The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 101

Beach Post, Wednesday, June 21, 1978 Jury Finds Mrs. Krai Innocent of Car Theft By LINDA HARBISON Post Stall Writer STl'ART Elsie Krai yesterday was found innocent of charges that she plotted and helped execute the theft of a 1977 Lincoln Continental last year. After deliberating for only 30 minutes, the two-man, four-woman jury found Mrs. Krai innocent in her trial for grand larceny The former St Lucie County resident still faces charges in connection with two home burglaries. She is scheduled to stand trial again next week "I'm so proud of my lawyer," said Mrs Krai, 57, in tears after hearing the verdict Defense attorney Tom Warner had told the jury in his closing argument the state's chief witness lied about Mrs Krai's involvement in the car theft.

Warner said Michael Capaldi was biased against Mrs. Krai and that his testimony was "not reasonable Capaldi. who claimed the defendant made off with the car keys, then ordered him and Hoy Finney to steal the car, was not charged in the incident after he agreed to testify for the state His testimony "is not worthy of belief. He negotiated a deal with the State Attorney's Office so he started singing," Warner told the jury I'rging the panel to be cautious about accepting the word of an "accomplice," War ner also argued Capaldi has a grudge against Mrs. Krai.

Warner said his client gave information to police that led to the arrest and shooting of Capaldi's brother in Georgia The defense lawyer questioned the credibility of the sales manager at Stuart Lincoln Mercury, who claimed he saw Mrs Krai at the dealership the day the car keys were stolen. Warner reminded the jury, however, it was some time after the crime when the witness recalled seeing Mrs. Krai. Warner said investigators might have "suggested" the woman as a suspect. He also questioned why Mrs.

Krai would have left her name and phone number at the dealership if she was planning to steal a car "That's kind of unusual in my mind as far as what a car thief would do." Warner said. Assistant State Atty Bruce niton said he wasn't surprised at the outcome of the trial because the case hinged on the credibility of witnesses Finney, who testified for the defense and denied having anything to do with the car theft, is serving time for conspiracy to commit arson in connection with a fire at Mrs. Krai's former home His trial for car theft earlier this year ended in a mistrial Capaldi served a year in jail for his pait in a Sewall's Point robberv and Mrs is scheduled to stand trial for tin' rut, in Monday Colton explained to the jury the State torney's Office had the choice of nukm; deal with one of the three in order to ecute the others He said Capaldi wa-likely candidate because he had no pr convictions We don't like making deals with peo who commit crimes." Colton said Hut we like it better than letting cveivb' In addition to the Sewall's Point an: robbery in which a maid was tied up gagged. Mrs Krai faces charges in Hon with a house burglarv ic Port SaN ri eel Manager 4t Cleared In PSL sv 4 4m i. -W I By LINDA HARBISON Post Stall Writer PORT ST.

Ll'CIK Councilmen voted. 3-2. yesterday to clear City Manager Elmer Cox of charges he made a deal" with the City Hall landlord But a motion is pending from several weeks ago to fire Cox or demand his resignation. The City Council apparently will not call for a vote on that question until the ailing city manager returns to work or gives some indication of his plans. "It's my personal opinion that Mr.

Cox will graciously resign," Mayor Bill McChosney said Cox was hospitalized for an apparent heart problem shortly after two city councilmen moved for his dismissal. At issue was whether he made a deal with the City Hall landlord for reduced rent in exchange for the issuance of building permits. Before Cox was stricken, he told councilmen he wanted a public hearing on the charges. McChesney said now that Cox has been absolved of wrongdoing, councilmen will wait to hear from him before making any further decisions. Tne city manager had an appointment with his doctor yesterday and will be in contact with officials soon.

Schuyler Sharpe and i.o'.::.i Kernohan cast the dissenting votes yesterday after Councilman Merle Anderson moved to clear Cox At first the two abstained, then voted no. Mrs. Kernohan originally moved to fire Cox. Councilman Mike Reeb, who seconded Anderson's motion, said he "never did think Mr. Cox actually made any deal." The vote apparently was based largely on testimony from Peter Smith.

City Hall landlord, who recently sued the city over building permits. Smith said in court he made no agreement with Cox for reduced rent in exchange for permits. Cox also denied the allegation. yiv 5- t-. 4 Staff Photo bv W.ilk.T Beached Whale, Sea World Employee (Left) Await Truck in Vero Beach Sea World Scientists Probe Whale Deaths edge not far from its mother.

Despite efforts to save them, the mother died about an hour before a rescue team from Sea World arrived. The scientists covered the baby whale with a moisturizing foam and wrapped it in a wet sheet in an effort to keep it alive. But the small mammal died a half-hour later, before the team could load it in a vehicle and return to Orlando. Tim Walden of Sea World said beaked whales normally are found in deep water far from shore. A detailed examination of the mother whale was performed yesterday to determine the cause of death, but it could take several weeks to obtain the results of some tests, he said.

Contrary to some reports, there were no signs the whale had been shot or harpooned, Walden said. He said the mother whale measured nearly 15 feet and the babv a little mote than lect. The whales are called "beaked" because (it a single large beak-like tooth in the adult's mouth, he said Walden said Sea World has agreements with the Florida Marine Patrol to come to the aid of whales and dolphins which beach themselves. "We respond to any and all calls of inns," he said "We've nursed manv li.e to health and released Ihern. Those that die.

we study to learn more about whales By JOHN KOTLER Post Staff Writer VERO BEACH Scientists at Sea World in Orlando are seeking the reason why a beaked-bill whale and her baby swam ashore and died Monday The mother whale, which weighed more than 2,000 pounds, beached herself at Jaycee Beach about 2 p.m. Bathers found a small male baby whale struggling near the water's Co-Owner of WTVX Admits Clipping (Tlortln County The clipping occurred during two CHS sv dieted shows. "Lawrence Weik" and II Haw." He said the local ads were aired, rath than network credits or promotions the problem alter receiving a lettit from the syndicate which distributes the -At that time, Koblegard said he did no! the clipping was a violation of FC regulat "It was not an intentional Kobi Area News the rise It The Broadcast Bureau, a division FCC, is attempting to have the stations revoked because of the clipping pract I'he invest iL'aiion into the alio.1 the pioposeil sale of he By MARY JO TIERNEY Post Stall Writer FORT PIERCE One of the co-owners of television station WTVX, channel 34, admitted yesterday the station substituted local programming for part of a network broadcast, a violation of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. In a hearing to determine whether the local station can retain its broadcast license, W'. (Sonny) Koblegard.

president of Indian River Television, said the station had oversold advertising so it had to make the substitutions, called "clipping." Span Mississippi Koblegard saa! I I badly needed improvements and new charges the station filed weekly roper's io stating it had aired the complete programs at their designated times Koblegard said he had been made aware of the "irregularities" of station programming in late February or early March of last year lie said station Manager Jim Holmes told him of to keep it up to professional stand, nils equipment problems led to the rhpp, ttees. which were eventually stopped The hearing before an admniM i a judge is expected to continue today State Officials To Attend Confusion Corner Meet Bark and ted Be oun Dog Survey Proposed rJ-trr-k, BP" 4 DOG AMOAcS POGS I iDENTin POGS, AN 'DENTiTY A HA FELsJ WW JIM REEDER Post Staff Writer STCART A meeting between state and local officials to try to settle the latest dispute over Confusion Corner improvements has been set for June 28 "Four state legislators and the Department of Transportation's i DOT) district engineer have agreed to meet with the City Commission." City Manager Ed Glasscock said yesterday "We've also invited the county commissioners as well." Glasscock said Sen. Phil Lewis, Sen. Harry Johnston (both D-West Palm Beach), Rep. Dale Cassens (D-Fort Pierce) and Rep.

William Taylor iD-Tequesta) have agreed to attend the session. DOT District Engineer Bill Fowler will answer local officials' questions about his agency's plan for the intersection. City commissioners have objected to the DOT's proposal to install traf fic signals on approaches to the corner because the plan calls for elimination of a large number of parking spaces in the downtown area. Commissioners are also upset over a recent, letter written by Fowler which they read as a threat that the city either go along with the plan or never get E. Ocean Boulevard widened.

But county officials interpret the letter differently, saying Fowler was warning the city that changing the plan for Confusion Corner would mean a five- or 10-year further delay in widening E. Ocean Boulevard. The DOT plan has been approved by federal officials, and changing the Confusion Corner plan drastically would require resubmission to the federal agencies. But Fowler will be here in person June 28 to answer questions about the plan and his letter. City Commissioner Dale Anderson asked that legislators be invited to the meeting.

He said he new post suggested by a I'm St I a idem concerned about 'he of dogs i tinning loose the ci The job would entail knocking on doors to determine hm an-dogs 11) the house, Reeb said It has been recommended the 'dog enumerator" be paid 1 for every unlicensed dog he laid-' The city gets a $2 license Ice ana half of that would go to the new employee Councilmen apparently will vote on establishing the post next week "1 don't see how this will solve our dog problems, but we'll know-how many dogs we have" M.c.m Bill McChesney said IU LINDA HARBISON Post Si.it) Writer POR ST I. l'(TE dog enumerator That's the proposed job nlle and job description all in one If the City Council decides to create the parttime position, it probably will be filled by a retiree who wouldn't expect much in the way of a salary Councilman Mike Reeb made the suggestion yesterday as a way of determining how many unlicensed dogs are in the city At the same tune, he said, the total dog population could be put on record Reel) thinks the figures will be helpful dealing with dog complaints and various problems with pets Area l)'atli Titus. Dr. Paul 74. of 209 Everglades Beau Rivage, Stuart.

Funeral at 5 m. today at Aycock Funeral Home Chapel, Jensen Beach. Must. Julia 44, of 398 Solida Circle. Port St.

Lucie Funeral at 10 a.m. today at Band Funeral Home Chapel. Fort Pierce Burial in Hat-tiesburg. Miss. Smith, Cleighton Knowlson, 74, of 822 SE Third Okeechobee.

Funeral today at 2 p.m. at Okeechobee Funeral Home Chapel. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery. Mitchell- Now that obscure species ot flora and fauna such as the Furbish lousewort and the snail darter have halted massive construction projects in their tracks, some congressmen are blinking their eyes in amazement at what they have wrought There is talk of revising the act so that a project can go forward if its value to the citizenry "clearly outweighs" the value of a water spider or a weed. Although this belated breath of Movie (Jock From HI Let each congressman be equipped with a cane fishing pole, a dip net.

a seine and a minnow bucket Trans port them to the Tennessee River and put them to wank Even it the congressmen are singularly inept fishermen, they ought to be able to capture a siable number of he 15. IMIO snail dariers thought to inhabit the 17-mile stretch of river below the dam certainly enough to ensure the survival of the species In odd moments when the fish aren't biting, the congressmen common sense is welcome smallpox virus, after all, is an endangered species I feel that the snail darter can be preserved, the dam and reservoir completed and the ends of justice served by the adoption of a simple plan. It will cost next to nothing and should offer the taxpay-ing public a bit of diversion during the summer doldrums. Congress is in recess during the month of August, which means the nation will have more than 500 highly paid laborers at its disposal OKEECHOBEE VERO REACH could gather the snails upon which the darters teed The congressmen will get ploniy ol sunlight and Iresli an and should have ample time to reflect on the unforeseen consequences ot legislation. The dam can be completed The snail darter will be saved, and the taxpayers will be entertained There is only one thing thai could go wrong with my plan rests upon the assumption that the urn-age congressman is smarter th.in a snail darter A Brahman: House Calls," 7, 9 FORT PIERCE Florida Theater: "Casey's Shadow," 7, 9 Plaza Theater: Bad News Bears (io to Japan.

5 30. 7.30, 9 .30 Vero Drive-in: "Pom-Pom Girls," 8 45; "Coach," 10 15 STl'ART Maylair 1: "Coach," 5:30, 7 15, 9 Mayfair 2: "Bad News Bears Go to Japan." 5 30, 7 15..