North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon + * 4. * jf + * and Washington County News ★★★★★★★ VOLUME LIV—NUMBER 2 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, January 14, 1943 warn MAKE RVEBY PAY DAY I BOND DAY I no t» <wtou M3m« rum ESTABLISHED 188Q OWN OPICS The car of W. T. Freeman was stolen Saturday night from the streets here but located undamaged several hours later. He left the car parked on Washington Street beside the Norman Furniture store, and issued it about 7:45. After search ing for several hours, the car was found parked on the same street in front of the draft board office about midnight. The squirreli hunting season comes to a close Friday, and many sportsmen have been tak ing their farewell hunts this week. The ban on pleasure driv ing is having its effect, but some hunters are taking off on foot from their homes, and they are getting plenty of exercise if not game. It’s Sergeant William R. Gaylord now, if you please. Promoted to corporal only about three weeks ago, news was received here this week that he had advanced another grade. Elected judge of the recorder’s court last November and given leave by the county commissioners for the dura tion, Sergeant Gaylord is in the Ar my Air Corps, stationed at Camp Luna, Las Vegas, N. Mex. The ration board urges applicants to be sure to give correct mailing ad dresses. A great many allotments of tires, kerosene, etc., are being return ed to the office because of incorrect addresses. Where two families live at the same house, it is recommend ed that mail addressed to one be sent in care of the other. Local stores will begin closing at 9 o’clock Saturday nights, be ginning next week. It was learn ed this morning that 24 of the approximately 30 members of the merchants association have agreed to this, and the 9 o’clock closing hour will become effective Saturday, January 23. Not a single signature had been record ed in opposition up to this time. Pfc. Nathan W. Spruill, jr., for merly of Roper, was last week pro moted to corporal in the Quarter master Corps at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonia, Texas. Corporal Spru ill is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan W. Spruill, sr„ of near Roper. - Mrs. W. S. (Bill) Davenport and little daughter, Betty returned last Monday after - spending about three months on the West Coast with Mr. Davenport, who is attending a Naval Technical School at San Francisco. Mrs. Davenport and daughter are now living with her parents, Mr. and Mj?„ R, I. Collins, at MacKeys. E. S. (Ted) Blount, chief ob server for the aircraft warning post to be erected here said this morning that 22 persons had volunteered for service as observ ers. Other volunteers are needed and they are urged to give their names to Mr. Blount as soon as possible. Chief Air Raid Warden P. W. Brown said today that work was ex pected to get underway on the ob servation tower here the latter part of the week. It will be located on the Hampton lot, and should be in operation in about a week. -® Draft Board Begins Task Reclassifying Farmers of County 37 Placed in Class 2-C at Recent Meetings; Others To Be Considered -® The Washington County Selective Service Board has begun the task of reclassifying county farmers who are subject to provisions of the selective service act. So far only men with out dependents have been considered, and a total of 37 of them have been placed in class 2-C, which means that they are considered as essential farmers and deferred from military service for the present time. Men in this class are not deferred for any definite period of time, but in a number of “border-line” cases the men were classed as ‘2-C, Con ditional,” which means that they have six months in which to increase their acreages of essential crops or number of livestock to bring their total war units up to 16, as required of farmers in the “C” classification. Men given the conditional classifica tion were given the benefit of doubt when the number of war units they were entitled to were within a frac tion of the 16 required. Included in the 37 already classi fied as 2-C are 32 white and 5 colored farmers, as follows: White: John P. Carter, jr, Hubert L. Dunbar, Dennis R. Oliver, Charles M. Hassell, Walter S. Bowen, Charles W. Snell, jr., Heber Alligood, Grady Modlin, Luther N. Allen, Archibald J. Craddock, Henry H. Wynn, Lloyd A. Norman, Walter A. Grimes, Rich ard H. Lucas, George L. Chesson, Al fred G. Alexander. Frederick G. Simpson, Louis T. Gurganus, Joseph E. Swain, Hubert R. Chesson, Grady W. Biggs, Chester A. Davenport, Ir ving W. Ambrose, Lehman P. Am brose, Hallie A. Davenport, Archie G. Barber, Harry P. Swain, James R. Reddick, Thomas W. Spruill, Charles W. Spruill, Edison W. Patrick, Willie H. Spruill. ' Colored: Walter J. Norman, Wil lie E. Smlthwick, Gurvis L. Bryant, Lewrenoe Norman, and John Owens. Draft Quota for January 26 Reduced 20 Per Cent, From 75 to 60 While Men The local selective service board has received a 20 per cent reduction in the call for white men to report at Fort Bragg for examination and possible induc tion on January 26. This re duces the number to be called up from 75 to 60, according to the secretary. Orders to report at the office here January 26 for the Fort Bragg trip will be sent out Saturday to the 60 men. Mrs. Eliza Daniel, secretary to the board, said yesterday that she had been advised of the ac ceptance of at least 22 of the 44 Roper Youth Helped Bomb Japs in Pacific SURPRISE VISITOR Corporal Joseph E. White, son of Mrs. Matttie V. White, of Roper, recently spent a few days at home after nearly a year with the famous 19th Bombardment Squadron in Australia. Officers Here to Aid In Enforcing Ban on Driving for Pleasure -® No Violations Yet Reported To Office of Local Ra tioning Board -® Local police and law enforcement officers, including state highway pa trolmen, have been issued specific instructions to begin checking auto mobiles in an effort to see that the “no pleasure driving” order issued last week by the Office c" Price Ad ministration is strictly observed in this section. Tire officers are being furnished small slips of paper to be handed to drivers suspected of vio lating the ban summoning them to appear before their local rationing board to show cause why their gas ration should not be cancelled. Mrs. J. K. Reid, secretary to the local rationing board, said yesterday that so far no reports of violations had been received at the office of the board; but is was reported here yes terday that an OPA investigator was (See DRIVING BAN, Page 4) Clinics Planned for Horses and Mules -<s By W. V. HAYS, County Agent To all Washington County farm ers: Tire war has eliminated new tractors, and the price of horses and mules is almost prohibitive. This makes it more important than ever before that our work stock have pro per attention to feeding, manage ment, treatment for internal para sites and that their teeth are in con dition to eat. A cooperative arrangement has been worked out between the state veterinarian and Dr. A. J. Osteen, of Williamston, and Washington Coun ty, whereby horse and mule clinics will be held in four different sec tions of the county beginning at Plymouth next Monday, January 18. At these clinics work stock will be examined free of charge and recom mendations made for treatment. Dr. Osteen will be prepared to do dental work, administer treatment for in ternal parasites when necessary and do minor surgical operations such as bad feet, warts etc. The charge for his services and medicine will be nominal. Remember these clinics will be held only in the afternoons. The sche dule is as follows: Plymouth, Joe Shugar's stable, 1 p. m., Monday, January 18; Roper, W. W. Mizell’s Gin, 1 p m., Tuesday, January 19; Skinnersville, Hubert Davenport's Store at Davenport Porks, 1 p. m., Wednesday, January 20; Cherry, Company Mill, 1 p. m., Thursday, January 11. colored men sent to Fort Bragg Friday of last week. Several others were held over for further examination when the 22 accept ed returned Saturday for their 7 day furloughs, and she indicated some of them were probably ac cepted for service. This county continues to have a record of better than 50 per cent of its colored selectees be ing accepted, which is higher than most other counties in the section. In some of them, the percentages of rejections are running 80 per cent and over. Home on Surprise Visil; Served With Famous Squadron Joined 19th Bombardment Group in Australia After Fall of Philippines -® Mrs. Mattie V. White, of Roper was very agreeably surprised during the Christmas season, when her son. Cor poral Joseph E. White, of the United States Army Air Service, arrived at home December 29 for an unexpected visit. Mrs. White did not even know that her son, who has seen consider able action both in the air and on the ground in Australia and New Guinea during the past year, was in the United States when he walked in unannounced and remained home for a few days before returning to duty. Corporal White enlisted in Janu ary of last year, when he was only 18 years of age and he remained in this country only about a month be fore he was sent to Australia. He was assigned to the famous 19th Bombardment Group, which had seen action in the Philippines before it was moved to Australia. Captain Colin Kelly was attached to this out fit and was its first officer kiled in action. Corporal White was the tail gun ner on a B-17 “Flying Fortress,” and saw plenty of action in the Solomon Islands area. He was also in both the first and second Coral Sea bat tles, when the Japs launched their invasion on New Guinea and, as his mother says, “helped bomb hell out of them.” In addition the young man was engaged in some ground action, where he escaped injury, although he had his wrist watch shot off and a quick dive into a shallow trench was all that saved his life. While at home he expressed a desire to re turn to action as soon as his leave expired. He made no statements as to what unit he would report to, but he seemed to be anxious to get back into the fight. Corporal White is a graduate of the Roper High Cchool, where he was very active in basket ball and all other sports. It was announced in Washington January 7th that the 19th Bombard ment Squadron that day received its fourth citation as a unit, although what exploit brought the citation to this most-decorated outfit of the war was not explained. Individual deco rations were made for aerial bomb ing raids on last August 7, 9 and 12 on the Japanese base at Rabaul, New Britain. The 19th had previously received its third citation as a unit for raids which were in the nature of a cover ing operation for the Marine land ings on Guadalcanal. In fact, the raids may have been the key to the successes of the American landings in the Solomons, destroying Jap shipping, facilities and planes which otherwise might have been used in attacking American transports un "^SeTROPER^YOimirPagr 6) -® Tax Listing Shows More Rapid Speed County Tax Supervisor Ed. P. Swain, of Creswell, in town yester day, said that listing had picked up considerably throughout the county in the last week. He would make no estimate as to the percentage of pro perty listed to date, but said that the work was further advanced than usual at this time. The supervisor stated that so far as he knew at this time, there would be no extension granted, and all taxpayers are warn ed to have their property listed be fore the first of February to avoid penalties. Mr. Swain also said it was not ne cessary to report anticipated plant ings this year, as previously reported. Crop acreages for the past year must be listed, but not for the coming season. In former years it was cus omary to get this information, but when the time for listing was chang ed from April I to January 1, the practice was abandoned. Restrictions Placed On Mail for Men in U.S .Army Overseas Newspapers and Packages Principally Affected; Ef fective January 15 The Post Office Department, through the local postmaster, John W. Darden, this week announced that a number of restrictions would become effective Friday, January 15, on mail addressed to men in the Army through APO's overseas. The res trictions apply only to personnel of the Army and are not effective on mail addressed to men in the Navy. Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Ir was explained that the volume of mail addressed to overseas desti nations must be kept to a minimum, due to limited facilities available at present. The restrictions will apply princi pally to the mailing of newspapers and packages. No newspapers will be accepted for dispatch to APO’s outside the continental United States except from publishers where sub scriptions are specifically requested in writing by the addresse or for which subscriptions are now in effect. This means that relatives may no longer mail copies of newspapers themselves to men overseas who receive their mail through Army post offices. Fu ture subscriptions must be requested by the men themselves in writing to the newspapers they wish to receive. This does not apply to those over seas who are already subscribers. No parcel of more than 5 pounds in weight, or more than 15 inches in length, or more than 36 inches in length and girth combined will be accepted for overseas mailing through APO’s. Even packages con forming to these sizes will not be ac cepted unless they contain only such articles as are being sent at the spe cific written request of the addressee, approved by the batallion or similar unit commander of the addressee. V-mail will be transmitted to all APO’s overseas and transported by airplane when such facilities are available. Regular mail prepaid at the air-mail rate will be transported by airplane as far as the port of em barkation, but the War Department advises that no assurance can be given that such letters, other than V-mail, will be sent by_ airplane from ports of embarkation* to localities overseas served by V-mail No circular matter of the thud class will be dispatched to APO’s overseas. In order to mail a package to a soldier who receives his mail through an APO overseas, the following pro cedure is necessary: The individual desiring to receive a parcel must in clude in his written request a general 'See OVERSEAS MAIL, Page 4) -<5> Merchants To Lend Aid To War Effort -® The Plymouth Merchants Associa tion, at its regular meeting Monday night, delegated a committee to se cure information that will enable members to join with storekeepers throughout the nation in keeping patriotic campaigns and undertak ings b e fo r e the general public throughout the year 1943. Several local merchants expressed their will ingness to devote at least one show window continuously to advertising various features of the salvage cam paign, sale of War Bonds and Stamps, and such other patriotic movements as may be undertaken during the year. The government’s request to short en store hours in order to conserve fuel was discussed at some length, and all of the 14 members present were in favor of doing anything con sidered reasonabe to help. However, store hours here have already been shortened about as much as possible at this time, although the 14 present did agree to close at 9 o’clock on Saturday nights instead of 10, pro vided a majority of the membership accepted such a plan. Absent mem bers are being canvassed, and if agreeable to a majority, local stores will begin closing an hour earlier Saturday night of next week. Fur ther notice will be given in the Bea con next Thursday. Loi Tobacco Seed Improperly Kepi Farm Agent W. V. Hays said today that a good many county farmers have brought in tobacco seed for cleaning before sowing their plant beds this year. Some of the seed have been stored in tightly fastened fruit jars, he said, and it is considered doubt ful that they will germinate, as they have a decidedly moldy odor. Even if they do germinate, they may not have sufficient vi tality to withstand cold weather, frost, and especially blue mold, according to the agent. Mr. Hays advises that in the future tobac co seed should be kept in cloth bags in a dry well-ventilated room. Creswell Youth Reported Missing In Action; Second From County To Be Lost During Present War State Purchase of Elmhurst Land tor Relocating Test Farm Hot Completed Although several stories have appeared in newspapers to the effect that the State has com pleted negotiations for relocating the Blackland Experiment sta tion on the Elmhurst Farm near Roper, it was learned from thoroughly reliable sources here yesterday that the deal has not yet been closed, although con ferences are still being held to iron out technicalities which are holding up the matter. Removal of the many activities carried on at the VV'enona sta tion is being made necessary by ground fires which damaged much of the area. Some of these fires have burned for upwards of two years, and in some cases the peat soil has been destroyed to a depth of 18 inches or more. A committee was appoint d by the state agriculture board last summer, with instructions to se lect a site somewhere in this sec tion for relocating the Black land farm. After looking over a number of farms, the Elmhurst site was selected as most suitable by the commission and negitia tions begun for purchase or lease. Although the deal has not been completed, agreement has been reached except for a few tech nicalities; and if they are cleared up. it is believed the matter will go through in the near future. Grand Jury Criticizes Condition of Buildings Recommendations For Improvement Submitted to Court Number Schools and Court house Said Not Kept Properly Cleaned -V The Washington County grand jury, making its report to Judge E. Everett Thompson, of Elizabeth City, in superior court here this week was very critical of conditions found ex isting in a number of county-owned buildings, including the courthouse and numerous schools. That the group had made an exhaustive in vestigation is shown by the fact that specific recommendarions for correc tion were made. Few departments of the county government totally escaped criticism and suggested reforms, but a majority of the suggestions were directed to the county commissioners and board of education. The jury closed its report with the comment that like recommendations in the past had been ‘filed and forgotten,” and after asking if failure to comply did not constitute contempt of court, request ed that previous reports be presented to the court and non-compliance “be dealt with according to their value and importance.” In addition to reporting on con ditions found in various county-own ed buildings, the group cited a num ber of justices of the peace for fail ure to file monthly reports as requir ed by law. One of the justices so cited, W. H. Peele, of Plymouth, filed his report later in the day Monday and turned over to the clerk fines collected up to that date. Although criticism was leveled at several agencies, the jury took oc casion to commend the work being done by certain others, including the keeper of the county home, county garade, school lunch rooms under the supervision of the state health de partment,%nd the people at large for the little crime reported in the conn ty. The grand jury was composed of the following: J. C. Swain, foreman: J. P. Porter, J. W. Presswood, W. C. Sexton, Archie W. Tetterton, Roy C. Chesson, A. B. Davenport. T. H. Da vis, E. L. Davis, William C, Spruill, E. J. Spruill, L. E. Woodley, Gray Alexander, A. J. Davenport, C. L. Everett, Louis E. Furlough. Roy T Hopkins, C. L. Hufton. The complete text of the report, which was signed by J. C. Swain, foreman, is as follows: We the Gand Jury submit the fol lowing report: Item I—The Grand Jury passed on all bills of indictment presented to us by the solicitor. From the small number of bills it appears to us there is very little crime in the county. The citizenship should be commend ed. Item II—Plymouth High School and Hampton Academy: These buildings are in a bad state of re pair. All wash-rooms do not have sufficient urinals, stools or wash basins for the number of children enrolled. In our opinion the whole set-up should be dismantled and sufficient wash-room facilities in stalled to take care of the growing needs. Every class room snould be painted and new curtains installed Members of the school faculty co operating with parents and pupils are enlieavoring to solicit funds to have this work done We are of the opinion the board of education should take care of this item. On the east end of the building exit, bricks are loose over the arch causing a very dangerous hazard from falling bricks. Item III — Plymooth Colored School : There are a number of leaks in the roof but is now under going repairs. Several windowlights which are out should be replaced. The toilet facilities are maintained in poor manner inadequate for the (See GRAND JURY, Page 2> Air-Raid Picture At Roper Tonight A meeting nil be held at Roper High School tonight (Thursday) to arouse interest in reactivating the aircraft warning post there, according to P. W. Brown, chief air-raid warden for this county. Lieutenant R. E. Manchee, of the Army Air Corps, will be there and show a movie dealing with this phase of Civilian Defense work. The public is invited and Roper people are urged to attend. Chief Brown said that gaso line could be used to attend the meeting, as it is classed as part of the war effort and attendance is not necessarily “pleasure,' al though a movie will be shown. Red Cross Nursing Classes To Begin in County Next Week -- Two Classes in Plymouth: One Each in Creswell And Roper -® Four classes in home nursing, to be conducted by Miss Christine Corn well, of the American Red Cross, will be launched in Washigton County next week, with a fifth class to be organized and started as soon as it is determined in which sestion there is most demand for it, accordin to Mrs. Robert B. Trotman, county chirman of Red Cross home nursing. Arrangements are complete for be ginning two classes in Plymouth and one each in Roper and Creswell. Those who wish to enroll in the four classes are requested to give their names to their respective local committees immediately. The en rollment must be complete when the first classes are held as it will be im possible to enroll after that time Each class meets twice a week for a two-hour session. The schedule and committee members are as follows: In Plymouth, one class will be held Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8 to 10 p. m. in the Legion Hail, The other class will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9:30 to 11:30 a. m., at the county home. The commit- | tee Is composed of Mrs. Robert B. Trotman, chairman: Mrs. T. L. Bray, Mrs. S. V. Lewis, and Miss Marie Farley. The sub-committee is com posed of Mrs. W. A. Davidson and Mrs. W. H. Smith, for the town: and Mrs. George Curry, for the Village. At Roper, the class will be held each Monday and Friday, from 2 to 4 p. m.. in the community building. Mrs. J. F. Leary is chairman of the committee, which also incldes Mrs. C. L Walker and Mrs. A R Hooker. In Creswell, the class will meet ev ery Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to J 4 p. m., in the school building. Mrs. W B Gaither is chairman of the committee and Mrs. Betty Davenport and Mrs. Mary Armstrong are the other two members. The fifth class will be held at a point to be designated later, as soon \ as it is determined where it is most! needed. The Red Cross home nursing course teaches the practical facts and pro cedure essential in safeguarding, the health of the individual and the j family and in giving home nursing 1 care under the guidance of a phy sician in ordinary illness in the home. It does not prepare anyone j to care for the sick for hire. A cer- j tiflcate will be given to those who complete the course. Bosie Bateman, Son Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Bateman, on Juneau -® Cruiser Sunk Near Guadal canal During Night Bat tle in Mid-November -s Bosie Aydlett Bateman, the 23 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. H R. Bateman, of Creswell, this week became the second Washington County service man to be reported "missing in action" since the United States entered the w-ar December 7. 1941. His parents received a brief message from the Navy Department simply stating that he was missing, but giving no details. However, the young seaman was last reported on the light cruiser "Juenau,” which the Navy Department this wek announc ed was lost in the big naval battle with the Japanese in the vicinity of Guadalcanal in mid-November, and it is suposed that he was lost at that time. Tlie yotmg man, widely known as Bosie Bateman, was a star athlete at Creswell High School, where he grad uated in 1941 He was an outstand ing student, winning one award for scholarship and two others for his ability as a basketball and baseball player in his senior year. He enlist ed in the Navy on May 13, 194’ most immediately after gi~v.uoi.ing from school, and received his train ing in Norfolk. He was last home on June 17th of last year, and his par ents continued to hear from him un til sometime in October Universally popular, the news that he was miss ing cast a pall of sadness over the community when it was received this week. Young Bateman was 22 years old last June. He was born and raised in Creswell, where his father was fire man at the school for many years. He was a member of the Episcopal church there. Besides his parents, he is survived by two sisters. Retha T an° end Mart- Uve^r ' two brothers. Monroe and''rienrv Ba'e man. all of whom live in Creswell ex cept the last-named brother, who has been in the Army at Port Bragg since last June. The young man's father, H. R Bateman, is now employed at the plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company here, and in an interview yesterday stated he had little hope that his son had been picked up but not reported by one of the accom panying vessels, although reminded that such cases have several times occurred in other naval actions dur ing this war. He said that., young Bateman was a spendid swimmer and could remain afloat for consider able lengths of time. The “Juneau” w'as a 6,000-ton cruiser of the '‘Atlanta” class and’ • i^ee~MISSING~YOUTHr?age~6>~' -S: George L. Marriner Passes Suddenly al His Home in Roper Victim of Sudden Heart At tack Monday Morning; Funeral Wednesday -® George Lee Marriner, well known citizen of the Roper community, died suddenly at his home there Monday morning about 6 o'clock. He had not been ill and his death came as a shock to relatives and friends throughout the county, where he was widely known and well liked. He suffered a sudden heart attack and died before a physician could reach him. Born March 22, 1891, the son of the late G. H. and Rosie Peacock, of Roper, he was nearly 52 years of age. He lived practically all of his life in the Roper section of Wash ington County except for about three years when he lived in Belhaven. He returned to the county about two years ago from Belhaven and has since been employed at the plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company at Plymouth. He was an active mem ber of the Free Will Baptist church at Roper. About 25 years ago he was married to Miss Emma Chesson. of Roper, who survives him. Besides hLs widow. Mrs. Emma Chesson Marriner, of Roper, Mr. Marriner leaves one daughter, Mrs. Leigh Lahab, of Belhaven; a son, Robert C. Marriner, of Baltimore, Md.: one sister, Mrs. W. H. Cooper, of Great Bridge, Va.; and two bro thers. J. J. Marriner,of Williamston Funeral services were held Wednes day afternoon at 2 o'clock at the late home by the Rev. A. J. Mackie. of Belhaven. assisted by the Rev. G. C. Wood, of Roper. Interment fol lowed in the Belhaven cemetery. Pall-bearers were J. J. Hassell. Henry Tarkington, Barton Sawin, R C. Peacock, Lewis Mizelle.and H, L.