T'OWIl
opics
An acre of peppers was set oul
on the farm of Mayor A. J. Riddlf
near here Monday by Elvir
Adams, his tenant. It is the first
reported in this section this sea
son .The mayor had 1% acres in
peppers last year and plans to
plant 3 acres this season.
2nd Lt. and Mrs. Clarence O.
Kelly, jr„ returned to Plymouth
last week-end to spend a few
weeks with their parents, Mr. and
Mrs. C. O. Kelly and Mr. and Mrs.
K. S. Trowbridge, before Lieu
tenant Kelly leaves for overseas
duty. Young Kelly graduated
from the University of North Car
olina last June and received his
commission in the Air Force at
the same time. He was called into
active duty in November and has
been at Francis E. Warren Air
Base, Cheyenne, Wyo., at supply
school most of the time since. He
expects to leave in about 20 days
for his new post in England.
Those who have not pain
their 1953 taxes are reminded
by town and county tax collect
ors that the rate of interest on
unpaid taxes will go up anffther
half cent after the first of May.
The rate of interest this month
is 2 Vi cents; starting on May
2nd the rate will advance to 3
per cent.
Local golfers, who have always
considered the course h6re one of
the most difficult they have ever
played, can appreciate a remark
made last week-end by Paul
Munsell, of Kinston, past presi
dent of the Southern Seniors Golf
Association. Speaking at a buffet
dinner at the club Saturday night
after a trying day on the links,
Mr. Munsell, who is a pretty good
golfer in his own right, said ‘‘You
folks here have about the finest
golf course in the eastern part of
the United States, but if it was
mine I'd plow it up.”
Dr. A Papineau is attending a
post-graduate institute in Chapel
Hill this week on “implications of
Newer Diagnostic and Therapeu
tic Techniques.” It is being held
at the Medical School of the Uni
versity of North Carolina on
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
day. Dr. Papineau will return
home tomorrow.
-♦-.
Eastern Carolina
Firemen in Meet
At Roper Tuesday
Members of Roper Depart
ment Serve Barbecue and
Brunswick Stew To Near
ly 200 Visitors
Members of the Roper Volun
teer Fire Department were host9
Tuesday to upwards of 200 “visit
ing firemen,” when the Eastern
Carolina Firemen’s assaciaMm
held its quarterly meeting in that
town.
The Roper firemen did it up
brown, too, providing one of the
best barbecue and brunswick
stew suppers ever staged in this
section. The dinner was held in
the high school auditorium, which
was turned into a huge banquet
hall for the occasion. Five pigs
were donated to the firemen by
various public-spirited citizens of
the town, providing some splen
did barbecue, with nearly a tub
ful left over after all the visitors
had fairly well stuffed them
selves.
Members of the school lunch
room staff prepared the bruswick
stew, which was done to perfect
ion. They also prepared the slaw
and cooked the cornbread that
rounded out the dinner.
Counting members of the host
department, there were 185 fire
men in attendance, representing
most of the 35 towns which are
members of the association. In
addition there were some 20 to
30 invited guests who were not
firemen. Some of the visitors ar
rived early in the afternoon to
look over the fire department
building in Roper and to visit
with friends from other depart
ments who likewise arrived early.
Principal speaker at the meet
ing which followed the dinner
was Charles F. Gold, of Raleigh,
insurance commissioner of North
Carolina. He spoke at some length
on the work and activities of the
state insurance department. He
was introduced to the group by
Curtis Flannagan, assistant chief
of the Farmville Fire Department.
Henry 15. Everett, chief of the
Roper department, called the
meeting to order, and Plymouth
Fire Chief Miller Warren presid
ed in his capacity as president of
the association. The invocation
was made by the Rev. Edward
Spruill, rector of St. Lukes Epis
copal Church at Roper. Mayor
Reynold S. Spruill, of Roper, de
livered the address of welcome,
with H. O. Lovic, of the Plym
outh department responding.
Chief Henry Everett recognized
special guests, and Tyrus Bissett,
chief of the Wilson department
and president of the State Fire
men’s Association made a brief
talk.
The Roanoke Beacon
****** and Washington County News ******
j!j A home newspaper dedicated
to the service of Washington
County and its 13,006 people.
VOLUME LXV—NUMBER 15
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, April 15, 1954
ESTABLISHED 1889
CANDIDATE W. KERR SCOTT AND SOME OF HIS LOCAL SUPPORTERS
Former Governor W. Kerr Scott (center) was in Washington Countv last Thursday afternoon
in the interest of his candidacy for United States Senator. While in Plymouth he announced that
a committee had been selected to manage his campaign in the county, four members cf which
surround him in the photo above. They are, left to right: Leroy Ange, Lewis Price, Governor
Scott, W. M. Darden and W. H. Thompson. Other members announced include Harry Barnes and
C. N. Davenport, ,jr„ of Creswell; Walter W. White, of Skinncrsville; W. L. Whitlev’and Harvey
Hobbs, of Plymouth. The former governor arrived here shortly after noon and shook hands with
a number of his supporters on the streets following an impromptu parade led by the Plymouth
High School Band. He also spent some time at the pulp mill during the shift change at 3 o’clock.—
Polaroid 1-Minute staff photo.
County Board of Elections
Names Primary Officials
j Weather Blocks j
i Work on Streets j
Mayor A. .1. Riddle said yes
terday that the street surfacing
projects here are a standstill
right now. The work is being
done by highway commission
workmen, who arc waiting for
the ground to dry out somewhat
before starting the actual black
topping of several streets.
Crushed rock and screenings
have been put on most the
streets and “worked in” by the
highway crew. Several soft
places in the block of Adams
Street next to the Methodist
Church are to be filled in, and
surfacing will be started just &
soon as weather conditions are
right, according to the mayor.
Present Prospect
Bright for Ample
Leaf Plants Here
No Incidence of Blue Mold
Reported in County Plant
Beds Thus Far, Accord
ing lo Farm Agent
Tobacco plant beds in the coun
ty are reported to be doing very
well, according to County Agent
IV. H. Pruden and several leading
farmers queried this week. A few
farmers are said to have poor
itands, but as a whole the out
ook is promising for an ample
;upply of plants by transplanting
;ime.
Cold weather in late February
ind during much of March de
ayed plants to some extent, and
ransplanting possibly will be
ibout a week later than last year,
iccording to reports. It will be
ibout May 1st before any plants
ire set out in the county.
The county agent said that
vhile no blue mold has been re
>orted in this county, it is pre
valent in some other sections.
3ruden said plants in beds are
ibout as large as usual at this
ime of year, but if blue mold
^S^TliAFpLANTirPage' 10
Members Take Oath of Of
fice and Perfect Organi
zation at Meeting Satur
day Morning Here
—♦—
Members of the Washington
County Board of Elections per
fected their organization and ap
pointed precinct election officials
at a meeting here last Saturday.
Appointed by ihe state board of
elections recently, the three mem
bers met in the office of the clerk
of superior court at 11 o’clock
Saturday morning and, after
taking the oath of office before
Clerk W. T. Stillman, proceeded
to set up machinery for holding
primaries in this county on Sat
urday, May 29.
W. T. Freeman, of Plymouth
and Roper, was reelected chair
man of the board, and J. Richard
Carr, Republican member, was
reelected secretary. Moye W.
Spruill, of Plymouth, is the third
member. All three men were
members of the board two years
ago.
It is not yet known whether or
not there will be a Republican
primary this year in the county.
So far, no Republicans have filed
for any of the county offices, but
if a contest should develop by the
filing deadline, 6 p. m. Saturday,
it will be necessary to hold, a
primary for that party. There are
no contests on state or district
levels between Republicans. The
board appointed a Republican
judge of election for each of the
six precincts.
No changes were made in any
of the polling places for the com
ing primary, and the voting will
be done at the same places they
were in the 1952 general election.
Registration books will open on
Saturday, May 1, and remain open !
through Saturday, May 15; each 1
registrar being required to he at '
the .polling place on each of the 1
three Saturdays during that per- 1
iod. During the remainder of the
time the registrar may register i
qualified voters at his residence ;
or place of business. t
Next meeting of the board of 1
elections will be held at 6 p. m., <
Saturday of this week in the of- 1
fice of the chairman, W. T. Free- i
man. At that time the board will <
officially certify names of all 1
candidates for printing on the :
ballots, except where they do not
have opposition. Those without -
See OFFICIALS, Rage 10
Easter Monday To Be ;
General Holiday Here I
Easter Monday, April 19, will
be observed as a general holi
day by most business establish
ments in Plymouth. The post
office and restaurants will be
open, but stores, county, town
and federal offices, both banks,
garages and practically all oth
er business places will be clos
ed. Drug stores and filling sta
tions will observe Sunday
hours, it is understood.
The North Carolina Pulp
Company will continue opera
tions as usual, but the plant of
the Atlas Plywood Corporation ]
will be closed after Friday until ,
Tuesday morning. The True- ]
Temper Corporation plant will (
close down this afternoon and ,
remain closed until Tuesday i
morning. School students also
will have Monday off, return
ing to classes at the regular
time Tuesday morning.
Stores here remained open
all day yesterday, but will re
sume their regular weekly half
holidays next Wednesday, It
was stated.
<
To Hold Clinic!
Here Tomorrow j
Last of the series of pre
school clinics for Plymouth
white children for 1954 will be
held Friday morning of tV't'
week at the Washington CwtSl
ty Health Department here,
Miss Elizabeth Wood, county
health nurse announces. The
health department is located on
Washington Street adjoining
the Washington County Hospi
tal.
The clinic will open at 9:30
a. m. and all persons who have
children who will become six
years of age on or before Oc
tober 16 of this year and who
have not previously brought
such children to a pre-school
clinic are urged to bring them
at this time.
The clinic will offer immuni
zation against whooping cough,
diphtheria and small pox, Miss
Wood said.
Special Programs
At Most Churches
On Easier Theme
♦—.
Sunrise Services al Two
Local Churches Sunday
Morning; Special Easier
Music Also Features
-«
Various special services for the
Caster season have been planned
>y the churches in this area, most
if which have already been an
munced and some already car
ied out.
The Baptist church is having a
nusical program tonight, pre
ented by the senior choir under
he direction of Mrs. Roy T. Hop
:ins, with Mrs. W. D. Walker as
irganist. Special programs will
>e given at both the morning
ind evening hours on Easter Sun
lay. The pastor, the Rev. Paul
J. Nickens, will bring the mes
age at both services.
A special suprise prayer service
vill be conducted at the First
Christian Church Sunday morn
ng at 6:30, with the pastor, the
lev. C. N. Barnette, in charge,
dr. Barnette is also conducting
pecial services nightly at the
■hurch this week, starting at 8
I’clock. The public is cordially
nvited to attend. The week’s
ervice will come to a close Sun
lay evening, with the annual
Saster Canata presented by the
•hoir under the direction of Mrs.
I. E. Newland, music director for
he church. A baptismal service
vill be held immediately after
he cantata.
A three-hour service is planned
it Grace Episcopal Church here
in Good Friday afternoon, begin
ling at 12 noon. The service will
ommemorate Jesus’ passdon and
rucifixion and is sponsored by
he Plymouth Ministerial Associ
See CHURCHES, Page 10
Consent Judgmen]
Of $5,000 Entered
In Williams Case
-♦
Trial in Superior Court Here
This Week Required Most
Of Two Days; Other Cases
Continued
-1
A consent judgment, awarding
$5,000 to Waverly Williams in his
suit against Howard Estep, was
signed by Judge Chester Morris
in Washington County Superior
Court Wednesday at noon. Court
adjourned shortly afterwards for
the term which began Monday
morning.
The Williams-Estep case con
sumed practically the entire time
of court this week, the trial be
ginning Monday morning and
ending with the signing of the
consent judgment yesterday. Two
divorces were granted in the only
other cases brought to trial dur
ing the term.
Waverly Williams, 19-year-old
Plymouth youth who lost a leg in
an automobile accident near here
last June 29, was suing Howard
Estep, owner of the other car in
volved in the .accident, for a total
of $100,000. Mr. Estep’s car was
being driven by his son, Randall
Estep, at the time of the accident.
Norman and Rodman repre
sented the plaintiffs in the case,
while the defendant was repre
sented by Bailey and Bailey.
Nearly two days was required for
presentation of testimony, the
plaintiffs contending the accident
was caused by negligence of the
defendants, while the defendants
countered with the claim that the
plaintiffs were guilty of contri
butory negligence.
Williams suffered a brain con
cussion. broken bones in his right
leg above the ankle and a badly
crushed left leg that necessitated
amputation above the knee when
he was pinned between the two
cars about midnight on June 29.
Testimony showed that the Wil
liams car. driven by James Asby,
another Plymouth youth, had
i Stopped on the '"-inpik. Ror.il
near . i ■. A„by and William* had
gotten out of the car when it was
struck by the Estep car, driven
by Randall Estep, pinning Wil
liams between the two cars. Asby
jumped to safety.
Other passengers in the Wil
liams car were Howard Mizelle,
Haywood Davenport. Wayne
Nobles and James Haislip. Estep
was alone at the time of the ac
cident. Both cars were returning
to Plymouth from Belhaven when
the accident occurred. Young
Estep said he did not see the other
car on the highway until he was
too close to avoid hitting it.
The judgment signed yesterday
specified that no finding of fault
was embraced in the award made.
The only other cases disposed
SeT^JUDGMENTTPageTo
-4
South Albemarle
BodyHere Today
♦ —
The executive committee of the
Southern Albemarle Association
is meeting in Plymouth today,
with a business session beginning
at 10:30 a. m. in the courthouse,
to be followed at 1 p. m. by a bar
becue dinner in the agriculture
building. From 50 to 60 persons
were expected to attend.
Dr. W. T. Ralph, of Belhaven,
president of the association, is
presiding over the sessions. Local
arrangements are in charge of
Harry W. Pritchett, who is vice
president of the association for
Washington County.
Six counties are included in the
membership of the association,
Washington, Dare, Tyrrell, Hyde,
Beaufort and Martin. Each coun
ty has a vice president and nine
members on the executive com
mittee.
Findings of Survey Panel
Studied by School Board
| BUILDING IS COMPLETE FOR AUCTION MARKET |
i
Work was completed last week o.. the auction shed for the
vegetable market to be operated here during the coming season.
Operators of the market arc James H. Ward, W. T. Freeman and
W. M. Darden. They have also made arrangements for warehouse
facilities and say everything will be in readiness for opening the
market as soon as truck crops are ready for harvest.—Polaroid
1-Minute staff photo.
Saturday Is Deadline
For Filing; 13 Entries
In Running Thus Far
Contests Assured for Repre
sentative and Commiss
ioner in Scuppernong
Township; Expect Others
With 6 o'clock Saturday after
noon of this week as the deadline
for filing, there were 13 candi
dates definitely in the running for
various county offices yesterday.
A* least one o*her has announced
v. p be ^ candidate, although
'ae had r.'ii officially filed with
W. T, Freeman, chairman of the
county board of elections, up to
noon yesterday, when the last was
checked.
Signed notices of candidacies
and filing fees must be in the
hands of the chairman by 6 p. m.
Saturday, April 17, in order for
candidates to get their names on
the ballots, Mr. Freeman said. A
meeting of the board of elections
will be held immediately after
the 6 o’clock deadline to officially
certify names of all candidates
forprinting on the ballots, ex
cept where they do not have op
position! Those without apposition
will be certified as nominees of
their respective parties for the
offices to which they aspire.
So far there have been no Re
publican candidates for any coun
ty office. It has been rumored
here that a full slate would be
entered. Unless the names are en
tered by 6 o’clock Saturday eve
ning, they will not appear on the
general election ballot in Novem
ber.
Those who had officially filed
up to yesterday noon are as fol
lows, listed in the order of filing:
Edward L. Owens, for state sena
tor, Second Senatorial District;
Phillip M. Spruill and Douglas W.
Davenport, for county commiss
ioner, Scuppernong Township; J.
Whitford Swain, for member
board of education; E. O. Arnold,
Ben A. Sumner and Dr. J. M.
Phelps, for county representative;
W. T. Stillman, for clerk of su
perior court; W. Blount Rodman,
for solicitor of recorder’s court;
J. C. Knowles, for county com
missioners, Lees Mill Township;
Frank L. Brinkley, for county
commissioner, Plymouth Town
ship; Jack L. Horner, for coroner;
and J. K. Reid, for sheriff.
See DEADLINE, Page 10
HOUSE CANDIDATE
Sumner Candidate
For Lower House;
Three in Contest
Plymouth Man Represented
County in 1943 Assemb
ly; Outlines Main Points
In His Platform
-*
Former Representative Ben A.
Sumner, of Plymouth, announced
Monday that he would be a can
didate in the May 29 primary for
county representative in the next
General Assembly. Mr. Sumner,
a traveling salesman who was
formerly in the insurance and
real estate business here, repre
sented the county in the 1943
legislature.
His entry made the representa
tive race in this county a three
way affair. E. O. Arnold, of Pea
Ridge, who represented the coun
ty in the 1948 General Assembly,
and Dr. J. M. Phelps, of Cres
well, had previously- announced
See SUMNER, Page 10
Special Service Friday Afternoon
By REV. E. M. SPRUILL
There will be a service of med
itation and devotion in Grace
Episcopal Church, Plymouth,
Good Friday, April 16th, begin
ning at 12 o’clock noon and last
ing until 3 o’clock. It will be in
solemn commemoration of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’
passion and crucifixion, with
special emphasis on our Lords’
last words from the cross.
Ministers of the local Episco
pal, Methodist, Baptist and
Christian Churches will take part
as will the pastor of the Metho
dist Church of Roper. This is the
fifth consecutive year this type
of service has been held in Grace
Church, Plymouth. The public is
invited and urged to attend.
The Rev. Edward M. Spruill,
the host minister, will give the
introductory address. The Rev.
Paul B. Nickens, pastor of the
Ludford Memorial Baptist Church
of Plymouth will give the medita
tion on the First Word of our
Lord from the cross: “Father,
forgive them for they know not
what they do.” The Rev. Dwight
L. Fouts, pastor of the Plymouth
Methodist Church, will give the
meditation on the Second Word:
“Verily, I say unto thee, Today
shalt thou be with me in Para
dise.” The Rev. C. N. Barnette,
minister of the Plymouth Christ
ian Church will speak on the
Third Word: “Woman, behold thy
son! . . . Behold thy mother!" The
Rev. Vance A. Lewis, pastor of
the Hebron Methodist Church, of
Roper, will make the address on
the Fourth Word: ‘My God, my
God, why hast thou forsaken
me?” Meditation on the Fifth
Word, "I thirst” will be made by
Mr. Fouts. Mr. Spruill will speak
on the sixth word: “It is finish
ed.” Mr. Nickens will talk on
the seventh and last word: “Fa
ther, into Thy hands I commend
my spirit.” Mr. Sipruill will make
the closing remarks, and will lead
the congregation in the saying of
The Apostles’ Creed.
The service will be interspersed
with hymns and prayers. Per
sons unable to remain throughout
the service may enter and leave
the church during the singing of
hymns. Organists for the service
will be Mrs. W. D. Walker for the
first hour, Mrs. W. H. Johnson
for the second hour and) Mrs.
H. E. Newland for the third hour.
The offering taken at the door
will go to Jerusalem for the work
of the Church in the Holy Land.
No Action Likely on Build
ing Suggestion Until Fur
ther Allocation Is Made
Of State Funds
■ -•
Findings of the special panel
assigned to make a survey of
school building needs in Wash
ington County were con-idered by
the county board of education at
its meeting last week. No action
has been taken or is likely until
it is learned how much money
will be available for additional
buildings from proceeds of the
state bond sale, according to Roy
F. Lowry, county superintendent
of public instruction.
Seven recommendations were
made by the panel, affecting both
white and colored schools in the
county. They were not listed in
any order of priority, as all were
considered of equal importance.
They included construction of two
elementary classrooms and a com
bination gymnasium-auditorium
at the Plymouth white school; a
combination gymnasium-shop at
Roper white school; a lunch room
and shop at Creswell; and con
version of the present auditorium
at Plymouth white school into
two rooms for science and home
economics.
Recmmendations for- Negro
schools included construction of
four classrooms and a lunch room
at Plymouth; razing f the old
wooden three-classroom building
at Plymouth; razing of the old
wooden building at Roper and
construction of eight new class
rooms on the site.
While the recommendations are
advisory and not binding, they
represent the considered opinion
of the five panel members named
by the state board of education to
make the survey. The survey was
requested by the Washington
County board of education. The
See SURVEY, Page 5
-*
Ualvm l. Wynne
Dies of Injuries
Following Assault
Sheriff J. K. Reid Expecis
Arresl Shortly of Three
Pea Ridge Negroes In
volved in Fracas.
Sheriff J. K. Reid said yester
day afternoon that arrests were
expected momentarily in connect
ion with the fatal beating of
Charles Calvin Wynne, white, in
a fight with three colored men
in the Pea Rdge section last Sat
urday night. The sheriff said
identity of two of the men sought
was known and he expected all
three to be in custody very short
ly.
According to reports, Wynne,
about 37 years of age, accompan
ied by Edison Twiddy, went in
to a colored store in the Pea Ridge
section about midnight to buy
some tobacco. He was followed
outside by three Negroes, one of
whom asked if Wynne wasn’t “in
the wrong place.” The Negro then
hit Wynne twice, knocking him
down.
Wynne later returned home and
went to bed. He was found dead
by his wife about 4 a. m., and she
called officers. The body was
brought to Plymouth, where an
autopsy was performed by Dr.
Woods, of Edenton, who said
death was caused by a ruptured
sipleen. According to the sheriff,
Wynne must have been kicked
after he was knocked down.
The store where the fight oc
curred is on the old Plymouth
Creswell Road. It is known as
Johnny Patrick’s Place but is ope
rated by Lornzo Norman, colored.
Wynne was a native of Martin
County who had lived in the
Roper section for about 9 years.
Son of the late Augustus Wynne
and Esther Bennett Wynne, he
was born near Williamaton 37
years ago and spent his early life
on a farm. In 1945 he located in
Washington County, marrying
Miss Lily Marriner. He was en
gaged in the logging business,
first with the Richmond Cedar
Works and later with an Eliza
beth City firm.
The funeral service was con
ducted by the Rev. Mack Willard
in Scuppernong Church of Christ
Monday afternoon at 4 o’clock.
Interment was in the Marriner
plot at Pleasant Grove.
Surviving are his widow; two
sons, Charles Calvin Wynne, jr.,
and Kenneth Wynne, and a
daughter, Jeannette Wynne, all of
the home; a sister, Mrs. Daniel
Lilley of Williamston; and three
brothers, Dillon Wynne of the
old home, James Wynne of RfD
1, Oak City, and Irving Wynne of
Popular Point.