The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 76

8) Drug tie probed in Pusser figure's death TtiurtdayJUME 19. 1986 THE TENNESSEAN 53 Illinois man charged in Larry Britt slaying jT NirroNE Alan boctick Staff Writer Larry Britt, who claimed that legendary Sheriff Buford Pusser was murdered, was killed by an Illinois Wan he may have tried to threaten into transporting cocaine, police said yesterday. I Thomas Gaylord Lingle, 39, of Mar-ton, who was charged yesterday with Britt's murder here on June told investigators he became "scared" when Britt asked him "to pick up some drugs for him," Assistant Police Chief Sherman Nickens said. said in a statement to police, that he shot Britt in the chest with a .410 shotgun, Nickens said. Britt, 42, was found dead from a single shotgun wound to the chest about 7:45 a.m.

in the First Realty Group Inc. office, 234 Largo just off Harding Place near Interstate 24. "Lingle is saving Biitt was wanting him to pick up some drugs and he got scared," Nickens said. "That led to the shooting." Nickens said it is unclear exactly how Britt threatened Lingle, and he said he did not know the location of the cocaine Lingle was to pick up. But sources close to the investigation said yesterday that the cocaine was in St Louis, Mo.

They also said Britt sold drugs "out of his little market" and that the cocaine from St Louis was designated for that purpose. Britt owned the Little Brown Jug convenience store next to the real estate office, and had occasionally stayed overnight on the premises of agreed to return on his own to Nashville to face police questioning. He was charged with murder yesterday morning and was being held without bond last night in Metro JaiL Britt, a self-styled private investigator, had convinced Helen Pusser, the mother of the famed McNairy County sheriff that he could prove her son was murdered! It was disclosed during a hearing in McNairy County Chancery Court that the Pusser estate had paid Britt more than $100,000 for his fruitless investigation, The court ordered the sheriffs mother replaced as the guardian of the estate's assets and Britt, a native of Wisconsin who with his family had actually lived in the Pusser home during his investigation, then moved to Nashville. Pusser, portrayed in two feature movies as a crime-busting lawman, was killed in an August 1974 crash of his Corvette near his home at Though Britt maintained Pusser was killed by a conspiracy of 10 men who poisoned him while he was attending the McNairy County Fair shortly before his crash, the cause of the sheriffs death is listed officially as accidental. both establishments, as was his habit, to discourage burglars, police said.

Police have said the positioning of Britt's body on the office floor indicated he may have been forced by his assailant to beg, kneeling, for his own life before being slain. Police described the slaying as "execution style." During the first week in June, Lingle was en route to Spring Hill, Tenn. in search of a job at the new General Motors Saturn plant, Metro Murder Squad Lt Pat Griffin said. He pulled his red van off Interstate 24 at the Harding Place exit and stopped at Britt's store, Griffin said. The two men struck up an acquaintance, and Lingle remained "in the area" for about five days before Britt was killed.

During the early morning hours of June 11, Dngle and Britt argued, apparently over the cocaine pickup. According to Lingle's statement to police, Britt threatened him, Lingle retrieved a .410 gauge shotgun from his van and shot Britt, police said. Lingle then left Tennessee and drove to Owensboro, Ky. Tipped off by Illinois police, Metro investigators located Lingle in an Owensboro motel, and the suspect 88 128 62" 3-apeed reversible Solid wood blades Antique brass, brown, or white 10 year motor warranty FREE 1 year in house warranty by Nutone UM1TED QUANTITIES SAie ENDS JUNg Arson inspector asked to aid probe of Tennessee Tech fire ftlC-r ISO mm ftw ff A i COOKEVTLLE, Term. State Arson Inspector Cecil R.

Byrge has been called by Cookeville Fire Chief McCoy Shelton to assist in the investigation of a suspicous fire yesterday morning at Tennessee Tech here. "We have had multiple fires in the same building, Johnson Hall, over the last three weeks," Shelton said. "They are arson and they are being investigated." Joe Farris, news and information director at the university, said a secretary in Johnson Hall, which houses the College of Business Administration, reported smelling smoke at 1 1:25 a m. yesterday. Security officers found the remains of a paper fire in a lecturn in the ground floor auditorium of the four-story the building.

Farris said the au ditorium had not been used for a class and is used only for guest speakers, when security officers arrived at the auditorium, the doors to the room were locked but the Are had been extinguished by automatic sprinklers. Farris said it was the third minor fire in Johnson Hall this month. A previous blaze occurred two weeks ago in a stock room used to store papers. None of the fires caused any serious damage, he said. He said that yesterday's fire did little damage to the tile floors, washable seats and concrete walls of the auditorium.

"It doesn't seem to me that the sprinkler system did any damage other than clean-up cost" Farris said. Yesterday was the second day of summer classes at the university. 1 OPEN: 10-9 SUN. 1-6 100 OAKS MALL MADISON SQUARE SHOPPING CTR. im Kentucky reports '85 tourism clown, cites allure of Nashville mm DON'T PAY RETAIL EVER AGAIN! BRYANT has been building Quality Living Room Furniture Almost 30 Years Now, You Can Buy Direct From our Factory Showroom.

You Save 30 to 40 By Cutting Out The Retail Store SOLID OAK FRAMES MOCLUCOIL SPRINGS HUNDREDS OF FABRICS 30 DAY DELIVERY ON SPECIAL ORDERS FACTORY WARRANTY AND SAVE 30 to 40 other surrounding areas have increased their tourism advertising in recent years, while Kentucky's advertising budget declined in the early 1980s. The Kentucky General Assembly this year increased tourism advertising to $1 million per year. That money will go into the budget July 1. Daviess County tourism revenue dropped 8.1, and Owensboro's hotels and motels saw their income drop by $2 million in 1985. The Owensboro-Daviess County Tourist Commission said it was the first decline there in more than a decade.

Louisville, Lexington and the Cincinnati suburbs in northern Kentucky were the only areas where tourism revenue rose last year, Atwood said. OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) Tourism around Kentucky dropped last year for the first time in the 1980s, the Kentucky Department of Travel Development said. Revenue at the state's hotels, motels, restaurants and tourist attractions was off 0.7 in 1985. The area around Mammoth Cave National Park was particularly hard hit In Bowling Green, the section's major city, tourism revenue dropped 16.5.

is pulling more people away from that part of Kentucky," Barbara Atwood, a research specialist with the Travel Development department, said. "It's only an hour away and people are going on into Nashville for the night" Atwood said that Nashville and NOW OPEN-Similar Values at our New Madison Square Location! SOFA, LOVESEAT, CHAIR now S99500 COTTON PRINT SOFA AND LOVESEAT Reg. 99900 now $49900 On Fridays Keep up with What's Happening in WEEK END WRAPAROUND Tha TENNESSEAN Reg. Now Camel Back Sofa and Loveseat. 699" 24900 Reg.

Now Select group of bedding in stock 60 off retail Manes CONTEMPORARY SOFA LOVESEAT Reg. $1599 now $69900 Traditional sofa, loveseat and chair. UNDERWEAR 999" 44900 AH Stratolouneer recliners 40 off retail Country sofa and loveseat with AAM oak trim 1698" 59900 Nylond Queen Size Sleeper and loveseat 799" 39900 Sectional Sleeper with inclining loveseat and corner table 1799" 89900 Blue Velvet Sofa and Loveseat Incliner by Bryant 1599" 69900 Hemes Underwear ALL SLEEPERS IN STOCK V2 PRICE DD(o ,00 79 Chenile Stripe odd Sofa 949" 39900 00 (slight damage) Oak finish entertainment center 169" Blue-gray sectional with incliner and sleeper 1499" All braided areas rugs Traditional white sofa loveseat 1378" 699 3 Pc. CONTEMPORARY WALL UNIT Reg. $399 Sofa, loveseat and chair, mauve color by Bryant 1377" 00 749 60 off 599M All Bryant Queen Anne Chairs in stock 30 off the Broyhifl Curio oo SALE Price slight damage 329" 149' QUEEN ANNE WRITING DESK (as Is) Reg.

$399 now s19900 jry Tl" hj fii We are moving out of our warehouse in Antioch and moving it to our new Madison Square location. We would rather sell this merchandise at our cost then move it. These are just a few examples, every item is reduced PLUS you make no payment and pay no interest until 1987. All to prior sale. Hurry limited quantities, no phone orders please.

Now-get big savings! All Hanes men's underwear is 20 off regular price. Your best under-wear value just got even better because every Hanes T-shirt and brief has to pass eleven quality tests and Inspector 12 before it gets form Hanes to you. But Hurry! Sale ends June 29, 1986. ALL SEALY BEDDING 12 PRICE (IN STOCK) 100 Oaks 298-4071 mm mum Madison Square 860-0061 OUTIETS ITO. 100 OAKS MAU I-6S N.

tw Hillm f. frt Am. mt Itwmpwfi I Ml. N. IN Nmhvff.

IN FINANCING AVAILABLE NEW STORE OPENING SOON MADISON SQUARE 6 months free financing; 6 months deferred for purchase over $300" Financing Available.