The Roanoke Beacon
* * * * ¥ » * and Washington County News *******
VOLUME LI—NUMBER 21 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, May 23, 1940
Advertisers will And Beacon i
' and News Columns a latchkey to
1,500 Washington County homes. I
ESTABLISHED 1889
Town
opics
Despite the fact that the prelimi
nary report showed only 2.458 per
sons living in Plymouth, resulting in
disappointment to the civic pride of
local residents. Miss Evelyn Arps, the
census taker, said that she had made
a thorough and complete .job of her
work.
Grayson Everett, formerly employ
ed in Pender's store here, entered the
employ of Williford’s Yellow Front
Market Monday as clerk.
The Branch Banking and Trust
Company will be closed all day
next Thursday, May 30, National
Memorial Day, it was announced
today by H. E. Beam, cashier. The
bank will also close at noon each
Wednesday afternoon during the
summer months, along with Ihe
other places of business here, be
ginning next Wednesday, May 29.
Iverson Skinner, of Williamston;
Y. T. Cheatham and E. G. Johnson,
of Rocky Mount, were here Wednes
day greeting voters in the interest of
the candidacy of Lee Gravely for the
Democratic nomination as governor.
Three cases of tuberculosis
have been referred to competent
medical authorities by the Wash
ington County Welfare Depart
ment in the past year, it was
learned today from Miss Ursula
Bateman. She said that tuber
culosis is largely a “poor man’s
disease,” because it develops rap
idly among those who get insuf
ficient food and care.
Miss Connie Edmondson, daughter
of Mr. and Mis. J. B. Edmondson, of
Plymouth, was awarded an athletic
pin for winning at least 1,000 points
in intra-mural sports at the Womans
College of the University of North
Carolina in Greensboro recently.
Warnie Gurkin, son of Mr. and Mrs.
L. W. Gurkin, has built a home near
the residence of his paa'ents, fur
nished it, will be married to Miss An
nie Lou .Jeffords in the front room
on June 6 and then will leave with
his bride for a trip to the New York
World’s Fair.
A total of 514 persons attended
the WPA dinners for white peo
ple in Creswell and the colored
people in Creswell and Plymouth
Monday night, according to Mrs.
Kathleen S. Nobles, project sup
ervisor, who was in charge of the
dinner meetings in this county.
An interesting Mother’s Day pro
gram was given at the Christian
church Sunday night a week aso with
Miss Louis Sitterson, route one, tak
ing the lead. Lewis Styons assfc't-.
her and Mrs. Rudolph Beasley and
Lewis Styons, jr„ directed a play,
which was thoroughly enjoyed by the
large number in attendance.
C. V. Swain, of Roper, said that a
calf born dead on a farm near Roper
had a face, ears and head resembling
that of a human being, a growth un
der its shoulders and a hump on its
back similar to those of a camel.
-<s>
Discuss Mosquito Control
At Lions Club Tonight
Jack White, a representative of the
State Health Department, will talk to
members of the Lions Club here to
night on the survey that he and Char
lie White have made spotting the
breeding places of malaria-carrying
mosquitoes in this section.
He said it would be necessary for
an entomologist to come to Plymouth
in June or July to study the habitat
and travel of the types of mosquitoes
which are nuisances but which do not
carry malaria germs and hence are
usually referred to as “pest mos
quitoes.”
His talk is expected to lead to ac
tion by officials of the town and the
Lions club and other organizations
toward launching a program to con
trol both types of mosquitoes with
the aid of the WPA.
Mrs. R. E. Dunning Named
Chairman Missionary Union
Mrs. R. E. Dunning, of Plymouth,
was named chairman of the Martin
County-Plymouth division of the Wo
man’s Missionary Union of the Roa
noke Baptist Association at a session
held in Robersonville Wednesday.
Mrs. Dunning also responded to the
welcome address. Mrs. J. N. Carr, of
Plymouth, was on the program for a
solo but on account of illness could
not attend.
Those attending from Plymouth be
sides Mrs. Dunning follows: Mes
dames P. B. Nickens, R. H. Lucas, H.
E. Kline, P. R. Mathews, L. T. Rose,
J. M. Pigford, A. P. Whealton, John
Carlisle and Colon Gurkin.
THE NEED IS URGENT!
The following self-explanatory telegram was received yesterday by
James \V. Norman, county Red Cross chairman, from Norman H. Da
vis, national director:
“With several million men locked in mortal combat on French
ami Belgian soil, the relief needs of Belgian-French peoples are
reaching staggering proportions. Already five million pitiful refu
gees are clogging every road into central-soul hern France trying
to escape bombing and strafing from airplanes. Our representa
tives in France report thousands dying by roadsides nj wounds,
fright and hunger. American Red Cross must rush relief of every
kind if these innocent people arc to be saved. We arc expediting
millions nj dollars in money and supplies, but we need more and
bigger contributions to carry on. Cannot urge upon you too
strongly need for prompt action if we are to befriend these sorely
tried victims of brutal warfare. We count upon you to reach and
oversubscribe your goal within shortest possible time. Every
dav’s delay means hundreds may die because we have, not brought
them aid in this, their saddest hour.”
Washington County’s quota is $300. All contributions will be
acknowledged through this newspaper and may be made to The Roan
oke Beacon or any of the following: In Plymouth: Mrs. H. A. I.iver
man, treasurer or J. W. Norman, chairman; in Roper: Mrs. Frank
Wilson; in Creswell: Mrs. A. H. Tucker; and in Wenona: Mrs. J. L.
Rea, jr.
!Red Cross Quota for
County Set at $300
FOR BROUGHTON '|
v/
Representative Wilbur M. Dar
den is serving as county manager
for J. Melville Broughton, Raleigh
attorney and candidate for gov
ernor, subject to the action of the
Democratic primary Saturday.
Mrs.’ 0. M. Chesson
Died Friday Night
At Her Home Here
■-<s>
Funeral Held Sunday After
noon for Highly Respect
ed Local Citizen
-»
Funeral services were held in the
Christian church here Sunday aft
ernoon at 3:30 for Mrs. Mary Della
Chesson. 74, who died at her Third
Street home here Friday night as the
result of a severe heart attack.
Mrs. Chesson was a loyal member
of the Christian church for about 50
years, and the funeral services
were conducted by the Rev. N. A.
Taylor, of the Holloway Street Chris
tian church in Durham and former
pastor here, assisted by the Rev. O.
L. Hardwick, of the local Methodist
church. Interment took place in the
Saints Delight Christian Church cem
etery near Roper.
A large crowd attended the funeral
of Mrs. Chesson, who was a life-long
resident of Washington County and
well-known and liked throughout the
section. She was the daughter of the
late Whitman J. Harrison and Mrs.
Mary Frances Harrison.
Her husband, Otis M. Chesson, who
preceded her to the grave about 10
years ago, was a well-known planter
who took an active interest in public
affairs in the county.
(Continue on page four)
Local Legion Auxiliary Sponsors Sale
01 Memorial Poppies Next Saturday
Poppy Day will be observed in
Plymouth and throughout the
nation on May 25, the Saturday
before Memorial Day, Mrs. Wade
Johnson, president of local Amer
ican Legion Auxiliary, announced
today. On that day all Ameri
cans will be asked to wear mem
orial poppies in tribute to the
World War dead and to aid the
living victims of the war.
The little red memorial flowers
will be distributed here by wom
en and girls of the Plymouth unit
under the direction of Mrs. John
son, chairman of the Poppy Day
committee. All contributions re
ceived for the poppies will go to
Legion and auxiliary welfare work
for the disabled veterans, their
families and the families of the
dead.
“Events of the past year have
shown us clearly that to be se
cure the United States must have
men ready and able to defend the
country, willing to give their lives
in its defense, if necessary. We
can be thankful today that we
had such men 22 years ago. Wear
ing their flower over our hearts
means that within our hearts
their love of America still lives.”
Workers Appointed
For Each Town by
James W. Norman
Drive Is for Relief of Suffer
ing Refugees in Attacked
European Nations
James W. Norman, chairman of the
Washington County Red Cross chap
ter, last week received an appeal from
the national organization for this
county to make a contribution to re
lieve the untold suffering over the
wide front attacked by a ruthless en
emy in Holland. Belgium and Luxem
bourg. The county chapter’s qudta
is $300, and Mr. Norman is appealing
to all citizens of the county to con
tribute liberally.
Mr. Norman has appointed the fol
lowing to receive donations in their
respective communities: Mrs. Frank
Wilson, Roper; Mrs. A. H. Tucker,
Creswell; and Mrs. J. L. Rea, jr., We
nona. Contributors in Plymouth may
leave their donations with Mr. Nor
man, Mrs. H. A. Liverman. who has
been designated treasurer of the
drive, or with the Roanoke Beacon.
All contributions made in the county
will be acknowledged in this news
paper and the money raised forward
ed immediately to national Red Cross
headquarters.
Fleeing before the invading Ger
many army, hundreds of thousands of
Dutch and Beligians, mostly women
and children, are now facing starva
tion and want, their manpower and
most of the resources of the little
countries having been thrown into
the line of battle in an effort to check
the invaders. News was flashed from
Holland only last week that refugee
trains loaded with women and chil
dren had been bombed by Hitler's
air forces.
Ten million dollars is needed from
the United States immediately, ac
cording to Norman H. Davis, national
chairman of the Red Cross, who for
warded the following telegram to Mr.
Norman here:
“With the invasion of Holland, Bel
gium and Luxembourg, the war has
entered a phase which will inevita
bly and at once bring widespread and
appalling suffering to millions of help
less men, women and children. In
order to inaugurate widespread re
lief measures, the American Red
Cross is at once launching a cam
paign for a minimum war relief fund
of $10,000,000. Your chapter quota
is $300. Please at once mobilize the
entire leadership of your chapter and
community in order that your quota
may be raised and exceeded without
delay.”
Seeking To Raise $90 To
Equip Boat oi Sea Scouts
-®
A drive is being conducted here by
a committee, composed of Dr. C. Mc
Gowan, J. B. Willoughby, W. V. Hays,
and Z. V. Norman, to raise a fund of
$90 for equipping the boat recently
acquired by the Plymouth Sea Scouts.
The boat has a Ford Model A en
gine in it that was donated by the
Plymouth Motor Company and is sea
worthy in every respect, but none of
the Scouts may enjoy it until it has
been properly equipped with life pre
servers, running lights and fire ex
tinguishers.
--§-—
New Cafe To Open Here
Tuesday of Next Week
D. E. Brantley is moving the equip
ment of the Russ Tea Room, of Wash
ington, to Plymouth, where he will
open a cafe next Tuesday in the
Owens Building on Washington Street
formerly occupied by the Roanoke
'_^
One Killed, Several
Hurt Last Week-End
In Series Accidents
18-Year-Old Colored Youth
Dies in Hospital, Result
Of Auto Collision
--
One person was fatally injured and
several others were hurt in automo
bile wrecks in Washington County
over the week-end, causing property
damages estimated at approximately
$1,000 by Corporal T. B Brown, of'
the State Highway Patrol, who. with
Sheriff J. K. Reid, investigated the
accidents.
Marshall Armstrong. 18. colored,
died in a Rocky Mount hospital Tues
day night at 7:20 as a result of in
juries received Sunday night about
9 o'clock when the car in which he
was riding, driven by Sylvester Small,
collided with another operated by
Fenner Waters, white, of Dardens.
Both drivers are under bond on reck
less driving charges, with the case
set for hearing next Tuesday in re
corder's court. The ticeident occur
red near here on Highway 64 toward
Roper.
Riding with Waters was Miss Grace
Nobles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P.
W. Nobles. Occupants of the Small
car, in addition to the driver, were
Armstrong. Alonzo Small, brother of
the driver and owner of the car. and
several other colored people whose
names could not be learned. No one
was injured seriously with the excep
tion of Armstrong. Damage to the
two machines was estimated at $500.
An automobile reported to have
been operated by Wilbur Pierce, col
lored, turned over Saturday night
within 200 yards of Herrington’s serv
ice station beyond Roper. Willie
Boston, colored, burned him arm in
this wreck which it was said might
necessitate amputation. Edmund
Pierce, also a passenger, was said to
have jumped from the car and made
his escape when officers called on the
whiskey-laden machine to halt. Cor
poral T. B. Brown gave chase but
was unable to overtake the fugitive.
Officers were chasing the Pierce
driven vehicle when it turned over.
The officers said Boston was throw
ing the whiskey out of the car while
the wild chase was in progress, but
when it finally turned over on the
curve, a quantity of illegal whiskey
was found in it. The car damaged
to the extent of about $300. it was
said. _The negroes were booked for
transporting whiskey, reckless driv
ing and failing to obey instructions
of an officer. The case will be tried
in recorder’s court Tuesday.
A car operated by Joseph A. Jones,
white, collided with another driven by
JJames Elroy, white, about 100 yards
east of the town limits Saturday
night. Officers reported that the El
roy car was standing almost in a drive
way when the Jones car struck it.
No one was hurt, but property dam
age was estimated at $280. Jones was
fined $50 and costs in recorder's court
Tuesday as a result of the wreck.
Funeral Today for
Adrian Lee Phelps
Funeral for Adrian Lee Phelps, 10
Funeral services were held at the
home near Roper today for Adrian
Lee Phelps, 10, son of Joe and Mrs.
Martha Phelps who died in a Nor
folk hospital as the result of peneu
monia. He had been in the hospital
three days but had ben sick a week.
The Rev, J. J. McCloud, pastor of
the Roper Holliness Church, officiat
ed. Interment took place in a ceme
tery near the home.
Surviving are the parents of the
child and the half sisters: Mrs. An
nie McCloud, Mrs. Getrude Lamb.
Mrs. Dora Smith, Mrs. Mary Brick
house, Miss Jessie Phelps, all of Rop
er, and Mrs. Dora Ann Jones, of Cres
well; one half brother, H. W. Spruill,
of Roper,
W. L. Whitley Speaker at
Sunday School Convention
W. L. Whitley, prominent local at
torney and churchman, will be the
principal speaker at the meeting of
the Lees Mills Sunday School con
vention that will be held at Saints
Delight Christian church near here j
[Sunday afternoon. May 26, at 3 p. m.
The devotional services will be led
by Harold Swain. Ben Swain will
welcome the visiting Sunday schools
and Miss Margaret Chesson will re
spond. Each Sunday school repre
sented will have a 5-minute program.
Polls Open From
7 To 7 Saturday
Washington County voters may
east their ballots between 7 a. m„
and 7 p. m.. in the primary Sat
urday. instead of from sunrise to
sunset, as formerly. The last
legislature changed the hours for
voting in primary, although gen
eral elections will be held as in
the past, from sun to sun.
It was also announced that
the registrars will require poll
book keepers to write under the
name of every voter who receives
assistance in marking his ballot
the following: "This ballot mark
ed by" and the person's name
who assisted.
County Voters Have Total of 39
Candidates To Choose From for
Local and State Offices Saturday
“HORTON-FOR-GOVERNOR” COMMITTEE
j
Lieutenant Governor Wilkins P.
Horton, instead of naming a sin
gle manager of his campaign in
Washington County, designated a
“Horton-for-Governor Commit
tee” to look after his interests
here, composed of W'. Ronald
Gaylord and W. Blount Rodman
labove), young attorneys, and Er
nest G. Arps (left), druggist. Ac
cording to their spokesman, the
lieutenant governor will make a
strong bid for the lead in this
county, as well as throughout the
state, in the primary Saturday.
It is generally understood that
Mr. Horton is one of the strong
est candidates in the race, and
most political observers predict
he will be one of the two contend
ers in the second primary on
June 22. It is believed this coun
ty will be fairly well split up be
tween Broughton, Horton and
Maxwell, with Gravely coming in
for most of what is left.
Memorial Observance
Near Creswell May 30
Pettigrew and St.
Davids Cemeteries
Scene of Programs
Dr. C. C. Crittendon, C. W.
Tatem, W. L. Whitley
Are Speakers
-®
Celebration of national Memorial
Day on Thursday, May 30, in Wash
ington County will center around the
elaborate exercises planned for his
toric old St. David's Episcopal church
cemetery and the Pettigrew cemetery
an the old Bonarva Plantation, near
Creswell, next Thursday, with Dr. C.
C. Crittendon, executive secretary of
he State Historical Commission, of
Raleigh, as the principal speaker.
Graves in the 100-year-old ceme
teries around Creswell, where Bishop
Charles Pettigrew, elected the first
Episcopal Bishop of North Carolina,
ind his worthy brother. General John
;ton Pettigrew, of Confederate Army
fame, will be decorated at the time.
Services will begin at St. David's
Cemetery at 10 o'clock in the morn
ng. The Rev. C. A. Ashby, of Eden
lon, will speak at the 11 o'clock serv
ice in the church. A large vested
choir is expected to attend. Minis
ters taking part in the morning serv
ice will be the Rev. John Hardy, of
Williamston, invocation; Rev. C. E.
Williams, of New Bern, creed and
psalter; Rev. John Armfield. of Ahos
kie, prayer; Rev. W. B. Gaither, of
Creswell, rector of the church, wel
come address; and Rev. Sidney E.
Matthews, of Washington, presenta
tion of alms and benediction C W.
Tatem, of Columbia, will also speak
at this gathering.
After the morning service a motor
cade will leave the church for the
Lake Phelps community house, where
a basket picnic will be served and the
bands will give a concert until 3 o'
clock. Dr. Crittendon will speak at
this time, to be followed by W. L.
Whitley, of Plymouth. T. W. Arm
strong, manager of the Scuppernong
Farms, and a speaker from tire Uni
versity of North Carolina will also
address the gathering
Following this service, the bands
will lead the parade of scouts, clergy,
choir. U. D. C. chapter members,
and the crowd to Pettigrew cemetery,
where the closing exercises will be in
charge of U. D. C. membi ■
Tom P. Sanderson Named
Scoutmaster Local Troop
■-§
Tom P. Sanderson, sal sman for
the B. G. Campbell Wholesale Com
pany here, has been non.;: >ed as
Scoutmaster of the Plymouth troop,
with H. H. McLean recommended as
assistant scoutmaster.
' FOR MAXWELL |
s/
Recorder John W. Darden is
Washington County manager for
Revenue Commissioner A. J.
Maxwell, candidate for the Dem
ocratic nomination for governor.
Program of Services
At Christian Church
Services at the Christian church
here Sunday will include Sunday
school Sunday morning at 9:45. The
church service, with communion, will
be held at 11 o'clock. A good speak
er will be present for this service. A
large attendance is urged for all the
services. The young people will hold
their service at 7:15.
19 Names on Stale
And 15 on County
Democratic Tickets
Total Vote of Around 2,000
Expected; Complete List
Of Candidates
-®
Voters of Washington County will
have a field of 39 candidates from
which to make their choice for offic
ials in the primary on Saturday of
this week. The names of 34 of the
candidates appear on the county and
state Democratic ballots, leaving the
few Republicans in the county a quiet
and peaceful time in selecting their
nominees from a field of five candi
dates for two state offices.
A total of 2,469 persons registered
in Washington County, thus qualify
ing themselves to vote, but political
observers here believe that there will
be only about 1.500 of the 2,252 reg
istered Democrats to vote; while it
is expected most of the 211 registered
Republicans will vote for their- nomi
nees. Six people who registered as
independents will not be eligible to
vote in either of the primaries.
In 1936. when the last governor
was nominated, there were 36 names
on the county ticket and 30 on the
state ticket. There were no Repub
licans engaging in that primary as
a party, because they passed on their
nominees in conventions.
State Ballot
The 19 names appearing on the
state Democratic ballot are contest
ing for six offices, as follows:
For governor: L. L. Gravely. Paul
Grady. Thomas E. Cooper, Wilkins
P. Horton, A. J. Maxwell, J. Melville
Broughton, Arthur Simmons.
For lieutenant governor: R. L. Har
ris. W. Erskine Smith, Dan Tomp
kins. L. A. Martin.
For secretary of state: Tliad Eure
and Walter Murphy.
For auditor: Charles W Miller and
George Ross Pou.
For commissioner of agriculture;
C. Wayland Spruill and W. Kerr
Scott.
For insurance commissioner: Dan
C. Boney and William B. Oliver.
On the Republican state ballot are
five names, as follows:
For governor: George M. Pritchard,
Robert H. McNeill and John R. Hoff
man.
For lieutenant governor: J. Forrest
Witten and Halsey B. Leavitt.
To distinguish the Republican bal
lots, they are printed on pink paper,
while the Democratic ballots are on
white paper.
County Ballot
On the Democratic county ballot
are 15 names, as follows:
For state senator, second senator
ial district ivote for two): P. G. Gal
lop. Hugh G. Horton and D. Brad
ford Fearing.
For county treasurer: Richard C.
Peacock, W. S. (Bill) Davenport, Stu
art D. Davis, W. Linwood Hassell,
and Timothy M. Bowen.
For county commissioner, district
No. 1: Ernest G. Arps and A. Lloyd
Owens.
For county commissioner, district
No. 2: J. C. Knowles, W. T. Freeman,
and J. H. Gaylord, sr.
For commissioner, district No. 3:
Ed F Swain and Hj 't R. Davenport
-1>
Piano Recital Here
Tomorrow Night
-$
Mrs. Laura S. Johnston will present
her pupils in a piano recital at the
Plymouth High School auditorium on
Friday evening at 8 o'clock. Forty
seven numbers have been arranged
for the program, with about 30 stu
dents participating.
Guest artists will be Miss Miriam
Barron, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N.
T. Barron, of Franklin. Va., and Wal
ter Ange, son of Mr. and Mrs. I. E.
Ange. who has recently returned from
school in Raleigh.
Immediately after the recital, Mrs.
Mary S. Cahoon will entertain those
in the recital at the Plymouth Coun
try Club.
Plymouth Merchants To Close at Noon
Wednesdays Through Summer Months
The Plymouth Merchants' As
sociation, at their meting Mon
day night, derided to begin clos
ing their stores on Wednesday
afternoon for the summer half
holiday next week, the first aft
ernoon off coming Wednesday.
May 29. The Branch Banking &
Trust Company will also close at
the noon hour with the mer
chants through June, July and
August, H. E. Beam, cashier, an
nounced yesterday.
Customers and patrons of lo
cal business establishments are
urged to do their shopping on
Wednesday mornings before noon
so that the clerks and other
workers may have the afternoon
i for recreation and pleasure.
It was also decided by the mer
chants that stores would remain
open all day on Wednesday. July
3, and be closed all day Thursday.
July 4. for the Independence Day
holiday.
A message from a hotel organi
zation wishing to build a hostelry'
here was read, but the merchants
felt it would be impossible to se
cure enough stork subscriptions
to build one here, and it was de
cided not to invite the represen
tatives here.
A. J. Byrd, E. E. Harrell, W. H.
Booker and J. W. Norman were
appointed on a committee to
consider neon signs for erection
over the three highways leading
into the town.