Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / Aug. 1, 1940, edition 1 / Page 1
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The Roanoke Beacon » » » » » » » and Washington County News ******* VOLUME LI NUMBER 31 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, August 1, 1940 Advertisers will find Beacon j and News Columns a latchkey to 1.500 Washington County homes ESTABLISHED 188s) Town opics Harold Patrick, of the Skinnersville section, put on display in the Beacon office this week a pair of 'Siamese twin” cantaloupes of the Rocky Ford variety. The twin cantaloupes are perfectly developed and of good size, although they grew together near the point where they were attached to the vine. L. L. Basnight last Thursday enter tained law enforcement officers of Washington County at a watermelon feast. Most of the officers attended and all expressed their delight with the fine melons they consumed. Scattered showers have brought slight relief at intervals, but the heat wave which struck this sec tion about 12 days ago still has its grip, with thermometers reg istering up to about 100 degrees each day. A maximum of 103 in the shade was reached last Sat urday. The only case in recorder’s court Tuesday was that of Wilbur Daven port, whose brother, Louis R. Daven port, requested that he be placed un der a peace bond of $300, which was granted. Mrs. Wilbur Davenport signed the bond for her husband. The men are half-brothers. Chief of Police and Mrs. P. W. Blown and their children, Charles and Peggy, are spending the week at Virginia Beach. This is the second time in about four years that the of ficer has had a vacation, and the oth er time was when he spent about two weeks in a hospital following an op eration for appendicitis. Corporal VV. Blount Kodinan, Stuart Blow and Bill Thompson will leave Monday for Louisiana and Mississippi with Battery C, a held artillery unit, of Washing - ton, to take part in the National Guard war maneuvers. Sergeant Charlie McDevitt, of Washington, said that Kodinan was ill line for a commission as second lieuten ant in the organization. Robert Lee Mizelle, of Jumesville, is manager of the new Greene Oil Company service station near Brown ing’s store, which opened last week. Bennie Styons and Edward Mizelle are assisting Mr. Mizelle. The new service station is featuring service and low prices, according to Mr. Mi zelle County Agent W. V. Hays joined Dr J W Woods recently in vacci nating hogs during a recent outbreak of cholera in the Skinnersville sec tion There were two periods when it whs feared the outbreak would get out J ci c'ro! help was se cured. The services of the veterinar ian have been of great help to farm ers in tlie county. Man Seriously Injured at Plant Here This Afternoon Thurman C. Price, 25, a rigger at the plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company here, fell about 30 feet from the top of a tank under construction this afternoon at 1:30. Though seri ously injured, Dr. T. L. Bray had not reached a conclusion as to how criti cal the man’s condition was at 2 o’clock. Three Children Bitten by Dogs in Creswell Recently Creswell.—Three children were bit ten by dogs here during the past week, but there was little fear that the animals were affected by rabies, although one was killed and the head sent to veterinarians of the State at Raleigh for examination and the oth er two are being closely watched. The victims were children of Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Davenport, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Hopkins and Mr. and Mrs. Winton Davenport. Faculties for Creswell and Cherry Nearly Completed -s> Creswell.—Teachers for the Cherry and Creswell schools have been em ployed with the exception of a science teacher for the Creswell school, ac cording to H. W. Pritchette, of the local committee. New teachers are Miss Virginia Woods for the Cherry school. Miss Carrie Elizabeth Rivers, of Raleigh, for the fifth grade of the Creswell school; Miss Alice Juliet Hamlet for the second grade of the Creswell school; Miss Hilda Louise Clontz, of Davidson, as home economics teach er for the Creswell school. Local P. T. A. Requests Donations of Jars lor School Lunch Room Project Anticipating an increasing de mand for free lunches during the school term, the Plymouth Par ent-Teacher Association is re doubling its efforts to make available an ample supply of canned vegetables for children in the local schools, it was an nounced today by Mrs. W. V. Hays, vice president of the as sociation. Hundreds of jars of food have been prepared and stored for use during the coming term, but a shortage of jars is now threaten ing the success of the project, and Mrs, Hays is asking those who have glass containeds which can be used for preserving food to notify here or to have them ready Friday morning, when the boys of YV. S. Moore's class at the Baptist Sunday school will call for them. The need is urgent, according to Mrs. Hays, who says that a sin gle jar given now may mean that several children will enjoy additional good meals at school during the coming fall and win ter term. Bonner Almost Sure To Succeed Warren $2 Tax Rale Here Likely to Remain Though work in preparing a budget for the Town of Plymouth for the fiscal year of 1940 is mov ing along rapidly, Clerk M. W. Spruill said today that he doubt ed if it would be concluded by tiie time for the regular board meeting next Monday night. It may come up for discussion, but lie said it was usually later in August before the complete bud get is approved. Mayor Campbell said this week that it appeared now that the tax rate of $2 on the $100 valuation would be continued another year. Clerk Spruill said that the reg ular monthly meeting would be held Monday night, bnt, as far as he knew, there was nothing of especial importance to come be fore the councilmen unless It was consideration of the budget. Technicality Likely To Hold Up Bond Election in Creswell Not Believed Matter Will Be Straightened Out Un til Next Month -<s> Discovery of a technical change needed in the plans of a water and sewer sytem for the Town of Creswell has delayed the referendum to deter mine whether citizens would approve by popular vote the isuance of bonds by the town for $25,000 to pay the sponsor’s cost of the project; which is sought from the WPA. Mayor C. N. Davenport, sr., said Tuesday there was some misunder standing over the cost of the project, but that conferences with engineers would soon remove this obstacle, after which it will be necessary to deter mine the official population of the town before the matter can be com pleted. The tabulation of the town’s population recently concluded by cen sus enumerators has not ben receiv ed. Mr. Davenport also said that an ap plication has been made to the Nor folk Southern Railroad Company for permision to run the lines under their tracks in Creswell, and that he did not expect this request would meet with any objection. It has been estimated that the pro ject would cost $58,970. The WPA has been asked to provide a grant of $37,578 and the town, as sponsor, will put up the remaining $21,392. It is understood that the Wililamston and Raleigh WPA offices have approved the project but the Washington, D. C., office wants more information. Dr Davenport said it appeared now that it would be about the first of September before the referendum could be called unless the difficulties were removed much faster than he anticipated. ABC Stores in County Have Earned Net Profit oi $39,996.20 in Three Years Net profit of the Plymouth and Creswell legal whiskey stores was $39,996.20 tor the thr.-e-year per iod ending June 30, it was learn ed today from Ernest G. Arps, former chairman of the Wash ington County Alcholic Beverage Control Board. This profit was divided as fol lows: $2,670.37 was set aside as a reserve for law enforcement, such as paying L. 1. Basnight and other officers to eliminate illegal whiskey sellers and manufactur ers; $13,231.89 was paid to the State of North Carolina as taxes; a surplus of $24,087.94 was cre ated from the profits but $15,000 of this money has been turned over to the county with the re aminder representing stock own ed by the ABC stores. Gross sales of whiskey for the period amounted to $171,090.50, while the cost of the stock was $111,105.14. Gross profits on sales was riven at $59,985.41, or 35.97 per cent of gross sales. Operating expenses included that of direct activities of the stores such as salaries of man agers, clerks; rent, and lights, amounting to $13,606.55; and ad ministrative items including pay of officials, printing and other supplies for the chairman and stores aggregating $7,691.28; making the total expense for the three-year period $21,297.83. The net profit from the opera tion was actually $38,687.58, which together with discounts of $1,312.82, less breakage of $4.20, making the net income for the period $39,998.20, Has Pledges of 12 Out of 14 Members District Committee Warren To Take Up Duties As Comptroller General On October 1st Politics of the first congressional district were considerably muddied yesterday by announcement that Rep resentative Lindsay C. Warren h^d accepted Presidential appointment as Comptroller General of the lhiiud States and would enter upon hi: in ,, duties October 1. Congressman War ren, who has served the district fur 16 years, was renominated without opposition last spring, and he was regarded in all quarters as 01 of the ablest members of the Hou t was generally thought he was in line for the position of Speaker of the House or majority leader if the Dem ocratic Party retained control after the fall elections. Immediately after the announce ment that Mr. Warren had decided to accept the appointment, which he had declined twice previously, several candidates for the nomination to suc ceed Mr. Warren became active, with Herbert Bonner, of Washington, a close friend and secretary to Warren for the past 16 years, garnering the support of a big majority of members of the Democratic first district con gressional committee. W. R. Hamp ton, Washington County member of the committee, said this morning that Mr. Bonner had been pledged the support of 12 of the 14 members of the committee. It is understood that the Pitt county representative has been instructed to demand a special primary be called to choose a nominee but when the official meeting of the committee is held, it is generally ex pected that Mr. Bonner will be de clared the nominee. It is known that Pitt County has several aspirants for the place, in cluding Marvin Blount, of Greenville, and J. S. Moore, of Bethel. A num ber of other prospective candidates in various counties of the district are known to be in a receptive mood. The congressional representative from the first district has come from Beau for County for 40 consecutive years John H. Small, of Washington, serv ed 22 years, Hallet S. Ward was next with a 2-year term, and Warren has been in the office for 16 years. For these reasons there is considerable sentiment, especially in Pitt County, for a primary to permit the people of the district to choose the candidate. Big Crowd Attends Wenona Field Day Between 1.200 and 1,500 persons were present last Thursday afternoon at the 15th annual farmers’ field day held at the Blackland Experiment Station at Wenona. according to J. L. Rea, jr„ assistant director in charge, who was here this week. Dr. Prank Porter Graham, presi dent of the Greater University of North Carolina, spoke at the morn ing session presided over by R. C. Holland, of Edenton, president of the North Carolina Peanut Cooperative, with Commissioner W. Kerr Scott in troducing Dr. Graham. In the livestock judging contest, J. H. Respass, of Pantego, won first prize of $5; E. J. Clayton, of Ponzer, second prize of $3: and Representa tive W. M. Darden, of Plymouth, third prize of $2. One person remarked today that there was a conspicuous lack of at tendance at the farmers' meeting of business and professional men from Plymouth, in marked contrast to the number there from Belhaven, Wash ington, and other towns Revival To Begin at Mount Tabor Next Monday Night The Rev. .Luke Weatherington will begin a series of revival services at the Mount Tabor Free Will Baptist church Monday evening. August 5, at 8 o’clock, it was announced by Rev. E. C. Morris, pastor. Services will be held each evening at 8 p m. thru out the week. Mrs. M. E. Smithson Died Early Today in Hospital at Norfolk Funeral Will Be Held at St. David’s Church Near Creswell Friday Creswell.—Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 3 p. m. at St. David's Episcopal church, near here, for Mrs. M. E. Smithson. 81, widow of the late A L. Smithson, and one of the section's best-known and most-beloved citizens, who died in a Norfolk hospital Thursday morn ing at 4 o'clock following a minor operation and an illness of twro weeks. A life-long resident of Washington County, Mrs. Smithson was one of the largest landowners in the entire section for years before selling the Belgrade plantation and other prop erty to the Farm Security Adminis tration. Her husband, who died about 10 years ago, was very active in the public life of the county and the town of the Creswell. The Rev. Wood Gaither, rector of St. David's church, will conduct the last rites tomorrow afternoon. Mrs. Smithson was a member and very active worker in the church for many years. Mrs. Smithson was married twice and is survived by three sons, one. Dr. James E. Andrews, of Indian Head, Md., by her first husband and two by Mr. Smithson: Sidney C. Smithson, rural carrier, and Clyde Smithson, formerly a member of the Washington County Board of Com missioners. both of Creswell. She also leaves four grandchildren: Bet ty Andrews, Ammon Smithson, Clyde S ,ii Tson. A . .md Pinner Smithson. [ ran Sscson Dates rer Game in Section Jutlined This Week Legal To Hunt Quail, Rab bit, Turkey and Grouse November 28 -® Game Warden J. T. Terry today an nounced the hunting season dates as prepared at a meeting of the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development at Morehead City early this month. The open soason for quail rabbit, turkey, and ruffed grouse will open on November 28 and close February 15, both dates inclusive. Dates for the season on other animals follow: Bear: October 1 to January 1, with season open any time in this county if bears are preying on hogs or farm crops of farmers; deer (male), Oc tober 1 to January 1: raccoon and opossum iwith gun or dogs only), October 1 to February 15: mink, muskrat, opossum and raccoon (trap ping), November 1 to February 15; squirrel, October 1 to January 15; Russian boar, October 20 to January Mr. Terry also calls attention to the fact that while hunting upland game birds, squirrels and rabbits, it is unlawful to use an automatic loading or hand-operated repeating shotgun unless it has been plugged so that it will not hold more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. This means that repeating shotguns must be plugged so that not more than two shells may be carried in the magazine. The warden also said that any per sons convicted of buying or selling or offering to buy or sell quail is subject to a fine of not less than $50 or im prisonment for not more than 60 days, or both, in the discretion of the court. In all cases of convictions un der the state game law, the surrender of hunting licenses will be required from the persons convicted. The possession-limits clause of the game regulat.ons provides: Game birds and animals lawfully taken and possessed may be transported within the State during the open season and 10 days next succeeding the close of the season.” Non-resident licensees, under per mit from the game commissioner, may export, except by parcel post, not more than two male deer and two wild turkeys a season and not more than two days limit of other game animals and birds each calendar week. State combination fishing and hunt ing licenses have been on sale for several weeks Consider County Budget at Meet Consideration of the budget and routine matters will occupy the attention of the Washington County Commissioners at their regular meeting next Monday morning at 10 o'clock. It is also possible .hat the com missioners and the board of edu cation mat hold a brief joint ses sion to consider employing spec ial counsel to defend the title of the county to the property on which the colored school building here is located. The site was purchased some years ago irom the Annie I- Owens estate, and the heirs this week filed a petition which, il granted would return the title to them. Property With Value of $100,000 Involved in Proceedings Instituted In Superior Court Here Last Week Slol Machines Back Bui Will Be Closely Checked 'by Officers Recorder Serves Notice Tc Operators That Law Must Be Obeyed With the return of pin-ball ma chines to places of business in Wash ington County this week. Recorder John W. Darden in court Tuesday Warned operators and distributors ol the machines that they must adhere strictly to the law. which provides that the devices may be played for amusement only and that they can not be used for gambling in any man ner. ‘ Information has come to me." Mr Darden said, “that though the tubes for pay-off by the machines have been removed, there has been a dis position on the part of some of the operators to pay off in cash “be hind the counter” for winning scores, but if any such operators are brought before this court and convicted, they will be fined $200 and costs or sent to the loads for six months. “The court has seen fit to have the machines removed from the county recently.” the recorder conUnued, al luding to the raids made on instruc tions of Superior Court Judge J. J. Burney early last month when 22 operators and distributors were fined for operating illegal machines, "and I am going to uphold the law re garding these devices.” Sheriff J. K. Reid also said today that he was going to keep a close watch on operators of the pin-ball machines, and would immediately is sue warrants for the arrest of those who paid money for winning scores, "behind the counter or otherwise,” The sheriff said that the judges and solicitors were expecting him to enforce the law and that he would make every effort to see that the machines were played for amusement only. The recorder also said today that instructions had been issued to Sher iff Reid to have destroyed the 21 il legal machines, valued at $4,000, which were seized in the raid recently. --«, Colored Boy Drowns While Swimming in River Here Friday Body of Wade Forbes, 12, Is Recovered by U. S. Coast Guardsmen Saturday The lifeless body of Wade Forbes, 12-year old colored boy, was taken from the Roanoke River late Satur day afternoon by three coast guards men from Elizabeth City who dredged the river with grappling hooks for about 30 minutes. It was reported to Coroner W. H. Peele that the youth leaped into the water from the dock at the rear of Liverman's store Fri day afternoon at 5:30, following a dare from playmates who said he told them he could swim. A number of other colored boys were in swimming when the lad made the fatal plunge, and George Frank lin, aged negro swimmer, heard the child’s call for help and leaped into the waters to rescue him but when he reached the spot where the boy had gone down he could not find him. Coroner Peele said that the boy’s hat was thrown into the river in con formity to an old custom to determine where the boy went down, and he was found beneath the surface of the water near where the hat rested. Coast Guardsmen, with a Mr Mid gett in charge, arived Sunday morn ing by boat from Nags Head to aid in the search but they were told that the seamen from Elizabeth City un der the direction of Mr Merritt had been successful in finding the boy. The victim of the Roanoke was a son of John Forbes, of Greenville, who has been here for only a few weeks, residing at the corner of Fourth and Monroe streets. Native of County Drowned in Pitt A native of Washington County, Miss Christine Briekluire. lit. of Greenville, was drowned in Tar River last week-end while swimming with friends. Funeral services were held at her home in Greenvi.c and the body was brought to tins county for interment Tuesday n the Scupper nong church cemettic n- .■ Cre-well Miss Brickhouse wa daughter of J. V. and Mrs Dc : Brickhouse. The family moved to Tmivro IToni here several years and toe:, moved to Greenville about two v - vo Coroner A. A Ellwanget of Pitt County, decided no inquest was nec lessary and the young my was acci ; dently drowned when she stepped in to deep water and disapp ared be lore friends could reach her. Prices Fluctuate At Liquor Stores For the second time within a month, the price of legal liquor is fluctuating, ir. the face of a growing demand for added reve nue by government agencies and a renewed cry for cheaper booze by the consumers. The fluctuations began on July 1, when prices were raised from 10 to 15 cents a pint on account of the national defense tax: now the consumer comes in for a break, with the State ABC board ordering a reduction. The order coming from state authorities, who fix the price schedule without consulting the county units, will effect reduc tion in the profit accruing to the counties but has very little effect on the profit pouring into the state treasury. A new price list, with changes lor almost all brands sold by lo cal ABC stores, went into effect today. Revival Services at Baptist Churches in County Announced Weekly Series for Three Churches Outlined by Dr. G. A. Martin, Pastor A series of weekly revival services for the Creswell charge of Baptist churches was announced this week by the pastor, Dr. G. A. Martin, of Cres well, who has secured the services of three leading Baptist ministers in this section to assist him. The first revival will start at the Creswell Baptist church Sunday night at 8 o’clock, August 4, with the Rev. W. F. Cale. jr., of Tyner, as the speak er. Dr. Martin said that the visit ing minister serves a membership of 1,600 and is regarded as one of the best young ministers in the Chowan Baptist Association. Tire second meeting begins Sunday night. August 11, at 8 p. m„ at the Roper Baptist church, with the Rev. Paul B. Nickens, of the Plymouth church, as the speaker. Dr. Martin says "Mr. Nickens is known and loved by all in the Roper community, where he has preached before, and a great meeting is expected.” The third series of weekly meetings begins Sunday, August 18, at 11 a. m„ at the Mount Pleasant Baptist church with Rev. E. L. Wells, pastor of the First Church in Edenton, as the speaker, to deliver his first sermon on Monday night, August 19. Dr. Martin pointed out that Mr. Wells "has done a great work at Edenton, and we consider ourselves fortunate to be able to have such noble service as he will render.” Scuppernong Field Day Well Attended Seveia! hundred persons gathered at the FSA Scuppernong Farms proj ect, near Creswell, today to hear ag ricultural leaders and prominent cit izens speak during the morning ses sion, enjoy a lunch at noon and at tend athletic contests in the after noon. The Creswell, Columbia and Edenton high school bands were on hand to provide music for the occa sion. A number of exhibits were on dis play in the community building, and th*re were booths devoted to his torical events, health and women's club work. There was also a parade, most of those attending marching to the music of the bands for about a mile, circling the community grounds. The Scuppernong Farms project is located in Washington and Tyrrell Counties, extending from the shores of Lake Phelps to about three miles north of Creswell. and containing a total of 11.000 acres, about 6,000 of which are in culvation by unit and cooperative families. Heirs of Mrs. Annie L. Owens Request Return of Property Petitioners Claim Terms of Will and State Law Not Complied With Filed in Washington County Su perior Court here last Friday, a pe tition for division of property left to her heirs by Annie L. Owens in De cember, 1909, threatens the title of about 20 defendants named in the action who bought the land formerly owned by the Owens estate and have improved it until its value is now es timated around $100,000. The pe titioners, numbering 25, are all chil dren and grandchildren of Mrs. An nie L. Owens, and the property is lo cated between the town limits and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad east of Plymouth, comprising one of the most desirable residential sections of the town. The amount of property involved in the action makes it one of the most important ever brought in su perior court here, and present pros pects are for a long-drawn-out flght over the real estate, with a number of well-known lawyers engaged in the matter. The petition was filed by Langston, Allen and Taylor, uf Golds boro, while W. L. Whitley, Z. V. Nor man, Edward L. Owens, W. M. Dar den and S. A. Ward, jr., represent various defendants named in the doc ument. Darden and Ward represent the county board of education, named as one of the defendants due to the local colored school having been built on property formerly belonging to the Owens estate. The defendants are understood to be considering a plan to pool their interests and employ one or two special title experts in addition to the local attorneys already en gaged. The petition requests the court to appoint three commissioners to di vide the property into seven equal parts for distribution among the heirs; and it is expected that the ruling of Clerk of the Superior Court C. V. W. Ausbon will be appealed to the superior court and possibly the matter carried to the state supreme court before it is finally settled. It was said by some of the lawyers that the case may never reach a jury, al though it is regarded as certam to be hard fought on questions of law by attorneys for both sides. Claim Division Not Made The petitioners attach a copy of the will of Mrs. Annie L. Owens, leav ing a life estate in the property to her husband, Benjamin P. Owens, and providing for its later division among the following seven children: Henry S. Owens, Claudia Owens Read, Louise L. Owens, Clyde W. Owens, Lucille Owens Murphrey, Annie B. Owens Dupree and Mabel Owens. The petition sets forth that there has never been a division made of the lands but that sometime during Jan uary, 1910. a proceeding was insti tued in the superior court here pur porting, within a period of about a or 7 days from its inception, to con fer upon H. S. Ward, commissioner, authority to convey and sell the land’ The document alleges that Mr Ward failed to comply with the state statutes regarding sale of contingent remainders and re-investment of funds obtained from the sale and questions the legality of the instru ment dated January 14, 1910, pur porting to convey the lands to L. L. Owens and wife. Mary Owens. The land later came into the pos session of Van B. Martin, sr„ who converted it into a real estate devel opment known as Fairvale Terrace md sold it in parcels for home sites. Included in the list of purchasers who ire now defendants in the action in stituted by the Owens heirs is the -ounty board of education, which oough t part of the property for the ’olored school site, and a number of others who built nice homes on tliat oart of it fronting on Main Street at ■he eastern edge of the town. These people now face the possibility of laving to purchase the propertj all i See PROPERTY, Page 6> 20,000 Large-Mouth Bass Were Placed In Conaby Creek Near Here Last Week Fishermen along Conaby Creek should have better luck in a few seasons, as 20.000 fingerling big mouth bass were turned loose in i the stream last week adding to the 20.000 brim put in the water there last year. W. R. Hampton, member of the board of the State Department of Conservation and Development, said today the bass came from the State hatchery operated by the department in Fayetteville. This supply is not expected to materially offset catches im mediately, because it is said the I small Ash from the hatcheries will not bite the average hook used for fishing in this section. Mr. Hampton said that pollu tion prevented replenishing the waters of Welches Creek on Un west. which marks the boundaries of Washington and Martin route ties, and because of tests made the department would not recom mend this action. Though a narrow stream Con aby Creek is about 15 miles in length and it will provide enough fish to make the sport tempting in addition to furnishing food for the families ol those engaging in the spoil.
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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Aug. 1, 1940, edition 1
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