The Roanoke Beacon
* * * * * * * and Washington County News *******
VOLUME LIV—NUMBER 43
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, October 28, 1943
ESTABLISHED 1889
Town
opics
Second Lieutenants Page and
Cooper, of the WAC. were in Plym
outh yesterday in connection with
the recruiting drive now underway
throughout the state. There is an
urgent need for more volunteers for
the Women's Army Corps. Lieuten
ant Page is stationed at Raleigh,
while Lieutenant Cooper is from Dur
ham.
Carl L. Bailey, jr., son of Attorney
and Mrs. Carl L. Bailey, of Plymouth,
is now stationed at Keesler Field.
Miss., where he has been accepted as
an Army aviation cadet. After sev
eral weeks training there he expects
to be transferred to one of the col
leges where the Army gives its avia
tion cadets their pre-flight training.
So far during the month of Oc
tober. the post office and bank
here have sold S22.743.75 worth
of series E. War Bonds, it was
learned today. In addition $2,
000 worth of series G bonds have
been sold at the bank. When
reports are received from Cres
well and Roper at the end of the
month, it is believed the county
will have sold about S30.000
worth of bonds.
Lt. ij.g.i James A. Chesson, jr.. of
the Naval Air Corps, spent the week
end with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
James A. Chesson. sr., near Roper.
Lieutenant Chesson flew a Naval air
plane from the Pensacola Naval Air
Station, where he is on duty as an
instructor, to Rocky Mount Satur
day. He returned Sunday morning.
Mrs. Claudia Read this week re
ceived a letter from her son, Maojr
Brooke P. Read, of the U. S. Army,
stating that he had arrived safely at
a port somewhere in the South Pa
cifi. presumably Australia. Major
Read is on duty with the inspector
general’s department of the Army
and has been in the service for a lit
tle more than a year.
Pfc. Julian W. Allen, jr„ of the
Army Air Forces, now stationed at
Seymour Johnson Field, near Golds
boro. spent the week-end with his
wife, son, and parents, Mr. and Mrs.
J. W. Allen, sr., near here. Staff Ser
geant Walter A. Allen, of a C. A. M.
P. battery now stationed at Fortress
Monroe. Va., and his wife are also
visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
J. W. Allen. Last week-end marked
the first time the two brothers have
been at home together in three years.
Washington County was given
credit for selling $201,221.75
worth of War Bonds during the
Third War Loan, according to
figures released by the Federal
Reserve Bank of Ricmond this
week. The county had a quota
of $262,000. Not included in the
credit were $20,000 worth of
bonds bought- directly by the N.
C. Pulp Company, which reqeust
ed that this county be given cre
dit for them.
News was received here Monday of
the death of H. W. Davenport, of
Washington and former resident of
Plymouth. He was foster brother of
Mrs. J. E. Lilley and uncle of Mrs.
Dan Satterthwaite.
County School Superintendent H.
H. McLean warns county teachers
not to deal with book and supply
salesmen who come to their schools
to solicit business without having
written permission from him. Mr.
McLean said that in several instances
during the past school year, some of
the schools have been victimized by
unscrupulous salesmen “padding” the
orders given them.
-*
Farm Registrants
May Get Releases
To Do Other Work
-*
Applications May Be Made
Now Through Usual
Procedure
-s
Draft registrants holding agricul
tural classifications who wish releas
es which will enable them to accept
temporary work in essential industry
may apply to the Washington County
Selective Service Board for them at
any time now, it was announced this
week by Mrs. Eliza Daniels, clerk to
the board.
Previously, it had been announced
that no releases would be granted
before December 1st. In view of the
fact that work on some farms is be
ginning to slack up, it was decided
to begin issuing some of the releases
i See RELEASES. Page 4)
Ceiling Price on Eggs Is Still 52 Cents
Per Dozen, Price Panel Warns Sellers
Retailers and consumers alike
were this week reminded by the
ceiling price panel of the Wash
ington County War Price and
Rationing Board that the ceiling
price on eggs in this section is
still 52 cents per dozen. It was
stated at the office of the board
that this price would prevail at
least until next Monday, wh^i a
price of 53 cents is supposed to
become effective.
It is also stated that there have
been a great many violatons of
the 52-ccnt reiling priee reported
to the board, and it is possible
that some sellers are storing up
some grief for themselves, as the
penalty for selling above ceiling
prices is far greater than the few
additional cents per dozen they
are receiving.
A cheek on the compliance
with ceiling priee regulations is
being made in the county this
week, and it is not unlikely that
some penalties are to be dealt out
in the future, instead of warn
ings. as in the past.
War Fund Campaign
Underway in County;
Ends Saturday Night
Roper Taxpayers
Get Final Notice
Town of Roper officials this
week served notice on delinquent
taxpayers there to effect settle
ment of their past-due accounts
by November 10, “or else.” The
Town Council has directed Tax
Collector R. C. Peacock to gar
nishee the wages of those who
have failed to pay their poll tax
es, levy on personal property and
advertise for sale real property
on which taxes for 1942 and
prior years have not been paid by
then.
The town recently effected a
40-cent reduction in the town
tax rate, from $1.45 to $1.05, but
they are making it plain that no
property owner can expect to
get away with a 100 per cent
reduction by failing to pay his
past-due accounts.
Rev. 0. L. Hardwick
Ending Fourth Year
As Methodist Pastor
-$
Local Church Has Made Re
markable Progress Since
He Came Here
The Rev. Olen L. Hardwick, pastor
of the Plymouth Methodist church,
is closing the fourth year of his serv
ice to the local church next Sunday,
and will leave Tuesday, November 2,
for the annual conference, which is
being held in Rocky Mount next
week. Since it is the usual custom
of Methodism not to keep a minister
at the same post for more than four
years, it is not expected that Mr.
Hardwick will return to the church
here, although he and Mrs. Hard
wick have many friends, both in and
out of the local church, who will
sincerely regret to see them leave.
The local church probably has
made more progress during Mr.
Hardwick’s four years as pastor than
in any comparable period in its re
cent history. It has developed from
part of a circuit to a full time sta
tion charge, with services morning
and evening each Sunday. At the
close of Mr. Hardwick’s first year of
sevice, the local church petitioned the
annual conference for such a change,
pledging to take care of the finan
cial obligations formerly assumed by
the Jamesville and Siloam church
es, which were a part of the local
charge up to that time.
During the last four years 112 new
members have been added to the
church roll. During Mr. Hardwick’s
first year in Plymouth, a Moeller pipe
organ was bought at a cost of $3,000;
and during the early part of his sec
ond year the indebtedness on the or
gan was paid off and a new heating
plant for the church was installed.
Each year the church has increased
the pastor’s salary, and provisions
has already been made for an in
crease of $150 for the coming year.
The church budget has grown from
$2,070 four years ago to something
i See METHODISTS, Page 4)
No Supplementary Gas Is Allowed
For Driving Home To Lunch Daily
Holders of supplementary gas
oline allotments who use their
tars to drive to and from their
homes to get lunch are advised
by the gasoline panel of the lo
cal rationing board that such
mileage wili no longer be allowed
in estimating their need for extra
gasoline. This is not a new
regulation, but it has not been as
strictly interpreted In the past as
it wili be in the future, it was
announced yesterday.
Only one round trip daily to
and from work will be allowed In
future estimates of necessary
mileage in applying for gasoline
supplements. The only exception
will be those subject to emer
gency calls, and their claims will
be carefully scrutinized by the
panel members.
Those who wish to use their
cars to drive home and back at
lunch time are advised to reserve
sufficient gasoline from their
"A” book allotments to take care
of this driving, according to yes
terday's statement by the local
board.
Liberal Response Is
Urged for Counly to
Reach Goal of $4,050
Canvass Started This Morn
ing To Reach Everyone
In Section
-@
Canvassers started out this morn
ing to raise the quota of $4,050 for
the United War Fund in Washington
County by Saturday night, when the
campaign is scheduled to be closed.
Recognized as the most worthy un
dertaking the county has been called
upon to support since the war start
ed nearly two years ago, some very
liberal contributions will be required
in order to reach the goal in the
three days of the drive.
The campaign is under the direc
tion of Postmaster John W. Dar
den, of Plymouth, county chairman.
The Junior Woman's Club is mak
ing the canvass in Plymouth, while
the campaign in the remainder of
the county is being conducted by
members of the home demonstration
clubs, in cooperation with Mrs. Fran
ces Darden, home demonstration
agent. A canvass is also being made
by a committee of colored people.
Literature concerning the United War
Fund has been distributed this week
through the schools under the direc
tion of County Superintendent H. H.
McLean and the various principals.
County people are urged to keep
in mind the fact that the United
War Fund represents 17 different na
tion organizations which have made
separate campaigns for funds in the
past. All of them are recognized
worthy causes, and those who have
been called upon for a multitude of
small donations in former years are
requested to add them all together
and make a large lump contribution
to the fund this year.
A large proportion of the funds
collected will go to the USO, which
alone represents most of the organi
zations which are active in promot
ing the walfare of men in the armed
forces of the nation; the Salvation
Army, YMCA. and YWCA being
among them. Another large sum will
go to the War Prisoner's Aid group,
'See WAR FUND, Page 4!
I
Eleven Colored Men
Called in Draft List
To Leave Tuesday
-<f>
No Colored Fathers Includ
ed; Seven Are From
Plymouth
Notices have been sent out to 11
colored men to report to the office
of the local draft board next Tues
day morning. November 2, at 10 a.m.,
when they will board the bus for
Port Bragg, where they will receive
their final mental and physical ex
aminations for possible induction
into the armed services.
All of the 11 men called up next
week are classed as "non-fathers,’'
although it was previously thought by
officials of the board that it would
be necessary to begin calling pre
Pearl Harbor fathers in order to fill
the November colored call. A call
for a group of white men later in the
month is pending, and a number of
fathers will be included in this list.
Of the 11 called to report next
Tuesday. 7 are from Plymouth, and
the other 4 come from as many dif
ferent towns. Creswell, Roper, and
Mackeys, in this county, are called
on to furnish one each, while the
other registrant summoned is listed
as from Washington, N. C.
Following is the list of those or
dered to report next week:
Cornelius Watson, James McNair,
William Robert Moore. Utah Gay
lord. James Edward Cooper. Fred
erick Sutton and James Lewis Har
ris. of Plymouth: Alton Robert, of
Creswell: Ralph Cox, of Roper, Wil
lis Henry Paxton, of Mackeys: and
Rome Cobbs, of Washington.
Nearly 200 Members
Secured To Dale in
Farm Bureau Drive
--—
Record Enrollment for Cur
rent Year Is Confidently
Expected by Officers
The membership drive recently
launched by the Washington Coun
ty Farm Bureau is meeting with ex
ceptional success, it was learned this
week from J. Roy Manning, president
of the organization. Already more
than 185 members have been signed
up in the bureau, and the list is
growing rapidly every day. The goal
of the county campaign was origi
nally set at 250, and Mr. Manning
and some of the other leaders of the
group are confident that this will be
surpassed before the drive ends the
last of next week.
The membership drive was gievn
considerable impetus Wednesday
night of last week, when the county
bureau hel dits annual meeting and
barbecue dinner. R. Flake Shaw,
executive secretary of the State Farm
Bureau Federation, was here and
spurred the group to seek even more
members than the 250 goal original
ly set.
About a dozen members of the
county unit pledged themselves to se
cure at least 10 members each. L. E.
Hassell, one of those who promised
to get 10 members, celled Mr. Man
ning the morning after the meeting
and said he had already secured iris
10. J. C. Tarkenton f of Pleasant
Grove, another who promised to get
10 members, had signed up more
than 30 by the middle of this week,
and wrote Mr. Mann- ,g to send him
more membership receipts, as he was
still going after new members.
Last year was the banner year for
the county organization. 225 mem
bers having been signed up then.
With the interest now being dis
played, it is expected that this num
ber will be surpassed by the end of
the current week.
Farm leaders have r jinted out that
farmers have not received their just
dues in the past, principally because
they were not organic d. Other oc
cupational groups which have strong
organizations have made much of
their progress at the expense of the
farmers, and they are being urged to
join the Farm BureauTL -su-defense.
as it is only through united efforts
that their influence can be brought
to bear in places where it will do
most good.
Sale of Tickets for
Army Relief Show
Over Halfway Mark
Premiere Showing To Be
Given at Local Theatre
November 7
Upwards of 400 tickets have been
sold so far for the premiere showing
of "This Is the Army," at the Plym
outh Theatre Sunday night, Novem
ber 7. it was learned yesterday from
Mrs. Eliza Daniels, chairman of the
ticket sale committee. The entire
proceeds of the show', with the ex
ception of the Federal tax, will go
to the Army Emergency Relief Fund.
It is hoped that 700 tickets can be
sold for the premiere showing, as
this w'ill represent approximately one
for each of the more than 700 Wash
ington County men in the armed
forces of the nation. A list of these
men was published last week, and so
far about half of them have been
checked off by purchasers of tickets
during the past w'eek. Each buyer
is given the privilege of buying a
ticket in honor of any man from the
county in the military service.
Tickets for the premiere showing
are on sale at $1.10 each, which
means that the Army Emergency Re
lief Fund will get SI from i ach pur
chaser, since the only expense con
nected with the special show ing is
the 10 cents tax. The mamr ement
of the Plymouth Theatre has lonat
ed use of the theatre and the services
of its staff for the premiere showing,
which is set for Sunday, November
7, at 9 p. m.
Irving Berlin’s "This Is the Army”
is Warner Brothers' all-Technicolor
production of the famous Broadway
hit. Starring are the 350 soldier
actors, as well as George Murphy,
Joan Leslie, and Lieutenant Ronald
Reagon. Others featured include
George Tobias, Alan Hale, Charles
Butterworth, Una Merkel, Kate Smith
Frances Langford, Gertrude Niesen,
and Sergeant Joe Louis.
Aside from the merits of its cause,
"Tliis Is the Army” has nothing to
explain awray. It has its well-knowm
professional cast, as well as Kate
Smith singing "God Bless America,"
and Joe Louis doing a rhythmic bag
punching sequence. It has the whole
battery of Berlin's tunes, including
his personally sung "Oh, How I Hate
To Get Up in the Morning,” "This
Is the Army, Mr. Jones," and "I Left
My Heart at the Stage-Door Can
teen.” It has its Army cast, many
of them sons of famous Broadw’ay
stars. It is jeweleed in production
trappings, and by all approaches it
is top-peak entertainment.
Number Cases Tried
In Superior Court
Here During Week
Judge Walter J. Bone, of
Nashville, Is Presiding;
Civil Cases Only
Judge Walter J. Bone, of Nashville,
presiding at the October term of su
perior court .which convened Mon
day, has kept things moving at a
rapid pace in the court this week, and
most of the calendar had been cleared
at noon todav.
The court is now engaged in the
trial of the damage suit brought by
James T. Adams against A. J. Byrd,
and it is expected that the case will
consume the entire day, and possibly
part of tomorrow. Mr. Adams was
injured last wdnter when he walked
into or was struck by Mr. Byrd's car
at the intersection of Water and
Washington Streets here. He is
asking for $3,000 damages as a result
of the injuries he sustained at that
time. Carl L. Bailey is representing
Mr. Adams, while the defendant in
the case is represented by W. L Whit
ley.
Monday's session, after the court
was organized, was devoted almost
exclusively to the tr ial of divorce ac
tions. Up to today a total of seven
divorces had been granted at this
term, and one other case was con
tinued. Several cases on the calen
dar have been settled out of court,
and non-suits were entered in several
others.
Proceedings so far this week are as
follows:
Divorces were granted to the follow
ing: Ben A. Davenport from Jessie
E. Davenport. Marshall J. Spruill
from Hulda Spruill. Martha Whid
bee Davenport from Macon Ward
Davenport, Virginia Barnes from
William Lloyd Barnes William H.
Tarkenton from Rosa Mae Tarking
ton. and H. R Miller from M. E.
Miller.
A continuance was granted in the
case of Mary Jones vs. Willie Jones.
Non-suits were entered in the follow
ing cases: J. K Reid vs. Claudius
McGowan. Annie Mae Spruill vs. W.
J. Bell, and Farmville-Woodward
Lumber Co. vs. H. W. Bowen.
In the case of J. S. Shugar vs. W.
S. Bowen, the jury returned a ver
dict in favor of the defendant.
Judgments were entered for the
plaintiffs in the cases of the Texas
Company vs. J. C. Herrington and
National Cash Register Co. vs. L. V.
Fagan.
In the case of Klein Hat Corpora
tion vs. Ben A. Sumner, a judgment
was entered for the plaintiffs for an
amount admitted owed by the defend
ant. However, all of the defendant’s
contentions were upheld, and the
plaintiffs were ordered to pay the
court costs.
Continuances were granted in the
following cases: T. F. Thompson vs.
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co..
Freeman Hyman vs. J. S. Shugar,
and M. G. Waters and others vs.
James Polk Spruill and others. The
case of Industrial Bank vs. V. E.
Everett, set for today, was postponed
and may be tried tomorrow, it was
stated.
The case of Grady Carmack vs.
Norfolk. Southern Bus Corporation
has been settled and the judgment is
now before the clerk.
Ask Pledges From
County Families To
Observe OPA Rules
-®
State Inofrmation Officer
Was Recent Visitor To
Eleven Schools
-®
By B. tV. GAITHER. Chairman
Community Service Panel, War Price
And Rationing Board
The OPA was given personality in
the estimation of 1.000 or more
Washington Countians when Mrs.
Ruth Vick Everett, state information
officer for the OPA, addressed the
teaching personnel and students of
11 schools October 19 and 20
Mrs. Everett’s 15 years in the
teaching profession, and her special
work at the University of North Car
olina in folk lore and playwriting,
make her ideally qualified for the en
tertainment and instruction of the
young literati of her native state.
When her audiences had laughed
heartily at such delightful stories as
Mrs. Butterbean and her open house,
or Uncle Guess eating cheese and
crackers in heaven, she outlined the
steps in the Home Front campaign
and enlisted their interest and as
sistance.
One representative of every fam
ily was appointed to explain the re
quirements to the folks at home, and
to bring back a signed pledge, which
is to be filed at the Plymouth ration
ing office.
Those who sign the pledge make
the following agreement, viz: "I will
pay no more than top legal prices:
X will accept no rationed goods with
out giving up ration stamps.”
A window sticker is given every
home that signs the pledge. Every
home in Washington County is re
quested to pledge.
Lt. Reuben E. Mayo
Dies in Plane Crash
At California Field
1
DIES IN ACCIDENT |
i-1
Funeral services will be held
in the Methodist church here
Monday at 2 p.m. for Lieuten
ant Reuben E. Mayo, U. S. Ma
rine Corps aviator and son of
William Jesse Mayo, of Plym
outh, who was killed in an air
plane accident at Santa Ana.
Calif., last Saturday.
Over 11,500 Ration
Books No. 4 Issued
At County Schools
Registration Handled Very
Smoothly During Three
Days Allotted
-$
War Ration Books No. 4 for 11.570
Washington County persons were is
sued at the 16 school sites Wednes
day, Thursday and Friday afternoons
of last week, it was learned at the
office of the War Price and Ration
ing Board here yesterday. The huge
task was handled very smoothly,
with a minimum of delay and in
convenience at all registration points.
Of the 11,570 books issued. 6,407
were handled through the four white
schools, while the other 5,164 were
issued at the 12 colored schools.
Thursday was the biggest day, with
4.320 books issued then; followed by
Friday, with 4,115; while the open
ing day, Wednesday, saw only 3.135
issued.
As large as the number is, there
are still about 1,000 or more persons
in the county who have not received
their books, it is indicated, based on
■See RATION BOOKS. Page 4>
--—*>
Special Session of
Recorder's Couri
-<s>
Idle several Tuesdays during this
month for f ne reason or another, a
special session of recorder's court was
held here last Friday morning, when
Judge Edward L. Owens called two
cases for trial.
Probable cause was found in the
case in which Henry Patrick, colored,
was charged with assault with a
deadly weapon on A R. Patrick,
white, at the latter’s store in the
Skinnersville section a few weeks
ago. He was ordered held for the
January term of superior court un
der bond of $500. He managed to
raise the bond and was released later
in the day.
A counter-case was brought by the
colored man against A. R. Patrick,
also charging assault with a deadly
weapon, but this was dismissed by
the recorder for lack of evidence.
The two cases originated several
weeks ago. when Henry Patrick, the
colored man. was seriously cut as he
advanced on Mr. Patrick in his store.
Tire negro then secured a rifle and
fired several shots at Mr. Patrick
through the windows of the store.
Funeral To Be Held
In Methodist Church
Here Next Monday
Accident Occurred Last Sat
urday Evening; No De
tails Available
News was received here Sunday of
the accidental death in an airplane
crash Saturday afternoon at 7:45 in
Santa Ana. Calif., of Second Lieu
tenant Reuben Elbert Mayo, U. S.
Marine Corps, son of William Jesse
Mayo, of Plymouth. Only the bare
announcement of his death was con
tained in the telegram from the Navy
Department to the young man's fa
ther, and it has been impossible to
learn any of the details of the acci
dent.
Not quite 23 years of age, Lieuten
ant Mayo was one of the most popu
lar young boys ever raised in Plym
outh. and news of his tragic death
cast a pall of sadness over the com
munity. He only completed his ad
vanced flight training course at the
Corpus Christi Texas. Naval Air
School the latter part of July, when
he received his “wings” and commis
sion as second lieutenant in the Ma
rine Corps. He left about the mid
dle of August for active service at
the Marine Base in San Diego Calif.,
and lias been stationed in surburban
Santa Ana there since that time.
Lieutenant Mayo is the fifth man
and the first commissioned officer
from Washington County to lose his
life while serving with United States
armed forced during World War II.
Announcement was made yester
day that the young man's body, ac
companied by a Marine officer guard
of honor, left California Tuesday for
Plymouth. The remains will arrive
in Rocky Mount Saturday night at
9:55 and will be brought to the Hor
ner Funeral Home here, where they
will remain until Monday. Funeral
services will be held from the local
Methodist church, of which he was
long a member. Monday afternoon at
2 o'clock, and interment will follow
in the family burial ground near
Bethel, in Pitt County, where the
young Marine flyer’s mother is
buried.
The Rev Winfield Johnson, chief
of chaplains at the Cherry Point Ma
rine Base, will be in charge of the
services, assisted by the Rev. O. L.
Hardwick, pastor of the Methodist
church, and the Rev. William B.
Daniels, rector of Grace Episcopal
church He will be buried with full
military honors, with a color and
honor guard from the Cherry Point
base in attendance, and the pall
bearers will be brother Marine fly
ing officers.
Lieutenant Mayo was the son of
William Jesse Mayo and the late Bes
sie James Mayo, of Pitt County. He
was born in Greenville on November
15. 1920. and moved here with his
parents a few years later. While a
student at the Plymouth High School
he was very active in all athletic ac
tivities. playing baseball, basketball
and football, and taking a leading
part in all young people's activities
in the school and at the Methodist
church, of which he became a mem
ber while quite young.
After completing his studies in the
local schools, he attended State Col
lege at Raleigh for a little more than
a year before transferring to the Uni
versity of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill. He also attended Copiah-Lin
eoln College, at Wesson, Miss., for
two years. He took an active part
m the sports program at all three in
stitutions, especially in football.
In July. 1941. he enlisted in the
Naval Air Corps, receiving his pre
flight training at the University of
North Carolina. He then went to
Hutchinson Field Kans for further
instruction and later was transferred
to Corpus Christi. Texas, for advanc
ed training. He was in the top 15 per
cent of his classmates who were given
'See R. E. MAYO. Page 4)
Home Demonstration Club Women To
Hold Annual Fall Meeting Next.Week
Announcement was made this
week by Mrs. Frances Darden,
home demonstration agent, that
the home demonstration women
of Washington County will hold
their annual Fall Achievement
Day at the Agriculture Building
here next Thursday afternoon.
November 4. at 2:SO o'clock.
The Rev. W. B. Daniels, jr„
rector of Grace Episcopal Church
in Plymouth, will address the
women, and the new officers re
cently elected for the county
council will be installed. Reports
of work done in the various clubs
during: the past rear will be sub
mitted.
The new counts officers to be
installed are as follows: Mrs.
Sidney Smithson, of Creswell,
president; Mrs. Carl Heynen, of
Henona, vice president: Mrs. Jim
l.ears Roper, secretary; and Mrs.
Steve Davenport. Cherry, treas
urer. Mrs. Mattie Swain, the re
tiring president, will preside over
the meeting next week. Other
retiring counts officers who avill
be serving for the last time at
the fall meeting include Mrs. W.
V. Hays, vice president; Mrs. D.
B. Chesson, secretary: and Mrs.
Edna Latham, treasurer.