North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon ****** *and Washington County News ******* VOLUME LIII—NUMBER 16 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, April 16, 1942_ ^ MAKE EVERY PAY DAY 4 BOND DAY JOIN THE PAY-ROLL SAVINGS PUN ESTABLISHED I Town opics Sam Edward Latham, of Wichita Falls, Tex., was a visitor here this week. His father. Charles Edward Latham, a native of this county, left here 76 years ago at the age of 17. following an altercation with a col ored man. Mr. Latham said this was the first time any members of the family had visited Plymouth since. Letters to the editor are wel comed by the Beacon, but they must be signed by the writer as evidence of good faith. Upon re quest the writer's name will not be published, but it must be known to the editor, and anony mous communications will re ceive no consideration whatever. The Rev. M. L. Ambrose, pastor of Old Ford Christian church, near Washington, N. C., will preach at the Zion Chapel Church, near Roper, at 8 p. m. Sunday night. Mr. Ambrose was formerly pastor of the church, and a large crowd is expected to at tend the service. J. B. Willoughby has received most of the equipment for his modern steam laundry. He is expecting an engineer within the next few days to install the machinery. Much of the work has already been done. Locat ed at the rear of the municipal building on Water Stret, he hopes to have the plant ready for operation by the first part of May. About 100 questionnaires have been mailed to registrants in the third registration, according to S. A. Ward, clerk of the local se lective service board. They will continue to go out to those who registered February 16 until the complete list of 702 persons is classified. The Town Council of Plymouth postponed its meeting for the sec ond time this month Monday night, when it was decided to hold the meet ing later. Originally scheduled for Monday, April 6. it was postponed on account of the Easter Monday holi day until the 13th. Then last Mon day night, the merchants associa tion was using the municipal build ing for their meeting, so the council men again put off their session. Vestrymen of Grace Episcopal :hurch will meet at the home of W. Blount Rodman Friday night at 7:45. A full attendance is urged. Saturday, 6 P. M., Is Deadline 'for Local Candidates To File -- Election Board Chairman Will Be at Courthouse All Day Saturday -- Candidates for legislation, county and township offices must file with the Washington County Board of Elections by Saturday, April 18, at 6 p. m., according to Walter W. White chairman of the board, who said this week that candidacies filed after that date would not be considered. Each candidate must pay one per cent of the annual salary or fees for their office when they file with the board of elections. Where the fees for such offices are not known, a minimum filing fee of $5 is required. Justices of the peace and other such offices and county commissioners must pay at least $5 for the privilege of being a candidate. Mr. White said those who wish to become candidates may file with him or their nearest board of elections member, or with Mrs. Hermin Ram sey, in Plymouth, between now and Saturday, and he said he would per sonally be at the courthouse all day Saturday to receive notices of can didacies. The books for registration of new voters will be opened on May 2 and on every Saturday thereafter up to and including May 16. The following Saturday, May 23, will be challenge day, and the primary will be held on Saturday, May 30. Registrants who will keep the books open for registering the voters, in clude W. L. Ferbee, of Wenona; Mrs. Hermine Ramsey, of Plymouth; Tom Dillon, of Lees Mill; Mrs. Myrtle A. White, of Skinnersville; and J. A. Combs, of Scuppernong. Other pre cinct officials will be named later. Officers Elected Monday By Merchants Association E. E. Harrell Unanimously Chosen President; A. J. Byrd Vice President; H. H. Allen, Secretary-Treasurer E. E. Harrell, local furniture dealer and town councilman, was unani mously elected president of the Ply mouth Merchants Association for the ensuing year at the monthly meeting t_f the organization held in the coun cil chamber of the municipal building here Monday night. A. J. Byrd, clothing dealer, was re elected vice-president; and H. H. Allen, grocer, was continued as sec retary and treasurer. The organiza tion now has 31 active members. There were about 25 persons present at the meeting Monday. The merchants decided to continue their Wednesday afternoon closings despite the fact that there were five stores in town which remained open last Wednesday afternoon. It is un derstood that some of those who re mained open last Wednesday will close every Wednesday afternoon af ter this. J. R. Manning agreed to have let ters written to all newcomers wel coming them to town for the associa tion. All merchants should hand names and addresses of new arrivals to Mr. Manning. Dave Kulman, R. A. Williford and W. P. Winslow were named on a committee to help in pre paring a letter. The merchants will also make an effort to revive the credit bureau, which operated here for some time but eventually ceased functioning. 200 Firemen o£ East Carolina at Quarterly Meet Tuesday Night HEADS MERCHANTS - Jl E. £. Harrell, Ifurnltufre dealer and town councilman, who was unanimously elected president of the Plymouth Merchants Asso ciation Monday night. Final Exercises for LocalSchool To Get Underway Sunday -.♦> - Sermon at Christian Church To Mark Start of Com mencement Program The commencement exercises of the Plymouth High School start Sun day morning with the sermon to the graduating class at 11 o’clock in the Christian church, to be delivered by the Rev. B. E. Taylor, pastor of the church. Class night exercises will be held in the school auditorium Wednesday night at 8 o’clock. A one-act play, entitled “Spirit of America,” will be presented by the class to the few who will attend because of the lim ited seating capacity. Friday morning, the graduation exercises will be held in the Plym outh Theatre at 11 o’clock. Carl L. Bailey, jr., Claudia Bratten, Lulla dean Jordan and Asa Rogers, mem bers of the graduating class, will speak on patriotic themes. There will be no formal literary address by an outside speaker, as has been cus tomary in the past. The valedictory address (first hon or) will be made by Mary Lillian Campbell; and the salutatory (sec ond honor) will be delivered by Glenna Ange. Marshalls will be Al ton Mayo, Iris White, Helen Harris and Gerald Furbee. Book Donations for Men In Service Sought Friday Plymouth Theatre Designated as Receiving Point Here; Mrs. Lula Jackson Is in Charge of Collection Prsident Franklin D. Roosevelt has proclaimed Friday as Victory Book Day in the United States, and the Plymouth Theatre has been designat ed as local receiving depot for books during the campaign. Those having books to donate can leave them in the lobby of the theatre, and they will be sent to the service men. Mrs. Lula Jackson, librarian of the Washington County Library, will collect the books and see that they get to the men In the service. The general support of the public in contributing books to men in the service will be a great patriotic privi lege, according to Shep Brinkley, manager of the theatre, and Mrs. Jackson, who say that soldiers and sailors in all parts of the world "In lonely hours greet a good oook as a prcious friend.” Governor J. M. Broughton, Mayor B. G. Campbell, local clergymen and educators, are exerting their influ ence and prestige to make this cam paign for books for the men in the service a great success, and every citizen can help to relieve the loneli ness of the men in the service by con tributing good books for them to read. It is believed that citizens here will welcome the opportunity to give a book to the boys in service, according to Mr. Brinkley, who says that the books will be cared for and delivered to the local librarian so that through the proper channels they may get to the men in uniform as quickly as pos sible. Stale Fire Marshall Was Main Speaker; Fish Dinner Served Brockwell Tells of Dangers Facing Firemen in Event Of Air Raids -<*> Brushing aside the serious things of life for a few brief hours, close to 200 members of the Eastern Caro lina Firemen’s Association took over Plymouth last Tuesday night, as they paraded, sang, ate fish and cheered the state's No. 1 fireman, Sherwood Brockwell, of Raleigh, state fire mar shall, through a 41-mlnute speech. Fire Marshall Brockwell told the firemen that the brunt of the war in Great Britain had fallen onto the shoulders of the city and village fire men, and that a fireman’s job during an air raid is just h£ dangerous as that of a man in the armed forces, since the former must bend every ef fort to extinguishing fires and help ing to handle the different kinds of oombs that are dropped. He advised against a feeling of false security brought about by the belief that Eastern North Carolina might not be bombed. He said that since this section lay between the coast and the industrial west, where large plants, oil pipe lines, and rail road terminals might be objectives of air raids, It was well within the dan ger limits. He further pointed out that this section was surrounded on every side by military objectives, such as Camp Davis, Fort Bragg, Eliza beth City blimp base, and other such likely targets. North Carolina lias an area of 54, 000 square miles, while all England has an area of only 58.000 square miles, he said. Whereas most of the British defense forces are concentrat ed in England, such forces in this country are scattered all over the nation, although there are large de fense forces in this particular state. Among the distinguished guests at the meeting here Tuesday were Dick Joyner, of Farmville, president of the North Carolina Firemen’s Associa tion; Judge J. Paul Frizelle, of Snow Hill; Judge Paul Webb, of Morehead City; and Mayor Vivian Darden, of Hertford. James W. Norman, a member oi the Town of Plymouth Council, made the welcome address after Mayor B. G. Campbell was called out on busi ness. Paul D. Roberson, of Rober sonville, responded. Bill Hays, pres ident of the local Lions Club, also made a brief talk. The Plymouth High School Band entertained with music prior to the dinner. A vote of thanks was given to Fire Chief Miller Warren and the local fire department for the dinner of fried perch, rock muddle, potato chips, pickles, deviled-egg and corn bread and soft drinks. It was left up to the executive committee to de termine the place where the firemen will hold their next quarterly meet ing on the second Tuesday night in July. -,»-. Farmers War Board For County in Meet The Washington County members of the Department of Agriculture War Board met in the agriculture building last night to study the hous ing curtailment order issued by the War Production Board and to learn of their duties in certifying the needs of farmers for the purchase of farm trucks. Roy L. Stillman is chairman of the board, the other members of which are W. V. Hays, executive secretary; R. E. Dunning, John H. Allen, S. P. Darden and C. H. Floyd. These men will pass on permits for building farm structures in the future, as well as issue preference rating certificates to farmers who are eligible to purchase new trucks. April Term County Superior Court Is Near Adjournment J. J. Johnson Gets Compro mise Settlement of $1,500 From Lumber Firm The Washington County Superior Court, in session here tills week, pointed toward adjournment today with the trial of a case involving a boundary dispute between M. T. El liott and others and John Halsey and others. Trial of the case start ed yesterday, and it was expected thus morning that it would be fin ished by this afternoon or early Fri day morning. Judge J. Paul Frizelle. of Snow Hill, is presiding over the April term of court, which is a one-week session devoted to the trial of civil matters only. Some of the jurors were paid off Wednesday afternoon and re leased for the term. One jury was held over to hear the Elliott-Halsey case, and it is believed the court will adjourn when this case is concluded. A compromise was reached in the case of J. J. Johnson vs. the Fore man-Blades Lumber Company, of Elizabeth City, in which Johnson charged the firm with breach of a contract. The case was settled by the plaintiff receiving $1,500 in dam ages. Two entire days were devoted to trial of the case before the set time nt was reached. The case of John Towe and wife vs. W. B. Watts was settled by can cellation of a mortgage which Mr. Watts had paid. Divorces were granted to the fol lowing: Max Aubrey Darden from Mary Atamanchuk Darden; Martha Ann Bullock from Joseph N. Bul lock; Jolin M. Cotton from Queenie V. Cotton; James Basnight from Le ora Rowan Basnight. County Board Holds Regular Meeting at Courthouse Monday Consider Routine Matters; Tax Valuation on Some Tracts Reduced --•> The Washington C/.-nty Commis sioners, in their monthly meeting last Monday, named H. R. Stillman, Joe Ambrose and Lovlis Alexander as a committee to investigate the killing of 30 geese belonging to Clyde Smith son by stray dogs. The bond of W. M, Darden, for $5,000, as clerk of the Washington County Superior Court, signed by the National Surety Company, was ap proved by the commissioners. A reduction in the valuation of 111 acres of land, owned by J. C. Tarken ton, was made, from $1,390 to $1,110. The lumber on the land had been cut. Reductions were ordered in the val uations of land owned by the North Carolina Pulp Company, as follows: 300 acres of Conklin land in Plym outh Township, reduced to $2,880; 105 acres of Garrett’s land in Lees Mill Township, $840: Clara E. Snell land, being Nelson, Downing, Holton Downing and Brinkley tracts, 251 acres, valued at $2,510; 30 acres of Clara E. Snell home tract, $300; and the pulp company also listed 50 acres of Clara E. Snell land at $150. Mrs. Mattie Swain, Ida Ruth Knowles, Katherine Harrison and Catherine Midgett were named to be gin compiling the tax books in June. A contract was renewed with Greathouse and Butler for auditing the books of the county from July 1, 1941, to June 30, 1942. Plan Field Day at Creswell Tuesday -® Tlie annual field day for the Cres well school will be held next Tuesday, April 21, beginning with a parade by the high school band at 10:30. ac cording to an announcement by Prin cipal A. T. Brooks. Immediately following the band parade, a concert will be given on the school campus at 10:45. A minstrel is planned at 11:30, and a flower show will be held from 12 to 1 o’clock. A May pole dance will be held at 1:30 and the May queen will be crowned at 1:45. Pre-School Clinic Here April 20th By S. V. LEWIS, M.D. District Health Officer A pre-school clinic will be held in the Plymouth High School building April 20, 1942, for the purpose of examining all child ren who are to begin school the coming school year. The clinic will begin at 10 o’clock In the morning and continue through out the day. It is hoped that each child who is to begin school next year will be present and that the mother or father, and if possible both, will accompany Utt child to the clinic. Politics Continue at Low Ebb in County; But One New Candidate Has Announced Since Last Week All Local Teachers Reelected lor Next Term Except One, Who Has Resigned At the present time only one change Is in prospect for the tea ching staff of the white schools in Plymouth next term, as the local school board in session here recently re-elected the entire fa culty with the one exception of Miss Hilda Eakers, who handed in her written resignation sever al days prior to the meeting of the board. Principal R. B. Trotman, who has done a good job in the local schools, was re-elected to begin his sixth year when schools open next September for the 1942-43 term. Others re-elceted were: L. W. Zeigler, Thelma Getsinger Bar den, Elrie Irene Dixon, Louis Man From Roanoke' Rapids Fatally Hurt At Pulp Plant Here -<§> E. Frank Cagel Died Fri day in Hospital After Accident Thursday E. Frank Cagel, 49, of Roanoke Rapids, who was employed as a brick worker at the plant of the North Car olina Pulp Company here, was fa tally injured last Thursday after noon, when he fell about 10 feet from a ladder landing to a boiler base there. He died in a Rocky Mount hospital Friday afternoon, al most 24 hours after he was first injured. Dr. T. L. Bray, who attended him, said that the man received a crush ing injury to the pelvis, according to a preliminary examination which he made before Mr. Cagel was taken to a Rocky Mount hospital. Dr. Bray said today that he had not heard from the hospital as yet, regarding any complications or other injuries which may have caused death. Mr. Cagel did not lose conscious ness at the time he was injured, and although he was seriously hurt, he called his wife in Roanoke Rapids and told her that he was being tak en to a hospital in Rocky Mount. Tire little information available here was to the effect that Mr. Cagel was married, but it was not known how many children he had. His body was taken from the Rocky Mount hospital to his home at Roanoke Rapids for the final rites. It is understood that Mr. Cagel had been employed by the local plant as a brick worker for several months. No details concerning the accident could be secured here. ■-® 8 Boys From Here Will Attend Annual Boy Scout Camporee Scheduled Friday, Saturday And Sunday at Roan oke Rapids -® Eight Boy Scouts of the Plymouth troop, at a special meeting held Mon day night, definitely stated their in tention of attending along with 2,000 other Boy Scouts and Scouters of the East Carolina Council, the annual camporee that will be held in Roa noke Rapids Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The scouts will have on the pro gram at the camporee such favorites of the sporting world as Bobby Fell [er, a star pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, now doing service in the U. S. Navy; Sam Chapman, shortstop for the Philadelphia Athletics; and Governor J. M. Broughton as well as others. Those expecting to make the trip from here include Jimmy Winesette, patrol leader; Ralph Basnight, as sistant patrol leader; Glenn Jones, Junior Leggett, Jerry Polk, Bill Rob bins, Robert Swain and Joseph Swin dell. Scoutmaster B. E. Taylor, pastor of the Christian Church, said today that he would be unable to accompany the scouts but that arrangements were being made to get an older man or an older scout to drive the truck which the boys are expected to use in mak ing the trip. Twelve scout districts make up the East Carolina Council which covers troops in 21 counties East of Raleigh. Representatives from 177 troops are expected to attend the camporee. The camp site is adjacent to the junior senior high school building at Roa noke Rapids. Many scout officials of the East Carolina Council will attend T. W. Earle of Plymouth, is dis trict chairman for the Albemarle dis trict, of which the Plymouth troop is a member. Trunzo, VV. S. Moore, Ruth Eve lyn McLemore, Annie L. James, Mrs. Harry Gtirkin, Mrs. R. E. Dunning. Eva Bateman, Moll'e Lou Edgerton, Marion Hazel Al len, McCain Marrow, Katherine Brandon, Ethel Clyde Perry, Mary Frances Turnage, Ella Har per. Leta Tripp Liverman, Mrs. Katherine Harrison, Mrs. Irma Hough, and Gladys Rountrye. The attendance figures indi cate that the school will main tain the present allotment of tea chers for next year. With 24 men and women instructing the 72 children this term, a record was set in number of teachers that the school has had at work any term. W. Blount Rodman, young at torney of Plymouth last w -ek an nounced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination to suc ceed himself as solicitor of the recorder’s court. 300 Gather Here To See '32 Men Off for Army Last Tuesday County’s Largest Quota So Far; School Band Plays Patriotic Selections -$> A crowd of 300 or more persons gathered downtown Tuesday morning to bid farewell to the largest contin gent of men to leave Washington County during the present conflict to enter the armed forces of the Na tion, and the Plymouth High School band played several patriotic selec tions for the occasion. There were friends and loved ones to tell the future soldiers good-bye, as well as many townsfolk who, by their presence, paid tribute to the large group of men from this county who were entering the service of their country. Because some of those selected by the selective service board to fill this county’s quota for April had already joined other branches of the armed forces, there were only 32 to leave Tuesday morning. There was an error made by the bus company in the date that the local men were to leave, which caus ed a delay, b.ut the men were taken to Jamesville, where they were trans fered to another and larger bus and taken to Fort Bragg near Fayette ville for induction. William Worthing Dixon was plac ed in charge of the men and was • See 32 TO ARMY, Page 6) W. T. Freeman Oui For Representative; Two Contests So Far Last-Minute Rush Expected To Develop Saturday, When Filing Ends W. T. Freeman was the only new candidate to announce for office this week, making public Wednesday his intention to filing with the Washing ton County Board of Elections as a candidate for the office of Represen tative to the General Assembly, sub ject to the action of the Democratic primary on Saturday, May 30. A last-minute rush is expected Sat urday, when the filing time for can didates for all county offices closes at 6 p. m. Anyone who waits until that hour to file notice of their can didacy will find that they have only wasted their time. So far, only two contests have de veloped for county offices. Mr. Free man will oppose Edward L. Owens, who two weeks ago announced his candidacy for the office of represen tative, subject to the Democratic pri mary. The other contest is that be tween Edw. S. Blount and J. K. Reid for sheriff, the latter being the in cumbent. County Democrats will al so choose between Richard T. Foun tain, of Rocky Mount, and Josiah W. Bailey, of Raleigh, for United States Senator; and there are three candidates for the first district nom ination for Representative in Con gress: Herbert C. Bonner, incumbent, of Washington; Marvin K. Blount and Jack Edwards, of Greenville. Up to noon today there had been [ no announcement by anyone for the nomination as member of the county board of education to succeed R. C. Peacock, of Roper, whose term ex pires in May, 1943. It is not defi nitely known whether Mr. Peacock will run again. There have been no announcements yet for the three Places on ‘he bawd ot county commissioners, and' It is not known whether members of the present board, E. G. Arps, of Plym outh; J. C. Knowles, of Roper; and E. P. Swain, of Creswell, will again be candidates. Incumbents in the following offices have announced their candidacies to succeed themselves and are so far unopposed; W. M. Darden, clerk of superior court; W. Ronald Gaylord, judge of recorder's court; and W. Blount Rodman, solicitor of recorder’s court. So far there are no candidates for the office of treasurer, now filled by W. Linwood Hassell, who. it is un derstood, will be a candidate for re election. There have been no indications so far that there will be any tickets for township constables and justices of the peace. Heretofore, these offices have usually been filled by legisla tive appointment. It is believed the Republicans will offer a complete slate of candidates, but since no opposition is expected it will not be necessary for them to enter a primary. The general elec tion will be held on the first Tues day after the first Monday In No vember. -* Firm Here Contracts for 581 Acres of Cucumbers -<*>-—— Contracts have been made in Washington, Bertie and Tyrrell Counties with farmers to raise about 581 acres of cucumbers for delivery to the C. C. Lang & Son., Inc., re ceiving station here, according to W. S. Respass, manager. Arrangements have been made for the production of cucumbers on 302 acres in Washington County; 156 acres in Tyrrell County; and 123 acres in Bertie County. The plant here is being put into readiness to receive the cucumbers jwhen the season opens in May or June. 25 White Men Called for Army Service Next Month Will Be Chosen From Those Previously Classified; To Leave Here Thursday, May 14, for Fort Bragg A new official call has been receiv ed by the local selective service board asking that 25 white men be sent from Washington County to Port Bragg, near Fayetteville, on May 14 for induction into the armed forces of the United States. The men will be selected from among those who have previously been classified. They will be examin ed here, but when they reach Port Bragg they will be re-examined by army doctors and then inducted if they are found physically fit. This will make a total of about 350 men in the various branches of the armed forces from this county, and it is believed that out of a total popu lation of about 13,000 persons, this county has been furnishing well over its proportionate part of men for the service of their country. There are now about 2.365 per sons on the selective service rolls in this county. In the first registration on October 16, 1940 there were 1,593 to register; in the second, on July 1, 1941, there were 70 persons to re gister; and in the third registration, on February 16, 1942, there were 702 persons to register. A large number of those who are now in the armed services are vol unteers in the Army, Navy and Ma rine Corps, but the major portion of those who have entered service went through the channel! of selective ser vice.