The Roanoke Beacon » * » » » » » and Washington County News ******* VOLUME LIV—NUMBER 18 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, May 6, 1943 ESTABLISHED 1889 IW Victory •• Bury WfTED STATES DEFENSE BONDS * STAMPS OWN OPICS Chief of Police P W. Brown said today that there were about 15 dogs in the city pound and unless the own ers call for them within the next week, they will be disposed of. Town policemen have been rounding up stray dogs for the past week or two. It was learned today that J. Nor man Mayo, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Mayo here, graduated from the United States Navy Midshipman’s school in Chicago last Saturday and was given his commission as ensign. It is understood that he has been ordered to Rhode Island and assign ed for training with a PT (torpedo) boat squadron. A Navy Recruiter will be at the post office in Plymouth to day and tomorrow to interview 17-year-olds who are interested in volunteering: for service with the Navy. Boys between 17 and 18 years of age are urged to see him while he is here. Members of tire Aletheian Society of Woman's College, UNC, at Greens boro, entertained their guests at the annual society formal dance there last Saturday evening. Miss Char lotte Jones, of Plymouth, one of the committee chairmen, was escorted by Wilford Whitley, also of Plymouth. “Col." W. T. Freeman will conduct an auction sale of household and kitchen furniture, farm implements and mules on the lot at the rear of C. E. Ayers’ office Saturday after noon at 2 o'clock, he announced this week. An advertisement in this pa per gives more information about the sale. An important meeting the the local Boy Scout troop will be held Friday night at 8 .lock, it was announced today by Scoutmaster B. E. Taylor. The district camporee at YVilliamston May 14, 15, 1C will be discussed, a.id those who wish to attend must register by Saturday. It was learned here yesterday that ' j. W. Zeigler had resigned his posi tion with the local school and will go to work at the glider base in Eden ton with the Civil Service Commis sion next Monday. In his seven years here as director of the local school band, he is credited with hav ing developed a splendid organiza tion, and he has many friends who regret to learn that he does not plan to return next term. More than 200 dogs have been vaccinated here in the past two weeks, it was learned at the police department, Vacciretion against ra bies is required by state law, and owners are advised to have their dogs treated at once. People who live in the country may have their dogs vac cinated by bringing them to police headquarters here any Friday or Saturday afternoon, it was stated. E. Clyde Hassell, member of the Hassell Brothers Bakery firm, who has been ill for several weeks, was able to be down town for a short while Tuesday. However, he does not expect to return to work for about two more weeks, or around May 17. Byrd’s Clothing Store At New Location Next Week -$ A. J. Byrd, owner of Byrd’s Cloth ing store, announced this week that he had rented the Mizelle building on Water Street, next to the Legion Hall, formerly occupied by Scherr’s Department Store, and would move to the new location Wednesday and Thursday of next week. At present his store is located next to the post office on Washington Street. Mr, Byrd announces that his store will be closed both Tuesday and Wednesday, while he is moving, and he will open for business in his new quarters Friday morning. Revival Begins Sunday At Woodley’s Chapel -<«> The Rev. M. L. Ambrose will begin a revival meeting Sunday night at Woodley's Chapel, near Johnson Spruill’s store, in the New Land sec tion. Everyone is invited and urged to attend and help make it a success ful meeting. -$ Pvt. James H. Skidmore At Signal Corps School Camp Murphy, Fla.—Private James H. Skidmore, son of Mrs. G. T. Skid more, of Plymouth, has been en rolled in a special course of instruc tion at the Signal Corps’ school at Camp Murphy. Private Skidmore was selected for this specialized training on the basis of his aptitude. Patriotic Rally Day Being Planned Here County Tops Its April Bond Quota The maturity value of all bonds sold In Washington Coun ty last month was $178,525, ac cording to II. E. Beam, county bond sale chairman, against the county quota of $134,900. How ever, the county only gets credit for the issue value of bonds, and that amounted to $158,241.75, or $23,341.75 over the quota for April. Sales were divided among the several series as follows: Series E, $48,993.75; scries F, $11,248; 7/8 Per Cent Certificates, $31, 000; 2'A Per Cent Certificates, $37,000; and tax anticipation notes, $30,000. For the month of May, the county has been assigned a quota of $21,243. Sales so far this month are around $4,000, Mr. Beam said. Only series E bonds will count against the May quo ta. Red Cross Provides Grants for Victims Of Recent Tornado -® E. L. Davenport Allowed $1,841 Toward Erection Of New Home -® Several victims of the tornado which swept through this section April 12 were notified this week that substantial grants had been made by the American Red Cross to assist them in rebuilding their homes. On ly one of those granted aid. E. L. Davenport, lives in this county, all of the others being in the Angetown section of Martin county, just across the line from Washington. John W. Darden, chairman of the Washington County chapter of the Red Cross, was his week advised thau the national ohupii.' had ap proved a total allowance of $1,841 toward building a home for Mr. Davenport, $1,241 of which is for material and $600 for labor. The home Mr. Davenport lost in the storm was an eight-room two-story frame structure; and while the contribu tion from the Red Cross of course will not replace it, the funds should come as a great help to him at this time. The local chapter had previously made a donation of $175 to Mr. Dav enport, and this will be deducted from the $1,841 allowed this week, since the latter figure is the maximum per mitted by the Red Cross organization. It was learned that the families of Arthur Ange and James Perkins, of the Angetown section, had also been granted allowances by the Red Cross. Exact figures could not be learned, but it is understood the Ange fam ily was allowed $250 for furniture destroyed, $1,629 towards the con struction of a new home, and about $40 for doctors’ bills. The Perkins family had no interest in the house in which they lived, but they were allowed about $76 to replace cloth ing and furniture lost in the storm. Infant Dies at Home of Parents Near Plymouth - Mary Ann Revels, six-month-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Revels, died at their home near here last Thursday about noon, after an illness of five days. The funeral was held from the home last Friday af ternoon, with the Rev. B. E. Taylor, pastor of the local Christian church, in charge. Burial was made in the Bowen cemetery, near Williamston. Besides her parents, Lewis Revels and Myrtle Nicholson Revels, the lit tle girl is survived by one sister, Jean Revels, two years old. -® Dr. James J. Crowley, recently elected district health officer to suc ceed Dr. S. V. Lewis, did not arrive last week to take up his work here as expected. County authorities said yesterday they did not know exactly when he would arive, but he is expected within the next few days. Town and County Tax Collections ior 1942 Tax Year More Than Total Levies Wonders never eease! Conver sations with the town and coun ty tax collectors this week re vealed that both had already collected more than the total town and county tax levies since the new tax books were made up last fall. This seeming- paradox is ex plained by the fact that the col lectors have been pushing the collection of back taxes as well as current levies; and while the totals are larger than the levies, there still remain some 1942 tax es yet to be collected. Too, the penalties and interest charged on past-due accounts help to swell the totals. P. W. Brown, town tax collec tor, said he had collected about $37,500 since receiving the 1942 books, while the total town levy is only about $35,500. The coun ty tax collector, J. E. Davenport, reported about $125,000 had been collected by the county in the same time, while the total levy Is only $118,769. W. Governor To Be Invited To Take Part in Program Here May 21 -® Committees were appointed and tentative plans made at a special meeting of the Plymouth Merchants Association Tuesday afternoon to stage a mammoth county-wide “Vic tory Day” bond-selling festival here Friday. May 21. Band concerts, speaking, free movies, and a couple of bond auctions with valuable free prizes are just some of the things in store for those who attend, with the details to be worked out in the next few days. It is hoped to have Gover nor Broughton make the main speech of the day. Local retailers are doing this as their part of the nation-wide cam paign by storekeepers to boost the sales of war bonds during the month of May. The North Carolina Pulp Company here has agreed to cooper ate whole-heartedly with the local merchants in putting over the patri otic effort, and will have a number of displays emphasizing the slogan “Pulpwood Goes To War,” in addi tion to furnishing a movie showing the operation of all parts of the local plant, among other things. This is a full-length production with the commentary by Lowell Thomas, and it will be the equivalent of a trip through the big pulp plant here. The Washington County Farm Bu reau, through its president, J. Roy Manning, has assured its support, and it is hoped to have several hund red farmers here for the events that day. There will be no accent on selling anything except war bonds, and practically everything else will be entirely free. Shep Brinkley, owner of the Plym outh Theatre, is contributing the use of his theatre for the whole day, with the exception of one show at night. In addition he is offering a $25 war bond and theatre tickets as prizes for stamp sales and bond auctions. A tobacco auctioneer is to be secured to auction the bonds, with the high est bidder in bonds receiving free gifts from the merchants. A similar auction last year was a great success. The free prizes are to be real values. One merchant has already agreed to give a top grade mattress gs a prize. Complete details will not be avail able for a week or so yet. Various phases of the days events have been delegated to committees, and fur ther announcements will be made next week. ■The following committees were named by President H. H. Allen at the meeting Tuesday: Program: Shep Brinkley, W. P. Winslow, J. R. Manning. E. E. Harrell; Prizes; J. W. Norman, L. S. Thompson, Dave Kulman; Advertising; Jack Booker, J, R. Campbell, E. H. Liverman. Decorations: H. A. Williford, Jack Peele, F. H. Modlin. -« County Board in Meeting Monday -® The Washington County Com missioners considered several matters of importance at their meeting Mon day, but no definite action was taken, pending further information about some of them. The board discussed the recorder’s court situation and held a joint meeting with the board of education about providing funds for repair of certain school buildings, both of which will be taken up later, and disposed of a number of routine matters. All three members of the board were present, E. G. Arps, chairman; J. C. Knowles, of Roper; and H. W. Pritchett, of Creswell. J. M. Clagon was reappointed to membership on the county board of public welfare for a two-year term. A report from W. V. Hays, county agent, was read and approved. Three applications for the office of judge of recorder’s court were dis cussed, but action was deferred, since officially no vacancy existed in the court. In the joint meeting with the board of education, appropriations were asked to make repairs to the follow ing school buildings: Creswell white, Roper white. Backwoods colored, Macedonia colored, Cherry colored, Pritchett colored, Deep Bottom color ed, Mount Delane colored, Morrat tock colored, Plymouth colored, and Plymouth white. The two boards di rected the county superintendent to estimate the costs, by individual pro jects, and report back before action would be taken. -$ William Hatfield Assigned To Army Technical School -• Creswell.—Pfc. William T. Hatfield, son of O. D. Hatfield and the late Mrs. Hatfield, of Creswell, has been assigned to the Army Air Forces Technical School, Sioux Falls, S. D., for training as a radio operator-me chanic. Inducted into the Army February 6 of this year, Pfc Hatfield was sent from Port Bragg to Keesler Field, Miss. He is a graduate of Creswell High School and was in con struction work prior to entering service. Staius of Recorder's Court Uncertain; No Session This Week -<*> Several Apply To County Board for Position as Recorder Judge « The recorder’s court problem here is still "up in the air’ this week, with no immediate prospect in sight of effecting a settlement. The county commissioners, while they discussed the siutation at some length at their monthly meeting Monday, took no action on the matter. There were a number of cases which would have come before the court Tuesday had it been in session, including several which were con tinued from previous sessions. The clerk and sheriff were on hand at the usual time, but no judge or solicitor ever showed up. and the weekly ses sion was finally called off altogether. It was stated by one of the county commisisoners that one reason no action was taken by them Monday was because they had received no official notice that the court would not be held Tuesday. While Edward L. Owens stated last week that he was resigning as judge unless a solicitor could be secured, his resignation was not before the commissioners in writing, and no attempt was made to appoint a successor. It is known that several persons have applied for the job as recorder, although no one has yet come for ward to apply for the solicitor’s job. Some of the applicants are not law yers, and it is believed a layman is under consideration for appointment as judge of the court. However, this will not settle the matter, as it is necessary for the solicitor to be a lawyer, and so far it has been im possible to secure one. In the meantime, cases which should be tried in recorder’s court continue to pile up. If it becomes necessary to try them in superior court, which is not in session again until July, the costs doubtless be greatly increased, both to the county and to those defendants who are un lucky enough to be convicted. Local lawyers are unwilling to continue operation of the court at present rates of pay, it is stated, al though it is reported that Mr. Owens has said he would continue as judge provided a regir*- solicitor is employed. However, at this time the impasse continues, with the lawyers demanding more pay and the com missioners standing pat on the re fusal to increase the salaries above the present rate of $60 per month each for a judge and solicitor. -9 Final Exercises for Local High School Staged Last Friday -* Diplomas Awarded To 25 Seniors at Graduation Program in Theatre -® Twenty-five seniors of Plymouth of Plymouth High School received their diplomas at graduating exer cises held in the Plymouth Theatre here last Friday morning at 10:30 o’clock, bringing to a close the school year here. The diplomas were pre sented by Principal R. B. Trotman and honor awards made by County Superintendent H. H. McLean. The central theme of the finals program dealt with the various phases Of "Democracy,” and several members of the graduating class de livered prepared addresses on the subject. Other features of the graduating exercises were the salu tatory, delivered by Lois Meunier; an address by the senior class presi dent, Alton Mayo; and the valedic tory by Vivien Sitterson. The complete program was as fol lows: Procession of graduates, followed by the invocation by the Rev. B. E. Taylor. Salutatory, Lois Meunier. Piano solo, Mrs. Laura S. Johnston. “Building Our Democracy,” Gerald Furbee. (See GRADUATION, Page 6) Stale Speed Law Changed Today Effective at noon today, the state speed lan was reduced from 60 to 35 miles per hour for au tomobiles and trucks. State Highway Patsolmen have been instructed to begin making ar rests immediately for violations, and it was stated that the 35 mile limit did not mean 36. Heretofore, drivers proceeding at more than 35 miles an hour have been cited to OPA authori ties. The last session of the le gislature passed a law bringing the state speed law into con formity with federal regulations for the duration of the war. Those who drive over 35 miles an hour in the future will be cit ed to the courts instead of to their rationing boards. Campbell Reelected in ElectionHereTuesday H. E. Harrison and J. R. Manning Winners in First Ward -«■ B G. Campbell was reelected mayor by a 75-vote majority over A. J. Riddle, while Henry E. Harrison and J. Roy Manning received narrow pluralities over A. Lloyd Owens for councilmen from the first ward in the only contests in the municipal election here last Tuesday. Despite the fact that little advance interest in the election was displayed, the to tal vote cast, 363. was the largest re corded here in recent years. Only 58 votes were cast in t.he election two years ago. The closest race developed among the three contenders for the two places as councilmen in the first ward. The two winners. H. E. Har rison and J. R. Manning, received 104 and 102 votes, respectively, while A. Lloyd Owens was right behind them with an even 100. There were no contests in the other two wards for councilmen. Mayor Campbell has already serv ed nine years as councilman and seven years as mayor. There are only two newcomers among the six councilmen, Mr. Harrison and W. A. Roebuck, the latter being elected from the second ward without op position. Tire four former members of the council reelected are J. R. Manning, from the first ward. J. W. Norman, of the second ward: and both councilmen from the third ward, E. E. Harrell and G. R. Leggett. Following is the official tabulation of votes as canvassed in the city clerk’s office yesterday: For mayor: first ward, Campbell 96, Riddle 74; second ward. Camp bell 54, Riddle 24: third ward, Camp bell 69, Riddle 46: totals, Campbell 214, Riddle 144. For first ward councilmen: Har rison 104, Manning 102, Owens 100. For second ward councilmen: Roe buck 60, Norman 59. For third ward councilmen: E. E Harrell 80, G. R. Leggett 75. -$ Classes in Aircraft Recognition To Be Begun Here May 17 -® New Course Will Consist of Three Classes Weekly For Three Weeks -® Mis. Claudius McGowan announces that she will hold another series of classes on aircraft identification for members of the Ground Observer Corps, beginning Monday night week, May 17. A meeting will be held at the courthouse at 8 o’clock that eve ning to outline the course and dis tribute the necer ary material. The class will be limited to 30 members, Mrs. McGowan said, and those who wish to enroll are asked to see her immediately. All those who com pleted the first course are invited to attend again, and they will not be counted against the quota of 30 new enrollees. Sergeant Lehner, of the Army Air Forces, who was here to inspect the local post last week, brought an am ple supply of material to enable Mrs. McGowan to begin the new course. She plans to hold three classes each week, on Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays, and the course will last about three weeks. Those who suc cessfully complete the work will be awarded diplomas at the end of the course. Sergeant Lehner will return during the progress of the school and make a talk to those serving as volunteer observers at the local spotting post. The course in aircraft recognition is interesting, and the additional ma terial available at this time should make it even more attractive than it was the first time. Mrs. McGowan urges all who wish to take the course to be pres ent at the first meeting Monday night, May 17, at 8 o’clock. The clases will begin on time and last for two hours. Those who enroll are re quested to do so with the intention of attending every class, as It is im possible to successfully complete the course on a part-time basis. -® Tomato Plants at Welaka Plant Friday and Saturday -® Farmers who plan to grow toma toes for delivery to the Welaka Fish and Produce Company plant at Mackeys were advised yesterday that a supply of Georgia plants will ar rive this week and be distributed from the plant there Friday and Saturday. Enough plants to set out 60 acres of tomatoes are expected. Mr. Belch, the manager, said yester day. It is also announced that the com pany can handle about 50 more acres than now signed up in this region. Farmers who wish to plant tomatoes are urged to see Mr. Belch and make arrangements for a contract. Those who want tomato plants are also urged to come to the plant Friday and Saturday of this week. Elect Qiiicials at Roper, Creswell There was only one contest in Roper and none in Creswell in the bi-cnnial town elections held there Tuesday. .T. J. Hassell de feated Mayor H. S. Everett for reeleetion in Roper by a vote of 50 to 6, and W. T. Alexander was elected mayor of Creswell with out oposition. The five candidates in the Creswell election received 21 votes each. They are: W. T. Alexander, mayor; H. VV. Nor man, O. D. Hatfield, H. R. Still man and C. N. Davenport, jr.. councilmen. The three candi dates for councilmen in Roper had no opposition, and it was im possible to learn the number of votes cast for them. They are Jasper Swain, YV. Barton Swain and L. E. Mizelle. Change Regulations On Poultry Prices Within Past Week -® New Rules Permit Produc ers To Charge Higher Price To Consumers Three major changes in regula tions governing poultry price ceil ings have been announced by the OPA within the past week. In addi tion to reduction in a number of classifications, other simplifications were announced, making it easier for poultry producers to determine top prices they may charge wholesalers, retailers and ultimate consumers. Some changes in price were an nounced. but in the main prices to wholesalers are substantially the same as announced last week. How ever, producers are allowed to charge retailers 1V2 cents per pound more than they do wholesale dealers; while an additional 20 per cent may be charged the ultimate consumers by producers. Retailer’s prices to consumers are based entirely upon mark-ups. and thus vary, it was stated. Live broilers and fryers are now treated as one classification, and pro ducers may charge wholesale deal ers 28cents per pound for them. Live hens are in one classification instead of two. and the top whole sale price is 25 cents. Stags and old roosters are quoted at 21 cents. All the above prices are for producers' sales to wholesalers. The price to retailers is IV2 cents pound higher, and an additional 20 per cent may be charged if poultry is sold by the producer direct to the ultimate con sumer. nils would make the top prices to consumers 36 cents a pound for broilers and fryers: 31.8 for hens: and 27 cents for stags and old roos ters. A couple of OPA investigators were in Plymouth one day this week, but whether or not they plan to take ac tion against alleged violators could not be learned. However, it is known that 12 court actions have been instituted up State against vio lators in the first 10 days of an in tensive drive to stamp out black market sales of fowl. In addition, many other poultry sellers have re ceived warnings. ———® Billy Wells Bateman At Pre-Flight School Army Aviation Cadet Billy Wells Bateman, of Creswell, was recently transferred from the Army Air Force classification center to the Army Air Force Pre-Flight School. SAACC. at San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. W Bateman, of | Creswell. A graduate of Creswell High School. Cadet Bateman completed his freshman year at Campbell Col lege before enlisting in the Army Air Corps last August. His call came in March and he reported on the 11th to the classification center, where all, cadets are given rigid mental and physical examinations before being assigned to their training centers. County Soldier Gets DSC tor Bravery in Action in Mid-East Sgt. A. R. Patrick. Jr.. Dec orated for His Part in Bombing Raid A delayed announcement was made from Cairo. Egypt, Monday that Staff Sergeant Augustus R. Patrick, jr.. of Roper, had received the Dis tinguished Service Cross in a cere mony at U. S. Air Force headquarters there recently. The medal was pinned on Patrick by Major General Lewis H. Brereton, commander of all U. S. Air Forces in the Middle East, who also cited the sergeant for his action as a tail gunner in a Libera tor on a mission January 31 Tilt1 DSC is next to the highest award for valor made by the United States Army, and Sergeant Patrick is one of the first, if not the first, sol dier from this entire section to re ceive this award. So far as known here, he is also Washington County’s most-decorated man in the service, as he had previously received the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.” It is presumed that he has also re ceived the Purple Heart award given Army officers and men honorably wounded in action, since he was wounded severely in both feet in the action which won the DSC for him. According to published reports, the citation accompanying the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Patrick recounts that the oxygen sys tem of the Liberator bomber, in which he was tail gunner, was shot out by an enemy fighter in the action January 31, tire gasoline line was holed, and the top and tail turrets rendered useless. The sergeant was wounded severely in both feet, but he left his wrecked turret and crawled through the plane and manned one of the waist guns and helped keep up the fight against the enemy inter ceptors until they were forced to break oil the fight-. The Distinguished Service Cross is a bronze cross with an eagle on the center and a scroll below the eagle bearing the inscription. "For Valor." On the reverse in the center of the cross is a space for the name of the recipient within a wreath. TVie cross is suspended from a ring from a watered silk ribbon. It is awarded to soldiers who display extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Patrick, sr„ who live in Scupper nong Township, received a letter from (See GETS MEDAL. Page 6) Local Youth Home After Part in Four Big Pacific Battles -