Traverse City Record-Eagle from Traverse City, Michigan • Page 1

DAILY AVERAGE PAID CIRCULATION 6 Months Ending March 31, 1971 17,262 ABC Pub. Statement "As fifed with the Audit Bureau of Circulation. Subject to Audit. TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S THE WEATHER Warmer, Partly Sunny Detailed Information Page 2 1971 CHERRY FESTIVAL HERE JULY 12-17 I FULL LEASED WIRE SERVICE TWO SECTIONS 26 PAGES TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1971 SEVENTY-FOURTH YEAR-24799 PRICE TEN CENTS Economy Growth Pace Slower Than Hoped For Parents Sue For $8 Million T.C. State Hospital Personnel Sued In Cronk Death Case An SB million lawsuit was filed at the county clerk's office Thursday by Francis W.

and his wife Cleobelle, charging top officials, physicians, nurses and attendants at the Traverse City State Hospital with negligence and malpractice in the death of their son, John D. Cronk. At the time of his death Cronk. who was mentally retarded, had been in an isolation room in the hospital for several clays. He was found dead in his room in the early morning of Aug.

11, 1970. In addition to the S3 million suit an alternative request for! a judgement in the amount So million was asked which ferred to certain portions of the I S8 million figure. I Included in the suit were Dr. I E. Gordon Yudashkin, director i of the Michigan State Department of Mental Health, Dr.

M. Duane Sommerness. chief ad-, ministrator of the Traverse! City State Hospital, other administrators, physicians, nurses, and attendants allegedly re-; sponsible for Cronk's care. A total of 19 persons were! included in the suit. Cronk a his wife also requested a jury trial and a change of They contended that a fair trial is not possible in Grand Traverse county because numerous defendants named in the suit are prominent in the community and have business connections.

According to Cronk's 3 Damage Suits Total $16.5 Million petition the defendants have many friends, relatives and associates in the county. They cited a ruling made several months ago by Frank Kelley, attorney general of Michigan, who penalized top hospital officials for allegedly attempting to solicit the advertisers of a weekly local publication to remove their advertisements from the publication which ha since suspended publication. According to Kelley in his ruling the officials, irked at the publication because of the manner in which it reported the Cronk case, sought retaliation by trying to force advertisers out of the paper. At a public medical examiner's hearing in October, conducted by Grand Traverse County Prosecutor John W. Blakeslee, a six-member jury panel found the hospital guilty of neglect in Cronk's death but not guilty of criminal negligence.

At the hearing the immediate cause of Cronk's death was ascribed to pneumonia, a condition which allegedly had gone unobserved and unattended until it was discovered by autopsy following his death. The Cronks, who live in Ionia, were represented by a Detroit legal firm in the suit filed Thursday. By UPI Suits have been filed in three courts asking S16.5 million in damages from the state and top officials and employes of Traverse City State Hospital in connection with the death of a mental patient. Two suits were filed by the parents of John D. Cronk 26, charging that the state and hospital officials were negligent in Cronk's death last Aug.

11. The third suit, filed in federal court in Grand Rapids by John F. McCann, publisher of the weekly newspaper the Weekender, sought S6 million in damages from five hospital officials. It charged them with conspiracy to violate freedom (Continued on Page 9) It's Gonna Get Worm Ready for some "hot pants" weather? Not the new fashion kind of weather; we mean the kind where the mercury gets up so high we're all hot and it makes us pant. Oh well, back to the barometer and thermometer.

The weatherman says we can expect mostly fair skies tonight and mild temperatures in the upper 30's but tomorrow! Wow! He predicts the mercury will zing up to around 74 degrees, which will be warm indeed. From Sunday through Tuesday we can expect mostly fair weather the first two days, with Tuesday to be cloudy and perhaps provide some showers. Temperatures will be moderate. This gives the all clear sig- to proceed with yard work and clean up the last of winter's leftovers. THREE OF THE EIGHT AWARDS Three of the eight Oscars won by the film "Palton" grace the table shared by Gen.

Omar Bradley (left) and actor Karl Maiden (right) at ball following 43rd annual Academy Awards Thursday night. Gen. Bradley served as a technical adviser for the film and Maiden played the role of Gen. Bradley in "Patton." (UPI Telephoto) Smoke Rolls Over Miami Worst South Florida Drought Spawns Fire In Everglades MIAMI (UPI)-A 30-miIe-Iong fire smouldered today in the Everglades, which is parched by the worst drought in south Florida history. The famed Gold Coast was covered with north.

been extinguished around Miami, but the mammoth blaze continued to rage along the edge of the Everglades National Park. And now drought conditions are spreading to the soot from billowing smoke clouds. Weathermen hopefully predicted an easterly wind today would drive the smoke away from the tourist mecca. Huge forest fires burned in two other states as a bright sun caused drought conditions in much of the south. More than 2,500 acres burned in the Dismal Swamp in North Carolina, and 100 acres were blackened in mountanous Swain County in that state.

And 1,600 acres were burned in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, where Gov. Winfield Dunn has banned all open fires. Most of the muck fires have "Drought now exists as far north as Ocala," State Agriculture Commissioner Doyle Conner said Thursday and warned the entire state and its crops and livestock are threatened. Conner gave this example: The fire "build-up" index for state forests is dangerous at 50. North of Tampa in Bradenton, Fla.

Thursday the index was 75. About 90 men were assigned to round-the-clock firefighting chores in the Everglades National Park. Truckdrivers, road crews, and even sightee- ing guides have pitched in to light "back fires" at strategic points in attempts to extinguish the fire. GEOKGE C. SCOTT "Patton." GLENDA JACKSOJf "Women in Love." HELEN HAKES "Airport." JOHN MHJC.S "Ryan's Daughter." Arrest Four In Mesick Man's Death DETROIT (UPI)--Four Black Panthers who allegedly ransacked an inner city commune for drugs and money, forced the 18 occupants to disrobe and then fatally shot one of them were arraigned on charges of first-degree murder Thursday.

One of them. Ronald K. Irwin, 19, also was arraigned Thursday on a charge of kidnaping and torturing a black soldier last Jan. 20. He also faces trial on assault and battery charges in another incident.

The others charged in the slaying of Franklin M. Abrorn- son, 23, Mesick, were Larry Powell, 19, Anthony Norman, 21, and Ronald Smith, 20, the only one of the four with no record of being involved in confrontations between the radical group and police. Irwin and Powell had been charged earlier this year with the kidnap-torture of a fellow Panther. Those charges were dropped, however, when the alleged victim, whom UPI learned was a police informant, refused to testify, claiming he was pressured by police into signing a complaint. Irwin and Norman lace trial on assault and battery charges stemming from a confrontation with police last August.

Abromson was shot in the. head during the commune raid Sunday. Police said the gunmen invaded the commune, which Abromson was visiting, herded the 12 young men and six girls Continued on Page 9) George Scott Leads His Film 'Patton' To Eight Oscars HOLLYWOOD (UPI)--George C. Scott, who had shunned the glittering Oscar awards as "two hours of a meat parade," won filmland's greatest honor Thursday night and led his picture, "Patton," to eight Oscars in the 43rd annual Academy Awards presentations. A spokesman for Scott said the gold statuette which Ihe actor said he would not accept would be sent to the George S.

Patton Jr. Memorial Museum at Ft. Knox, Ky. Scott was named best actor for his portrayal of the tough- talking Army general and "Patton" was named best film. Glenda Jackson won best actress award for her role in D.

H. Lawrence's "Women In Love." Not since "My Fair Lady" won eight awards in 1964 had a single picture so dominated the annual Hollywood presentations. Helen Hayes set a record of her own. The First Lady of the American Theater became the first performer to win both a best supporting actress award and a best actress Oscar. She won best actress in 1931-32 for "The Sin Of Madelon Claudet." In her latest honor, 40 years later, she won best supporting actress for playing an addled matron in "Airport." John Mlils was best supporting actor for his role as a mute in "Ryan's Daughter." Scott Dominates Show But it was Scott and his contempt for the Motion Picture Academy that dominated this presentation at the Los Angeles Music Center.

Scott said only a few days before the event on a national television show that the Academy Awards were "two hours of a meat parade." The actor's unhappiness for the competitive aspects of the award dates back to 19S1 when he was nominated for best supporting actor in "The Hustler." He previously had been nominated for the same award in "Anatomy Of a Murder" in 1959. Goldie Hawn, best supporting actress in 1969, gasped when she opened the envelope. "Oh my God the winner is George C. Scott." The announcement did not meet with great enthusiasm by the celebrity-studded audience. Scott's producer, Frank McCarthy, a former Army general himself, said he was "sorry" about Scott's attitude, adding, "but he is entitled to his own opinion." McCarthy also reflected the general feeling of the Academy that Scott's victory demonstrated that its awards were not popularity contests.

The "Patton" sweep included the highly-prized award for best direction, won by Franklin J. Sehaffner. "Patton" also captured best achievement in sound, art (Continued on Page 9) City Police Hold Bikes A number of unclaimed bicycles are in the possession of the city police department, police chief John W. McCloskey announced today. The bicycles may be claimed by positive identification, by bill of sale, registration and serial number within 10 days.

Those unclaimed will be sold at auction at a time and date to be announced. Those wishing to reclaim their bicycles may do so at the city police station between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. 1972 bicycle licenses have not yet been received.

The serial number and the make of bicycle is required when purchasing a new license. The cost is 50 cents. What's Inside Weather Page 2 Editorial Page 4 Church Directory Pages 6-7 Features Page TV Log Heloisc Horoscope Bridge Garden-Graph Calendar of Events 10 Theatre Calendar Page 10 Society Pages 10-11 Ann Landers Page 18 SECOND SECTION Sports Pages 19-22 Comics Page 20 Building Home Improvement Pages 23-26 Report Red Pressure Off Fire Base 6 S. Viet General Says Commies In Retreat SAIGON (UPI)--The commanding general of South Vietnamese forces in the Central Highlands reported victory today in the fighting around Fire Base 6, and military sources in Saigon disclosed a major new South Vietnamese offensive in the A Shau Valley to block a Communist threat to the city of Hue. Maj.

Gen. Ngo Dzu, commander of the II Military Region which includes the Central Highlands, said enemy pressure on Fire Base 6 had been 'completely lifted" and the North Vietnamese were retreating toward Laos. However, UPI front reports said some shells hit Fire Base 6 today, U.S. military spokesmen also disclosed that American paratroopers had set up a secret Fire Base Fury in the A Shau Valley region to aid the drive by the South Vietnamese troops reported to number as high as 10,000 men. The Americans withdrew most of the force today.

The A Shau Valley is a 35- mile long corridor leading from a Communist supply area toward Hue and was used by the Communists during the Tet offensive that almost destroyed the northern city in 1968. It is jungled and littered with burned out wrecks dating back to the French Indochina War. Another flareup in fighting was reported farther south near the city oE Pleiku and about 100 miles south of Fire Base 6. A South Vietnamese rifle platoon was flown into the area around Phu Nhon and ran into heavy fighting. U.S.

helicopters supporting the operation were reported under heavy fire. South Vietnamese said they bad found a building believed to be a Communist regimental command post and had seen three elephants used by the Communists to haul in supplies. Today's Chuckle A lot of girls dream of being swept off their feet by men they can dominate. Administration Reaffirms No Tax Cut Planned WASHINGTON (DPI) -The Gross National Product (GNP) increased by a record $28.5 billion in the first three months of this year but the Nixon administration said the pace i was slower than it had 'anticipated in setting its pre- election economic goals. The administration a f- firmed it has no plans to ask Congress for a tax cut to get the economy moving, and it said the slower growth, level will mean an even bigger than expected deficit for the next fiscal year.

George P. Shultz, Director of 1 Management and Budget, told newsmen at the White House Thursday the GNP figures show there is "a good solid expansion of the economy under way." But he conceded the advance was "a little lower" than the administration hoped for in setting its goal for reducing unemployment from its current level of 6 per cent to 4.5 per cent by mid-1972. The report issued by the Commerce Department showed the GNP, which measures the value of the nation's total output of goods and services, rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.08 trillion in the first quarter of this year, up 12 per cent from the fourth quarter of last year. When the figures are adjusted to eliminate the effect of price increases, the advance was 6.5 per cent, the largest gain in the so-called "real" GNP since 1968. The real GNP figure declined by 3.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 1970.

But the GNP price index, the broadest based gauge of inflation, increased at an annual rate of 5.2 per cent in the January-through-March quarter. That was less than the 5.9 per cent rate for the fourth quarter of last year but it was virtually the same as the 5.3 per cent average for 1970 which was the highest rate of inflation for a full year since 1951. The Commerce Department estimated that billion of the first quarter increase was concentrated in the auto industry which was seeking to make up for production lost during the United Auto Workers strike against General Motors which ran from Sept. 14 to Nov. 23.

No Money In State Coffers For Paying ADC, Medicaid LANSING (UPI) Aboutj to explain to hungry people 50,000 families will not receive what the fund has to do with their Aid to Dependent Children their not receiving any money," (ADC) checks next week be- ai( J. Ho they know i I they have bills to pay and cause there is no money in the they won't have the money to Michigan treasury to pay for pay for them, R. Bernard Houston, So-; Houston indicated some law- cial Services Department direc-j makers probably didn't believe tor, said Thursday. the gravity of the welfare prob- "The families will not receive I iem last week, "but we're the welfare checks until the faced with fact, not fiction, now. legislature resolves the hassle "These people are going to over transferring funds into the i have problems with landlords general fund to pay for them," who will be demanding their Houston said.

"As of next Mon- rent money," he said. "They're day, we just won't have the going to have problems with noney." the corner grocer who will Last week, the legislature a want to be paid." lourned until April 20, leaving The payments which will be unsettled a $45 million transfer delayed "until the legislature the uninsured motorist's i works out the fund problem 'und to the general fund. The would cover a two-week million, along with another merit period. million appropriation, was to In addition to the delayed wy for welfare claims through welfare checks, Houston said. end of the fiscal year June I about S2.4 million in Medicaid payments to doctors and pharmacists are being delayed this week and next week.

However, he said, services to Medicaid patients would continue as before. "The money in Medicaid is again contingent upon the 30. The hangup in the legislature came when the House insisted Jie $45 million be paid back to the motorist's fund over a five- year period with interest, while Senate argued the state should not have to pay itself nterest. transfer from ihe uninsured "It's a difficult thing to try I motorist's fund," he said..