North Carolina Newspapers

2***r************************t****i' Town! OPICSj )/#«#//////( The Lions club will not meet to night in the regular meeting, ac cording to an announcement by the president, Dr. A. Papineau, due to the fact that the club was unable to secure anyone to prepare the dinner. An assistant bus mechanic has been employed for the county, W. F. Veasey stated that the board has been unable to secure a man from a distance because of living condi tions in Plymouth. Therefore, they are fortunate to obtain the services of Herbert Waters, of the Long Ridge Road, who begins his duties Thursday of this week. Due to iinforsecn circumstan ces, The Beacon does not have sufficient space this week to publish several articles pre pared for publication, and others were cut short. It is hoped that the articles left out can be used next week. Lt. W. J. Highsmith, jr.. recently was placed on the inactive list by the U. S. Navy and is now at his home here with Mrs. Highsmith. Sanitary inspector for the district health department before he went into the service in 1942. Mr. High smith has been in the Philippines and China in recent months. County Forest Warden S. F. Dar den is looking for a towerman for the Plymouth Fire Tower. Anyone who is interested in this work is asked to see Mr. Darden. Highway patrolmen are checking lights on cars and trucks in this sec tion. Numerous citations are be ing issued for violations, and all car owners are warned to have their lights put in good shape to avoid ar rest. Patrolmen also are watching for drivers who refuse to dim their lights when approaching other cars on the highways at night. Tobacco allotments for 1946 will be increased by 10 per cent over those for 1945, it was an nounced yesterday hy officials of the Agriculture Department. The increase will be made by addition of a straight 10 per cent to each individual grower's al lotment. Washington County had approximately 1.200 acres of tobacco last season, which means an additional 120 acres this year. E. E. Harrell, owner of the Plymouth Furniture Company, has received his discharge from the Na vy and is now at his home here with Mrs. Harrell and their two children. He was in the service for nearly three years, much of the time on the West Coast. Approximately 85 Lions and their ladies were present at the quarter ly ladies’ night banquet of the Lions Club last Thursday night. An entertaining program was presented, with hilarity the keynote of the eve ning, and everyone had an enjoy able time. -♦ New Restaurant Is Opened Here -♦ Between 500 and GOO people vis ited M. L. Nobles’ new restaurant on Washington Street at the formal opening Monday night. Mr. Nobles said 302 were registered, and esti mated that an equal number vcalled but failed to register. Sandwiches and punch were served by the man agement. The restaurant was attractively decorated and lighted for the open ing, and hostesses conducted all who called on an inspection trip to see the equipment and appointments. The new place is a credit to the town, and it is enjoying excellent patronage since opening for busi ness Tuesday morning. The name 'Mayflower Restau rant” was selected for the new place by the contest judges last night. De tails will be published next week. -♦ Four County Men in Draft Call Next Week Four white men from Washing ton county have been issued a pre induction call for next Wednesday, January 16. They will report to Fort Bragg for physical examina tion on that date. The young men are: Delbert Le roy Clinton and Dallis Milton Biggs, of Roper; Onwood Ross Griffin, of Mackeys, and Orval Naylor, of Plymouth. > The Roanoke Beacon * * * * * * * and Washington County News ******* VOLUME LVII—NUMBER 2 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, January 10, 1946 ESTABLISHED 1889 Work Resumed at Pulp Mill Rouline Business As Wood Deliveries Pick Up Ai Regular Meet Shut down since January 1st on account of pulpwood short age, the plant of the North Caro lina Pulp Company here re sumed operations today. Mill officials stated that enough wood was on hand and in sight to assure operation for about 10 days, and that if the weather improved so that wood could be gotten out of the forests the plant would continue production on its regular schedule. Officials said that there was plenty of pulpwood already cut to assure continued operations, but difficulty is being experi enced in getting trucks in and out of the woods, due to high water in most of the wood-pro ducing areas of this section. The unusually heavy rainfall in the past six or eight months and the December spell of cold wea ther combined to make pulp wood cutting and delivery very difficult, it is explained. Considerable repair and main tenance work was done at the i plant here during the past week or so, while the mill was shut down. Sale of Town Property Confirmed by Council ] Contracts Ready ] For Cucumbers Cucumber contracts are now ready for distribution among farmers of this section, it is an nounced this week by C. W. Dinkins, manager of the local plant of C. C. Lang & Son, Inc., of Baltimore. Those interested in growing the crop this year may secure a contract at the office of the plant here or at Blount’s Hardware store. Mr. Dinkins said contract terms will be the same as last year, when growers are reported to have made a profit. The com pany had about 400 acres signed up in the county last year and is prepared to handle even a larger acreage this season. It is planned to have a representa tive in each locality within the next two weeks to discuss the matter with farmers. New District Health Members Meet Here W. F. Veasey, H. H. Aller And Dr. W. H. Johnson County Members -♦ The three members of the Wash ington-Tyrrell county health dis trict, recently appointed by Dr. Car B. Reynolds, state health officer, me1 last week in the office of W. F. Vea sey, superintendent of education anc one of the members. Others serv ing in this capacity are H. H. A! len, chairman of Washington coun ty commissioners and W. M. Laugli inghouse, mayor of Columbia. The last General Assembly changed the law in regard to the health department, requiring that three members must be appointed by the state health officer. After ap pointing these Dr. Reynolds instruct ed them to elect four more members of the health board. At this meeting, Mr. Laughing house was appointed temporary chairman. In compliance with the state law, the following persons were elected to complete the Washington Tyrrell county Health Board. Dr W. H. Johnson, dentist, of Plymouth for a term of four years; Dr. R. H Parker, pharmacist, Columbia, for i term of two years and W. H. White superintendent of schools for Tyr rell county, Columbia, for a term of one year. -♦ Final Riles Friday For Leonard Lucas -4 An elderly citizen of Plymouth Leonard Lucas, died at his home or East Main street Wednesday night, following a long illness. Funeral services will be conducted from the First Christian church ol Plymouth at 3 o’clock Friday after noon. Mr. Lucas’ pastor, the Rev. E B. Quick will officiate, assisted by his former pastor, the Rev. John J Langston, of Four Oaks, and the the Rev. Paul B. Nickens, pastor of the Baptist church of Plymouth. County Finally Topped E-Bond Quota In Victory Loan, With $1,285 To Spare Although II. E. Beam, chair man of the county war finance committee, says lie has no idea “how we did it,” Washington County went “over the top” on both its K bond and overall quo tas in the Victory Loan drive, which ended January 1. The Federal Reserve Bank credits the county with $99,285 E-bond sales, against a quota of $98,000; and $342,085 overall sales, against a quota ef fin,**). Mr. Beam said that according to the figures he had when the drive ended, the county was about $12,000 short on its E bond quota. However, the Fed eral Reserve figures are official, and he is not disposed to quarrel with them. The county topped its E-bond goal by $1,285; and went ’way over on the overall quota, nearly 100 per cent, in fact; sales amounting to $165, 085 more than the $177,000 quota. $7,300 Bid for Water Street Lot Accepted Committee Named to Study Possible Sale of Other Surplus Property -♦ In addition to confirming bids for town property sold and rented at public auction on December 28. the city council Monday night appoint ed a committee to examine the pos sibility of concentrating all agen cies and departments in one build ing and selling other town-owned surplus property. This action was taken at the regular meeting of the council, attended by Mayor E. F. Still and all six councilmen: H. E. Harrison. A. J. Riddle. J. S. Brink ley, E. D. Keel, A. J. Bvrd and J. W. Marrow. The council passed a motion ac cepting the $7,300 bid of A. L. Alex ander for the vacant lot between Z. V. Norman’s office and the fire de . partment on Water street. The lot has 50 feet front and runs back to the river. The bid of $45 per month . made by Roy Simpson for the old police department headquarters in | the city market building also was accepted. The mayor and city clerk were authorized to execute a deed Success of the recent sale led councilmen into a discussion of placing all city departments in one building. It was proposed that the market building be completely reno vated and rebuilt so that it would provide quarters for the city clerk, police and fire departments. This would release considerable pro perty on Water Street needed for ’ business use, and at the same time increase tax revenue to the town, it j is pointed out. Shep Brinkley, J. W. Marrow and H. E. Harrison were appointed to a committee to consult and architect and get preliminary plans and es timates of the cost of rebuilding the market building. Mayor Still is to work with the committee, which was authorized to spend up to $200 in securing the advice of and architect. Ul uouniy Board Highway Commission Giv en Lease of Land for Storing Materials -4 At the regular session of the board of county •commissioners which met Monday at 10:30 in the court house, J. J. Gilbert and £>. J Bridgman of the state highway commission ap peared before the board and asked for a lease on a strip of land beyond the county home. The land is si tuated on the old Roper dirt road. The commission desires the use of this strip, it was stated for the pur pose of erecting a truck shed and space for storage of materials to be used in highway work. The board voted to lease the‘strip of land for $5 r year, with a provi sion that the county may cancel the lease by giving 30 days notice. Chief Police P. W. Brown ap peared before the commissioners in reference to drposal of property within the limi' : of Plymouth. They are lots belongi -g to Carolyn Wynn, Martin and Get mger. Chief Brown said the lots h: 1 been foreclosed and the com mi sioners decided to see Z. V. Norman and obtain a deed in order to sell the property, if it has been foreclt :ed. E. J Spruill, tax collector, report ed that he collected $17,710.29 in taxes during th • month of Decem ber, 1945. The board rjeomended that the auditor be authorized to pay J. S. Twiddy a tot^l of $42 for four hogs, weighing lOS^Wfindr at 10 cents per pound for hogs'belonging to him that were destroyed by dogs. This was decided upon hearing a report from the committee ft "Davenport, John W. Spruill and |Uber Alligood. who were appointed*, ti'finvestigate the case. Mrs. E. J. Spruill, welfare super intendent for the county, was asked to investigate the cases of D. E. Baxter, of Long Ridge Road, and Mrs. Dora Biggs, of Roper, for old age assistance. -tf* Meet Tomorrow io Form Flying Club Organization of a flying club will be considered at a meeting to be held at the fire department Friday night of this week at 8 o’clock. George F. Hatch, of Tarboro, veteran pilot of both world wars and private flying enthusiast, will be here to ex plain how the club may be organ ized and the facilities that will be available. Everyone interested in aviation is invited and urged to at tend the meeting. The North Carolina Pulp Com pany is making its newly completed airport available to citizens of the section, and Mr. Hatch plans to be gin a regularly scheduled course of flight instruction here within the next two weeks. He operates the municipal airport and a commercial crop dusting service in Tarboro. Selecting Jury for Trial of 7 wo Men on Murder Charge I Betler Enforcement Of Law in County Is Needed, Says Judge -*■ Criticism Voiced in Charge To Grand Jury and in Talk to Rotary -♦ The need for law enforcement in Washington County was emphasized in two addresses made here this week by Judge W. C. Harris, of Ra leigh. who is presiding over the Jan uary term of superior court. His charge to the grand jury at the open ing of court Monday was centered largely on this theme, and he also used it as the subject of a brief talk before the Rotary Club Tuesday night. He stated that a growing town, such as Plymouth, is in need of a much better system of law enforce ment. more officers and more effic ient handling of law violators. He said that “unless the citizens of the town and county wake up to the need and take hold of the situation, somebody will come in and steal all the marbles.'’ The jurist asserted that the coun ty has gotten along with the same number of officers for several years, although hundreds of people have moved into the section in the in terim. He said, for instance, that the sheriff and one deputy could not adequately enforce the law in the county and recommended that an other deputy be employed for the upper part of the county. He spoke also of the urgent need for a jailor. It is not conducive to good order, sanitation, or even hu mane, to place people in a jail with out proper supervision, he stated. At the Rotary meeting Tuesday, Solicitor George Fountain, of Tar boro. also spoke, dealing principally with the value of Rotary Clubs, mentioning the value of the Tarboro club. -♦ Pulp Mill Officials Lose Furniture in Truck Fire -> L. J. Darby and Elmer Leavitt, of ficials of the North Carolina Pulp Company, sustained a heavy loss last week-end. when a moving van with their furniture was wrecked and destroyed between Newark. N. J.. and Plymouth. They were in formed Monday by telegram that their belongings were a total loss, but no details of the accident were furnished. Mr. and Mrs. Leavitt lost all of their furniture and furnishings, in cluding silverware and Chinaware. Mr. and Mrs. Darby were not mov ing all of their household goods, al though they had some expensive articles of furniture in the van. Insurance will cover part of the loss, it is understood, but many of the articles are irreplaceable at this time. I ii C d h ti t: n f< ii ti tl s P ii \A v d 1< o t< J g T si SI f< n ti C m n V 3 l-' Grand Jury Recommends County Employ Jailor, Additional Deputy a tl Lack of Cleanliness in Num erous County Buildings Is Criticized -♦ Employment of an additional dep uty sheriff and a full-time jailor was recommended by the Washing ton County Grand Jury in its re port submitted to Judge W. C. Har ris in superior court here yesterday afternoon. It was suggested that the additional deputy serve the upper part of the county and that, if pos sible, a married couple be secured to serve as full-time jailors. The recommendations were made after an exhaustive examination in to county affairs, as suggested by Judge Harris in his charge to the jury Monday morning. When the report was submitted in open court yesterday afternoon, the presiding jurist commended the group for its thoroughness, stating that the report was one of the best he had ever re ceived. He further requested that the report be published in its en tirety, as submitted below. J. Shepherd Brinkley, of Plym outh, was foreman of the grand jury, composed of the following men: Luke Daniels, W. S. Daven port, W. L. Mayo, of Plymouth; John McCloud, D. M. Holton, H. J. Fur bee, of Lees Mill; Albert Phelps, of Skinnersville; Grover Spear, W. H. Peal, David H. Furlough. D. C. Oliver, Lindsey T. Snell, James N. Phelps, Haywood G. Bonner, C. N. Willoughby, Clyde W. Spear. A. L. Holmes, of Scuppernong. The complete report follows: We have examined all bills and presentments that have come to our attention and have, to the best of our ability, disposed of same. We have made examinations of the jail, schools, county home, all office of the courthouse, agriculture building, and prison camp. From the above examinations we respectfully submit the following recommendations: We recommend a full-time jailor (with wife, if possible to obtain) for the county jail, to be on the prem ises at all times with a proper list of duties as prescribed and directed by the county board of commission ers. We recommend whereas exast ing conditions prisoners of the town and county are confined in the same jail, the jailor must have full author ity over both town and county pris oners. No person or persons may be confined or released without the jailor’s full knowledge and permis sion, and records of same. The care and feeding of all confined persons to be the duty of jailor and his wife. We recommend that a deputy sher iff be employed to serve the upper part of Washington County, and that full cooperation of all county and town officers be given him in line of duty in his work. We feel this officer is badly needed in order to carry out the laws, and in face of increasing population and increasing misde meanors, this problem facing Wash ington County needs the above rec ommended deputy sheriff. After due consideration we rec ommend that a full-time janitor be employed whose duties should in clude the entire cleaning of the Washington County courthouse (in cluding jail, all offices, etc.), and the agriculture building, along with the grounds of the two buildings. An investigation of the courthouse premises disclosed the following: Men’s toilet: Doors unmarked, dirty floors, need of new toilet seats, new paint job needed throughout, and that same should be cleaned daily. , We recommend that a toilet be installed for colored women in the courthouse, and if possible that a toilet for white women be installed on the first floor. Present women’s toilet found to be unmarked and badly in need of thorough cleaning. Wash basins throughout entire court Report Made Yesterday Is Commended Highly by Presiding Judge -♦ d F a tl house show signs of neglect and im-' proper cleaning and attention. Furnace room: We found the fur nace room badly in need of thorough cleaning. This room, we recom mend, needs a replacement of ma terials which might be used in start ing fires in the furnace. This ma terial we found, to be too near the furnace and thus we consider a fire hazard. We recommend that the halls and passageways of the courthouse be kept free and clean of all rubbish at all times, and that such halls must not be used for storage purposes of any kind. We recommend that fire exting uishers be installed throughout the courthouse building, also in the ag riculture building. We recommend that records be low the vault in the register of deeds and the clerk of cou t offices be restored in a proper and fireproof manner. We recommend that windows and doors, both interior and exterior, be repaired, screened in all places need ed. and that this be done immediate ly. Plastering is needed in some spots and should be taken care of now. We found some exposed heating pipes throughout the courthouse and we recommend that these pipes be removed as soon as possible. The clerk of court’s office is in need of a new tabic, which should be provided as soon as possible. We recommend that modern drink ing fountains be installed through out the courthouse, and that present coolers now being used be con demned, as same were found to be most insanitary. We found the jail to be in a fairly satisfactory condition. However, we recommend that particular attention ami repairs be given immediately to c o fl b tl g o n e n S S P g o: (See GRAND JURY, Page 6) Properly Being j Listed in County i Tax listing is underway throughout the county, with only a small fraction of proper ty reported by owners so far. The listing period continues through January 31, and the work is expected to speed up in the next week. As usual, there will be a last-minute rush during the last few days of the month, when the list-takers will be swamped. Mrs. Hermine Ramsey, list taker for Plymouth Township, said yesterday that listing here was proceeding very good in comparison with the first week in former years. Farmers, es pecially, are coming in earlier than usual, she said. There were no reports from other town ships. ■ew Cases Tried By Court So Far -4 legroes Who Robbed Cres well ABC Store Get Year in Prison Few cases have been disposed of i superior court so far this week, no case has been continued, two afendants acquitted, two others aind guilty and given prison sen dees, and two others are now on •ial for their lives, charged with urder. Proceedings have been as illows: The case against Beatrice Down ig, charged with larceny, was con nued for the term on motion of le State. W. C. Bro\v*n. charged with non jpport. was found not guilty. After a trial lasting the better art of two days, the jury' brought 1 a verdict of not guilty as to C. P. llgood. of Franklin County, who ■as charged with assault with a eadly weapon upon Linwood Gay ird. of Plymouth. John Banks and Earl Aiken, col ed, charged with breaking and cn iring the ABC store in Creswell in tly, 1944, were found guilt.y and ven sentences of 12 months each, hey were brought here from the ate penitentiary, where they are irving sentences for similar of inses in other counties. Henry Norman, colored, and Ray iond Clifton, white, are now on ial for the fatal shooting of Ernest oopor. Seuppernong merchant, last eptember 8th. -Year-Old Child Is Fatally Burned -♦ Little Fay Sawyer, age five, of lymouth, died Thursday, January at 1:15 a.m., as a result of burns .'ceived Christmas week. The child was at the county home : the time of the accident. Her mo lcr. Mrs. Annie Mobley Sawyer, ho was employed there, found the lild playing with two lighted can les. She took them away from ay. but the little girl found them ?ain and proceeded to light them le second time, catching her othes on fire, getting in and out : the bedcovers, fanning the antes. The mother put out the laze, hut the child lived only a 1 it - e over a week. She was born in Washington >unty April 27, 1940. Funeral services were held at the •ave, the Rev. W. B. Harrington, E Williamston, officiating. Inter lent took place in the Mobley com ery near Jamesville. The little girl is survived by her other; two brothers, Franklin awyer, of Norfolk, Va., and fcoburn awyer, of Williamston; one sister, rggie Sawyer of the home, and her ■andmother, Mrs. Nellie Mobley. Jamesville. Special Venire of 160 Men Called -+ 11 of 13 Jurors Needed Had Been Seleced Up To Noon Today -+ At noon today, only 11 of the ; 13 jurors needed for the Clifton Norman murder trial had been selected in superior court. Thir ty-five men have been sum moned for this afternoon, and it is expected the two additional jurors will be secured from this venire. Jurors chosen so far are: Webb Patrick, Russell R. Knowles, E. J. Barber, R. H. Gurganus, Clarence E. Bowen, 11. J. Woolard, Marshall E. Woodley, Harrell Reid Phelps, J. A. IIitfton. Rufus A. Tetter ton and T. C. Patrick. | Considerable difficulty is being (experienced in securing a jury for J | the trial of Raymond Clifton, white, and Henry Norman, colored, for the murder of Ernest Cooper, 50-year old Scuppernong Township mer chant last September 8th. A spe cial venire of 100 men was ordered to report Wednesday morning, but this panel was exhausted by Wednesday night, with only 10 men in the box. Another special venire of 25 was summoned for Thursday morning and exhausted with but one ad ditional juror secured shortly be fore noon. Judge W. C. Harris, pre siding. then ordered that another 35 men be summoned, and selection of the jury continued this afternoon. Prospective jurymen are being ques tioned closely by defense counsel, and quite a number were peremp torily rejected. The state has re jected a number because of ex pressed opposition to capital pun ishment. Solicitor George Fountain is be ing assisted by Attorney Carl L. Bailey, representing the Cooper family, in prosecuting the two de fendants Clifton is represented by W L Whitley, of Plymouth, and H. S Ward, of Washington: while Nor man has employed Percy Carmen, attorney of Hampton. Va. Court attaches estimate that pos sibly two days will be required to try the case after the jury is selected. This means that trial probably will continue into next week. The jur ors are being kept under guard and are sleeping in the jailor’s quarters on tin hird floor of the courthouse. Mr cooper died in the Columbia hospital early Tuesday morning, September 11, after being shot in the back while standing in his store about 11 o'clock the Saturday night before. Norman was arrested by Deputy Sheriff W. D Peal, of Cres well shortly after the shooting, and, according to officers, admitted he fired the shot. Following an investigation, Clif ton was implicated and arrested by county officers several days later. The two men are being tried joint | ly on the same charge, and it is indicated the state will seek to prove they are guilty of first-degree mur der, which calls for the death pen alty if they are found guilty. The trial is attracting the largest crowds of any term of court in re cent years, and the courtroom has been "well filled during the preli minary stages Court officials hope to complete selection of the jury this afternoon and begin hearing testi mony immediately afterwards. -♦ Work Is Completed on Water Tank Last Week -4 Work on the town water tank was completed last week. The tank was thoroughly overhauled and painted inside and out while the workmen were here, the job requiring about a month's work by four experts. Originally it was planned to paint the tank, but when an examination was made extensive repairs were found necessary. The tank was rusting through in, spots, and con siderable welding was done to put it in first-class shape. Town in Better Financial Condition; I Has Net Sinking Fund Requirements j Town of Plymouth finances are in much belter shape now than they were a lew months ago, according to a financial re port read at the monthly meet ing of the council Monday night by City Clerk M. W. Spruill. The report shows that $9,000 re cently was placed into the sink ing fund account, and the coun cilmen ordered that steps be taken to call in that amount of outstanding town bonds. Mayor E. F. Still reported that a check had been received from the county ABC board for the town’s portion of whiskey store profits for the period January 1, 1944. to October 1, 1945. By the terms of a compromise, the town agreed to accept 7 1 _• per cent of the Plymouth store profits for that period, and 10 per cent thereafter, payable on a quar terly basis. The mayor stated that after all attorney fees and court costs were paid, the town netted ap proximately $2,900 by the com promise settlement with the ABC board.