Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 3

how you cm call us City News Desk 222-6600 Classified Gold Ads 222-5000 Insurance Dept. 222-6470 For Home Delivery 222-6500 All Other Calls 222-6400 dwil Jfee Section Page 3 SECOND FRONT PAGE Thursday, January 28, 1962 today's chuckla Federal aid to education should start by teaching arithmetic In Washington. hut Admitted killer of 6 women gets IS-30 years Strange dual-confession case ends Murphy, whose sentences are to run concurrently, will not be eligible for parole until late 1995. THE SENTENCING Wednesday apparently concluded one of the most bizarre multiple murder cases in Detroit area history. In 1980, police Investigators, struggling to solve the murders of 18 women, found them By JOE SWICKARD Fret Prtti Staff Writer An apparently contrite Donald Murphy, who has confessed to the 1980 murders of at least six Detroit prostitutes, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 to 30 years in prison for two of the slayings.

Recorder's Court Judge Edward Thomas, in passing Latest episode in saga of Sheriff Spreen And now for the latest installment in the Sheriff Spreen soap opera: When we last left you, you may remember, the Oakland County lawman was being sued for slander by his former personal secretary and former undersherif f. Johannes Spreen earlier claimed the duo was trying to blackmail him. Anyway, as the legal world turned Wednesday, a character in Spreen's past William Beer showed up as his defense attorney. A one-time, longtime Oakland County Circuit Court judge, Beer wasn't always on Spreen's side. In 1977, Judge Beer tossed the sheriff in jail on contempt charges after he refused to follow His Honor's order to rehire a deputy.

Apparently, there's no contempt between them now. "I have nothing to say," said Beer Wednesday about his new Murphy day. I don't. I regret what has happened If my death could bring back all the llfes, I would die willingly. Judge Thomas, what can I say; this is something that I'll live with the rest of my life.

I'm not trying to squirm out of my problems, I only ask for help." THOMAS, WHO noted Murphy's "severe drinking problems and emotional problems," said he would recommend that Murphy serve his sentences at "Riverside or some other suitable facility." The Riverside Correctional Facility in Ionia Is used to house and treat prisoners with emotional problems, as well as older prisoners and youthful inmates needing protection. phy, wearing blue jeans and a pullover sweater and carrying a paperback Bible, handed Thomas a letter written on yellow legal paper. In the letter, which urged the judge to read selected biblical passages, Murphy asked for divine forgiveness and understanding, while saying he regretted the pain he had caused. "After reading and hearing the (confession) tapes, I understand that I've hurt a lot of people also their families and my own family. I've caused a great deal of pain and sorrow," Murphy wrote In the neatly printed letter.

"I've asked God's forgiveness, I know that He alone will forgive and understand. "I pray that in time the problem that caused me to be living in this hell will be understood one sentence, said Murphy's confessions and other selves with two men Payton and Murphy confessing in seemingly convincing detail to the. three of the same crimes. Payton, the former Highland Park High School girls' basketball coach, was arrested in November 1 980 and eventually confessed to four murders. The next month, investigators were stunned when Murphy, 37, after first confessing to two' murders, admitted killing four other evidence were proof It was Murphy and not former suspect David Payton who killed three of the women.

"You have clarified an Innocent man possibly being convicted," Thomas said to Murphy. You, in fact, are responsible." ASKED IF he wanted to say anything, Mur- See SLAYINGS, Page 11A I relationship with Spreen. Doesn't politics create interesting soap operas? Cheating probe irks county employes By TOM HUNDLEY Fret Prett Staff Writer n-UHMWPII (WIWIW'H" PliiHI'Xli mmim mihiM i i ini I it 1) MjII Dems Kill Governor's Benefit Cut For Jobless The Wayne County CM Service Commission's efforts to investigate a cheating incident on a civil service exam are Shattering a rumor from the Glass House? A rumor floating in the Glass House Ford's World Headquarters has FoMo-Co's Phil Caldwell taking personal charge of contract talks with the UAW. To facilitate the move, Chairman Caldwell is canceling his goodwill trip to Japan next week, word says. But a Ford spokesman Wednesday denied the rumor, and the tentatively scheduled Far East trip next week is still tentatively scheduled.

Caps mean no chips, pop company says Detroit trivia: Why does Faygo ask consumers to replace the bottle cap before returning the bottle? Faygo the only beverage company to make such a request says it protects the bottle neck. "They don't want them to be chipped," said a company spokesman. Since the bottles are raising serious doubts among county employes about the in tegrity of the county's civii service system. "It appears the Civil Service Commission is trying to protect certain people at the top of this county," Diane Keller, president of American Fed eration of State, County and Municipal Employes Local 1659, said Wednesday after members of her local were By DAVID KUSHMA Free Press Lansing Staff LANSING The Senate Wednesday effectively killed a measure that would have saved Michigan businesses about $110 million a year in unemployment compensation costs by cutting benefits to jobless workers a cornerstone of Gov. Milliken's economic recovery plan.

On a 20-14 vote, with all Democrats present voting yes and all Republicans opposed, senators returned to the Democratic-controlled Senate Labor and Retirement Committee a bill that would have reinstated a one-week wait before laid-off workers could begin to collect unemployment benefits. The bill is expected re-used, the company thinks it's a good Jdea. And pop drinkers are obedient sorts. More than 80 percent of the Faygo bottles called before a commission inquiry. Other union and county officials described the commission investigation as a "whitewash" and "covenm." They say they believe the commission is trying to protect top- to die in committee.

The measure also would level county officials who may have Increased from 18 to 20 weeks the time an employe must have worked during the previous year to become eligi ble for benefits. returned have their caps. trouble ahead for Shelby supervisor Robert Bernard, Shelby Township supervisor, seems to have his hands full these days. Not only is he in the middle of a lawsuit aimed at closing down Liquid Disposal Inc. a toxic waste facility where two men were killed in an accident Jan.

13 he is now the subject of a recall campaign. The recallers filed a statement of organization Wednesday with the Macomb County Clerk's Office. Eugene La-Belle, one recaller, said the effort to remove Bernard and the six other Shelby Township board members has "nothing at State will be pinched in welfare trade-offs have leaked or stolen copies of a test for a Public Works Department job about a week before the Oct. 7 exam. One department employe who testified Wednesday said that after she learned of the cheating incident, she was afraid to report it to the com Milliken, who is on vacation in the Virgin Islands, was un Free Press photo by IRA ROSENBERG.

available for comment on the An inside auto wreck Senate vote. MORE THAN 250,000 job- Dominic Bagiano, manager of the 0. D. Tyler Plumbing Co. in Ferndale, workers are collecting weekly unemployment bene fits of up to $197 a week in tries to take inventory of the damage his store received late Tuesday night when a car driven by a 17-year-old youth smashed through a brick wall.

The youth, who was not seriously injured, was charged with reckless driving, police said. Michigan. The state's 14.4 per cent jobless rate, reflecting 627,000 employes out of work, all to do with Liquid Disposal Inc." He said his group is simply dissatisfied with their performance. By DAVID KUSHMA and JAMES N. CRUTCHFIELD Free Press Lansing Staff LANSING The first phase of President Reagan's proposed transfer of 40 federal programs to state control could cost Michigan more than $300 million during the fiscal year Is the nation's highest.

Wednesday's vote was In House Democratic gains seen, sharp contrast to the Senate's approval last month of reforms Compiled by DONNA URSCHEL cnund nffff starting in October 1983 sought by Milliken In worker compensation. Many Senate but not Michigan districts probably the largest loss of any state, Michigan Budget Direc Democrats broke party ranks to vote with Republicans for tor Gerald Miller said the pro-business legislation. By PAUL MAGNUSSON Free Press Washington Staff Senate Republicans warned Miller told reporters that mission because "the whole civil service Is suspect." Two co-workers who testified previously expressed the same concern. LOCAL 1659, which represents Public Works Department employes, alleges that Chester Woznlak, the department's assistant managing director, knew that department employe Donna Dec had an advance copy of the test. The union further alleges that Woznlak helped prepare the test answers for Dec.

Woznlak denies the allegations. But what irks officials of Local 1659 is that Woznlak! was allowed to testify Tuesday at a secret, unscheduled hearing, while union members have had to testify at well-attended public sessions. Royce Smith, the Public Works Department's managing director, also was allowed to testify at a private session a few weeks ago. Reporters who attempted Tuesday to learn when Woz-' See CHEAT, Page 11 A WASHINGTON Despite contrary claims that Wednesday's vote would Stronger anti-smoking law? A proposal in the Legislature would ban smoking in all public buildings and work places except for designated areas. Pre- NCEC, which released its study Wednesday to a number of liberal political groups.

The projection of Democratic gains contradicts enthusiastic predictions of the National Republican Congressional Committee and its chairman, Michigan Rep. Guy Vander Jagt, by Republicans, the Democrats appear most hamper efforts by Milliken and Gov. Milliken will recommend that Michigan's congressional delegation oppose Reagan's kely to pick up congressional seats in the 1982 awmakers to cut Michigan $1.2 billion debt to the federal elections, according to the National Committee for an Effective Congress (NCEC), a group that sent law is the reverse designated plan to shift responsibility for food stamps and aid to depen Rep. Vander Jagt has said reapportionment supports liberals in both parties. government for loans to the state's Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, which areas are for non-smokers and smoking is allowed everywhere else.

Do you But while the group predicts a 15-to-18-seat and the shift of 17 seats to the Republican- dent children (ADC) to the states in return for federal assumption of all Medicaid costs beginning Oct. 1, 1983, unless favor the proposed stronger law? gain for Democrats nationwide, Democrats ap dominated Sun Belt, along with the projected administers joblessness pear more vulnerable than the GOP in Michigan. If that debt Is not repaid by How you voted Of 100 congressional seats nationwide con-dered vulnerable to a turnover to the opposing state officials are guaranteed that the swap will not cost the state money. November, federal officials will begin assessing a penalty party, seven are in Michigan, and five of those NO, 64 percent. COMMENTS: "We've given in enough to these non-smokers.

success of President Reagan's economic program in mid-1982, will help Republicans. But according to the NCEC, redistricting thus far has done "minimal damage" to Democrats. REDISTRICTING, based on the 1980 census, has not been completed in Michigan. This makes See HOUSE, Page 4A seven are held by Democrats, according to the Milliken, who is on a two- -Absolutely no!" "Smokers have tax on Michigan employers until the obligation is erased. That tax could rise to $126 per em- week vacation in the Virgin rights too" "My father died at 96 and smoked all his life" "Any more laws, New controversy over Voting Rights Act.

Islands, was unavailable for comment Wednesday on Reagan's proposal. See JOBLESS, Page 7A Page 8E. MILLER SAID he had been and you'll have smokers climbing the walls." YES, 36 percent. COMMENTS: "I have a right to breathe clean air" "If they want to kill themselves, fine. But they're not going to kill me" "Smokers think they have some kind of constitutional told by White House sources that Reagan would seek cuts totaling $6 billion in federal Detroit cop wins close race to stop suicide programs, such as revenue sharing and block grants, when he presents his 1982-83 budget to Congress next month.

By By ANDREA FORD Free Press Staff Writer What was at first thought to be a ploy to get a Detroit radio station to play a hit record by country singer George Jones early Wednesday turned into a tense 45-minute race to reach a woman who had attempted suicide. The events, reminiscent of the 1966 movie "The Slender right to smoke. That logic stinks" "I'm going to throw up on the next cigar smoker I meet in an elevator." Sound off is a non-scientific, reader opinion feature. Today's percentages are He estimated that such re ductions could cost the state and local governments in Michigan another $200 million -based on approximately 4,800 calls. during the next fiscal year.

Thread," ended at 2:15 a.m. when police forced their way into the woman's mobile home in an Ecorse trailer park. Police said the State Social Services Direc Tomorrow's question Last month the federal government gave tor John Dempsey, who said he woman had a history of emotional problems. The woman was believed to have been despondent over a Riccinto entered the drama after WCXI disc jockey Geno Khan, who had talked to the woman on the phone three times, became convinced she was serious about her suicide threat. Unsure what else to do, he tried to call a friend in the Police Department and reached Riccinto instead.

KHAN, SUBSTITUTING for another disc jockey on the early morning show, said he got an off-the-air call from the woman about 1:30 a.m. saying she had slashed her wrist and would kill herself unless he played "He Stopped Loving Her Today," by Jones. Khan described the song as a "depressing kind of record" about a jilted boyfriend who feels only death will end his pining for his former love. It ends with the man's casket being carried away. "A lot of people call up and will try anything to get a song played," Khan said Wednesday afternoon.

"I've heard that one (a suicide threat) before and just didn't think it was real." When the woman called back a short time later, Khan told her he would play the record if she would give him her phone number See RESCUE, Pane 4A had too few details to comment ritself the power to use IRS and Social much about the welfare swap recent breakup with her live-in boyfriend and had cut her wrists by the time police arrived. She was taken to a Wyandotte Hospital where she was listed in satisfactory condition. 1984, said he expects further Security records for tracking down federal curtailments in welfare who failed to register for the draft In "The Slender Thread, a mental health worker, played by eligibility this year. r(See Page 1A). Do you think the The difference between Sidney Poltier, talks for several hours on the phone with a suicidal woman until the call can be traced and the woman located.

government should be allowed to use tax Michigan's share of Medicaid, other records to pursue law In Wednesday's incident, the rescuer was Detroit Police which provides medical care breakers? Officer Leonard Riccinto who, by telephone, elicited enough for the poor, and the cost of Free PressIRA ROSENBERG Leonard Riccinto: "She said she was Italian too, and talked a lot longer." nformation from the woman for Michigan Bell employes to trace To vote YES Call 961-3211. To vote NO Call 961-4422 See PINCH, Page 11A the call. i.