North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon ^ ***** * and Washington County News ★★★★★★★ VOLUME LIV NUMBER 31 Plymouth, vVashingti n County, North Carolina, Thursday, August 5, 1943 ESTABLISHED 1889 Awr Victory,,, Bmy VNTT1D STATES DEFENSE BONDS * STAMPS Town opics E. P. Still returned Sunday after a business trip to Chicago and a vis it to relatives at his old home in Senatobia, Miss. He also visited his wife and son in Blytheville, Ark., where they are at the bedside of Mrs. Still’s mother. Mrs. C. S. Stephens, who is seriously ill. The Rev. B. E. Taylor, pastor of the local Christian church, is holding a series of services at the Terra Ceia Christian Church this week. Next week, he will hold a similar series of services at Pantego. He will be here Sunday to hold regular services at the Christian church. A final appeal is being made by the local draft board for reg istrants who live on farms to file their farm statements in or der that they may be properly classified. A few have not yet filed them, and they are liable to be called up for military serv ice soon unless they do so. The statements may be procured or verified at the office of the USDA War Board in the agriculture building, Miss Miriam Ausbon, clerk. Glenn Davis, formerly employed at the Horner Funeral Home here, now In the Army, arrived safely “some where in England” last week, ac cording to advices received by friends. He is in a medical detachment with an anti-aircraft outfit. He entered the service December 15, 1942, and trained at a California camp. H. L. Tetterton, graves registration officer for the local American Legion post, wants information about the burial places of any veterans of World War I. Relatives or friends of deceased veterans are requested to notify Mr. Tetterton where such graves are located, in order that they may be recorded and suitably mark ed. The new combination hunting and fishing licenses are now on sale, County Game Protector .1. T. Terry reminds local sports men. The old ones expired Ju ly 31st. They may be secured from Mr. Terry or any of the authorized agents in the county. The fee is the same as last year, $3.10. Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Paramore and sons, Walter, jr., and Rex, were here for several hours Sunday, visit ing relatives and friends. Mr. Para more, formerly with The Roanoke Beacon for about 10 years, is now city circulation manager of the Raleigh Times. Warnie Gurkin. cadet in ttfe Army Air Corps, was recently transferred to Cochran Field at Macon, Ga., to begin his basic flying training after completing the pre-flight school at Americus, Ga. Mrs. Gurkin and their little son, Warnie, III, have re turned to their home here after spending several weeks at Americus. A visit to Silver Springs, Florida's famed underwater fairyland, recent ly was enjoyed as a highlight of his current tour of duty in the far south by Pvt. Joseph L. Ange, jr., of Plym outh, Route, 1, according to a card received here this week. Six-Year-Old Boy Died Lasi Week Eugene Ange, six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Ange, of near Plymouth, died last Thursday after noon at 4 o’clock after an illness of three weeks with a heart ailment. The young boy was born on Novem ber 14, 1936, and lived in Washing ton County all of his life. Funeral services were held at the late home Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock, Rev. B. E. Taylor, pastor of the local Christian church, conduct ing the last rites. Burial was made in the Ange cemetery at the home place. In addition to his parents, Joseph L. Ange and Mrs. Rose Hooker Ange. of Plymouth, he is survived by six sisters, Estelle, Frances, Dolly Fay, Geraldine. Sarah Virginia and Gloria Ange, all of Plymouth; three broth ers, Joseph L. Ange, jr., of Camp Blanding, Fla., Robert and Kelly Ange, of Plymouth. He also leaves two grandmothers, Mrs. Virginia Ange and Mrs. H. C. Hooker, of Plymouth. Blackout Observance Here Last Friday Is Said Nearly Perfect by Chief Warden The blackout last Friday night, called without any pervious warning, met with splendid response in Plymouth, according to P. W. Brown, chief air raid warden. The “blue signal was sounded at 10:05, and was fol lowed by the “red” signal about 10 minutes later. The second “blue” signal came about 10:30 and the “all-clear" was sounded at 10:40. The response by auxiliary po lice and firemen was prompt and they did some very effective work in patrolling. Quite a number of householders had gone out for the evening and left some lights burning in their homes, but the wardens managed to get them extinguished without having to damage any property, it was said. Civilian Defense officials again warn local people not to leave home at night without turning out all lights. When the lights are left on, it is necessary for the air-raid wardens to enter and turn them out. They do not like^ to do this, and it slows up the work of seeing that the signals are obeyed promptly. Remember to turn out all lights when leav ' ing home at night in the future. J. C. Swain Appointed Plymouth Postmaster Effective September 1 County Fails To Sell Bond Quota Washington County sold slight ly more than 58 per cent of its bond quota for July, a summary this morning shows. Total sales, except for Roper, amounted to $13,012.50, against a quota of $22,305. No report had been re ceived from Roper up to noon, H. E. Beam, county chairman, said. Cash issue value of bonds sold were divided as follows: Plym outh post office, $6,431.25; Branch Bank, $5,493.75; and Creswell, $1,087.50. This was only the second time in a year and a . half that Washington County failed to exceed its monthly quo ta. It is understood that sales have picked up sharply this week, up wards of $5,000 worth having been sold at the post office and bank here up to today. John W. Darden, Plymouth Postmaster, said that stamp sales for the past three weeks have been ex actly the same to the penny, $1,160 each week. Pulp Mill Employee Slugged and Robbed Near Here Friday —-<S> Two Negroes Arrested and Will Be Tried in Martin County Court -® Lacy Steele, middle-aged white man employed at the plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company, was attacked and robbed by two colored men Friday morning about 8 o'clock. The attack took place at the Atlantic Coast Line right-of-way through the Welch’s Creek swamp about half way from “Little Richwood” and the pulp mill. The two Negroes, Levester Archie and Ernest Jones, who said they were from Charlotte, were ar rested a short time later by Sheriff J. K. Reid and turned over to Martin County authorities for trial. Mr. Steele had been to the mill Friday morning to get his check and was on his way back to his home in the village when the attack occurred. The two colored men trailed him up the railroad into the swamp, where he was accosted. One of the men grabbed a coffee bottle out of Mr. Steele’s hip pocket and struck him back of the head with it, knocking him to the ground. Then one of the robbers held a straight razor over Mr. Steele’s throat while they went through his pockets, taking his poc ket knife and pay check. They left him on the ground and (See ROBBERY, Page 6i Committee Named ai Town Council Meeting To Begin Work on Budget All members of the Plymouth City Council were present for the monthly meeting Monday night, when a number of matters were discussed and raises in pay granted to city employees. The council also took preliminary action on a budget for the new fiscal year, which' began July 1st, by naming a committee to pre pare and submit a tentative bud get and tax rate just as soon as valuation of town property is completed. Mayor B. G. Campbell, Coun cilmen James YV. Norman and G. R. Leggett were named on the budget committee. It has been found impossible to secure sufficient aluminum paint for repainting the water lank, and the council members decided to use the 5 gallons on hand to paint over the worst spots on the tank if a contractor can be found. About 30 gallons of paint would be required for the entire job. James Mizelie conferred with the council about a claim against the town as the result of injuries he sustained last December, when his bicycle collided against the door of Chief P. W. Brown’s car on a street here. The matter was discussed at some length by the councilmen, but no action was taken. Raises in pay ranging from $3 to $5 per week were granted to employees of the town in con sideration of increased living costs. j J. W. Darden Gives Up Work Account Physical Condition Announcement of Appoint ment Made by Bonner Last Week-End Representative Herbert C. Bonner last week-end announced that James Corbett Swain had been appointed postmaster at the Plymouth post of fice, the appointment to become ef fective September 1. He will succeed John W. Darden, who has served for just about two years, and who failed to pass the physical examination a year and a half ago after he had been appointed and had served for several months. In announcing the appointment of Mr. Swain to the local office, Mr. Bonner at the same time expressed great regret in the retirement of Mr. Darden, who has been a life-long friend to the Congressman and a civic as well as political leader in Washington County. Mr. Bonner stated that he felt no one in the county was better qualified for the position of postmaster than Mi'. Dar den, and he said it was a great dis appointment to him when he learned that Mr. Darden could not pass the physical examination. When Mr. Swain takes over the postmastership here September 1, he will bring to the office years of ex perience in both public and private business. A life-long residence of the county, Mr. Swain was an active worker in Democratic party circles for a number of years, serving as chairman of the county executive committee in the early nineteen thirties. He has lived in Plymouth for the past four or five years, but continues to operate his large farm below Rop iSee POSTMASTER, Page 6) Tin Cans Are Being Collected Today by Town Trash Trucks -<»■ - Group of Cubs and Scouts Helping; Urge Everyone To Save Old Cans Tin-can salvage began in earnest here this week, when 8 to 10 Boy Scouts went from house to house Tuesday and put out circulars ask ing housewives to get old tin cans ready for delivery to the city garb age trucks today. The Scouts are out again today, going ahead of the trucks and asking all those who have cans ready to put them out front so the trucks will not have to go into the back yards to cellect them. Miss Helen Duvall and Mrs. Fran ces Darden are in charge of the tin can salvage drive here. They ask everyone to cooperate by saving and turning in cans, even if they have only two or three at a time. In the future, the cans will be collected ev ery two or three months. The pub lic will be notified through this newspaper when to have them ready. To prepare the cans, remove the labels, open both ends, sticking ends of cans inside, and then step on the cans to flatten them out. This is not just a campaign for the people who live in town, it is emphasized. Those in charge of the drive say they want every available can, and those who live in rural sec tions will be helping if they will bring old cans whenever they come to town and leave them at the agriculture building. The following Scouts and Cubs helped out in the drive this week: Junior Rath, Bobby Dunning, Jack Booker, Wade Johnson, Bruce Bate man, Alvin Owens, Jerry Polk, Bob by Pierson, Ronnie Owens, Linwood Brown, Matt White Norman, Billy Carlisle, and Bobby Martin. Two County Men in Pacific War Theatre Are Killed in Action -- Relatives Notif.ed of Death Of Orval Lee Simmons And Ercel Patrick -$ The number of Washington Coun ty men who have given their lives in the service of their country has been increased from two to four, it was learned within the past few days. Pew details can be learned here about the circumstances surrounding the latest two casualties, but it is under stood that one was in the Marine Corps and the other in the Navy and that both lost their lives in South Pa cific fighting. A telegram was received recently from the Navy Department, stating that Orval Lee Simmons, husband of Mrs. Bernice Woodley Simmons, and son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Seaton Woodley .of Roper, had been killed in action on July 10. the same day that his infant daughter was born in Portsmouth, Va., where Mrs. Sim mons is now living. Sheriff J. K. Reid said yesterday that George Patrick, of Skinners ville. received a telegram last Thurs day afternoon stating that his son, Ercel Patrick, of the U. S. Marine Corps, had been killed in action. It is understood that voung Patrick was known to have been serving on the United States cruiser "Helena." which was lost about July 10 in the battle of Kula Gulf. So far as could be learned here, the young man was about 20 years old and had been in the Marines for over a year. He is survived by his father, several bro thers and other relatives in the Skin nersville section. Mr. Simmons was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Simmons, of Cairo, W. Va. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Bernice Woodley Simmons, of Portsmouth, Va.; a daughter, Sharon Lee Simmons; two sisters. Mrs. L. B. Cunningham, of Portsmouth, Va.; and Mrs. Paul Davis, of Dillonvale, Ohio. All four of the casualties from this county have occurred in the Pacific theatre of war. Previously reported missing in action are Private Ernest J. Davenport, of the U. S. Army, and Bosie Aydlett Bateman, of the U. S. Navy, both of Creswell. Funeral Held Last Monday for William A. Blount, of Roper -® Prominent Merchant There For Many Years; Died in Durham Saturday -® William Alfred Blount, prominent merchant of Roper, died last Satur day morning at 10:45 in Duke Hos pital at Durham, where he had been a patient for about a month. Mr. Blount was 81 years of age and had conducted a general mercantile busi ness in Roper for about 40 years. Born in Washington County on April 11, 1862, he was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wiggins Blount, of the Roper section. He was quite act ive in community affairs and was highly regarded by all who knew him. Funeral services were held from his late residence Monday afternoon in the presence of a large gathering of relatives and friends. The services were conducted by the Rev. William B. Daniels, jr.. rector of the Epis copal churches at Plymouth and Roper, assisted by the Revs. E. R. Stewart, Baptist minister of Wind sor: S. B. Wilson. Baptist minister of Creswell; and G. C. Wood, Metho dist minister of Roper. Interment was made in the family burial ground at the old Blount home place about a mile from Roper. He is survived by his widow; one daughter, Mrs. James A. Blakeney, of Matthews; three sons, Fred Blount, of Franklinton; F. O. Blount, of New port News; and Lieutenamt Com mander Cecil E. Blount, of the Unit ed States Navy, stationed at South Weymouth, Mass; seven grandchild ren, and one sister, Mrs. Florence Leary, of Portsmouth, Va. Tobacco Markets Opened on Harder Tobacco markets in the bor der belt opened today, but few reports had been received from them up to noon. At that time one market reported that prices ranged from a low of 38 cents per pound to a high of 58 cents. It is generally believed that prices will average around 42 cents for the first week or so. Prices on the Georgia markets held up well last week, an of ficial average of slightly more than 41 cents being reported for the week, slightly under the opening-day average of 42 cents. Markets in this belt will open for the season on Tuesday, Au gust 24. Farmers of the county are busily engaged in harvesting and curing the crop at this time. Reduction of 10 Cents in County Tax Rate Approved by Board of Commissioners at Meet Monday All County Schools To Begin New Term Tuesday, August 31 County Superintendent Says Most Arrangements Now Complete Washington County schools, both white and colored, will open for the 1943-44 term on Tuesday. August 31. it was announced this week by Coun ty Superintendent H. H. McLean. While all arrangements for the open ing have not been completed. Mr. Mc Lean said that things were rapidly shaping up. and he is looking forward to a very successful year. Mr. McLean said that practically all teaching vacancies have been filled, and most of the schools will open with full staffs of teachers. He said that so far as he knew there was not a single vacancy in the colored schools. Teacher contracts contain a clause stating that resignations must be sent to the county superin tendent at least 30 days before the opening of schools, and Mr. McLean indicated that he would decline to accept any resignations which might be directed to him between now and the opening date. Last year there was a total enroll ment in the county of approximately 3.550 children. 2,800 in the elemen tary schools and 750 in the high schools. The county superintendent said he expected about, the same number to be enrolled during the coming term. County schools will have a nine month term this year, under the terms of the state-wide provision en acted at the legislature last winter. By opening August 31, it is expected that the schools will end the term somewhere around the middle of next May. Mr. McLean announced that there would be only two changes in prin cipals this year. R. B. Forbes will succeed E. O. Arnold as principal of the Roper white schools; and A. R. Lord will be principal of the colored school here, succeeding W. W. Wal ker. Mr. Forbes has been a teacher at Roper for the past 10 or 15 years, the county superintendent stated; 'See SCHOOLS. Page 6) -® Creswell Man Completes Air Force Training Course -® Chanute Field. 111.—Corporal Ma con M. Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Williams, of Creswell, has re cently completed training and has been graduated from the school of the Army Air Forces Technical Train ing Command here. While attending the school at Cha nute Field, Corporal Williams receiv ed instruction in the advanced hy draulics course and in various tech nical operations vital to the mainten ance of the country’s fighting planes. Mrs. Ann Matilda Spruill Died Here Saturday Morning -® Was One of Oldest Citizens Of County; Funeral Held Sunday Afternoon Mrs. Ann Matilda Spruill, one of Washington County’s oldest citizens died Saturday morning at the home of her niece, Mrs. L. R. Swain, on Washington Street here, after an ill ness of about 18 months. A year and a half ago. she fell and broke her hip and had been confined to her bed since that time. Born in Washington County on February 3, 1858. Mrs. Spruill was 85 years old. She was the daughter of the late Jim Woodard and Mrs. Ann Marchant Woodard, of Tyrrell County. She was married to the late W. S. Spruill, of Plymouth, who preceded her to the grave by some years. Mrs. Spruill has been living in the home of her niece, Mrs. L. R. Swain, here for a number of years, and she was quite active until she fell and broke her hip 18 month ago. She was an active member of the local Metho dist church here for 65 years and attended regularly until the time of her accident. She is survived by three sister, Mrs. Eloise Ralph, of Plymouth; Mrs. Jimmie Oliver, of Plymouth; Mrs. Sarah Leary, of Roper and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at the Horner Funeral Home here Sunday afternoon at 1 p m., with the Rev. G. C Wood, pastor of the Roper Me thodist church, officiating. Interment was made in the Windley cemetery here. Pall-bearers were Lawrence Swain, Ralph Swain, Herbert Flannagan, Ed Ayers, Bill Clifton and Adrian Ayers. 1 HAWAIIAN SCENE LI The above snapshot was sent to the Beaeon reeentl.v h.v Pfe. David A. Hurley, jr., now at an Army post in Hawaii after a tour of duty in the South Pacific. He writes: “My copies of The Bea con come in very often now. and I do enjoy them. Just to prove what I say. I am enclosing a re cent snapshot taken by a guy in the outfit while I was reading The Beacon.” Incidentally, the snapshot was clear enough to dis tinguish that David was reading a copy of the May 20 issue. Six Cases Called in Recorder's Court at Session This Week One Case Appealed To Su perior Court; Several Pay Fines -® Judge Edward L. Owens had six cases before him at the regular ses sion of recorder's court last Tues day. One defendant was released due to lack of evidence, four others were fined, and one man appealed to the superior court after he had been given a road sentence. The pro ceedings were as follows: Herman Webb, colored, of Pea Ridge, paid a fine of $15 and costs after he was found guilty of simple assault. The case against Isaac Palin, col ored. of Pleasant Grove, was dismiss ed for lack of evidence. He was charged with having made threats against his landlord, J. C. Tarken ton. Lucretia Manley, colored, of Plym outh, was fined $10 and costs after the charge against her had been re duced from assault with deadly wea pon to simple assault. Herman Lee Wilkins, colored, of Mackeys, was charged with the theft of a pocketbook containing $50 from A. L. Watson. Pound guilty, he was sentenced to six months on the loads, to be suspended on payment of a fine of $100 and costs. Appeal was noted, and his bond fixed at $200. Richard G. Hardison, white, of Plymouth, paid the costs on a speed ing charge. Joe Nathan Phelps, colored, of Plymouth, entered a plea of guilty to being publicly drunk and was as sessed a fine of $15 and the costs. Former Roper Resident Returns for Brief Visit -<s> Technical Sergeant K. W Biggs, who formerly lived in Roper, made his first visit there in eight years last week, when he spend several days with his sister, Mrs. Robert Davis. He was accompanied by his wife and baby. Sergeant Biggs and his fam ily returned last Thursday to their home. He is stationed at Fort George Meade, Md. New Rate Is $1.70; First Reduction To Be Made in 9 Years Former Rate of $1.80 Had Prevailed in County Since 1933 A reduction of 10 cents on eacli $100 worth of property valuation has been effected in the tax rate of Washington County for 1943, as com pared with last year The board of commissioners, at their regular meet ing Monday, approved a rate of $1.70, after the Local Government Commission at Raleigh had approved the budget estimate for the current fiscal year, tentatively fixed a few weeks earlier. This represents a 10 cent drop in the rate of $1 80 which has prevailed here for the preceding nine years. The $1.70 rate wall raise an esti mated $92,255.18, that amount being needed by ad valorem taxation to balance the budget. The total coun ty prop rty valuation for 1943 is es timated at $6,400,000, an increase of exactly $95 over last year, when the valuation was $6,399,905. The budget estimate for the 1943 fiscal year calls for a total outlay of $141,941.18, but. $50,630 will come from sources other than property taxation: two of the main such items being profits from the ABC stores and fines and costs levied in the courts. If it had not been for an appro priation of $5,500 made recently for the repair of a number of county school buildings, the commissioners believed they would have been en abled to effect a 20-cent reduction in the rate this year. However, this work had to be done in order to save an even larger outlay in the near future if the buildings had been permitted to deteriorate further. This is the first rate reduction ef fected in the tax rate in nine years. In 1933 the rate was $1.87, while in 1934 it was reduced 7 cents to $1.80, at which figure it has remained since. i See TAX RATE. Page 6'• Restrictions Placed On Areas of Sound Near Edenton Base 5,000-Foot Strip on South Shore, Between Bridges, Not Affected -® Temporary regulations restricting use by boats of that part of Albe marle Sound between the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge and the highway bridge were issued this week by officials of the Edenton Air Base. It was explained that permanent regulations would be issued later by the Secretary of War. The restrictions apply to all the area between the two bridges, except for a 5.000-foot strip nearest the shore line on the Washington Coun - t.v side of the sound. A 1,000-foot lane extending 500 feet on each side of a line drawn from the center of the draw span of the two bridges may be used by boats, except when sig nals are displayed at the bridges. None of the other area between the two bridges may be used at any time except the 5.000-foot strip on the Washington County side. The 1,000-foot, lane between draw spans of the two bridges is subject to be close'd at the discretion of the air-base officials. Notice will be given by signals displayed at the draws and they will not be opened for passage of vessels during such periods. It is emphasized that ves sels will not be held up for a longer period than one hour at any time. Notice of further regulations will be given through newspapers in the affected areas. Orders Received by Draft Board Here To Begin Calling Pre-War Dads Oct. 1 Authorized Monday by Selec tive Service to begin calling up pre-Pearl Harbor fathers October 1st, the Washington County Draft Board is this week making preparations to start tentatively reclassifying the 750 men in this county affected by the order. It is expected that this county will be among the first to begin send ing such men into the service, since it long since exhausted its list of men in classes subject to induction before fathers are to be called. Local boards have been in structed to continue calling sin gle men and childless men first if they have no occupational or hardship ground for deferment and to make reclassifications out of fathers' group. 3-A, “only as needed to meet demands upon a local board for men for military service.’’ The calling of fathers will be according to their draft order numbers, regardless of the num her or age of their children un less they are granted deferment as "essential" in agriculture or industry or unless their induc tion would mean "extreme hard ship and privation” to their fam ilies. The policy of not drafting men over 38 continues. The decision in each man's case will be up to his local board subject to appeal, it was stated.