to hucksters and other dealers at low prices. Numbers of farmers have complained to Mr. Darden that they have been the victims of thieves, who carry the stolen chickens, hogs, cat tle and cured meats to these travel ing hucksters or dealers and dispose of them for almost nothing, making it difficult for the real owners and law officers to find any trace of the stolen goods. Representative Darden also intro duced a bill this week authorizing the appointment of a constable for Plym outh Township. -® Eastern Star Chapter Here Nearly Formed Organization of a local chapter of the Eastern Star, the woman's aux iliary of the Masonic fraternity, is expected to be completed very soon, it was learned this week from Mrs. R. E. Dunning and Mrs. D. R. Satter thwaite, the committee in charge of the work here. They have secured applications from nearly 30 people, and only 25 are required for the is suance of the charter. Mrs. Satterthwaite and Mis. Dun ning said that those who wished to become charter members should see them at once. It was explained that no balloting was required on charter members and their initiation is much less rigid than for those who join the organization afterwards. Also the initiation fee is only $5 for those who become charter members. The committee expects to have the organization work completed within the next two or three weeks. Scout Funds Being * Raised in County —®— Two hundred slotted cans have been placed in public places in Wash ington County as receptacles for con tributions being made on the $300 fund, which is being raised to con tinue the affiliation of the Souts in the county with the Eastern Carolina Council of Boy Scouts, it was report ed today by District Chairman A. Papineau. Active in the distribution of the cans was Cubmaster Tom Brown, of Plymouth, who put the receptacles in nearly every store and public place in the county. It was also reported that Dr. May nard Fletcher, of Washington, will speak at a father-and-son banquet being arranged for Scouts, Cubs, and Scouters over the county on Febru ary 22.