The Philadelphia Inquirer du lieu suivant : Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 1

section News of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware new jersey metro Saturday, November 1, 1986 Clerk's killer can seek death, judge decides fo) commit suicide in an American courtroom and have it countenanced by the court," Call argued. Hightower indicated to Call six months ago that he wanted to die if convicted, his lawyer said. Out of the presence of the jury, Kramer questioned Hightower. "You want me to preclude him Calll from putting on these experts to save your life?" the judge said. 'You want to tell the jury you want to die?" "I've had 14 months, day and night, to consider the possible outcomes of this trial," Hightower said.

"I'm positive that's what I want." The judge ordered that a county psychiatrist meet yesterday with Hightower to decide whether the defendant was mentally competent to testify. "The state itself will not permit will not lend itself to suv cide," Kramer said. After the psychiatrist found High-' tower competent to testify, Kramer (See HIGHTOWER on 4-B) The Philadelphia Inquirer J. KYLE KEENER Fighting a chilly night, marchers warm themselves at a fire at their campsite in Core Creek Park in Bucks County. The Great Peace March arrives Walkers camp in city on last leg of anti-nuclear trek Tty Jane Cope Special to The Inquirer An Army private convicted of killing a Willingboro store clerk will be permitted to ask a jury to sentence him to death and to block testimony that may save his life, a Burlington County Superior Court judge ruled yesterday.

However, the defense attorney for Jacinto Koger "Joey" Hightower, 23, of Pageant Lane, Willingboro, will appeal Judge Paul R. Kramer's ruling Monday morning. In New Jersey, there have been no appellate rulings in such a situation, said James Ronca, an assistant prosecutor who helped try Hightower. Hightower was found guilty Thursday of killing Cynthia Barlieb, 25, of Hazelwood Circle, Willingboro, during a robbery July 7, 1985, at the Cumberland Farms convenience store where she worked. No money was taken from the store's cash register, which was damaged during the robbery attempt.

The jury deliberated for about 2V2 hours Thursday before finding Hightower guilty on seven counts three murder counts, two robbery counts and two weapons violations. Yesterday, the same jury had been expected to hear testimony from psychiatrists indicating that the defendant may suffer from a personality disorder. Instead, out of the presence of the jury, defense attorney John L. Call Jr. informed Kramer of Hightower's wish that no defense be presented during the penalty phase of the capital punishment trial.

During this phase, jurors weigh mitigating and aggravating factors before imposing either a death or life sentence. The defense may introduce witnesses or evidence supporting the existence of mitigating factors. Hightower had been expected to testify during the penalty phase that he wanted to die; nonetheless, Call intended to present testimony to try to save his client's life. "My job is ethically to defend him no matter what he wants" during the penalty phase, Call said. "I'll still fight tooth and nail to save his life." Although Call agreed that Hightower had a right to ask the jury to sentence him to death, the lawyer said that Hightower should not be permitted to stop the presentation of witnesses who may offer testimony in his favor.

"He does not have the right to By Murray Dubin Inquirer Sla Writer The Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament is expected to arrive in Philadelphia today, eight months and more than 3,000 miles from the day it left Los Angeles in what was to be a grandiose effort to halt the nuclear arms race. The marchers camped last night in Core Creek Park in Middletown Township, Bucks County, after walking 23 miles from their last campsite in Princeton, N.J. The march will end Nov. IS in Washington. The nuclear arms race has not been halted, but the march, less grandiose and more grass roots, has made a lot of friends along the way and, apparently, changed a few minds.

For one, consider Broomall dentist Edward Blender who, by his own admission, has "never been an activist." Tomorrow, he is keeping his office open to handle for free the dental problems of any marchers who drop by. "I came across the march accidentally in Colorado," said Blender, 53, who lives in Malvern. "I was visiting my daughter. I sent her home and I joined them for a couple of days. "I guess I had a deep emotional feeling about it.

These people were really doing something for everbody. They were doing something for me. A year of their lives they were giving up. I was with them when they marched over Loveland Pass, (See MARCH on 2-B) Randy Herr of Los Angeles sports a mask and a peace sign. Safety measures follow at Lindenwold crossing of signal installation under a new policy announced in August, said Randy Linthurst, a spokesman for the Transportation Department.

In Lindenwold's case, the location of the light is uncertain, because two elementary schools are within Vk miles of the junior high school. The borough or the school board would be responsible for the cost of any roadwork involved in changing traffic patterns, if that is necessary, and the continuing electrical costs of the light would be the responsibility of the borough, Linthurst said. Guerere said that as part of the a.m. near Route 30 and White Horse Avenue. After a meeting between borough and school officials, Nicholas Guer-ere, principal of Overbrook Junior High School, said that the state Department of Transportation would install a traffic signal and provide other safety measures at the state's expense near the intersection.

Debbie Borie, an aide to state Sen. Daniel Dalton Camden-Gloucester), said that in 1984, the borough would have been responsible for paying 25 percent of the cost of light's installation and the state would have By Dianna Marder Inquirer Staff Writer Two junior high school students were killed within the last week while crossing near an intersection in Lindenwold that had been slated since 1984 for a traffic light but had not gotten one because the township did not come up with its share of the costs. But after the deaths of Anthony Pirolo 14, on Wednesday and Kimberly Adams, 12, on Oct. 24, plans for new safety measures were announced yesterday. Both were killed -while jaywalking between 8 and 8:30 State won't study A.C.'s government By Thomas Turcol Inquirer Trenton Bureau TRENTON Describing Atlantic City leaders as "totally competent," the state Department of Community Affairs has abandoned a proposal to study the city's government and help implement a new management plan.

Leonard S. Coleman, commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA), said this week that Atlantic City Mayor James Usry's administration was capable of carrying out the reforms suggested by an independent audit of Atlantic City's budget and management structure. "The administration, as far as we're concerned, is totally competent," Coleman said. "There is no need to send in a team to directly implement that study." Coleman added that the "integrity of Atlantic City's financial system has improved" since Usry took office. Last month, Coleman's office is- sued a news release signaling its intention to send members of the DCA's "Distressed Cities Technical Review Team" to Atlantic City for one year to conduct a comprehensive government review.

But Usry objected when he learned from reporters of the plan's existence, and the DCA responded by temporarily shelving the proposal. Usry said then that he was "angry as hell" about the state's announcement and vowed that the DCA would have no role in Atlantic City's government "unless I give them a role." Asked about the status of the plan this week, Coleman said the news release issued by his office overstated the role he had hoped DCA would play in helping Usry improve his government. Coleman said his plan all along was to provide the kind of routine "technical assistance" that DCA gives local governments throughout the state. Coleman said the news release, which described Usry as having "assured Coleman of the full cooperation of city officials," was "erroneous." In addition to examining Atlantic City's fiscal and management procedures, DCA was to have helped implement the recommendations of Touche Ross a prominent accounting firm retained by the Atlantic City government to audit Its budget. The consultants found that the city could save between $6 million and $9 million through a reorganization plan.

Usry's administration has been un der fire for some time in Atlantic City over payroll and budget policies. The criticism intensified several weeks ago when a strike by casino employees turned violent, triggering accusations that the mayor had let budget and political considerations interfere with the need to place more police officers in (See ATLANTIC CITY on 4-B) ambitions New Jersey Better and the Committee for a Better New Jersey, while he was actively considering running for 1 governor last year. Gov. Kean this year created a federal political acv tion committee and a state continuing committee that give him a vehicle for increasing his exposure as a potential national candidate. For similar reasons, supporters of Guarini created the Liberty PAC this year in case he would "like do some thing other than run for Congress," said Neil Carroll, Guarini's chief of (See FLORIO on 3-B) A call to keep up the struggle Students challenged at black unity conference ll I mmmmmm mmm fff I If deaths of 2 paid 75 percent.

Since that time, she said, the borough has changed engineers, and no record is available of the estimated cost of the light. Borie said that the issue was not a pressing one and that the situation "slipped through the cracks." In a telephone interview yesterday Barbara Dolchan, the borough clerk, confirmed Borie's account of the circumstances. Lindenwold residents "are upset, and they have a right to be," Dolchan said. "It's terrible. We all feel very bad" about the accidents.

The state will pay for the full cost rity for his speech. There is a dispute over whether Minister Farrakhan's bodyguards will be permitted to conduct body searches of the audience or to use a metal detector. Acknowledging the controversy, Tillard defended his decision to invite the Nation of Islam spokesman. "We invited everyone from Clarence Pendleton chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to Kwame Toure," he said.

"We're here to deal with the concept of synthesis, of unity. We invited black leaders spanning the political spectrum. We hope IU.S. Rep.) Bill Gray will be here on Sunday. Minister Farrakhan (See CONFERENCE on 4-B) said Jack M.

Shaw, a Florio operative who oversees one of the funds, the Committee to Make New Jersey Better. "Bu; we are cautious to make sure the committee is not quote, unquote solely for the use of Jim Florio." The difference is a fine legal line. The re-election committee promotes Florio, the candidate. The two continuing political committees promote Florio, the congressman. Within political circles, the creation of such committees is viewed as a signal that a candidate also has higher ambitions.

safety plan instituted Thursday, a police officer and a crossing guard have been stationed at Route 30 and White Horse Avenue, in front of the school, between 8 and 9 a.m. and from 3:15 until 4 p.m. Students are instructed to cross only where a police officer or crossing guard is stationed, Guerere said. In addition, curbs in front of the school are painted yellow, and signs have been posted forbidding drivers to pull over to pick up or drop off passengers on White Horse Avenue. Counselors and teachers have (See LINDENWOLD on 4-B) The Philadelphia Inquirer SHARON J.

WOHLMUTH state's 13 other congressmen say they have established state committees to supplement their re-election efforts. But Florio's committees have, by far, raised the most money $166,000. Robert G. Torricelli, a Bergen County Democrat, has generated about $20,000 this year in his state committee. James A.

Courter, the 12th District Republican, has collected about $15,000. Rep. Frank J. Guarini, the Hudson County Democrat, has established a state committee, but his aides say it is inactive. Florio supporters created his two committees.jthe Committee to Make range of speakers, from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan to Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich, a Philadelphia deputy mayor.

The event is the brainchild of Conrad Tillard, 22, president of the Black Student League at Penn. "Historically, students are active in social movements, but there has been a 20-year lull," said Tillard, a junior majoring in Afro-American studies. "We wanted to start the activism again, especially in the black community." There has been negative reaction from some campus Jewish groups to Minister Farrakhan's appearance at Penn, scheduled for 8 tonight, and a controversy surrounding the secu Kwame Toure (right), formerly known as Stokely Carmichael, hugs an admirer after speaking at Penn. By Murray Dubin inquirer Staff Writer Insisting thai black college students recognize that "if you're not working for the people, you're against them," Kwame Toure the one-time campus activist Stokely Car-michael called on black students to work to alleviate the suffering of black people all over the world. Toure was the main speaker yesterday at the first full day of the National Black Student Unity Conference at the University of Pennsylvania.

The four-day conference, which began Thursday, has drawn hundreds of black student leaders from across the country to hear a wide Money from "By Andrew Maykuth Inquirer Staff Writer U. S. Rep. James J. Florio has spent $93,000 this year campaigning for a seventh term, and his supporters have spent even more money "educating" voters and keeping Florio in the public eye.

According to his most recent quarterly campaign statements, the Camden County Democrat reported spending $93,000 this year in his reelection campaign. The average New Jersey incumbent reported spending $145,000. Florio's opponent in this auxiliary committees fuels candidates' political "The committees are not officially associated with the congressman, and the congressman is not officially associated with either," said Tom Rosenthal, Florio's spokesman. "I'm saying officially associated." The continuing political committees "are educational committees," he said. "The educational committee is to get somebody's message across, their agenda, what the issues are, what is important.

The re-election committee is to re-elect. Anything that says 're-elect' or 'vote for' has to go under the re-election committee." In addition to Florio, three of the Campaign '86 race, Republican Fred Busch, has said he would spend $25,000. In addition to Florio's re-election committee, two state "continuing political committees" that operate on the congressman's behalf have spent $136,000 this year to maintain Florio's profile throughout the state. "In some ways, they do overlap,".