North Carolina Newspapers

T'own opics eusmanss-s J. S. Fleming, Plymouth Higl School principal, this week issuec a statement urging parents anc patrons of the school to visit the school and “see it at work.” Par ents are invited to consult the principal or other members of the faculty at any time, Mr. Fleming emphasized, concerning any prob lems that may arise or any infor mation relating to school work as it affects the students. Incidental ly, report cards were given out Monday of this week, he said. cp Mrs. Eugenia Babylon, Pettigrew Regional librarian, and Mrs. Bryan Harris, bookmobile librarian, hav been alternating to keep the Wash ington County Public Library open during the illness of the librarian, Mrs. C. E. Ayers. Mrs. Ayers has been receiving treatment at Wash ington County Hospital for a bron chial infection but was able to be released Friday. She is now at her home here and expects to be able to resume her duties Monday of next week. R. F. Lowry, county school superintendent who is acquiring a reputation as an after-dinner speak er of sorts, pinch-hit for somebody Monday night at the Creswell Ruri tan Club meeting. Mr. Lowry spoke on the school needs in this county and the possibilities for meeting the needs in the foreseeable fut ure. He was introduced by Harry W. Pritchett, club program chair man. Roger Davenport was install ed as new club president, succeed ing Tom Hampton. Incidentally, Mr. Lowry (a most accomodating ^individual) had to drive the 30 miles back to Plymouth in the second snowfall of the winter. It was a rough night. When Capt. Raymond Duvall and I Judge W. H. S. Burgwyn met in the courtroom here last week it was for the first time in 56 years. Judge Burgwyn, who was holding court here, and Capt. Duvall were schoolmates at Graham’s Academy in Warrenton back in 1900. There after they went their separate ways and would not have had occasion to meet again and renew an old friendship last week had it not been for circumstances. Burgwyn, one of the state’s special judges, was appointed by the state Su preme Court to preside over the January term of superior court here when it became known that regularly-assigned Judge Chester Morris, of Coinjock, would be un able to hold court because of ill ness. Incidentally, Judge Burgwyn now lives much closer to the scene of his amademy days than does Du vall. Burgwyn’s home is at Wood land. Many local persons saw the tele vision program over a Washingtor station last Thursday afternoon or which W. Frith Winslow appeared ~Mr. Winslow was interviewed by e Potation announcer as he showed seven of his oils. Four portraits two landscapes and a still life painting were shown. The local man appeared about midway an afternoon program starting at 2 o’clock. -» Injuries in Car Wreck Fatal To Eugene B. Ange Final Rites Held Monday in Jamesville for Former Employee of Planters Na tional Bank Here Eugene B. Ange, formerly em ployed at the Planters National ’ t Bank & Trust Company in Plym outh, died in a Washington hos pital last Saturday afternoon as the result of injuries received in an automobile accident the Satur day before near Washington. Al though critically injured internal ly, he had been holding his own until pneumonia developed about the middle of last week. Son of Mrs. Maude Holliday Ange and the late Eli Hoyt Ange, he was born in Jamesville 37 years ago on October 5, 1918. He gradu ated from Jamesville High School and later received his AB degree at Atlantic Christian College in 1940. He taught school and worked for the Branch Banking & Trust Company at Fayetteville for sever al years before returning to James ville to teach until he became note ijb See ANGE, Pag* ? The Roanoke Beacon *★★★*★ and Washington County News ****** fitjht Toiw Enide/niti! | VOLUME LXVII—NUMBER 4 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, January 26, 1956 ESTABLISHED 1889 AWARD: Dr. A. L. Whitehurst (second from left) is shown receiving the Plymouth Jaycees distinguished service award for 1955 at the annual DSA banquet of the local Junior Chamber of Commerce, held in fthe Fellowship Hall of the Christian Church here last Friday night. Making the presentation is Levin Culpepper, of Eliza beth City, 10th district vice president of the Jaycees. Others in the photo are Forrest Jones (left), general manager of the Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce and principal speaker at the banquet; Ralph Hunter (center), president of the Plymouth Jaycees; and Carl L. Bailey, jr., (right), chairman of the DSA commitee which selected Dr. Whitehurst to receive the award.—Staff photo. Dr. A. L. Whitehurst Gets Jaycee Award Special Meeting Called Oil Here The special county board of education meeting which was to have been held here Tuesday of this week was called off when it was learned that Leslie N. Boney, architect, of Wilmington, would not be present. Purpose of the meeting was to discuss with Boney and others pressing school problems which now confront the board, it was said. L. E. Hassell, sr., of Roper, board chairman, was a patient at Washington County Hospital late yesterday and it is not certain that the meeting will be reset. The next regular meeting of the board will be Monday, February 6, in all probability, R. F. Lowry, superintendent of county schools who serves the board as secre tary, stated. ' 1955 Best Year in 1 ! History of Branch Bank, Report Says Earnings 10 Per Cent More Than in 1954, President Paschall Tells Annual Stockholders Meeting The Branch Banking & Trust Company, founded in 1889, had the most successful year in its history during 1955 in spite of three hurri canes and other adverse climatic conditions which affected the area served by its 17 branch offices, according to J. E. Paschall, presi dent of the institution. He made the statement at the annual meeting of stockholders held Tuesday afternoon of last week at the home office in Wilson, H. E. Beam, vice president, and E. H. Liverman of the board of managers, attended the meeting from Plymouth. Profits from operations in 1955, Mr. Paschall said, were the highest in history, being approximately 10 per cent in excess of earnings in the preceding year. After all taxes and operating expenses, the net earnings amounted to $17.80 per share. The undivided profits ac count at December 31, 1955, amounted to $3,025,803.43. The total capital account now ap proximates $10,(300,000, according to the president, which has been See BANK, Page 7 * -■+ Named Outstanding Young Man of Year at Annual DSA Award Banquet Here Last Friday Night Dr. A. L. Whitehurst of Plym outh was named winner of the Jay sees’ Distinguished Service Award as Plymouth’s outstanding young man at the annual DSA banquet in the Fellowship Hall of the Christian Church last Friday night. The 31-year-old civic leader was selected by a secret committee on the basis of his contribution to and participation in community affairs during the past year, his exhibition of leadership ability and evidence of personal and business progress. Presentation of the award was made by Levin Culpepper of Eliz abeth City, Jaycee 10th district vice president. A native of Pitt County, Dr. Whitehurst located in Plymouth in 1950, shortly after graduating from Lincoln Chiropractic College, In dianapolis, Ind., as a chiropractic physician. In addition to his work as a practicing chiropractor, he has been active in various civic and charitable projects and drives in the town and county, and has held various offices in numerous local organizations. i j He is a past commander of the * j local American Legion post, past j president of the Plymouth Jay ! cees, Sunday School teacher and . active in affairs of the Methodist Church, district vice chairman for Washington County in the Boy Scouts, post supervisor of the Plymouth unit of the Ground Ob server Corps, third vice president of the Plymouth Lions Club and chairman of the board of directors of the Plymouth Junior Chamber of Commerce. During 1955, he was chapter chairman of the American Red Cross and served as finance chairman of the 1955 Red Cross drive in Washington County. He was also disaster chairman of the Red Cross during the hurricane season last year and set up emer gency shelters in the county, and he is now serving as acting home service director for that organiza tion. Principal speaker at the banquet session which preceded the award was Forrest Jones, general man ager of the Elizabeth City Cham ber of Commerce, who talked on “Development of Leadership.” He was introduced by Mr. Culpepper, with Carl L. Bailey as program chairman and Ralph Hunter, Jay cee president, presiding. A movie, “The Jaycee Story,” was shown preceding the program, which also included a brief busi ness session. L. N. Womble and W. II. Booker were guests of the club. Jail Inspector Praises Sheriff Reid Washington County’s jail and jailed are in good hands. That is the inference to be drawn from a letter from T. A. Early, of Raleigh, who is inspector of North Carolina correctional in stitutions. The letter, under date of the 12th inst., is addressed to the county’s high sheriff, J. K. Reid, of Plym outh. Copies were sent to the chair man of the bdard of county com missioners; the county superin tendent of public welfare; Chester Morris, superior court judge; and the federal superintendent of wel are and rehabilitation. A copy of the letter reads: “On January 4th I inspected your county jail and it is a pleasure to report that I found everything in order. The jail was clean throughout, with clean white mat tress covers on the bunks, and there was every evidence that the jail is receiving every-day attention including all standard humane practices. “I emphasize all of these points because I think you are entitled to this praise and I am not able to give it in all counties even though 1 have been making every possible effort to that end for the past six years. Your attitude toward jail management and the proper hand ling of those coming under your control is to be commended and we vish to thank you. “We also wish to thank you for your promptness in sending us the jail population report each month. This enables us to compile the State’s statistics promptly and ac curately as we are required to do.” Three Robberies Here Solved by Police Officers Missing Quality Cleaners Cash Register Fished Out Of River Back of Plant; Four Arrested -♦ The first break for local officers who are seeking to snap a pesky series of robberies which has been going here for weeks came last Friday when three under-age Negroes were arrested and tried in juvenile court here before Su perior Court Clerk W. T. Stillman. ; The three were sentenced to Hoffman Training School. A pellet gun stolen from Southern Hard ware Company was recovered from one of the trio, Officer Foy Daven port, of the local police depart ment, said. As a result of confessions by the youths the cash register stolen from Qaulity Cleaners recently was fished from the Roanoke River back of the cleaning plant. The boys had made a trip to Norfolk, Va., during which they spent some of the money obtained from the cash register and from the sale of loot from other places, it was stated. They were brought back to Plymouth by their parents and subsequently arrested by Of ficers Davenport and Paul Bas night. At the time of the cleaning plant | robbery the manager reported | about $150 stolen along with the cash register, but the Negroes said they got $60. The cash register, it self, valued at about $150, had been forced open and was badly damaged. Saturday at 3 p. m. Officers Dav enport and Basnight picked up Billy Mayo alias Billy James, 19 year-old Negro, while he was watching a movie at a local thea tre. He was charged with forcible entry into Roy’s Cafe January 15, tried in Washington County Re corder’s Court Tuesday and found guilty. Judge Gaylord handed him a six-month road sentence. A .25 caliber automatic pistol taken from the cafe led to the ar rest, officers said. James is said to have sold the weapon to another fellow and officers were tipped off. Also recovered were a carton of chewing gum and several silver i dollars taken from the place. i The Tetterton Grocery on Mon- ( roe Street was reported robbed of i between $1,000 and $1,500 in cash < ind checks late last year but that ' iob remains unsolved, Chief P. W. < Brown said. i ■ (Sv- . . , » 1 Talk School Problems and Needs al Lions Club Meet The condition of schools in Plymouth and the county was the chief topic discussed at the regular meeting of Plymouth Lions Thurs day night at the First Christian Church. Supper was served by the ladies’ church circle. E. M. Leavitt and J. W. Norman, the latter a member of the county education board, were the princi pal speakers. Mr. Leavitt discussed the need for more and better school facilities and emphasied the need for greater interest in the school system by the general pub lic. Mr. Norman spoke on the need for adequate facilities, well quali fied teachers, and the problems confronting the state in regard to integration. Fatal Stabbing Here; Woman Is Held for Trial Tero Grant, Young Colored Logwoods Worker, Dies of Chest Wound at County Hospital Tero Grant is dead and Annie Taylor is facing trial in superior court here in a ease arising out of the death. Grant, young Negro originally from South Carloina according to local police, died on the x-ray table at Washington County Hospital at 3:50 o’clock Sunday afternoon. According to Officer Paul Bas night, of the Plymouth Police De partment, who made the investi gation, Grant was found lying on the floor of a house in the Sugar Hill section of East Water Street, with a short spade or shovel lying on the floor near him. Grant had been stabbed in the left chest. The Taylor woman, also colored and about 35 years of age, was in the house, Basnight.said. The offi-' cer rushed the wounded man to' the hospital where he was admit ted at 2:30 p. m. Returning to the house, the of ficer found that the woman had left, but she was picked up at ano ther colored place in the vicinity and lodged in county jail here. Tuesday she was given a hearing before County Recorder W. Ronald I Gaylord who found probable cause of unlawful slaying and bound the "(man over for trial at the next criminal term of Washington Coun ty Superior Court. Bond was set at $1,000 by Gaylord and the wo man was still in jail late yesterady. Officers said she comes from Stony Creek, Va., a small rural community between Emporia and Petersburg. She and Grant report edly were living together here, but it was not learned just how long the two had been in Plymouth. It was said that they came here to ge'her from Stony Creek sometime ag it the hearing Tuesday two wit^sses testified. They wen, Arlington County Sheiiif J. K. Reid and John Smith, colored, who lives near the house which was occupied by Grant and the Taylor women. It was Smith who notified police early Sunday afternoon of the slaying. Testimony offered at the brief hearing indicated that there had been an argument between Grant and Annie Taylor and court observ ers believe the woman will plead self defense. She is said to have admitted stabbing the man with a butcher knife as he advanced on her with the spade. Pete Bell, elderly Plymouth law yer, served as defense counsel at j the hearing. Bell said Wednesday morning he had little hope that bail could be arranged. Grant is said to have been em ployed in the logwoods for a Jamesville logger. Federal Surplus Properly Agent To Be Here Friday ♦ For the third time, Edward F. Griffin, state civil defense director general, has extended the schedule for his representatives who are visiting eastern counties in the in terest of applicants for federal surplus property. Return visits to all counties have been set up. A representative will be in Plymouth Friday of this week and may be contacted at the court house during the day. <&— Number From Here Allend ASC Meeting in Washington Among those from this area who attended the 13th annual meeting! of the State Association of Soil Conservation District Supervisors in Washington last week were Ed Craft and H. J. Bragg, of the local Soil Conservation office; Joe Snell, of Plymouth, C. S. Heynen, of We nona, and J. A. Morris, of Cres well, county supervisors; C. L. Hopkins, of Creswell; Linwood Knowles, supervisor, Martin Coun ty and Milton Cahoon, Tyrrell County supervisor. List Taking Job in County Little Over Half Complete j Fdward L. Owens Files! i Today for State Senate j Edward L. Owens, who served the district as State Senator in the last General Assembly, officially filed today as a candidate to suc ceed himself, subject to the com ing Democratic primary. Mr. Owens had previously announced his in tention to seek the office when he appeared as guest on the television program, “Quote Me," recently at a Washington station. He was in terviewed by Washington and Wil liamston newspapermen on the pro gram in regard to his stand on cer tain issues expected to be consid ered at the regular biennial ses sion of the state legislature. Rob ert H. Cowen, Williamston attor ney and mayor last week announ ced his candidacy for the state senate from the district which is composed of Dare, Hyde, Pamlico, Beaufort, Martin and Washington Counties. The district has two seats in the senate. Mothers March Here Yields $800 for Polio Preliminary Progress Re port on Annual County Polio Fund Drive Is Re leased by Hopkins A preliminary report on the pro gress of the annual Washington County March of Dimes, released Wednesday by Thos. F. Hopkins, chairman of the fund drive, indi cates good response thus far. Mr. Hopkins said the Mothers March raised $800 toward the coun ty’s minimum quota of $3,000. The chairman termed the public re sponse to this effort “great.” At the same time it was stated that the coin collectors are doing a good job. Meanwhile, steps are being taken to further insure the success of the annual campaign. One thousand bags of fresh roasted peanuts have been ordered from an Edenton supplier and are slated for delivery here Wednes of next week. These will h. sold and ihe froceeds turned over to the March of Dimes. The annual March of Dimes Queen’s Ball, which climaxes the drive, has been scheduled for Fri day night, February 10 and Stew art Smithson and his orchestra, Suffolk, Va., has been engaged to play for the dance. A popular-make mattress will be offered as a door prize at the event, Hopkins stated. Cards will be distributed to the school children Thursday of this week, the chairman said, remark ing at the same time that school officials, faculty and students al ways manifest a cooperative spirit and invariably come up with a fine effort and splendid results. -® Last Riles Held for Woodley Ambrose Funeral services were held Wed nesday afternoon for Woodley Am brose of the Creswell section at Philippi Church of Christ by the Rev. Luther Ambrose, assisted by the Rev. Garland C. Bland. Burial was in the family cemetery. Mr. Ambrose was a member of Philippi Church for a number of /ears, some of which time he serv ed as a deacon. Me was a lifelong ■esident of Washington County. Surviving besides his wife, Mrs. Eula Davenport Ambrose, are two [children, Mrs. Donald Phelps and Glenda Ambrose, of Creswell; also three foster children, Mrs. Sarah Michaels, of Indiana, Mrs. Mary Flotz, of Washington, D. C., and Carol Sawyer, of Creswell; father Norwood Ambrose, and stepmoth er, Mrs. Laura Ambrose; three sis ters, Mrs. C. L. Barnes, Mrs. J. H. Pritchard and Mrs. Wilson Phelps, all of Crsewell. -<j> Returns To Work Walton Allen, who has been ill at his home here with pleurisy since Friday of last week, was back on duty Wednesday at the local sorvice station where he is em ployed. ACCIDENT VICTIM r.ugene Ange, 37, of James ville, died in a Washington hos pital la - Sii .urday night as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident January 14 near Washington. Formerly employed as note teller at the Planters National Bank & Trust Company here, he had many friends in Plymouth and a num ber of them attended his funeral in Jamesville Tuesday afternoon. Robber of Local Salesman Handed 10-15 Year Term Judge Sharp Seniences War ren Collins Monday for Highway Robbery and Assaull on Bert Bishop Warren Collins, jr., the young Terra Ceia “desperado” who “bum med” a ride with a local furniture route salesman and collector, held him up and robbed him at pistol point, then slugged the man and left him tied up some 25 miles from Plymouth, got a 10 to 15-year prison sentence for his trouble. The sentence, following convict ion on a “highway robbery with arms and violence” count, was meted out in Beaufort County Su perior Court at Washington Mon day by North Carolina’s famed wo man jurist, Susie Sharp, of Reids ville. The state’s star witness was Bert Bishop, who is employed by Nor man Furniture Company. Bishop was robhed of some $150 in cash and checks, only $15 of which has been recovered. Payment was stopped on the checks and some new clothes which Collins bought for himself with some of the money brought a partial refund, Thos. F. Hopkins, manager of the local furniture company, stated Bishop, who was struck on the side of the face with a small wrench, says that his lower jaw, lower lip and chin are still with out feeling as a result of the blow. Free Short Course for County Youth One young farmer from this county will be chosen to attend the annual Bankers Short Course to be held at North Carolina State College, Raleigh, February 6-17. Deadline for submitting formal application to be considered for the selection is Friday of this week at 5 p. m., County Agent W. If. Pru den said. Expenses will be met jointly by the two local sponsoring institu tions, Branch Banking and Trust Company, and Planters National Bank and Trust Company. No form al applications had been received here late yesterday, it was report ed, but Assistant County Agent J. L. Outlaw said some were expect ed momentarily. The course is termed “an invest ment in North Carolina Agricul ture” and is conducted by the School of Agriculture at the West Raleigh college. It is sponsored by the Agricultural Committee of the North Carolina Bankers Asso ciation. Registiation will be Monday February 6, from 8 to 9 a. m. Recipients of the scholarship to the short course, which will be on modern farming, must intend to farm and not plan to go to col lege, have an outstanding record in youth work (4-H and FFA), and have not attended previous such course. Subjects to be covered are listed as poultry, marketing, field crops, farm planning, soils and fertilizers, farm mechanization, horticulture! livestock and forestry. I Total of 2,204 Property Owners in County on Books as of Wednesday Noon The tax listing job in this county is over half completed, Hubert L. Davenport, county tax supervisor, said Wednesday. Figures released at non that day showed 2,204 property owners on the books in the four townships out of an expected total of 4,401. Listing deadline is February 3. Late listers will face a certain 10 per cent penalty as provided by law, the supervisor said. Normally, the calendar month of January is the legal listing period, it was explained, but since New Year’s Day fell on Sunday the job was not commenced in this county until January 3, so those who list at the tail-end each year will have three days next month to get in under the wire. More than half the listing has been done in Plymouth, where W. A. Roebuck is doubling in brass as list taker for both township and city. Roebuck said more than 900 city property owners were “on the books” through Wednesday noon, while 1,117 had listed by that time in the township. Other township figures: Scuppernong, 393 out of an ex pected 807; Skinnersville, 209 out of an ex pected 409; Lees Mill, 485 out of an expected 1,185. Seven penalty-free listing days remain after Thursday of this week. -a Local VFW Post Will Be Host Sunday to District The Bosie Bateman Post, No. 4023, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will entertain the district meeting at the Veterans Building here Sun day afternoon at 3 o’clock. Post Commander Walter Swain an nounces. All members are strongly urged to be present. -* Republicans Asked To Meet With Precinct Committees The Republican county chairman wishes all Republicans to meet with their precinct committee to set the most convenient date and place for their convention, it was announced here this week. Announcement of date and place of meeting will appear following selection, it was said. .(Plymouth PTA To [(Hear District .Nine Field Secretary ♦ Miss Blanche Haley To Ad dress Local Organization At High School Here Next Tuesday Night I Miss Blanche Haley, of Greens bo^o, who is field secretary for the North Carolina Congress of Parents and Teachers, will address the Plymouth Parent-Teacher As sociation Tuesday night of next week, Mrs. Henry E. Harrison, president, announces. Mrs. Harrison said the director of District Nine, which embraces units in Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Martin, Pacquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington, recently released the complete schedule of visits which Miss Haley will make to the various units January 30 through February 3. The meeting here will be held in the high school auditorium, begin ning at 7:30 o’clock. The field sec retary has been associated with the state Parent-Teacher organiza tion for several years. She has two open morning dates —on February 1 and 2—and meet ings may be arranged for these dates by interested PTA leaders. To do so they should contact Mrs. H. T. Highsmith, district director, at Robersonville. Accompanied by Mrs. Highsmith, Miss Haley will hold a special school of instruction at 2 p.m. next Tuesday at Roanoke Country Club Williamston. On Monday of next week Miss Haley will speak at a general meeting in the Williamston High School auditorium at 7 45 p. m. Her subject will be, "Teen Age Times.” Miss Haley will be in Windsor for similar meetings February 1, and at Griggs School at Poplar Branch February 3. A four-hour study discussion on “Education for Responsible Parenthood” is slated for February 2 at Sunbury.