St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri · Page 6

ir-i , , ,11, ,1,11, , mm .l,!!, , , 6A ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH SATURDAY. JUNE 6. 1992 eft e Walton Son that he would be released and the charges would be dropped. "Every time I went to court I thought I was going home," be said. Thomas said he was deeply frustrated that no one in authority believed him: "Everybody kept telling me that I knew more than I was saying and I didn't, and that hurt" Lawrence stressed that Thomas had never made a confession and bad never once changed his story about where he was the night of the couple's murder. Thomas told police that be was at the borne of Reginald Griffin, 18, who lived next door to the Colemans. Griffin was charged at the same time as Thomas and remains In jail. Griffin was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Thomas said Griffin, whom he had considered a friend, and another friend of Griffin's had made state ments to police that Thomas was the one who stabbed the Colemans. "They pointed the finger at me," said Thomas. "I couldn't believe they could make up a statement that bold." Lawrence said the genetic evidence consisted of two minute spots of blood, one on Thomas' jacket collar and the other on his pants pocket He said it never made sense that the blood came from the Colemans because the murder had been so brutal. "There was blood all over," said Lawrence. "There was no way Vincent could have been there and not had blood all over bis body." Debra Thomas said that the police "have a job to do," but they should have been more open-minded about her son's story. Lawrence also said that detectives he talked to were convinced that Thomas was guilty. "One detective just flat out told me, 'You're guy's guilty as hell,'" said Lawrence. 'They weren't listening objectively." Detective Sgt Alfred J. Ad kins said he was not a member of the squad set up to investigate the killings, but said he was certain police bad followed proper procedures. "Tunnel vision does not occur during an investigation," Adkins said. "We have to look at all aspects of an investigation. I am sure the investigating officers took into account Thomas' statements." Thomas said he planned to finish the last half of his senior year at Kirk-wood High School next fall and then go on to college. He said be held no grudge against authorities. "I was upset that they took my family through all this," said Thomas. "But I wasn't bitter." Donald E. Franklin of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed Information for this report v-'T Jll From page one Fairground Park, were found murdered in their home on Jan. 13. Vincent Thomas spent four months in the City Jail, after being charged Feb. 1 with two counts of first-degree murder. He was released Thursday after authorities said the results of DNA evidence tests failed to match with evidence at the scene. Thomas took and passed a lie-detector test on Wednesday, said his attorney, Michael I. Lawrence. Sitting in the living room of his home In the 3500 block of Barrett Avenue on Friday afternoon, Thomas said he had been "homesick and kind of depressed" during his four months in jail. But he said he always believed From page one deductions, known as wage assignments, were arranged voluntarily in 1988, according to the files of his divorce cases. In July 1991 he told the circuit court he was protected against Mercantile's garnishments because the child-support assignments exceeded a 10 percent limit in federal law. "Am I not supposed to pay my child support?" Walton asked. "That's the easiest way to pay, rather than write out checks." Mercantile's latest effort has been to seek collection from sources of income for Walton other than his legislative salary. Among them are fees from two St. Louisans for whom Walton, as their lawyer, recently won a judgment in a lawsuit, and any fees Walton may collect in handling personal bankruptcy cases. Walton's latest move was on April 15, when he asked the court to delay the case while he attended the recent session of the Missouri Legislature. His motion sought a delay until Wednesday. Mercantile said in May that Walton owed at least $ 1 7,228 because of accumulating interest. In May 1991, the bank filed a separate case claiming that Walton owed $2,989 for a checking account that covered overdrafts and $1,959 on an overdue Visa credit card. Walton has denied the claims and in March 1992 sought a delay because of the legislative session. That case is pending in St. Louis Crash Site Of Fatal Wreck ST. CHARLES 1 COUNTY A Elbert Walton Jr. Sfafe representative Circuit Court. The bank seeks repayment, interest and penalties. Kathy Ann Quinerly, a lawyer in Clayton who is handling Mercantile's cases against Walton, declined to comment. Walton called questions about the cases "totally improper" but also said disclosing them would not hurt his campaign for circuit attorney. "Black people aren't going to vote against me because of what the P-D is trying to do," said Walton, who is the only black in the running in the Democratic primary. "You tried to do the same thing with Virvus Jones. You think black folk will turn against us, but it never works." The truck ran into and then over the car, flattening it, authorities said. The car was barely recognizable as it lay in the clover and summer wild-flowers in a ravine off the shoulder of the road. The truck had become airborne at one point and was hurtling so fast it landed deep in the woods, out of sight from the road. Leitman said some passers-by had stopped to help but found they could not get into the car. Paramedics then were called at 1:18 p.m. and rushed to the scene. From page one unknown reason," Leitman said, adding that there appeared to be no sign of any drinking. The truck was traveling west and had just crossed the bridge when it ran off the highway, plunged over the hillside and down the grassy median onto the eastbound lanes, which are down a hill from the westbound lanes, Leitman said. of St Louis "There was no sign of a pulse" or life in any of the victims when the paramedics arrived, Leitman said. The 18-wheeler was loaded with 30,000 pounds of boxed popcorn, authorities said. A weight slip inside the truck showed the entire load weighed about 76,000 pounds, Leitman said. Leitman said skid marks showed the driver of the car had tried to steer clear of the truck but apparently could not move in time. "There was nowhere to go They were unable to stop the tractor-trailer," Leitman said. Kane and Parker were wearing seat belts, he said, and Michael Parker was buckled in a safety seat. Autopsies will be conducted today, authorities said. Leitman, with the Highway Patrol, said the old bridge had been the site of many accidents. But he said there had been few accidents since a new bridge was built and eastbound and westbound lanes were separated. Traffic was backed up in both directions and in two counties on Highway 40 Friday afternoon. S If Airport COUNTY MILES Delta Airliner Is Shaken By Turbulence Circuit Attorney Candidate Is Sued For Not Paying Taxes Post-Dispatch map In St. Charles County, the cars were stacked in line back to Highway 94 for most of the afternoon. The patrol closed one eastbound lane for about a mile for at least eight hours to unload and remove the truck. ; At the accident scene, there was a long line of emergency vehicles and pumpers with blinking lights from several fire and police departments. 1,000 feet down, FAA spokesman Duncan Pardue said. The A-310 Airbus was carrying 75 passengers. The pilot made a controlled descent to 29,000 feet and completed the flight to Kennedy International Airport at 5:29 p.m., the FAA said. A doctor who happened to be on board helped. Passengers elected to continue to New York, Pardue said. NEW YORK (AP) - Severe turbulence rocked a Delta Air Lines jetliner, causing minor injuries to four passengers but no damage to the plane, the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday. The plane, Flight 62 from Atlanta to New York, was flying at 37,000 feet over Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday when it was blown 1,000 feet up, then ?.-!.. ...'XV. 1 By Tim O'Neil Of the Post-Dispatch Staff William C. Haas, a Democratic candidate for St. Louis circuit attorney, has been sued a second time by the city for failure to pay his annual personal-property taxes on time. Property taxes are due at the end of each year. Haas was sued last year and again Monday for failure to pay the tax on his 1986 Chevrolet Caprice. Haas, 47, said, "I've always been disorganized, and when I don't have a lot Of money, I tend to get more disorganized." "It's not a matter of avoiding paying it. The bills just pile up. I do the best I can," he said. Haas said he was teaching part-time at a local junior college but would not identify which one. He is one of seven Democrats who are running in the primary Aug. 4 to seek to replace Circuit Attorney George A. Peach, who decided not to run again after he pleaded guilty in March to patronizing prostitution. Haas said he did not expect to win the primary but said he might run for St. Louis mayor in 1993. Haas said failure to pay taxes on time did not mean he couldn't be a good prosecutor. "I committed no crime," he said. Haas moved to St. Louis in 1988 from Cleveland. Harvard University confirmed that he was a graduate of its law school and o'f Yale University. Court and city records show that the 1990 personal-property tax on Haas' car was $115, but that interest and penalties had increased the debt to $198 when the lawsuit was filed in September 1991. He paid on Nov. 21. His 1991 tax, payable last Dec. 31, was $98. The lawsuit filed Monday seeks the tax and penalties of $174. t 61st Anniversary... & FACTORY OVERSTOCK SALE SAVINGS OF 40 TO 60 Join us now for the final week of our 61st Anniversary celebration. In addition to 15 to 40 storewide savings, Drexel Heritage Furnishings has presented us an exciting list of overstocked factory inventory... Many of these items are reduced 50 and more off Drexel's Suggested List prices! al'l I - ! ill i t T mm 1 r - PW V . We also invite you to take advantage of the last week of our cost-efficient Anniversary terms: No interest or finance charges for 12 months with just a 25 down payment on all orders of $500 or more. But hurry, Offer ends June 14th. ... t j'j 1 VX" Final Week for 0 No Interest or Finance Charges for 12 Months Choose from America's most fashionable upholstery styles in the season's freshest selection of new fabrics. All models, including sectionals of every configuration, are now available to satisfy your most individual design needs. Floor samples at even greater reductions Anniversary Special! All Lamps and Accessories 20 OFF Select from St. Louis' most discerning collection of lamps, accessories and wall decor. Save 45 to 50 .on Country Diary by Drexel... Bedroom Dining Room Living Room (below) Drexel Custom Sofas Only $799 Matching Loveseats Only 759 JUNE OAK SPECIALS J DAYS 7i SAC rf Drexel's Coventry English Collection... Now Reduced 45 to 50 A Warm English Country Collection in rich pecan for living room, dining and bedroom. (above) Pencil Post Bed, queen size Only $789 Dresser, 74" Only $949 3 tray drawers behind doors. Tri-fold Beveled Mirror Only $549 Night Table, 28" x 17" x 27"H Only $349 ArmoireMedia Center Only $1175 Cord exit hole. 42" x 19" x 74"H. (below) Door Wall Bookcase, 32" x 80"....Only $785 Low Bookcase, 42" x 29"H Only $319 Light Bridge, 42" x 7"H ....Only $179 Double Pedestal Executive desk, Only $995 2 file drawers. 60" x 30". Windsor Arm Chair, Only 375. Pad 520 extra. 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SUPPLY SALE$159 Made in USA Drexel Showcase Custom Chairs... 2forOnly$799 ft I s0Af CURIO CLASSIC COLONIAL SOFA OAK ARMOIRE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER Holds 27" TV'S BY KUSHWOOD 7-Pc Dining Only$2669 Includes double pedestal dining mm mmm. table opening to $499 $499 SOLID OAK TRIM SALE 39x22x66 Take your pick of many splendid showcase fabrics in magnificent prints, textures and plaids even at these extraordinary low prices! Drexel Heritage upholstery features kiln-dried, contoured hardwood frames, 8-way hand-tied underspring construction and 4-way, scrupulously hand-matched fabric application. Sale Ends June 14, 1992 108" with two 20" aproned BREAKFAST CORNER 54" COMPUTER ROLL-TOP F-t J tCuVCS, allU MA w m i m j it-i. iJ i-u: j.i. DESK NOOK 0 SS side chairs, all tKtV? crafted of Printer Drawer PO Key Board File Drawer Accurdie Glides BENCH STORAGE $$tr v48 1 ' warm cherry. 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