Casa Grande Dispatch from Casa Grande, Arizona • Page 1

or i ARCHI CAPITOL 3HOENIX, AZ, 85007 8-15-73 In Casa Grande DPS Captain Acting Chief Two Arizona Department of Public Safety officers have been named acting chief and acting assistant chief of the Casa Grande Police Department, City Manager David Kincanon said today. Effective today, DPS Capt Philip L. Morgan, 44, and Sgt. John Cozad, 37, will fill the top two positions in the department until a permanent successor to former Chief Clement Duckwall is named, the city manager said. Kincanon said the arrangement was worked out with Col.

James J. Hegarty, DPS director, after acting Chief James Green resigned April 16. They will continue to be paid by the DPS rather than the city. "Capt. Morgan and Sgt Cozad will be here only until we hire a permanent Kincanon noted.

"They aren't here to conduct an investigation of the department, but they have been invited to recommend any changes they feel are necessary." Both men have served with DPS since it was formed in 1969. Morgan, in his 17th year in law enforcement work, served 11 years with the Phoenix Police Department before joining the attorney general's office in 1966 as a criminal investigator. He is currently serving as one of two zone commanders, in charge of all DPS detective functions in northern Arizona Cozad served in the Phoenix Police Department for seven and a half years and now is in the internal security division with DPS. Green, who was serving as acting chief since Duckwall was demoted to sergeant last month, resigned in the wake of a city remain on the torce. Kincanon said he would also request that the City Council name an oral review board to consider applications for chief The board would be composed Of experts in the enforcement and justice systems, such police officers, attorneys and judges, as well as "lay people It would include some Casa Grande residents and some non residents.

The board would screen all applications and interview and explore the backgrounds of those considered finalists for the job Kincanon said he that the boara be formed because of council's and staff's decision to hire a replacement from outside Ihc force, necessitating additional Personnel Advisory Board mendation upholding action study to determine the best hearing and subsequent recom- and urging that Duckwall qualified Capt. Philip L. Morgan Sgt. John Cozad (ASA GRANDE JUDGED ARIZONA'S BEST NON-DAILY NEWSPAPER CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA 85222 DISPATCH Rains Soak South MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1973 1CW Per Copy VOL LIX NO 48 THK teSOCIATKDHHKSS Others Reported Down in County Crimes of Violence Increase About 67.8 per cent of all crimes reported to the Final County Sheriff's Department during 1972 were cleared, the department's annual statistical crime report indicates. That percentage is more tnan 20 per cent above the expected national rate but reflects a decrease from the previous year's 82 per cent.

Although the total number of crimes reported (including those unfounded) during the year, 2,964, shows a decrease of nearly 400 from the previous year, crimes of violence were on the increase. Homicides in the county's unincorporated areas jumped from four in 1971 to seven in 1972; forcible rapes from 10 to 14: armed robberies from five to 10: assaults from 91 to 173; and burglaries from 168 to 248 Statistics in three other major crimes showed decreases from the previous year. Thefts of items valued at $50 and up, except autos, dropped from 241 to 202; thefts under $50 in value, from 315 to 288; and auto thefts, from 81 to 74. In the homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft and'auto theft statistics that the Airport Police Bill Moves Ahead PHOENIX (AP) The Arizona House today tentatively approved seven bills, including one which would give airport policeman the same status as regular peace officers. While there was some debate that the proposal would increase taxes, supporters of the airport bill said it was designed to allow airports to do what they are required to under federal anti-hijacing laws.

The bill would apply to airports leasing land from a city as a nonprofit corporation. Persons hired as airport policemen would have to meet minimum qualifications established by the Arizona Law Enforcement Officer Advisory Council and be certified by the Department of Public Safety. Airport authorities appointing policemen would be liable for acts of the officers. Other bills tentatively approved would: the Board of Barber Examiners, to establish or revise fees after approval from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The fees currently are set by law.

The bill also Arraignment Set For Prison Inmate Arraignment of an Arizona State Prison inmate indicted on a charge of prisoner possession of a deadly weapon was set for today Final County Superior Court. Richard Montieth. 38. was named in a sealed indictment returned by the county permanent grand jury April 9. According to Pinal County sheriff's investigators, Montieth.

threatened prison guard Joe Martinez with a homemade pistol in an incident March 22. Martinez and two other guards took the gun away from Montieth. investigators said. No shots were fired, though the weapon contained a live round. The gun was sent to the State Department of Public Safety criminal lab for experimentation to determine if it could have fired, investigators said.

Montieth is serving a 5 to 10 year term for manslaughter in the slaying of a man in Apache Junction. He was received at the prison Feb. 23, 1972. Fred Smith, Superior attorney, was appointed to defend Montieth. would stipulate that only four members of the five-man board could be practicing barbers.

justice of the peace fees in civil actions. egg inspection fees. laws relating to hay brokers, dealers and agents. for use of computer storage devices for certain highway department records. town to city change by majority of votes cast rather than by majority of those registered to vote.

Thieves Take Easter Funds PHOENIX (AP) Burglars broke into the First United Methodist Church here Sunday night and took $12,000 to $14,000 from a safe containing the Church's Easter offering. "It was our entire Easter offering from March Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday," said Carolyn Funk, the church's executive secretary. "They got into the office through a window and just drilled right into the vault. They had lots of equipment and made a general mess of things." department reports, to, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 443 of 1,016 actual offenses were cleared by arrest. Arrests of persons under age 18 accounted for 148 clearances.

In 1971, of 920 actual offenses (reported offenses minus those unfounded) 456 were cleared by arrest. Rises in vandalism, from 190 cases in 1971 to 241 last year, narcotics offenses, from 30 (o 40 and in driving while intoxicated from 292 to 400. were also noted. Drunkenness violations, however, decreased from the previous year, from 534 to 300. liquor law violations, from 66 to 22; sex offenses (except rape and prostitution), from 21 to 12; auto theft, from 81 to 74; and offenses against family and child, from 49 to 17.

Juveniles outnumbered adults responsible crimes cleared in four categories other than strictly juvenile offenses. Forty-seven cases of vandalism were cleared through juveniles as opposed to eight cases involving adults. Youths also predominated in burglaries, both in forcible and non forcible and in thefts under $50 in value. Some 120 runaway juveniles were reported, as opposed to 175 in 1971. Of the 782 "outstanding" (unsolved) crimes at the year's end, five were homicides, three were armed robberies, 20 were assaults.

142 were burglaries, 368 were thefts (except auto), 36 were auto thefts and 186 were vandalism cases. Deputies made 1,257 traffic arrests during the 276 more than in 1971. There were 213 juvenile and 1,422 adult prisoners in 1972. Of somewhat less con- Coniimied on page 6 The rain-soaked lower Mississippi Valley took the brunt of a new series of thun derstorms and heavy rains early today following a weekend of tornadoes, rain and flooding throughout the nation's rnid section In contrast, the Easter weekend on both coasts was pleasant More than 500,000 persons xwarmed to the beaches in Los Angeles County as temperatures touched 85, and 80 degree readings were common in the East. Thunderstorms spread from eastern Oklahoma to the-Ohio Valley with 1.8 inches of rain accumulated during the night at Little Rock, and 2.1 inches at Springfield, Mo.

The Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa. St: Louis, and Cairo, was expected to crest at possible cord levels during the coming week. The governors of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri had called out the National' Guard to help rebuild the levees. Sandbaggers were needed at many locations. Three tornadoes were reported Sunday night near Little Rock, Ark.

A flash flood watch was issued for much of Arkansas. Hundreds of campers were chased from a folk festival at Ozark Mountain Forest by a flood early Sunday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Morgan City, Continued on page Weather Report MAX. M1N.

PRE. Friday' 69 54 .00 Saturday 76 43 .00 Sunday SS -45. .00 Water Report At 7 a.m. today there were 750,496 acre feet available water storage behind Coolidge Dam. This represents an increase of 10,032 acre feet over Friday's total.

New Watergate Investigator Is Under Fire WASHINGTON (AP) Asst A Henry Petersen, assigned to tdke over in vestigation of the Watergate or straled the torpedoing of an ear ier effort to look into financial aspects of the political espionage sabotage episode, Rep Henrv Keuss, said today "The President should promptly remove Mr. Peterson, or anyone else the Department of Justice, as chief in' and instead appoint an outside un compromised and ummpcat hanlc whom the public has confidence Peuss '-d'd in a statement Keuss is a member ol the Housi Banking Committee He said he suggested 'he in vestigalion Chairman Wright Patman Tex undertook last August focusng on (unsfers of funds among person-, involved in the Watergate and between barks 'his country' and Mexico Keuss termed- it investigation ot possible law violation higher ups ivho were behind the men taught in 'he Watergate with their burglar tools Keuss said howevii tnat the estigation soon ran into ihe refusal to talk ot imponam witnesses including tormer Secretary Maurice Stans. and thj.t Patman vailed the committee to meet Oct. 3 to authorue subpoenas befori evidence could be dextio.vd and perjured estimonv But Ken 1 that or M'pt -'8 Peterson wrote the committee saving that The public interest in a prompt and prosecution mav be imperiled hv welch held at tnii t.i The move was 'On 'Jet. a turned down cr.dKT.jn request Petersen's letter, citing pasl convictions o.ertuinfd on dope.il Utaux pretnai pubhcitv argued 'ha' hi nghts of the defendant-, -jx't-d" 1 impartial ti ma.

'tf prejudi''a! pubiinN or'rf An In Whi'e HoaS'' 1 1- rta'lv grand juiv 'hot ii'ni un it were -nvol'fd in tht rj i Ov er fpf weekend tt ax rt ioo White -'aft TI- r- md" cind John Er-r'nJj-" i ,1 Idw.cr to represeii' ir i r- another flcvi loDtrf A Pis! qjotex xourt-'x inn ex den' Ni-crn toki s'aff la kt 'ha' John VitrN-ll d-d a invnhfi both op iH'motra'it partv hi, -sequent -coverup J0 ic tht Pox' -uuiif- dr. e-vidc -xt Mj', h'-l! furrtit texiifie'l axi i. 'A ittrgj'f H- after Adrifi bad Narl 'i xi vi'f'appirg plan- IP tN "la. i i Drillers Fail To Find Oil, But Facts Increase B'v JOK ANNON Dispatch Staff Writer Although Exxon is pulling put of its oil exploration ventures in the Casa Grande area and in southern Arizona, the feel of "dry hole" it drilled iiv four now-abandoned wells may turn out to be worth something other than being pulled up and sawed into the proverbial post holes. The holes, one of record depth for Arizona, have left behind a legacy of information on fresh water strata which is available for municipal and other governmental use.

The holes may also have provided information of value for Exxon's separate mineral exploration department which is continuing a search for copper, silver, and other valuable metals. A spokesman in Exxon's Denver: office confirmed that the announced termination of company's exploration for and. gas will have ho effect on Ihc other ncrai the state. 'We expect to continue "these operations at the same level as in recent year--. said a.

spokesman for the mineral The company did not el iborate on.recent progress in the search for minerals. Exxon had been engaged in. seismic md testing for more than two years in an attempt to uncover nil and fuel reserves in the The.oil company said "several millions of dollars' were invested in the project, with most of spent in One of the four dry holes, the first to be. drilled in the program, is located approximately two miles east of Eloy, It was plugged as abandoned on July. 27 last year being drilled to a depth of.

After Weekend Illness Governor Resting PHOENIX i'-AP'i Gov! Jack Williams was resting home today after he complained of nausea and dizziness, at his cabin in Pinetop Sunday. He was expected to return to work Tuesday. The governor suffered a similar attack six months ago while attending the Arizona Town Hall at the Grand Canyon, He collapsed in his hotel room tbpre and dislocated his right snoulder, Williams was frown to F'hoenix hy helicopter Sunday. His doctor said the illness was altitude-orientated, as a result of too much exercise in Pinetop. The governor said he.

had gone to Pinetop for an Easter rest but spent part of splitting logs and tawing wood. l'U3f. feet The 12.57i-;'oor The others note south Yuma foot well in rne p.ir' Vuma countv. second well- driiifd The last and abandoned hVr, year Harry Martin- M.idfaml. icxas.

'results were that wo we -hnuid although that' our Martin' xup western and southern Arizo Martin said -that. large lease' oil and gas expiorit Grande ar.i-a "We paid rrr year and I don': kr.r- when the acreage. was leased. M.i Exxon will, hoi'i on'o until they expire, ru: Martin now there any hope r'or discoveries m'tn area, but said statement TO: clusv completely on "There based on knowledge. always the chance come in vvith new and drill and E.x By Gilo River Council Old State Route 93 Closed to Traffic Approximately seven miles of the old Casa Grande-Chandler highway, formerly State Route 93, has been closed to traffic by the Gila River Indian Community Council.

'ihe action was taken so that some 16 sections of grazing land can be opened to the tribal farm's cattle operations without fear of loss of livestock in traffic eccidents. Jay Williams, manager of cattle operations at Gila River Farms, made the announcement, saying that signs had been put up about two weeks ago. and that barricades blocking the route were erected last Friday. Williams said that the section of road rarely had been used of late except by sightseers and he doubts that will suffer any inconvenience, because the 1-10 freeway connects the same two points, by shorter route. South terminus of the closed section of road is just south of the north Casa Grande exit from 1-10 onto the newly surfaced SR-93 route into Casa Grande.

North end of the closed road is at the Casa Blanca exit off of MO, Williams said. The road turns west off of the new-surfaced SR-93 just south of the 1-10 exit, goes west and then north, approximately seven miles in all to where it joins the Seed Farm road. Williams said. Legal basis for the Tribal action in closing the route comes by virtue of the fact that the state Highway Department had abandoned the road to Pinal County late last year, and the Pinal County Board of Supervisors in turn abandoned it to the Gila River Community about a month ago. Williams said that the management of the Gila River Farms had first talked to the county about sharing cost of fencing the road, so that cattle could graze safely in the area.

The county was not interested in this proposal and instead suggested county abandonment of the section of road, which is entirely on the reservation, Williams said. James Kortsen chairman of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors, confirmed this chain of events this morning. "They wanted it abandoned to protect their cattle and we were tickled to death to do it, so they can do what they want-to with it. They are the only ones using the road," Kortsen said. Williams said the 16 sections of land involved could have been used to graze up to 1,500 head of steers during the spring grazing season now coming to an end.

Past experience was, however, that there was heavy loss of animals to auto traffic. "The last time they tried grazing it, about two years ago, they lost seven head in one week's time," Williams said. Voices from on High From their choir loft formed of the rocks of ages, from the United Methodist Church raised their voices into the dawn's light to tell of thp joy of the Resurit- tion at Easter Sunrise Services at Signal Peak. Director is Mrs. Lyle Hill.

Ihi Christian churches of Coolidge and Casa Grande sponsored the pageant, "Ti F.mpty Tomb," under sponsorship of the Ministerial Alliance. Dave Hoover gave the invocation and the benediction. Patty Mackley. Karen Ketchnm, Lindi, Mcfatjre. Everett Brewer, Kelvin Helraick, Steve Shaw, Mary Brewer, and Pam Mackley had roles in the pageant.

An estimated unattended (Dispatch Photo by Joe Cannon.