.lie
olMistoeiiae
VOL. 28.
SELUlA, N. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1945.
NUMBER 25.
X Tl
TORNADO STREAKS
THRU JOHNSTON
A violent windstorm which swept
through Johnston county late Monday
afternoon tore the roof completely
off one section : of the Smithfield
Bagging Company's factory at Wil
son's Mills and disrupted telephone
communications.
The bagging company's roof was
blow against the Telephone lines
along the Southern railroad tracks,
cutting the lines in two and blocking
train traffic for a brief period. Wil
son's Mills residents were left with
out telephone service and the tele
phone company was still working
Tuesday afternoon to restore serv
ice.
The storm in the Smithfield
Wilson's Mills area was not accom
panied by much rain. A great cloud
dust swept over the section however,
In lower Johnston county, the
storm was accompanied by hail which
was said to have done considerable
damage to tobacco.
Home From Overseas.
Selma Legion Sends
Delegates To Meeting
Comrades B. A. Henry. C. B. Ful
ghum and E. G. Hobbs represented
Selma Post 141 at the annual state
convention of the American Legion
held at the Hotel Sir Walter in
Raleigh this week.
Comrade Henry advises that re
ports were heard from Major J. S.
Pittman concerning activities of the
veterans hospital and a resolution
dealing with the question of peace
time conscription was introduced and
acted upon. Members also favored a
resolution opposing the release of
conscientious objectors untij after
close of'the war with the Japs.
' The convention, streamlined in na
ture because of current conditions,
restricted each Post to one voting
delegate and elected Comrade Victor
Johnson, of Pittsboro, as commander
of the North Carolina department.
, Upon nomination by the Selma dele
gate, Comrade Henry, post at district
commander of the local district went
to Comrade Oliver Westbrook of Gar
ner Post 232. I
Governor R. Gregg Cherry made
the principal address, adhering to
the streamlined policy in so doing.
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C. W. FULGHUM
DIES SUDDENL
SGT. JOHN H. EVANS,
son of Mr. and Mrs. E. V.
Evans, has arrived home af
ter spending three and one
half years overseas and will
be honorably discharged in a
few days.
He has been through four
battles in the European thea
tre. Sgt. Evans was at one
time reported missing in ac
tion and was a prisoner of the
Germans. He has the Purple
Heart, the Infantry Badge,
four battle stars, Veterans of
Foreign Wars ribbon,, and the
South American Medal.
Johnny says that, he is very
fortunate to be alive and very
grateful to be back in the U.
S. A. with his family and
. friends again.
He returned to the States
with a large collection of sou
venirs, the property of Ger
man soldiers, part of which
is on display rm- thrlndown
of the Johnstonian-Sun.
Sgt. John W. Avery
Receives Discharge
Staff-Sergeant John W. Avery,
AUS, arrived home Friday after
three years service in Uncle Sam's
army soent in North Africa, Sicily,
Italy, England and Germany. Sgt.
Avery served two years overseas and
was assigned to short tour of duty
in this country and was then again
sent to Europe.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Avery.
Selma route 2, Sgt. Avery plans to
remain with his parents for a visit
and will then visit Mr. and Mrs. Zell
Wallace. Smithfield route 2, parents
of his wife, after which it is expected
that he will be associated wth his
father in farming.
Sgt. Avery stated that he was
looking forward to renewing his ac
quaintance with Barney Henry, Hun
ter Price, The Johnstonian and any
number of his former friends.
Discharged under the Army's
point system, the sergeant said that
he had piled up almost enough
points to release two men instead of
one. . - -
Veterans To Address
Bond Rally, Auction
Benson Friday Night
Charles Wesley Fulghum, 63, was
found dead in bed Tuesday morning
at 7 o'clock. He died from natural
causes during his sleep. Death was
attributed to heart failure.
Funeral services were held Wed
nesday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the
Edgerton Memorial Methodist Church
here and were conducted by the Rev,
George W. Blount, pastor. Burial
took place in Sunset Memorial Park
at Smithfield.
Surviving are one daughter, Mamie
Fulghum of Selma; two sons, James
A. Fulghum of Norfolk. Va., and
Charles E. Fulghum, with the Army
in Germany: two brothers. J. S. Ful
ghum of Raleigh and Jesse L. Ful
ghum of Selma.
Mr. Fulghum was a native of
Wayne County. He was manager of
an ice plant at Smithfield at the time
of his death.
Turner Vinson Hopes
To Smash Black Market
Sgt. Kirhy Henry
Back From Overseas
Sgt. Kirby Henry, nephew of May
or and Mrs. B. A. Henry called them
Tuesday from Fort Bragg and said he
hoped to be home Wednesday or
Thursday of this week. Sgt. Henry
went overseas in the fall of 1942 and
has just returned to the States after
having participated in campaigns in
North Africa, Sicily, Italy. France,
Belgium and the final defeat of Germany,
Back From Italy
Lt. Bill Hinton, who has been in
Italy with the United States Air
I. , j
rorce, is spending a miny-aay inr
lough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
G. C. Hinton.
First Curing Tobacco
. Arthur Starling. Selma rt.
2, stated to the Johnstonian
Wednesday that he planned to
cure his first barn of tobacco
today (Thursday).
With a 3 1-2 acre crop, Mr.
Starling says that he has ex
perienced no damage from
plant disease or insects so far.
. About 300 sticks comprise
the first curing.
Benson. A war bond rally and
auction sale, sponsored by the Benson
Kiwanis Club and the Benson Wo
man's Club, will be held Friday even
ing, June 22. at 8:30 o'clock in the
Benson High school auditorium
. An entertainment feature will be
included in the bond sale program
and prizes will be awarded to each
purchaser of a bond. It is planned to
have a band present to furnish music
appropriate to the occasion. In addi
tion to the band music there will be
group singing of patriotic songs,
among them the beloved God Bless
America. Solos, also will be sung by
well known local artists,
Among featured speakers will be
Lt. David Henrv Parker, son of At
tornev and Mrs. Ezra Tarker of Ben
son. Lt. Parker, bombadier of the U.
S. Army Air Forces, who has this
month returned home after two years
spent in a German prison camp, will
recount some of his experiences be
fore and after his internment, libera
tion, and his return to this "sweet
land of liberty".
Another featured speaker will be
Kyle Hunter Stephenson, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Kyle V. Stephenson of Ben
son. Kvle Hunter, is now on leave
at his home here after witnessing
many harrowing events in the Pacific
war area aboard a U. S. destroyer
which was engaged in many encount
ers with the Japanese fleet. Very re
cently Kvle Hunter, saw first hand
the attack of Japanese suicide planes
on our war vessels. His destroyer
was the target for an attack by seven
Jan smYide nlanes. six of the planes
being destroyed before reaching the
warship. When the seventh plane was
'successful in evading our defense
against them it swooped directly
down toward Seaman Stephenson's
destroyer and crashed into the center
side of the war vessel where it tore
a tremendous noie in xne emy.
to the constructon of the ship, how
ever, the crew was able to bring it
into port under it own power and
repairs are now being done on the
west coast. Hence, Seaman Stephen
son's opportunity to spend a leave at
home. In speaking of the attack Sun
day before the Benson Methodist
The addition of many enforcement
agents to help smash completely any
black market in Johnston County,
was announced today by Turner Vin
son. Chairman of the War Price and
Rationing Board, as he called on
housewives in Johnston to cooperate
with OPA in eliminating existing
threats to war-time rationing and
war-time price control.
Mr; Vinson referred to the 15347
housewives in the county served by
the Local War Price and Rationing
Board who buy the food products
served on their, home tables.
"If all housewives were on their
toes when they go shopping there
would be no chance of violation of
price ceilings," he said.
Statistics show that there are over
15 347 women in the county who buy
foods, and if every one of these
women would absolutely refuse to
buy anything above ceiling prices and
would accept no rationed merchandise
without givng up the required points)
the problem of threatened inflation
would be wiped out. he pointed out.
"Think of it." Mr. Vinson said
"women absolutely wrecking black
markets, . simply by letting them
alone."
"Many women already do this'
just as many stores scrupulously
obey the laws and no criticism is
leveled at these patriotic citizens who
are trying their best to do the right
thing. But the fact remains that we
need those 15,437 workers to be mili
tant, watchful, zealous on behalf of
their country's welfare," he asserted
The new list of ceiling prices on
meats will be available at the Boards
for housewives after June 15, he add
ed. These lists will enable shoppers to
know the ceiling price of each cut of
meat they buy.
"From here on out, this business of
inflation is going to be serious, and
its prevention is so gigantic that
OPA's limited enforcement staff can
not do the job alone. Therefore. I am
calling on the housewives of Johnston
County to join by reporting any vio
lation of price or rationing regula
tions to the War Price and Rationing
Board, Mr. Vinson urged.
Gas For Servicemen
Raleigh, June 28. Serv
icemen returning from over
seas on temporary duty or
ders for rehabilitation, recu
peration and recovery will be
eligible for furlough gasoline
rations, according to OPA.
The serviceman may obtain
,his rations by applying to the
local War Price and Rationing
Board, presenting both his
temporary duty orders and
the mileage rationing record
for the car he will be using,
the announcement said.
Previously, all servicemen
were required to present leave
or furlough papers when ap
plying for these gasoline ra
tions, but those now being
sent home for periods of
about 30 days are not being
issued such papers.
The amount of the ration
remains the same, one gallon
of gasoline for each day of the
furlough, with a maximum of .
30 gallons, OPA off icials said.
Methodist Bible School
To Begin Monday
The Annual Vacation Church
School of the Methodist Church will
begin promptly at 9 o'clock Monday
morning, June 25. The School will
cntinue for two weeks. The Com
mencement will be held on Friday
night, July 6.
The courses and instructors will be
as follows: Beginners, lext book
My Home and Family", instructors,
Mrs. Ed Perry, Mrs. Willard Johnson.
Jr., Mrs. Geo. W. Blount, Primaries,
Text Book, "Friends at Home and In
The Community", instructors, Miss
Dorothy Jean Creech, Mrs. Frank
.J lliSoja, iJIsa. J. vG. Salmon, Juniors.
,?Tex Bdok, "Neighbors At Peace",
instructors, Miss Helen Renfrow,
Miss Mary Anne Boyd. Intermediates
Text Book. "Becoming A Person", In
structors, Miss Anne Hood Hughes
Miss Alice DuBose. Pvt. Wilson
Broadwell will assist with the hand
work a part of the time.
Children of all denominations are
welcome, and all are urged to be on
hand promptly at nine o'clock Mon
day morning for registration and as
signment to classes.
Black Market Dealer Is
Caught; Given 8 Months
:
Makes Excellent Record
v
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if
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Kiwanis Program
'Backwards' - It's New
Sunday school Kyle Hunter said. "I
never expected to see this place
again." i
Attorney Louis L. Levinson will be
auctioneer at the bond sale at which
local merchants will contribute
many valuable prizes.
-Residents of the community and
surrounding area are invited to at
Soaking pans .and dishes saves
time, and cold water is recommended.
Don't' let iron utensils rust.
Kiwanians in regular session last
Thursday evening heard with calm
the statement that the program
would consist of an old-fashioned
spelling bee, but a slight nervousness
was noted when it was seen that the
words were to be spelled backwards
instead of in the conventional man-
i t 1
ner. During the course 01 tne oee
this condition became really notice
able as the fellows struggled with
their "spelling" while those on the
sidelines were plainly hilarious. Wil
bur Perkins, program chairman, earn
ed a good hand for his novel pres'
entation. Kiwanian Paul McMillan
will serve this week.
With vice-president John Jeffreys
in the chair, club discussed plans for
the divisional inter-club meeting
scheduled for the near future; possi
bly August.
Meal was served bv the Woman s
club under supervision of Miss Mar
garet Etheredge.
Lt. Joe D. Richardson
Gets Bronze Star Medal
Baptist Revival Will
Close Sunday Evening
The revival services of the Selma
Baptist Church will continue through
Sunday evening. The remaining serv
ices this week will be this evening at
eight o'clock, Friday morning at
nine-thirty, and Friday evening at
eight. The Sunday services will be at
the regular hours of worship, eleven
o'clock in the morning and eight in
the evening.
The message brought during the
week by Dr. G. W. Davis have been
inspirational and helpful. Others are
Welcomed for the remaining services.
Fir3t Lieutenant Joe D. Richard
son, Jr., son of Mrs. Pearl B. Rich
ardson, of Selma. has been awarded
the Bronze Star Medal.
The official citation reads as fol
lows: "For distinguishing hmself by
meritorious service in connection with
military operations against an enemy
of the United States from February
15. 1945 to Mav 1. 1945. in Ger
many. Un crossing tne itoer ana
Rhine rivers, Lieutenant' Richardson
has performed his duties as Batallion
Anti-Tank Platoon Leader m a high
ly commendable and exemplary man
ner. Despite difficult terrain and ex
treme weather conditions, he deploy
ed his guns well forward to provide
anti-tank protection for his Batta
lion. He has personally reconnoitr
ed routes and supervised the emplace
ment of his guns. Coordinating with
the bazooka teams of the front line
comnanies desDite enemv smU arms,
mortsir and artillery fire. The out
standing devotion to duty end deter
mination displayed by this officer
merit the highest praise."
Lieutenant Richardson, is a mem
ber of the 330th Infantrv attached to
he 83rd Diy'sion. Known as the
Thunderbolt Division. H received
his commission at Camp Hood, Texas.
Highway Department
Has Pro ject For Selma
Plans are underway by engineers
of the state highway system for a
new project centering around route
301 in the southern part of Selma,
near Atkins Oil Comoany.
The time-worn "big ditch" will be
laid with piping and closed and a new
ditch will also be dug. given the same
treatment and connected with the
old drainage svstem. Results, offi
cials stated, will be the complete
drainage of the southern portion of
town bringing about great improve
ment from the health and convenience
viewpoints as related to the genera!
public.
Cost of the oroiect is et'mted to
be in the neighborhood of $9 000 and
work will begin in the immediate
future, it has been learned here.
Miss Iris Worley graduated with
outstanding honors from the high
school of Pineland Junior College,
balemburg, last week.
Miss Worley, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. C. P. Worley, of Selma, was
valedictorian of her class for which
she was presented the Sixth Annual
Award of the Reader's Digest Asso
ciation, was president of the senior
class, and during the first semester,
president of the Carlyle Literary
Society and of the Senior Sunday
School class. She was a member of
the Tau Phi Nu Sorority and senior
member of the Student Council. She
participated in the musical activities
of the school, being a member of the
college sextette. She was voted by her
classmates as the student most likely
to succeed. Upon graduation, she
was awarded the annual Breece Med
al for the best all-around high school
Bemor. ;
On the occasion of the Annual
Mother's Day Parade and drill, Miss
Worley, as First Lieutenant of the
second platoon, led her girls to vic
tory over the other contesting pla
toons. She was presented a silver cup.
In her valedictory address Miss
Worley stressed the fact that grad
uates of today would need to employ
all their faculties to meet the ever
broadening plane of life. She impres
sively remembered all the boys who
are fighting and dying that the stu
dents of today, as men and women of
tomorrow, might live, in peace and
maintain the freedom for which they
are fighting.
Miss Worley has returned to Pine
land for the summer school session
She plans to enter Woman's College
in Greensboro in the fall where she
will major in Sociology and Welfare
Studies.
Manufacturer May
Locate Plant Here
The war with Japan is not yet
over. Snonort the bovs oer thw
buy another bond in the Mighty 7th!
Mr. W. W. Meece, manufacturer of
wood products, has been in confer
ence recently with Mayor Barney
Henry and other town officials rela
tive to securing a location in Selma
for his business.
Turning out barrel staves, tobacco
hogsheads and wagon and cartwheel
equipment the plant employs a labor
ceiling of 23 persons, of. which a
goodly number are women, and all of
whom will be recruited from local
labor ranks. Families of the owner
and of the supervisory staff of 3 or
4 persons will also move heie. it was
learned. In addition the two sons and
son-in-law of Mr. Meece now in
the armed forces will again be
connected witn the firm when cond:
tions permit. Following this, the own
er plans to greatly expand upon his
field. '
Attracted to Selma bv it's desirable
location with respect to enterprise,
Mr. Meece has inspected several pos
sible sites and it is reported that a
selection has narrowed to two loca
tions here. Mayor Henry has spent
some time and effort in the interest
of bringing this firm to Selma and
has received the assistance of his
commissioners and other civic-minded
parties in the effort. The head of
the interested firm is expected in
Selma for further conferences with
in a few davs.
POPPY SALE
TOTALS $204.77
The local American Leeion Auxil
iary reports that the Auxiliaries in
Selma. Pine Level, Kenly and Prince
ton sold $204.77 worth of poppies on
Ponny Day.
The committee was composed of
Mesdames F. C. Pr"ce of Pine Level.
F. M. Aycock of Princeton and B. A.
Henry of Selma and Mayor Julius
Corbett of Kenly.
Raleigh, June 19 A 33-year-old
Benson man today faced an eight
month term in federal prison, impos
ed Monday by Judge Don Gilliam in
federal court after the defendant had
pleaded guilty to illegal possession of
gas ration coupons.
Thad Coats not only was given a
prison term but was, ordered to pay
a fine of $2,500. Judge Gilliam, af
ter listening to two hours of testi
mony, refused the pleas of defense
counsel for a probationary sentence.
"I can't tell whether this man was
a big black market operator or not,
but all the evidence shows that he
was in on the business to some ex
tent," commented the federal jurist,
who recently succeeded Judge I. M.
Meekins as federal judge for the
Eastern district of North Carolina.
Big Bank Deposits
Testimony was introduced by OPA
Attorney Albert Corbett which show
ed Coats had made cash bank depos
its running over $4,000 just prior to
his arrest last fall. In addition, it waa
admitted by both sides that Coats had
$3,800 in cash in his pockets when
ATU Agent J. C. Haithcock took him
into custody on a liquor charge. He
was acquitted of this charge last
March.
Haithcock testified that Coats bore
a reputation as a dealer in gasoline
and sugar ration coupons. The gov
ernment agent's testimony was cor
roborated by Sgt. V. R. Mallard of
the State "Highway Patrol and by
Police Officer O. R. Pearce of Dunn.
Both gave Coats a bad reputation.
Coats had been indicted on three
counts, but two of these were strick
en out with consent of the govern
ment. He pleaded guilty to the re
maining one. illegal possession of gaa
ration coupons. Agent Haithcock
said Coats had in . his pockets com- :
pons - representing 293 i gallons of
gasoline. ; Some of the stamps were
valid, and some were counterfeit.
Several were identified as among;
those which were stolen last Septem
ber from the Harnett OPA Board at
Lillington.
Coat's Defense
Coats took the stand to swear that
he had never dealt in the ration-coupon
black market, and asserted that
all the money he had on hand was
cash ''that I made bv mv hard work."
Of the total cash found on his per
son when arrested, he said he had
borrowed $3,000 from an uncle. The
uncle was not in court, he said in
answer to a question by Judge Gil
liam. Questioned bv Judge Gilliam about
pencil notations which were found on
the back of a card discovered in his
pockets, Coats was very vague. He
said he didn't remember what the fig
ures represented, and said he could
identify only two of some five names
written on the card, though he ad
mitted all the writing was his. OPA
officials contended the notations rep
resented Coats' black market deal
ing with various persons, and they
identified a telephone number as
that of a black market dealer in
Favetteville.
Coats admitted he fled from the
Dunn police station when placed un
der arrest. He said he did this be
cause "I had never been in jail and
didn't want to get locked up." He
was caught by Agent Haithlock after
a brief chase, but not before he had
thrown awav some of the coupons he
had. These, too. were recovered.
Defense Lawyers Duncan C. Wil
son and J. R. Barefoot contended that
Coats was merely a young farmer
trying to make an honest living, and
urged the iudee to put him on proba
tion. Coats stepmother, Mrs. Sallie
Coats, took the stand to say that the
defendant was supporting her six
voung children, left fatherless by the
death last fall of Coats' father.
"I've never been more sincere,"
said Attorney Wilson, "when I tell .
this court that I believe this is a case
for probation. This young man has
never been in trouble, except for one
liouor case, and has taken upon him
self the burden of supporting his six
younger brothers and sisters."
Testifying to Coats' ood charac
ter were Pol 'ceman Sonny Clifton of
Benson and Ear! Creech and Lonnie
Ennis, both of Benson. Policeman
Clifton denied that hi testimony was
affected by the fact that Defense At
torney Barefoot is mavor of Benson.
Coats said the gas coupons involved
in the illesral possession charge were
given to him bv a soldier he had be
friended by riding him to Faison last
fall. He said he took them for his .
own use. and never had 'any idea of
selling them in the glack market All
the monev he banked, he said, came
from profits from his two farms on
which he said be owes 5 0W) and on
trading in livestock and used autos.
Pvt. Heywood Younger is spending
his furloueh with h!s oarnts. Mr.
and Mrs. G. H. Younger, of Selma,