rr«wn
topics
Sii-nnn-::
Dr. A. L. Whitehurst attended
the quarterly regional blood pro
gram meeting at Portsmouth, Va.,
Tuesday of this week. Chief dis
cussion was on the hospital par
ticipation plan whereby hospitals
cooperating in the blood program
would share in financing the pro
gram, Dr. Whitehurst stated.
Dr. L. M. Dixon, area biologist
with the Soil Conservation Service,
was here Wednesday working with
Soil Conservationist Henry Bragg
on plans for bird food patches,
Rocking farm ponds with fish, and
•management of food patches, bor
ders and ponds. While here, Dr.
Dixon and Mr. Bragg visited farms
of E. H. Liverman, near Plymouth,
C. N. Davenport, at Creswell, and
J. C. Knowles and W. L. Thomp
son, Roper. They observed the wild
life border on the Liverman farm,
the multiflora rose border and
farm pond of Davenport, and stock
ponds on the other two places.
Planting, management and control
of bushes on bird food patches
were discussed. The area biologist
is expected back in the spring,
Bragg said, for further study of
farm ponds.
Today is groundhog day—the
day when the weather for the
next six weeks is determined,
according to popular belief. The
ancient story is that the ground
hog breaks his hibernation at
noon on February 2nd and fares
forth from his burrow. If he sees
his shadow, it frightens him back
and six more weeks of winter
weather will follow. If he doesn’t
e his shadow, then an early
ring is indicated. Here’s hop
ing better weather is indicated,
whether the groundhog has any
thing to do with it or not!
T. C. Martus and Reynold Spruill
respresented the Roper Ruritan
Club at the Ruritan National con
vention held at Atlanta, Ga. They
left for the Georgia city Saturday
of last week and returned home
the middle of this week.
K. S. Trowbridge, manager of
the wood and lands department of
the North Carolina Pulp Company,
Plymouth, and William Ernest, jr.,
of the West Virginia Pulp & Paper
Company, Manteo, are two of the
16 members of the North Carolina
Forest Industries Committee for
1956, it was announced in Wash
ington, D. C., recently by W. J.
Bailey, president of American For
est Products Industries, Inc. The
industry-sponsored American Tree
Farm System of private woodland
management is now active in 40
states, with the prospect of six
additional entries in 1956, it was
stated.
Among persons from this coun
ty attending the Pamlico District,
Soil Conservation Service, Super
visors’ meeting at Washington to
JJf^y are Soil Conservationist Henry
J. Bragg, J. L. Rea, sr., of Roper,
Joe Snell, of Plymouth, Carl Hey
nen, Wenona, and J. A. Morris,
See TOPICS, Page 12
-®
Lindsay Spruill Is
Commended;Helps
Save Boat Officer
Incident Occurred While He
Was Serving on Navy De
stroyer in Mediterranean
December 14, 1955
-»
Lindsay E. Spruill, jr., of Plym
outh, last month received a letter
of commendation from the com
manding officer of The USS Bearss
Tor his efforts in effecting the res
cue of a boat officer who had fallen
overboard. The incident occurred
in the Mediterranean area, where
young Spruill is serving as a boat
swain’s mate, second class, on the
Bearss.
Spruill is the son of Lindsay E.
Spruill, of Plymouth, and Mrs. J.
A. Clifton, of Creswell. He has
been in the Navy for about nine
years, recently on the destroyer
Text of the commendation, sign
ed by A. G. Robinson, command
ing officer of the Bearss, is as fol
lows:
“1. While disembarking from the
gig at about 0035 on 14 December
1955, the boat officer slipped and
fell overboard. The encumbrance
of heavy clothing, foul-weather
gtpar and life jacket encumbered
(■is movements and swimming and
placed him in danger of being
swept out to sea in the high winds
on a dark cold night.
“2. Without regard for your own
safety, you removed your life jac
ket which hampered your move
ments, and with assistance of other
members of the boat crew, effected
the rescue of the boat officer. Dur
ing this incident, you were exposed
to danger of injury and drowning,
however you valiantly persisted in
your efforts and finally entered
the cold water to expedite his re
covery.
“3. The commanding officer
commends you for your bravery
and unselfish action.
“4. A copy of this letter will be
filed in your personal record.”
The Roanoke Beacon
****** and Washington County News ******
E/jki Toko Epidemical
VOLUME LXVII—NUMBER 5
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, February 2, 1956
ESTABLISHED 1889
Urge Naming Committees
To Study Needs of Schools
! Three From Plymouth
!To Attend Band Clinic
-.. ... ..
Three members of the Plymouth
High School band will participate
in the Eastern Division, All-State
Band Clinic to be held at East Car
olina College in Greenville Friday
and Saturday of this week.
The students include Linda Lips
comb, clarinet, Barbara Johnson,
trumpet, and Ben Windley, bari
tone.
Members in 35 bands throughout
the eastern section of the state will
play in a concert band organized
during the clinic and will receive
instruction from experienced teach
er-musicians.
Herbert L. Carter, of the East
Carolina College Department of
Music is chairman of the clinic
and is now completing plans for
the program. Carter is director of
East Carolina’s concert and march
ing bands.
Gordon Nash, chairman of the de
partment of musie at Appalachian
State Teacher’s College, Boone,
will act as conductor of the clinic
band.
Roper Observer Post
Members Get Wings
GETS COMMENDATION
BM 2/c Lindsay E. Spruill, jr.,
was recently commended by the
commanding officer of the USS
Bearss for bravery in helping ef
fect the rescue of his boat officer
in the Mediterranean on Decem
ber 14, 1955.
January Is Busy
Month for Police
January was a busy month for
the local police department.
A report released yesterday by
Police Chief P. W. Brown shows
that 38 arrests or citations and 54
courtesy calls or investigations
were made during the 31-day per
iod.
Arrests for public drunkenness
totaled nine to lead in that depart
ment, while 21 courtesy calls were
made as a result of lights being
reported out here and there within
the city.
A total of 51 cases investigated
by members of the five-man force
was sent up to county recorder’s
court for disposition. Radio calls
for the month amounted to 292.
The report is broken down as
follows:
Arrests—murder, 1; drunks, 9;
speeders, 8; improper muffler, 1;
stop sign violations, 4; worthless
check, 3; failure to use truck lane,
1; cutting on city water without
authority, 1; displaying dealer tags,
1; improper brakes, 1;
Public nuisance, 2; simple as
sault, 2; red light violation, 2; im
proper parking, 1; discharging fire
arms within city limits, 1.
Investigations and courtesy calls
—lights reported out, 21; doors
found unlocked, 4; fire calls answ
ered, 6; accidents investigated, 7;
shooting out lights, 2; breaking
windows, 2; investigating robberies,
4; robberies solved, 3; courtesy
calls, 6.
First Presentation Made in
This County; Durham Fil
ter Center Officials on
Hand for Occasion
Monday night of this week was
a proud occasion for members of
the Roper Ground Observer Corps
post.
Capt. Frank W. Byrnes and
Al/C Glenn H. Campbell, of the
Durham Filter Center, were on
hand and gave out certificates to
post members who have completed
their training.
The certificates qualify the men
to wear the lapel pin or “wings”
of the Ground Observer Corps, and
pins were also given out with the
certificates.
Those receiving pins and certifi
cates were listed as follows:
N. C. Phelps, assistant chief ob
server, certificate and wings; Char
lie D. Spruill, observer, certifi
cate and wings; Tony Chesson, ob
server, certificate and wings; T. C.
Martus, observer, certificate and
wings; W. A. Dixon, assistant chief,
certificate and wings; Mitchiner
Banks, assistant chief, certificate
and wings; J. R. Swain, assistant
chief, certificate and wings; J. S.
Leary, assistant chief, certificate
and wings; J. S. Leary, assistant
chief, certificate and wings; Tom
mie Norman, observer, certificate;
N. W. Chesson, assistant chief, cer
tificate and wings; Cecil C. Craft,
jr., assistant chief, certificate and
wings; T. W. Norman, chief obser
ver, certificate; Ralph Rawls, ob
server, certificate; Jesse E. Rawls,
post supervisor, certificate.
The presentation of certificates
and wings was the first to be made
in this county, Mr. Rawls said.
Woodland Jurist Named
For Civil Term of Court
Notice was received here this
week of the appointment of W. H.
S. Burgwyn, of Woodland, to pre
side at the civil term of superior
court here in February, in lieu of
Judge Chester Morris, of Coinjock,
who continues ill.
Burgwyn, one of the state’s spec
ial judges, recently presided here
at the January criminal term of
j court, also in Judge Morris’ stead.
| The term of court will open Mon
day, February 13.
State College Specialist in
Conference With Pruden
Charles Williams, State College
Extension Service farm manage
ment specialist, was in Plymouth
’ yesterday for a conference with
County Agent W. H. Pruden. Wil
liams and Pruden discussed the
farm crop situation with reference
to the best bets in livestock and
money crops for the county this
year.
SENIORS:
Officers of the Plymouth High
School senior class for the current
school year are pictured above, as
follows: Laura Jo Quinn, president; Lynn Magee, vice president;
Jessie Harrison, secretary; and Betty Jane Leary, treasurer.—Staff
photo.
Letters Mailed Yesterday to
Various Organizations in
County Request Coopera
tion in Movement
Practically all organizations in
the county are being invited to
take part in a movement to help
formulate plans for improving
school facilities in the county. Let
ters asking that committees be ap
pointed were mailed to many of
the organizations yesterday over
the signature of George T. Barden,
secretary of the Plymouth Lions
Club, although it is emphasized
that it is not a Lions Club project
but a general county-wide citizens
movement to secure better schools.
The letters grew out of recent
discussions of the need for better
schools at meetings of several local
organizations, including the parent
teacher association, Lions Club,
Jaycees, Rotary Club and others.
The matter was discussed at con
siderable length last Thursday at
the Lions Club meeting, and it was
decided to ask each organiation to
appoint a committee to work with
the county board of education,
school superintendent, local school
boards and others in trying to se
cure better schools.
Organiations being urged to take
part include Ruritan Clubs in
Roper and Creswell; parent-teacher
associations in Plymouth, Creswell
and Roper; Lions, Rotary and Jay
cee clubs in Plymouth; the VFW,
American Legion posts in Creswell
and Plymouth; labor unions, mer
chants association; Creswell, Roper
and Plymouth fire departments;
and a number of local women’s or
ganizations, including the Literary
Club, Garden Club, Woman’s Club
and Junior Woman’s Club; as well
as any other groups that may be
interested.
E. M. Leavitt is chairman of the
Lions Club committee, other mem
bers of which are J. W. Norman,
member of the county board of edu
cation, and R. H. Lucas. It is hoped
other organiations will name simi
lar committees immediately, so
that a general meeting may be
held and steps taken to work out
a definite program to be recom
mended to people of the county.
It was broukht out at the Lions
club meeting last Thursday that
additional buildings or improve
ments are nedded at all of the
schools in the county. County Su
perintendent R. F. Lowry, who was
a guest at the session, said funds
available from the state bond issue
totaled about $180,000, which was
hardly enough to even start on a
program.
Needs of county schools as de
termined by a survey panel of ex
perts a few years ago indicated
more than a million dollars would
be required for additional build
ings, it was brought out. While
this amount is completely out of
reach in the foreseeable future, it
was suggested during the discus
sion that a study could determine
just what it is possible to do in
1 order to bring about some im
provements. It is for this purpose
that representative groups from
all sections of the county are be
ing sought to help formulate a pro
gram.
-®
Fire Destroys Residence of
Bonnie Bowen Near Here
A story-and-a-jump frame house,
the residence of Bonnie Bowen,
was destroyed by fire late Monday
while the family was away from
home, according to meager re
ports available here.
The house was located about
5% miles south of Plymouth on
NC 32. The origin of the blaze was
not determined, reports here said.
A washing machine and a re
frigerator were the only pieces of
furniture saved, it is understood.
The local fire department was
not called.
<§>
Urgently Need More Air
Spotters at Post Here
-*
Representatives from the Dur
ham Air Filter Center met with
the Plymouth Ground Observer
Corps Monday night of this week
to lay out future plans, Post Super
visor A. L. Whitehurst reports.
Two sub-stations, one at Roan
oke Rapids and the other at Wash
ington, are being set up, it was
said, and the two posts in this
county will be connected with the
Washington sub-station.
Officials desire that the local
post go on 24-hour duty as soon
as feasible, Dr. Whitehurst stated.
However, he points out that the
post strength is very short—only
58 members when actually 200 are
needed. So at present 6-hour duty
is being maintained, it was said.
Anyone wishing to volunteer his
services is asked to please contact
Dr. Whitehurst at Plymouth.
Name Princesses
To Compete for
1956 Polio Queen
New Queen To Be Crowned
At Intermission of Annual
March of Dimes Queen's
Ball February 10
March of Dimes princesses to
compete for the title, “Washington
County March of Dimes Queen for
1956,” have been named at Plym
outh High School,
Laura Jo Quinn and Ann Rober
son will represent Mrs. Hough’s
12th grade section, while Helen
Manning and Faye Phelps have
been named as princesses from
Mrs. Long’s section.
In Mrs. Gurkin’s 11th grade sec
tion, the two representative are
Leah Cox and Phyllis Spruill.
Gail Gaylord and Margie Brown
are representing Mrs. Lucas’ 11th
grade section.
Mr. Rawls’ 10th grade section
named Lois Mobley and Bonnie
Willingham.
Joyce Hardison and Mary Alice
Kelly will compete from Mr. Ina
binett’s 10th grade section and
Flossie Nooney and Rachel Peele
are the princesses from Mr. Wood’s
ninth grade section.
Mr. Foster’s ninth grade section
is represented by Ann Hardison
and Gloria Roberson.
The queen will be crowned at in
termission of the annual March of |
Dimes Ball to be held at the Vet
erans Building here Friday, Febru
ary 10. Crowning the new queen
will be last year’s queen, Miss San
dra Leggett, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. G. R. Leggett, sr.
-®
Prospects Are Said
Belter tor Peanut
Farmers of Section
Senator W. Kerr Scott Is
Confident That Acreage
F w Virginia Type Pea-"
nuts To Be Upped
The farm outlook, at best, is not
too rosy, observers say, but a ray
of sunshine for the peanut farm
ers of this section came this week
in a statement from North Caro
lina Senator W. Kerr Scott, as re
ported from Washington. The arti
cle follows:
Washington.—Senator W. Kerr
Scott (Dem.-N.C.) said today that
he has "assurances” that present
laws affecting peanut growers of
North Carolina and other states
“will remain as they are.”
In other words, the North Caro
lina Senator sees certain defeat for
the administration’s proposal to
provisions from the present pea
nut law.
Scott based his assurances on the
fact that Chairman Allen J. Ellen
der of the Senate Agriculture Com
mittee is also “opposed” to doing
away with the minimum acreaage
provision.
The North Carolinian said the
only reason he can see for elimi
nating the minimum acreage pro
vision is that the administration
would like authority to cut peanut
acreage allotments “across the
board” in order to get rid of sur
plus Spanish and runner type pea
nuts.
He pointed out that while those
two types of peanuts are in over
supply, there is a “serious short
age” of Virginia type peanuts
which are produced in North Car
olina.
See PEANUTS, Page 12
i But One But Bemains
: t
j For Listing in County
The legal penalty-free period for
property owners of this county to
list their property for tax purposes
expires Friday of this week.
County Tax Supervisor Hubert
L. Davenport, of Skinnersville, has
stated that late listers will face a
certain 10 per cent penalty as pro
vided by law.
The number of property own
ers in Plymouth Township “on the
books” increased by about 400 dur
ing the past week and the total is
now past the 1500-mark, according
to List Taker W. A. (Bill) Roebuck. 1
No official figures were avail
able late yesterday from other
townships in the county but it was
believed that more than 3,000 out
of an expected total of 4,401 had
listed by then in the four town
ships.
Well over 1,000 property owners c
in the city have listed, it was said. ;
Working on Plans Toj
Bring More Industry;
W. M. Darden, of Washing- i
Ion County Industries,
Hopeful Small Industry
To Locate Here
“We feel that within the calen
dar year of 1956 we are going to
see some results from our efforts.” i
So spoke W. M. Darden, local
realtor, attorney and businessman,
in an interview with a Beacon re
porter yesterday.
Darden heads an organization
known as “Washington County In
dustries” which was recently form
ed here to work for the better-1
ment of the county, particularly in
promoting new industry.
In pursuing the objectives an
nounced at the time the new group
was organized early last month
Washington County Industries will
be helped by the Business and De
velopment Corporation and the
Commerce and Industry Division of
the State Department of Conserva
tion and Development, the presi
dent stated.
The efforts being put forth by
Washington County Industries are
designed to be of county-wide bene
fit and the interest and support of
individuals and groups from every
part of the county are welcomed,
Mr. Darden emphasized.
Programs at all regular mect
fUf f.i i : . lyi, uV Rota,., Club i
during January were devoted to |
the new enterprise. Mr. Darden
served as program chairman for the
club during the month.
At present the new organization
is working with a Michigan manu
facturer of charcoal briquets and
chemicals in the hope of getting a
small plant established in this
county, Darden stated. The bri
quets, he explained, are made from
I hard and soft woods and the chemi
cals from hardwood. These pro
ducts, it was added, are derived
chiefly from timber which is at
present little used in the wood
trade or manufacture in this
section.
SeeTNDUSTRYr~Pag(T 12 '
j Town Tag Sales
i Reach 500-Mark
Sales of Town of Plymouth
motor vehicle license plates for
1956 reached 501 by noon Wed
nesday, Police Chief P. W. Brown
reported. Last week at the same
time 350 had been disposed of,
so, 151 were sold during the past
week. The total here usually
runs about 850, the officer said.
City owners who have not ob
tained a tag for their vehicle are
reminded that on and after Feb
ruary 15 the new tags must be
displayed in order to be within
the law, in operating cars, trucks
or other motor vehicles.
HERE TOMORROW
Jake West, jr., of Kinston,
national director of the U. S.
Junior Chamber of Commerce,
will address the Plymouth Jay
cees tomorrow night at 7 o’clock
at the Mayflower Restaurant with
the topic, “The Jaycee Story,”
it was announced yesterday by
Ralph Hunter, president of the
local chapter. All members of the
Plymouth Jaycecs arc urged to
attend.
County Residents
Return from Trip
Mr. and Mrs. Will C. Spruill, of
the Pleasant Grove section, return
ed home last week after an 18-day |
trip through eight states on their
way to and from Texas. They spent
about 10 days in Wichita Falls,
Texas, with S/Sgt. and Mrs. Robert
S. Leary, formerly of Roper.
Sergeant Leary, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Jim Leary of Roper, has been
in the U. S. Air Force for about
eight years and returned about a
year ago from a tour of duty in
France. Mrs. Leary is the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Gray of
Roper and the niece of Mrs. Spruill.
Mr. Spruill said he saw a lot of
places and things on his 3,000-mile
trip, many of them unusual and
beautiful, but he was glad to get
back home. “Just givel me the
sections of Washington County I'
live in, and you can have all the
rest of the country,” he said.
Lake Phelps Legion Post
Will Meet Monday Night
-•
Crcswell.—There will be a meet
ing of Lake Phelps Post, No. 391,
American Legion, next Monday
night, February 6, at 7 o’clock, in
the Legion Building, it was an
nounced this week by H. S. Wood
ley, post adjutant.
A dutch supper will be served,
and all members are urged to at
tend, as it will be an important
meeting, Mr. Woodley said.
OFFICERS:
Recently installed, officers of Perseverance Lodge, No. 59, A. F. St
A. M„ for the current year are pictured above as follows: Back
row, left to right: James M. Gilreath, senior warden; Wilmer C.
Chesson, master; G. R. Leggett, jr., junior warden; middle row: B. G. Campbell, treasurer; Jack B.
Latham, senior deacon; Dan K. Pittman, junior deacon; G. R. Leggett, sr., secretary; front row: James
E. Hardison, junior steward; R. H. Lucas, sr., chaplain; Hilton Dunbar, tiler; and W. C. Styons, senior
steward.—Staff photo.
Violent Week-End
Goes Into Record
AgaininPlymouth
Young Negro Here Narrow
ly Escapes Death in Stab
bing; 14-Year-Old Negress
Charges Attempted Rape
A week-end of violence, the sec
ond in a row, was reported here
Monday.
The previous week-end saw a
fatal fight, claiming one Tero Grant
who was stabbed to death in a
Sugar Hill residence. This time
death was narrowly averted as Lo
renzo Lawrence, Plymouth Negro
about 25 years of age, was rushed
to Washington County Hospital for
prompt treatment of a stab wound
just under the heart and a badly
cut nose.
Night Policeman H. B. Johnson
rushed the wounded man to the
hospital at around 8 p. m. Satur
day from in front of Martin Hy
man’s cafe on West Main Street.
Johnson swore out a warrant for
Lawrence and for his alleged as
sailant, James "Dock” Downing,
another Plymouth Negro about 30,
for engaging in an affray.
Lawrence was released from the
hospital in time to appear in re
corder’s court here Tuesday where
Judge W. Ronald Gaylord found
both guilty and sentenced Down
ing to four months on the roads,
suspended upon payment of the
court costs, hospital and doctor
bills. Lawrence was let off with
payment of costs.
The weapon used in the fight,
a pearl-handled pen knife with 2 Vi
inch blade, was taken from Down
ing. The larger of two blades had
been broken off about an inch or
more from the tip.
Johnson arrested Downing at the
West Main cafe at 8:30 p. m. Sat
urday and jailed him here to await
trial. The officer said he was told
that an argument between the two
men began inside the cafe and
that they went outside to fight.
At 11:30 p. m. Sunday Alphonso
Cradle, 34-year-old Plymouth Neg
ro, is alleged to have assaulted a
local 14-year-old Negiesi with in
tent to commit rape.
At 1:15 a. m. Monday, the girl’s
mother, Mary Moore, swore out
before Magistrate C. M. Beasley a
warrant for Cradle’s arrest and he
was picked up and jailed shortly
thereafter.
The attack is said to have been
made on the girl, a Wilson Street
resident, in a wooded area on
Fourth Street near Spring Green
Church. Two young white men of
Plymouth who passed the scene in
an automobile, the lights of which
scared the man off twice, failed to
appear as witnesses at the prelimi
nary hearing Tuesday but it is be
lieved they will be in court when
the case is tried in superior court
here.
Judge W. Ronald Gaylord found
probable cause and Cradle was
bound over for trial at the next
criminal term of court under bond
of $500.
Cradle is married and the father
of young children.
Cake Cutting and
Cub Pack Meeting
Slated at Roper
Also, March of Dimes Bene
fit Basketball Game Set
To Follow PTA Meeting
Tuesday Night
PTA Founders Pay will be mark
ed with a cake-cutting at the regu
lar meeting of the Roper Parent
Teacher Association Tuesday night
of next week, PTA officials have
announced.
The Roper Cub Scouts, sponsor
ed by the PTA, will hold their pack
meeting, T. A. Hood, high school
principal who serves as cubmaster,
said. After the meeting, a basket
ball game to raise money for the
polio drive will be staged.
The Roper Cub Scout organiza
tion includes: .
Den 1 with Mrs. Seth Russell
and Mrs. Elbert Tarkenton, the den
mothers, is composed of Scouts
Tim Gaylord, Andy Banks, Mau
rice Phelps, David Rath, Richard
Dorsey, Bobby Norman, Larry Rus
sell, Paul R. Gardiner and Frankie
Tarkenton;
Webelos Scouts, Den 2, with Mrs.
L. E. Hassell, jr., the den mother,
are Gene Basnight, Bobby Chesson,
Howard Daevnport, Tommy Has
sell, Keith Marriner, Otis Marriner
and Billy Skiles;
Den 3 Cub Scouts are Billy Co
burn, Webb Lee Hardison, Rudy
Oliver, Dean Taylor Dunbar, and
Harry B. Peele. Den 3 has no den
mother.
Mrs. Beulah Gaylord has been
helping the new den mothers. N.
T. Stout is assistant cubmaster.