The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 2

Wife's remains cremated Tom body goes MS unclaimed by sons Hi' I -V V- I I 1 jf fi -1 lii. The Indianapolis Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1980 Obituaries Classified PAGE 57 necessary burial papers for their mother but refused to sign any for their father, according to Jack Bond. After calling their attorney, the sons also refused to sign a statement which Bond presented them. The statement said they specifically would not claim Roberts' body. "I just wanted some kind of statement like that so they could not come back at me later and claim it was their dad and I didn't give them enough chance to claim his body.

I wasn't really trying to push them either way," he said. "I CANT FULLY understand it. They gave no reason at all," he said. "I know they have not felt this was Clarence. But after all these doctors said it was and the experts took four days to go over it and make sure beyond a doubt, why won't they accept it?" Bond asked.

Expenses of cremation of Roberts can be paid from federal and county funds, Bond said. Police Wednesday night questioned the Roberts' sons, Forrest, Loren and Bernard, about a man that relatives and neighbors have reported seeing at Mrs. Roberts' home. Forrest Roberts on Tuesday denied seeing his father or any other man at the house. Bernard Roberts' wife, who has been at the house occasionally, made a similar denial.

State Police Detective Maurice Aileron declined to discuss details of the questioning of the sons except that they denied seeing their father around the house. By BRUCE C. SMITH STAR SOUTHERN INDIANA BUREAU Nashville, Ind. After a decade of mystery, the Brown County coroner finally has signed a death certificate for Clarence Roberts, but Roberts' sons refused to claim their father's body for burial. Coroner Earl Bond and his son, deputy coroner Jack Bond, both signed the official papers certifying that the death of Roberts, 62, occurred in a fire blamed on arson last weekend.

The fire also killed Roberts' wife, Geneva, 59, and destroyed her modest two-story cottage about 6 miles southeast of Nashville along Ind. 135. Jack Bond revealed Thursday that pathologists found that the amount of alcohol in Mrs. Roberts' blood was 0.3 percent and for Roberts, 0.2 percent. State law declares that 01 percent alcohol in the blood is legally drunk.

Authorities have said that a high blood-alcohol level could have been a factor in their deaths. TWO OF THE couple's four sons, Forrest and Loren Roberts, went to the Bond Funeral Home here Thursday to make burial arrangements. But the men agreed to claim only their mother's body, and pay for the portion of heF expenses not covered by Social Security and county funds for the widows of veterans. If no other relatives claim Roberts' remains by today, Jack Bond said he will ask Brown Circuit Judge Samuel Rosen for a court order for Roberts' cremation. Many members of Roberts family have insisted that Clarence Roberts died in a Nov.

18, 1970, fire that destroyed a garage at a former Roberts home north of here. Earl Bond, coroner in 1970, issued a "John Doe" death certificate for that body when police and medical experts could not agree that it was Roberts. A 1975 BROWN County grand jury reviewed the evidence from that fire and Take a hike On a "Dog Day Afternoon" Thursday, weather was permitting the high temperature fell a degree short of 40 so William Wakefield, 1030 North Hamilton Avenue, walked his basset, hound, George, through Spades Park on the Eastside. (Star Photo) Lead reported in probe of city trash collectors indicted Roberts for the murder and kidnapping of the unidentified 1970 fire victim. The indictment was based on a theory that the fire was set to cover up a murder intended to look like a suicide by Roberts, who was heavily in debt and about to be accused of swindling the Wabash Life Insurance Co.

of Indianapolis out of several hundred thousand dollars in a commercial loan deal. Police and private detectives were unable to find Roberts until the male body found in the rubble of the weekend fire was positively identified Wednesday as the missing man. Sons of Clarence and Geneva Roberts could not be reached for comment late Thursday on why they would not claim their father's body from the coroner. BUT THEY HAVE said privately and in court that they believed the 1970 fire victim was their father and they buried him then. Mrs.

Roberts' remains were cremated at a Columbus funeral home Thursday afternoon without public services. Forrest Roberts said Tuesday no public services would be announced because he did not want them "turned into a sideshow." Forrest and Loren Roberts signed all Act, which guarantees access to federal records, "is used sparingly by the media, but it's used tremendously by businesses," he added. The general public also is keen on learning what its government is up to, Cardwell said. CARDWELL SAID that in the 1960s, when the Freedom of Information Act became law, he was involved with preparing kits that explained how to use the law. "We sold about 12 to the media," he said.

"We sold 5,000 to other people." Keating C7 They can't explain love of trains PASSENGERS aboard the "Hoosier State" Amtrak special that runs from Indianapolis to Chicago and back every day, have noticed something unusual whenever the train slides into the Crawfordsville station. At the 8:45 a.m. northbound stop and the 8 p.m. southbound stop, there are always these same half dozen or so men on hand to meet the train. Some of these men talk knowingly to the conductors and mark down notes in a log book.

Others just stand and look on with admiration and satisfaction. FINDING out who these men are is no problem. They are businessmen, lawyers and retirees well known in town. Finding out why they meet every train is a little more difficult. They are not quite sure themselves why "Hhey have become what is known as "train buffs." Take Bob Lafoe.

Lafoe is a 42-year-old employee of the Indiana Gas Co. He is married, the father of a son and a daughter and a moderate man not given to excessive habits of any kind. ALMOST ANY kind. Since Amtrak began its Hoosier State run on Oct. 1, Lafoe has not missed meeting a single train at Crawfordsville.

That's twice a day for 65 days. During that time, Lafoe has filled a 180-page scrapbook with newspaper articles, Amtrak releases, tickets stubs and other memorabilia pertaining to the Hoosier State. He has walked every inch of the 26 miles of track the Hoosier State uses in Montgomery County and has drawn up maps showing the location of every crossing. Two years ago he and his family rode 7,000 miles on trains during the Christmas holidays. "THERE are some fellows in town who are worse than me," Lafoe said.

"I've known some of them in past years to get up a 1 a m. in the middle of winter and sit in a parking lot just to watch a particular train go by, "I'll admit I've really become interested in the Hoosier State," he added. "I've kept a log of the times each train has arrived in Crawfordsville the last 65 days. The northbound is always on time. The southbound is usually a little late but it makes up the time before reaching Indianapolis.

"The train is averaging 232 passengers a weekday and 428 on both Saturday and Sunday," Lafoe revealed from his notes. "I've talked to a lot of passengers and they seem to prefer the older-style cars more than the modem ones. More leg room is the reason." LAFOE reached into his vast store of information and came up with the news that Amtrak is thinking about routing a train, the Cardinal, from Cincinnati to Indianapolis and then on to Washington D.C. "It's hard to explain why I'm so fascinated with trains," Lafoe said. "I grew up next to a railroad track and I've always cared about seeing trains preserved.

Maybe someday when gasoline is $5 a gallon, everyone will feel the same." MURPHY'S LAW a car 1M more to down, ina.t0uoiwty im 'If anything can go wrong, it will MUfO ntnmn inn Newspapers urged to back access bills again complained. When a third crew arrived for the trash, the weary resident offered the trio a dollar each, and they wouldn't accept payment for the job, Rippel noted. "WE'RE NOW trying to figure out whether we're talking about six different men or fewer," Rippel said. "That requires getting descriptions from the man, and checking dispatch records and complaint office files. But the man doesn't know the dates and isn't positive of the days of the week the crews were there." The probe surfaced Thursday, the day before the former manager of the sanitation division, Curtis E.

Daugherty, is to be sentenced for conversion in connection with an incident that was part of a series of abuses in the division last year. One other man was convicted and six persons were fired or have resigned. number, but could provide no better specific information, including a date, Rippel said. TWO THREE-MAN crews may be involved in the charge leveled by the resident whom works department investigator David Johnson questioned, Rippel said. The first crew, sent on request from the resident, came to his door and asked for two six-packs of beer, Rippel said.

He refused, they left without collecting the trash and the citizen called the mayor's complaint office. The matter was referred to the works department, resulting in a second run to the house later in the week, Rippel said. "The same thing happened with the second crew a few days later; they tried to negotiate a price to take the trash," Rippel said. The man again balked and By HOWARD M. SMULEVTTZ Indianapolis Department of Public Works officials said Thursday they have a lead in their search for workers who attempted to charge at least one resident for a heavy trash pickup.

Works director Richard A. Rippel said a staff investigator's interview with the Eastside man produced the first clues to support several anonymous complaints received during the past month that $7 or a case of beer was demanded to pick up heavy trash loads. Heavy trash pickup crews collect items too large to be taken by on regular routes. The collections are made on request or by arrangement with a neighborhood group. One woman reported seeing a heavy trash pickup crew being handed something down the block and gave a truck fflCHPJSTMA5 SALE By DOROTHY PETROSKY Newspaper representatives Thursday were urged to seek the support of legislators for a package of proposed bills that would broaden access to public records and limit the closing of court proceedings.

Not only the press, but businesses and the general public will benefit from the legislation, said Richard W. Cardwell, general counsel for the State Press Association. The association wrote the bills. "Whether the bills pass or not is directly proportional to the push behind it," Cardwell told newspaper publishers, editors and reporters at an association district meeting in the Sheraton Motor Inn East. "You've got to sit down and talk with these guys (legislators)," Cardwell said.

THE THREE pieces of legislation proposed by the association still are only drafts, Cardwell noted. As such, suggestions from General Assembly members and the press are sought, he said. The measures are intended for introduction in the 1981 General Assembly. One legislative sponsor has been announced and others are being sought, Cardwell said. One bill would prohibit a court from ordering the closing of any criminal proceeding unless the parties involved and the general public first have a "meaningful opportunity to be heard." The second bill would mandate that government and police records be open to public inspection.

Records declared confidential by the General Assembly, federal law, or state or federal rule or regula tion, or aireaay ciassmea as restricted. or part of the work of an attorney representing a puoiic agency would be exempt. THE THIRD measure would guarantee that persons having a valid interest in obtaining criminal histories of individuals would have access to the information. Access to public records is of concern to Dusmesses ana individuals, Cardwell said. "Businesses are tremendous users of eovernmenta records." he said The federal Freedom of Information a bitter and unsuccessful attempt to organize me urm suu steel castings employees.

Miss Stewart and Watkins were active SUDDOrters nf thp nninn anrl rlaimoH that was the reason for their dismissals. The Tornauists. who would nnt havp hen eligible to join the union, were fired after mey ueumeu 10 aiiena an ami-union i any. IN A 75-PAGE decision dated Tuesday, the judge, Joel Harmatz, said the firings constituted unfair labor practices The judge also said in his recommendation to the NLRB that the company violated the employees' rieht to a free election, and urged that the result be set aside. He also cited other violations of the employees rights.

Jav R. Larkin. an Inriianannlis nttnr. ney who reoresents Harrison Stpel Hp. scribed the findings against the company as iccnnicai ana saia ne believes the decision vindicates the company's posi- He said he will review the decision with Harrison Steel officials before decid ing whether to file exceptions.

a nnai decision by the NLRB is expected to take several more months. Rehire 4 workers, labor judge urges TODAY! 9 A.M.T011 P.M OUR BIGGEST ONE DAY SALE OF THE YEAR IS HAPPENING AT ALL AYRES STORES LOOK FOR OUR SECTION IN TODAY'S PAPER. SEE WHAT SENSATIONAL SAVINGS YOU'LL FIND AT AYRES DURING OUR 14 HOUR CHRISTMAS SALE. By ART DRAKE STAR NORTHERN INDIANA BUREAU Attica, Ind. Harrison Steel Castings whose vice-president is chairman of a legislative labor committee, illegally fired four employees and should reinstate them with retroactive pay and benefits, plus interest, a judge for the National Labor Relations Board has recommended.

The parties involved will be allowed to file exceptions to the judge's findings until Dec. "24, when the five-member NLRB will take up the case and make a final verdict on the discharges of Daniel B. Watkins, Joma Stewart, Inez L. Torn-quist and Debra L. Tornquist.

Harrison Steel Castings the largest employer here, is owned by the family of state Sen. Joseph W. Harrison (R-Attica). A member of the third generation of Harrisons to run the company, he is vice-president of the company and chairman of the Indiana State Senate labor committee. 1 MISS STEWART worked in the firm's radiography department; Inez Tornquist and her daughter, Debra, worked in the payroll department, and Watkins worked in the electrical department.

They were fired in 1979, the same year that the United Auto Workers conducted.